The Whitefish pilot. [volume] (Whitefish, Mont.) 1904-current, 1912-04-04
TAXATION OF idle LANDI
(By q. w. Avery.l

ltAe SOll anu the WOrOS munger anu
want" will disappear from the
languages OF the world. AS the
immensity of space is beyond the
grasp of the human mind, so we can
not estimate the tremendous wealt
we possess in soil fertility. Food.
clothing, shelter in abundance for
all L. planted there by the lavish
hand of the creator.
Poverty Is an invention Of man,
and has but one cause. viz: the
failure Of humanity to live along the
lire Of the plan provided by nature.
Since the day when William the
Conqueror took possession of Eng
land and rewarded his favorites with
land grants OF broad acreage fore
ing the conquered owners to fuedual
slavery. one class has been living
off the toll of another. m
This policy carried on for more
than 1000 years under various con-
ditions ranging from fuedualism and
slavery to the present system OF
landlord and tenent, has created
present conditions, which spells con-
gested wealth and condensed power
ty. A condition which is certainly
not for the best interests of the
country. The aristocracy Of England
consists Of the royal family, and the
land owners. All other classes pay
tribute in some form or other. This
brief statement of conditions in
England will apply to all Europe. Go
back, if you please, and read the de-
cline and fall of the Roman empire.
You will find four centuries OF
which the heaviest burdens Of tax
alton were placed on the industries
Sturdy farmers and their sons were
drafted. for soldiers. A vast landed
aristocracy grew up through success
sive wars and conqlests, and the
consequent distribution of land as
rewards to the so-called heroes OF
these wars. The aristocracy were
the law makers. Selfishness dicta-
ted their laws, as it does ours to-
day. War taxes rose higher and
higher. 1t became more profitable
to be a soldier than a farmer. Rents
went higher as war progressed. The
aristccracy senate nullified all eff
forts to pass laws tightening the bur-
den Of the farmer. All attempts to
encourage agriculture and readjust
the forms of taxation and the rate Of
rents were lost when they reached
the senate. Farming was neglected.
The cost of living went higher. The
ownership OF the land passed into
hands of a few and the empire
fell.
IL Great Britain continues her
present land tax system for another
century she will be at least as FAR
down the decline as. was the Roman
empire when she had passed thru
three centuries of her downward
course. On the other hand II the
provinces of Manitoba. saskatch-
evan. Alberta and British Column
bia continues for another century
their present system of exempting
the industries from taxation, they
will not be far behind the parent
country In point Of power and wealth
and will far surpass her in point OF
comfort and happiness of her people
A strong sentiment Is already
growing in these western provinces
for political separation from the
eastern provinces. Arrangements
are almost complete for the build
ing of the Hudson Bay railroad This
road will put Edmonton, Alberta
In the same position a. Columbus,
Ohio, in regard to both rail and
: water distances to European markets
This and the Pacific outlet to the
Orient and to Europe via. Panama
canal. together with ) their improv-
ed system OF land taxation, will put
them en- the road to prosperity and
progress. 1t will help them some
too. if we. continue to send them
our ablest and best sons to occupy
and cultivate their idle land. The
people of Great Britain may have
some measure of excuse for allow
ing the aristocratic class to live
off their industry: but what about
ourselves and the universal ballot
The land tax system of the monar-
chies of the world. are. to say the
least. no credit to the intelligence
CT the industrial classes. Neither
have We any right to throw stones
for We are living in glass houses.
If our Industrial classes will STOP
the use of the strike and the boycott
and educate themselves to cast an
Intelligent ballot along economic
lines, they will find themselves en-
the high road to prosperity.