The herald., 1896-03-04
get to Visalia in time to handle this
years crops of grain and fruit.
SINGLE TAX CAMPAIGN IN DELAWARE


A singular political and economic
movement is going on in the little state
of Delaware. There have appeared
letters in the Chronicle giving a pic
turesque and entertaining account OF
it. It is beginning now to attract the
attention of the whole country. For
more than six months the organized
and unorganized strength of the So
called "single-taxers" of the country
has apparently been concentrated in
an attempt to induce the diamond
state to enact into her laws a revenue
system relieving from taxation all
property except land values. This
theory Of taxation has found very
earnest, able and enthusiastic advo-
Gates for ten years past, but it has
seemed, to all but them at least, very
far from any immediate connection
with practical politics. But as the
outlook for direct taxation 10 secure
the national revenues for which the
OF such sturdy Democrats
G. Mcguire, Johu Dewitt War
ner, Thomas G. Shearman and 9TH
ers, had been fighting seemed discour-
aging, their attention was turned to the
possibility of introducing their system
into the local taxation of some one
state. They rightly argued that an OBJ
ject lesson set to the rest of the coun-
try by any commonwealth which might
adopt the single tax would. if the ex-
pertinent we're even moderately sue
cessful, be likely to be followed by
other states, tired of the grossly un-
scientific, unreasonable and cumber-
some methods of taxation which are
now in vogue in them all.
The state of Delaware seemed very
favorable field for their experiment,
and into it have been poured in in
creasing abundance all the strength
and all the means at the disposal of the
militant single takers Of the country.
These resources have been by no means
small. Constant agitation has re-
suited in such universal interest and
such remarkable results, if we may be-
lieve the concurrent testimony of the
perhaps too enthusiastic single takers
themselves, that it appears probable
that, if not this year, at least in 1897,
the desired result will be accomplished
and legislature elected pledged to the
Introduction Of the "George" system Of
taxation.
We wish them success in their un-
dertaking 1t may we'll be doubted
whether the application OF the single
tax anywhere will have ell the effects
in minimizing poverty and equalizing
opportunities which its advocates,
many of them over-enthaisstic and i'm
questionable, claim for it. But it has
the merit of simplicity, directness and,
more than all, apparent justice. The
theory is gaining everywhere, and per-
haps especially among radical and pro-
gressive Democrats, warm adherents
and friends. Nothing better to dem
onstrate either its truth and utility or
its sophistry and uselessness, as the
case may be, could be we'll conceived
than its trial in small state of the
union like Delaware. A fe years ex
pertinent with it there will either
demonstrate it to be means of great
ly decreasing the evils of our social
aud political conditions or relegating
i. to the limbo of "reforms" which did
not reform.
1t needs, of course, courage in the
voters of Delaware to adopt so radical
a departure from existing methods, but
no good thing comes save through
courage. 1t is indeed hard to suppose
after all that any change from the pres
ent unjust and absurd methods of tax
alton could be very materially for the
worse. OF course it must not be for
gotten that even were their system in
full operation in local matters the sin
gle takers would claim that the expert
ment Was handicapped and hindered
by the indirect taxation which supplies
the national revenues. Nevertheless
they profess to have the utmost conf
dence that their theory will prove its
truth, although put but thus partially
in practice.
We hope the people of Delaware will
give them chance to try it. The eX-
pertinent cannot fail to be of benefit to
the rest of the country, whatever its
result.-Chicago Chronicle.