Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-09
Correspondence Of The Evening star
HYATTsvILIE. Nh. Sept g. 1922

which was held in the hall of the Hvattsville
Athletic Club last evening, Was largely attended
by the citizens Of this town, and a dozen or
more ladies were present. The single tax men
were there in full force headed by their chief,
Mr.. Ralston. and interrupted the speakers on
several occasions. A bad feeling between the
two factions prevailed throughout the meeting.
The hall was handsomely decorated Gith flags.
Nr, Francis H. Smith presided and Mr.. r. Ford
Combs acted as secretary. Mr.. Smith intro
dueed the speaker Of the evening, Mr.. W. A.
Croffut. whose address was literally spplauded.
During his speech Mr. Croffut asked the au-
dience IL 1t could guess what be paid for the
suit Of clothes he had on. Dir. Ralston re-
marked. 'sL50." and the speaker replied,
"sl.24' lie was asked If he bought II new,
and replied that he not only bought II new, but
purchased il from a man who had many more
Hkeit and that the suit was machine made. Mr.
Guista here remarked that those who made
them received at the rate of 80 cents per dny rs
wages and WIS informed by Mr. Habercom
that he knew too much. Mr. Cronut then SAID
that he only wore the suit on state occasions,
and asked il clothes could be bought Tor such
reasonable urice what was the use OF Henry
Georges Theory? lie stated that II men had no
rich, 10 own land they had no right &c own
h..ything.
voice: who said they had no right to own
lanlf"
Mr. UabsTcO-l-'E Henry George
Nr. Croffu: sad that the laboring man now
worked ter instead OF thirteen hours a day and
received FROM 90 70 i9D per cert more for his
WORK l.. sr.aaiaS % iTaILps and communists
lie said tI.si tAars , ere 10. a. many now as
there were 30 years ago. There were trarnps
then bit they va: D. different Game-called
sharks and cu1srrS.
M Wissuan Who sat a. the other end of the
hall had frequently interrupted the speaker and
Wa informed by him that he was familiar with
tr.Inps. This remark brought down the house.
In conclusion he stated that if he came out to
Hyattsville he did not think that the tax of IS
on q, 600 house would deter him from build
ing one. although he added. amid much laugh
ter. that he could buy three or four suits of
clothes for that amount. He said tina. Mr..
Ralston had placed new tangled measure upon
the people, and that according TO shat theory a
man had 70 pay just az much tax on a lot worth
$500 a. he would upon a house valued at IS 900.
voice-"Tha. is equitable"
Mr.. CroffCt-''I know that some thirteen or
fourteen men think So"
He also said that il would be ridiculous to
adopt the single tax theory in the country; that
IL would be robbery. and that socialism would
follow. The following is the substance of his
address:
MR.. CROFFCT's ADDRESS.
The speaker said that his friends had been
guying and joking him week about the mani
fold danger OF going TO Hyat,sville; had asked
him with much soiicitude IL he suit of
chain srmor if the hens of Hyattsville laid
fresh eggs. &c. and he added that while the
perils hirted at were not apparently great, yet
it was seriously true that Hyattsviile action in
resolving to tax land alone making her
friends in very questionable 9uarters-was ex-
citing the admiration Of Communists. socialists.
natiOnaiists, rioters and anaychists-Cf John
Most, Justus Schvab and Mr.. Bellamy-all the
men whose theories, carried into practice,
would be robbery.
In his remarks he said he would not attempt
to settle the allegations made concerning the
local situation: On side that the whole
assessment had been changed clandestinely and
surreptitiously. with something even of
duplicity. that the mode of taxation had been
reyolutiOuize6 BY barely thirty citizens. against
the wishes OF LOO voters; or the allegations on
the other hand that a large-hearted and
unselfsh phianthropist had arisen among them
who, by quiet methods. bad imposed upon them
. vastly improved system of taxation which
nobody would feel at all and all would hail with
enthusiasm as soon as it got into operation
These conflicting statements he would leave TO
the people OF Hyattsville to settle for them
selves.
Mr. Grofrut addressed himself TO the general
character Of the single tax plan-the plan which
taxes land alone. Henry Georges syllogism
runs as follows:
Major premise The rich are growing richer
and the poor poorer
. Minor premise Under a single tax these con-
6itio1s woald be reversed.
Coneiusion-Thereforea single tax ought to
be adopted
The opponents of this theory have generally
cOnten;ed them elves with hsinmering away at
the MINOR premise while accepting the major
premise. for although George denies the right
of anybody else to have any premises he insists
on having some himself.
The speaker attacked the major premise-
that the rich are growing richer and the poor
poorer, ard by a diagram deduced from the
census. which he hung on the wall. he showed
that wCrkinGmen were never well of as they
are tnday-tlat they get higher wages than
ever before, a:d the necessities OK life are
cheaper than ever before: that il that work
brings far higher return than ever before,
whether measured by mOney the cOmmodi-
ties which money Will buy. He claimed that
wages had doubled in thirty Yeats and quad
rUpltd II -etenty: that the conditions sur
rom ling the PEOPLE had improved so much that
the life ct man has been heightened three
years durinS this half century. that health is
better and crime and pauperi-m less than ever
before. An array ~ facts and figures we're
lEstslUced 10 prove this From IL the speaker
inferred ;hat neither the Henry George
IaEa,c@ ny he Railamy remedy nor
III loSGeTlr specific was needed: that The
present competitive system OF industry is most
ler"-.ccnt N IT, workings. and no better system
could probably be Devised BY man.
THE VALUE OF LAND.
ha- right 20 own land because no man could
ni.A, i,lsi. Ny. Crotfut insisted that man made
L...d exactly - MICH "a nc MAKES hats or shoes
o. iJ-c- 80 AZ. ,h'@g that i. man gives TO land
whatever Of Waite I, pO-se-ses- Etil man apprO-
PIRATES i. .. land whatever i worth ANYTHING
The most v.;!...il' acre IN tie city OF New York
uot worth single cent til mau laid his
hand or il AID dIt those shinc- which gave it
'aigV- Lat =. he proceeded T. NSEt il. Labor
hen. 10: the caJ.se or creator of value
Ike j. created solely by demand. The more
me- want a particular piece Of land the more il
rises L. FsiUe- This Henry George calls I'M
eGsHtd Increment. because be SAWS it was
caused chiefly By 'he men who 90 not own it.
-trt &c presence Of a surrounding population
= j.. wha; gives value 20 everything The
Nn.-c l: q hing always depends on its being at
the gEt pl.ce az the right time
The Il cake conceded the exact truth of
He=yv ticorgcs assertion that ''it Is the great
4i.s-, % l.E'..ess who confer the chief value on
AM" So. he -aid. II is lie great mass Of the
hstle~- waa confer the chef value on hats-in
fast. ;uc hole value II il were not for the
b ,is>-. present prospective. shoes would
hsve ~, sa..e- IL - the hOuseless who give
ralHs - h"i.--'s /: Is The hungry who give
value to foCl. /; i, the in-uitciently clad who
give value "a clothes The increased value Of
lar,i J. no more ''Unearned shan thai of his
store = hf blii,;s il on q prominent corner, OF