The record-union., 1898-10-21
THE SECRET WORKING OF SIN
GLE TAKERS.

Less than two years ago Mr.. Mcguire,
rhe fusionist nominee for Governor,
prophesied that the single tax issue and
the naturalization of all land would
soon be an issue in this State; that the
question would come in the form of a
proposed constitutional amendment to
be submitted to the Legislature.
Now we have the chief living advo-
cate Of the single tax fallacy abandon
ing a seat in Congress to become a
Gubernatorial candidate, since, if elect
ed Governor he can exercise a pow
erful influence over the Legislature and
work more effectively in shaping pub
lie opinion to meet and accept his sin
gle tax view doctrines.
But even this influence has been an
ticipated; a feeler has been thrown out
by placing in the Democratic platform,
which it is we'll understood was framed
under the eye of Mr.. Mcguire, a plank
demanding a constitutional amendment
giving to counties the power to change
their systems Of taxation for local
purposes" to suit their own fancies.
Yet there has come up from no sec
ton Of the State or body of the people
any demand for such a radical depar-
ture from present methods The coun-
ties already determine the amount of
taxation for local purposes, why should
it be given to them to set up new "sys-
TENS? Why should there be county
experimentation with various systems
Of taxation? The truth is, this plank
or declaration in the Democratic plat
form, which has the hearty indorse-
ment of Mr.. Mcguire, though he is by
no means a Democrat, having for
sworn his allegiance years ago and
burned his bridges behind him in the
departure, is intended as an entering
wedge for single tax experiments in
counties.
1t is not at all surprising, therefore,
that THE Single Taxer," the magazine
organ of the theory, should express so
much anxiety for the success of Mr..
Mcguire, though its location is in New
York, and it should have no concern
whatever in the California campaign.
It is clear, therefore that the purpose
of the Mcguire single tax contingent is
to secure a Legislature at the coming
election, bound by the plank in the
Democratic platform, which Will be
plant enough to propose a constitu-
tional amendment, that will make the
single tax direct issue. With a sin
gle tax Governor in the chair, there
viii be given to the proposition a dig
nifty it would not otherwise be invested
with, and the whole power Of the ex-
ecutive arm Of the State could then be
welded in favor of the proposed
amendment.
It is of record evidence that even in
the last Legislature an attempt was
made to wedge in the single tax. A
proposed constitutional amendment was
introduced in the House and passed
that body, which was to change the
constitutional system Of taxation rad
icaIly At present the Constitution pro-
vides for the taxation of all property
not the property of the United States,
the State or Of a municipality or a
county of the State. But the proposed
amendment, which, happily, was de-
feated in the Senate, prescribed that
the Legislature shall provide for the
levying of taxes and the raising of rev.
enue in such manner as it shall deem
just" But it was also provided that
land shall never be exempt from tax
alton, except that owned by the Fed
eral, State, city or county govern
ments''
Thus the Legislature could have re-
leased all other property from taxation.
except land, and could have laid all
taxation on land, thus breaking down
the present constitutional safeguard,
which lists all property, personal and
real, stocks, bonds, credits, franchises,
dues, etc, as assessable. Unquestion-
ably this defeated scheme was a part
and parcel of the plan to make the
single tax a direct issue in this State,
at about the time when Mr.. Mcguire
wrote his celebrated prophesy, to which
we have already referred.
The attitude of Mr.. Mcguire before