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THE NEBRASKA INDEPENDENT
SEPTEMBER 3, 1905.
The Philosophy of Freedom
An Open Forum for Single Taxers
THE CHALLENGE ACCEPTED.
Mr. Dodge's challenge to debate with
'the single taxers has been accepted by
Mr. Wakefield of Kansas. The debate
'trill be conducted as follows:
L Mr. Dodge will open with a two
column article (1,200 to 1,400 words)
which will be mailed to Mr. Wake
field, who will prepare an answer of
the same length. Both will be pub
lished on this page.
2. Mr. Dodge will have a column for
reply, and Mr. Wakefield the same
space for rejoinder both to be pub
lished together.
3. Mr. Dodge's surrejoinder, one
column; Mr. Wakefield's rebutter, the
same.
4. If both combatants are alive, it
is likely they might continue for an
Issue or two more, but the editor's
knowledge of common law pleadings
carries him no further than the "sur
rebutter," and, hence, he cannot giro
a name to the succeeding pairs in the
argument It Is somewhat like enu
meration in arithmetic: One runs
along glibly enough with "octillions
sonillions, . . . octodecillions, nonde
.dllions, and vlgintillions." but that
"etc." in the arithmetic is no more
Hlpful in naming what comes after
Tigintllllons than is Chitty's "etc." In
acquainting one with what follows a
surrebutter.
These articles will not run each
week, but with an interval of two or
three weeks between each pair. It is
to be hoped that much good will re
sult REPLIES TO MRS. TWITCHELL.
Mrs. Eliza Stowe Twitchell attempts
to defend Henry George's theory of
the law3 of distribution in The Inde-j-endent
for August 13. The errors she
attempts to point out in my article of
July 2 are of very little importance
compared with my main arguments,
nhich she did not attempt to refute.
She admits that my logic is correct,
but disputes my premises. I will at
tempt to prove my premises, and show
that it was a false premise that pre
sented Mr. George from working out
the laws of distribution correctly.
But first let me explain my motive
in writing these articles. I am a sin
fJe taxer, and want to do what 1 can
tor that reform. I believe that Henry
.George made a mistake in regard to the
Jaws of distribution, that that mistake
prevented him from solving the money
question, that it prevents his follow
ers from seeing the importance of the
money question, and that it prevents
the single tax movement from making
the progres it otherwise would.
It will be necessary for me to quote
largely from Progress and Poverty and
I may require considerable space in
The Independent, but if I can succeed
in uniting the followers of Del Mar
and George the space will be used to
the best advantage.
'Mr. George asks: "Why in spite of
Increase in productive power, do wages
tend to a minimum which will give
but a bare living?
"The answer of the current political
economy is, that wages are fixed by
flhe ratio between the number of la
lwrers and the amount of capital de
moted to the employment of labor. . . .
In current thought this doctrine holds
all but undisputed sway. It bears the
indorsement of the very highest names
among the cultivators v of political
economy. . . . And yet widely accepted
and deeply rooted as it is, it seems to
me that this theory does not tally
with obvious facts. For, if wages de
pend upon the ratio between the
amount of labor seeking employment
and the amount of capital devoted to
its employment, the relative scarcity
or abundance of one factor must mean
Independent School
THE ANARCHIST CONSTITUTION.
. By courtesy of the Radical Publish
ing Co., San Francisco, The Indepen
dent has received a copy of "The An
archist Constitution," by one "D. I.
Sturber," who calls himself an an
archist Mr. "Disturber" adjures his
critics to "Know what you denounce
and denounce, if at all, intelligently."
Paraphrasing Mr. "Disturber's" ad
yice, we might say to him: "Know
tohat you advocate and advocate, if at
ill,' intelligently." Mr. "Disturber"
aiay be a "sure-enough" anarchist;
but if he is, God pity the whole lot of
hem who hope to reach that ideal
fctate of society wherein every man is
law unto himself and the negative
Golden Rule is applied unceasingly.
