Single Taxers and Political Office

William McNair

[Reprinted from The Freeman, September, 1939]

Bill McNair is the rare "politician," who will not keep his mouth shut, and who therefore must quit and try again. But men with his complete personal disinterestedness and singleness of purpose are not the kind who usually go in for politics. The average run cannot resist the "flesh pots" -- and therefore they keep their mouths shut. - Editors, The Freeman

There are a lot of people in Pittsburgh who will welcome the chance to vote against me. One man, for instance, who tried to sell to the county a square in the university district for a million dollars. He had not paid taxes for twelve years -- totaling about $200,000. I put the sheriff on him. As soon as I was out of office the sale was stayed, and he still owns the lot. How he would delight to vote against me!

''I put to the legislature the usual bills to cut the city rates on buildings, and to apply the graded tax plan to counties. That aroused the ire of downtown taxpayers; they would like to vote against me.

"Many of our financial institutions allow borrowers to get back in their taxes, so as to insure payment of interest on their loans. I sold, as mayor, a lot of such holdings, and these financiers would like to vote against me.

"Of course the Graded Tax is merely a step. We can point to no immediate results largely because our city fathers do not reclaim land through tax lien foreclosures. However, the idea of collecting the full rent is working, and the pressure of the land value tax is increasing constantly. Ask any speculator holder what he thinks of the idea -- and of me -- and he will explode. He would like to vote against me.

"Any single taxer who gets into an executive position as I did -- accidentally -- and does not keep his mouth shut will be framed and incarcerated, unless he quits. I would advise him to quit and try again, as I am doing. I can do what I am doing in Pittsburgh only because I have 1500 graduates of the School who know what I am talking about and can argue with their neighbors."