The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1920-12-04
NOTED SINGLE TAXER TO
SPEAK HERE.
Continued from page II

the consumer, and, increasing con-
stantly as land prices increase, is a
most material factor in the high cost
of living"
Movement Gains Ground.
Mr.. Monroe left Chicago last May
going to Cleveland, made famous by
Tom L. Johnson, its Single Tax
Mayor, with his successful fight for a
three cent street car fare.
Mr.. Monroe went from Cleveland
to New York, Washington, and other
eastern cities and reports much sin
Gle tax activity with the movement
gaining everywhere.
"In New York City the movement
is in an unusually strong position, y
continued Mr.. Monroe. "Many of
the prominent business and profess
sional men of New York City are
strong single takers. The city,
while a long way from the realiza-
ton Of the ideal that will bring idle
men and idle land together, is raising
larger percentage of its revenue
from land values than any other city
Recently a strong organization has
started among the farmers of New
York state. Farmers have misunder-
stood the single tax, not realizing
that it would take its toll mostly
from the high land values piled up in
cities and in monopolized natural re-
sources held out Of use. They see
that the present system is Oppres-
sive to the farmer, as it is to any
one else who works, and that the diff
ference between what the farmer re-
ceives from his product and what the
consumer pays is mostly soaked up
in the rents that must be paid for the
privilege of doing business in the
cities.
"In Washington, D. c., we have
with us about so members of the
House, dozen U S. Senators, and
a large group of the most prominent
newspaper correspondents. 4"
Well Known Men Believers.
The movement is supported by such
well known men as Francis l du-
Pont, of the DUPONT Powder Co.
Charles H. Ingersoll, manager Inger-
soil Watch Co.; Franklin K. Lane,
Secretary of the Interior; Arthur P.
Davis, Director of Reclamation Ser
vice; Jackson H. Ralston, Interna-
tional Lawyer, Washington, d. c.;
Orville Wright of Dayton, Ohio; and
many labor leaders of international
reputation as well as prominent and
successful farmers.
There are strong influential groups
in Richmond, Va, Raleigh, N. c.,
Columbia, S. c., Birmingham, Ala,
Memphis, Tenn, and New Orleans,
La. Throughout the South | was
surprised at the increase of single
tax sentiment. Especially was this
true in Texas, where the late Joseph
Pastoriza, Tax Commissioner of
Houston, has shown what even Ii
mited application of the single tax
will do toward building up a city.
Texas has state organizer giving
all his time to the work, while in our
own city several of the most infiuen-
tial professional and business men
are subscribers to the doctrine
North Dakota has recently adopted
a measure providing for large exemp-
tions Of personal property and i'm
and Kansas has some 81
milar measure before the people to be
voted on in 1920. In the southwest,
in every city, there are at least a
few active workers; and the move
ment is particularly vigorous in Ari-
IONA. California has gone further
than any other state, perhaps, under
the leadership of William L. Ross.
In 1916 a proposition submitted as a
amendment polled $780,
900 votes, or 81 per cent of the total
vote cast.
Predicts Adoption Inside Decade.
Mr.. Monroe believes it probable
that the single tax will be adopted in
a dozen states within 10 or Is years,
and that by that time it will have
been seriously considered for raising
Federal Revenues as well as those OF
the cities, counties and states.
Besides the regular lecturers of the
Henry George Lecture Association,
there are about 100 men in various
cities who are volunteering to deliv-
err lectures whenever they can, total
ing fully $4,000 lectures each year.
Mr.. John 2. White, the foremost
exponent Of the single Tax system
before the American public today will
in all probability be scheduled for an
address on the subject in New Iberia
during the present winter, very likely
under the auspices of the Chamber
Of Commerce.
Outside of small number of in
terested men, very few residents of
New Iberia know anything whatever