We were delighted to see the excellent article “American Taxation” by John Steele Gordon in the May/June issue. In particular we applaud his accurate recounting of how tax-rate reduction in the twenties, sixties, and eighties led to higher tax revenues and higher relative tax payments by the rich.
Like him, we think that the flat tax would move huge sums out of tax shelters and unproductive assets into highly productive activities, free billions of currently wasted man-hours needed to comply with the current tax code, and produce powerful incentives for savings, investment, work, and entrepreneurship.
Peter J. Ferrara
General Counsel and Chief Economist
Americans for Tax Reform
Washington, D.C.
Taxation
I read the article on American taxation with interest because of my own involvement with Georgist tax reform. I must set the record straight, however. Henry George, contrary to what was written in the article, was never elected to Congress. He did run twice for mayor of New York, the first time coming in second (ahead of Theodore Roosevelt) in 1886 and the second time in 1897. He died during the latter campaign. His son, Henry George, Jr., also a supporter of land-value taxation, was indeed elected to Congress. Perhaps Mr. Gordon confused him with his father.
Wayne Luney
Sacramento, Calif.
Windjammer Revival
As a devotee of windjamming in Maine, I wish to compliment you on Frederick Alien’s most interesting “History Happened Here” article in the May/June issue of American Heritage. Even though I have never had the pleasure of sailing on the Lewis R. French with Captain Pease, I am sufficiently familiar with the windjamming operations in Maine to appreciate and thoroughly enjoy the article.
There is, however, one aspect of the story that gave me pause. The Lewis R. French was restored to its present mint condition, from a dilapidated cannery lighter, as I recall, by Capt. John Foss. Captain Foss not only resurrected the French for the tourist trade but was her master as well for a number of years. No history of the Lewis R. French could possibly be complete without including the considerable contributions made by Captain Foss to restore this schooner to its present status in the Maine windjammer fleet. Captain Foss is now the master of the schooner American Eagle.
While perhaps not of historical importance, it is also interesting to know that Captain Pease and Captain Foss are related by marriage.
It is unfortunate that there are not more articles like yours on Maine windjamming. It’s an important tradition that goes back to the very beginnings of our country.
John R. Borst
Leesburg, Fla.
Steerage
Thank you for printing Karl S. Puffe’s journal of his Atlantic crossing a century ago (April). As you can see from my last name, my ancestors made the same crossing. In fact, my father’s grandfather Herman Stuehrmann, a native of Bremerhaven, made the crossing about the same time as Mr. Puffe. On my mother’s side the crossing has been almost legendary. We grew up with the story of how her grandfather Henry Schweer learned to walk crossing the Atlantic in the early 184Os. (My mother’s parents were a full generation older than my father’s parents.)
I often think of the difficulty of my forebears’ journey to this country, especially when my wife, our children, and I visit my wife’s family in the Philippines. We gripe about the narrow seats, the airline food, and the length of the trip—even though we’re not seasick, the food is at least edible, and we’ll be at our destination in less than a day. Thinking of Elizabeth Schweer and her children at sea long enough for young Henry to learn to walk puts some perspective on the “rigors” of air travel.
Raymond L. Stuehrmann
Westlake Village, Calif.
No Cruiser
I read with great interest the mention of the passing of Tristan Jones in “Letter From the Editor” (July/August). His account in Heart of Oak of the sinking of HMS Hood is truly memorable. I must note, however, that the Hood was a battle cruiser and the newer Bismarck was a battleship. The difference between the two types lay in gun power, armor protection, and speed. Three British battle cruisers blew up and sank at Jutland in 1916. The Hood shared their fate twenty-five years later.
Richard H. Thompson
Department of History
Indiana University and
Purdue University
Columbus, Ind.
Not So Little
In “My Brush With History” (April) Mary A. Saalfield described Hitler as a “little fellow.” This is curious, as Hitler was a large-boned man about five feet nine inches tall. According to the late John Gunther, legions of women found him attractive. Charlie Chaplin, who portrayed Hitler, was certainly a little fellow, and so were Stalin and Franco. But not Hitler.