"Anarchists," says Mr. "Disturber,'
simply want that old original social
the relative abundance or scarcity of
the other. Thus, capital must be rel
atively abundant where wages are
high, and relatively scarce where
wages are low. Now, as the capital
used in paying wages must largely con
sist of the capital constantly seeking
investment, the current rate of inter
est must be the measure of its relative
abundance or scarcity. So, if it be
true that wages depend upon the ratio
between the amount of labor seeking
employment and the capital devoted to
its employment, then high wages, the
mark of the relative scarcity of labor,
must be accompanied by low interest,
the mark of the relative abundance of
capital and reversely, low wages must
be accompanied by high interest This
is not the fact, but the contrary."
Now I quite agree with Mr. George's
fcrgument just quoted, and if there
were but two factors in production it
would disprove the current doctrine
that wages depend upon the ratio be
tween the amount of labor seeking
employment and the amount of capita
devoted to its employment As the
case stands, Mr. George's argument
proves that wages do not depend en
tirely upon the relative abundance and
rcarcity of labor and capital; but let
us examine the third factor land be
fore we condemn the current doctrine.
At first glance the fact that wages and
iiterest generally rise and fall to
gether in new countries seems to dis
prove the current theory of wages;
end neither Mr. George nor any other
writer on political economy has suc
ceeded in reconciling the theory with
the facts; and Mr. George was forced
to abandon that theory. He says: "We
have seen that the current theory that
wages depend upon the ratio between
the number of '' laborers and the
amount of capital devoted to the em
ployment of labor is inconsistent with
the general fact that wages and inter
est do not rise and fall inversely, but
conjointly."
I will attempt to explain the appar
ent inconsistency between the theory
and tb.3 facts: If there is any truth
in the theory, the effect of an increased
supply of capital upon wages must al
ways be to raise wages; but as pointed
out by Mr. George it seldom does act
ually raise them. Why? I can ex
rlain it best by using an illustration:
Suppose a tug-of-war between rent
and interest Abundance of capital
and low Interest are pulling wages up
and at the same time scarcity of land
and high rent are pulling wages down.
If rent is the strongest wages will fall
in spite of the fact that plenty of capi
tal and low interest are pulling them
up. In new countries land is very
plentiful and rent very low, while la
tor and capital are both scarce, and
interest and wages both high; but as
population increases capital becomes
plentiful and land becomes scarce, the
landlord appropriates all the benefits
to be derived from abundance of capi
tal, and wages fall with interest in
rpite of the fact that the effect of low
itterest on wages is to raise them.
Wages depend partly npor. the sup
ily of capital and partly on the sup
fly of land, and will be highest where
both are plentiful and rent and inter
est both low.
It was Mr. George's failure to see
this, that forced him to abandon the
position in regard to wages and in
terest that the laws of distribution
are laws of proportion. And as no
amount of ability will enable a man
to harmonize truth and error, his
false premise, that the effect of high
interest is to raise wages, was the
cause of his failure to discover the
laws of distribution.
JAS. S. PATON.
Riverside, Cal.
of Political Economy
compact wiped t-t and something bet
ter substituted in its place." Well,
well, well! Who is to write the new
one? Oh, Mr. Disturber has already
done that. He proposes that all con
stitutions, statutes, rules and regula
tions be wholly "wiped out" and in
their place adopted his "anarchist con
stitution" of 225 sections. This "con
stitution" is a heterogeneous collec
tion, a medley as it were, of nation,
ctate and local statutes, gathered to
gether without "rhyme or reason,"
without any apparent attempt at clas
sification, each drawn to correct some
"evil" which has disturbed Mr. Dis
turber. It won't do. Anarchists, when they
confine themselves to criticisms of ex
isting conditions make telling points;
but as a constructive force they pro
mulgate forms for guiding the new
society which would be a disgrace to
a lot of twelve-year-olds framing a
constitution for a country lyceum.
"JOHN WRYLAND."
The Independent acknowledges re
ceipt of "The Travels of John Wry
land," published by the Equitable
Publishing Co., 317 North 4th street,
Allentown, Pa., (cloth, 236 pages, $1).
From the copyright it seems probable
that the author is Henry J. O'Neill.
The story is ostensibly an account of
the journey of John Wryland to Tibet
and of his founding a kingdom on
the Island of Palti.
