The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1912-07-11
Some Observations ON the Single
Tax Movement.

Some Observations on the Single
Tax Movement.
tits worthy Of note that there seem:
to be cessation of activity by those
interested in bringing about the adop'
ton of what is known as Single tax
in Missouri. If this lack of activity
is due to determination on the part
of those behind the move to abandon
it, all well and good, but if such lack
of activity is due to the fact that the
so-called Equitable Tax League" is
merely demonstrating its forces and
strengthening its lines under the
guise of indifference for the purpose
of making a fresh assault on the
homes of Missouri, then a different
attitude should be assumed by those
interested in opposing the adoption of
the proposed law.
The writer is strongly impressed
with the idea that the present lack OF
activity on the part of the Equitable
Tax League" is merely feigned and
will be followed by fresh and much
more vigorous campaign in behalf of
this movement, and not by an aban-
donment of the plan to slip the bur-
den of taxation in Missouri all on to
the land. For which reason the fight
being waged against the adoption of
the single tax should not abate, but
60 on with renewed energy.
The prime and initial forces behind
this movement, when they conceived
the idea Of placing the burden of tax
alton all on one class of property,
conceived also the idea that they
mask their purpose with the appear
ance of justice; hence they chose to
call the organization in charge Of their
campaign by the high and righteous
sounding name Of Equitable Tax
League" with the hope, evidently,
that voters would read no further
than the term Equitable" which
generally speaking, and to the aver
age reader means justly, fairly, and
be deceived thereby. In short, they
chose the mantle of equity in which
to clothe proposed system of taxa
ton as inequitable, unjust and unfair
as it is possible to conceive.
Indeed it would be interesting and
instructive if the real forces behind
this movement would throw off this
mantle and stand forth to open view
and fair inspection to the end that
the plain people and home builders of
this state might know who it is that
is so anxious to free the great person.
al holdings of great corporations from
taxation and force all burden of taxa
ton upon the land. Who it is that
desires to wipe at one stroke from the
assessment books the great personal
holdings of the great railroads, facto-
ries, loan sharks and wealthy class of
the cities and at the same time say to
the owner of the land, "You, and
you alone shall maintain this state at
your expense, while the classes men,
toned above stay here and enjoy its
blessings free of charge"
The state is nothing more than a
great, common home kept up by pub
lie taxation where every one has a
right to lodge and be protected in his
rights, personal and property, as long
as he contributes to the fund designed
to keep up the home and obey the
rules governing it commonly called
laws. All should share equally in
the protection of government and
share their just proportion of the ex-
pense incident to keeping it up. He
who has much property takes up
much room in the affairs of state and
should pay more than he of small
holdings. This, too, regardless of
the kind and character of the proper
ty he may own, whether real, per-
sonal, or mixed. Now, why should
one man who owns one hundred
acres of land be required to contrib
ute to maintaining the home which
we call state while another man who
owns one hundred bonds of equal
value of the land be allowed to live
here free of charge? Or, for sake Of
illustration, put the proposition an
other way: Suppose two men enter
a hotel, one owns one hundred acres
of land and the other one hundred
bonds, and the landlord should say to
the owner of the land, you shall
pay 81 per day towards the upkeep of