The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-06-19
THE SINGLE TAKERS IDEAS,
Considerable Interest Shown at
Last Nights Meeting.
The Society Making Rapid Growth
in This Vicinity.
President Hoyt States the Condition of
the socfety-Addresses by
Mias Kelso ana Mr..
Miller.

One OF the largest audiences OF the
series attended the single tax meeting
at Unity church last night, and deep
interest in the proceedings was mani
tested from opening to adjournment
After calling the meeting to order
Ralph E. Hoyt, president of the club,
stated that the growth OF the organzs-
ton thus far had been almost phenome-
nal. The club was started in February
last with only few members, but the
fret public meeting indicated that ii
might be possible to build upa strong
organization. though avowed single
takers in this community were then
few and very quiet. The movement
had since been steadily and persistently
pushed forward, until it had attained a
momentum which nothing would be
likely to permanently check. Public
meetings, including the Post lecture 8.
had been held at Unity church every
week since February I'd, the av-
and the audiences chiefly COMPOSE sd
Va thAAhthk HcOpl0 w hV AO1AtC0 w AbhhAy
investigate economic questions. The
membership of the organization had
increased over HOO per cent, and many
persons were studying economic ques-
tions with view of uniting with the
club. Some of the best men and
women in the community were already
members, and applications for litera-
ture, which the club distributes free,
were increasing daily, many coming
from outside towns.
The programme OF the evening was
opened by an address by Miss Tessa
Kelso. who spoke briefly on the propo-
sition heretofore spoken OF. to supply the
public library with single tax literature
with an index to enable investigators to
find just what ia needed, with least
trouble.
Miss Kelso said that her first acqusint-
ance with the single tax was through
Hsmlin Garland, and later was fully
convinced OF the justice of the single
tax philosophy by the irrefutable argu-
ment OF Herbert Spenser, not by Spen-
ser'a latest work, but by bis immortal
Social States.
In order to more fully understand all
the minute details of the workings oil
the single tax in practical use. Miss
Kelso propounded some very elaborate
questions to be discussed during the
. evening.
The questions in short were: Ia il
juet to sell out a mans personal prop
erty and Improvements in case he could
not pay the 81 & tax?
Is 1t logical To say you want absolute
individuality and then speak OF nation
slizing railroads, telegraphs, etcP
In conclusion Mise Kelso stated that
the single tax platform should contain a
plank OF more universal education.
Mr.. Clarence A. Miller next took the
floor. and answering the questions Of
Miss Kelso. Mr.. Miller said: In regard
to the question OF justice and morals We
single takers begin with morality anC
have built upon justice. Men naturally
want to be good, but our surrounding
will not let US be good-our laws are MOI
all just.
The single tax stands for the doctrine
of @ right to homes. Would you go to 6
Coxeyite and say you should oppose the
single tax because his posterisy would
not be secure in owning his nome under
that regime? Why, the man would an
swer, what am interested in just now
lie to get a heme for myself first. II
can live well have no fear for posterity
With the single tax We would have
free street cars. because the value o.
that accommodation would reflect in
land values and the land tax would pay
for running those cars.
We do not claim that single tax would
cure all ills, but, indirectly, we claim
that it will rsvolutionize the economic
world. You may abolish all other eco
nomic ills except land monopoly, and
land monopoly would get all the bene
fits. But abolish land monopoly first
and any other reform we may bring
about after that will benefit the people
If the city furnished water free to con-
sumers would not rents go up $3.50 pei
month? Would not free street cars raise
the rent OF all property along the line
What benefit are such reforms, then
unless we get those increased land rents
into our public treasury? We could
then abolish all taxes on Industries.
We are not merely theorists, but we
are also practical. In early colonial
times the Massachusetts legislature
made q law to limit the wages of car
penters. Do we need such laws now
No. Wages are low enough. Why wae
it necessary then? Because at that time
there was lots of free land, and. there
fore, wages were high. The single tax
will make land practically free, and
wages will, therefore, go up again.
We have part OF the single tax here
now. When street is improved the
cost is taxed ON the land along the street
taxing the vacant land as much as the
improved land. Why? Because the
benefit is equal to both, and so do all
Improvements and all civilization add
to the value of land alone, and to moth
ing else.
Here Mr.. Miller read report frorl
New Zeslsnd. where the single tax is nc
longer theory but condition, and the
condition of the people there sesms to
be rather enviable, as compared with
the people Of other parts of the world.
Mr.. Bennett spoke with good effect
upon the single tax on homes and other
phases OF the philosophy. Others be.
came interested, and the time for adj
journment arrived only too early, leav
ing much to contend over at the nsxt