The San Francisco call., 1897-03-06

problems. He is known everywhere
throughout the country as among the
most ardent champions of the single tax.
Everywhere he goes he is called upon to
"help the cause" in some way, for he is
known to be always willing, and when he
is not called upon he does it of his own ac-
cord.
For instance, upon his visit to this City
some wears ago, when he was not nearly
SO we'll known as ne is now, he hired
hall, paying the expenses himself, in or
der to preach the doctrine which he be-
lieves will eventually inaugurate the era
of freedom and justice among men.
Mr.. Herne is not merely a student, he
is a scholar. He is strong personality,
a real force. He talks as impressively
from the platform as he plays delightfully."-
before the footlights, and the Single-tax
Society is arranging to have him lecture
under its auspices during his stay in the
City.
THE single taxer," said Mr.. Herne. "has
become q factor in affairs that is hardly
realized by those who have not watched
the signs of the times. Some of these
days the question will get before the peo-
pie, and, as Henry George says, there will
be so many OF them that their opponents
will be kept guessing where they came
from. They will seem to rise up out of
the ground.
"The question is now before the Legis.
lature of five States in the form of con-
stitutonal amendments-the States of
California, Colorado. Delaware, Kansas
and Washington The last-named State
will be first to see the new era inaugur-
ated if the signs count for anything. 1t
is also being worked indirectly in New
York 1t is in the National Congress- lea
by Mcguire, and il will remain there,
thrusting itself forward forever until its
mission is realized.
"Yes, l have been called upon to talk
the single tax at almost every stopping
place over the country and beyond it. In
deed, they have the single tax now, prac-
happy and weil-to-do. They know moth
ing OF tramps and beggars there. 1t is
amazing to me that the system is not
adopted now, or long since, in view Of the
conditions which l find everywhere as
find them here-men who do not want
charity, but work, and who are yet COM
PEELED to drag wagons about tie street,
begging for food. The single tax, at one
stroke, III one DAY, would change those
conditions, would give employment to all
and set everybody on the road to pros
perity and higher plane OF existence.
.'Is il not strange that they refuse to
listen and keep binding themselves with
new chains day by dayr But, as said
before, it will burst upon us some day
from some place that even the prophets of
the doctrine cannot now nominate.
81 have SAID that I think the State of
Washington will inaugurate it. Certainly
the indications are most favorable there.
There is majority in the Asse mbly there
in favor of it. The Governor, a Populist,
is opposed to it. 1t is hard to reconcile
these things and it is as well, perhaps,
not to try but just go on making the
fight. The State Is full of single-taxers,
however, and a good strong pull, all to-
gether would carry it over the line into
the promised land, SO to speak.
THAT reminds me that l organized the
firsNsingle.tax club in that State. There
were seven single. takers in the State when
| chanced to go there in the first instance.
They asked me to talk on the subject on
Sunday night ana / consented. They
hired an old barracks of hall, stocked it
with benches and chairs and then put
forth their energies to fill 1t with inhuen-
tal people. They got together a remarka-
Bile audience for the place-lawyers doc
Tors, preachers, Judges-the very best
men and their wives. Well, we had a
famous meeting. 1t was after II o'clock
before it broke up, and the enthusiasm
was great. That meeting resulted in the
formation of club. saw clipping in
the paper after left. 1t was called the
James A. Herne Single-Tax Club. From
that small beglnnlng the State has taken
the first place in the lists.
"I was at Denver short time ago, and
was asked 10 speak before a joint session
of the two houses of the Legislature,