The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-03-01
WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THINK
slnaIe Tax Debate Continued.
0 the Editor of The journal.


In a recent issue Of h e j gu rnai
F. w. Frink Of Faribault. Mimi, COM
ments on my communica ton In former
issue under the caption, "Single Tax in a
Nutshell Mr.. Frink says: 1T strikes
me forcibly that any system OF raising
revenue by taxation that requires volumes
Of space for explanation must be too COM
plicated for general USE
Mr.. Frink fails to distinguish between
the practical operation of the single tax
system and the important social results,
direct and indirect, which would flow from
it's introduction. For illustration, one
might fill many volumes in explaining In
detail the far-reaching results of the in
PRODUCTION of agriculture among people
to whom It had heretofore been unknown.
And vet the mere placing of the seed In the
ground and keeping the spot free from
weeds might be a very simple matter.
We may imagine some citizen OF most
ancient Nippur, whose people were
struggling to lift themselves out or par
barism, making discovery OF the great po-
tentialty which lay in the little Drown
seed which grew wild in the river valley.
His incredulous neighbors see only =
whitish substance under the brown cover
| ing. But the investigator, while admitting
that his own mental capabilities are not
beyond those of his fellows has made
| careful study of these despised kernels OF
wheat In his minds eye he sees the I'M
certain chase for wild game and the search
for berries and nuts give way In large
measure to the tillage of fields Of waving
grain. He sees the horrors OF famine
averted; he sees a progressive peopo
building the great city Of Babylon: he SEES
the empire of Hammurabi stretching
| westward to the Mediterranean: more
dimly he discerns the later rise OF the
arts of Greece and the laws Of Rome
4 Toward all these and more the success
! full tillirs OF the wheat is the first step.
And vet a mild assertion of this fact is met
by the citizens of Nippur with indifference
or even with derision. 1t Is only by pa
tient and continued argument that the IN
yestigator finally gets permission to make
i some experiments. Even some OF these
/ may fall by reason of bad soil or unfavor-
,l able seasons; and the investigator goes
to his long sleep and his very name Is Ior
gotten long before the boundless dement's
which he has conferred upon the "oFid
become fully recognized.
1t is with feelings such as may have
animated the followers of this unknown
planter. when his teachings and example
J began to make them selves felt, that single
I takers look upon the work of Henry
{ George They are constantly met with the
!. cry. sOh. YOU claim too much! You claim
altogether too much for it, We can see lit
lie good in the single tax. perhaps. but
nothing like the great things you assert :
Y Very we'll. We do not expect a man whose
r Investigation consists OF an Hour - Tedu-
: ing in an encyclopedia or a hasty examina.
a ton of a book to share our enthusiasm. II
' he can see little good in 1t. and will help
E us toward making a few practical expert
r lments, that is all We ask.
a To Mr. Frink / want to say that as Z
method of raising revenue the single tai
system is a great deal simpler than the
. cumbrous and inequitable system witt
: (which he has been struggling for the Las
t Twenty years. "A. M. Goodrich.
Minneapolis, Feb. 20. 80.