The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-10-23
NUMBER s5.
Mr.. JOHNSON AND
The SlNGLE.TAx.

Mr.. Johnson said on August 29,
while addressing a farmers picnic at
Stow Lake. near Akron, that he was a
single taxer, but that this is not the
time to discuss the single tax In view
of Mr. Johnson's relation to the Demo-
cratic party in Ohio, his views on any
political subject are not only of inte~
est. but are very important. 1t is vsr1
plain that there never was polite a9
state convention held in Ohio which
was SO completely dominated by one
man as was the Democratic conven-
tion held in Columbus August 25 and
26- Johnson. swearing he would neer
consent. consented TO be named as
the candidate for governor, and forced
his own nomination, after unseating
some delegates. whose title to their
seats was as good as that of any of
the delegates who took part in the
proceedings.
Johnson's views prevailed in the
platform which was adopted. II copied
almost word for word the specific
statement of principles cor sained in
the Sandusky platform adopted in
September. 1902. To the fads and isms
set forth year ago. some new ones
have been added this year the whole
constituting a declaration of beliefs
which is strictly and thoroughly Tom
Johnsonian, one which the fathers OF
true Democracy would never recog-
nize. He named the balance css
the ticket from beginning to end
without the semblance of a con-
test on the floor of the convention,
every candidate on the state ticket be-
ing nominated by acclamation.
He reaffirmed and endorsed the
principles laid down in the Kansas
City National Democratic platform of
1900 with its demand for the free and
unlimited coinage of silver at the
ratio of is to L. and condemned every
effort to repudiate or ignore the prin-
ciples it set forth. On this free silver
platform he placed, as candidates for
the United States senate, a man who
is a gold standard. sound money DEM
ocrat and who openly opposed the
election of Bryan in 1896, because OF
his financial heresies. OF all the can.
didates for United States senator
whose names appeared before the
convention. it is clear that Clarke
would have received the smallest sup
port had not johnson forced his NOM
ination. From beginning to end the
convention was Johnson's and did his
bidding in everything.
Never did a political boss exercise
more autocratic control or ride rough
shod over state convention so abso-
lutely as did Johnson Were he eleSt-
ed governor of Ohio. and should the
Democrats control the next legisla-
ture, he would. undoubtedly enforce
his peculiar political views on that
body as absolutely as he did on the
Democratic state convention. If he
had back of him the state law-making
body, he would certainly attempt to
enact into law his peculiar political
notions. AS he has frequently declar-
ed, Johnson is. above all other things.
Q single-taxer. Everything he does in
politics has in view the carrying out
/ of Henry Georges single-tax ideas.
In view of all these circumstances,
IT is clear this is just the time to dis
I, cuss the single-tax- II was the favor
ite theory of Henry George that the
rich are continually growing richer,
while the poor are steadily growing
! poorer, and that discomfort and mis-
cry are on the increase. foretelling so
cial war. According TO Henry George
and Johnson. the true explanation OF
the poverty and distress existing in
the world is the private ownership of
land. Farmers and small land-nold-
| ers. the owners of homes in hamlets.
| villages, towns and cities. will be in
terested to learn that private proper
ty in land is robbery and rent exacted
by landlords is theft
The remedy for all this evil, he
says, is to confiseate all land for the
state to wipe out all private titles
No pay is to be given landowners, fol
their titles were worth nothing in the
first place. AS well compensate
thieves for the booty they lose when
captured by officers of the law tt q
but may retain possession on paymeal
to the state of tax equal to the an.
nual rent. The tax is to be figured
on the land itself and not on the i'm.
provements. The lot with a 20-story
sky-scraper will pay no more Ia,
than the adjoining lot which is va
cant. This is the single tax and i:
so-called because all revenue win b'
raised that way and personal prop
erty is to escape taxation. The horse.
and carriages. automobiles and steam
yachts and other luxuries of tbs
wealthy, all stocks and bonds ant
other evidences of indebtedness are Il
60 untaxed. The small plot OF land
of the home-owner. who owns that an.
practically nothing else. is to be taxed
to its full value. An extra burden i!
thus placed on the man. who accum
ulates and saves in order that he ma,
have a home for himself and family
An extra premium is placed on in
vestment in every other kind of prop
erty than land.
Mr.. johnson may not care to dis
cuss this question now, but the voters
OF Ohio are very much interested il
learning all they can on the subject o
the single tax.
CHARLES DICK.
The real question of the campaigl
is whether a protectionist, sounI
money man, a believer in the right
of all men and a defender of the own
ership of every mans property and
Roosevelt man, shall be United State
sena .or from Ohio or some opponen
of Roosevelt. some Johnsonite fire
trader upon the platform that all pri
yste oMnershjp of land IS rohharv2