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Most Georgists of today are almost unaware of the significant Geocratic movement that has been active in Spain since at least 1913. That was the year of the first international Georgist conference, held in Ronda, Andalusia (southern Spain).

Probably our inattention to Georgist colleagues in Spain arises largely out of language differences. Most of our associates are either residents of English-speaking countries, or of countries where English is spoken widely, such as the Netherlands or Denmark.

Who among us have heard of early figures such as Manuel Rufo Gil, Francisco Chico Ganga, Rafael Ochoa Vila, Blas Infante, or Antonio Ariza Camacho? Or even of Baldomero Argente, translator of Progress and Poverty into Spanish? Or, among more recent or contemporary figures, the scholar-historian Juan Antonio Abellan? Or Dr. Marti Guerrero i Cots, Carlos Deltell de la Fuentes or Marcel Vila of Spanish Catalonia? Or even the late Emiho Lemos Ortega of Seville, long the recognized leader of the movement? Or which Georgists have come across the name of Josep Soler i Corrales, also of Catalonia, whom Emilio Lemos in his last years described as the "undoubted present leader of Georgism in his country"?

As its title makes clear, this volume is as much a study of the movement for Andalusian autonomy from central Spanish control as it is of Emilio Lemos Ortega or the Spanish Georgist movement. This is because leaders of andalucismo, starting with Blas Infante in the early years of this century, and numerous others are named in this book, were both andalucistas and georgistas -- or, fisiocratas georgistas as they often call themselves. The sections about Lemos Ortega are interwoven with those about andalucismo, and are based on interviews with Don Emilio, analysis of his books, articles and letters; and on-the-spot interviews in Constantina near Seville, where Lemos was born in 1902, as well as in Seville, where he spent his adult years.

The Beginnings

How did the Georgist idea first get into Spain? According to Lemos Ortega, as reported by Reig, the whole movement got started by a curious coincidence -- i.e., a Spanish engineer, Antonio Albendin, riding on a train at the beginning of the century with an unknown Englishman who was reading Progress and Poverty. The stranger would comment from time to time about the book; Albendin expressed interest in the subject, and near the end of their trip, the Englishman gave the book to the Spaniard, who apparently could read English. He was deeply moved by its message. Albendin, who was from Cadiz, knew of a Spanish translation available in Barcelona, to which neither he nor anyone else had paid much attention. This translation was done by Magin Puig, a Catalonian, who concealed his identity for many years for fear of being prosecuted by the authorities. Albendin was soon distributing copies to his friends, including Baldomero Argente and Blas Infante. Later, Argente produced a new translation whose use has become widespread, including by the Spanish Division of the Henry George School. And Blas Infante became leader of the movement for Andalusian autonomy.

The news about Progreso y Miseria spread, and in the late 1920's, when Lemos Ortega was working in his brother's commercial business in Seville, a customer, Manuel Rufo Gil, gave him the book to read. Using an Andalusian expression, Lemos later exclaimed, "When I finished reading and comprehending that work, I saw the sky open!"

Ups and Downs

The Georgist movement flourished and subsided in response to the political environment of the country. Even before George, French Physiocracy of the 18th century exerted a powerful influence on the country; and still earlier, Philip II, king of Spain from 1556 until 1598, proposed the elimination of taxes on all articles of consumption, and their replacement by a general tax on land. Lelmos claimed that the king explained that land "provides the blood for these kingdoms, from which they secure their revenues, and not from punctures made in the veins of the poor."

The first three decades of this century were times of ferment in Spain, with political agitation, demands for Andalusian autonomy, and the spread of Georgist ideas in the country. During that time, as a young man, Lemos had done hard work on his father's small farm, was essentially self-educated, and had become an avid reader. At first he entertained a youthful fascination with socialism and communism, including agitation and publication in company with other idealistic young people. However, after reading Progreso y Miseria, talking with Georgists to whom Rufo introduced him, and finally meeting with Blas Infante himself, Lemos became converted.

