Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1903-11-12
JOHNSONS APPEAL TO FARMERS
BY GEORGE GUNTON, EDITOR
OF "GUNTON'S MAGAZINE"

the single tax and so willing to follow
it to its logical issue that he is opposed
TO every other form of taxation. 1t is
this theory this theory that makes him
an absolute free trader; because he be-
lieves that single tax is the only right
eous method of collecting revenue, he
would abolish custom houses alto
gether. regardless of the effect of such
a policy upon the industries of the
country. Nay, he would go further
than that-he would abolish all inter-
nal taxes. 1t is an essential element |
of Mr. Johnson's doctrine that no man
ufacturing or mercantile industry, that
no business enterprise of any kind
whatever should be taxed.
Then where would Mr.. Johnson levy
his taxes? There is just one place
and one place only. Upon the land.
He would make the land pay all the
taxes-city, state and national. The
farmers and home -owners-in fact, the
people who own the land whether in
large or small quantities, whether for
farming, homes. or business, would be
was appealing to the corporations and
business men, to the non-land owning
people generally for support this
might temporarily at least, seem
catching card but to ask the farmers
and home Owners of Ohio to support
that method of tax reform is bold to the
point of impudence.
However unequal taxation may now
be. however much overtaxed the farm
ers are at present, and however much
under taxed are the corporations and
railroads, Mr.. Johnson's proposition
would make it more so. Instead of the
farmers of Ohio being on go per cent
valuation. as Mr.. Johnson now claims,
while the corporations escape with
much less, thy would under Johnson's
policy, pay it all. If there is any re-
lief in this, perhaps the farmers will
appreciate it.
Under his theory of taxation, the cor
porations would be relieved of taxation
altogether. Merchants would not have
to pay any import duties; manufacture
ers, railroads, and trusts would escape
/
would all be put on the farmers and
home owners. Nor would Mr.. john
son be at all disturbed by the fact that
such tax would be oppressive to the
! farmers 1t is a part of his doctrine,
indeed, it is the essence of his gospel,
that the tax on land should not only be
large enough to pay the expenses of
| ant h11t "a
enough to take all the value Of the
land and to wipe out every vestige of
property ownership the farmer may
have in it. This is the prime purpose
of Johnson's theory of tax reform The
very object of the single tax is to con-
fiscate the entire value of the land.
OF course. Mr.. Johnson is not telling
the farmers this just now, but at all
other times when he is not seeking
their votes he tells them this plainly.
Mr. George at whose feet Mr.. john
son sits, made an elaborate justitica-
ton of the doctrine of ruthless confis-
cation. 1t matters not that the land
has been honestly acquired paid for in
cash by the hard earnings of the owner
to everybody and the government is
everybody, and the government should
take it away from all who have ac-
quired it regardless of the manner in
which ii has come into their posses
sion; and the ruthless onslaught by
which the confiscation is to be pro-
NOTED ic by taxing the land to it's full
value.
This theory was regarded as harm
less when presented as matter of aca-
demic discussion by Henry George and
the single tax advocates in the young
mems debating societies, but in the
hands of Tom Johnson. it becomes 8
practical policy of robbing the farmers
and home owners of their hard earned
possessions.
OF course. under democratic institu-
tons, the people are omnipotent. They
can do whatever they will to do. They
can prohibit corporations from doins
: business. They can make railroads
} dissolve as in the Merger case they
can drive large corporations out of thu
= state or out of the country. They can
. if they so elect rob the farmers of theil
land: but the question is will the farm
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