The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-07-16
SINGLE TAX AN ISSUE.

THE attitude Judge Mcguire is bound to assume
in this campaign will, think, finally stamp
him as an ofice-seeking politician without prin-
ciples or convictions. On his behalf his organ an
that his acceptance OF the gubernatoral nom
nation of the Popusts does not make him a Popu-
list ct is seldom" says the $4,000 railroad con-
tract sheet, that party goes out OF its ranks
to find candidate for its most important nominal
ton" And then it adds in order to clinch the idea
Mr. Mcguire is Democrat and not Populist and
if he accepts the nomination it will doubtless be as
Democrat
The political morality disclosed by the policy out
ned-the acceptance OF party nomination with a
reputation of the party-is not likely strengthen
Judge Mcguire in the estimation of intelligent people,
nor make him votes among such Populists not
entirely devoted to comforting fat and influential office
upon Democrat. But if Mcguire is Democrat he
will conduct Democratic and not Populist govern
ment Therefore, in nominating him, the Populists
have placed political enemy at the head of their
ticket who will do what he can, should they elect
him, to destroy their party.
But all this concerns the machine and not the peo-
pie The real test of Judge Magures sincerity, and
the one by which he will be estimated among nom
machine voters is the platform he will be compelled
to indorse when he accepts the Populist nomination
for Governor. In this platform, unless we are mis-
taken, will be found the evidences of his office
seeking propensties already referred to. Prior to
his nomination Mcguire telegraphed the delegates
that the Oregon fusion platform would suit him. The
platform adopted at Sacramento is not the Oregon
Fusion platform, though in some respects there
is resemblance between the two. The Oregon plat
form does not indorse the single tax theory neither
does it declare in favor Of any other theory. The
Sacramento platform squints at single tax and at the
same time indorses theory which Is entirely at
J,,d0
posed or advocated What could be more definite
and indefinite than this:
We demand reform in our system of taxation
to the end that taxes shall be laid as to secure
as far as possible equality of sacrifice We favor
the repeal of all poll taxes and demand exemption
from taxation Of small homesteads and personal
property, the amount to be fixed by the LEGISLATURE
We also favor graduated State, income and inner
itance We also favor the submission to the
people of a constitutional amendment which will
give to counties and municipal corporations the
right to adopt such system Of taxation for local
purposes as the people of such locality may desire
Judge Mcguire has already told the Oregon Popu-
lists that the single tax theory is the great issue of
the day. that until is put into practice the masses
will never escape the thradom of the classes He has
also written the Democrats of California that single
taxation is an issue of this campaign-that the
time is not ripe for agitation looking to placing
all taxes upon land and that he will not attempt ANY,
thing of the kind should he be elected Governor In
view of these declarations what does the plank above
quoted mean?
1t is we'll known that local option taxation is
single tax method of achieving results The exemp-
ton of personal property-bonds notes, money
horses carriages, works of art silks and satns-is
another method the single takers adopt for reaching
the ultimate taxation of lands alone Henry George
did not favor income taxes but Mcguire has done
so; whether, however, amendment to tho