davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-18
WIDOW TELLS PlTIFUL STORY
OF LOSSES IN FAKE MINES

LOS ANGELES, July 17.-[Editor
Herald: You are indeed doing a SER
vice through the Public Letter Box.
How often have I longed for the OPP
portunity of publicly warning my sis
ters of just the very thing Joe K.
Fernandez writes of in his letter re-
garding Mexican concessions and the
Mexican martyrs now in our county
jail.
Some few years ago my husband
died, leaving me $4,000 insurance. Hav-
ing four children and realizing that
their comfort, education and support
depended upon the income from this
amount, 1 looked about for a safe yet
paying investment. OF course, 1 was
besieged by all kinds of sharks, but
it was left to Rev. Mr.. - to persuade
me to invest in a rubber plantation
in the isthmus of Tehuantepec. In a
very short time my heart was made
so glad with a dividend of 4 per cent
that l decided that Mexican invest
ments were very good thing, and
put the remaining $4,000 in some famous
copper mines in the northern part of
that country. I received two dividends
from the mines, but that was four
years ago, and being pushed to the wall
and very needy 1 began to investigate,
and to my alarm and sorrow find that
the rubber plantation exists only in
the minds of the board OF directors
and that the dividend of 4 per cent
was declared from the money sent in
by the foolish stockholders. 1t is need
less to say that the board of directors
are millionaires. When 1 repeatedly
asked for dividends I was put off with
the answer that the stock had risen
from 81 a share to IS. and the thing for
me to do was to hold on to my stock.
1t was the same with the copper
mines. The president of the company
is a multi-millionaire, made so by the
money extorted from widows and from
people fooled by these halucinations.
This same president presented to
Porfirio Diaz, president of Mexico, a
horse valued at $4,000 Dust the amount
of my Mexican investments); his son,
Porfirio Diaz Jr., has power of attor-
ney for these copper mines at q salary
of 900 a year, while 1 and my daugh-
ter work in a sweatshop to support my
younger children until they are old
enough to take their mothers place
there. MRS. ]. d. NOLEN.
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-18
BATTLEsHIPS ARE Ho5SoN'S
cHAUTAUQUA STOCK IN TRADE

LONG BEACH, July 15.-[Editor
Herald Hobson's views about battle
ships are his stock in trade for Chau-
tauuua lectures, and he is giving the
people who yearn for intellectual sensa-
tionalism what is most likely to cause
them to become separated from their
coin.
If Bryan is elected there is no danger
of our nation becoming bankrupt
through building battleships, which
are destroyed by rust in few years
and become obsolete in a short time
by improvements in naval architecture
motive power, armor and guns.
At present there are only two nations
to which overgrown battleshlp naVieS
are indispensable. These are England
and Japan, island kingdoms, which DO
not allow outlying territory voice IN
government and are SO overpopulated
that starvation, followed by subjuga-
ton, would follow their loss of the con-
troll of the sea.
The practical way to deal with THESE
monstrous piratical nests Is for the
continental nations, that sare not now
ready, to prepare to repel invasion from
the seaboard. Also for each to build
and maintain moderate sized, up-to-
date battleship fleet and, through
diplomacy, arrive at an understanding
for the purpose of concerted action TO
keen the buccaneers in constraint, ac-
cording to the requirements OF pro-
gressiye civilization.
81 FELIX T. CANDY.
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-18
INTERFERENCE

