Middletown transcript., 1895-08-17
SINGLE TAX.

SCRIPT desires to work. 1t was vii
this view that it gave the advocates
Single Tax hearing, though from tt
first we found nothing in the theor,
as set forth by the gentlemanly speal
ers who came to Middletown, to con
mend it to cur favor. The speeches
SO far as we have heard them, consis
Of boastful promises Of what thei
theories, put in practice, would d(
tending to array labor against capita
That which is true of the 'scampaigr
ers'' is doubly true of Justice. the Sin
gle Tax organ, published in Philadel
phia. 1t announces in display col
umn dozen or more meetings fo
Saturday in Delaware, making th
boastful claim that
THE SINGLE TAX
| WILL LOWER RENTS
| INCREASE EMPLOYMENT
| AND RAISE WAGE
and yet editorially there is not line O
argument or proof to support the pro
position. How can it do it?
1t is BY a division of the property
which people now hold in land. Tht
man who has invested the results o.
years of labor in real estate, the say
ings of patient toll is to have it taker
away from him by the Single Tax ad
vocates, and this will slower the rents
increase employment, and raise the
wages" of those. who by idleness and
shiftlessness now have nothing. If you
think the TRANSCRIPT is mistaken
read the letter of Mr.. c. F. Shandrew
in another column. He admits that
Single Tax would destroy the value of
land to its owners, denying that there
are any owners, and Justice says "when
the land owners of Delaware or anv
other part of the earth can show title
deed from the Creator, they can talk
of their land, but until they do they
had better not raise the question of
stealing" How do they propose to
deprive the people of their lands By
taxing it away from them. You may.
call it robbery, but being done legally,
they can well ask in the language of
Boss Tweed, "What are you going to
do about it ?" Read the letter of Mr..
Shandrew which is interesting in what
it fails to say as much as in what it
does say. He gives no information as
to the amount of tax it takes to run
our State government nor how that
tax would be distributed. He failed
to explain the sixth reason in their
argument for entering Delaware
"the preponderance of manufacturing
industries lin the State) in proportion
to the agricultural interests" which is
self-evident proof that in the opinion
OF its advocates the Single Tax is not
beneficial to the farmer as compared to
The mechanic and that plank of the
platform appeals to the selishness of
he latter.
line IRANRCRIPT appreciates the
compliment to its fairness and COM
nends the gentlemanly tone of Mr..
letter. AS much cannot
'e said of the boastful letter, also
'lyen elsewhere, from Mr.. Livezey. He
would make it appear that to point his
title finger at the advocates of the
single Tax they would melt away like
he mist before California sun. The
etter is not all egotism, however.
nd is given for the information it con-
aims. From appearances the service
+ Mr.. Livezey will be needed in this
tate. The Single Tax is making some
eadway in Wilmington, and es-
eclally among the people out of EN-.
loyment. 1t is but natural that it
hould. That it can gain footing in
ne State we do not believe, but the
7ay to meet it is not by ridicule. Ar
ument should be met with argument
nd the fallacy of the doctrine should
9 pointed out. That many of the ad-
coates of Single Tax are sincere we
ave no doubt, believing in the theory.
ut the people whom it attracts, the
lie army who favor a general dis
'ibution of the land to-day by tax
ion, will be ready to advocate and to
ote for distribution of personal
roperty next year that they may enter
ito the enjoyment of other mems I
bors.
The TRANSCRIPT has stated that
lese advocates Of Single Tax are
emocrats. They are not Single Tax
en- because they are Democrats, since :
1T few Democrats believe in the doc :
inc, but they are free traders and
nnot be Republicans. The majority !
the men now advocating Single Tax :
Delaware were advocates for the !
ection of Mr.. Cleveland the past three !
campaigns from the stump !
fspresumed they were in the employ :
some committee and talking for pay, \
ter the manner of the regular cam ,
ign orator. 1t is apparent then that ,
is is more of Democratic battle In \
,laware, but the TRANSCRIPT recog- 4
zes the danger to the peace and pros u
rity Of the State, the evils arising a
I'm the disturbing of land values, ] !,
esumably The most stable i'm the :,
'rld, and its best efforts shall be :.
ven to protect the rights of Tie peo- !,
}, and especially the interests of the !,
'mer who In our opinion has the