Middletown transcript., 1896-03-14
MIDDLETowN, DEL, MAR. IA, 1896
SINGLE TAX.


The tract man of the Single Tax leg
gins has been in town .again this week
After the first efforts here the Single
lax advocates have given Middletown
the go-by, finding no encouragement.
,But they have been industriously at
work in other parts of the State, and
especially in Wilmington, where be-
cause so many are out of employment
they find ripe field for their great
promises, panacea for all ills. In the
beginning they denied that they pro-
posed to act as political organization
in order that they might be permitted
to hold meetings on Sunday but they
have grown so confident that they now
talk of a ticket this fall.
We have been aeked as to their doc
trine, and in what way do they propose
to abolish ia xation and to give the peo-
pie prosperity. We have stated their
plans before. They deny the right to
property in land. They would destroy
all title to real estate, claiming that
land should be free to all and only the
improvements on tie land belong to
the individuals holding the land. They
would have the tenants pay the rent
for the land into the State Treasury
and not to the landlords or they conde-
scend to say that it might be paid
through the hands of the landlords.
This is the doctrine that promises so
much to the people, doctrine that in
good times would perish of dry rot but
now it finds many advocates.
If there are any who think we are
stating the case too strong we will
prove it from Henry Geo. &c, the pro-
phet of the Single Tax. He says:
1--WE should satisfy the law of justice,
we should meet all economical require
ments, by at one stroke abolishing all
private titles, declaring all land public
property, and letting it out to the high
est bidders in lots to suit, under such
conditions as would sacredly guard the
private right to improvements.
"But such plan, though perfectly |
feasible, does not seem to be best. Or |
rather I propose to accomplish the |
same thing in simpler, easier, and |
quieter way, than that of formally con.
fiscating all the land and formally let |
ting it out to the highest bidders.
81 do not propose either to purchase |
or to contiscate private prop |
erty in land, The first would be un-
just; the second, needless Let the
individuals who now hold it still re-
tain, if they want to, possession of |
what they are pleased to call their land.
Let them continue to call it their land.
Let them buy and sell, and bequeath
and devise it. We may safely leave
them the shell, if We take the kernel.
1t is not necessary to confiscate land;
it is only necessary to con6scate rent.
"We already take some rent in tax
alton. We have only to make some
changes in our modes Of taxation to
take it ALL"
This is the substance of the Single
Tax theory which as an ism through
years of prosperity had but few adher-
ents, those who must have hobby to
ride, but in the past three years with
the depression of business its recruits
have been many. Their societies all
over the United States, and there are
followers of Henry George in all the
large cities, have concentrated their
efforts on. Delaware being attracted
here by the political cry of the Demo-
cratic papers that the State is in the
market. They are getting contribu-
tions from all parts of the country and
their campaigners are coming in from
all directions. Here is letter to their
little paper. sample of many from all
parts of the country:
"Editor, "Justice:"-I herewith
send to Treasurer Sudell small sum
for the Delaware campaign, being the
first monthly payment of subscriptions
which 1 have procured from a few
good Single Takers here. Next month,
or very early in April, after making
three or four speeches in and near Chi
cago, will be ready to visit Delaware
and do some of the best work | am
capable of doing. I will advise COM
mittee of the exact time when l can
reach the battle ground.
Ralph Hoyt.
Los Angeles, Cal. Feb. 25, 1885,"
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