N A YEAR of lavish abundance of
the gifts of nature, when the earth
= hath yielded her increase and
when the wealth of the soil of Califor-
MIA has been demonstrated in a NEST
remarkable manner, an unnatural and
arbitrary interference between pros
perity and its rightful benefioiaries is
being attempted by some of the rail-
roads. Figures and facts obtained by
taloupe crop in Imperial valley justify
the belief that railroads have planned
a game of "heads I win, tails you Iose,"
with the indignant cantaloupe farmers.
Figures show that growers have pro-
vided an enormous sum for freightage
by the railroads and a handsome re-
ward to commission merchants, while
they themselves have not been paid for
the trouble of hauling the crop from
the field to the railroad! Here is dis
industrious man works diligently for
others and receives neither reward nor
thanks.
Railroads can easily make arrange
ments for looting a crop-if they feel
In mood for looting-and the crop
growers are helpless. In cases like this.
where the man who does the work
gets what is known expressively as a
dirty DEAL" what redress has he? And
what recourse has he excepting an APP
peal to public opinion? Cantaloupe
growers feel that a most unjust and
outrageous tax has been put on their
industry. 1t is painfully evident that
in the opinion of their taxmasters-
who also to all intents are their task
masters-they are easy" Many can
taloupe shippers declare they will let
the crop go to waste rather than dis
pose of it at railroad terms which
would give them nothing in return for
their industry, their skill, their in
vested capital, and would add insult to
this injury by asking them to haul
their crop to the cars in order that a
freight might be collected on it and
1t might>Yield a revenue to middlemen!
Tariff reform should begin with the
railroads, and that kind of reform
would be literally protection" for
American Industries.
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-18
ALL THE PEOPLE SHOULD
BE PARTNERS IN THE LAND

LOS ANGELES, July 16.-[Editor
Herald: Your correspondent, e. Feck-
EFT, asks more hypothetical questions
as to the single tax than 1t is possible
to answer in a short letter. But the
principle, as taught by Henry, George,
is simplicity itself.
George believed that the entire hui
man race had equal rights in the soil,
by virtue of its living on this globe.
He considered that when certain indi-
viduals occupy specially advantageous
sites they should be made to pay the
difference in value to the community,
since all are equal partners.
For instance: A man owns, as we
say, a corner lot in central location
Broadway. Its value arises from the
fact that population centers there. The
value has been made by the public,
and should be returned to the public
by him who has the special privilege
of occupying 1t. Again, o man has
piece of land, unusually valuable, be
cause it happens to contain a gold
mine. BY the law of equal partner
ship he should pay into the general
treasury the value of the special priVi-
lege he enjoys.
The basic principle of the Single
Tax Is that we are all equal partners
in the soil, and that where individuals
are permitted to have exceptional priv
ileges they must pay to the other part
ners the full value of such privileges.
The community is the sole landlord,
and the comparative values are arrived
at by competition, individuals deciding
for themselves how much 1t Is worth
INCL " ''''O ~ SINGLE TAXER.
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-18

a Just form of taxation applicable
everywhere, instead of several unfair
and unjust methods employed hither-
to in collecting the public revenue, is
the contention of Democrats who know
something about an improved politi-
cal economy" that our country needs.
The basis of this law Is found in the
fact that certain part of the value
of all useful land arises or is created
by community use, not so much by
the use made Of it by isolated individ-
uals. The aggregation of ownership Is
the factor which brings value into It,
or the market demand. The speciaiiza-
ton of uses to which it is put has no
significance. Such value is justly COL
lectable by the tax gatherer.
Because this value is left uncollected
year after year in town, city or state,
Notwithstanding the arguments IN "a
vor of taxing it, is frequently the rauit
of men like our friend Feckett, who DO
not know, or want to know, why TO
tax nor how. If elected to the office
of assessor they cannot determine the
nature of land tenure nor segregate
this value as they of course' might IL
the statute called for 1t.
The effect of our assessors neglect
ing to make true finding, SO general
everywhere, is obvious; the taxes are
taken from the wrong peopieI oShoi
taxes of course are laid upon the class
of citizens known as the poor, VINO
have no estate and are those least able
to bear the public burden.
Now, If the single tax were IN opera
ton, Mr.. Feckett, who talks about his
two-story house situated upon land In
the congested part of Spring street,
would at once pull that building down
out of self interest, building another
edifice better suited, which would domi-
cile a $4,000 constituency like that OF
his neighbor across the way. Inc up
to date town would appear and the ut
tie old fish market proposition would
not, as it now may do, stand In the
way of any needful improvement, like
the commercial wharf frontage, or the
beautiful \and serviceable dock for the
citys or the nations ships.
Apply the land value tax as 1t ought
to be applied. and the property of
the obstruotionist must go, as 1t ought
to go, at the very next tax sale. by
which Mr.. Feckett would learn to be
enterurising in the future. In this
wav we would get taxes, and enough
to go around. A DhNaOONAA'
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-18
Ma1kind'S Dissatisfaction
Is the Cause OF Progress

