The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-01-25
ALL POOR BUT HAPPY.
An Industrial Society Which
Practices Communism.
The IDLE woakMEn's HONE.


The unemployed single man OF the
city have found In the Seattle Indus
triad Cooperative Society . means Of
recurring q homo and food by honest
iaocr instead Of becoming objects OF
charity, trarnps Or thieves. BY crgani-
ration and strict discipline they sue
ceed In procuring work for at least
some Of their number, and living In
common they make the amount earned
sufiice to house and feed ell In their
barracks = the corner OF West and
He'll streets, Ut q cost OF a1bout cents
. day each. They have q telephone con-
nected with the society. situated at
Wheeaer's grocery store. across the
street from the Barracks. south w-m ;.
steet from the barracks. so that calls
for work eau be answered quickly.
The Ida Of forming the society was
conceived by President James Mum.
w. n. Carr and James Bell. who. after
considerable del5beration. came TO the
conclusion that e body OF men banded
together and putting their earnings
into q common fund, could live cheaper
and more comfortable than by going
about alone.
asv. AL Thisgs In Common.
When an order for work comes in the
number OF men desired are sent out
immediately by the marshal. each man
before going being given card, which
he presents to the person employing
him with the request that it be filed
out, showing how long he was en-
ployed and how much he Is entitled
TO. This card Is then brought back to
the barracks and handed over to the
regular collector. whose duties are to
present claims and collect all moneys
due. He m turn transfers the morley
the treasurer. who places it In the COM
mon fund for the benefit Of all. When
q member secures work on one OF the
railroads and Is compelled to go out Of
the city, and desires to retain his menu
bership In the society. he can do so
by paying into the treasury upon his
return one-fourth OF his earnings while
away.
The principal object OF the society Is
to live as comfortably as possible
tnrough the winter months. The pro-
moters claim that. il each man was to
receive cents a day. the society would
not have to ask for single thing in
the way Of food. Nearly every day
men have to be refused membership.
40 the sleeping apartments are now
too crowded. No man has yet been
turned away hungry. and an average
OF $50 are fed each day. The food is
plain, bit kwell cooked. and never a
grumble Is heard. but all seem heppy
TO have place they can call home. be
1t ever 50 humble. Since organizing
only two men have been expelled for
refusing to work and two Tor coming
to the barracks In an intoxicated CON-
dition- The rules are as strictly enforced
as In any military organization. and
the best OF order prevails at all times.
The men are ever patient and there is
a great scramble for places when an
order comes in Tor work. Since start
work on the different railroads and a
number at unloading sccws and doing
general work about town
Many OF the best citizens of the town
are becoming interested In the move-
ment and doing all In their power to
assist these men who are anxious 10
earn an honest living. AT the time the
society moved into its barracks the peo-
pie OF the neighborhood were fearful OF
being mofested but not one Of them
has thing 20 say but praise for the
institution. After 10 o'clock D. m. not
n sound can be heard coming from the
building and very few We 7ture out
after dark. The merchants Of the city
have been liberal in their donations.
and seem inclined TO help along the
good work as rnuchas possible.
How the Men Arc Fed and Clothed.
There Is a commissary department
connected with the society. and differ
ent men are Gent out each day TO So
licit old clothing. shoes. hats or ban
kets. This is all brought In to the
quarterTnaster, who sorts II out and
distributes 1t TO the most needy. A
kit Of cobbler's tools has recently been
purchased. and all old shoes are re-
paired before being given out. Quite
a lot OF cast-off clothing is collected
from day 10 day. which. before given
out. Is thoroughly boiled and aired
Cleanliness il rigidly enforced.
The dining room comprises most of
the lower floor. The tables are set in
two rows. running r:early the entire
length Of the room. Wood benches have
been made for seats. and TIE men eat
out OF tin plates. Five of the men act
as walters, three as cooks and two as
dishwashers. Everything about the
kitchen Is kept as clean as a new pin.
On an average 600 pounds OF different
kinds OF fish are caught every day,
which. with bread. coffee and potatoes,
Is given to the men for breakfast. At
o'clock dinner. consisting of soup.
meat. vegetables. bread and tea. n
served. Men at work are given three
meals day. while those who are Idle
are given two.
In the evening the men cengregate
In the large sleeping room upstairs.
where they play whist and have music.
At 10 O'clock eli retire for the night.
The avs of tho -ocletr.
The following rules and regulations
are placed In different parts OF the
hall. and members are required to OBJ
serve them faithfully under penalty OF
expulsion:
-. All members shall be In the Sleep
ing quarters not later than 10 p. m.
-. All members shall arise at $50
a. IN.
-. Breakfast at a. m.
~. All members shall report TO the
marshal after breakfast.
IS. DiFsx1er az : .. m.
-. All nsesssseFs shall keep out Of the
Kitchen.
-. Any one wishing 20 Join the or
sanitation. 1Anyt anrs~af 60 ths a~rs-..