The independent., 1903-05-14
AN OVER sHADowING CURSE

AN OVER BHADOWlNG CURSE
(Written for Henry George Edition
of The independently
California, the Land of Sunshine, .
is unfortunately overshadowed with
curse that initiates against the
prosperity that could and would be
enjoyed by it's population, with a few
exceptions.
| refer to the curse of landlordism.
Or, in other words, land monopoly.
And by the term land / mean all
varieties of natural resources. Not
only is the soil itself monopolized, but
the water, the mineral deposits, the
forests, the ar and the sunshine arc
elements on which greedy eyes are
fixed, and ruthless combinations ol
capital are used as If God had de-
signed those essentials only for the
strong and the greedy.
The earthlords do not mOnopolize
sunshine and other natural elements
by holding umbrellas over the heads
of their victims They do it By
simply nopolizing Ian d.
This means that they can also con-
troll the other essential elements, and
make fortunes by dealing in them as
so much merchandise. This condition
of affairs has been going on ever since
California became state, and ths
blighting effects of such system are
now visible on every hand. True,
there are many families living here
who enjoy ali the comforts and many
of the luxuries obtainable in this
progressive age. But there are thou
sands of others who are hard pressed
for even the ordinary necessities OF
life. Yet they work as steadily and
strive as hard for living as do their
more fortunate fellow citizens. The
wide difference between the condi-
tions of the two classes is the result
Of permitting one man to grab natural
resources and hold them for specula-
ton, while scores Of other people
either directly or indirectly pay toll
to the monopolizers.
Our laws, which are supposed to be
made for the good of all the people
alike, uphold land monopoly in all
it's varied forms, and all other monop-
olies that seriously oppress wealth
producers are buttressed by the mo-
nopoly of land.
At every election the intelligent
idiot who prides himself on being an
independent voter. walks up to the
polls and automatically drops in a
ballot to further tighten the chains
of industrial slavery on himself and
his fellow imbeciles. Then, between
voting days, he wonders why it is
that with all his hard work and rigid
economy so little cash comes into his
pocket and so little sunshine into his
life.
l often feel like asking the auto
matte voter how it would do for him
to find out what he is really voting
for; but that would necessitate his do
ing little independent thinking
which is not il his line.
Land monopoly is not personal
matter; it is an institutional evil,
national curse, far-reaching octopus,
and in order to eXpel it from a COM
munity, a county or state ma
jority of the voters-legal voters, |
mean-there must be concert of ac-
tion, coupled with sufficient moral
courage to do what reason and con
science pronounce right. The people
can have such legislation as they de-
sire, If they will demand it. One of
the worst drawbacks to the better
ment of our social conditions is lack
of moral courage among men who
know that change is needed. Single
takers, however, pause not to inquire
whether our principles are popular or
unpopular, here or there. They are
constantly inspired by the principle
outlined by the poet, who wrote these
words:
Hes slave who dare not speak
For the fallen and the weak;
He's a slave who dare not be
In the right with two or three"
RALPH HOYT.
r.. kr0o1o, Co1