has given rise to many misconceptions.
It is the same in matters of poltteness.
We rise and uncover the head before
stranger or a superior; in similar
case the Turk remains covered and the
Polynesian sits down. Though differ
ing so entirely in form, are they NOT
inspired by the same sentiments? Is
not the faculty by which they are
called into play everywhere the same?
It is the same also with the sense of
honor. Here, however, more than in
any other case, we meet with concep-
lions remarkably in accordance with
our own. The history of savage ma
tions abounds with traits of warlike
heroism and nothing is more common
than to see savages prefer torture and
death to shame. The Algonquin and
Iroquois challenge their --acutors to
invent fresh tortures. The Kaffir chief
asks as a favor to be thrown to the
croodiles rather than lose the feather,
which to him represents the epaulette
and serve as common soldier after
having been an officer.
That which we call chivalrous gem
crosby in speaking of Europeans is by
no means wanting in savages. In the
struggles at Tahiti several officers
owed their lives to this feeling. After
peace had been concluded Admiral
Bruat asked Tahitian chief, to whose
fire he had been exposed for an hour
while he bathed, why he had not fired
to kill. "I should have been dishon-
ored in the eyes of my people If had
killed such a chief as you, naked and
by SURPRISE" replied the savage.
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-18
MUNICIPAL WATERWAYS

THE greatest truth which can pos
sibly be spoken concerning Los
II Angeles was uttered at the meet
ing Of the board of directors of the
Municipal Waterways association.
President Joseph H. Call was spokes-
man of this truth. He said: Il believe
Los Angeles has it easily within her
power to become one of the greatest
cities. one of the great centers of pop
ulation and one of the greatest manu-
featuring districts in the whole world"
This is the standard up to which
Los Angeles must measure in all public
undertakings. If we build for today
we must tear down tomorrow. The
work of constructing this great COM
munity in every detail must be under
taken with a view to permanence.
Much of the work of this generation
must necessarily be foundational, but
let us see to it that the foundations
are made so fair, so large, so firm that
the superstructure may be planted
upon it without the necessity for tear
ing down and reconstruction, which
we see illustrated continuously in the
physical history of great cities. Among
the foundations of permanent prosper
ity are the great free harbor of San
Pedro and municipal waterways. The
work of the Municipal Waterways as
ISOLATION will be conducted without
any entangling alliances. political or
commercial. Its object is strictly nom
political and solely for the advance
ment of commerce and the expansion
of Los Angeles and tic neighboring
municipalities of this county. The
public will concur in the graceful ac-
ton of the association in recognizing
by an honorary life membership the
enormous service done to Los An
geles by the United States engineer
in the establishment of the harbor
lines, Capt Amos A. Fries, head of the
United States engineers office, which
has charge Of the harbor work"
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-18

NEW YORK has discovered a MEANS
by which overbearing and over
~ reaching traction companies are
compelled to listen to reason and pay
some regard to public rights. The
impudent attitude of the United Rail-
roads in regard to the suffer street
franchise could not be maintained in
New York for week. 1t Is through
the public service commission, insti-
tuted on the suggestion of Governor
Hughes, that discipline is applied. That
body has been in operation now for n
year, and the New York Evening Post,
reviewing it's performances, specifies
these results among others;
Measures of relief have been attained
solely through the action OF the COM
missioners. BY that of the first dis
trict, to cite one concrete instance,
residents of University Heights have
seen the 9-cent fare to One Hundred
and F1fty-fifth street reduced to D
cents, and commuters on the New
York Central have noted an improve
ment of the service and better time
tables. The Central's traffic officers
have suddenly found themselves in a
position, thanks to the commissions,
to make their operating officers come
to time. To give another example:
Until a delegation of commuters pro-
tested against the changing of motive
power in a cut near High Bridge, and
asked that it be done in the station
there, where most of the trains stopped
by schedule, the operating officers in
sisted that it could not be done. With
In ten days it was done, and with
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-18
GOOD ROADS

