The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-04-19
THE SINGLE TAX.
To the Editor of THE HERALD:

To the Editor of THE HERALD:
What is known as the Bethany idea," or
nationalism in this country and as social
ism in Germany, proposes the abolition of
private property in land and the entire re-
organization of society on the basis of in
dustrial cooperation, which is that the en-
tire production and distribution of wealth
shall be under the supervision of the gen
eral government.
There are two points to consider in this
proposed reform, viz: Are there evils in
our present economical system, and will
the adoption of the theory of nationalism
remedy theml
The last half century has witnessed q
marvellous increase in wealth producing
power The invention and introduction of
machinery within the last few years have
displaced nineuy-five in each hundred en-
gagged in the manufacture of wooden goods,
IS per cent. of those engaged in the manu-
facture of cotton goods, so per cent. of
those engaged in agriculture and the
manufacture of boots and shoes, and 75 per
cent. of those engaged in the manufacture
of flour. In short, twenty five men can
now do the work that required one hundred
less than hall century ago. But with all
this progress, there are throughout the
United States poverty and discomfort.
That this condition is caused by overpro-
duction is denied. How can there be over
production of food when hundreds are
dying daily from starvation! How can
there be overproduction of clothes when
thousands of men, women and children are
suffering from lack of necessary apparel 2
How can there be oyerproduction of any
article when the needs of the community
are not supplied with that articlel
The theory that suffering is due to over
population is not substantiated by facts or
reason
The United States have only twenty in
haDitants to the square mile and millions
of acres of fertile land unoccupied and W ait
ing for the tlller. Even in the most thickIy
populated countries of Europe there is pro-
duced much more wealth than is sufficient
to provide all with the necessaries of life.
Thus, while the natural resources of the
earth are more than ample TO supply the
wants of its inhabitants, suffering from
want prevails.
As wealth can only be produced by labor
acting upon natural opportunities, and as
there is an abundance Of labor and mex
haustible natural resources, the cause of
poverty must be the inability of labor to ge,
access 10 natural opportunities If labor
gets access to natural opportunities wealth
will be produced and the wants of the
toiler satisfied from his own production,
But labor cannot get access to these oppor
tunitles because they are monopolized by
private individuals; therefore private prop
erty in land is the fundamental wrong in
our social institutions. The citizens of this
republic can no longer discuss in a patron
izing manner tho evils of landlordism to
lrishmen and other Europeans.
af ia
ley estate owns 1000 acres within
the limits of Pittsburg aud Ale
gheny cities, from which the
heirs draw a million dollars annually
Vanderbilt owns 100000 acres: Murpby
of California, 100000 equal in al ca to the
state of Massachusetts,. the Standard oil
company, 100000, and railroad companies
2ll,O0O,000 Twenty one million acres in
the United States are owned by foreipr
noblemen. "Lordn Scully, of Ireland, owns
10000 acres in Illinois, which he parcels ou1
TO small farmers who work like slaves fo,
bare living and turn over to their foreign
landlord 500, 900 per annum.
These examples tend to show the grow
ing condition of land monopoly in thi,
country.
The daily foreclosure of mortgages ir
many OF the western states is greatly add
ing to the aggregate acreage held by foreipr
and domestic landlords-one is as GOOD q,
the other. either merely considering III,
tenant a producer from whom must be ex.
tracted all that he produces save barrel,
sufficient to enable him to exist.
That evils exist in our economical svs.
tenn is evidenced by the undeniable preya
lence of want amidst the power to produc,
plenty. The main cause has been directl,
traced to private property in land. Tn,
remedy proposed by Nationalism is simpl,
yet radical, viz: abolish private property
In land The justice of this remedy canno
be questioned. Land, which includes al
natural elements. is necessary to life. r,
deny the right to land is 10 deny the RICH
TO life.
Herbert Spencer, in chapter TX of $50.
cial Statistics pointedly discusses priyar,
property in land as follows: Equity
therefore. does not permit property in land