The morning call., 1893-07-31
Single Tax Will Be His
Chief Topic.
NO FAVORITISM FOR SILVER.
The Financial Depression Attributed
by Him to the Present Sys.
tenn of Landlordism.

tax Society last night at 909R Market
street.. The hall was packed. He spoke
over two hours.
President Reynolds said the present
business depression had been attributed
by d. o. Mills to bankers panic. Rather
should it be called landlords panic.
The chairman said that Mr.. Mcguire
was the early advocate of the single-tax
doctrine here. "He was the associate Of
Henry George, and has sought with him
to amend the inferptp struggle for exist
ence," said Mr.. Rm FOLDS. Times have
changed. and we kef" not only listen to
talk about single tax, but understand
what q man is saying when he speaks
about it."
Mr.. Mcguire said that there is an indus
trial depres sion once every eight years on
an average. 1t comes in spite of every
thing that men Of industry and commerce
can do to prevent it, and We always at
tribute ii to that thing nearest TO US which
begins to pinch us. Ii we are troubled
because OF the lack of money we think the
cause of the depression is that there is not
an abundance of money. II there were
more coin there would be better times, We
financial system. If there were a single
standard the remedy would be found, in
their opinion.
The ex-Judge related an incident that
occurred at the Old California Theater
when a Fourth Of July Celebration was
held there. The crowd was so great that
all could not press In. One man in the
middle of the crowd said to the man
behind him Don't push" The latter
"a n Dt hal n q
other repeated his adm0nition, and when
it was not respected he cried angrily. IF
you push again I'll hit you on the nose"
Tho trouble with him. said the speaker.
was that lie did not look hey Ond the person
nearest to him.
Concerning the financial situation Mr..
Mcguire SAID: THE difficulty lies no. in
the scarcity Of money so much as In the
fact that the wrong people have the money.
There Is somewhere a wrong distribution
OF money. The laws of trade should de-
termine how much gold and silver should
be used just as they determine how much
wheat. corn or potatoes should be- used.
Gold and silver have no particular sancliiy
above other commodities. The silver peo-
pie think silver is sacred metal"
II believe gold and silver ought to be
coined freely by the people" said Con-
gresham Mcguire. when men have
gold or silver that they wish to use in cir
culation they ought to be allowed to have
it stamped and sent out. The Government
ought TO issue enough money 10 meet its
own wants aud this money should be in
paper. 1t should issue treasury notes 10
meet its own obligations aId make them
available for all business purposes while
they are out. The laws OF trade would
thus determine how much gold and how
much silver are wanted.
"When silver is needed silver spoons
would be melted and sent to the mint, and
when the demand was satisfied silver
financial policy of the country has no
doubt produced infinite hardship and un-
rest.
~ have not changed my opinion rs to
the relative importance Of the tariff and
money questions. The hardship which
was caused last year by the tariff is not
due this year TO the silver question. While
do not believe in the parity Of gold and
silver in the market | cannot support the
attempt to create an artificial market for
silver in order that si.ver-mlne owners
may profit by selling hundreds of millions
Of dollars worth Of the metal to the Gov
erument, which has 10 use for it and keeps
it as a white elephant on its hands.
II do not believe in creating such an
artificial market for the benefit Of men
who have the monopoly OF silver mines
any more than l believe in the Govern
ment purchasing the corn OF Kansas to
create an artificial market Tor that COM
modify. In fact, it would be better for the
Government to buy the corn instead Of the
silver, as it would thus encourage an in
dus,ry which does not expire with one rak-
ing OF tho soil"
You're wrong" exclaimed man IN the
audience.
Il would be surprised and pleased if
there were only one man In the audience
who thought So" retorted the speaker.
pleasantly, and the assem- blage laughed.
The Congressman asked what the in
dustrial depIessions OF 1876. 1854 and
1928 were attributable to. and he pro-
ceeded to argue that the present system of
land ownership helps to bring hard times.
There is a constant upward tendency in
land values. Ia this city and county the
holders get interest on valuation of
$500, 600. 900. This world was created for
the use of man. We were not present At
the making of it, and did not hear the
creator say so; but the voice Of creation
tells US that this world was designed for
the maintenance. comfort and improve
ment Of man. The land here was just as
good fifty years ago as it is now. but it had
no value. That was because it had no in-
dusrries. no population.
1.-THE location Of this peninsula gives 1t
more value than comes from the potency
VI IGo Dull i bO AoOots Sh'SA pA'SS am
virtues Of the people have caused the value
OF the land to 60 up.
II have no prejudice against land
owners" the speaker went on. II am a
landowner myself. and every man should
be land-o wner. The single-taX doctrines
are not opposed TO the ownership of land.
but tend to give all men a more equal
chance than now to share the bounty Of
the Creator"
Most men in investing in land have in
view greater gain than rent affords.
They count on the speculative advance.
A man can have as large and we'll stocked
store on Sanchez street for $50 q month
as he can on Kearny street for $500 a
month. because the enterprise and trade
OF the people can be better taken advan-
tage of on krarny street. The nero
owner of the land contributes nothing 10
the value OF the land. He may live in
Europe and never see the land. but tho
rents keep going up. He may not improve
it. Its value does not depend on what he
does with it or where he 10. It's value in
creaseS with the growth of The commu-
nifty. The rent rises with the prosperity
but does not aid the prosperity. the fruits
Of " hicn 1t absorbs.
Every reduction of wages goes to increase
the rental value Of land in a community.
In Pajaro Valley American farmers lost
control Of their lands because cheap for
eign lab0rers bid higher rents, paying more
than tho American farmer could afford TO