Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-02
SINGLE TAX MEN
Their Field Of Operations Transferred
to Delaware State.
TO INFLUENCE CONGRESS
Easier to Control a Small Legis-
lative Body.
MR.. sIDDoN's EXPERIENCE

Single tax advocates-thoss who favor
the raising Of revenue exclusively by the
taxing OF land values without improve
ments-have transferred the field of their
operations from the District of Columbia
and from the little town Of Hyattsville,
No. to the state of Delaware
This change in the tactics of the single
tax people was brought about because 1t
IVES considered easier to influence a small
legislative body like that of Delaware by
a vigorous campaign among the people of
the state than it was to secure favorable
action from Congress-
When the campaign to secure a trial of
the single tax theories in the District of
Columbia was orened, the advocates of this
system of taxation were very hopeful that
they would BE- able to succeed in their
wishes. Single tax leagues throughout the
United States Joined in sending peti.
tons to Congress, and with Representa-
tives Tom johnson of Ohio and Mcclure of
California in the House, it was thought
that an interest could be excited which
would set afoot an educational campaign
| that would be extremely valuable because
| of its national character.
1t was argued that If this system of tax
alton could be put in force in the District
of Columbia it would stand as a great OBJ
| ject lesson, and it was firmly believed by
| the single takers that great benefits would
| be derived from the enforcement Of their
| system.
Failure Here and i'm Hyattsvflle.
This course was probably the direct OUT
! come of the influence of Henry George,
| the Great single tax advocate. Mr. George
| was ambitious and believed that the efforts
of his follow ers should be confined to max
| ing the issue for which he fought ma
city, where he had emassed a large vote
on the issue of single tax, made him hope
full that the country could be carried with
in a few years. But after the matter had
been discussed in Congress awhile, or
rather before committees of Congress, and
in meetings of the single tax advocates
throughout the District, 1t became evident
that there was an enormous influence OF
conservatism to overcome in Congress So
| strong was this conservatism in regard to
the single tax problem that it was not long
before the leaders Of the movement came
to believe that their efforts should be con-
centrated in some smaller area.
Hyattsville, Nd, was chosen IN which
to enforce the single tax, as ii WIS
garded as important that there should be
some locality that could be pointed to as
existing under a single tax law without
any of the ca1amitous results that oppo-
nents Of the system predicted. short
victory was gained in Hyattsville, but even
there success could not be permanently Sc
cured, and the single tax system went out
of force.
Delaware Selected.
At this stage of the advocacy of single
tax the single takers were undecided In
what manner they should proceed to ad-
vance their cause with the best hope for
success. The constitution of one state af-
ter another was examined, but 1t was
found that these instruments would have
to be amended in order to put single tax
in force. 1t was rather a discouraging out
look when 1t was discovered or at least It
was believed that the constitution of the
state of Delaware would permit the en-
forcement of the single tax without amend
ment. Mr.. jackson H. Ralston of this city
and one OF the most prominent single tax
advocates Of the country advised single
takers throughout the United States to
concentrate their efforts on Delaware. It
was little state with its population d.
V1ded between urban and suburban COM
munities, and the character of the people.
1t was believed, was such as to make them
fruitful material for the advocacy of the
reform theories.
Mr.. Ralston's suggestions have lately
now on in Delaware for the conversion Of
voters OF the state to the single tax theor-
les, so that when a new legislature is elect
ed in the fall of 1896 influences may be
brought to bear to secure single tax legis-
lators. There are number of single tax
clubs in New York city, and they comprise
many good stump speakers. For several
weeks these speakers have been going
down into Delaware to remain over Satur-
day and Sunday, when they entertain the
people with Idiscourses on the desirable eff
fects that Would follow from an adoption
of the single tax. Last week Mr.. Frederick
L. Siddons OF the firm of Ralston & Sid
dons made trip to Delaware. when he
made several speeches In favor of the tax.
Referring to this trip in conversation with
a Star reporter today, Mr.. Siddons said:
Mr.. Sfddons' Experience.
'1 found the people of Delaware very
much alive to the single tax After speak
ing in Wilmington. and when about ready
to go to my hotel. there were six or eight
groups of people along the street discussing
the subject while they gesticulated Vigor-
ously.
..In each of those groups there was at
least one man who was standing up for
The single tax We have at least gotten
the people of Delaware thinking about the
single tax. This campaign will be carried
on during the next year and a hall, when
the legislature will be elected. We nave
not vet distributed much literature in Del
aware, as we prefer awakening lively In
terest in the subject before sending out
sirabie this will be done little later on.
and before the election comes of many
prominent speakers will be put on tho
stump in the state: G single tax leagues an
Delaware idea with lively interest, and
contributions of money and offers of speak.
ers have come in very freely. Since we
began this work there has been demand
for carrying on a like work in Rhode Isl.
and, and interest in New York state in tho
subject Is being again wakened. The re-
suit of the Delaware campaign will bS
highly interesting, and II the good effects
of single tax can be shown in that one
state q very great advance will have been
nade toward putting it in effect through
out the country"