The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1920-09-04
when HENRY GEORGE WASCALLED
BYLAb0R TO LEAD THIRD PARTY
Movement Started by New York Trade nobts Disguised With
Living Conditions; Author Of Pr ogess and Poverty Yields to
Call That Campaign May Br gland Question Before eop|e.

)for a guarantee of good faith; I
asked for some tangible evidence
that my fellow citizens of New York
really wanted me to act. That evil
dence you have given-all l asked.
and more.
Against Want and Misery.
I'VE have hordes of citizens living
IN want, and in vice born of want
existing under conditions that would
appall heathens. is this by the will
of our Divine Creator? No. 1t is the
fault OF men; and as men and citi-
zens on US devolves the duty of re-
moving this wrong; and in that. plat
form. which s. the convention: has
adopted. and on which l stand the
first step is taken. Why should there
oe such abject poverty in this city :?
There Is one great fact that stares in
the face anyone who chooses to look
at it. That fact is that the vast ma
dren in New York have no legal
right to live here at all. Most of US
80 per cent at least-must pay the
other one per cent by the week or
month or quarter for the privilege of
staying here and working like slaves.
Now, is there any reason for such
overcrowding There is plenty Of
room on this island. There are miles
and. miles OF land all around this nu-
cleus. Why cannot We take that and
build houses upon it for our accom-
mediation? Simply because it is held
by dogs IN the manger who will not
use it themselves nor allow anybody
vlso 70 use 1t. unless he pays an enor-
NOUS price for it-because what the
Creator Intended for the habitation of
the people whom He called into being
IS held at an enormous rent or an
| enormous price.
"Eut what do we propose to do
! about it? We propose, in the first
, place. as our platform indicates, to
make the buildings cheaper, by TAX
! ing the tax off buildings. We pro-
pose to put that tax on land exclusive
of improvements, so that man who
is holding land vacant will have to
pay as. much for it as if he was u.s.
| ing it, just upon the same principle
! that a man who should so 10 a hotel
! and hire room. and take the key
, and go away would have to pay as
much for it as if he had occupied the
room and slept in it. In that way
we propose to drive out the dog in
the manger who is holding from you
what he will not use himself. We
propose in that way to remove the
barrier and open the land to the nse
OF labor in putting up buildings for
the accommodation of the people OF
the city.
His High Resolve.
Years ago 1 came to this city
from the west, ulknUt%n, knowing NO.
body, ard saw and recognized for
The first time the shocking contrast
between monstrous wealth and de-
basing want. And here l made a
VOW, from which have never falter.
ed, to seek out and remedy, if
could, the cause that condemned lit
tie children to lead such lives as you
know them to lead in the squalid dis.
triCts. 1t IS because of that that
stand before you tonight, presenting
myself for the chief office Of YOU
city, espousing the cause, not only oil
your rights. but of those dying b,
thousands in this CITY, a veritable
their time has come.
is it not our duty as citizens tt
address, ourselves to the adjustment
Of social wrongs that force out O.
it almost before they are here-tha
socia: wrong that forces girls upor
the streets and our boys into thu
srog, shops and penitentiaries: W.
are beginning movement for thu
abolition of Industrial slavery: ant
what we do on this side Of the waite
viii lsend its impulse across the lant
and over the sea and. give courage
10 all men to think and act. Let us
therefore, stand together. Let US d.
everything that is possible for mel
to do from now until the second o
next month, that success may crow
our efforts, and that to us in thi
city may belong the honor Of havin,
led the van in this great movement