The morning times., 1896-11-29
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Tho Times undertakes no respOnsi-
bility for any views Expressed in
this column.

To- the uninitiated the single tax, like
political economy in general, doubtless
seems a dry and unintcresting subject.
This may seem doubly so from the fact
that the intense earnestness OF single tax
writer's and speakers almost entirely
precludes tile possibility OF joking and
introducing that element Of wit and humor
generally pervadiig works of fiction,
sensational periodicals, and other forms
oil light literature, which is so eagerly
songht by those who read for amusement
rather than instruction. ptse
But, as with all other forms OF philosO-
ply, the readers interest in the subject
GENERALLY grows as his acquaintance with
it increases. ~,
Investigation leads him not only to ad-
mire the beautiful. simplicity of method,
the entire consistency of arguments, and
the easy, harmless way in which the
single tax can he int rodu ced, either
gradually or more Rapidly, but his love of
exact justice and equal rights are awak-
ened by its rational appeal thereto, and
his self interest aroused by its reasonable
promise of giving rhih all his posterity
universal equal riGhts-rights as great as
any lord or king can justly claim.
For to life, liberty and the pursuit OF
happiness, the hulrDlest child born has
child of the greatest potentate or proudest
monarch that evef lived. Single takers
not only reiterate this principle enunciated
inthe Declaration OF Independence, but they
ampltfy 1t by showing that IT necessarily
involves an equal access to the right of the
earth, without which it would beiinpossihle
to sustain life.
CHEAPER COAL.
Just at this season of the year, many with
meager incomes have their suffering in
creased by the trust increased price of
coal. To them the Thanksgiving procla-
nation issued by our President seems
to come with bitter irony. With their
shabby homes unroofed by violent storm
and landlords slow to repair them, with the
approaching inclemency of winter weather
threatening to entirely cut off their meager
wages by preventing their outdoor en-
ploynent, and simultaneously necessitating
more coal at trust-inflated prices; with
diphtheria, typhoid fever and many other
dread diseases invading their unsanitary
homes, what can these shivering, penni-
less, healthlcss. hungry, ill-clad people
find to he truly thankful for?
IL our government, through its antitrust
laws, could crush out the coal trust which
raises prices of coal and simultaneously
lower the wages of the men who mine IT,
this would form a base for some of the
thankfulness, which he who admits his
inability to cope with trusts, asks us to
proclaim. However, nothing but the single
tax gives rational promise OF eXtermina-
ting these trusts.
Taxing at its full rental value all the
immense body of coal land now held out
OF use by the coal trust to prevent compete
tion would force 1t to relinquish much of
this unused land to those who desire tn use
1t. So soon as the competition by these
Y.ukU NJ al In,.
would begin to crumble. Its power to
arbitrarily raise the price OF coal would
be prevented by the Willingness OF others
to furnish the coal ut reas enable prices, and
its power to lower wages would be pre-
vented by miners refusing to work for il at
less wages than they could make working
for themselves, either individually or CO..
operatively.
CHEAPER COAL OIL.
The oil trust rests on the same basis as
the coal trust monopoly of all the available
oil land. Tax this valuable oil luud at its
| full rental value aud the trusts unused oil
| land now held away from competitors viii
| forced into their hands and the price OF
| oil VIII decline accordingly The oil-pro.
du,cr's wages Will also rise 10 their natural
| level, the full earnings of their labor as
| measured by what they could earn working
| for themselves, either indiIt iually or CO.
! operatively. And, as the basis of mos,
other monopcIies rests ou land rnonopolies
| taxing land at its full rental value would
| destroy all these other nopopolies- For the
| heavier laud is taxed, the more of 1t is
| offered for use, while the heavier Industry
aud its products are Ia aNed thel demand
there will be for them! aud the lower vii
the wages of industry consequently fall
FOR YOUR CHILDREN.
Thus the siugic tax is full Of rcasona bic
| promise, not only for ls, but for our chill.
| dren If 1t comes early, the increased saw
| ings IT leaves in our pockets will enable us
| To clothe, feed, house. nurse and educate
| them better, and N its coming is delayed
\ that may simply be because too few of
| us have been willing to make the sacrifice
| OF earnestly working for it. -
| But if we care not for ourselves, yet our
| love for our children oaght to spur us on tt
efforts To make the surrounding conditions
better for them than they have been for US
| The m oney we may, through weeks, months
| and years OF ceaseiess struggle, be able to
bequeath them, may through some misfor
| tune slip from their grasp in few years, or
| "A. most. in a generation or two. while tn,
| just laws we help to inaugurate may prob
| ably bless our posterity for centuries to
| come. Verify, he who helps to inauguratt
| just systems OF government is a greate
| bcnefactor TO his own posterity and thai
| OF the whole human race beside than h,
who leaves them millions of perishabl,
| wealth
| ORGANIZATION NEEDED
| And as organized effort is much NOR,
| effective than disorganized, every one il
| sympathy with the single tax should haster
| to ally himself in some manner with singl,
| tax organizations, in order to make hi
| efforts productive Of the greatest possibl,
results. In the struggle for improving th,
human race, all who are blessed witt
knowledge that will elevate mankind ow,
it 10 themselves, their children and man
kind in general to disseminate that kno wi
edge as widely, thoroughly and effectivel,
as possible. D. w. G.
CIGAR AS A SOCIAL FORE.
Bright Young Man Insists on Teach
Ing His Father to Smoke.
Cdcago Chroaicle
That adage aoodS sn1 cuiid beng fatn..
=.