HHERE is one issue on which all
good citizens can agree with clear
conscience, and that is the good
gument against good road making can
be advanced. A civilization which
lacks a good roads system is incom-
plete. Good roads stimulate business
and facilitate commercial operations.
They bring prosperity to a county
spends money for good roads can be
accused of lack of prudence. Impru-
dence would consist in neglecting OPP
portunities and forgetting one of the
great lessons of human life is that
the work of today is preparation for
the work of tomorrow. Splendid is
the picture of Southern California Of
the near future, when the Panama ca
nal is completed. and a system of mu-
nicipaI waterways enables Los Ange-
les to take full advantage of the GEM
rnercial facilities of the great harbor
of San Pedro. But the picture of
busy community, with its interests
served by the fine buildings, excellent
railroads, great waterways, factories
warehouses;. stores and banks is in
complete without a system OF good
roads. We do not think there is any
question of the success of the bond is
sue. At the same time, we commend
heartily ali citizens who have engaged
in active missionary effort, and we say
let the good work go on.
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-18
Public Service Commission
Would Be S. p. Commission

consequent saving of at least three
minutes on every train that stopped at
High Bridge. The sum total of little
reforms like this bulks large and can
hardly be set down on paper; but 1t
can be indicated by saying that every
borough in the city is rejoicing In
improved service, and that the COM
panies, from being absolute despots,
have come to realize their duties and
grave responsibilities to the public.
All functions of government regula-
ton of public service corporations in
New York state are assigned to this
commission, and hence the power to
make the companies hear reason. A
commission endowed with such powers
in California could quickly bring the
United Railroads to a more reasonable
and less defiant frame of mind, says
the San Francisco Call.
We shall have a commission Of this
kind in California, but not yet. This
state is not ready for an admin
istrative body of that character and
will not be ready as long as the APP
pointing power rests with the Southern
Pacific political bureau. In New York
the commissioners were appointed by
Governor Hughes. If we had such a
commission in this state It would he
equivalent to giving us anothoer state
railroad commission. We should be
worse off than we are now by the sum
of the salaries paid. After the poll
tics of the state has been delivered
from Southern Pacific domination it
will be time to talk about a public
service commission for California.
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-18
Direct Legislation Places
Responsibility for the Law

II VEN emitting the element of dis
n honesty, it is impossible to know,
~ when absolute power is given to a
legislator, whether he will show wis
dom and a farsighted regard for pub
lie welfare or not. Jones If elected
might act we'll on one subject and i'll
on another, while Smith might do vice
versa, says the San Jose Mercury.
NThe future action of candidates is
so much of a lottery, and so many
thousands of them have so grievously
disappointed the people, that it is small
wonder If great numbers of voters have
come to that stage where it seems al
most matter of Indifference which of
the two men is chosen. Between the
unknown Smith and the unknown
Jones and their unknown opinions OH
various questions the choice is only a
toss-up. Moreover, the more decided
man is as to what should be done re-
garding certain public matters the less
is ne inclined to trust candidates prac-
tically unknown to him and who may
turn out wooden heads or worse; the
less inclined is he to vote on a toss-up
or to become responsible to his own
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-18
LOOKS FORWARD TO DAYS
UNDER THE NEW CHARTER

LOS ANGELES, July 13.-[Editor
Herald: 1 quite agree with one OF
YOUR correspondents when he suggests
the discussion of political ways and
means.
How about that new city charter?
VIII there be an appointment of free
holders to act upon the matter2
And is it within the range OF posi-
bilities to expect that the next city gov
ernment elected under the new docu-
ment, of course) will consist of a
legislative body made up of mayor
and board of aldermen elected at large
and a common council elected from and
by the several wards to serve In the
lower branch of our city government,
mayor and both branches to be desig-
mated as the city council, school COM
mittee, board of public works and as
SCISSORS elected at large with the board
of public works subservient in many
ways to the city council?
HIAWATHA.
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-18

