122. Henry George

On October 29, Henry George, the famous land reformer, died in New York. I think I am right in saying that men of my age owe an extraordinary debt to the writings of this energetic, thoughtful personality. His forcefully written, if somewhat broad, book "Progress and Poverty" has inspired us to think deeply about the importance of land within the state organism. Whether we agreed or disagreed with him: Henry George's remarks have become highly fruitful for our insight into economics. He knew how to express economic truths in a way that was stimulating even for the non-specialist. And we took great pleasure in the course of his life. He was one of the few people who knew how to determine their own destiny almost entirely. A typesetter in several San Francisco printing houses, he worked his way up to become the editor of respected magazines, whose judgment was listened to in the widest circles, and who gave the newer land reformers of America and Europe direction and content for their agitation. The very near future would probably have seen him in the post of Mayor of New York. During the election movement, to which he devoted his considerable energies in the last days, he died suddenly.