Evening journal., 1913-02-10
Continued from First Page.

try. would never be acknowledged
"All governments in the civilized
world are more or less under the con-
troll of those who are engaged in the
abuse of the system OF land tenure.
This abuse has been carried SO far
that every available square foot OF the
earths surface not actually In use is
held for speculation.
"What does this mean. II means
that the government does not recog-
nize the right Of any but landowners
to stay alive. n is true that landown-
ers do not hold land out Of use to such
an extent as to cause the death from
starvation OF the landless class, but
this is not because the government
recognizes this class as having any
rights in the matter. but because land
owners hnd it more profitable to hold
land az just such price that the
lowest class Will have 10 work ten
hours a day and yield up the entire
product OF their labor. than to hold it
at such a price that the production OF
the necessities Of life would have to
stop and the lowest class starve to
death
'I do not mean that each landholder
deliberately and brutally plans this
out. but IL comes about from the fact
that all landholders arc trying TO get
as much labor or labor products as
possible I'm return for the use of their
land.
when the conditions of land tenure
are such that land can prohtably be
held for speculation il inevitably fol-
lows that all land will be taken up and
held by a very small proportion OF the
population. most of whom cannot
themselves use 1t.
Under this condition there will be
some people absolutely dispossessed,
not having any means Of supplying
their bodily needs except by permis-
sion of those who possess every
available square foot Of the earths
surface.
ut must not be forgotten that the
landowner has at his disposal the
police. the militia and, IL necessary
the regular army to back him II he
elects to refuse this permission.
Those who hold possession Of the
most valuable parts of the oarth's sur
face are thus greatly helped and those
who possess none, or such parts as
have no special value are thus, by the
government, immeasurably handi-
cnpped
"This being undeniably the case,
the idea of collecting from these dis
possessed men a tax to support the
government which dispossesses them
is utterly repugnant to our natural
sense OF justice.
And so a poll tax, although it
might be excusable in a country
where land is free. is utterly unjust
in a country where land is held for
speculation. Moreover, since land
values are greater the less tax bur-
dens they have to bear, the poll tax
is but one of the many artiflces by
which the speculator loads the bur
den Of supporting the government up
on the non-property owners in order
that the values which he owns may
become greater.
The voting Of franchise tax is q
requirement that each citizen mus'
pay fee TO qualify as a voter. The
only excuse that has ever been offer
ed for Il is that the government Is in
need Of money and II Is an easy way
10 get it as all good citizens wish 70
vote. 10 amounts to a fine for being a
good citizen. IL has all the evils OF
the poll tax and in addition has this
sinister character: It tends 20 cut on
those who are most handicapped by
the government from any voice In II.
"By making It difficult for these
people to vote the law-making power
IS placed in the hands of those who
have already used IL to cut them of
from the means Of life. II It should
be required that all privileges grant
cd TO individuals or groups Of individ-
uals be paid for az their full value,
there would be no dearth OF funds
tAll hospitals and other benevolent
institutions which are now supported
By private charity could be supported
from the public treasury and in ad-
dition to this there would be such a
surplus that ways would have TO be
found TO dispose Of It.
There is no real excuse for tax
upon the voter. Like the poll tax
it is but an artince OF the speculator
a scheme to keep the tax burden from
resting where il belongs
Taxation of Mortgages and Other Evil
dences Of Obligation.
"As a result probably of unreason'
ing ignorance on the part OF legisla'
tors. some States levy taxes upor
mortgages, bonds and other evidences
of obligation. Il is easy to see the
fallacy OF this.
"A man lending money is in con
troll OF the situation and a man IN
need of money has to accept wha
terms he can get If he wishes to Dor
row.
Naturally. therefore. the lende
viii always refuse to lend on mort
gage unless the borrower pays enougl
in interest OF otherwise to cover wha
taxes may be levied upon the mort
gage.
Therefore. there is no avoldin
the condition that the borrower, th
party who needs money, pays the Ia
and the lender, the party who ha
money TO spare. escapes. To see tn
absurdity of this imagine the goN
ernment deliberately selecting th
people most In need of money as th
best subjects for taxation.
"This kind Of taxation is but sui
terfuge The man or company VIII
needs money and can use Il TO az
vantage i'm manufacturing the necel
sites of life. or the man who desire
10 own his home is handicapped
order that spectators may not hay
TO pay the taxes which would max
their schemes less profitable.
The Income Tax.
There has grown up In late yeal
proposal to levy a tax upon eac
man according to his income Tn
h1e arisen from q roflqr IN ouo mo-