Spencer Heath Archive

Item 2330

Carbon of letter from Robert Clancy to John Chamberlain, Editor, The Freeman, 240 Madison Avenue, New York City 16

October 27, 1952

 

 

Dear Mr. Chamberlain:

 

The advertisement of Henry George’s “Progress and Poverty” in the November 3^rd issue of “The Freeman” can only be construed as an effort to arouse prejudice against the book.

 

In the beginning of “Progress and Poverty,” Henry George quotes Ptolemy: “He that is to follow philosophy must be a freeman in mind.” Your magazine bears the name “Freeman.” Do you think that the tone of your ad was such as to contribute to free inquiry?

 

Every serious student of Henry George knows that he was a champion of liberty, diametrically opposed to the ideas of a planned economy and totalitarianism. There is a genuine Communist menace today. It is necessary to examine basic principles to determine objectively and clearly the issues at stake. Crying “Communist” has been done too often, too thoughtlessly, too wrongfully, too harmfully, for too many different motives. Therefore, applying the epithet “Communist” to Henry George was an especially indiscriminate, false and cowardly thing to do.

 

As for Spencer Heath’s “exposé” of “Progress and Poverty”, I have only a few words to say. It can easily be handled by any elementary student of George. Mr. Heath has had free access to the Henry George School for the past twenty years and has been unable to dent the logical structure of “Progress and Poverty.” If “The Freeman” chooses to endorse Mr. Heath’s proposal of a feudal society as against a democratic society, that is its own business. Your choice does not justify your unethical attack against Henry George.

Very truly yours,

                            Edward Clancy

                            Director

RC:ks

 

cc:  Forrest Davis

     Suzanne La Follette

     Kurt M. Lassen

     Spencer Heath

     Henry Hazlitt

Alex Hillman