The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1912-07-11

ton. There is no escape from the
proposition that all property takes
room in the state and receives the
; attention and protection of govern
, ment and in proportion to its value and
quantity absorbs the public revenue
raised to conduct the government and
in just this proportion, all property,
real, personal and mixed should be
required to contribute to the public
revenue.
But the advocates of the single tax
assert that they wish to reform the
tax system in Missouri. 1t must be
admitted by all who are in any way
familiar with the present tax laws of
Missouri that some reforms are need
ed. But the proposed single tax is
not reform, but is we'll calculated to
deform our system of taxation by at
taching the whole burden of taxation
to one class of property. The friends
of the single tax propaganda, and
there are many who sincerely consid-
er it a wise move, argue as reason
for adopting it that since sufficient
tax can be derived thereby without
making the rate any higher than it is
now on land and totally exempting
personal property, it should be adopt
ed. Granting that they are right in
this, they have still afforded no argu-
ment which justifies the "single tax"
but have merely demonstrated that too
much tax is being assessed against all
property, ssince, if by leaving out all
personal property and not raising the
rate on land, sufficient tax can be
realized, it must follow that the gen.
eral rate is now too high. The re-
form needed, therefore, is to adjust
the rate of taxation on all property to
the needs of the government careful
ly and economically administered and
not exempt from taxation one class of
property and wealth and establish the
the taxes as ruinous rider on anoth-
err class. Thus advocating and prac-
ticing inequity. The farms Of Mis-
souri, have been taken from the raw
prairies Of the upland and hewn from
the forests of the river regions. The
level lands of the north and the hills
OF the south alike have been taken by
the tired hand of toll from the pro-
ductless class of an early day and
placed under the yoke of husbandry
and set to the task of feeding its mill
ions of occupants as well as sending
abroad great surplus of wealth to
make happy and contented people in
less favored places. And now at this |
late day after these farms represent
the labor and pride Of generations OF
owners, it is sought by means of the
application of the single tax idea to
make them bear the whole revenue
burden Of the state, to the end that
the holdings of the great cities, rail-
roads and corporate interest may 90
taxless, yet remain and flourish to
take further toll from the class that
has made them rich. To put it anoth-
err way, the great interests above in
dictated are to be voted a pension in
the form of exemption from taxation,
which tribute shall be gathered by
adding to the burden already being
born by the lands of Missouri. Such
interests have by reason of the great
ness of Missouri land and resource
grown great and now demand this
last pound of flesh" from the class
that has contributed more than all
else to their greatness.
Whether this gluttonous desire for
more is to be realized by them rests
with the great farming interests of
Missouri, who have been attacked at
their very firesides by these interests
which they have nurtured and fed
Tor years. It has been said that the
farmers are the last class to organize.
# this be true, it may be for their own
protection, but that if once organized
Tor any purpose could control any is
'ue. If ever there is to be a time