The herald., 1894-02-03
Political Reformers Meet at
Unity Church.
The Chicago Club Sends Fraternal
Greeting.
Eioquent Speakers Expound the Moth
ida by Whlch All Our Political
Ilis Are to lie Oured-9ues-
tiOns Answered.

GUESSED. Not the least interesting fea-
ture Of the meeting was the asking OF
questions by persons in the audience
and the answers given by the speakers.
During the evening the chairman re-
ceived and read a dispatch from Chi
cago, when, by reason of the difference
in time, the Single Tax club had just
adjourned and congra tulated the Los
Angeles single takers, as follows:
CHICAGO. Feb. 2, '94.
Ralph E. Hoyt, Unity Church, Los Angeles:
Chicago halls Los Angeles on complet-
ing the circle OF single tax outposts now
formed.
CHICAGO SINGLE TAX CLUB.
After the applause caused by the read
ing OF the telegram, the audience was
treated to short and effective speeches,
each in his own individual manner, by
Messrs. Clarence A. Mile, John @.
Bennett. Marion NJ. Conkling and Hon.
Frank Finlayson, after which the au-
dience was turned into question club
TO tax the single takers intellect, but
the questions were satisfactorily an
sMered.
The meeting having proved a success
more will follow, the next one being
fixed for Friday evening, February 9th.
The meeting was called to order by
Ralph 4. Hoyt, the temporary president
of the club, who proceeded to address
the audience ON the principles, aims
and prospects OF the single tax organi-
cations of which there are now said to
he nearly or quite 5000 clubs in the
United States, with about $780, 900 be-
LEVERS in the principles embodied in
the platform.
incidentally the chairman announced
that the permanent presidency of the
club had been rendered to Mr.. T. d.
Stimson, one of the most enterprieing
capitalists and business men who ever
located in Los Angeles, a man who
since coming here from Chicago five or
six years ago had put hundreds of
thousad6 of dollars into solid improve
ments in this city, and was still pushing
ahead on that line.
A committee called ON Mr.. Stimson
just prior to his starting for Chicago,
when free interchange of sentiments
was had. Mr.. Stimson stated that
while he could not satisfactorily fill any
Office in the Single tax club of this city,
owing to his pressing business cares and
frequent calls to the east he was a
single taxer, heart and soul, and had
been one for many years. He was in
full sympathy with the movement in
this city and would cheerfully aid it in
it's good work.
He expressed his belief that the sim
gle tax theory, if applied to Los Angeles
as to city taxes only, would result in
dou bling the population of the city and
correspondingly increasing its business,
in five years. A judge of the superior
court told him he believed that such
change would be wrought in half of five
years.
Mr.. St;meon further said he would
feel proud to have the announcement
made at this meeting that he was
single tsxer and supporter of the or
ganization in this city.
The announcement of Mr.. Stimson's
adherence to the movement was greeted
with hearty applause.
Mr.. Hoyt then dwelt at some length
on the present system of taxation,
claiming that under existing laws every
possible inducement was offered to
monopoly, while legal obstacles and
discouragements we're placed in the way
of industry.
He declared that the single tax was
natural. rational proposition for the
restoration of an inheritance from which
the masses had been shut out. Every
argument in favor OF the single tax sys-
tenn was plea for the disinherited.
The movement was not one for the dis
tribution of charities.
1t was not the purpose of the organi-
cation to erect free lunch counters or
conduct establishments for the dispen-
sation Of soup among the hungry VIC
Tins of false social system. Such
acts of kindness were commendable in
an emergency like the present, when
the whole country swarmed with desti-
tute persons; but it was the part of
wisdom to ascertain the cause or causes
OFT OF which such conditions arise, and,
having discovered the real cause, to APP
ply the remedy.
The single takers simply demand
justice for all. They believe that the
chief cause of industrial and CONNER
cial depression is land monopoly, with
all that the term implies. How to raise
necessary public revenue without dis
couraging industry, REFRESHING produc-
ton, or robbing labor OF any portion
OF its earnings, WAS the problem to
be solved and only the single tax could
reach the case. The movement was not
socialistic, anarchistic nor revolutionary
unless q quiet. lawful change for the
better in our taxation system were a
revolution. The movement did not
contemplate the dispossessing Of land
owners OF their holdings, or the disturb
ing of existing land titles. 1t simply
meant to lift the burden of taxation
from improvements, personal property,
and every product Of human industry,
and tie raising of sll necessary public
revenue from land values irrespective OF
Improvements. In other words, it
meant revenue without robbery. The
plan W adopted in New Zealand three
years ago, when that colony was terribly
depressed by land monopoly and the un-
employed were clarnoring for bread or
blood" 1t worked admirably, and to-
day New Zealand was prosperous, bust
Hess was good, labor was fully en-
ployed and tne public treasury contained
surplus OF several hundred thousand
pounds; whereas in 1890 the treasury
was depleted.
The single tax theory was rapidly be-
coming popular in the eaet. The inter-
national congress and the national con-
terence Of single takers held in Chicago
last summer gave the movement new
impetus. Over 80 newspapers Wore de-
vosed exclusively to the propagation OF
chs systam. Editorial endorsements OF
- had ALEC appeared in such influential
dailies IS the Chicago Herald, ST. Louis
Pact D;anatrh Nav Xors- Tiry,au Srn