The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-10
GLASGOW FOR SINGLE TAX
Second City of the British En-
pire Votes to Tax Only
Rents.
The Scotch Metropolis Elects a Town
Council on the Straight Issue
by Large Majority.

Single-taxers in this City were delighted
to hear Yesterday that Glasgow has gone
for single-tax with large ma jority, and
that now that great metropolis has no
taxes save these on rents. The news came
in full form ii a letter published in the
National Single-Taxer, and written by
John Paul, editor of the Glasgow Single
Tax, to Henry George. The letter is, in
part, as follows:
GLASGOW, SCOTLAND, Nov 12.-I write to
tell you OF our glorious victory here in Glas-
gov. We have won all along the line at the
Glasgow municipal general election. We have
twenty-five wards, which send three mem bers
each TO the Town Council. For the past fifty
years only one-tblrd OF the members have re-
tired annually. This year, owing to redistri-
button CT the wards, the whole ty-five
members mad to be returned. Mr.. Burt was
elected in 1889.
The work was slow at first and for three
years-1S91 to 1S94-little was done inside
the Council. We went out to the electors and
20 the men III the streets; waKened them up,
and then raised the question again at the
Council Well, we have scored. Mr. Burps
subcommittee submitted a report on the 9th
OF October IN favor OF presenting petition to
Par lament 10 secure the necessary powers 10
make land values the basis of the city's taxa
ton. This was carried by SO to % votes, and
had the division been taken in a tull house We
would have had nine OF majority.
Then the cam paign commenced. The dis
cussion simply ragged round land values. Every
candidate was either in favor of taxing land
values or against it. In several of the wards
there were from four to seven candidates
standing for the three seats, all pledged aud
appealing by their posters to 'vote for-and
taxation of land values" Even Tories who
had voted consistently against it at the Coun-
Gil were paralyze a the strength of the single
tax in the public mind and afforded immense
amusement by their pathetic declarations:
that they now understood the question:; that
the single tax was just system of taxation !;
that land monopoly was great cause of social
evils; that the land spectators had no right
TO any sympathy: that their good friends the
now informed and would vote straight next
time: that they had always believed in adj Just
ing the incidence of taxation, etc.
Everybody admits it was a single-tax fight
and a single tax victory, and we have now at
the Town Council ma jority of twenty-three
pledged supporters. There are seventy-seven
members-seventy-f five elected and two nomi-
mated by the Council. Three years ago we
had about dozen reliable men there
Thus we have converted to the single tax
'the second city of the EMPIRE and from this
citadel we can talk TO the rest of the country
We feel absolutely sure of eur ground, for our
question has become the great public question
here. The Scottish Liberal party has done
well for our side, but it is not too much 10 say
that the question of taxing land values is now
acquiring force and organized force, out
1t to speedy and successful issue. These are
bold words, but l know you will not misunder-
stand me.
Then follows few paragraphs of a gen.
eral nature, and the letter ends with pre-
dlctiops of bright future for the SINGLE
tax movement