The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1894-05-06
OFFICIAL SINGLE TAX LECTURER,
Louis Il. Post Of New York Ar
riyes in Los Angeles.
He win Explain the Georgian
Theory Of Taxation,
He Tells, the "Herald" About Political
and Social ConditionB--Ths Coxsy
Movemont-The RoaIignment
OF Political Parties.


the official single tax lecturer of the
United States. and it is in such o capac-
ity that he visits Los Angeles. He was
chairman of the national single tax con-
ference in Chicago last summer and one
of the prominent speakers at the various
mass meetings there and then held. He
is wonderfully pleasing and effective
orator, without such suxiliaries as charts
and diagrams; but with those aids,
which he uses in his lectures, he pre-
SCENTS the subjeet'in such a novel and
striking manHer as to surprise and
charm his audiences.
A HERALD representative found Mr..
Pest in the, Office of Assistant District
Attorney Conkling, and was cordially
received by the noted advocate of the
land tax theory, and the two we're soon
engaged ina lively conversation. When
the talk had turned from business
topics. chiefly pertaining to mat
ters connected with California,
Mr.. Post said that he had been on the
road this year since the I'd OF last Octo-
Der, during which time he had spoken
to over 100 audiences, in "a many diff
ferent places. His route was through
through Canada; thence down through
New England to New York and south as
far as Lexington, Va. Then along
Southern New York and into Pennsyl-
vania, West Virginia. Ohio and Michi-
gan. After tour of three weeks In
Michigan, beginning ct the Ann Arbor
university, he went to Chicago and
through the northwestas far az Mime.
apolis, thence down the Mississippi,
across Iowa, and down the Missouri as
far as Kansas City. Then across Mis-.
souri, to st. Louis, whore he spent 10
days speaking every night.
Sat what places have you spoken"
the HERALD man inquired, "before com.
ing to Los Angeles?"
sin the fell spoke in several places
in New York state, and also in Toronto,
Kingston, Ottawa and other towns in
Canada, ana in Portland, Boston. New
York city, Philadelphia, Baltimore and
Washington. Since January l have
lectured in various cities in Pennsyl-
vanis, West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan.
Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa,
Kansas, Missouri, Louisiana, Texas and
New Mexico. l am now on my way up
the coast. shall speak in San Francis
co, Portland and Seattle, and also in
British Columbia, the Northwest Ter
ritory and Manitoba. In my route 1
have lectured at Washington and Lee
university, Ann Arbor university, Beth
any college, Iowa college. and before
several important business, economic,
political and social organizations. In
Michigan l spent two weeks or more,
and IN Texas l lectured every night but
Sundays for month"
what were your subjects ?"
1.-THE titles of my lectures were vari-
Gus, but the subject matter always re-
lated to Henry Georges ideas as to land
tenure and taxation, az will those that
deliver here"
"Have Mr.. Georges ideas anything to
do with those Of Ooxey's movement"
THAT depends upon what you mean.
II you wish to know whether Coxey REQ.
resents Mr.. Georges views in any re.
spect, or whether we are in sympathy
with ouch Don Quixotism as Coxey's,
then my answer is emphatically, No.
The Coxey movement is q natural out
growth OF protectionism, to which we
are opposed from start to finish. All
through the protection era it has been
customary for people who want to make
steel, or grow wool, or manufacture
sugar, or raise fruit. or do anything else,
to call upon congress to help them out.
Coxey has now organized an army to
make similar demand. The only diff
ference between Coxey and Carnegie is
that Coxey seems really to have taken
the poor into partnership with him,
while Carnegie only pretends to.
There iB q sense, however, in which
the Coxey movement is related to the
single tax, bnt it is far removed and
rather left-handed relationship. Ths
Coxey movement Ia one OF the express
sions of discomfort with existing condi-
tions. 1t isto the body polite what a
sore is to the body physical. 1t indi-
Gates disease. The relation OF the single
tax to this ia that it points out the dis
ease and prescribes the remedy. That
remedy is not the futile marching Of a
email army of unemployed to Washing
ing, asking congress for employment.
Why should congress be asked to give
employment? And how can congress
give employment, and why should peo-
pie want employment? Employment is
only the means OF getting what we
3 really want. And congress- cannot give
that to some without taking it from 9th.
ers. The people who first came to this
country did not ask congress for employ
ment. They employed themselves, III
they had been obliged to 20 to congress
for employment they would have been
in very bad case, for there was no con.
gress to 20 to. L. not it remarkable
notion that we are dependent upon con-
gress for profitable business and employ
ment? Yetitia the notion that Coxey and
all other protectienists hold in common.
IT these people should find themselves
in Robinson Crusee's plight on lonely
island, we should have to imagine them
"a organizing q congress- and passing
tariff laws, and issuing money to build
roads with, SO necessary prerequisites to
the prosperity of business and the en-
ployment of labor.
But that there is lack OF opportuni-
ties for employment cannot be denied.
The existence of this army is enough to
prove it. Coxey couldn't have organ
ised corporal's guard il it were net so.
he could not have organized himself.
Why 10 It.? The answer is simple enough.
Why were the original settlers here
amply supplied with employment? Be-
lcsnse they were amply supplied with
iands But are we not now amply
iupplied with land? Undoubtedly
20 are, bat it is owned and
cid at prices so much more than
is worth that that business stagnates
I'd the labor market is crowded."
How does the single tax remedy
ls?v
First by exempting business from
burdens OF taxation; second, by
dening land owning with taxation.