The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-04-16
EASTMAN,
SCHLEICHER
& LEE
SINGLE TAX AND SOCIALISM.
l.. p. Custer Makes an Address Before
the Progress Club.

Mr.. L. p. Custer. of st. Louis. discussed
socialstic and single-tax views before the
Progress Club yesterday afternoon. After
a few preliminary remarks. expressing
pleasure at meeting old acquaintances, and
the telling of a funny story. as illustrative
OF results that would possibly accrue from
his inexperience in the role OF lecturer
the speaker began his address by saying
that throughout the civilized world the
ferment of thought had reached such
stage of activity that material results
might be expected in the near future and
in fact, material results had already been
had in the far-off land of New Zealand
where, according to official reports of the
American consul, revolutionary changes in
taxation had taken place which had had
such stimulating effect upon the fortunes
OF the colony that she was the single
exception of the whole group of English
dependencies in Australasia that had not
passed through a crisis OF hard times and
severe Industrial depression.
Taking up the subject Competition" it
was stated being apparently an insig-
nificant term. but that it was of vital
Importance when logically examined. Com
petition" said he, "hds greater influence
for evil or good upon the interests of the
affecting our social relations 1t acts on
production and exchange like the blood
of the human body. When diseased, in
either case. eruptions appear on the sur
face, and as eruptions have long since
appeared on the surface of the body poll
tic it was a sure sign that remedy was
needed. What shall that remedy be? is
a practical question" The speaker said he
thought the doctor who would prescribe
the remedy had been discovered and lit
may be that he will be called into consul
tatiOn sooner than many OF us anticipate"
Society cannot stand STILL" said he; lit
must 90 forward or backward. The ques-
tion is what Is progress and what is retro
gression? Two schools of thought are
abroad in the land teaching the people to
look forward TO a better fiscal system
through the adoption OF their ideas. One
STANDS Tor the oDllteTation OF composition
and the other would foster ii. The first is
called socialism; the other single-taxism.
There can never be political afiiliation be-
tween the two schools, because one means
Capitalization the other decentralization;
one means power and abuse of power i'm
a few hands, the other simplited govern
ment, whose chief functions are the con-
servation of human rights; one, i'm effect
means Hamiltonianism. the other Jefferson
ianism."
The address was delivered i'm four diyi-
sions: Socialism as the eliminator Of com
petition; SinSle-taNatOn as the conservatOr
OF competition; The disastrous effects of
competition under present conditions: and
What Will be the effects OF competition
under free condtiOns-the absence OF mo-
nopOy in natural sources Of wealth? The
Backward To show what might be ex-
pected under sOcialistic regime, and made
the statement that the work is a practical
illustrator OF the working details OF a
sOcialistic government, that, in fact IL
competition is TO be obliterated and a me-
dunn OF exchange done away with and the
wealth that is produced, under forms of
compulsion, divided equally, without dis
tinctions, then Bellamys plan is the only
plan that can be followed. Organize the
producers and adopt rules for strict dis
eipiine. From such "A government nothing
but deSpotism, sooner or later. could be
expected because. said the speaker. the
Few into whose hands the affairs OF state
ana MAINTENANCE OF discipline are placed
are themselves failible and victims of I'M
just and corrupt social environments
epotism, alone, would cause discord i'm
mediately and lead TO elimination and re-
elimination, ana eventually confusion that
only force could subdue. Buckle was quoted
as saying that there never was class
vested with power that did not abuse it,
Turning 10 single tax, the speaker elab-
GRATED on the principles of Henry George
and brought out the strong points in favor
OF the doctrine.
Turning to the third division. he graph-
ically described the effects of comDetition
under present conditions and wound up
the address by a further elaboration Of
single-taX philosophy and how its abortion
as the fiscal policy OF the government would
transform the principle of competition into
ton and work regeneration of the moral
and Intellectual condition of mankind Re-
ferrtng 10 agriculture, the speaker said .
thinking people should never lose sight
or the fact that the great farming industry
together with mining numbering and stock
raising, Is the foundation of the social
structure, and 10 neglect it or weaken II
by imposition of whatever character is TO
lay violent hands on the body polite itself
and threaten its downfall. Therefore every
indueement that society can offer should
be extended y rural populations 10 the end
mat their lie may be rendered more en-
durable and the incentive 10 remain made
more certain"
As a believer in the doctrine Dron,uI-
gated by Henry George. the speaker thinks
that the single tax will bring about this
happy result 10 the farmers