The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1895-07-24
Bad News-Wayland Retires From
the Colony and Editorship of
Coming Nation"
UNWELCOME NEWS TO COOP
ORATORS.
Unanimous Demand Said to Have
Been Urged for Fulfillment of
Certain Agreements Made
to the Colony.
1T COMES TO A ROUNDUP IN
WHICH WAYLAND TURNS
OVER THE PAPER AND
STEPS OUT.

OOXCy 5 OOuuU WOuCy. }
Wayland to leave the Coming Nation.
Like a clap of thunder did this news
reach Sound Money Office last week
while yet the forms were on the press
containing leading feature write up Of
the colony.
But the information comes direct in
manner that precludes possibility Of
question for when paper like the Com
ing Nation is to lose it's head, such a
head as its progenitor has been to it,
they of necessity have an object not to
lose time in naming successor. 1t was
while sprucing about for an editor that
the following facts were conveyed to this
Office. The letter states:
Tennessee City, Tenn, July 10.-Dear
Sir: Previous to this day Mr.. Wayland
owned the title and the good will Of the
Coming Nation. A demand signed by all
the members of the association was pre-
sented to him to put in the hands Of the
people "The Means Of Production" ac-
cording to his own teachings and the
principles Of Socialism which had
brought us here together from all over
the United States. Mr.. Wayland at first
refused, claiming the personal owner
ship of the Web perfecting press worth
Sc 900, and which Is the product of our
combined labor. This the people would
not stand, and it remained for Mr. Way
land to submit to the proposition Or take
out his paper from the colony ground.
There was no alternative.
Finally he decided to turn over the
paper if we bought his interest, that IF
his wife and two brothers-in-law in the
Ruskin Cooperative Association. This
we will do, and Mr.. Wayland and his
entire family will stay until July 18th.
Fraternally,
The Ruskin Cooperative Assn.
Signed, L. Justement. Secretary.
Balance of the letter is non-essential
in this connection. 1t will be noted
that "a demand signed by all members
of the association" was made upon him,
which indicates that he was holding out
in face of the entire colony, or rather
deferring completion Of his part Of the
cooperation longer than the colony
members felt was in harmony with good
faith. The Coming Nation has bona
fide circulation reaching above $4,000
weekly, the most wonderful Of modern
newspaper achievements, and to fill the
place of its brainy founder will require
some skill and discerhment in which
particular they are not likely to result in
success.
The history Of Ruskin, which name
has been given the colony, is familiar to
everyone who has read the reform press.
1t is a colony organized after the plan
laid down in Bellamy's Looking Back
ward was brought into being through
the agitation and growth of the Coming
Nation Members to it were not picked
up haphazzard or admitted to join it's
ranks like Coxey or Kelly march, but
only men of schooled economic princi-
pies along the lines of cooperation, or
Socialism. They each one had to pro-
cure either a given list of yearly sub
scribers to the colony paper, or invest
a certain amount in cash or manufac-
turing utilities, all of which when SO in
vested became the property OF the Col
ony.
This included the Coming Nation
plant, over which the friction appears to
have risen.
Those familiar with the colony inter-
ests and the members who compose it,
while admitting that Wayland's per-
sonality has been great factor in build
| ing up the paper and the enterprise, say
that he has gathered about him class of
men, who, in general way, are quite as
| thorough in their business methods as
| their leader, and having complied with
the requirements laid down in the laws
Of the colony, they insist that Mr.. Way
| land do as much, at least for example s
sake. It is variously predicted that the
colony and paper will suffer only temper
arily, as the members, selected under the
scrutinizing skill Of the deposed leader,
will not prove lacking in all those traits
| essential to cooperative success, if as
they dream success is to be realized
| along those lines. :;