The independent. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, June 11, 1903, Page 4, Image 4
4 THE NEBRASKA INDEPENDENT JUNE 11, 190 3. KEY JERSEY POPULISTS A. Mloua Quantity In Hi Iaeabator mt Big Traits and Rig Moqnitoa, Thiukt National Comniitteaiuaa romerojr Editor Independent: Your circular letter of May 28 received. There Is not any of the populist party left in New Jersey; it was never very larg, but I do not believe that a meeting called at present would bring to gether ten men, and there is no use trying to revive it at present; it would be impossible. The socialist party has absorbed the radicals and th democratic party the conservatives o! the - eld populist party,, and a few have gone republican. ' Of course T would be very glad to see it revived, but one man cannot make a public movement. I think the same is true of all the states east of the Alle ghanies and , probably also of many of them west. The direct legislation movement, however, is making rapid progress, and I think I have sent the Direct Legislation Record as an exchange, if not, would be glad to send it to you. It would be almost impossible to get subscriptions for your paper in the east, as that kind of a paper does not ' circulate here. - ELTWEED, POMEROY. East Orange, N. J. ' , (Mr. Pomeroy is quite correct la his statement that "one man cannot make a public movement," and Th? Independent has never , been foolish enough to think that such a thing could be done. At the same time Ui3 "materialistic conception of history" upon which Mr. Pomeroy bases hi J statementhas : been and is now grossly misinterpreted by many. The man today is dominated by ' his en vironment; but today by tongue and pen, and otherwise, he is contribut: lng to a larger or smaller degree to make up the environment which to morrow will dominate not only him self, but others. The reaction of the Ideal upon the material is a factor which cannot safely be overlooked. Mr. Pomeroy says the direct legis lation movement is making rapid progress and why? Did this happen In some mysterious way, to be ex plained as our republican friends ex plain crises and financial panics on the theory of sun spots? Or is it in some measure because Mr. Pomeroy himself has been preaching direct leg islation with might and main for, lo, these many years? He can hardly fail to ,credit part of this "rapid progress t the persistent efforts of George H Shlbley, chairman of the national federation for majority rule, who has expended more than $25,000 in the last few years sowing the seeds of direct legislation. As an example of what environ ment does for even the brainiest of men, Mr. Pomeroy's last .Esntence is in point. The Independent's cirsulation is growing every day "in the east."' It has a great many subscribers in Pennsylvania, New York and the New England states but, it must be conr fessed, not very many in America' Frankenstein, especially in East Or ange, the home of.Judge Freeman Otte "VVllley, famous as a hack writer for the National Economic league. However, Mr. Pomeroy's letter has answered The Independent's purpose exactly to find out the status of th? people's party in every state and to make an honest presentation of the facts so that Independent readers may know them and form an intelligent opinion as to what the people's part should do next year. Associate Edi tor.) . Galls the Bluff (Written for The Independent in an swer to the Henry George Edition.! Editor Independent: To the Single Taxers, and especially to V. H. T. Wakefield: Mr, Wakefield, I am sor ry for your "bluff," although I am not a "get-rich-quick" and so will not claim the "eighty-four trillions of dollars." Single taxers propose that the sin gle tax will liberate "from all man ner of taxation that formerly used to hamper trade and industry." ("Why?" June-July, 1902.) All . farmers will then be tenants, worse than Metay ers, or Cottiers. Why? Please let me quote from authority the best Henry George, in "Prog ress and Poverty," book III., chap. II., page 168, Fourth edition: "The rent of land i3 determined by the excess of its produce over that which the same application can se- cure irom uie leti&L piwutme lauu in use." George gives Mill and RIcardo cred it for" the above, yet he accepts it and follows it through his work. Now, let us,, as economists tell us, 1 .. -..,. -.-.,. r ftmmnn sons' What Is "the least productive land to . use?", Answer: Land that will barely sustain the animal wants. Then, according to your theory, th.? state must confiscate all "excess of it3 produce over that which the same ap plication can secure from the least productive land in use." "Oh!" you say, "we will not do quite as bad as that" Then you will not eliminate land lordism. Thus, through single tax, you will do what generations of mis rule has not quite accomplished: you will destroy the backbone of the na tion, the small home-owners, and re duce agriculture, especially, to serf dom. By confiscating rent for govern mental purposes and cheapening methods of tax-athering, we would create a wonderful, revenue. There would be a social revolution which would end in an office-holding aristoc racy. Single tax is too arbitrary for a democracy., It would be a long strike toward absolutism. The single taxer has much to say about unimproved value as a basis of taxation. Vhat is it? ; In the great western country before the Pacific railroads were built, what was the unimproved value? Nil. Of course, the government gav? thousands of alternate sections and the roads were built by subsidies (but that is beside the question). The rail roads induced pioneers to settle on the alternate sections, that they (the railroads) did not own. Now, after a generation, what is the unimproved value of Pacific