The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1913-07-11
Next To Socialism," Says Tavenner
Single Tax Is Most Radical
Political Doctrine
SENATE HAS THREE MEMBERS
With But One Exception All Are
Representations Of The Demo-
cratic Party
BY Congressman Clyde H. havennel


unostentatiously the great and
growing movement of the Single tax
has been placing it's representatives
in Con ress, until now (the fact is
just becoming known they are almost
numerous enough to constitute a
fourth party in the national legis la
ture.
There are IL Single tax advocates
in the House, all but one of them
bearing the Democratic label. In the
Senate there are three-the first re-
preventative Of a revolutionary econ
omic doctrine to attain the upper
branch Congress.
Next to Socialism, Single-tax is the
most radical political doctrine gain
ing adherents in America. AS most
people know, it proposes a single di-
rect taxa tax on land only, and
not on the improvements on land.
The Singletaxer hopes to discourage
speculative holding of land and to
compel it's development by taxation,
thus creating an increased demand
for labor and securing to the work.
ingman greater share Of the wealth
he produces.
Up to two years ago, there were
but two Singletaxers in Congress
Representative, now Senator, William
Hughes, of Paterson, N. j., and Sena-
tor Owen, of Oklahoma.
Senator Hughes is a proven friend
of the common people, and. is now
President Wilson's closet friend in
Congress.
~ Senator Owen. though one of the
young men of the Senate, has become
one of it's leaders. He took leading
part in the recent reorganization
which wrested control from the reac-
tionary element. He is Chairman of
the important Banking and Currency
Committee, which will pass upon the
banking reform measures. Senator
Owen is believer in the guarantee
of bank deposits, proposition alb
horrent to Wall Street and big bank
ing interests, but in mighty high ia
vor with the plain people of this
country. H%H
The Congress which assembled
March 4, 1911, brought five Single
takers into the House as embers.
They were Henry George, Jr., of New
York; William Kent, progressive Re-
publican of California;; David j..
Lewis, of Maryland; Frand Buchan-
non, of Chicago; and John w. Davis,
of West Virginia.
All of these are Democrats except
Kent, a progressive Republican. All
attained national fame in their first
term in Congress-; and all were re-
elected to the present Congress.
Henry George, Jr., is nationally IA
nous as the son of the founder of
the Singletax movement. But in Con-
gress he has attracted great attention,
especially by, his work in exposing
the taxation valuations in Washing
ton, D. c., where the homes of the
wealthy were greatly undervalued
Kent, who came to Congress as a
fighting progressive, became disgust
ed with the Republican party, and
last fall successfully sought re-elec-
ton as an independent.
Lewis the new chairman of the
Committee on Labor, has become
well known, principally because of
his services in writing the progress
sive provisions of the parcel post law.
Buchannon has been a tower of
strength for labor in Congress. He
has introduced many bills for labor,
and has kept continually on the fir
ing line for the working people.
Buchannon was working at his trade
of structural iron worker when cleo
ted to Congress-. For number OF
years he was international president
of his union.
David has proven to be one of the
legal scholars of Congress. He is an
eminent lawyer, a fine orator, and
public spirited representative. II
is freely predicted that he will be ap.
pointed federal judge during the
Wilson administration.
This spring, when the new Con-
gress assembled, it was found that
seven additional Singletaxers had
come to the House, and one to- the
Senate. The new Representatives
who advocate the Henry George doc
trine are:
Robert Crosser, of Ohio. Though a
young man, he is the author of the
initiative and referendum amendment
to the Ohio constitution.
Robert q. Bremner, of New Jersey
editor Of the Passaic Daily Herald, q
man 30 esteemed in his district that