Los Angeles herald., 1909-10-05
STORY
OF SINGLE TAX
APOSTLE OF HENRY GEORGE
is HERE ON MISSION
FIRST TURNED OVER BUSINESS
TO FAITHFUL EMPLOYEES
Now j. J. Pastoriza Is Travelling Over
Country Spreading Doctrine
at His Own Ex-
pense

| who enjoys the novel distinctions OF
having known when he was rich enough
| to retire, and at that time in his ca
reer turned over his large printing es-
tablishment to the three faithful en-
ployes who had helped him build up
his business, is in Los Angeles as rep 3.
/ resentative of the Joseph FelS fund
of America, which fund is devoted to
the promulgation of the political econ
omy of the single tax.
According to Mr.. Pastoriza, Joseph
Fels, who is at the head of great
| soap-making corporation, believes the
| single tax theory is the final solution
of most of the economic troubles of the
world. He believes 1t so strongly that,
early in the present year, he contrib
| uted the sum of 900 as the nucleus
of a fund to be used for one years
work in spreading the doctrine OF
Henry George throughout the land.
At the same time, he established a
similar fund in England, a fund of
$4,000 in Canada, and announced his
intention of giving to New Zealand and
Australia the equivalent of any sum
they would raise. This money is to
be given every year for five years.
Volunteered His Services
The Houston merchant had long
been an adherent of the teaching of
George and when he heard of the fund
and contemplated tri pwest, he wrote,
volunteering his services as a propa-
gandist. His offer was accepted CRATE
fully and since then he has been trav-
cling over the country and preaching
| single tax. He pays all his own ex-
penses and already has added consid-
erable sum to the original fund through
| contributions solicited from sympa-
! thizers throughout the west.
"The Fels fund is one of the most re-
markable donations to the study and
solution of political economy problems
| in the worlds history" said Mr.. Pas
toriza at the Hotel Lankershim last
evening" 1.-THE chairman of the COM
mittee of five in charge of the fund is
Tom L. Johnson of Cleveland, and the
secretary Is Daniel Kiefer of Cincin-
natl. No restrictions are put on these
gentlemen by the donor of the fund,
the only purpose of the money being
to further the spread Of the theory
that land values alone should bear the
expense of the operation and mainte-
nance of government
EnqIand in the Tolls
"I took up the study of taxation be-
cause 1 long have believed the present
systems obtaining in the world are the
basis of most of the extravaganza,
waste, disturbance and trouble of gov
ernments and peoples. Just at present
England is involved in war over one
clause in the budget bill--that relating
to the taxation of land. The bill origi-
mated in the house of commons, but 1t
touches almost solely the pocket books
of the members of the house of lords.
i AS a result, there Is prospect or
bitter struggle and also that for the
first time in 300 years the house of COM
mons will find trouble in forcing the ex-
~ecution of its budget bill.
I'm this country, / believe, sooner
or later, we must take up similar dis
cussion-whether or not there should
be taxes on all three sources of COM
mercial prosperity, capital, land and
| labor or only on the one-land.
"Single takers believe with Henry
George that capital and labor should
not be taxed-that the tax on capital
is by it included in the prices it charges
for it's products, that the tax on labor
increases its burden, already too heavy.
They assert the gathering OF capltal
and labor raise land values-that land
values alone are arbitrary and they
should be taxed.
Seeking a Fair Trial
'"This is the sort of doctrine the fund
is set aside to promulgate. The plan
| is to raise Su1lclenL amount TO Hldke
a campaign in some one state possible.
| The state that will be chosen will be
one in which there is no constitutional
provision against a change in the tax
| laws, such as Oregon, Rhode Island, or
even New York. 1t Is firmly believed
that. when one state sees the full value
of single tax, that state will accept 1t
and Immediately her fortunate condi-
tino will be observed and envied by 9TH
ers. 1 am positive there would be a
big rush to get on the wagon If single
tax were tried in one state.
ct am receiving assistance in every
place wherein 1 stop. There are many
| single takers and it is easy to convert
others. Business men, when they see
its full advantages to them, take 1t up
with enthusiasm. I will remain here
for another ten days, doing what I
can to promote the interests of this
movement Incidentally, 1 am study
ing tax conditions and systems in Cali
fornia.
'I believe your proposition to divide
the state comes as the result of trouble
over taxation. Moral: Join the single
| takers"
Mr.. Pastoriza is an American, but
his parents were both Spanish. His
fame in Texas grew from his unusual
action in turning his printing shop
one of the largest in the Lone Star
state-over to his employees when he
retired.