Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1890-01-03
PROPHET OR DREAMER.
Bsllamy Believes That the Social Mil
lennium is Close at hsnd-AnIr-
tereSting Talk With the
Author of Looking
Backward"
The Question Whether a System Such
as Now Works TO the Success Of
Few, and the Failure of so
Many. Is the Best the
World Can Adopt.

In the little village of Chicopee Falls,
Mass, on a rainy day last week, a World
reporter found Mr.. Edward Bellamy. the
originator and leader in the growing
Nationalist movement. The celebrated
author of Looking Backward is wiry
looking man, yet in his thirtie. There
are but few strands of silver IN his dark
hair, and his frank face is Illuminated by
a pair of honest brown eyes. Every lin
eament bespeaks kind-heartedneSs and
geniality.
Il was born began Mr. Bellamy, I'm
Chicopee Falls. My youthful days We're
passed in much the same manner as those
of the ordinary boy. had my share of
toys and marbles, fights and kites, though
really | do not think the public will feel
interested In any portion of my personal
career. After attending school at the
old Union College in Schenectady for
some time, went to Germany for year
Upon my return | studied law in
Springfield and was admitted to the bar,
but dld not practice. | went into the
field of journalism. and In 1871 became
an outside editorial writer for the New
York Evening Post. | soon severed my con-
nectlon with this paper, and became an
editorial writer on the Sprinnheld Union.
My health gave way in 1877 and | went to
the Sandwich Islands, where | remain
ed a year.
AS AN AUTHOR
Il have always written more or less for
magazines, and in 1878 produced my first
novel, "A Nantucket Idyl. which was
published by the Putnams. DIR. Heidel-
hof' 5 Process came next and was publish
ed by Appleton in 1890. Four years later
the TicknOrs produced Miss Ludington's $
Sister. My last bOok.g Looking Backward,
which appeared in 1888, was the outgrowth
of deep conviction that the great mass of
American people are blind to the perils in
to which they are drifting. Up to the be-
ginning of the present year not over l0.-
600 copies had been disposed Of In JAN
uary last there came a boom, and since
that time almost 100000 copies have been
sold. | have not expected any very great
pecuniary harvest, but | am gratifed be-
yond measure at the broadcas. seeds of
warning which the book is sowing. The
work has been translated into German,
Danish and French. and the sales in Eng
land have been quite as large as in Ameri.
ca. Out of this book has grown a party
whose aim is the naturalization of great
industries and the ultimate conduct of all
business by the people and for the benefit
of the people.
Mr.. Bellamy did not talk as a blind be-
lever in a visionary creed, but rather as
the calm apostle of a reasonable theory
Continuing, he said
The coming party will be satisfied with
nothing but a fraternal basis of industry
and an equality of rights and advantages.
This i not a class mo, elnent. Il appeals
to all business men, and no one is so much
interested as the small tradesmen them
selves. We are not at all rabid We are
simply obeying a natural law of economies
We do not want to hang monopolists and
end to the system which permits them to
exist.
DO you think such a millennium as
you have outlined will ever come. Mr..
Bellamy?" asked the reporter.
CONFIDENT OF HIS THEORIES.
q do. and shortly" was the reply
Clubs are forming everywhere, and al
ready there are two or three hundred in
the field
How will you bring about the great
changer"
by election and legislation, was the
reply. Out in California they promised
to send an entire delegation of National
lists to C-ngress land matters are working.in
similar ratio in other States There is
no chance but for strong public move
ment and we believe it is coming. We do
not blame any one class for the exist
ing state of things, neither do we repre-
sent any. The plutocratic tendency is in
itself a revolution, and the constant
drainage of business out of the hands of
the small dealers is threatening to the
public"
When questioned as TO the specific OBJ
jects of the movement, Mr.. Bellamy said ::
Il. We want the naturalization of all
railways. We propose that the Govern
ment shall take charge of the properties
and shall pay over to the present security
holder such dividends on a just valuation
of the property as may be earned
-. The naturalization of telegraph
and telepone systems in the same or some
other practicable manner The English
Government purchased the telegraph sys-
tenn outright Congress could easily de-
eide the matter
-. The naturalization of the coal
mining business of the country to the end
that all mines may be worked continuously
to their full capacity, the coal to be fur
nIshed to the consumers at cost and the
miners steadily and humanley employed
No class of men is so damnablY dealt with
as coal miners and there is no class of EN-
plOyers who treat the public so rapaciously
as the coal barons.
Then we propose that the Post Office
Department of the Government shall con-
troll the express business of the country
on the same principles. The cities and
towns of the country should take charge,
as municipal functions, of the heating
lighting and running of street cars. and
all methods of rapid transit. These con-
ditions, if carried out, would effect the
condition of 100000 workmen through
out the country Nobody wants harsh
measures, but the general public interests
demand great change.
ULTIMATE STANDARDIZATION.
.'Our object in urging these changes is
three-fOld. First. they are in the line
tionalization. Second, they will benefit
the general consuming public by great
er cheapness and efficiency In these
branches of service. Third. they afford
the means by which the condition of a
vast body Of workmen can be placed on a
humane and secure basis The first of
these objects is logical, and the two latter
are merely principles of application.
What steps would you take to prevent
political jobbery and corrupuion?" queri-
ed the reporter.
We propose the following plan, was
the reply, as the basis Of organization.
for hedouble end Of preventing political
abuse and securing humane conditions: On
the naturalization of any industry the ex-
istIng force engaged In the industry would
/ be taken into the municipal and national
employment. All employees would be
guaranteed permanent tenure OF employ
ment except In cases of fault or incompe-
tence, which would be determined by a
tribunal expressly constituted for that pur-
pose. Admission to the service would be
to the lowest grade, this admission to be
determined by priority OF application, sub
1ect to certain tests
Do you mean to say that this would
do away with patronage2" was asked.
Let up suppose. Mr. Beliamy replied,
that the Mayor Of New York would ap-
point the head of the Gas Department.
He would have no patronage whatever.
and no power Of appointment or removal.
He would merely have power ot suspension
from duty during the offenders trial by
/ the courts. There would be provision for
the Impeachment Of any officer who csed
his Office for political purposes
w mar about our present educational