Middletown transcript., 1895-08-10
SINGLE TAX.

SINGLE TAX.
For several weeks the advocates of
single tax have passed by Middletown
but their withdrawal is said to be only
temporary. The men who are making
the campaign in Delaware, at least
those who have been in Middletown,
are gentlemen, and they 60 about their
work in very business-like manner.
Desiring not to antagonize the town
authorities to the prejudice of the sin
gle tax doctrine, they announced that
for time they would withdraw from
the town, and by their work in other
places show to our people and the local
authorities that 1t is not their object
to violate any law or custom, but to
enjoy the privileges of American citi-
zens to advocate before the people
their doctrines. We may expect them
back and while the TRANSCRIPT can
not for moment accept their free
trade theories it is we'll to examine
into their claims and to meet their
arguments. There are two sides to
every question and the single tax doc
trine is not altogether bad; that is, it
has undoubtedly some good points but
the worst evil is the evil that is mixed
with the good. 1t is the most persua-
sive, the most promising, and the most
pernicious.
The crusade in Delaware is for the
campaign. The leaders have singled
out this State as being the one the
easiest of conquest. We believe the
Democratic papers in their unjust her.
aiding of the methods of Republican
success here, ignoring their own, have
drawn the single tax army upon us.
All over the United States the follow
ers of Henry George are contributing
to the expense of running the CAM
paign in this State. The leaders pro-
pose to expend $4,000 a month here
until November 1896, aggregating
about $1,000 for the campaign. 1t is
to be presumed that they have posted
themselves upon our system of taxa
tion, which is miserable, and the rela-
tive amounts now paid by real estate,
improved and unimproved. The TRAN
SCRIPT would like to know from them
the total amount of taxation in this
State and how they propose to assess it
upon the land. Perhaps Justice, their
weekly publication in Philadelphia,
will give the information. While our
present system of assessing and collect
ing taxes is bad we bslieve the single
tax theory fully carried out would de-
stroy all value in lands, or nearly so.
The taxes would be so heavy as in
very few years to eat up the value of
the land. With that the single takers
claim they have nothing to do. They
advocate a principle and let results
take care of themselves.
Last week one of the single tax advo-
Gates called upon Governor Watson and
served notice upon him ''that men of
prominence must take hold of the sim
gle tax issue or cease to be men of
prominence" and reported that "alto-
gether the talk with Governor Watson
was encouraging" 1t is evident that
the politician is not little disturbed
by the new element, and especially
since it makes so many promises.
Cheaper rents and better wages are
great inducements to laboring men but |
30 was 81. .25 wheat to the farmer. The
trouble that we see in it, is the array
ing of labor against capital. That was |
done in the interest of tariff reform in |
1892 when all manufacturing interests |
were prosperous. The mechanic who
was told that his employer had his
hands in his (the laborer's) pockets up
TO the elbows" and voted on that ad-
vice, has had to cut off the pockets for
,atches since then the pockets being
,mpty and useless. And we believe I
,he single tax doctrine is worse and
more harmful, if possible, than the
.alse promises of ''tariff REFORM"
The single takers have laid down
PLATFORM with reasons for entering
Delaware. 1t is:
"WuEREAs, 1t is the opinion of many
inple tax workers that the State of
Delaware offers a particularly favorable
Ield for single tax work; therefore be it
Resolved, That the National Execu-
i've Committee appoint Harold Sudell,
i. III. Stephenson and J. II. Ralston a
ommittee to have charge of such
7ork.
Briefly stated the reasons for beliey-
40 that there is good chance for car
wing Delaware for the single tax are
5 follows:
LIST. The success Of the movement in I