Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1896-06-04
FBEELAND, PENN'A, JUNE 4. 1896
A Single Tax MARTYR.

From the PhludelpnlN inquirer.
Young, good-loolling. cultured, worth |
$50 600 or more, enjoying an annual in |
come of $4,000 or $12, ,OOO the head of |
two prosperous business concerns and II |
member of the Art Club, George +. |
Stephens, of this city, languishes in a
Dover, Del, jail from which he could
walk forth free man by simply paying
the sum of $50 as salve to the wounded
dignity of Delaware law.
1t isn't because Mr.. Stephens has not
the $50 that he does not pay it, 1t is be
cause he believes by so doing he would
acknowledge himself to be in the wrong
when he believes he is right The mat
ter is one of principle and not pelf.
Mr.. Stephens was arrested at Dover
Saturday afternoon. He was in that
city preaching the single tax doctrine.
His meeting was in the open air, on a
street corner, and the crowd which col
lected to hear him obstructcd in the
opinion of Dover policeman, the public
highway adjacent thereto.
A brief colloquy between the police
man and Mr.. Stephens resulted in the
latter being marched off to Jail A few
hours later Il magistrate, after refusing
jury trial, kindly gave Mr.. Stephens
the alternative of paying fine of $40.
with costs on the side, or of going to Jail
for twenty days. Mr.. Stephens clo-
quently quoted from the constitution of
the United States granting each and
tho riubt nf frnn Snnnph a nd
produced Witnesses to prove that the
highways had not beenobstructed by him
or his hearers to an extent which seri-
ouSly fractured the law but to no avail.
1t was Jail or pay and Mr.. stephens.
true to his colors, elected to be locked
up.
The Single Tax Society. of Philadel-
phia, of which Mr.. Stephens is the lead
er, has, through its campaign committee,
taken the matter up and will fight the
decree of the Dover magistrate with a
vigor that will probably startle him.
Several arrests of single tax advocates
have been made in Delaware within the
last four weeks. ii. V. lTetzel, who is
the treasurer of the Single Tax Society
of Philadelphia, and u companion named
Tutte We're placed behind the bars at
NliddlctOwn on charge of diSorderly
conduct and obstructing the highways,
while holding a meeting, and last Tues
day VIM Koran, of this city, was taken
into custody on similar charges at Dover.
Delaware was selected as promising
field by the single tax people about IA
year ago on account of the constitutional
convention which is soon to be held in
that state. They hope to prevail upon
the Delawareans to put single tax sec
ton in the constitutional amendments
then adopted. Since June Is. 1895.
vigorous single tax campaign has been
held weekly. In this onslaught Mr..
Stephens has taken most conspicuous
part.
At the headquarters of campaign com
mittee, this city, reporter was told that
the single tax leaders look upon the
Delaware arrests as persecution pure
aud simple
I'VE do not ObStruct the highways"
declared Treasurer Hetzel, ''nor do we
act in disorderly manner. The truth
is we are making too much progress
down there to suit some people and they
are trying to shut us off. We have ar
ranged to retain Judge Emmons, of Will
mington, to fight our case and will
cndcaver to get Senator Gray also
Mr.. Stephens is at the head of the
firms of Stephens & Co. and Stephens,
Cooper & Co., terra Gotta manufacturers.
of this city. He has been identified
with the single tax movement for several
years and devotes most of his time to
making single tax speeches.