The author evidently intends this
book as a contribution to the litera
ture of anti-imperialism and in a num
ber of foot notes shows the historical
connection between some of the, crim
inal acts performed by the king of
Palti and similar acts committed by
various European monarchs and presi
dent of republics. On the whole the
book is considerable of a disappoint
ment; some of the passages are par
ticularly fine, yet immediately follow
ing will be statements which can be
characterized by nothing so aptly as
the word "rot." The author is plain
ly attempting to imitate the style of
Dean Swift in Gulliver's Travels, but
in this role is a failure. Swift could
make filthiness teach a lesson which
vould not soon be forgotten; the au
thor of John Wryland in his imita
tio nof Swift is even less effective as
a teacher than is the ordinary com
mercial traveller with his stock . of
smutty stories. While there are some
IN EVERY STATE
Readers of the Independent are Enthnsl
atticalljr Pushing; the Educational
Work
Since the last announcement long
lists of new subscribers have day by
day been received at this office. They
have been secured by the men who
have been readers of The Independent
who know its worth and indorse the
principles which it advocates. This
steady increase in the circulation of
The Independent shows that there is
an increasing interest in those great
fundamental principles, first an
nounced in the new world by Jefferson
and more than 100 years afterwards
reaffirmed and again promulgated at
Omaha in 1892. The loyalty and devo
tion of those who there consecrated
themselves to the work of advocating
equal opportunity for all and special
privileges for none, has not abated as
these new subscribers, which are the
result of their work and of the con
erts they have made, plainly shows.
These men are still on the picket line.
Their firing is regular and their aim
Is sure. They march in open order
now. It will be seen from the states
represented that it extends from
ocean to ocean and from the lakes to
the gulf. But the line grows stronger.
Whenever one of the Old Guard fires
tis last shot and passes on into the
Great Beyond, not only does a new re
cruit take up his well-worn weapon,
but another one besides comes with
him.
The Independent will do its best to
supply the ammunition for this long
line of fighting patriots. It is rather
costly work. Just in proportion as
1 he Independent is more valuable than
the plutocratic papers, its cost in
creases. They can make up their col
umns out of plates and their whole in
side pages of ready prints, the mat
ter of which has been prepared by lit
erary hacks in the interests of plu
tocracy. The matter in The Indepen
dent is original from the first word in
the first column to the last word on
the last page.
The offer of five months for 25 cents,
to assist in the educational work dur
ing this year's campaigns in the dif
ferent states, is as low as can be made
by a paper that must depend largely
upon its subscriptions to pay expenses.
The great 25-cent weeklies of plutoc
racy and the thousands of them that
are sent free, are prepared in a dif
ferent manner. Every word in them is
a reprint that has appeared and been
circulated among the people before.
They are a second-hand "hand out" to
the "lower classes" whom they so
much despise, but whose votes they
manage to get This educational work
should be pushed in Nebraska during
the coming campaign. How many of
the old readers of the paper will take
a hand for the coming few weeks?
Among those who have been waging
the battle for equal rights for all ar
special privileges to none and who
have sent in lists of new subscribers
since the last announcement are the
following. It will be seen that there
are active workers in the revival of
populism in every state in the union.
A. Shufelt, Ashburn, Mo.
Stephen Shaw, Tompkins Corners.N.Y.
Noel Harrington. Naples, N. Y.
John Hartline, Willmot, O.
good things in the book it is safe tQ
fcay that it is not worth reading,
THE AMERICAN HANDICAP."
The independent acknowledges re
ceipt of "The American Handicap," by
Andrew S. Phelps, Joliet, 111. Andrew
says his book is "a little common
uense, truthful history and mathemat
ics applies to the money question.'
This is a paper bound book of 149
pages and is a collection of short es
says on money question and bimetal
lism written by Mr. Phelps and pub
lished in the Joliet News at intervals
during the past six years. It contains
a large amount of information culled
from various public documents and
presented in a readable way. Espe
cially interesting are the tables in the
back of the book giving prices of
wheat cotton, variations in average
annual price and the American Han
dicap showing disadvantage under
which the American farmer is placed
in his competition with agriculturists
cf other countries.
