12
THE NEBRASKA INDEPENDENT
APRIL 30, 1903.
HENRY GEORGE EDITION
.1
I
My, mymy! Did any one ever try
to get out a special edition for as en
thusiastic a lot as these single taxers
are? It isn't a question of finding
material enough to fill the 16, or 24,
or 32 pages, as the case may be, but
wholly a question of how to squeeze
in 61 columns of matter in 32 columns
of space. .
The Henry George, Edition of The
Independent is not intended as a text
book on the single tax philosophy.
Nothing will probably ever be writ
- ten that will quite fill the place of
Henry . George's "Progress and Pov
erty," and every reader of The Inde
pendent who becomes interested in
the single tax should read that book.
Subscribers who are enrolled as mem
bers of The r Independent School of
Political Economy can borrow the
book and keep it thirty days by ex
pending a. very little money.
The Henry George Edition will be
a popular presentation of the subject,
told in the style of the dozens or hun
dreds of men who are leaders in the
single tax movement today. It is in-
tended to arouse the minds of the
people, call forth criticism and discus
sion, and get them to thinking. Let
its see what good things are in store:
, Frank II. Howe, member of the Co
lumbus Wire & Iron Works, 540 Pop
lar avenue, Columbus, O., will tell of
' the "Benefit of the Single Tax to a
Manufacturer."
, II. Ellingston, Minnehaha, Minn.,
will discuss "The Circulating Medium
Who Would Furnish It?"
D. T. Edwards, P. W. 265, Youngs
town, 0., an editorial paragraph on
"The Single Tax as a Revenue."
, Louis P. Post, editor of The Public,
Chicago, will discuss' the "Moral Prin
ciples of the Single Tax."
W. G. Spencer, Thomaston, Conn.,
sends in a leaflet, "The Land and La
bor Library," a tri-weekly publication
by Henry George, dated Sept 24, 1887.
- F. H. Augspurger, Trenton, 0.,
member of the governing board of the
Ohio . Single Tax league, contributes
ah unique article on "The Subsidized
Press."
Charles F. Sbandrew, Germantown,
Pa. concludes his discussion with the
editor of The Independent upon the
question, "Did God Ordain the Single
Tax?"
Prof. James II. . Dillard, New Or
leans, La., an editorial thought on
. "What the Single Taxer Sees."
Bolton Hall, New York, discusses
the best way "To Preyent Poverty and
toRelieve the Poor.'
""Edward Quincy Norton, editor The
Standard, Daphne, Ala., drops a hint
. as to the desirability of farmers dis
cussing the question of taxation.
U. Tanner, . Cannon Falls, Minn.,
sends a number of printed leaflets.
From his stationery one would judge'
that he is a follower of Frances B.
Livesey, Sykesville, Md., whose spe
cial mission seems to be to cry, "Stop
the public schools." In fact, Mr. Tan
ner says: "Better by far to give the
child access to the land than to give
him an education that leads him away
from the land." Well, the serfs had
"access" to the land. Are these gen
tlemen advocating a return to feudal-
' Ism?'" ;;. ; .
Dr. J. C. Barnes,; Hlndsboro, 111!,
vice president of the national liberty
party ; (organized October 5, 1901,)
treats the subject in a general way.
.' , Judge Joseph Hall, Capitan, N. M.,
shows "How Habits and Customs In
fluence Opinions."
; John A., McLaughlin, Providence, R.
- I., suggests reprinting one of Louis.
F. Post's stories used in Illustrating
point in one of his lectures.
Laurie J. Quinby, Omaha, Neb.,con-
v tributes . his lecture, "Justice Not
Charity," delivered before the phil
osophical society in Omaha some time
since.
E. B. Swinney, secretary of the
Brooklyn Single Tax league, contri-
foutes "The Essential Selfishness of
the Single Tax Proposition," an ad
dress by John R. Waters, delivered
before the league April 10.
