Spencer Heath Archive

Item 1329

Carbon of a letter to Harold S. Buttenheim, 470 Fourth Avenue, New York, New York

January 17, 1941

Dear Mr. Buttenheim:

The last time or two I was in New York, I thought very much of how I would like to see you again and discuss some matters which are very much on your mind and my own. I think you realize that I have been trying to do some spade work to loosen up the hard ground of some of our more or less hide bound thinking along social and political science lines.

During the last several months I have had some very interesting contacts and opportunity to be heard among the Henry George people in Detroit, Toronto and Montreal. At the last named city, I was especially favored by a luncheon discussion at the McGill Faculty Club and on a later visit to that institution, I was invited by one of the Senior Faculty Associations to give them an evening address at a meeting called especially for that purpose. Some of the more or less unusual and, I believe, constructive ideas that I have been trying to have considered have been very thoughtfully and encouragingly received in the above named and a number of other quarters. There is certainly great need for clarifying conceptions. I sometimes think the need of them is greater than the faith that they can be found.

Our mutual and valuable friend, H. Bronson Cowan, of Peterborough, Ontario, and Mr. J.H.L. Patterson, of Toronto, and Mr. Warren S. Blauvelt, of Ann Arbor, have been among those showing an interest in and appreciation of what I have been trying to do. In a letter just received from Mr. Cowan he says, “You may remember that in your address in Toronto you tactfully suggested that some of our Single Tax friends have unintentionally antagonized many influential people whose support they need if they are to obtain general acceptance for their views. I have had many opportunities to find out how true that is.” Referring to one of my letters, Mr. Cowan says, “I notice that it is an elaboration of some of the basic principles you have set out so clearly in some of the other material you sent me and which reveals much original thinking on your part for which, I feel, you have not received sufficient credit. In one of my previous letters I advised you that I was in general agreement with your conclusions and that I believed that it would be all to the good if land owners generally realized the importance of the matter and acted accordingly.”

I rather expect to be in New York during the week of January 27th. Do you not think it might be profitable for us to have some further talk together, either alone or in company with one or two others whom you might suggest? If so, please set a time that might be pleasant and convenient. I should like to have you as my guest or guests.

Yours sincerely,

Spencer Heath

SH:ML

Enc.

4 small circulars

Letter of 8/7/40 to Mr. Chodorov