The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1902-10-03
LAND "CONFISCATION.'' y
That Is the Doctrine Dear to
Tom Johnson.
TAX OWNERS OUT OF THEIR ALL.

The ssMe" of Ohio Democu as; and His
Socialist Candidate For secretary
of State-Johnson Owns No Land
and Dodges All Other Taxation
With His SO, 200, 600
"If chattel property be unjust then
Is private property in land unjust!
This sentence stands as the first one
In Chapter ii of Book Z OF Henry
Georges Progress and Poverty. the
CHAPTER he calls The Enslavement OF
Laborers the Ultimate Result OF Pri-
vate Property in Land" According to
the argument OF this chapter. so long
as one man can claim the exclusive
ownership OF the land from which
other men must live. slavery will ex-
list. and as material progress comes on
must grow and deepen."
These are merely samples OF many
sentences that might be quoted from
this interesting volume which Mayor
Tom johnson OF Cleveland. Just now
the only ME" of the Democratic par
ty in Ohio. declares Is the moving
spirit OF whatever l do" This Is the
same Tom Johnson. by the way. who
is using the Ohio Democracy this
year as stepping stones to better
things" for himself in the way Of the
governorship of Ohio next year. II he
can get it, because that has been such
an excellent point of vantage for the
presidency of the United States: pro-
yided, however, that the aspirants
have the proper political principles.
The Henry George theory that there
is no private property In land. that all
land has always belonged by right to
all the people. and could never be
long to any individuals. and should
now be taken away from every indi-
yidual and be given back to all the
people. is the one principle. so far as
has yet been ascertained. to which MI
johnson has been unfalterineiy faith.
full. 1t is indeed to his credit that hs
should be so consistent In its support
At this very time although reputed
to be worth $4,000. 900. he Is moi
known to own one foot OF real estate
and certainly he has not paid taxel
upon any at any time. The Euclid
avenue mansion In which he lives !,
In his vife's name. and he Is SO CON
scientiously opposed to paying take,
upon anything else except land tha
the Cuyahoga county authorities hav'
been trying for several years to Sc
cure from him nearly half a million
dollars that they declare Is due from
him to the state of Ohio and the coun
ty in which he lives. and the city o
| which he Is mayor.
| This extreme example Of tender de
votion to principle is indeed an evi
dent characteristics In fact. Mr.. John
son has been SO much In earnest abou
1t as to violate another principle o
his party. that which declares agains
government by Injunction and has &C
tually asked and secured from tn,
hated court of the United States al
injunction restraining the auditor o
Cuyahoga county from doing anything
In the way of collecting Mr. Johnson
taxes
Il
entire Democratic institution In Obi
for the current campaign. and dictate
the nomination of a man unknown I
the party. beyond his discovery by MI
johnson himself. because he was like
minded with Johnson on this Henr
George matter and other Socialist
theories. II is well to have som
knowledge of what this Henry Georg
business Is. The single land tar Is II
vital feature according to its advc
Gates. and then they say. as Mr.. Johr
son himself said at Lima the oths
night. that they don't tax land. br
he admits. however. that they do ia
"land values" Mr.. George In ais wri
ings makes It very plain that the pul
pose is to put on that taxation at sue
a rate as will make sure Of the "coI
. fiscation" OF the land to the stat
That fact is distinctly advocated an
Repeatedly made plain. and any deni,
of II by Johnson. or anyone In his b.
half. Is nothing but a direct evasio
writings. II Is called a single tax
because that Is intended to mean tn
there shall be no other kind OF ia
whatever: that land alone must p,
all OF the expenses OF the public
every kind. local. state and nations
No personal property tax. no excl
tar. no tax upon corporations. no Z,
at the custom houses. and no custo
houses. and the absolute abolition
all protection. and the most compile
= possible free trade. are features of III
{ system. and II is this that Johnsonis
means to the people of Ohio in {