The independent., 1903-05-28

workingman to read the reports OF
the latest prize fight, than to waste
his time on such books as Progress
and Poverty, or Shearman's Natural
Taxation.
1t is quite the fashion to condemn
all plans for economic betterment, as
though they were all offered as pana-
ceas. Doubtless the reformer, in his
enthusiasm, expects too much from
his plan. Republican institutions
have not saved the world, as some ex-
pected, but that does not prove any
thing for monarchy. Some abolition
lists thought the labor question would
be settled by the emancipation proc
lamation. Was slavery made right by
the fact that they expected too much
from abolition?
Today there are men like William
Lloyd Garrison, Tom L. Johnson, Boil
ton Hall and Clarence Darrow, and
host of earnest and thoughtful people.
who tell us that we would do muc1
to unshackle labor if we were to take
the unearned Increment of land value
for public purposes, and thereby re-
lieve personal property and improve
ments upon land from the burden of
taxation. 5.
Then some fellow says with swag.
ger, Another panacea. A cure-all.
Will it work? Not on your life"
Suppose Mr.. Jerome's baby has the
collie. The doctor prescribes castor
oil. Will Mr.. Jeromen scout the idea
and insist that if his baby is strong
it will get WELL and il it is not, it will
die? Will he say to the doctor: Can
any scheme be invented which will
be cure-all for babies, for all evils
to Gomez"
Il take no stock in your theories.
This is customary remark with
which men who are supposed to be
thoughtful and cultured, dismiss the
suggestions of the economic reformer.
Suppose the man who planned the
Brooklyn bridge had been as con-
| temptuous of theories of mechanics,
as our vaunted statesmen frequently
are Of theories of political economy.
No doubt Mr.. Jerome would admit
that it would be disastrous to con.
struct a bridge on an incorrect theory,
Now there are good and bad ways OF
raising public revenues, just as there
are good and bad ways of building
bridges. What would be more reck
less in leader of public opinion thai
to advise people to give no heed to
the theories for economic betterment,
but to go blundering along in blind
unreasoning and unethical contest of
strength? .,.>z ..
No doubt this is what Mr.. Jerome
would call practical talk to work.
ingmen. Oh, these practical men!
The practical people are now engaged
in collecting fresh air funds. A cir
cular has just been handed me by
the pOstman which contains an appeal
for aims with which to send little
children into the country. Among
other things the circular says:
1T behOOVes us to avail ourselves
of the privilege of giving, for two
weeks, the only breath of fresh air,
with good food and beds, that many
of these dwellers in the tenements re-
ceive during the hot summer months -
What a mOnstrous confession! What
an indictment against our social con-
ditions!
And what do these practical men
propose to do for the society so dis
jointed that many, for even two weeks
of fresh air. have to depend upon the
aims of the favored few? Why, the
practical suggestion is to select out of
this multitude of Les Miserables a few
hundred to be taken on a charity ex-
cursion. But if some one reminded us
that half the land within our borders
is unoccupied, and that our system of
taxation puts premium on vacant
land and penalty on improving land
and that by reason of this blunder
homes are made dear, wages are re
duced and the people are crowded
and if, to relieve matters, enc pre-
poses a sensible change in the meth
cd of raising taxes, then your practi-
cal man will declare in his omnisci
ence: "Can any scheme be invented
which will be a cure-all for evils tc
come? Not on your life" How en-
thusiastic some men grow in telling
us what can't be donei
If the money contributed to fresh
air funds were spent in collecting anC
parading to public view the hundreds
of dead babies that perish every sum.