The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-19
of NATIONAL INTEREST.

The pending municipal election in Greater
New York has several aspects of national
interest. Even If it had no connection with
or bearing upon national issues it would be
of national interest because it is to deter
mine whether the first election under the
new charter of our greatest city is to result
in reputation or an Endorsement of Tam
many methods If the former, the people
of the entire country will thank God and
take courage; if the latter their faith in
popular suffrage as applied to municipal
government will be seriously shaken. In adj
dition to this. each of the candidates stands
for issues which are already national in
their scope or which, in the event of their
success in the election, will become nation
al. 1t is well known what the Republican
candidate represents, what the Tammany
candidate represents and what Mr.. Low
represents, but many persons do not know
so well what Henry George represents. His
hobby for many years past has been the
single land tax theory-that IS, the aboli-
ton of all other forms of taxation except
tax on land equivalent to its rental value.
Let him define his theory. In his book en-
titled Progress and Poverty" published
several years ago, he says:
Private property in land has no warrant
in justice, but stands condemned the de-
NAL of natural right-a subversion of the
law of nature that as social development
goes on, must condemn the masses of men
to slavery the hardest and most degrad-
ing.
Neither on the ground of equity or expe-
dienoy is there anything to deter US from
making land common property by confiscat-
ing rent.
should meet all economic requirements, by
at one stroke abolshng all private titles,
declaring all land public property. and let
ting it out to the highest bidders in lots to
suit under such conditions would sa-
credly guard the private right to improve
ments.
| do not propose either to purchase or to
confiscate private property In land. me
first would be unjust. the second needless.
Let the individuals who now hold 1t stun re-
tain, if they want to, possession OF what
they are pleased to call their land. Let
them buy and sell bequeath ana devl IS 1t II,
take the kernel. 1t is not necessary to con-
fiscate the land; it is only necessary to con-
fiScate the rent.
These are his views to-day. If elected
mayor of Greater New York he would have
the leverage of that position to propagate
and engraft his views on national politics.
They are not more dangerous than some of
the doctrines of the Chicago platform, and
demagogues can be found in the Democratic
party who would not hesitate to adopt them
if they held out a hope of success. Mr..
Shanklin, the Indiana member of the DEM
ocratic national committee, has advocated
them for years. and says if he were in New
York he would,vote for George. The latter
received 6S, 600 votes when he ran for mayor
of New York several years ago. He Will
receive a much larger vote this time and,
as all things are possible in popular cleo
ton, he may be elected. His election on
the single-tax platform would make him
as much an idol of the Democratic party as
Bryan was last year. and would bring the
country face to face with the single land
tax as a national issue. Thus there are
many reasons why the pending election is
of national interest.