The independent., 1903-05-14

Oh Inc independently
1t is often spoken of as matter OF
complaint that mems pecuniary inter-
ests largely determine their attitude
towards the single tax, socialism and
other proposed political and economic
changes. But that this should be SO
is as right as 1t is natural, and may be
claimed to arise from a kind of in
stinctive perception on the part Of the
common people that any fiscal meas
ure which would further their inter-
ests is likely to be just and right.
In the nature of things injustice is for
the benefit of the few; the many pros
per only by justice.
The difficulty of realizing off-hand
how very few can be the gamers even
pecuniarily by an unjust system, Is
well illustrated by the great number
of farmers and wage-workers who are
led to imagine they profit by the tar
iff. But these mistaken citizens are
to be blamed, not for voting accord
ing to their supposed interests, but
for thoughtlcssly accepting the dictum
of monopolists as to what their in
terests are. The people are not mis-
taken in assuming that whatever viii
increase the general returns. for their
labor, in field and factory, in mine and
forest, at. desk and counter and Whef-
ever useful service to society is rem
dered, is by that token a fair and
equitable thing to be done. But they
are constantly and systematically
misled regarding the tendency OF ees.
tain means as favorable or otherwise
to this end.
Those who hold to the doctrine OF
Henry George that the common right
of all men to the use of the earth
should be maintained by appropriat-
ing ground rents for public purposes,
would gladly consent to put this plan
to the test of its proftableness to all
Wage-workers, most capitalists and
the great majority of land owners
regarding the latter two classes OF
course with reference to numbers only
and not at all to amount OF posses
Sions.
AS to the first class, the landless
workingmen, probably there Will De
no serious pretense from any quarter
that they would be losers by such an
exemption of improvements and prod
ucts as would cheaper all necessaries
of life, or by such a taxation OF ground
values as would force into Immediate
use all land now capable of yielding
ground rent and destroy all motive for
holding out O. use any land not yet
SO capable.
Proceeding then to the capitalist
class it will be necessary first to ex-
plain that the word capitalist is here
used in it's economic sense, OF owner
of wealth used in producing or pro-
curing more wealth, and not in its
popular sense Of owner of monopolistic
privileges valued among the millions
of dollars. In the capitalist class,
economically speaking, would be in
cluded all owners of live stock, imple
ments, machinery, buildings and raw
materials of manufacture, from the
carpenter with his outfit of tools and
the small farmer with his half dozen
COWS, up to the proprietor OF the great
mill or factory plant with employees
numbered by hundreds. Who OF this
class would he losers by the removal
Ol Iu6 UuIuCuSOluC tuAVo Ihik@S Aho " NNe~
courage the production of wealth, or
by the stimulation Of such production
through taxing into use all the lands,
mines and other natural sources OF
wealth of which society now has
need? Would the increase in wages
caused by the new demand for labor
hurt the capitalist? Certainly not;
since the returns to true capital-not
monopoly-would be correspondingly
Increased. True capital is but stored
up labor" and its returns, whether
in interest On money or profits OF
trade or manufacture, always are and
necessarily must be high or low when
and where wages are high or low.
Would the cheapening of products
through the great increase OF produc-
tion injure the capitalist Obviously
not, as long as exchange is free and
human desires are unsatisfied. The
more and the cheaper, the better for
all.
The only CO epitalists who would lose
by the immensely increased wealth
production resulting from the single
tax would be the few who at present
enjoy special legal advantages over
their competitors, in highway privil-
eyes, mine or timber ownership, tar
RxS1