Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-22
WHOLESALE SUICIDE.
Continued from First Paqe.

|
| l would term them-places where people who
have been outlawed by the ruling class could
go and terminate their existence by painless
| death, such as lnhaling some deadly gas IA
! plan which believe has been adopted in some
| cities for the determination of dogsl, then
| cremate the bodies so as not to use any OF the
surface of the earth at their disposal (the land
owners would probably encourage the move.
ment since it does not encroach on their
| domain) l say that if this plan could be put
| into successful operation it woulu have oene:
| fetal effect in two directions: it would afford
an opportunity of escape for thousands of pco.
pie whose lives are nightmare of torture. and
at the same time bring the horror of the stu
| alton home TO that class of people which TAT
tens and thrives under the system that strews
the land with CHASTITY human wrecks, victims OF
mans insatiate lust for power and profit.
AvIvID IMAGINATION.
Imagine in all the great cities of this country
| the death chamber to which have referred
| looming up sad and somber. with long train
| of weary, careworn people trudging thither to
| find an exit from a world in which they had
| been denied the poor boon of supplying their
| bodily wants with the things which the labor of
| their hands might produce were they not de-
MED the chance to work, and let this thing con-
| tinue, for it would become popular, and it is
just possible that the ghastly spectacle would
touch the heart of the ruling class. and cause
the establishment of better system for
| the people. (The people will do moth
ing for themselves.) Such scene as
| eyes of those who have monopolized all the
good things Of the world, might open their
hearts and move them to united action in the
way of giving more and better opportunities to
the working classes. But failing in all this it
would still have beneficial effect. 1t would
il time become SO popular as to entirely wipe
out the dependent classes, or at least reduce
their numbers to such minimum that the
wealthy non-producers would be compelled to
either engage in productive employment or nay
the surviving producers such prices for their
labor as would enable them to make of their
lives blessing instead of a curse.
Hoping that these suggestions will result In
the beginning of an agitation which will result
in establishing and perfecting a painless death
fully. after many years of hard and unappre-
ciated work in the labor movement, sign my
name to this document in the proud hope that
/ have finally struck the keynote in this, the
last, best and only remedy for poverty, and
have discovered the perfect solution of the
much vexed question of labor and capital.
NJ. A. COLLINS.
HIS LAST COMMUNICATION.
The above is the exact language Of the
strange document left in the possession of
W. II. jackson. The letter was not dated.
1t was written in pencil, in a full, flowing
hand. Throughout the manuscript were
lines across which the pencil had been
drawn. In three instances these corrections
were of sentences the writer had duplicated
In an aDSent-mlnOeQ manner.
The body of a man answering in every
particular the description given of Collins
was taken from the river three weeks ago.
1t was not identified and has doubtless gone
the way of countless thousands-to the pot
ter's field or the dissecting table.
M. A. Collins was character seldom met
outside the domain OF fancy or romance.
Had fate granted him other environments
he might have carved for himself fame
commensurate with his zeal and ability.
The world does not generally stop to con-
template the history of man who takes his
own life or to inquire into the causes which
led him on. The unfortunate subject of
this sketch realized this and governed him.
self accordingly. To the literature of blasted
hopes, unrequited ambition and misguided
enthusiasm he has added manuscript
which may give in death the fame denied
him in life.
WITH THEM. NOT OF THEM.
Collins was familiar figure in Chicago
during the exciting days when the city
slept over a volcano. He was not an
Anarchist or Socialist, though we'll
versed in the doctrines of both. Believing
that the imprisoned Anarchists were being
denied a fair chance, he devoted every
moment of his time to fruitless effort in
their behalf. He was about 42 years of age,
and fine specimen of robust manhood. A
Southerner by birth and education, be was
possessed OF the best traits of the typical
Texan. With the agility and strength of
an athlete he combined the gentleness of
woman.
In conversation Collins was singularly
fascinating. Ever enthusiastic, he pos
sessed the faculty of inspiring others with
his own un1agging zeal. To few close
g., H. l. La I@la l. L.
history full of exciting incidents, with
chapters of alternating triumphs and re-
verses. At one time comparatively wealthy,
he saw his fortune swept away in day. He
told of these things without any indication
of bitterness and always seemed to regard
them as in keeping with the inevitable
heritage of mankind. About a year ago a
patent which had yielded a small revenue
expired, and Collins found himself pen
niless.
A STRUGGLE WITH POVERTY.
Educated as gentleman and experienced
in no regular trade, he waged for months an
struggle against poverty. He found
employment with w. H. jackson, and for
six months worked at laving sidewalks.
With the first money saved Collins issued
outlining what he termed "The |
Industrial Cooperative Union" Asso- |
ciated with him was G. w. Hughes. The !
ideas enunciated in the prospectus were sub |
the same as those embodied in
Senator Stanford's bill now before the |
United States Senate. Collins believed that |
it was the duty of the Government to loan |
money on land at l or . per cent interest. |
He also believed that tue money power, as
he termed it, would defeat any such measure
if ever presented to Congress. He accord
ngly proposed that the people should ignore
The Government and institute a cooperative
system of exchange, with private banks and
l currency of their own.
In his espousal of this cause Collins was
more than usually active. With the little
money saved from his wages, Collins rented
nails and endeavored to form society for
,he spread of his theory. The new crusade
vas fiat failure. The small crowds which
gathered to hear preached the new theory
vent away without evincing any degree OF
interest. Having reduced himself to abject
poverty, Collins again resumed the mo-
lotonous task of mailing down sidewalks.
His cultured mind revolted against this
work. The letter printed above speaks for
tself. 1t reveals most clearly the workings
If mind rendered desperate by the con-
inued Illustration of cherished hopes and
EXALTED ambitions.
Was M. A. Collins insane when he wrote
he letter? There will be many answers to