Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-07-21
BELLAMY'S DREAM.
Some Iowa People Will Try to
Realize 1t.
AN IDEAL COMMUNITY PROJECTED

The Organizers VIII Probably Test Their
Theories in acknowledgements to
Give Place to OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Basic
Principle Somewhat Different from Bel
lamy's-An to Have Equal Opportunity
aud Each Be Rewarded According to
His Deeds.
Dies MONIES, Ia, July 21.-Edward Bel
lamy's dream begins to assume tangible
proportions to some of our citizens. Dur
ing last winter there was an organization
known as the Investigating club at Uni
versity place. The body met once week
and discussed the economic and social
topics of the day. Not little interest
was manifested. Among those who par
ticipated in the meetings were some earn
est, thoughtful men who had become OPP
posed TO our present competitive system of
industry. When the summer months be-
gan the club closed its meetings, but the
Investigation along this line of thought
was, if anything. pushed with more vigor.
At the Head of the Movement.
About a month ago small circle of
men-Ernest b. CASTOR, of The Suburban
Advocate; C. H. Mershon. E. d. Smith, w.
p. Macy, d. Harrod, and ]. p Mersdith,
with few others-met to see if they
could not devise plan to escape what
they deemed the serious evils of the pres
ent system and put in successful operation
the principles which had crystallized in
their minds as the result of their investi-
cations. The result has been the organi
cotton of a colony company with the OBJ
ject of founding in some favored part OF
the country, probably near Lake Charles,
La, a community which shall be as far as
possible complete within itself, and
where what they term the savage, foolish,
and wasteful system of competitive indus.
try shall give place to the kindly, ration
al and more economic system of co-opera
ton.
Principles of the Organization.
The plan of the new colony is much
like that of the Kaweah Cooperative
Colony of Tulare county, California.
Among the basic principles of the colony
are: "Man alone is nothing but a savage
he can support existence, that is all. 1t is
only in and through society that he car
obtain wealth and culture. Wealth is the
product of mans labor expended on the
earth which is Gods gift to the race Nc
man should be allowed to monopolize
natures resources and levy tribute on hi.
fellow-men for the opportunity to labor
every man is entitled to just so much lib
erty as will allow equal liberty to every
other man; each man should receive the
full product OF his labor; except al
amount sufficient to discharge his debt &c
society through which alone he can do
effective labor"
Where 1t Differs from Bellamy.
The persons who have inaugurated this
movement at University place do not ex
actly indorse Bellamy's ideas. There is g
distinctive difference between them, in
that, instead of Bellamy's principle OF
"from each one according to his ability, &c
each one according to his need" their
principle is, "all will have equal oppor-
tunity, and each will be rewarded accord
ing to his deeds ~ The projectors are very
enthusiastic and confident of their ability
to make the plan of work succeed II
possible they will have everything in read
ness and start for their new home this
coming autumn. A committee will be
Immediately appointed to look for IA
vorable location. The establishment of
the colony is a settled fact, and speedy ar
engagements are being made for the con
summation of the plans.