The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1903-10-16

why7
Two subjects OF discussion of serious |
public interest are never mentioned by |
Tom johnson in this campaign; at
least not by name. He may talk
around them. but according to all the
reports up to date. he has steered re-
markably clear of saying any word
that plainly and Enthusiastically meant
these important things.
This is remarkable. not to say mys-
terious. For each one is subject very
dear to Mr.. Johnson's heart The first
OF them is that particular theory or
which Mr.. Johnson publicly stated to
the people of Ohio in his tent speeches
that it is "the moving spirit of what
ever l do; whether as mayor of Cleve-
land, or in this tent. or in any other
field of activity" Again he said few
nights later of this same principle.
which was so dear to him that it is
the sovereign remedy for existing evils
in both state and national affairs"
These remarks made by Johnson at
Lima and Wooster, only repeated his
statements at Lorain in the opening
speech OF his campaign last year, that
'-all the things we are working for
now. are in the direction of the single
tax" Again at Mansfield and Ashland,
Canton. Alliance and Youngstown and
other places. Mr.. Johnson eulogized
| and enlarged upon the single land
| tax of Henry George as a panacea for
| all political and social ills. Where
| is that doctrine now? Has anybody
| heard johnson name it? Has anybody
| heard of his recanting his belief in
it? II the philosophy of Henry
George is the sovereign remedy for
| existing evils in both state and ma
tional affairs" or was one short year
| ago in Tom l.. Johnson's mind. what
| ails 1t now What has become of it?
Wasn't 1t sovereign remedy" that
he has dropped it? And If it was a
sovereign remedy" in 1902, is it not
still such in 1903? If it is. again.
why drop it?
However, we may do Mr.. johnson
an injustice by presuming that he has
dropped his dearest principle, simply
because he refrains with such extreme
care from. naming it, or even making
any allusion TO it. This may be John
sons way of bringing about the single
tax on land values in Ohio according
to Henry George. The pending con-
stitutional amendment to classify diff
ferent objects of taxation opens wide
the door for this very kind of a tax
l TT IF nh hx
amendment was framed. months before
johnson began to preach the gospe
| of the land tax in Chic. The stats
| Chamber of Commerce in its schedule
proposing different classes of propert,
for taxation, should the constitution
be changed. specifies land in various
forms among the classes that could b.
/. made.
With the adoption of the amend
ment and a legislature elected friendl.
to putting the entire tax upon land
as George and Johnson believe it ough
to be. no power on earth could pre-
vent that legislature from making sucl
: law. johnson has been most par
ticular about his party candidates TO
the legislature. He has seen to
4, that they would be men who would d.
) what he wants. He has had his part
pledge itself to this amendment, so b
. will have every legislative member @
. his party doubly bound to stand b
. the single land tax. Thus he is work
: | ing the land tax. even II he is not talk
q ing about it. but why does he refus
to speak OF 1t? Does he think that
. can work such a game upon the voter
. of Ohio?
E Second of the subjects that NJ
: johnson is silent as the grave about
this campaign is one that is an intei
n raj part of the single land tax theor,
Q That matter is absolute free trade. NJ
: tariff for incidental protection. nC
9 one for revenue only. nor any sue
Ir thing. but the entire and comp,e
9 abolition OF all custom houses and
all import duties. Johnson offered
bill for bringing this about when
Q was a member of congress. and yet
never says a word of II all now. IL:
he given up this vital part of his so
|. ereign remedy?" What does he wa
At John Clarke in the United States Sc
Of ate for. at any rate? II it is not f
y. free trade, what Is II? And IL it
for free trade that he presses Clarl
to upon the people. or else himself. WI
don't he come right out into the ops
| and saw SO in plain words?