The Works of Lemos

These events in Seville coincided with the end of the dictatorship of Miguel Primo de Rivera (1923-1930) and emergence of the Second Republic (the short-lived First was from November 1873 to January 1874). The few years of the new republic opened opportunity for a new outburst of Georgist activity; though the beginning of the Civil War in 1936, accompanied by occupation of southern Spain by fascist forces of Francisco Franco in that year, led to suppression, terror, violent deaths, and the execution of Blas Infante.

Lemos himself fled from Seville, headed for Badajoz near the Portuguese border; but could only get as far as his native Constantina, whence he returned and spent most of the Franco years living as unobtrusively as possible in his Seville home, writing letters when possible and publishing in the less conspicuous papers and journals, so as to arouse a minimum of hostility from the regime. The fascists controlled all of Spain from 1939 to 1975, when the death of Franco introduced the constitutional monarchy of the remarkably perceptive King Juan Carlos, and the new democracy opened modern Spain to freedom of press and expression and thus new Georgist activity.

Lemos' first book, published in 1971 when the aging Franco regime was relaxing its grip, was Letters from a Citizen to the Conscience of Intellectuals. Then came The Road to Liberty, a collection of articles, and The Autonomous Conscience of the Andalusians, 1982. One of the most interesting sections of Reig's book is a concluding anthology of unpublished Lemos letters, addressed during the Franco period to friends and associates. Lemos died on January 15, 1991 at age 89.

One gets the sense that Iberian Georgists feel isolated from the rest of the movement. Josep Soler i Corrales, Catalonian Georgist leader of Barcelona, has written me that. This is no doubt because of the language barrier, which could be overcome by writing to them in English which could be translated there, and by their writing to us in Spanish, which could likewise be translated. Let us hope that the Spanish Georgist movement can be linked to the rest of the movement.

MEANWHILE, IN LATIN AMERICA... The Latin American Political Guide, by James L. Busey. 19th edition, is available from Juniper Editions, Manitou Springs, Colorado, 1991. 179 pages including bibliography and index. Illustrated by Marian Busey. Dr. Busey, Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of Colorado, has specialized in Latin America. This unique "Guide" was begun in 1957 and each succeeding edition has updated events in this volatile part of the world. The present 19th edition brings the story up to August 1991, and Dr. Busey later issued an insert about Haiti, where the elected President, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, was ~ousted in a military coup. Such fast-moving events explain why there had to be so many editions of the Guide. There is an introduction on Latin America as a whole -- but each of the 21 countries has a story of its own. Accordingly, there is a chapter on each one of them. They are mostly Spanish in origin, but Brazil has a Portuguese background and Haiti a French one. Brief historical surveys dating from their gaining independence from the mother countries are followed by more concentrated attention to recent history and the current situation. This narrative method makes much more understandable what is going on at present. We tend to notice Latin American countries only when there is some kind of political eruption. We need a lot more knowledge and understanding, and this Guide is truly a guide -- a beacon shedding light on this important part of the world. Dr. Busey tells the story -- or stories -- in an objective, factual way. While he is a Georgist -- or as he likes to put it, a Geocrat (he is President of the Intermountain Single Tax Association) -- his Guide is remarkably free of propaganda. It is a fact of life that land monopoly is entrenched in most Latin American countries, and this needs only to be pointed out without preaching. Each country has an interesting story to tell. We have for Peru the surprise election of Alberto Fujimori; the emergence of Nicaragua from Sandinista rule; peace moves in Salvador after years of relentless fighting; the reasons why Fidel Castro can hold on in Cuba despite decay; why drug lords are concentrated in Colombia; the ups and downs of Argentina which seems to be in an upswing now; Costa Rica, one of the few bright stars in the constellation - and here is a chance to become oriented on the Dominican Republic where the 1992 Georgist Conference will be held. More awareness is needed on the part of North Americans and others about Latin America - and here is a great opportunity to gain needed information. Latin American Political Guide, is available for only $8.50 postpaid and may be obtained from the Henry George Institute, 121 E. 30th St., New York, NY 10016.