An Interesting Reminiscence
of Single Tax Activties

Chester C. Platt

[Reprinted from Land and Freedom, July-August 1927]

LIKE a back number. I don't know anything that interests me much more than back numbers if they are far enough back. Rummaging in the attic of The Batavia Times, I made a find that I would like to tell LAND AND FREEDOM about, for I am sure some of your readers who are in the reminiscent age will be interested.

I found twelve numbers, Numbers 1 to 12 inclusive, of Spread the Light, the dates running from March, 1885 to November, 1886; publisher, M. Battle, 9 Spruce Street, New York; 42 years ago, if I subtract right.

"Land Restorationists", the Land Taxers called themselves in those days.

Number 1, of Volume 1, of this little paper tells of a Land Restoration Dinner at Beraza's restuarant, Duane Street. It gives the names of those who attended, and Louis F. Post's name leads all the rest. Then follow: Henry George, James Redpath, Dr. Smith, Aug. A. Levey, Col. H. Beeny, John G. Huhn, M. Battle, H. E. Sharpe, F. P. Williams, Robert Blissert, W. B. Scott, Jerome O'Neil, Richard George, Prof. L. E. Wilmarth, R. Victor, O. H. Wilmarth, Wm. McCabe, C. H. Baildon, A. J. Steers, S. Pearsall, Prof. J. P. Brophy, T. L. McCready, John Beverly Robinson, Henry George Jr.

A motto at the top of page one of Spread the Light reads: "Rent for Land is an Immoral Tax upon the Industry of a People." Michael Davitt.

Each number of the paper contains a biographical sketch of some tax reformer, together with his picture. Besides Henry George and Louis F. Post, the following appear: John Beverly Robinson, Alphonso J. Steers, Antonio M. Molina, Dr. E. B. Foote, Augustus A. Levey, James D. McDade, Rev. Edward McGlynn, D. D., Wm. Camm, Capt. J. M. McGregor.

In those days, as now, thoughtful people were asking the cause of the increase of crime. Mr. Post writes an article on this subject.

Mr. Post concludes that the genesis of crime is coincident with the robbery of labor, and that its increase is in a parallel line with the depression of wages.

The September number tells that Henry George has been asked to stand as a candidate for Mayor, and that he agrees to run if 30,000 voters express their wishes by petition that he should run.

Mr. George, we are told, cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. When the question of slavery was settled, he voted for Greeley, being a member of the Baltimore Convention, and one of the committee that delivered the nomination to Greeley. After that he stumped California for Tilden.

Another find in our attic was twelve numbers of The Freesoiler. These go back to April, 1884. The publisher was John Beverly Robinson, and the paper was published as the organ of the American Free Soil Society, at fifty cents a year.

Mr. Post was president of the organization and there were vice presidents as follows:

• George Pyburn - California
• F. O. Stewart - Colorado
• Chas. W. Peckham - Connecticut
• Wm. Rose - Illinois
• R. Spencer - Iowa
• E. V. Boutwell - Kansas
• Christopher Moore - Kentucky
• J. H. Ralston - Maryland
• M. R. Thomas - Massachusetts
• J. G. Malcolm - Michigan
• Otto Haesse - Minnesota
• Frank C. Butze - Missouri
• Thomas Skelly - New Jersey
• A. J. Steers - New York
• E. M. Leonard - Ohio
• Robert Stephens - Pennsylvania
• John Collins, M. D. - Texas
• John Kelly - Wisconsin

Rev. R. Heber Newton was treasurer of the society. The April number tells that Mr. George is expected to return to this country in May and that a reception will be held for him at Cooper Union.

I would like to place these back numbers where they will be the most available at any time to any person who may be writing the history of reform movements. I would like suggestions from the readers of LAND AND FREEDOM.