The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-03-20

the detriment of the rest Of the people
of your statec
Consider these facts. About % years
go friend Of mine went to Birmingham
and rented store for s1& a month he
occupied that little store from that time
till a few months ago. when he moved
away from the city. High rents had
much to do with his leaving. Without
expanding one dollar for repairs on ina.
building in 20 years, the owner eohuhueu
to increase the rent till 1t reached sS'o
month two or three years ago ana l
do not know how much higher 1t went.
But, even at that rate. the yearly rental
was more than enough to erect a PETER
building SO the tenant was paying TINS
increased rent for the use of the increas-
ing value of the land. This owner, WIN
out doing a thing but collect the rent
was levying an increasing tribute on MS
tenants business and labor. IL was
worse than that; for the owner was
nonresident. and the rent was collected
hy an agent. Why should man in
distant state be allowed to play the
hishwayman and exact tribute from the
citizens OF Birmingham for land values
which he in no wise helped to create!
am not blaming the owner. He did no
more than the law permits MN 10 w"
1t is the system and not the owner tnat
am indicting II that part OF the rent
land had been received by the state. ana
II the state had apportioned it among
the national. city. and county govern
ments after retaining its share. ana IL the
same policy had been pursued with re-
spect to all other land values, then we
should not have TO tax personal property
lew tariffs or sell bonds to raise all the
Ieeitimate expenses of governments,
There was a man sent from God, and
his name was Henry George. This man
insisted that land values rightfully be-
long to the community That produces
them: that these values arise in ODE
dience to a natural and God-ordaineo
law: that they are the only just ana
honest source from which government
revenues can be derived; that to permit
them to be diverted from the public coz
fers to private pockets is as harmful 10
society as It would be to the mother ana
child not to use as God intended IT 10 %
used. the milk that accumuiates III ING
mothers breast by the time OF tho oirtn
of the child and that, no matter wna'
other things may be done, or what paliia-
1.-Two measures NAV be adopted, no last
l. Ing good can come from them so long
| as land values are not used for the COM
mon benefit of all.
| Much In now said about proposed
| league of nations But so long as traue
among all the nations OF the earth Is
not as free as It Is among the states Oh
the American union. and SO long as we
tan IN make land values common prop
erty there will be wars and rumors oil
| war league of nations can act as a
dam to hold in check for time the 1iooo
of greed for trade and or lust LOT iaha.
but in the end the floods will break over
with destructive fury. l strongly 1aVoi
a league of nations. The two grea'es,
men of today, Woodrow Wilson and
L xrl,n
such a league get their inspiration from
the books of Henry George. But Presi-
dent Wilson in my opinion, looks upon
a league of nations merely as 1lrst aio
to the injured. He is looking far aheao
when such league will not be neeoeu
because the causes that produce war VII
be removed; and he is trying to remove
those causes. His enemies begin to see
his ultimate aim, and that Is why they
are attacking him through such men as
Senators Reed and Lodge, the defenders
OF special privileges and the apoloslstS
for all that is mean in government. Inc
time is not far ahead when certain inter
ests will abuse President Wilson wors'
than they do pickpocket. Ano tn'
wore thew denounce Woodrow Wilson the
louder should all decent people hurrai
for him.
So. Mr. Editor, while you seek to hav'
the brave soldier boys driven back from
civilization and set to digging up stump
and cultivating poor pine lands. do no
fail to insist on having them enjoy thei
equitable share In those land values
which accrue by reason Of the increase IL
. population and Of the advance OF the IN
dustraI arts. and do not, my dear sir
neglect to read Henry Georges "Progres
and Poverty" and his Protection or Ere
Trade" Do these things, and you Will b.
, called blessed. l thank you for your pa
: tience Yours truly,
ALEXANDER MORGAN.
4 Somewhere in Ala bama, March II, 1919