In accordance with its time honored
position with regard to all matters per-
tanning to American liberty, the Demo-
cratic party at the state convention
made a specific declaration Of its belief
in the inviolable right of freedom of
public speech under the Stars and
Stripes. 1t is not surprising that Demo-
cratic correspondents from far and
near are hourly asking The Herald
whether the Los Angeles city admins
tration responsible for the imprison-
ment and detention of Los Angeles
women charged with violating a local
ordinance interfering with freedom Of
speech is Democratic administration
one writer accuses our worthy mayor
Of being neither Democratic nor Amer
ican."
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-18

should require but little thought.
The fundamental principle of the
single tax is that the land Tor in
larger terms nature) is the joint prop
erty of all the children of men. This
principle must be recognized and adj
mitted before a man can clearly COM
prehend economics. This much ad-
mitted, the rest Is clear. Society, as a
whole, rents out portions of it's prop
erty to its individual members. They
pay in proportion to the site value, or
use value. A corner lot is to a center
lot as a corner store room in a large
building is to an inside store room.
The owner of building would not
rent his best room cheaper than his
least desirable room merely because
the rentee intended to use it as a barn.
1t is not what man produces nor
what use he puts land to that deter
mines his rent.
Under the single tax the user would
pay rent to the people as whole in
stead of to the landlord as now, and
the principle of value determination
would be the same.
What q man produces belongs to the
man, and the state has no title or
right to 1t. 1t is unjust to tax the
products of labor.
The only principle of taxation is:
"Those who receive the benefit of gov
eminent SnOulQ Dear the DuruoIlS VI
government" Labor products receive
no benefit; land value receives all the
benefit.
The single tax-only partially applied
in New Zea1and-is constantly demon
strating the prophecies OF Henry
George. 1t is spreading and being
more fully applied until today New
Zealand has the reputation Of being
the freest country on the globe. Freest
from poverty; freest from privilege
Free land begets free men and free
men make a free nation.
3. o. BAILEY.
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-18
INVESTIGATION NEEDED

A THOUGH Mysterious wv. Coch-
" rane" is missing it is evident the
IA spirit of repentance is upon MIN
and that this spirit has inspired the
police department and aroused it to
bold activity. "At the request of own
ers" the police yesterday closed six
houses, and this action leaves the peo-
pie of Los Angeles wondering whether
the police think they need to obtain
permission from owners of disorderly
premises before they do their duty by
enforcing the law against such prem
ises.
Chief Kern receives a request from
the owners of notorious houses to close
them, and he closes them! Under the
circumstances, he could not well refuse!
But why should there have been any
official hesitation? Why should the
police have had to wait until the owner
gave his consent to the enforcement OF
the law? And is 1t unfair to infer or
believe the police, like some other citi-
zens, have been aware of the existence
of the illegal houses, but have piously
refrained from interfering with them
for some reason? Now what may be
the reason? Politics? Fear of someone
higher up? Or private arrangements
with regard to which the public Is not
we'll posted, and never will be unless
the city is Lexowed or Heneyed? 1t
would appear to be high time for an
investigation. When constituted author
tiles stop law breaking at the request
of the owners of premises upon which
law breaking has been practiced 1t is
time for the public to ask a few ques-
lions. 1t looks as If an investigating
committee would have plenty of work.
Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-07-18

Secretary Frank Virgins, in behalf
of the directors of the chamber of
commerce, sent sharply worded letter
of remonstrance to the city council
with regard to it's action in refusing
to pass the freeholders' election ordi-
nance. In spite of its just indignation
the chamber of commerce. with its
accustomed politeness, addressed the
council as your honorable body" But
perhaps the expression was used in a
Pickwickian sense.