W. H. T. Wakefield, Mound City,
Kas., contributes three short articles:
.. ;The Single Tax Correlates Anarchy
and Socialism;" "Some General Ob-
servations," and "Why I Became a
Single Taxer
F. M. Marquis, Station A, Milwau
kee, Wis., sends a short poem, "A
Twentieth Century Child's Inquiry
and A Twentieth Century Father's
Reply."
C. B.. FMebrown, president of the
' Massachusetts Single Tax league, Bos-
ton, discusses "The Tax Which Time
Imposes."
C F. Guenther, Cleveland, O., an
editorial note on the "Unearned In
crement." James L. Caldwell, Amarillo, Tex.,
promises to send a number of editor
ial paragraphs giving brief reasons
why the single tax should be adopted.
And this calls to mind that Mr. Cald
well is the senior member of the firm
of Caldwell, Clark & Blackburn Bros.,
abstracters, real estate and insurance
agents, at Amarillo, and that a great
many of the successful real estate
men are the most earnest advocates of
Henry George's plan. Doubtless they
have a better opportunity to witness
the effects of private ownership in
land.' And this suggests the idea of
an article on "Why Real Estate Deal
ers Favor the Single Tax."
Charles J. Finger, literary editor of
The Press, San Angelo, Tex., prom
ises an article on "The Philosophy of
Selfishness," doubtless covering the
subject from a different point of view
than that taken by Mr. Waters. s
William Riley Boyd, Atlanta, Ga.,
contributes an editorial note, and
"Socialism Single Tax; A Compari
son." George Cartright, Toronto, Canada,
discusses the single tax from the
standpoint of the Canadian farmer.
With more than twenty-five manu-'
scripts on hand, and others coming;
and with some of Frank Vierth's
"Junior Why?" to fall back on, is
there any reason why the Henry.
George Edition should not be a pro
nounced success? About two thou
sand extra copies have been ordered
thus far. If ten thousand are taken
at $1 per hundred, it will enable us
to make the edition 24 pages (possi
bly 32), the ?100 being close figures on
the additional expense for adding
eight pages and paying trust prices
for the white paper.
At the price of $1 per hundred cop
ies, we mall either in single wrappers,
one Copy to each name, or in bundles
of any amount to one address. It will
be economy to have the papers sent
singly from this office, as we can mail
at pound rates (about 10 cents per
hundred copies), while it will cost the
purchaser one cent each to distribute
them himself by mail.
Lists of names should be sent in as
early as possible, so they may be ad
dressed and ready for immediate mail
ing May 14.
TENANT FARMERS.
A disciple of Henry George wants
to spend a dollar in placing a hun
dred copies of the Henry George Edi
tion in the hands of tenant farmers..
Send the names of 5 or 6 tenants in
your neighborhood. Address, "Ten
ant," care The Independent, Lincoln,
Neb. .
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND ORGANIZA
TION. Two subjects have not yet been
touched upon by the single taxers who
are contributing to the Henry George
Edition: Some one should give a
popular article (not a mere book cata
logue arrangement) treating of the
various books published on the sin
gle tax. Most people have at least
heard of Henry George's "Progress
and Poverty," but how many know
of the existence of the many other
books which have been published? It
is not expected that every, little
pamphlet can be mentibned; but an
interesting story could be told of the
books and newspapers of the past and
present, and now the interested per
son should go about it to gain a thor
ough knowledge of the single tax.
Then, too, the matter of single tax
organizations could be made the sub
ject of an interesting article. This
could show the various clubs and
leagues; when organized; number of
active members; and present officers,
together with any historical incidents
thought pertinent
Who will undertake the work?
A SINGLE TAX VICTORY.
Editor Independent: I am pleased
to learn that a siffgle tax edition of
The Independent is to be issued soon.
I further hope that its columns will
be filled with not only expositions of
the single tax philosophy, but with
encouraging reports of the progress of
the cause throughout the world.
I shall not attempt to give any more
than a brief account of the work in
this place.
Some five or more years ago a Mr.
