The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1896-09-30
A CALL FOR ORGANIZATION
The Brotherhood of the CO.opera.
tive Commonwealth
CPrinted by Request !


printed by Request)
The time has come for the inaugural ton
OF measures that will tend to supercede the
present competitive system, and usher in
a cooperative civilization
We behold the self evident fact patent
to all the world, that the present civiliza-
ton of warning interests has reached its
climax of development and that until a
new social order expressive of the central
law of universal life. the brotherhood Of
man. and the solidarity of human inter-
ests is evolved. the course of the nation,
and of every nation in Europe will be
steadily downward
Already there are unmista ka Bile indica-
tions that the United States has reach ed
its meridian of material greatness, and is
moving on the down grade track, that
leads to anarchy and dissolution
Tho competitive struggle for existence
has resulted in the concentration of wealth
in the hands of the few and the nation is
rapidly reverting to condition of central
lied power and political despotism.
The great inventive appliances of the
age for the lessening of labor and the ele-
walton of humanity. the public utilities on
which progress and national life depend
together with vast fields of industry are
all controlled by powerful combinations
and the masses can only obtain employ
ment on such terms as monopolists dictate.
Day by day the people see their liberties
slipping from their grasp. and the condi-
tons of life becoming harder. They see
values Of every kind diminishing save
those controlled by monopoly, and the
wealth that was theirs passing by adroit
political manoeuvres into the hands of
their oppressors. They see contraction Of
industry, that always accompanies and
must accompany. contract of the cur
rency. throwing men out of employment
and reducing the masses to condition Of
vassilage. They also see that the govern
ment of the country has become instru-
ment of oppression in the hands Of a rul-
ing class.
Under such circumstances. there is only
one thing to be done. and that is to read
just measures and systems to these chang
ed conditions of social and Industrial life
that will break the power of monopoly and
give the people Industrial as we'll as po-
litical freedom
AS step in that direction we urge that
all lovers of freedom, all who are opposed
to the continuance of the competitive sys-
tenn, with it's terrible struggle for exist
ence. should unite as speedily as possible
in one vast fraternal organization. There
is no time to be lost. If we would resist
the dangers confronting us we must act at
once. The drifting process has gone far
enough. the time has come for action. Or
ganze with one definite aim in view-the
establishment of q cooperative common
wealth.
In organizing this brotherhood 1t is not
proposed to form new political party
nor to add another to the already 900
lengthy list of reform societies, but to con-
solidate the various cooperative. social
istic and nationalistic societies now in the
field, and to bring together all societies and
individuals not yet affiliated with any so
cialistic order, and thus present a united
front to the common enemy OF huma nifty.
the poverty breeding. crime producing
system of competition.
1t behooves every lover of justice and
humanity who has caught a glimpse of the
light of the rising sun of new and divin-
system of civilization, to rally to the
support of the brotherhood.
Those desiring to become members will
please forward name and address with 10
cents to the Provisional National Secreta-
nv. N w Lermond, Thomaston, Maine
Box 80.
For printed instructions, "How to organ
ize a local union,'' send to same address, in
closing stamp.
Signed: Imogene c. Fales. n. W. Ler-
mond. Henry d. Lloyd. Eugene V. Debs
Prof Frank Parsons. Eltweed PomerOy,
Ella Ormsby H. l.. Loucks. Rev. w. D.
p Bliss Henry r. Legate, Morrison 1.
Swift. George c. Ward. A. S. Edwards,
editor Coming Nation; w. H. Van Ornum.
Thaddeus 3. Wakeman, Alonzo Wardall.
c. F. Taylor. editor of Medical World );
Rev. Hiram Vrooman B. Franklin Hun
ter, S. H. Comings. Rev. Myron w. Reed.
James G. Clark. reform poet; c. c. Post;
Helen NJ. Cougar l. E. Dean. A Longley.
editor of Altruist: Stephen Maybell and
125 other leading reformers unite in issu-
ing this call.