Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-04
sINGLE-TAx APOSTLES QUARREL.
Why Henry George aud DR.. McGiynn
Do Not Speak.

DR.. Edward McGlynn has been deliberately
and pointedly snubbed by Henry George and
his friends In the single-tax conference, which
closed yesterday, says a New York special to
the Baltimore Sun. The ingratitude Of this is
striking, when all that the priest gave up for
the man who now sights him is remembered
The early addresses Of DR.. McGlynn are foil of
the most fulsome praise of Henry George
That Christ-like man" was one OF his favorite
descriptions of the evangelist who had come to
abolish poverty. For him and his theories DIR.
McGlynn abandoned his sacred calling, his old
friends and associations. everything that made
life pleasant and crowned an honorable career
in the ministry. Now they do not speak. Mr..
George is still the hero Of the hour in political
reform. and the excommunicated priest sits un-
noticed among the crowd in the hall, with none
of the leaders-his former fatterers and en-
oouragers of his insubordination-to do him
even a little reverence. The moral Of the fickle-
ness Of popular favor is sad, but curious.
Mr.. POST EXPLAINS.
After the conference Chairman Louis F. Post
made statement to the reporters which indi-
Gated that the feeling between Henry George
and the Rev. DIR. McGlynn is not as cordial as
was supposed by the delegates on tuesday
night. when they applauded DIR. McGlynn's APP
pearance at the meeting. He said "A dele
gate from Ohio (whose name l do not wish to
give) informed me on Monday, as chairman of
the conference, that DR.. Houghton, who is
manager of DIR. McGlynn's lecturing arrange
ments. told him that he OR. Houghton), with
Dr. McGlynn and a few more OF his friends,
would come into the convention in a body.
The intimatiOn was clear that they wished to
stampede the meeting. Most of the delegates
were under the impression when DIR. McGlynn
entered that he was returning as q repentant
prodlSal and they since assured me so in
plantation of the manner in which thoy cheered
him. They did not know that his visit was
piece OF theatrical display intended to result in
call for the leader OF protective league, but
owing to the excellent manner in which Mr.
Brown of Illinois, the chairman, conducted the
meeting the purpose was frustrated"
The delegates to the Single Tax League
began their session by discussion as to
members. Vim. Lloyd Garrison of Boston
thought no discrimination should be made
and that women should be admitted Just the
same rs men. Some of the delegates held that
1t was impossible to admit them on the same
ground The discussion was voted irregular.
THE PLATFORM.
Henry George then read the platform which
had been prepared. 1t was loudly applauded
The platform is as follows: We assert as our
fundamental principle the self-cvident truth
enumerated in the declaration Of American
independence that all men are created
equal, and are endowed by their Creator
with certain inalienable rights. We hold
that all men are equally entitled to the
possession and enjoyment of what God has
created and of what is gained by the general
growth and improvement OF the community
OF which they are part. Therefore no one
should be permitted to hold natural oppOr-
tunitles without fair return to all for any spe-
clal privileges thus accorded to him, and that
that value which the growth and improvement
mi fv aft nhoS 70 Ian Oh 1,o
taken for the use of the community; that each
Is entitled to all that his labor produces; there
fore no tax should be levied upon the products
of labor.
THE sINGLE-rAX THEORY.
To carry out these principles we are in favor
of raising all public revenues for national.
state, county and municipal purposes by
single tax on land values. irrespective of inn
provements, and that the obligation of all
forms Of direct and indirect taxation be thus
paid. Since In our states We now levy some
tax on the value of the land, the single tax can
be instituted by the simple and easy way of
abolishlng one after another all other taxes
now levied and commensurately increasing the
tax ON land values until We draw upon that one
source for all expenses of government the
revenue being divided between local govern
ments, state governments and general govern
ments as the revenue from direct tax is now
divided between the local and state govern
lneNtS, or Dy direct assessment being made
by the general government upon the states and
paid by them from revenues collected in this
manner.
The single tax we propose is not tax on
land and therefore would not fall on the use of
land and become q tax on labor. 1t is tax
not on land, but on the value of land.
Thus 1t would not fall on all land, and on that
not in proportion to the use made OF it. but in
proportion to its value, the premium which the
user OF land must pay to the owner either in
purchase money or rent for permission to use
the land. 1t would thus be a tax not on the
use or improvement OF land but on the owner
ship OF land, taking what would otherwise go
TO the owner as owner and not as user.
In assessments under the single tax all value
created by individual use or improvement
would be excluded, and the only value taken
into consideration would be the value attaching
to the bare land by reason OF neighborhood,
&c, to be determined by impartial periodic
assessments. Thus the farmer would have no
more taxes to pay than a Spectator who held a
similar piece Of land idle, and the man who on
a city lot erected q valuable building would be
taxed no more than the man who held a similar
lot vacant.
The single tax, in short, will call upon men
TO contribute to the public revenues not in pro-
portion to what they produce or accumulate,
but in proportion to the value of the natural
opportunities they hold. 1t would compel them
to pay just az much for holding land idle as for
putting it to its fullest use.
GOV UInVEV,S