The times., 1899-03-01
DISCIPLES OF HENRY GEORGE.
An Enthusiastic Meeting of the
Single Tax Club.

An EnthusIasfic Meeting of the
Single Tax Club.
An enthusiastic single tax meeting was
held last night in the National Rifles
Armory under the auspices OF the Wash
ington Single Tax Club. The big hall was
crowded TO overflowing and the speakers
were frequently interrupted with applause
as they eulOgized the late Henry George
and his theory of taxation. The speakers
OF the evening were James. Hamilton Lewis,
on THE Right of Criticism Jerry Simp-
son, on THE Single Tax and the Farmer;
Champ Clark, on Freedom OF Production
and Freedom of Trade, and James G. Ma
guire told of Some Personal Recollections
of Henry George"
F. l.. Siddons, President of the club. pre-
sided He stated in a few Introductory re-
marks that the object OF the meeting was
TO propagate the doctrines of Henry George.
Great strides" he said, 'are being made
by the single tax advocates throughout the
world. Even in England Parliament is
considering the adoption of the measure.
and there is hardly district in the United
States that has not its local organization
of supporters of the single tax
The first speaker introduced was Jerry
Simpson, of Kansas. He said
The question OF taxation is rapidly becOm-
ing the greatest issue OF the country. The term
single tax has peculiar charm for farmers and
workngrnen because 1t is single tax. When
the movement was first launched by Henry
George the farmer not the first to the
advantages of the system. They see now that
this system will relieve them OF large burden,
and that the true object OF taxation should be
to tax land values only. BY this method the
owner OF city property will be obliged to pay
an equal burden. 1t is found that in Massa-
chustts 81 IL per cent Of the land values are
in the city. In the State of New York so per
~ tb. and .Isla4 ara m
er today cannot escape the eagle eye of the tax
collector. His lands and property are valued and
he cannot avoid taxation. In the city 1t Is quite
easy for the land holder to mi.rcpresent values
and escape just taxation In the country all
improvements arc taxed. II the farmer paints
his house barn makes improvements OF any
kind upon his premises he is taxed The system
introduced by Henry George would correct these
evils.
Congressman Mcguire spoke of his per-
sonal recollection OF Henry George. He
began by telling Of the early training of
the great single tax philosopher. He said
that Henry George attended the public
schools OF Philadelphia when boy, and
went to sea as sailor at an early age.
After enduring great hardships upon the
ocean for several years he finally landed
in San Francisco, and after years OF pa
tient industry became owner and pub
Usher of a newspaper. His early educa-
tion enabled him to take up this work
and carry it on successfully. 1t was
while engaged in this labor that he became
interested in the question of taxation. and
he finally accepted service in a land office
in order that he might study the land poll
ices of the United States. No man ever
lived said Mr. Mcguire. more self-sacri-
ficing. more devoted to duty, more earnest
and sincere in all that he felt and thought.
In his daily life and in all the walks of
his life he stood for Justice.