rail road or other western lands or even of town or city lots In this vast do main? What is the basis of taxation? The railroads furnished ; the oppor tunity and the pioneer developed the latent resources. All improvement, U it not? ' Are not your theories about basis of taxation as far fetched as you show title to real estate to be? Must you not presume as much as did the king, pope or state in granting land? I be lieve that single taxers are true re formers; good might come from your administration, but you are visionary without doubt; have not studleJ ''Progress and Poverty" enough. In deed, Henry George did not, for h! built greater than he knew. Finally, how can we expect the vicious to administer an institution so arbitrary? For the vicious will hold most of the offices in the future, just as they have in the past. - Let us decentralize power instead of centralize. Become more democratic instead of less. I might outline a model government, but not now; we are arguing the single tax. E. W. , FERGUSON, Jr. Hartington, Neb. r New Mexico Thomas F. Keliher, of Albuquerque, N. M., member of the people's party national committee, writes The In dependent that he is "entirely c :t of politics" which means a vacancy in the national cemmittee. The Poem cf the Future O, the poem of the future, Who will write it, who will read? Will they understand its meaning Where our destinies will lead? Will they see with eyes prophetic One vast brotherhood of men Banners furled and war drums silent, Hushed the clamorous battle din? When the maw of Greed is sated Glutted for the funeral pyre, Will Promethus of the future Kindle it with sacred Are? Shall a blinded Samson save us From our Phillistine desires? An Appollo of the people Tune our cannon into lyres? When an age of gold is reaping All that selfishness has sown, Will some poet of the future Touch a chord almost unknown, Till a great and all-pervading Longing for the day to come, Brings a peace to all the nations In the gerat millenium? O, the poem of the future, Will it breathe of peace or strife? Will the sunrise of the ages Dawn upon a truer life? Can you see with eyes prophetic One vast brotherhood of men; Banners furled and war drum silent Hushed the clamorous battle's din? WM. FELTER. Mound City, Kas. much Money Makes Prosperity The currency in circulation in this country keeps nearly even pace with the growth in population and the tre mendous trade expansion. Our in ternal commerce now amounts to 20 Milton dollars a year, equal to the entire foreign commerce of all the nations of the earth. The money in the " hands of the people, which, in 1896, at the beginning of the present era of unbounded prosperity, amount- oooooooooooooooosoooooooooo o o o o o o o o o o o o A GREAT UMBRELLA PURCHASE S S 1 13 5 BIb m. O o We recently received from Foll mer, Clogg & Co. of New York City their entire line of samples of Fancy Parasols, carried by their 6 traveling men during the spring season. There is every conceiva ble shade and combination in this lot of 500 Parasola also plain blacks and plain whites. You can order any fancy parasol from us at exactly ONE-HALF THE REGULAR PRICE. For instance, a parasol you would have to pay us for if bought in the regular way $2.50 or 15.00 can be bought now at $1.25 and $2.50 respectively. Simply write us the color you de sire or the color of the dress or hat you wish to, match and we will guarantee you perfect satisfaction. Remember, all at ONE-HALF PRICE. Regular $i.oo, $1.5o, $2. co, $2.50, $3.oo, $3.50 to V.Sln.nn PHD enr Ittr Sl.fWV $125,, $1.50, $1.75 and every intermediate price to $5.00. ch Sun and . nam umurenas mm - r ... . . - Special purchase of 5,000 Sun and Rain Umbrellas best silk and linen double twill cover, absolutely fast , black and waterproof extra heavy frame on steel rods sterling trimmed Pearl, Oxidized QQn Princess and natural wood handles, real value $1.35, for .. . .uOlf O o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o Lincoln's Progressive Store Lincoln, Neb. o o o o o o o o o o o Hon YOUR wortn ey s in this combination. Order today. Upon receipt of 10 dollars in draft, express or money order we will ship the following bill to your station: 100 lbs Sugar $1.00 100 lbs best Granulated Sugar $1.00 1 box (100 bars), Fairbanks' Laundry Soap $3.50 5 gal keg of vinegar $1.50 4 lbs high grade Japan Tea $2.00 20 lbs choice prunes $1.00 10 lbs fancy peaches $1.00 All the above packed securely and delivered to cars for $10.00 Ej 226-228-230-232-234-236-238 No 10th Street EE Lincoln, Neb. 1iiiiiiiiiiiiii5niiiiiiiiiiniisiiiiiiii2iiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiifiignifigiiiiif naiiiiggisigiii ed to $l,500,0tif,wo, has grown to th-3 stupendous figure of $2,350,000,000. This is 29.34 for every person under the flag. The per capita circulation seven years ago was $21.10; at the be ginning of the civil war. it was $13.85. Against this American figure of $29.31 the circulation of money in Great Britain is $18.29 per capita, and in Germany, $19.02. Two-thirds of our circulating currency are paper about $345,000,000 in gold certificates, guar anteed by gold coin in the treasury; $465,gO,uuO, silver certificates, backed by silver dollars in the treasury; $370,000,000, national bank notes, against which government bonds are deposited with the treasurer to guar antee their payment; $345,000,000. United States notes "greenbacks," originally issued to help pay for the civil war and guaranteed by the credu of the United States; $25,000,000, treasury notes, issued in payment fo. silver bullion, and, like the "green backs," guaranteed by the govern ment credit Of the coin in circu lation, $625,000,000 are gold and $175,000,000 are silver. Frank Fay ant, in Success. ,