The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1890-05-14

capital, and to increase the production
of wealth.
SINGLE TAX IN TENNESSEE,
The Trades Council Comes Close to the Sim
gle Tax-Star Center Alliance Adopts 1t.
r. G. Brown, Memphis-The trades
council, an organization composed of
representatives of all the trades unions
in Memphis, has come as near the sin
gle tax as it couln without hitting it.
The council held meeting in the
criminal court room on the evening of
Washington's birthday for the pur-
pose OF considering the eight-hour
movement. Mr.. Bolton Smith and my
self had been invited to present the re-
lations between the single tax and the
eight-hour movement. We met with
some opposition from some advocates
O. eight houls pnre and simple, but
found, to our surprise, an able and
earnest single tax advocate in the per-
son OF Mr.. S. w. Harmon, who repre-
sented the Cigarmakers' Union in the
council. Mr.. Harmon gave some facts
in his experience in his trade which
showed that not even under the eight
hours could the workingmen secure the
relief they SO much desired. At the
conclusion of his speech he offered the
subjoined resolutions and urged the
meeting to adopt them as the expression
of the sentiments of the trades council,
stating that they had been unanimously
adopted by his own union at recent
meeting. The following are the reso.
buttons:
Whereas, As workingmen and me.
chanics, we feel that the distribution Of
the products of labor is such that it
gives to us an inadequate and unjust
proportion of what we produce; and
Whereas, We SEQ that capital engaged
in active production, and that the en-
ployers themselves, who risk their
money, are frequently losers, we are led
to look for other causes for the made
quate and unjust distribution of the
products of our labor, Of which we COM
plain; and
Whereas, Wo believe we find such
causes in an Unjust system Of taxation,
in the locking up Of great sums in land
held for purposes OF speculation which
interferes with production of wealth;
and
Whereas, The value OF property be-
longs rightfully only to those who create
it: and
Whereas, 1t is injl rious to the inter-
est of the whole people that land should
be held for speculation; now, therefore,
be it
Resolved, That al unoccupied land
shall be taxed at the price for which it
is held for sale; that it shall be the
duty of owners of such lands to fix their
selling price to the authorized officers,
and that the first conner who offers the
amount SO fixed shall be entitled to
such property.
Resolved, That as all increased value
given to unimproved land comes by vir-
tue of settlement, and improvement in
the neighborhood by the community at
large, all such increased volue in JUS
tice belongs to the community, and we
demand of our representatives in the
icy lSldboIc tutG GuCy ptsoo laws WA1SA
will secure this value to the community.
Resolved, That we recognize in it's
entirety the principle that all men have
an equal natural right to the benefits OF
all natural opportunities; be 1t further
Resolved, That for the surer and
quieter obtaining the above amendatory
legislation it is the sense of this council
that more perfect connection should be
established with similar organizations
in this State with the object of concen-
trating our efforts and energies to at
tain these ends.
About ninety per cent of the Knights
of Labor here are free traders and sin
gle takers, result due mainly to the
efforts of Mr.. Bolton Smith, who is 3
member of the local assembly.
We were officially notified last Thurs
day that our doctrine had been Endorsed
by the Star Center Alliance of C~rroll
county, Miss, in these words:
Resolved, That this lodge is in favor
of the single tax, that we may more
fully understand the work of the single
tax association, the secretary is in
structed to write to Mr.. Bolton Smith
and ask that he furnish us with tracts.
The constant demand for tracts and
sample copies of the Standard which we
receive every day is rapidly exhausting
our stock. We have heard from num-
Der of the legislators of Mississippi, AL
ALBANIA and Arkansas indorsing the sim
gle tax, and have letters from ten or
twelve leading men in the Farmers and
Laborers' Union to the same effect. The
Memphis Single Tax Association is
making itself felt in this section, and
considering its numbers and means is
doing tremendous work.--New York
GtIn1nrd