The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-11-06

The single tax propaganda OF Washing
ton. with headquarters in Seattle, is in
a state OF panic. Friday afternoon, Z. ID.
Mclaughlin, chairman (de fscto) of the
fusion state committee; E. w. Way, the
leader Of the single tax Populists OF King
county: Land Commissioner Robert Bridges
and A. NJ AIecklam. the single tax candi-
date for the legislature IN the Thirty-ninth
district, held conference on the fifth floor
OF the Pioneer bui.ding where the fusion
headquarters are located. They discussed
the situation with particular reference 10
circular. bearing upon the single tax
which has been scattered far and wide
over the state What conclusion they
came TO IS unknown, but enough developed
at the conference 10 demonstrate the fact
that the single tax leaders OF the stale are
very much worried over the outlook. espe-
c.ally those who ara interested, like the
WORTHLESS named. in the success OF the
fusion ticket
The circular mentioned was issued from
this city by men who are not connected
with either OF the political parties IN an
official capacity and 1t is non-part isan IN
scope and IN character. it IS addressed 10
the voters Of al parties and Is uued with
good arguments against the pendlllg
amendment which was introduced oy T..
W. Way at Olympia and designed oy him
to be the opening wedge for the introduc-
ton Of the single tax. The circular con-
tains strong appeal to voters OF all par
ties 10 oppose the pending amendment. 1t
advises them to vote for the candidates
they favor on the Republican and fusion
tickets but whatever ticket they vote, to
cast their ballots against the single tax
amendment.
The circular Is a nonpartiSan and logical
appeal to the voters OF the state. 1t is
filled with arguments against the single
tax and the pending amendments. The
Way Mclaughlin wing Of the fusion cam
| paign felt called upon to deny any respon-
| s.b.lity for the authorship Of the document
| which they did in the Populist evening
| paper.
| The circular contains the following:
Although at the tri-party convention In
Ellensburg this year the proposed amend
ment was practically Endorsed, II IS now
generally admitted by ali the delegates TO
that convention who are not single takers
| that the indirect Endorsement was q ms,
| take In fact it is commonly acknowledges
that such Endorsement was one or those
unfortunate compromises which often mar
the records in conventions or ali parties
where the distribution of offices IS accom-
| panied by mutual concessions. In other
| words 1t ia freely admitted that the in
| dorsement of a single tax amendment 10
| the constitution grew out or an ordinary
/ convention negotiation through which the
| single tax advocates relinquished their de-
| nands for certain state offices in consld-
| Grafton of single tax constitutional
/ amendment securing the platform lnuoFse-
ment of the three parties
Since the fusion convention adjourned
and people have had time to appreciate the
full scope and meaning or the proposed
| constitutional change. very serious oppo-
sition to the amendment has arisen among
| the very delegates who participated IN the
convention. as We'll as among thousands OF
| people throughout the state who were rep
| resented by those delegates. These people
| realize that the single tax is not an issue to
which the reform forces have given their
| allegiance; that il has never been ques-
| ton which has drawn the Democrats, Pop
| ulsts and Silver Republicans together;
| that II has never been a Talying cry with
! them for a political campaign. and that
| they can conscentiousiy oppose the amend
| ment without showing disloyalty 10 the
| fusion alliance or interfering in any respect
| with the success OF the joint ticket agreed
| upon at Ellensburg. Such being the state
| of feeling among the fusion elements. IL is
| only fair 10 regard movement against the
| amendment as a strictly comparison one.
cit is, perhaps, fortunate that such is
| the condition Of affairs. for people oppos-
| parties and a persons advocacy or opposi-
| ton is In no sense a test of his loyalty 10
his party. and he can freely vote for or
against the amendment without feeling
| that he is hazar,iing the success Of the po-
| litical organization to which he belongs or
that he is rejecting any one of the great
principles 10 which Democrats. Silver Re
| pubIcans and Populsts subscribe without
disagreement or dissent"
The activity Of the sinele-tax advocates
| Is referred to in the circular in the follow
| ing language:
The advocates OF the single tax theory
| have been active In the attempt to convert
! people 10 their way OF thinking, but there
! Ia not the slightest doubt that with full
| vote the single tax element would ind
| itself constituting a very small minority.
| This element has been energetic In its cru
| SADIE, but where one has accepted the single
| tax doctrine. hundred have rejected IL,
| and a thousand have given Il no thought or
| attention az all. The danger of the present
| movement. therefore, il that every single
| taxer who Is Jealous for his cause viii
| vote IN favor Of the Amendments, while
| hundreds and thousands who are not alive
t to the serious character OF the problem MAY
| give Il no thought, viii neglect 10 vote on
| the question and possibly allow il Ia be-
| come a constitutional enactment through
! default Il - all important. therefore that
| every man vote on the Amendment In
| soTns respects such vote - OF FAR greater
| Importance 10 the state than the success
/ or failure OF either OF the tickets now in
| the Held.
"Incompetent officials are now and then
placed IN power. men who are derelict III
| The performance OF public duty. bur the
/ danger they may 90 20 public and private
| interests i Invariably insignificant when
| compared with the Widespread ruin and
| havoc whlcn might follow any radical
/ charge such as * proposed by the single
| tax advocates IN the!r constitutional amend
| rent. They ~calize the sweeping character
| Of inc uew measure and consequently can
| not IA! 10 appreciate h9w intense the on
| position 20 It va! - e the question Is once
| thoroughly understood Consequently their
| work has been done quietly. with TO very
| oltsIs0ktn declare tiO0 "a - the read object
| they wish 10 attain. Hence II Is to Zee
! noticed. as has tss 2 already i1ttma:s8
| that defasl IS made Of The real purpose
| az the amendment They claim that IL il
| re- a measure brought forward VIII Z
| F.eW - enerafjing the singh tax upon cur
| system ot raising revenue. They m3!nfa n
! that = merely allows municipal corp5ra-
| tlons - determine What class o. property
| ssa} - subject - taxation OF course
| iHe~e are many classes % property upon
| Which taxes could be levied III; wher d.
| Is Understood that the advocates of ths,
! amendment ar~ without exception. single
/ SOL a 80 {