New-York tribune., 1907-06-19
TENANTS PARTY RISES.
WHO M1DE THE LAND?
That's What Tictims Of Landlords
Would Like to Kn07C.

Lincoln Square would not have been a pleasant
place for landlord last night, for the Tenants
Union. organized to curb the "rapacious greed of
the property OWNER. held a cart-tail meeting at
Broadway and 66th street The censure that was
heaped on the head Of the landlord limited by
nothing the paucity of the English language
He was called "robber" an 'extortonist a
'tyrant' a parasite a potato bug the mean
est man allowed to curse the earth ana other
names that would not look we'll in print
DR. Cornelius Donovan, who organized the cru
SADIE year ago in May because, as he explained
his landlord tried to triple his rent. announced
next fall when the Tenants Union placed ticker
in the field to free the people from the curse OF
landlordsm-" Jusi at present no plan for curnlnS
the landlord has beer worked out Suggestions
invited last night but tine speakers were sure
the tenants COu'd get any relief through the
pieces of putty that now represented them in
the Legislature. and they proposed to elect men
who would try to evolve some laws that would
help things along.
Tenants awake and unite with your neighbors
TO save your homes from landlord greed Rents
must he reduced the message circulated
around the neghborhood in advertising the meet
frg- 1t was printed in red ink on yellow hand
bills which announced that public spirited citi-
zens and outraged rent payers would make adj
dresses.
DR." Donovan in few brief words on tho
grievances of rent payers before the meeting, said
]" was opposed to fixing rents on the basis of the
value of the land. Land. he pointed out, Is NOT
created by man "Capitaizing land ne salu' Is
responsible for the system of interest. ! do not
believe in paying interest and | could not accept
it. | have lent money. but never asked penny in
interest could not take rent for any property |
might II is against my principles In his
speech to the popUlace a little later. however.
DR." Donovan forgot to say anything about his
custom Of lending money without interest
The doctor was introduced by J. ID. Breen, the
presiding officer. the man who had organized
the fight against the landlords MIR. Brcen has
introduced me the Michael Davitt of America -
Michael Davitt of Ireland did. lie secured the
passage of law enabling a farmer whose land
lord wanted to raise the rent to bring the latter
into court and ask him to prove he had actually
created the value which lie based his Increase
In rent. We need such n law here more than any
where else in the world
When my le6se expired a year ago May. my
landlord wanted 10 increase my rent throefold.
told him he wanted to rob me because he could
He wanted 10 absorb tho value | had added 10 the
property for my line Of business You don't need
the money | said to him. You don't need il
more than you will need pocket in your shroud
and you will need the latter +nghty soon t"r he
old mani l know that you gave &Tn.oop
TO your son last week to escape the Inheritance
tax
Doctor" Donovan said he had foiled the land
lord by moving but he has never forgiven him
He went to explain that fortunes we're founded
on extortion. "IG the Astors had TO put out the
tenants themselves he went on. none would he
put But they evoke the forces OF the govern
nent. The Democratic habit and the Republican
habit is a curse This partisan habit won't have
so much weight next fall. when have only As
semblymep and Aldermen TO elect and we VIII
give 1t awful iot. We will astonish the com
munity by putting a ticket Tn the field so ihat
you vote against the rapacous greed OF IN"
landlord We the people. make all the good things
Of the earth The landlord enjoys them II has
become necessary for US to organize a new party
TO fight against the turning OF the city 10 a
human parasites known as landlords We
have been making this island too dear TO hEa m
'Hooray for the landlord yelled n small boy
as the speaker finished. but the temper Of many
Of the crowd OF two hundred or so was better eN-
pressed by a coal driver. who muttored between
his clenched teeth. r. hell with the landlord.
Rent was properly named. said Cornelius ShcehAn.
for II sonnet hing torn hy force from the poor
man. The constitution, he added. was supposed To
have freed people from tyranny. but the clause
which preserved the title to the land left the Brlt
ish aristocracy supreme. 1T is all well enough
for tho President prate OF large families, lac
said. but how 4 man afford a large family
with the present rate OF salaries and r"ntsi'
In calling mon 10 enroll under the banner of
the Tenants Union Mr.. Brccu said that tho most
popular song used to be Home, Sweet Home
but now this had been replaced by We're Working
{ Landlord