This appeared in the San Francisco Call 1898-10-12. The claims he makes for the Single Tax start with one to which many 21st century folks would at first hearing, think "non-starter." But I urge you to think further, and think about what expensive land means to most Americans, and how it makes the lives of some -- many! -- very difficult, while greatly enriching a "lucky" few. A reform which "cheapens" land will go a long way to putting millions of people to work and self-sufficient.
SINGLE TAX CHALLENGE.
Editor Call: So repeated have been the attacks and misrepresentations of the single tax theory in The Call and other papers of late that, as a member of the Alameda County Single Tax Society, I feel bound to request the liberality of your paper to make a few pertinent propositions.
As single taxers many of us regret the action of the Republican party in their State convention in inserting an anti-single tax plank In the State platform. Such action will force many single tax Republicans in this election to vote against their own party.
It is not, however, of such vital interest to single taxers as to which political party is for or against the single tax as it is that the theory of Henry George should be understood and intelligently discussed. Up to the present editorials have been woefully at sea in the presentation of the single tax proposition, and naturally the deductions have been equally erroneous, and platform speakers also seem wretchedly ignorant of what the single tax: is and what the results of its adoption would be. General Barnes contents himself with calling it names; Mr. Gage says it is a proposition to tax realty and improvements only.
Now, in order to test the knowledge and encourage the exercise of thought on the part of random writers and ravers, and to put the subject squarely before the people—in other words, in order to give the single tax a fair, square hearing—I make the following claims for the single tax and challenge denial or adverse argument. The single tax would:
First — Cheapen land.
Second — Would encourage industry.
Third — Discourage speculation.
Fourth — Raise the wages of labor.
Fifth — Increase the earnings of capital invested in industry.
Sixth — Reduce the California farmers’ taxes to a quarter of the present tax they pay.
Seventh — Prevent one man living off another's labor, except by charity.
Eighth — Destroy monopoly.
Ninth — Abolish the "lobby.”
Tenth — Raise the wages to the full product of labor.
Eleventh— And could not be shifted.
It seems to me that the above is a fair target for anti-single taxers. The only difficulty the antis will have will be to keep the thought out of their answers. When an anti-single taxer begins to think he is in danger, and if he keeps on thinking, he is lost to the antis and becomes as rabid as any of us.
Trusting that you will give your anti-single tax editor, orators and readers an opportunity to confute the above statements, and also permit reply. I am, sir.
EDGAR POMEROY
Oakland, October 10.
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