The Glasgow courier. [volume] (Glasgow, Mont.) 1913-current, 1919-01-31
SINGLE TAX DREAM is
CONFISCATON AT LAST

l
Farmers in Montana r being ask
ed to assist in a movement the ulti-
mate object of which is the confisca-
ton of their lands. The bait which
lures them is labeled exemption of
farm improvements from taxation;"
the hook carefully concealed is single
tax.
The farmers Of Oregon, Washing
ton, Colorado and Missouri have had
several forms of single tax bait dan
gled in front of them, but in each
cas- they saw the hook before it was
too late. In this state, however, the
bait has been more artfully conceal
ed than before and a direct appeal is
being made to class prejudices and
self-interest to make Montana the ma
tional laboratory for single tax ex-
periments.
The proposal put forth this year is
but the first step, the entering wedge,
and its hackers are using devious and
deceptive methods in order to gain
a preliminary lodgment for their So
cialistic theories. In fact those who
take the attractive bait will be, should
the scheme to impose the single tax
be eventually successful, the worst suf-
ferers.
Farmers who have been appealed
%o L.y <l- l--1r@-c - 49,
and who believe the exemption of
farm improvements will assist them
greatly, should understand what its
sponsors think of it. Let them read
progress and Poverty" Henry
Georges single tax bible.
Here they will find private proper
ty in land characterized as "bad, bare,
enormous wrong, like that of chattel
slavery" They will also find the OBJ
ject of the single tax defined "to make
land COMMON property" If they read
further they will find that Henry
George asserts that "our boosted free
dom necessarily involves slavery, sc
long as We recognize private proper
ty in land" and $50 long as one mar
l can claim the exclusive ownership Of
land from which other men must live
slavery will exist"
: The single tax. theory is that al
land belongs to the community ane
that all taxes should be imposed or
i land alone, the ultimate result being
Inconfiscation. The idea is so radica
) that no serious attempt has beer
made to have it adopted as a whole
: In all states where single takers have
: been active the proposition when sub
mitted has had some sort Of a sugar
I coating, as at present in Montana.
e The plea made to the farmers tina
e the exemption of improvements will
= benefit them financially is a speciou'
one. It might, for a brief period, saw
some of the more wealthy rancher
a small amount of money, but one
I the principle of exemption of improve
ments is established even in a limit
y ed way it is but a step to the singh
e tax and confiscation.
Our American nation has extend
> ed a general invitation to the peopl
" to acquire full property in land; an
the invitation has been accepted. Nov
: it is seriously proposed here in Mon
tana to deprive land wner of thei
: values and the farmers of the state
'e the chief losers if the single tax i
&c adopted, are by a clever subterfugt
, being actually induced to support thi
: movement.
}" There are many other argument
:" sufficient to condemn the plan, bu
: in the beginning it seems we'll to poir
w out the very obvious danger involve
y in allowing in any way the single ia
propaganda to get a foothold in MOI
Sc tana. Other objections will be discu'
>, sed on succeeding articles.