Middletown transcript., 1895-08-31
MORE SINGLE TAX.


Are the readers of the TRANSCRIPT
| weary of Single Tax? It is'well to
know all about it while the subject is
under discussion. Another commune
cation favoring the measure appears in
this issue. 1t is very interesting in its
admissions. It says ''the earth is the
Lords" and it is ''to impiously rob
God" for men to make private pro-
perty of it, and then admits that "Sin-
gle Tax declares that private and Sc
cure possession lin land) is absolutely
necessary" He shows the fallacy of
the communist, Of the socialist, of the
anarchist and then contradicts his own
statements of the Single Tax. 1t is
the best letter yet by Single Taxer to
show the Inconsistency of their argu-
ment. He says ''let men buy, sell,
hold, bequeath as they see fit," and
this is absolutely necessary under their
system, and yet in their theory
possession OF land is robbery Of
God" The theory is essential to
claim the rental value Of the land.
This is the most sensible letter yet
against Single Tax and by one Of their
followers.
Mr.. Sudell in his article on the first
page makes the same statements and
the same admissions made by Mr..
Turvey. "The Single Taxer holds that
the earth is Gods gift to His children"
and "private possession of land is
necessary" is what Mr.. Sudell
says. These two statements are
not compatible. If private possession
is necessary then there is no right to
confscate the rents as Henry George
and all his followers claim. If rents
are to be confiscated, or taxed, it mat
ters not by what name the value is
taken, then no one will desire to hold
the land, for who wants the trouble
and annoyance of possession" when
there is no compensation. The theory
is visionary, chimerical and absurd.
1t will not hold together even in the
hands Of its advocates.
Justice devotes over a column to the
TRANSCRIPT in It's last issue and says
very little. 1t claims editorially that
rich men oppose the Single Tax, be-
cause they are rich, and locally an
nounces with glee that bankers down
the State are about to adopt the Single
Tax theory. Inconsistent all the way
through. Justice ridiculously asks
how $40, GOO picture owned by rich
man can be taxed. How were gold
watches taxed during and just after
the WARP 1t is easier to find picture
than watch where the desire exists
to hide either. The question answers
itself by pointing to the income war
tax.
Really we feel that the Single Tax
has been done for; that nothing new in
their arguments offer; that all argu-
ments have been met and vanquished.
We have shown that they preach dis
content and the tendency of their every
speech and article is to array labor
against capital. They find fault andany
one can do that. They pull down and
all can pull down, but few can build up
and the Single Takers are not of the
number. Their theories are all vain
promises. They offer nothing practi-
cal. They have been in the State for |
months and over a month ago the |
TRANSCRIPT asked for some plan of the |
workings of the Single Tax in this
State; for the amount of taxes paid, |
State, county, municipal, poor, road, |
&c, and Of its distribution on the land.
No answer has been made. They
either do not know or they will not |
tell. If the latter, they are not honest
with the people; if the former, they
prove their incompetency of all leader
ship in any movement. Practical men
would give practical views and Illus
trations.
Weeks ago we asked for an explana-
tion of the seth reason" as assigned |
in their platform, for selecting Della
ware as the field for their operations. |
No explanation has been given. Why?I !
None can be given that will not show
to the farmer that the advocates of |
Single Tax believe that their theories
work to the disadvantage of the farmer. |
Read the treason" why they selected |
Delaware as their field of operation.
1.-THE preponderance of manufactur-
ing industries in proportion to the ag-
ricultural interests"
What does it mean? That since
they propose to take off all tax from |
the manufacturer and the laborer in
the factory and to put it on the land,
the s'preponderance" of the manufac-
turing interest will accept Single Tax
and force it on the farmer. Is not this |
enou .h to condemn the theory iDlthe |
eyes of all honest men?
They both deny ownership in land
and admit that Single Tax would de-
stroy the value Of land to its present
owners. Justice says, ''when the land
owners of Delaware or any other mart
Of the earth can show title deed frem
The Creator they can talk of their land, y
and yet from Henry George down they
admit that private ownership in land
Is necessary. They are so inconsistent
hat apparently but two classes Of