The Mena weekly star., 1911-08-17
FELs AND HIS LITTLE 4J0KE.'
To Call Attention to Single Tax, He
 Lent His Land to Charity.

From The Public.
 At dinner at the "Old Poodle Dog restaurant, San Francisco, re- gently, where James H. Barry pre- sided and James G. Mcguire, Rich lard I. Whalen, Joseph Leggett, P. J, Healey and Fremont Older were among the speakers, Jim Fels gave this account of one of his 'adven- lures in philanthrophy.n
 One day while making a visit to my home in Philadelphia real estate agent named Yokum called and said he could get eleven and a half acres of land in west Philadel- phia for $37, ,500 I bought 1t. Then, | all at once, resolved to go into the
 business of being a truly good and charitable person at the expense of my neighbors. I wanted to get into the class of benevolent and beneflc- tent individuals. So I sent for the
 agen { of the single tax club, that is IcompOsed of men and women who are pretending to do something for
 the relief of the poor by encOurag- ing them to grow garden truck on vacant lots, but who in reality are seeking to draw attention to the land question and it's bearing on the problem of making a living. When I told the representative of the single taxers that he could have the use of eleven acres of my land ab- Isolutely free h. almost fell off his chair, and was about to hasten away to tell the joyful tidings. But l halted him with the warning that this offer had a string to it. "All you have to do," I continued, lis to go to the newspapers and give them a column article telling what a be- lnevolent man I am and get my pie ture in the paper" That was easy, and soon my fame was noised about as philanthropist. You see, I in sisted on this because it was part Iof my little joke that I intended to spring on them when got ready. After forty-four men were put to work on my land planting vegeta- | bles 1 resolved to do another char itable thing, so l sent for the sec- retary ef 3 young woman's associ- ation, which was formed to provide vacations for deserving working girls, and told her that her society could have the use of the old man. sion on my land; all they would have 10 do was to tell the reporters, so that I could get another blast from the trumpet of fame. The
 churches were after me to fill their pulpits and tell the people how it
 feels to be philanthropist. But I declined. 1 was not ready to spring
 that joke.
 Men are still planting vegetables
 on that land and the old mansion is
 filled with happy young women
 who, if they had not this opportuni-
 ty, would be deprived of recreation
 and rest; and all the time the peo-
 pie are praising me for my gener-
 osity.
 Now l am ready to spring that
 joke. was offered S50,00O for the
 land; then S75,000, then Si00,000, and
 finally Si25,000, but I am still hold
 ing, and will continue to hold until
 1 get a profit of at least 800, GOO. This | will devote to special fund for the propagation of the single tax A street railway has been built past it, and nearly three thousand rew homes have been built in the neighborhood by thrifty and desirable citizens. This un- earned increment, in justice and right, belongs not to me, but to the community. have done nothing to make that value. My part has been to hold the land out of best use. fet the profit is mine legally, and l have some consolation from the thought that I intend to expend it i'll such a way that conditions may be changed, to the end that neither l nor any other man shall have the power to make money out the work and sweat of others.
 want to have it said that I have done something for my fellow man. want to have 1t said that earned lie fight right tv iiivr and work, ani that earned the right to rest, I want .o do my duty by myself and my fol- ow men by helping bring about better than now exist. I would have t so that little children would no longer starye, and mothers weep and fathers groan under the burdens caused by land monopoly. l Vow, who will help me?