BARBARA VILLIERS.
Editor Independent: Appreciating
the efforts you are making to secure
for the country a restoration of its
sovereign prerogative to control its
emissions of money, whether of metal
or paper, we beg your acceptance of
the accompanying work of Mr. Del
Mar ("Barbara Villiers," sent by book
post), which shows, historically, how
and under what circumstances that
prerogative was lost
CAMBRIDGE ENCYCLOPFDIA CO.
New York, N. .Y.
J. T. Greenwade, Willard, Mo.
Leslie Pritner, Calumet, Ok la.
Scott Whitney, Hunter, Okla.
II. Ellingston, Minnehaha, Minn.
L. B. Fetter, Remote, Ore.
0. G. Hankins, Avilla, Mo.
Paul Carpenter, Partridge, Okla.
Lars Talberg, Ramey, Minn.
W. S. Dean, Delhi, N. Y.
Wm. Donaldson, Middlefield, O.
1. Lenord, Glenville, O.
Geo. J. Menger, Palmyra, Mo.
John A. Gaylord, Cuyahoga Falls, 0.
W. Stephenson, Moorefield, Neb.
Ed. Pickering, West Milton, O.
J. M. Clark, Deer Creek, Okla.
Dr. R. H. Reemelin, 426 Straight St,
Cincinnati, O. u
John Rose, Mattawan, Mich.
P. Pearson, Silver City, la. -M.
D. Morse, Hickman Mills, Mo.
S. K. Lewis, Parnell, Mo.
C. E. Letter, Drew, Mich.
Sam'l Cross, Dekalb, Mo. -John
Gerard, Carthage, N. Y.
W. J. Fuller, Cadams, Mich."
Wm. Reaghard, Miola, Pa.
Wm. Maxwell, Knightstown, Ind.
Jacob Nicholson, El Reno, Okla.
Frank D. Lyford, Campton Village
N. H.
Dr. A. L. Davis, Findlay, O.
E. Gay, Laporte City, la. , ,.
H. C. Gwynn, Lexington, Ind.
B. F. Yocum, Rochester, O.
J. P. Hammond, Newkirk, Okla '
Thos P. Withers, Monett, Mo.
Rev. Adam Kern, Marysville, Mo. "
H. B. Hewitt, Stafford, Kas.
John Deeds, Pataskala, O.
Abner De France, El Reno, Okla. v
L F. Ellsworth, Rose Hill, la.
John Parson, Hillsboro, Ore. V
I A. Ferguson, Lapote City, la. . .
Alva Mackey, Palmyra, Mich.
Jesse Ruland, N. Springfield, Pa,
S. G. Hankins, Avilla, Mo. -
John Hughes, Patriot, Ind.
Wm. Spalding, Murray, Idaho. 1
A. G. Francisco, Albion, Neb.
Jno T. Rawlins, Buffalo, Mo. '
Wm. Hussfeldt, Chickasha, I. T. - '
G. W. Phifer, Findlay, O.
W 0. Joynes, Louisburg, N. C.
James McGraw, West Almond, N. Y
F. W. Anthony, Mattawan, Mich.
James Dillon, Atwell, Ind.
Henry Roeder, Evansville, Ind.
J. P. Clough, Salmon, Idaho.
S. E. Penn, Lebanon, Ore.
Suggests a Name
Editor Independent: I was an Abe
Lincoln republican and would be yet
with several of the populist principles
adopted in the platform. I wish to
suggest a name for the party and that
is, "People's Union Party" the "un
ion" part to be made up of all the best
people of all parties that are in favor
cf reform.
As to fusing with any party, that is
child's play. It won't do. The peo
ple's party tried that, and had it not
been for it it would have been at the
head today. It is time for a new party,
and the name should be the one I have
mggested. JOHN J. DEEDS.
Pataskala, O.
(The Independent is opposed to any
cLange of name. People's party can
not be improved upon. It is the prin
ciples advocated that attract or repel
not the name. Plutocrats would fight
just as hard against the party, no mat
ter what the name might be, if the
principles of the Omaha platform were
still advocated. Ed. Ind.)