New-York tribune., 1907-11-19
SINGLE TAKERS MEET
Tom johnson Called the Greatest
Of Them Ill.

Some hundred ana half earnest believers in the
single tax as the sine qua non of human happiness
foregathered yesterday IL the Piazza Assembly
Rooms in East J9th street. and gave hearty ap-
provaI 20 the repeated assertion that me soul
of Henry George still goes marching on. Inc
APOSTLES of the prophet who gave ont tie doctrine
that one tax. and only one, was enough with "hl'h
10 cunber humanity came from some fifteen STATES
Of The Union. There were also half dozen IepiS-
san+atfyes from Canada. and Sweden sent lone
delegate but the greatest Of all the apostles rom
/ Johnson recently reelected Mayor Of Cleveland
for the fourth consecutive term, vas absent ls
was source Of regret to all the other single 'aN-
re ,,1., had come To take part in the first inter
national conference held since 1880 but they eA-
cused him for not making the pilgrimage when ne
sent word that Important engagements "lth tile
Cleveland Electric Company would not permit iilin
90 80 away from there
Next to Henry George himself. me NldE'I
Cleveland seemed the largest personality IN the
minds cz-e Of the delegates and Of those who at
tended the public meeting held in the Murray nm
Iyceum last night. judging from the ali1ou"' -
APPLAUSE which greeted every mention OF MS "'''
All the conferrees were positive in their decara-
tons. however that the meeting had not been
called TO boost the Cleveland mans chances Tor tne
Democratic Presidential nomination.
Though Tom Johnson could not he there he
sent one Of his close political friends. state sen
ator Frederick G. Howe, who seemed AT d loSS
70 know how long he had been a single taNer hut
praised the doctrine nevertheless, with right Sood
will
William A Douglass. of Toronto, the permanent
chairman. had his hands full and plenty OF voice
exercise at the afternoon session. After more thah
half the delegates had addressed the chair and the
seventy-odd resolutions TO why we are come
together and what going to do had peen
safely referred 10 the committee on resolutions ID
was made known that the American single I'm
League had been organized. All present agreed
that they could subscribe TO this declaration OF
the ourpose of its formation-'to spread the knoW-
edge of the fact that the value of land exclusive
Of improvements is and should he the producI "i
the community and not Of individuals 'ha' 'Ae
common ownership Of land value can be secured
,opether with the individual possession of the land
nv exemption from taxation for all improvements
on the land or other labor products. absorbing
bv taxation the rental value OF the land 10 pay
government expenses. national state and local
one of the recommendations was offered by eX-
CONGRESSMAN Robert mo Pass" Baker" Of Brook
Iyn to the effect that if the country had followed
the advice Of the single takers, there would have
been no Wall Street panic, no runs on banks and
no financial stTingency.
Despite the unfavorable weather there was a
good attendance at the public meeting in Murray
HiH Iyceum last night. Henry George. jr. who
presided criticised President Roosevelt for en-
deavoring to initiate the The postal banks
savings system might aid, he said in relieving the
currency stringency but the currency could never
be made practically elastic until the land question
was settled in the right way.
William Lloyd Garrison declared that had Prog
ress and Poverty" appealed TO only the understand
ing and intellect Of the single tax advocate none
of them would have Joined the movement. Those
who did so were animated by Henry Georges
appeal to relieve the terrible social conditions under
which 50 many human beings have to struggle.
Two sessions viii be held to-day, and the con-
ference viii close with a dinner tonight. Among
the delegates present Louis Prang, of Boston;
Bolton Hall. John J Hopper; Delos +. Wilcox, Of
Detroit and Billy Radcliffe. of Cleveland.