Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1898-09-03
SOCIALISTS SHOULD VOTE FOR
LOCAL OPTION IN TAXATION.

To the kindness of friend | am
indebted for several copies of your
interesting paper from which | have
cleaned useful information pertaining
to your efforts in the direction of solv-
ing some of our social problems.
Whilst fully approaching the particu-
lar purposes for which the Industrial
Freedom is issued, would respectfully
suggest-that you do not forget to aid
the efforts of those who are striving to
secure the success of the local option in
taxation amendment, which comes to
an issue this coming fall.
/ am afraid many OF us who look
ahead to collectivism are too prone to
silence and neglect of preliminary re-
forms, which as practical beings we
must recognize are necessary steps to
still greater reforms. This point can
not be overlooked without being guilty
of retarding ultimate justice.
Reasoning thus, | would plead for
your active sympathy and aid for one
of the most necessary reforms. To
some it may appear at first sight as
question of little import but which, on
the contrary, is of very big Importance
to every one of us. Its very simplicity
deceives us almost but in that sim
plicity there lies power for great and
lasting good. Need | mention at all
what this taxation amendment aims at?
Just word of two anyway. The adop-
tion of this amendment local option in
taXation) first of all is a recognition of
the peoples right to self-government,
that is, in determining for themselves
by municipal votes, whether they shall
continue TO tax all real estate and per-
sonal property, thus helping landlord
ism and hurting industry as at present
is the case, or whether they shall deter
mine as they ought to determine, that
land values only should be taxed and
not the products of human labor which
axe rightfullyprivate property. Every
municipality having the right to say
how their taxes shall be levied, it is only
"a matter of little time, when com
mon sense will dictate the policy of tax
ing land values and landlordism. in
stead of taxing those who are industri-
Gus and thrifty.
| venture to say that when land val
ues are made the sole basis for revenue
National, State, County and Munich
pal, land monopoly will have been so
completely killed, that honest industry
and toll having begun to receive what
it uniustly has been deprived of. will
not stop from destroying monopoly vul-
lures until we have all gained the
absolute Justice and freedom which
they are fighting for. We have got to
absorb the great army of unemployed
to shorten the hours of labor. to in
crease wages to ullproduct of toll and
to make possible happy and comfortable
homes for all who desire them.
These results can be obtained. firmly
believe, when all natural opportuni-
ties are thrown open and freed from
the grasp of that monopoly which as
Cardinal Manning said, 'means hunger.
thirst, nakedness, notice to quit. labor
spent in vain, the toll Of years seized
upon, the breaking up of homes. the
misery, sickness, deaths of parents.
children and wives 8 when legal
force, like sharp harrow, goes over
the most sensitive and vital right of
mankind. All this is contained In the
land question" A. j. BRYAN.
Toronto, Ontario.