Spencer Heath Archive

Item 1363

Carbon of a letter to Frederick W. Roman, Los Angeles, California

March 7, 1941

 

 

 

Dear Doctor Roman:

 

     What a lot of time has passed since your letter of December 23^rd. It was a very cordial letter. I appreciated it deeply and expected to reply almost at once.

 

     I wanted to write you a lot about Dean E.W. Grabill on “Free Enterprise or Socialism” in The Roman Forum. I would love to know him and to talk with him. There is so much in common between us — vistas of vision and understanding. I am sure that together we could open the doors wider far.

 

     I have been pretty active of late going up and down between Baltimore and New York and even Boston. Also I made several trips last summer and fall into Detroit, Toronto and Montreal, all in the interest of what I sometimes call the New Testament version of the Henry George Philosophy of Freedom according to Henry George. You know that I regard the customary presentation of the Henry George idea as being in conformity with the Old Testament Christianity which called for an eye for an eye, etc., and called upon the power of government and armed force to put its teachings into effect. I think the New Testament of Henry George is to be found in the latter part of “Progress and Poverty” where he puts his proposition “into practical form” by

proposing to “abolish all taxation save that on land value.”

 

     This is a great proposal of emancipation — to emancipate mankind from the mass slavery known and endured as taxation. Unfortunately Henry George seemed to think that this great boon could come to mankind as a gift from “strong souls and high endeavors” who would impose it upon mankind through the power of the state — the force of the citadel rather than through the free contractual engagements, the Democratic technique of the market place of the business world. He regarded this emancipation as a service to men but not as a service in due course and for due recompense. And so the last parts of George’s great work are given over to poetizing, to beautiful rhetoric, to the poignant wishful thinking that is always the seed bed in which a science grows but, however beautiful, cannot be more than this.

 

     I would like to tell you of some of my adventures of the mind and of the tolerance, even cordiality with which my enlivening “heresies” have been received in the cities I have visited.

 

     I will pause to make reference only to Montreal, and to only one of the places I visited in that City, namely, McGill University.

 

     On my first visit I was invited to a faculty club luncheon at which I chanced to be placed at the head of the table and soon found myself leading a seminar composed of some ten or fifteen faculty members who showed the keenest interest in my proposal of a proprietary administration of public and community affairs gradually to displace and serve in lieu of their existing and coercive political administration. This seminar lasted through the whole lunch hour and several of those present extended it through the whole afternoon.

 

     On my return visit to Montreal several weeks later, I was invited to address a Senior Faculty Organization, commonly referred to as the “Holy of Holies,” at a special meeting called by its president for that particular purpose with attendance pledged. I was enormously gratified at this interest displayed, the amount of discussion pro and con that was provoked, and the reports that came to me afterwards of the discussion being continued and that it would be taken up as the subject for their next meeting. Some of the Henry George people expressed surprise that the Philosophy of Freedom, in its positive and constructive aspects, should arouse so much interest and so little resistance and opposition, quite in contrast to the reception which had been accorded to the more orthodox representatives of Henry George.

 

     During the past year I have published a small amount of additional material supplementary to that which I sent to you last August.

 

     You will recall that my explanation of property in land was based upon property as an instrument of service and upon proprietorship as a necessary function rather than a status. In fact, you probably observed that while not explicitly stated therein, the Energy Concept was the basis of this analysis. These two new pamphlets, “Real Estate, How to Raise and Restore its Income and Value,” are offered as the engineering application of the discovery outlined in the functional explanation of property in land. The smaller of these two pamphlets of real estate is a series of questions which epitomizes the general thesis more fully set out in the larger one, and is intended also to focus the “practical” minds of real estate owners to the point of comprehending the point of view upon which the more elaborate discussion proceeds.

 

     Herewith I enclose “Private Property in Land Explained,” and the two pamphlets of Real Estate which I trust you will find of interest and value. under separate cover, I am sending you twenty (20) additional copies of these which I hope may find some judicious distribution by you.

 

     Remembering your request for some additional copies of my “Inspiration of Beauty” and “The Energy Concept of Population,” I wish to say that I have had these reprinted in considerable quantity, and will be very happy to send you any amount of them that you may request. I can also supply additional quantities like the copies herewith enclosed.

 

     I do wish I could be with you and be of some aid in the advancement of your work. The chief deterrent to my coming out to you for a time is the great distance and absence of any way stations on the way at which I could pause to break the journey and to carry on some continuity of work. However, this may develop, and if it does turn out that I can feel assured of some reception of ideas and discussions of them at a number of points enroute, I shall certainly feel justified in making the trip. Any possible suggestions from you would be welcome indeed.

 

     For the purpose of assuring continuity in my receipt of your publications, etc., I am enclosing my check for five dollars ($5.00) for one or two years’ subscription to the “Roman Forum.” Any balance may be used for your general work.

 

     If by any possibility you should come to New York, I certainly hope you will advise me and give me the opportunity of having your more personal acquaintance and enjoying the inspiration of your mind.

 

     Miss Leighton again joins me in very happy recollections of you and in appreciation of your most valuable work.

 

Sincerely yours,

 

 

 

Spencer Heath

 

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