Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-04-27
THE SINGLE TAKERS.

Their Nominees for Mayor. President OF
Council and city ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Tor Citv so,icitor Left warrant.
The Single Taxers.of this city met in
convention in their hall at Fourth
and Shipley streets Thursday night and
nominated the following ticket:
For Mayor Charles Beadenkopf.
| For President Of Council Martin
| Corliss.
For City Treasurer Samuel Shoup.
Tho nomination for city solicitor
was left vacant.
The following platform was adopted:
| First We declare for system of
| municipal taxation that will compel
the individual to pay i'll proportion to
| the service that government renders
him. As the march of improvement
/ and municipal growth and conyeniences
add 10 the value OF land only and
nothing to buildings or other objects
Of human labor, we hold the individual
should pay to the community the values
the community adds to land. and as
this value taken annually is sufficient
for all governmental purposes we de-
mand the abolishment of all other
forms of taxation, and to substitute in
their stead what is known as the single
| tax.
Second Our present election laws
are so defective and opposed to true
| democratic principles that it is pos
sible under our present system of elect
ing representatives to Council for either
Democratic or Republican party to
cast majority vote OF the city and not
secure single ward representative.
Ward lines should be established and
representatives should be elected by
the vote of the whole people, each party
TO secure representation in proportion
TO the vote cast. In other words this
convention declares for what is known
as Proportional Representation.
Third. We advocate the municipaliza.
tion of all public franchises. A large
part Of the selling value of the gas
plant in Wilmington is the franchise
on land value and the people in their
gas bills are compelled to pay interest
for their own property to the extent
that the gas company has capitalized it.
believing that with free competition
established, no extortion could be
practiced, we favor the payment TO
the city by the operating companies Of
the full value of the franchises granted.
Fourth. The very heart and core of
republican government lies in the
| tuth
derives is powers from the just consent
of the governed; therefore, we protest
most emphatically against coercing by
force of arms the people of the Philip
pine Islands into accepting govern
ment they do not want.
These people were regarded as patriots
while fighting for their independence
against Spanish domination arc they
any less for continuing the fight on
the same lines as they have for the
last three years? They started out to
win Independence. But for our inter-
vention they would have succeeded,
and may, in spite of it. How can q
people who believe in republican prin-
ciples square their convictions by
endorsing the subjugatlon Of an alien
people, whose acts in the past have
done nothing to offend US as nation.
Fifth. We denounce the action of
the governor in vetoing the Pyle water
bill, measure designed to relieve the
water consumers OF Wilmington from
excessive water taxes and confine the
revenue Of that department to the
needs of their department This bill
was supported by the majority of the
representatives of Wilmington. and
must be taken as an expression of their
desires. we also declare this bill was
vetoed at the instance of the land
holders rs against the interests of the
wealth producers Of this city.
The earth was adopted for the emblem
at the head of the ticket.
The convention was made up of dele
gates, each ward being entitled to three.
Thomas Cody was chosen chairman
and A. II. Saylor, secretary. Nearly
| four hours were consumed in the ses-
; sion and recesses, the latter being taken
, TO allow committees to make up reports.
t While the officers were being decided
! upon Frank Stephens gave description
, of the dollar dinner in New York
, last Saturday night week.
, In the report of tine committee on
platform, municipal ownership and
>. operation Of the plants of the Will
8 mington Coal Gas Co., and the Will
9 mington City Railway 20. was favored.
| This was opposed by some on the
Q ground that it was socialstic, and il
f was stricken out.
Tho nominations for assessors and
. for members Of Council are to be made
in the respective districts and wards.
/ The nomination for city solicitor was
t left open, the party having no lawyer
in its ranks.