Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1890-10-25
TWO WOMEN
And why They Arc single Takers.

member OF the Eastern District Single
Tax Club, rarely missing any OF the
meetings. Her rare musical talent and
sweet disposition have endeared her to
the members. Asked as TO the reasons
which induced her TO accept the single
tax. she said: II first attended meet
ing OF the Eastern District Club on invi.
tation OF Mrs Deverall, who asked mo
to come and sing. Solely to oblige her
/ went, knowing little and caring less
about tho single tax. ] was content to
feel that, where my good friends, Mr..
and Mrs. Deverall were, my life. at
least, would be safe. Well, when my
turn came, sang my little part, and
later, when the discussion came on,
found my Indifference gradually disap-
pearing, and before the evening
closed was as vigorous in my
applause (size. etc, considered) as any
person in the hall. A few more meet.
ings and was anxious to join the club.
and here am" said the little lady with
emphasis, enlisted for the war. Be-
fore joining the ranks supposed that
at best the single tax people were lot
of Missionaries who, seeing the poverty
and injustice that everywhere abound.
had some sort OF quack remedy which
would prove about as efficacious for the
social system as the usual quack nos
trums do in curing the ills OF the human
body. Needless to say, I entertain q
different opinion now" said the lady
with q smile. Growing more earnest,
she continued: II now firmly believe
that the single tax will bring about q
reign OF Justice 80 perfect that its full
realization means the total abolition OF
the selfish scramble which We now see
on all sides-the weak crushed by tho
strong and the baser instincts running
riot because OF the ever lessening OPP
portunities for cultivation and advance
ment which are open to the workers.
Who so blind that can not see the rapid.
| ity with which women are replacing
men in the industrial ranks, aided in
great measure by labor-saving machineA
which enable them to perform the work
formerly requiring q mans strength?
Do the women who boast Of this ever re-
fleet on what becomes Of the men who
are thus displaced? Why, they are
driven by their necessities to seek work
at any price. This unnatural competi.
ton ever tends to force wages down. /
believe that the single tax will remedy
this; and l further believe that. y ing
remedy be e.. soon nn. applied, we. the
tnilaps, will be reduced to the same do.
grading conditions in which the masses
now find themselves throughout the old
countries. In this so-called free land we
may fiatter ourselves that no such re-
suit can overtake us. but tell you that
the same factors are at work here and
the same results are inevitable unless
we rise up and take this land monopOlist
by the throat and force him to let go his
grip upon the natural bounties which
are the inalienable inheritance of every
living human being. This is my excuse,
my justification, for having allied my.
self to what some are pleased to call q
political movement"
Mrs. Emily A. Deverall, secretary Of
the Eastern District Club, said: II came
from q small town where the pressure
of the landlord was not felt to any great
extent, at that time each family occupy.
ing q house. When / tried to make
homo in fiat Of four rooms, my heart
sank at tho prospect, and yet the neigh
borhood was good, tho rooms NICE Well,
l made the best Of it, but could not
help feeling that it was very poor sub
stitute for home. When, however. !
went into the lower portions OF the city
and saw the tenement houses, was
thankful mot content) that my lot was
no worse; but when saw that there was
an abundance OF vacant lots in different
parts of the city l naturally wondered
why they did not build more houses and
thus relieve the congested districts.
had never been encouraged to think
upon matters OF taxation and knew but
little about them. Well, could only feel
sorry for the people crammed into those
terrible tenement houses, but / could
see no way out OF 1t. Then along in
1887 / began to hear something about
taxing land values, and that If this sys-
tenn OF taxation were adopted there
would be no profit in holding unim'
proved land. My eyes slowly began to
open. After little thinking saw the
connection. The holding Of unimproved
land is profitable business; make It BY
taxation Improbable, and the holder
will improve it The moral side Of the
question at once appealed to my sense
of Justice, and am trying hard to in
form myself on all that pertains to the
single tax and free trade. beg OF my
sisters who may see this to arouse sb0n-
selves and look into the matter. For
the sake OF our children We should stand
by our husbands in this struggle for
right and IL they are not Of that mind.