0. P. Hyde and a few others, includ
ing myself, began to do single tax
work. We began our work by holding
weekly meetings in rather an "out
of the way" place in a paint shop.
Our meetings increased in interest
as time went by. We then began to
do propaganda work, began to distri
bute single tax literature. By and by
the "Polen Single Tax Lecture Bur
eau" was organized and incorporated
and I was placed in the field as a lec
turer and exponent of the single tax.
Our greatest opposition seemed to be
the want of means to carry on the
work. We opened a reading room in
the city, which proved to be of at least
some benefit We continued to labor,
although at times under the most try
ing circumstances. When, at last, an
effectual door was opened to us, the
Journal Publishing company of this
city began to issue a daily paper, I
was chosen to be its editor, and we are
proud to say that for a year the col
ulna of the Daily Journal were well
supplied with single tax matter.
Finally the political campaign of the
present year came. A "citizens' tick
et" was placed in the field. At the
head of thi3 ticket was the name of
Mr. O. P. Hyde, the well-known single
tax enthusiast, as a candidate for
mayor. . J
The contest was a bitter one, re
minding one of the great conflict in
which Henry George fell in New York
while seeking the same official posi
tion. But notwithstanding the oppo
sition which included two radical re
publican papers, Mr. Hyde, as well as
the whole citizens' ticket was elected
by a fair majority.
I state these things to show that
the single tax cause in this part of
the world is firmly fixed in the minds
of the people. Let the friends of the
cause feel encouraged, let them go
on sowing the "good seed of the king
dom," feeling assured that the har
vest ere long is sure to ripen.
REV. J. M. POLEN,
Of the Polen Single Tax Lecture
Bureau,
Marietta, O.
A CORRECTION AN INVITATION.
Editor Independent: I received a
copy of The Independent this morning
and as I have my machine before me
preparatory to start in on my contri
bution to the special issue, I will drop
a line or two for the purpose of mak
ing a couple of corrections and to tell
you that I have four hundred copies
of the issue of the 14th engaged and
have so far made 'no canvass, so. you
see there is an interest aroused al
ready. I'll call the attention of our friends
to the enterprise and inform you of
the result. I hope the 10,000, or more,
may be engaged and that our people
throughout the country may see the
advantage of such a journal as The
Independent, taking a stand for broad
liberalism towards such questions as
are presented by us for the considera
tion of, the thinking people of the
land. I shall not only try to encour
age the publisher in this enterprise,
but I, shall also set a good example
for others by subscribing for the pa
per and thus endeavor to aid him in
his efforts to live while seeking to
enlighten the people on their social
and political rights and their duty
towards their fellow-men.
Please notice my correct name! You
have it Chester. It is Custer, a name
somewhat familiar to the American
people, but hardly as renowned; al
though if I could hope or look for
ward to such renown as was accorded
to the memory of Gen. George A. Cus
ter, I should certainly seek it in a
different course of conduct from that
by which he attained to such distinc
tion. I should rather remain in ob
scurity all my days than attain to dis
tinction in military5 life. Another cor
rection I desire to offer is this: The
St Louis Single Tax league now meets
every Wednesday evening at the head
quarters of the Ashebroedel club, N.
E. corner 18th and Olive streets, but
we will hardly continue regular meet
ings after the middle of May.
I also desire to make an announce
ment: On or about the 15th of May
the league. will probably give a din
ner as a compliment to Dr. William
Preston Hill, now resident of Tucson,
Ariz., formerly of St. Louis, who will
be with us for a season about that
time. Dr. Hill, although a wealthy
man and owner of a great deal of
landed property, much of it vacant,
has done a great deal, (much more
than all but a few know) to aid both
the cause we battle for and that of
direct legislation, which is also on
our program as the present poMtlcal
issue with us.
