Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-02-06
HOW JOHNS FATHER
SAW THE LIGHT.
lTATHER," said John Gray, VI
have an idea that Henry George
is right"
BY W. G. WOOD, M. D.


If John had declared him
self convert to Mormonism and an
nounced his intention to take half-a-
dozen wives he could hardly have Gre
ated greater sensation. MIR. Gray sal
down his coffee cup untasted and fairly
gasped. Mrs. Gray looked grieved;and
Johns little sister; seeing by the ole
folks expression that John had said
something very dreadful puckered uE
her mouth for cry.
"So you want to have me divide uF
my land that l bought and paid for, with
a-a-with Jem here, for instance"
said the farmer, finally, looking toward
the hired man as he spoke.
This Interpretation if the single tax
platform seemed rather to commend
itself to Jem, whose face wrinkled into
broad smile, but the smile died away
as John explained that that was by no
means what Henry George proposed.
"All be wants." said John, "is to put
all taxes on land values"
"Oh; that's all, is it" said Mr.. Gray,
sarcastlcally. Nothing more,eh? Don t
want my land; oh no. Wouldn't touch
is with a ten-foot pole-give two or
three moro farms-beg me to take them,
and ship'm by express with present
in every lot, throw in gas stove. tin
horn, and chrome, suppose. All he
wants is to put all the taxes on the land,
is ii? Well, you are fool.
John seized the opportunity while his
father was taking breath to explain
that all improvements would be exemp'
ted.
"Don't see how that would better
matters" said his father. There'd be
Just as much money wanted and the
rate would rise, of course"
John admitted that the rate per cent
would be raised until it equalled the
rental value of the bare land.
This was red rag to a bull, and
John received a rather profuse expla-
nation of his father sopinion of Socialists
Communists and fools, with gentle
intimation that John was of the latter
persuasion.
John waited till the old man ran
down and then ventured the statemen t
that the rate couldn't be over four per
cent because any quantity of money
could be hired for that on absolute Sc
curity, no tax and long time; govern
ment bonds, for instance.
This raised another storm, but Mr..
Gray finally admitted that four per cent
would take the full rental value.
"Now," said John, What would low
er the farmers taxes"
The farmer aad the hired man stared
at him in silence while his mother ven
the query, "How"
why, don't you see" said John, ,"the
farmer thinks he is big land owner,
because he owns hundred acres maybe
So he is, by area; but he is not much of
one by value. By value he is very
little of a land owner and good deal Of
a capitalist and laborer. Why, there
are men in the city who own an acre of
land, vacant and idle, that would sell
for the value of fifty or sixty farms,
improvements and all.
"You pay more rent every year than
the rental value of your farm amounts
to. Every bushel of grain you sell,
every bit of mere handise you buy,must
pass through the cities, the centres OF
exchange, and, resting for wh,le in
storehouse, wholesale store or mill, is
taxed to pay its rent. You have to sell
your grain for less and you must pay
more for what you buy in order that the
dealers in the city can get enough larger
profit with which to pay their rents.
Take off the value of the improvements
on your farm and the land value that
is left, if turned into money and inves
ted at 4 percent would not yield sum
equal to one fifteenth of your annual
income from this farm. In other words
YOU are fourteen times as much laborer
and capitalist as you are landholder.
"The holder of a city lot worth fifty
times as much as your whole farm, can
hold on to his lot, waiting for a rise in
value, which IS sure to come, and he can
tax your products to provide the money
for his rent, and laugh in his sleeve as
he appeals to you to oppose the single
tax, and tells you they want to tax the
farmer to death. He is the one who
profits by the monopoly of the land mot
the farmer.
NIf the tax is taken off from the i'm
provements, ard put upon the land
values you will pay but little, even
though you are charged the full rental