The herald., 1896-06-26
An Enthusiastic Meeting Held in
Music Hall
THE DELAWARE CAMPAIGN
Ralph E. Hoyt Tells What Is Being Done
10 That State
Much Interest Manifested In Tax Reform.
Able Speakers Taking Psrt-The Single
Tax Idea Explained

MUSIC nall was largely ATTENDED, ana
the proceedings were very interesting.
The audience comprised persons of both
sexes and various classes, including
numerous well-known professional and
business men of this city. The pro-
fessional politician was conspicuous by
being absent. The almost unanimous
sentiment of the meeting was favorable
to radical change from existing taxa
ton laws and methods to a system in
harmony with justice and industrial
freedom.
Clarence A Miller vice. president of the
Single-Tax club presided and made a
few opening remarks which were point
ed and appropriate. With characteris-
tic clearness of thought and expression
Mr.. Miller outlined the philosophy. of
the single tax, commended the Delaware
campaign, Endorsed the movement for
local option in California, and urged
all present to do what they could to help
forward the important movement for
tax reform-a movement that was en-
listing the aid of intelligent, honest peo-
pie and progressive newspapers in all
sections of the United States. The
speakers remarks We're heartily ap-
plauded. He then called on Ralph Hoyt,
who has recently returned from Della
ware, and who proceeded to address the
audience on the single-tax campaign
which has been in progress in that little
state for full year.
Mr.. Hoyt said, in part, that the ques-
ton of tax reform on radical lines was
attracting more and more attention
throughout the east, and that the pres
ent movement toward the adoption of
what was known as the single-tax sys-
tenn would never cease until the ex-
pertinent had been practically applied
an thoroughly tested, either in Delaware
or in some other political division of the
country. If it proved a failure, that
would end the agitation, so far as sin
gle-taxers were concerned. If success
full, the new plan would force itself
eventually into every state and munic-
ipality.
A little more than four years ago, in
the town of Hyattsville, Md, six miles
from Washington city, there was par
tial test of the single tax. A majority of
the town trustees removed all local
taxes from improvements and personal
property, leaving the needful revenue
to be raised solely from land values, re-
CARELESS OF improvements. The speaker
presented statistics obtained during his
visit at Hyattsville, showing that dur
iHS lnS Oue tdAdllOu year VI Tie new
plan it had been marked success, CIV
ing satisfaction to all residents of the
town except a few who were land spec
ulatorS and owners of vacant lots. But
those parties took the matter into court,
and finally got judicial decision, over
throwing the new ordinance as uncon-
Stitutional. Jackson RalSton, a promi-
nent attorney of Washington, and pres
ident of the Hyattsville board of trus-
tees. fifteen months ago publicly pro-
posed concentration of single-taX work
in Delaware, where there is no consti-
tutional barrier in the way.
The proposition was heartily endorsed
by the national executive committee
and by singletaxers generally. The
result was that, on June Is, 1895. the Del
aware campaign was begun by band of
twenty single-taXers from Philadelphia
and to this day the educational work all
over the state has been kept up with
steadily increasing vigor, enthusiasm
and success.
Some of the brightest and most thrifty
business men of Philadelphia and Will
mington were leading the movement
Converts had been made and were still
being made by scores and hundreds.
The reformers were aiming to secure the
election Of several members among the
twnty-four legislators to be chosen in
November. The two old parties were
almost evenly divided. so that a small
number of single tax legislators would
give the tax reform advocates the bal
ance of power. The governor of Della
ware had no veto power, and hence the
matter of taxation was entirely in the
hands of the legislature.
The headquarters of the crusaders"
in Wilmington presented lively scenes
every day and night in the week. I'm
der the direction of the campaign COM
mittee, consisting of Jackson Ralston of
Washington. A. II. Stephenson of Phil
adelphia and Harold Sudell of Delaware
ably assisted by Director-general Geo.
f. Stephens Of Philadelphia, all cam
paign work was carefully planned and
prosecuted. Meetings We're held out
doors and indoors, by day and by night,
in all the cities, towns and villages of the
state. Tons of literature were being dis
tributed, personal interviews sought,
and all other legitimate methods used for
educating voters. Fifty, and sometimes
sixty, speakers were talking simulta-
neously in various portions of the state.
Money was contributed from variety
of sources and judiciously used by Chair
man Stephenson and other managers
Among the prominent men from out
side of Delaware who had already par
ticipated personally in the campaign
We're Henry George, Thomas G. Shear
man, the millionaire lawyer of Brook
Ign, William Lloyd Garrison of Boston,
Bolton Hall of New York, Jerry Simp-
son of Kansas, Judge James G. Mcguire
and DR.. r. S. Law of California. Judge
Mcguire had made four visits to Della
ware and performed very effective cam
paign work. DIR. Law, who is wealthy
California mine owner, with an Office
in New York, had spent week after week
in the campaign, holding meetings, dis
tributing literature and contributing
money most literally. Robert NJ. Mo-
bins, a brilliant young orator from Oak
land, was also doing excellent work on
the stump.
Delaware, like California, the speaker
said, was terribly tax-ridden, but unlike
this state it could get out from under
the load through direct legislation and
without the slow process of a constitu-
tional amendment. Local option being
open to Californians, however, it should
| be obtained as soon as possible.
The speaker had found in Washington,
Philadelphia and also in Chicago an in
| tense interest in the Delaware contest,
! which expressed itself in the furnishing
| of speakers, literature and money to aid
| the movement. Recently several sin
| gle tax speakers in Delaware had been
| arrested and Jailed for exercising the
| right Of free speech. But in every such
! case the prosecuted advocate had been
| speedily released and the outrage perpe-
| trated on him had reacted in favor of the
| movement.
After relating many more interesting
| facts and incidents of the contest Mr..
| Hoyt briefly explained what the single
| tax was, and was not. He said:
| 1T is not socialism, communism, nor
anarchy. 1t is plain, simple business