At the last session of our legisla
ture, after three unsuccessful attempts
previously, we secured the submis
sion of a constitutional amendment
for the initiative and referendum. It
is not submitted in the form as we
had hoped for, but as a whole it is a
splendid starter for majority legisla
tive rule in old Missouri, and I trust
all readers of The Independent in the
state will study the measure and
spread the information within the cir
cle of their acquaintance. A postal
card request to Mr. S. L. Moser, 10
North 4th st, St. Louis, will bring
a pamphlet both giving the text of
the amendment and the arguments for
its adoption. Let every- reader take
advantage of this opportunity to help
in the spread of pure and undeflled
democracy, (democracy In its true
meaning the rule of the people).
The contemplated dinner referred
to will consist of a "feed" for the in
ner man to be followed by a feast of
reason for the Intellectual man, and
we anticipate the presence of Louis
F. Post, editor of The Public, of Chi
cago, to my mind the greatest phil
osophic and economic logician of the
day and generation. Plates will be
$1, and if any of the readers in this
city or elsewhere desire to attend and
partake of the good things offered,
may correspond with the undersigned.
L. P. CUSTER.
1203 Mississippi ave.,
St Louis, Mo.
MR. SPACKMAN RETORTS.
Editor Independent: I was very
much surprised to find my letter to
The Independent published in the las;
number under the head-line, "Wants
the Earth." I am delighted to find
you right on the single tax doctrine
for once. Yes, sir, we single taxers
want the earth and have started out
to get it and will be satisfied with
nothing less. We want it for the
home of all the people whose heritage
the great Omaha populist platform de
it is. Do not for one moment think
that a slap in the face like that you
gave me in your remarks will check
the determination of one who has
worked to help capture the earth.
Please let me explain. I was con
sidering how many of the 10,000 ex
tra copies I would take and I wanted
to know what I was likely to get for
my money. I meant no unkindness
when I said that I did not consider
either the editor of the assistant edi
tor qualified to edit the edition. I
propose to stand by my guns and if
you will be as liberal with your space
in publishing what I now think is my
due in the matter, as you were in
the article I did not want you to pub
lish, I think I will convince your read
ers that I am correct :
If some editor who is opposed to
government ownership of railroads
should propose to get out an edition
and present the case of public owner
ship, would you consider such an edi
tor the proper person to edit such an
edition? And do you think the friends
of public ownership would expect it
to be the best presentation of their .
case that could be made?
E. B. SPACKMAN. ;
Fiillerton, Neb.
(If in the supposed case, such a pa
per turned over its entire space fof
one issue exclusive of the advertis
ing columns there is no reason why
the friends of public ownership could
not make it a stronger paper than
any single regular edition of a paper,
advocating public ownership. The
Henry George Edition (May 14) be
longs to the single taxers. They will
fill its columns. Their articles will
be printed without modification, ex
cept mere technical errors in spelling,
etc., and without comment. What the
editor or his associate may care to
say on the subject will appear in the'
issue of June 11.
No single number of any single tax
paper in the United States will sur
pass our Henry George Edition, eith
er in amount or quality of the mat
ter printed. It will reach many thou
sands of our regular readers who
never saw an exclusive single tax pa
per. ..It will cause discussion of the
subject among men who are not now,
but may become, single taxers.
If The Independent had announced
that henceforth it would champion
the single tax philosophy and had set
Itself up as an "authority" upon the
subject, Mr. Spackman's objections
might hatfe some weight. Those who
want such a paper know where to look
for it they get Louis F. Post's The,
Public (box C87, Chicago, 111.) But
our Henry George Edition will reach
thousands who may never see The
Public, and it will contain much more
about the single tax than any single
edition of Mr. Post's paper. Year ia
and year out, of course, The Public
will contain more single tax, just as
The Independent will contain more
populism.
Of the several hundred single tax
ers who have written The Independent
within the past two or three weeks,
Mr. Spackman is the only one who
denies us the right to conduct our
own business in our own way. Our
offer to sell sample copies does not
carry with it the right to conduct The
Independent to suit the "whim of the
purchaser of such sample copies.
Associate Editor.)
HHDVaVHH