The Holt County sentinel., 1912-10-25
The SINGLE Tax.


Taking advantage Of the fact that
Missouri has about as unjust. cum.
bersome and Ubiquitous a system Of
taxation as can be found anywhere In
America, the advocates of the single
Tax theory are endeavoring to secure
the adoption Of their tax plan IN this
state. For months the Single Takers
have been working actively through
out the cities and towns of the state
and they manifest a certain conf.
dence that they have their fight won.
but there are excellent reasons for
believing that not only Is their fight
not won. but that II will not he won,
now or later. II the farmers viii but
do their duty and go To the polls,
and vote upon the proposition by
scratching the word YES aud leaving
the 40 rNSCRATCiIED upon the
SMITH and SEVENTH Consti,u.
tional Amendments.
our farmers are characi ically
leve.headcd. They are no, much
given TO fads aud experiments In poll.
ties or anything else. An Though
thcsi farmers are sick and tired OF un.
| just taXatin ion. they are not ready Ia
take up the Single Tax proposals
without strong cyidenr" that this
| plan oilers a cure for their taxation
! ills And this evidence las not been
forthcoming and will not he.
To a large extent. by reason Of
Messrs. Roach, Gordon and Major in.
crcasing the tax burdens OF 81. Louis
to the amount Of +lli.sO7.s 80. or ),
per cent Of the total increase IN tie
past four years is largely due the com.
ing Of this Single Tax proposition
These gentlemen constituting the
majority Of the state board of euuai'
ilai ion have decreased the a>>c>>abI,
valuati ion Of the United Railwa,
companies 10 the amount of t>OO.m
and increased that Of tie home own
crs Of the country u per cent.
The Single Tax has appealed NOR,
strongly To those living In cities than
To farmers who own their lands
Tia, there are some plausible fea
lures of the Single Tax L. not dis
puted. Its effect would he To compe
owners Of idle lands or town lots. who
hold their propcr,y from year To year
while neiglboring improvements In
crease Its value-it would force Ties,
improve and utilize to their owl
and the public good.
hut there are object ionable FIAT IRE,
which more than offset --excmp, from
taxation all forms Of wealth except
lands and franchises. Hotels, flats
Office buildings, stocks. bonds. com
modify spectators and millionaires
all these will be exemp, from Taxa
tion. Tie same total revenue mus
b~ raised under the proposed law ~
now: and the amount needed l. con
stanil y increasing. The result cai
only he to shin the tax from these :,
the country.
Perhaps good may come from Thu
agitation IN our state IN the form %
new laws and more equitable system
that will distribute the burdens %
taxa, ion more evenly. In opposin,
the Single Tax, |, may incidental!
evolve something better and NOR,
equitable than the prcsen, system.
Remember this: u only takes ;
bare mai rity Of votes actually cas-
on either amendment 10 carry It, |
You fail Ia vote on amendment Il or :
you help carry them.
The state Republican plat form dc
clares against the Single Tax amend
mrntS, and We ash you To rcmcmhc
this and cast your ballot for
John G. Mckinley Tor Governor,
John kcnnislI, supreme Judge,
Claud Y. Hickman, Congress,
Vim. u. Swope, Representative,
Peter Raiser, County Judge.
A. NJ. Tibbels, Prosecuting Aitor
ney,
Geo. Gelyin, Sherill,
Perry Ramsay. Assessor.
Geo, ". CumminS, Public Admins
traitor.
Sebourn Carson, Treasurer.
.Ino. II. Peret, Surveyor.
l.. II Long, Coroner.
New Point and Vicinity.