The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1903-10-22
THE DODGE-WAKEFIELD De-
BATE.-MR. DODGE'S REPLY.

ticle on the single tax, we certainly
have an opinion as is an opinion.
Passing over such trifles as shaking
bloody corpses, the peculiar logic by
which he spots me as socialist, be-
ing accused in one and the same
breath of denouncing the landlord for
nothing at all, and seeing no wrong in
that landlord taking half of the prod
OF ct hi labor. fer access to
the land, and in the next, that | would
abolish rent and taxes altogether: all
of which may be first class grandstand
play, but certainly is not argument,
,ot us come to this unearned increment
business, on account of which Mr. w.
cannot deal seriously with me.
If no labor ever had been, or ever
would be applied to these mining
lands, etc., could even one dollars
worth of wealth ever accrue there
from let alone producing million
aires? Receipt of value without giving
value is unearned increment, is it?
Well, let us see: If a robber was tc
hold up Mr.. W. for thousand dollars,
then that robber would be in posses
sion of that much unearned increment,
receipt of value, you know, without
giving value) which, of course, belongs
In justice to the community, as the
creator thereof, and Mr.. w. would
have no sort of right to it. Is that it?
Henry George, however, held that
unearned increment is an increase of
wealth produced by no individuals la
Dor, but is created by the community,
N fr,c fho vyo 1rya NV ifcv
presence and needs, and he points to
the enormous value of land in all our
large cities as an irrefutable argument
In proof thereof. He, therefore, held
that the community is in justice en-
titled thereto | take issue with him
Oh all three propositions.
In order to get clear understand
Ing thereof, we must first fix the mean
ing of the word value, since on it
hinges the whole single tax philos-
cphy. Value, then, in it's economic
sense. refers to exchangeability. Now
In order to create value, three factors
are absolutely essential, as the absence
of one will invariably invalidate the
other two. These are: Demand,
restricted supply, either natural or
0lt.fcial, and ability to pay for the
article wanted. Since it is then be-
iween the tenant who needs the use
of the land, and is able and willing
to pay for that use, and the landlord
who will not allow it to be used, I'M
less he gets his price, the land values
arc created, We could have no quarrel
with the landlord if real tangible
wealth had been created by that pro-
cess, since the rent would be only his
share of the wealth so created But
as it is only means the landlord has
to extract the product of labor from
his tenant, we have right to object.
II he will not use his land himself,
then his tenant has right to that
uss without paying tribute to him.
Where, however, the community's
right comes in to exact such tribute,
should like to have explained; since
its mere presence does not create the
land values even in our large cities.
Could, for instance, the most valua-
Bile lot in any city be sold or rented
at any price, if there was clear I'M
derstanding that that lot should be
kent perpetually out of use. Yet the
community would be there just the
same. Since, then, on it's utility and
the competition of individuals, not the
community as such, the value of land
depends, the question presents itself:
TO what use are city lots put, that one
lot alone, though nothing of real tan
gible use is produced thereon, should
be worth at the rate of seventy-six
million dollars per acre? There can
be hut one answer. That is: To ex-
p1oitation.
Our large cities are the plague spots
on our civilization. They not alone
exploit local labor, but like huge
octopus, have their tentacles all over
the known world, to draw unrequited
labor's product into their capacious
maws. Their colossal Office buildings
are hives of parasites ever on the
watch to devour labor's substance
wherever found. The modus operandi
BY which this is accomplished cannot
be enlarged upon here. The loss Of
the three billions through the decline
In stocks lately, however, pretty we'll
tells the tale. As the loss of billions
have not diminished the real tangible
wealth of the country by one toto it
Is evident that this was simply fictiti-