The morning times., 1896-08-30
FIGHTING FOR A PRINCIPLE
Single Takers Making Good
Roadway In Delaware.
EDUCATION NOT COMPLETE
Much to Learn Yet-CrusadersH Have
Invaded Every Section ana Recruits
AreBeing Made Dali Were
Good Advertisements.
Especial to The Times.)

Wilmington, Del, Aug. 29.-Single tax
will cut large ngure in the fall elections
in this State. Thatis certain.
Some OF the disciples of reform are even
promising them selves the balance OF power
In the next legislature, and though this is
laughed at by the politicians and is not
concurred in by the more conservative
single takers, yet all are satisfied that
the strength they will develop win cause
no end OF wonder in the ranks of the old
parties.
Single tax is the most talked OF subject
in the State OF Delaware. References to
1t are heard everywhere. Songs are sung
about 1t, new slang invented concerning
1t, debates and speeches are made on it,
and in theater, school and church it is a
subject OF everlasting discussion.
"A campaign OF observation-disclosures
thought up that bright phrase could never
have imagined such n literal and whole
souled application OF 1t as the single
takers are putting in operation here.
Everywhere may be seen treatises, PAM
phlets, tracts and papers relating to the
tax reform and what IL is expected to ac-
complish, and they bear the names OF more
or less distinguished single takers from
Henry George down.
The people of this old State are very con-
eervative. That is one Of the principal
herita ges rema lining OF their one-time leader
ship in the nation-for no Delawarean can
forget the prominence of the State in
revolutionary days.
STARTING OF THE CAMPAIGN
But the single ia Xers seem TO have delight
ed in picking out the most conservative
State just to show what they can do when
they try.
Before this campaign opened on June 10,
1895, Ii would not be far wrong to declare
that mott five personSin one hundredin Della
ware had any definite idea as to what was
meant by single tax. Now a casual converse
ton will generally bring out the astonishing
fact that perhaps two out OF every five men
You meet are out and out single takers,
while probably four out OF every five will
show an encoura ging eonversance with the
theory of the reform.
That the single takers made no mistake
when they elected to make the State of Del
aware their first real battle ground is evi-
denced by the great interest they have sue
ceeded in exciting. OF course there have
been experiments on q small scale before,
but this Is the first time the tax reforners
have set out to capture an entire State,
and that, too, with fair prospects OF sue
cess.
Most of the original crusaders in the cam
paign are Philadelphians. They went into
the campaign to work and win. The out
ward sign of their determination was the
uniform they Wore. This comprised
blue flannel shirt with black tie, brown
canvas leggings, belts and knapsacks and
broadbrimmed sombreros. The first gun
was fired in New Castle, the historic old
town where the whipping post still ILenaces
the evil door, about five miles from this
city.
MAKING CONVERTS.
New Castle has about 900 voters. en-
gagged principally in iron nanufactur and
similar pursuits.
This is the home OF Howard SuddcH a
well-knOwn single taxer, who had already
prepared his fcllow-ctiZens for the cam
pagin. When the advan guard of the cru
saters arrived ON the ground they found, in
political parlance, IAN easy thing AS a
result OF constant agitation. unlimited dis
tribution of literature and iEcessant per-
sonal speechmaking and argument on the
part Of the interchangeable campaigners,
conservative estimate now places the num-
Der OF single takers at 800
At Hockessin. a town of 600 people
about seven miles from Wilmington, some
Pupulists were found who were open to
conviction on any REFORM These were
quickly converted. and, like the little
leaven," they have been doing great work
among the Hockessinites. No figures are
obtainable as to the number of voters won
over, however.
In the town of Newark, where Delaware
College is situated, strogg opposition was
expected, but the campaigDers were agree
ably surprised. When they first began
their meetings most OF the people inClud-
Ing many college boys, attended simply
worth hearing. Their attendance bore
good fruit as strong single tax club
Is now in existence there.
More than this. all OF the clergymen of
the town have become interested and
though some OF them have not yet openly
avowed their conversion to the cause. yet
1t is understood that more than one Of hem
has taken pleasure in explaining in private
its workings and benefits to skeptics.
In the town OF Clayton, Kent county,
the efforts of the crusaders have been re-
warded by the formation of a club with
between thirty and forty members.
The crusade was practically opened
In this city in August last when Sunday
meeting was held in Shellpot Park,
private property, but devoted to the pub
lie use, and one of the city's largest and
most pleasant pleasure spots. Here 800
people gathered. Everywhere there was
exhibited a desire to learn.
MINISTER'S ARE INTERESTED.
On August 81. six simultaneous meetings
we're conducted on the principal street
corners In the city. These meetings were
kept up with great success through the
warm weather. Big crowds congregated
Inquiries and objections every night.
One OF the surprising results of the
campaign is the avidity aud zeal with
which the ministers of both Protestant
and Catholic churches have taken it up.
OF course, this does not mean all of
them, but it is really surprising to note the
interest that this most conservative call
ing takes in the single tax campaign.
In Delaware City, Newark Hockessin,
Smyrna, Dover, Stanton, Milford, arr
Rising Sun, little or no opposition was met
by the crusaders, and each of these tows
flourishing clubs are now in existence.
The State headquarters OF the campaign
Is at No. ia French street, in this City,
where n large building is occupied. George
J. Bryan is in charge OF it.
Dr. Longstreet, the single tax evan
gelist, has been doing great work all over
the State, and 1T is due largely to bis
efforts that so much has been accom-
phsbed in the lower counties.
On November 3, last, Henry George
spoke in the opera house here to an audi
ence that packed the building. Hundreds
had to be turned away.
In Dover the club OF single takers is
composed of some of the best citizens of
Kent county. The president, Wi liam
Brothers, Is well-to-dO farmer.
ATTRACTING WIDESPREAD ATTEN-
TON
The campaign here is attracting atten-
ton all over the continent. Particularly is
this true of Toronto, Canada. From single
takers everywhere come ecriDglcttersand
hopeful words. All of them look 10 Della
ware to demonstrate the correctness and
feasibility of the tax.
There are thirteen single tax clubs in
this city which hold meetings as often as
two or three times a week. That these
meetings arc always well attended and that
converts are made at nearly all OF them
shows the great interest that is being taken