Spencer Heath Archive

Item 2261

Letter to Heath from A.C. Campbell, 24 Lisgar Street, Ottawa, Canada

January 20, 1941

 

 

 

Dear Mr. Heath:

 

     My only excuse for my bad typewriter and my worse operation of it is that my pen and handwriting are worse.

 

     As suggested by you, I consulted a friend on the letter and printed material you so kindly sent me, and he, being a civil officer in one of our war services, has not had time yet to read and consider it. I hope to be able to let you know his reaction. Meantime, I thank you for writing me, and send an interim report on my rather hasty reading of your material.

 

     Mainly, I thank you for your word that you say you may come to Ottawa and, in that case, will come to see me. My telephone (dial) is 3-1323. I shall be delighted to welcome you to our capital city. I thank you also for sending me Miss Leighton’s kind message. My grateful remembrance to her, please.  

 

     The material you send makes clearer my recollection of what you told me at our well-remembered meeting with you. But, before saying anything definite about it, I want opportunity to re-read your letter and pamphlets. I do not recollect having read anything on your line in any of the Henry George magazines that come to me. And I think you and I approach George from such widely different view points that I must have time to focus on what you see.

 

     As I understand you, your proposal, if adopted, would make the exploitation of land a matter of business, competitive business. To an extreme individualist, “of whom I am one of which,” that is a charming idea. I do not hold with those who say, “The less government the better.” I think there is a natural field of government, and government should fill that field and wholly forget all others. Show me that land exploitation is properly a function of competitive business, and I shall be glad. But I fear it will be only a “moral victory.” You have not forgotten, I hope, that I am a Henry-George, Gospel-of-Plenty fanatic. I believe that this is the sign in which we shall conquer.

 

     But this is only a tentative reply to you. I may have misunderstood you. I shall read more carefully and then shall write again.

 

     With renewed thanks, yours sincerely,

 

 

                            /s/  A. C. Campbell