Durango semi-weekly herald., 1907-03-21

side OF the fight, and the laws upon
which monopoly rests will be repeal
ed. But his hopes wane when he
finds that control OF the government
has. In some mysterious way, slipped
out OF the peoples hands. and that the
only share he now has In 1t, is to
drop ticket that some one has pre-
pared for him into ballot box. He
goes through this performance, grum-
bling and complaining for several
years. before he awakes to the fact
that opportunities are continually
closing around him, and that the rich
are getting richer and the poor poorer.
When Socialist organizer meets
man who has had this experience. he
finds a ready listener. But he does
not risk losing him by trying to make
him understand the whole philosophy
at once. for to be n Socialist a man
must think. and that Is the very thing
most men hate to do. So to set an
ideal before him without straining his
wv hpNhs hV o'hpiy tCho
that when the socialists get control
OF the government every one win have
an equal voice In making the laws
through the Initiative and referendum.
When the Significance OF this has had
time to settle in his head. He calls
his attention to the further fact that
with the power to make the tax laws
In their hands the people can kill mo-
nopoly with 1t.
When the prospective Socialist be-
gins to get glimmering notion OF
what that means. he litsens with In
creasing interest, and when his mind is
fully opened to the far reaching
changes that would result from allow
ing the people to tax privilege. his
eyes blaze with exultant Joy, and he
has then reached what is called the
single tax stage. And a great many
never get beyond that stage. They
do not see the necessity for 1t. When
spectators are taxed 30 high that
they can not afford to hold land out
Of use: and when, therefore, all men
have access to the natural resources
of the earth on equal terms. they
think the conditions OF freedom are
fulfilled. They mistake the large lib
erty suddenly openled before them for
full freedom, and transported with 10y
at the discovery that 1t can be won
by simple tax. they overlook three
things. First, they overlook the pat
ent fact that the last thing the privi.
legged classes will ever surrender Is
the right which they now enjoy to
tax industry and exempt privilege;
second, they forget that before this
great freedom can be realized, the dis
content which now fills the minds Of
the majority must be Joined with a
perception OF the consequences that
will flow from tax on privilege
which perception can only be had by
hard thinking. and. thirdly, they do
not see that even when opportunities
are thus equalized; the unequal abili-
ties among men will. through contract,
result in much waste and strife.
When they see this n few people
viii. no doubt be in favor OF doing
away with contract altogether by
forced cooperation. But the best So
cialists do not think II will be neces-
sary to do that. They think that when
tax on privilege has abolished want
and the fear OF want. men will s2on-
taneously and voluntarily cooperate
with each other In the production OF
wealth. and that every man can then
produce all he wants to, and get 1t,
but no more. But to bring about this
state OF things will require hard work
and exceptional abilities on the part
OF Socialist organizers. Above all they
VIII have to train their intellects by
stdying actual conditions. and present
day politics. OF course. their oppon.
ents will deny that this is necessary.
They say all our troubles are imag
mary. and. therefore. to make a good
Socialist the only thing that needs
training is the Imagination.
BARNEY HAU0HEY.