The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-07
THE DEBs SCHEME.
An Experiment i'm Socialism ThTf May
BE Worth Trying.

Robert p, Porters Letter.
And now comes Mr. Eugene Dcbs with
some additional and more specific facts in
relation TO his new commonwealth His
first general statement has already been
discussed somewhat at length IN these let
tiers and many curious facts given or
the success and failure of similar enter
prises The general conclusion reached was
that after all these attempts toe pro-
Jectors generally in the end threw up the
job of making us all like so many peas in
a pod in disgust and after spending much
time and energy and money, concluded
to let the old world Wobble along i'm her
own rickety way. Mr.. Debs has lots OK
energy 9, good following and considerably
ability He may succeed For my part, i
hope he will. AT the start, however, he
finds nothing can be done without money
wicked, filthy lucre. So. for the money 10
make his world go round Mr. Debs issues
a call in the shape Of a circular TO his mil
lion men all anxious TO join the new COM
monwealth and show US the perfectly har-
monious community. Their circular says.
however, that until such time as they can
raise their own food and provide themselves
with other necessities, these pioneer coll
onists will need help from the reserves. Let
those who are holding lucrative positions
under capitalist employers, and who do not
wish to enter the brotherhood community
at first. contribute monthly from their
earnings such sums, from 10 cents to $40,
as they can spare or duty dictates. Nor
should these donations be considered as
free gifts or charity, but rather as invest
ments to provide homes for themselves
when, from business depression, financial
crises or other causes, they are driven out
of business, lose their Jobs or can find no
opportunity to work. Others, looking upon
these cooperative communities as object
lessons in practical socialism and most
potent factors in gaining universal social
ism, win wish to contribute to the coll
onization fund,
So we will all contribute and see what
Mr. Debs will do for 1t IS worth the mod
est contribution to have such an object
lesson in socialism. A dip. ac II were. into
how the world will wag under The new order
of things when the real producers of Tralth
get their fair share and where rs CAPT
tahsttc vampires can suck the iteb:Ero1 out
of the people. Continuing, the circular
says:
IF, when the industries are ready to
begin active work, there are 25,J00 reserves,
each, on an average, contributing 81 monthly,
S25 will be available each month to sus-
tain these pioneers while breaking ground
and getting under way. Since, however,
no active industrial work will be begun
for at least five months, contributions to
the colonization fund being paid in during
that period, sum of at least $36,O00 Will
have accumulated. If the growth of the
brotherhood is slower than here estimated,
nevertheless 1t is only question of time
when these figures will be reached. AT any
rate, should there be only LOCO industrials
and 5000 reserves, a beginning can be made
next spring.
BY all means let us make beginning.
The plan is worth trying and trying in all
earneStness, 1t should be encouraged by all
who believe we can be reorganiZing so
ciety as it were, improve our condition. If
the plan is successful thousands will be
benefited. If 1t fails hundreds of thousands
will be able to say human nature is about
the same under all conditions. If you start
all over again on equal terms and the ac-
cumulators and thrifty and managers forge
to the front and property all drifts back
again into the hands of those who exhibit
the greatest amount of ability in acquiring
1t and of holding 1t when it is Won why,
then the scheme fails but those who come
out with nothing have had the experience
and surely that is worth something.