The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-05-15
80 -
CALLS LAND MONOPOLY
MOST SERIOUS PROBLEM !
IN THE UNITED STATES
Delegates To Socialist Conven-
ton Points To Speculation
In Texas Holdings
146,OOO,OO0 ACRES ARE IDLE
Vast Area Is Kept From Cultiva-
ton Because of Present
System, He Says
l4e,OOO,OOo ACRES ARE IDLE

INDIANAPOLIS. Ind, May IA
'Landlordism that eclipses the we'll
known Irish methods that are fos-
tered by the British government Is
the cause of most of the trouble In
the United States" declared Thomas
A. Hickey of Halletsville, Texas, to
the National Socialist convention to-
day and precipitated an argument that
lasted for several hours. Hickey was
delegated by the national committee
or the organization TO investigate the
single tax theory promulgated In
America by Henry George, and his
report denounced land ownership not
alone in the United States. but every
where where the question OF renter
and lessee Is potent problem.
, hickey in his report said
"A change has occurred In land
ownership within the past fifty years.
which we have no parallel In the
world and which today presents TO
the people OF the United States
problem that demands an immediate
solution. In 1860 land renting was
unknown In the great state OF Texas.
In those days II was not uncommon
to buy a section of land for as low
vs. 90 cents per acre; after the war
the public lands were grabbed whole
sale by spectators who were ably as
sisted by a corrupt legislatures; the
railroads received an enormous part
OF the public domain: they were gwen
land at the rate OF sixteen sections
for each mile they built; the total
amount OF which was thirty-five and
one-half million acres. A Chicago
syndicate received three million acres,
now worth $50 900, 900, for building
state capitol, the stone for II being
quarried by Negro convicts. Catue
companies fenced In millions or acres
and as a result we find that renting
commenced In the latter portion OF
the 'eO's--with the result that In 1917,
Eve per cent of the land In Texas In
cultivation was operated by renters
ain 1900 the twelfth census shows
20 nor cent of the cultivated land
operated by renters. Since lSVo q
steady and continuous increase Oh
renting has been going on ali over
the state, so that the thirteenth census
shows that 72 per cent OF the cuiti,
waited land Is operated by expioiteu
tenants, who are suffering from anu
,ordism, as severely as the lrlsh Ten
ants in the mountains in Ireland, or
the people who till the land In SOUTH
.rhere are 5000, 900 acres OF land
In TEXAS fenced in that has never ielt :
tha caressing touch of plow. III
yidinp the two hundred and nineteen
,honsand tenants into one hundred
million acres and allowing Tor 4o'-
o0o 600 acres of mountainous ana TIM
hered land. good for stock ana graz
inc purposes, we find that every ten
ant I'm the state OF Texas could nave
a farm equal TO four hundred ana
thir.v.six acres--were land specuia-
lion stopped. and the land thrown
omen for the bona.fide users tnereol'
n, course the land renters union 10
not nrono.ing any dividing up policy
the above illustration is simply used
20 ahow the amazing amount OF LAND
that is held out OF cuitlvalloir, on.
shows the correctness OF the oo.a
ists position. that declares ior use
and occupancy as TIE title 10. .ne
land.
FINALLY. l may say that the sociai
,st marty in Texas keeps its nanus
strictly of the Renters union. and
in no way interferes with its internal
affairs: we simply wish them gooo
iuck in their work, and stand reauy
70 hack them to the utmost limit
when called upon. ...rso,
Despite the fact that the industrial
unIonists. headed by William d. hay
wood were defeated in their attemp.
TO get control of the committees Q,
tbe marty II vas stated by big BIZ
and his chief lleutenants that they haa
no .iii.feelings." and that they would
work hand and glove for the party.
Already the '1mpossibilists, as tne
Industrial Unionists are cna rac,eo,
Ted by the element that is In controi
OF the convention, have agreed 10
abide by the rulings OF the conven-
ton for the present" They ADMIT.
ted today that they could not eHp pee
to amen6 the party platform and that
II would be a replica Of that OF lour
years ago