The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-25
THE DELAWARE CAMPAIGN,
Congressman Mcguire to Lee
ture at Wilmington and
Other Cities.
Single Takers Pouring Their Ener-
giles Into the Little State for
the go Election.

The singIe-tax men, both here and in the
East, are congratulating themselves over
the recent announcement that Congress
man Mcguire has been secured for the big
fight in Delaware.
All over the United States. and in fact
wherever the single-tax doctrine is known
and believed, James G. Mcguire is looked
upon as one of the great prophets of the
movement, and this is saying great deal,
for there are many bright men and able
statesmen ranked among the single-taxers.
When interviewed yesterday concerning
his proposed lecture tour in Delaware Con-
gresham Mcguire said he would probably
leave here for the East some time between
the 9Th and the 10th of September. II am
going to attend the session of the Sovereign
Grand Lodge of Odd Fellows at Atlantic
City, N. j., on the 16th," said Mr.. Mcguire.
"My trip East will be a short one be-
cause mean to get back early in October
to attend the trial of some cases here. But
will go down into Delaware, where the
great single-tax battle is now raging, for a
few days at least. [ have authorized the
single tax committee to make six appoint
ments for me in the principal cities, CON-
mencing September % and ending Satur-
day evening, September %. | shall speak
at Wilmington, Dover, Newcastle and three
other cities not yet named.
Reports from Delaware are of the most
encouraging nature, from a single tax
standpoint" continued Congressman Ma
guire. "There are from ten to forty single
tax speakers distributed throughout the
State now. Every Saturday evening there
are as many different public single-tax
meetings in the State as there are speakers
o. ho and OF
are largely attended, and the attendance
is constantly increasing.
''Mr. Suden of Newcastle, Del, chairman
of the subcommittee on the Delaware cam
paign of the National Single Tax Commit
tee, reports that more has been accom-
weeks than any of the leaders supposed
could be accomplished within six months.
That hostility to the single-tax propa-
ganda which was expected has not ap-
peared, and the minds of the people of that
State are in receptive mood.
"There is general feeling in Delaware,
as in every other State, that our industrial
depressions, which occur with almost the
regularity of changes in the moons
phases = their periods being about ten
years apart-are neither natural nor neces-
sary, but the result of some maladjust-
ment in our industrial system.
"They feel, also, that the causes stated
for these decennial depressions are wholly
inadequate, and as each cause asserted re-
lates to the particular depression which it
is said to have preceded and could have no
effect in producing the other depressions.
people are coming to lose faith in these
special causes The belief is growing that
there must be some great underlying cause
operating in all countries for at least the
100 years last past, in which we have had
ten industrial depressions fully recorded
in history.
s'Now the single-tax men have natural
and common-sense explanation to these
phenomena, and it can be so simply put
and SO clearly explained alike to the edu-
Gated and uneducated man, that when
ever determined and continued propa-
astonishing rapidity. The reports from
the Delaware campaign prove this beyond
doubt, think.
"And what is this natural and common
sense explanation of these recurring in
dustrial depressions? Simply this: The
monopoly of land which causes, neces-
sarily, the periodical pressure of ground
rents in good times against the earnings
of industry and commerce, gradually
strangles both and makes all business-in-
dustrial and commercial alike-unprofit-
able until readjustment of the rent line
gives them chance to revive. Then, after
five or six years of comparative prosperity,
the gradual rise of rents above the econo-
mic line strangles all industries again.
s'This is cause widespread as civiliza-
zation, covering the whole period of indus
trial depressions and sufficient to account
for all of them.
"Now as more than four-tenths of all
the people of Delaware are absolutely land
less and have suffered intensely during
the industrial depression from which we
are just emerging, they are naturally will
| -. L. "A / II
promises them guarantee against the re-
currence of such depressions. Besides, the
single-tax idea is not new IN Delaware
There have been for several years strong
single-tax clubs in that State, and as a re-
suit of their educational work the single
tax was, before the campaign commenced,
regarded by thousands as glorious Cos
pei OF justice, although, perhaps, there were
but a few hundred who fully and inteli-
gently understood it. In addition to the
public speaking now going on there,
thousands of books and tens of thousands
Of tracts are being distributed in Delaware.
II have just given an order for 10000 of
my Congressional speeches on direct taxa
ton and land values, and extracts from
same subjects, all forming a 81 page
pamphlet, to be printed for distribution in
Delaware.
CDR. Longstreet, who left his practice as
a physician about year ago to travel
through the country lecturing on the single
tax, has gone into Delaware with large
tent that will accommodate 5000 people,
and has announced his intention of giving
his whole time to the work as long as the
campaign lasts. He is an eloquent and
earnest speaker and has met with remark
able success in travelling from city to city
in Colorado, New Mexico, Texas and other
States.
Professor Hawkins, another single-tax
what he calls his aid van. This is We
hiclc built like the ordinary United States
mail wagon. He carries load of single.
tax literature in it for distribution and
uses the wagon as q stand for his street