The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-18
LAND CONFISCHTION.

/ ~ Tax Society OF Alameda County, has Ihdue
complaint in these columns OF m1srepresehtd
tons OF the single theory, which have appPeaieo
in The Call. Mr. Pomeroy IS feeling SO baoy aOou
this that he challenge, to all and singular, -
discuss the subject with him. Inasmuch as lhe Cal
has only published Maguire's speeches on that sub
ect and conclusions fairly deducibe therefron' we
must refer Mr. Pomeroy to Judge Mcguire as the
proper person to respond to his challenge
/ Mr. Pomeroy says that Republican single-taNelS
are compelled this year vote against their party
This is no news to The Call. We said early In the
campaign that every Republican single-taxer "ouid
vote for Mcguire. They know Just where they aie
and Just what they dong 1hey pay Juus0
Mcguire the back-handed compliment OF iInpeaChihs
his truthfuness and candOr IN saying that iaho con
6scation is not an issue in ,his campaign. II Mcguire
tell the truth why should such Republicans as Nr.
Pomeroy vote against their party? We don't intend
to be harsh when we say that they vote for Mcguire
because thew know he does not tell the truth
Not long ago The Call drew the fire OF an anar-
chist Mr.. Prebe who declared himself for Mcguire
on account of his speech in favor OF anarchy and its
devotees and apostles Yet Mcguire will no doubt
deny that his views in favor OF anarchy are an issue
in this campaign But the anarchists to think
that he would not tell the truth for they support him
Mr. Pomeroy who is supporting Mcguire because
he does not believe what he says, offers TO prove
eleven propositions relating to the single tax-that 1t
would:
First-Cheapen land.
Second-Would encourage industry
Thrd-Discourage speculation.
Fourth-Rase the wages OF labor
Fiftf-Increase the earnings OF capital invested in
industry.
Sixth-Reduce the California farmers taxes to a
quarter OF the present tax they pay.
Seventh-Prevent living off another's
labor, except by charity
Eighth-Destroy monopoly
Ninth-Abolish the lobby"
Tent-Raise the wages to the full product OF labor
E1eventh-And could not be shifted
We admit the first proposition Judge Mcguire
says it will instantly destroy all existing investments
in land This being true land will not have any price
II present instantly Invested OF title,
Mcguire says they will be, they have nothing to sell,
and OF course it is worth nothing.
Robbing men in this State OF property valued at
S7I6oooooo may tend to encourage industry, since
they will have to scratch somehow make good the
loss OF their land investment, which is to be instantly
destroyed" according to Mcguire That it will raise
the wages OF labor is something that only be
proved or disproved by the fact itself AS general
proposition the destruction OF property in which the
wages of labor have been invested directly through
savings banks which hold for their depostors
equities in real estate, will tend to denoralize in
dustry and wages That wages can be raised by the
destruction of property in which capital is invested
and that the earnings of capital can be at the
time increased is proposition that ought to go into
Max Nordaus "Paradoxes" Equally paradoxical is
the proposition that exempting improvements, per
sonal property, mortgages moneys and credits and
railroads from taxation representing they do $6Is
344846 of the of 1894 while country land
was valued at $4I7437,352 the same year, will reduce
the tax the country land TO one-fourth what it
now. AS well say that if two carrying load
of pounds and one steps out and leaves it all
the shoulders of the other it will then weigh only $50
pounds.
The seventh, eighth, ninth and tenth propositions
are all within the dreamy realm OF prophecy We can
deny them just as easily the land conhscators as
sert them. They are based on the theory that is
the creature OF statute and natural law and can
be made Industrious unselfsh, moral and upright by
an act entitled an act regardless of the element of
personal character.
The eleventh proposition that tax on land which
Judge Mcguire says will Instantly destroy" private
ownership, cannot be shifted, is no doubt true
Neither the the land would move. The shift
ing would be left the landowner when as Mcguire
says, he is expelled from the land he claims by its
lawful owner, society"
This is not intended as discussion of the funda-
mentals of land confscaton, since sole interest
r Mr. Pomeroy's letter is his intention to support
Mcguire because he believes he is not telling the
truth
PRICE OF q WIFE