The Greenville journal. [volume] (Greenville, Ohio) 1850-1918, 1911-10-12
No. ID
SINGLE TAX MASK
Progressive League Is Not OH
In Open 10 Campaign
Initiative and Referendum ls De-
clared to Be Cover For Common
Ownership Of Land.

clared to Be Cover For Common
Ownership Of Land.
The only activity in the selection
Of delegates to the approaching con-
stitutional convention, aside from
that of "wets" and "drys," is shown
by Rev. Herbert Bigelow, who has
in nearly all the counties containing
big cities OF large labor vote formed
progressive constitution leagues"
says the Chardon Republican.
During the years In which Rev.
Bigelow covered the state, aud news
papers with the doctrines Of Henry
George under direction of the late
Tom L. johnson, many wondered if
Mr.. Johnson personally paid the ex-
pense.
A pamphlet whose front cover
bears the portrait Of Henry George,
and the words Single Tax Confer
ence Held In New York City. Nov.
19 and 20, 1910, Under The Joseph
Fels Fund Commission" is in hand.
The financial report shows that
Tom l.. Johnson was given $50 coo by
Fels in 1910 He gave the Ohio Di-
rect Legislation league $3,295.42, and
on page 4 of the report it IS COM
planned that in 1909 $3.289.lI was
used in Ohio with barren results so
far as legislative action was concern
ed" These items put visible means
of support under Mr.. Bigelow.
Who is Fels? The report of the
single tax conference indicates the
quality of his personality in this par
agraph:
Mr. Joseph Fels, being called on to re-
port European conditions, said it had
been but a few years since the light of
Henry Georges philosophy broke into his
"befuddled brain" Continuing he said
Il want no consideration for the money
have contributed to this cause. l want
no consideration save that which Joseph
Fels may be entitled to on account of
his own work, but none for his money
damn the money"
Why isn't the Henry George"
money being spent in preaching sin
gle tax instead of initiative and ref
erendum? For two reasons, good
one and a better one. Mr.. Rigelow
could never get organized farmers to
work with organized labor with the
ultimate object of putting all taxes
on land
The better reason shall be proved
by sentences from the report of the
New York meeting, of which J, D.
Miller, editor of the Single Tax Re-
view, was secretary.
From the report of the commission:
I'm order to enlarge the list of the
states in which we might have a hope
full field for efficient work, and to
strengthen the position of our workers
in Oregon and Missouri, we complied
with the requests of single takers in
Arizona, Arkansas. New Mexico, Col
orado and Minnesota to send speakers
into these states to assist in the cam
paisns for the initiative and referendum.
In every case in which this was done,
the request came from earnest workers
for the single tax, who intend to use the
peoples power to achieve that reform.
This Oregon campaign was merely one
of preparation for fight for straight
single tax in 1872.
The election of members to constitu-
tional conventions in New Mexico and
Arizona gave us a chance to create two
new openings for the single tax, through
the election of delegates pledged to put
the initiative and referendum in the new
constitutions"
Single Tax Now Possible.
DR. william! Preston Hill OF st. Louis
said, because OF the fact that the people
of his state have the initiative and ref
crendum, it is now possible to make an
effective campaign for the land tax in
Mis- oUr
John z. White of Illinois: The initia-
tive and referendum is not single tax,
but it IS a part Of the great democratic
movement. giving the people the power
to govern themselves, and thus the pow
ed to substitute the land tax for the
present ininuitous system of taxing in
dustIy.
Mr.. White got $1,51493 for work
in Rhode Island, and the Single Tax
league of that state got $3,74041.
Subsequently Mr.. White was sent to
New Mexico and Arizona with sue.
cessful results"
H. Kalston of Washington, D. c.:
"As for direct legislation, it bears to sin
| gle tax as close a relation as 4 lock does
| to the door
w 8. U'Ren: Il read Progress and
Poverty in 1882, and | went just as
crazy over the single tax ideas as any
| one else ever did. l learned what the in
| itiative and referendum is, and then I
saw the way to the single tax"
This gentleman secured the pro-
gressive legislation in Oregon. The
financial report for 1910 shows $16,-
IT'S given him during that year.
Burton j. Kindrick in McClure's
magazine for August on the initiative
and referendum in Oregon, says:
The most active member of the Peo-
| pies Power league Is the inevitable VII
| liam, s. U'Ren.'
Lincoln Steffens, the magazine writ
er, was paid 5000 in each of fvU
months in 1910 by the single tax con-
ference for publicity.
The longest speech reported in the
proceedings was that Of Henry
George, Jr., who made a pair of his
pa and Tolstoi.
1t will be interesting to note what
happens in the event of the grangers
catching the odor of naphthA soap on
Mr. Bigelow, thereby learning that
they are aiding men who own no
land in putting all taxes on those
who do.