The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-07-08
OTIS ON DEBS' SCHEME
The Ex-COngressman Returns
to His Old Home
Fresh From a 2 Years Colon
iZatiOn Experience in Colo.
Has Lost Some of His Former Faith
in Cooperative Farming and
Thinks Debs' Plan Can
Not Succeed


Two years ago, when the Populists
suffered defeat in Kansas a number OF
the leaders of the party throughout the
state decided to organize a cooperative
colony, and thus escape the government
tai evils of which they had so long COM
plained. The colony was located IN the
San MaSuieI valley, in the arid region
of Color ado, and the membership in
cIuded such well known reforners as
DR.. 5. McLalIin, editor Of the Advocate;
Mrs. Anna L. Digs, ex-Congressrzlan
John G. Otis, and many other prornl-
Mr.. Otis was one of the most enthus-
isstic promoters OF the scheme, and
went with the cOlonists to engage In the
actual work of building up a commune
t. on the cooperative plan After an
experience Of two years he has returned
TO Kansas with the conviction that IN
dividuaI work in a fairly productive
country will yield a better return than
any plan of collective farming yet in
vented.
there we're about 100 shareholders, and
not more than 40 of them were residents
at the colony. Colorado furnishes most
Of the shareholders, and Kansas comes
next The undertaking was pig one,
and involves a vast amount of labor
The land is practically worthless With
out water, but when irrigated can be
made very fertile In order to irrigate
the land a ditch must be dug for Is
miles in very rocky valley, and fumes
must be built a good share OF the dis
lance. Only two rlilesSOf the ditch are
dug. but 1t is in fiinty ground. and will
have to be fuued before it can be
used Until the ditch is completed and
the water conveyed to the land de-
sired to be irrigated nothing can De
raised to support the colony. a small
patch Of land, which has been watered,
has been leased for the purpose of rails
ing vegeta bIes for the colony, but all
other provisions have to be hauled from
the nearest railroad station, so miles
distant. 1t is impossible to make the
colony self-sUstaining until the ditch As
completed. and this work has to be kept
up by contributions
OF Mrs. D-ggs' part in the San Magufel
business Mr. Otis says:
she has TO particular connection
with il whatever A few Of US Clipped
in and purchased a 800 share for her.
but there is nothing out there that she
can do. She deals altogether in the
ideal. which is a long way off in the
future. The women needed there are
those who can cook and dig. and make
the usual rustic for a living. The fact
is the only men needed a t present are
those accustomed to hard and persist
ent work Skilled artisans are Of no
value.
If Mr. Debs undertakes to locate a
colony of skilled mechanics, accustomed
to three square meals a day, cOmfOrta-
Bile homes and city luxurieS, in any OF
the western states expecting TO ma Ike
them self-SuEpOrtinS from the start, he
will fail. They will starve to death I'm
less provided with two years supplies
to keep them until they get started All
they can possibly get to eat is an coca
SIGNAL deer or bear they may happen to
shoot, but even these are scarce The
country in which our colony was lOca-
ted IS just bout the same in resources
and opportunities as is Utah, and DebS
would have as many difficulties to con-
tend with in Utah as we have had in
Colorado
Mr. Otis does not openly confess that
the colonists of the San Maguiel valley
are going to give up entirely, but he in
Inmates that there is considerable dis
satisfa ction-
The cOIOnists come and 60" he says;
some get discourag ed, and there are
some determined ones who stick there
right along. There were frequent COM
plants as to the management last year,
but believe it has since been changed
B. L. Smith of Colorado was the man
ager last year, but now George B. Rug
gies, formerly sheriff Of Osborne county,
Kansas, is in charge. Personally, my
the plan of cooperation. 1t is too
much like joint stock company, or CO.
objection to the colony in on account of
holders, rather than of the masses I
have not lost faith in a proper system
of cO-Opera ton If 100 or 200 men, capa-
Die of hard labor and rough living, can
be supported for two years by the
friends of the movement until they
shall have prepared the way for a set
tIement, and then with every body let
in on the same basis,the foundation will
have been laid for a successful cooper
alive colony