The Portland daily press., 1900-10-18
SINGLE TAKERS.
They Held a Meeting
Last Night.
And Chose Officers For Their
Association.
Many Were Present
From Other Places.
Rev. E. S. J. McAllister of Port
land Made a Speech.

Line IOUrGl annual conference OF GQo
Maine Single Tax association was held in
this city at Congress hall yesterday after
noon and last evening. In thu afternoon
the business meeting was held, President
A. NJ Rich Of Sebago Lake, Vice Presi-
dent E. NJ. Edwards OF Bangor and Sec
retary- Treasurer John Lawson of Calais,
being reelected. An executive committee,
consisting of G. E. Kittredge of South
Portland, L. S. Arey of South Portland,
Rev. E. S. j. NoAlIister OF Portland, E.
/ E. Knowles Of Portland and p. S. Ora
ham OF Westbrook was also chosen. The
report Of theztreasurer showed that there
was a balance OF So. There are now en-
rolled about 15O members of the associa-
tion in Maine.
The hail was about half filed at the
evening meeting. Half an hour before it
was called to order by President Rich
literature pertaining to the single tax
question was distributed among the audi
ence by Mr.. Lawson who also answered
any questions that were asked Of him.
AS he passed along the aisles he would
stop for several moments at a time to
argue and set forth the principles that he
champions Then as soon as the meeting
had been called to order he was also in
troduced as the first speaker. The Calais
man spoke for upwards Of an bour. He
was interrupted at various stages py John
NJ. Todd, " Farmer McLaughIiD and Will
liam n. Sargent. He attempted to an
swer a question Of Mr.. Todd, but was rot
very successful. The sage OF Scarboro
started out in his characteristic style to
question Mr.. Lawson, but the latter
waived him aside by saying, Don't in
terrupt me. I'm very easily ratified, and
know my weakness This silenced Mr..
Mclaughlin who, however, took pains to
inform the speaker that Sin Maine they
tax the farmers on everything except on
hens.''
The audience waited to hear DR.. Nc
AIlister, and when the pastor OF Pine
street was introduced he was received
with most hearty greeting. 'Riding
on a railroad train the other day. began
DIR. MoAlllster, ST overheard some
women discussing the economic ques-
tions. One of them frankly said that she
did not know what the single tax ques-
tlon meant whereupon one of her friends
explained that it meant that every
bachelor should be taxed for not marry
ing. The single tax is no tax at all. That
is literally true, There Is no theory, no
principle commensurate with the single
tax. have Investigated nearly every sys-
tenn OF political economy and have fled
myself full with all kinds of facts and
nonsense, with things wise and other
wise. Wnat would the single tax doS 1t
would do every thing except what it could
not do. Henry George never gave it any
name at all. Some one else named the
child. What is the trouble with the sys-
TEN in this country? The main tr oubIe
is that it is essentially immoral. On ac-
count OF the slavery question we have al
kinds of moral crOokedness in the South.
What was there immoral in the negro
taking the turkey from the apple tree?
The same principle is in operation in our
system of government, I mean that the
government is a social institution, the re-
suit Of social necessity and that it is en-
title to support from some source. God
has created no creature without means
for Its sustenance. Therefore a single
tazer can not be a nihilist or an an
archist. he must be the exponent Of the
largest human liberty. There can be no
disorder under this system of the single
tax, What L produce Is mine and I can
hold it against all comers. We are deal
ing with pure distractions that appeal to
the reason. What then if this government
takes from me what I have. God gave
me two hands, two eyes, two feet and
muscles. The unfortunate we may love,
cherish and care for, but we would not
have as large a number Of unfortunates
to care for today if justice and truth pre-
vailed on the earth. Suppose we go back
fifty years and that L had then told you
we would have electric cars and electric
lights. Who of you would have believed
me. I believe that human genius Will yet
unearth thousands OF potentiaIities that
we have not yet dreamed of. The plea OF
the single taxer is the establishment of
Justice on the earth among men. The
single takers know what they believe and
why they believe (which is more than
some people know. The poor man always
gets his share Of the tax bills, The other
fellow, through the granting of certain
privileges has the ability to get a saperi-
or product Of the amounts OF labor. We
have been producing immensely and i'm
mensely, but have been sending the
greater part Of our products abroad. What
should we do with Astor who has re-
nounced this country. The site OF his
property in this country is the milk that
belongs to the government. Farmer Nc
Laughlin says that we ought to put just
so much more Of tax on him. No, we
ought to take just so much OH his proper
ty.
"rou say that ths single tax is so con-