Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-07-29
SOCIALISM IN PRACTICE.
THE TOWN OF RUsKlN. TENN, AS
AN EXAMPLE.
Ruskln Was Built by WOrkIuEmen and IL
Owned by Them. Use Is the Only Title
That ANY One Can Get TO Property An
That Town.

"Plgrlm," IN the coming NaOloh'
makes the following comments on So
cialism as practiced in Ruslsin, Tenn:
''Let US take the town OF Ruskin,
operated upon Socialist plan, and
compare it with town in competition
one containing, say, 900 people. This
place, like all other towns, was built
by workingmen. Unlike other towns
It Is owned by the men who built 1T,
though none of them have deed. The
property is owned by society-the title
is held in common. Every one has
house and lot, and the rent is free in
the usual sense of the word. 1t is paid
however, in labor-not as a definite
payment; but because the laborer turns
his entire creations over to society, and
it necessarily follows that he pays for
his house. Unlike many laborers in
competition who fear that they will
not receive the value of their work,
these RuslSin people have home
which is as securely theirs as If they
had deed, if in reality it Is not more
so. Occupancy is the only title, and a
Ruskinite would not accept two houses
for he would have no use for one OF
them. Here you see the difference be-
tween private and public ownership of
dwellings. few in competition own
all the houses while many go without;
under public ownership the incentive
to own houses is taken away and there
is plenty for all. A man in Ruskin
would be indeed a fit subject for the
asylum who would want more than one
house. Again, here there is no quarrel
over where buildings are to be located
No fight between Jones and Smith to
get the printery near their house. No
jangle growing out of the service that
new improvement would be to any
ones lot. The public good is consider
ed-that alone. In most places of this
size you find more that one store.
If cared to take the consequences of
bringing up such question before the
directors ! might find amusement in do
ing so. But they would hardly see the
advantage of putting up new build
ing and of taking the time of store
keeper to attend to the stock. 1t
would only entail . loss upon Ruslsin
society just as every store does in the
outside world that is not a necessity.
The trade here would support two
stores easily; but think you will be
able to readily understand why another
would be but useless burden. Then,
again, If competition were the beauti-
full thing 1t is supposed to be, two bak-
cries could bS used here, though Meth
er would be run to full capacity. In
competition there are many industries
which run part time, occupying build
ings with idle machinery and requiring
the attention of owners and employers
who under socialized system could
crafty every want with less work than
they do now, and not be continually
scheming how to starve their competit-
Ors to death. There is no effort here
by the merchant to skin the farmer,
nor by the farmer to get the advantage
of grain buyer. There is no "class
struggle" Each man realizes that So
ciety is necessary to him and under
stands that his efforts must be given
to society. We do not find knowledge
restricted No workman jealous Of the
apprentice; no apprentice trying to Sc
cure his instructors position; employ
ment is certain for both, and at all
times the knowledge, skill and expert
ence of every one is at the command of
any who will learn. Is it not the bet
ter way? Wouldn't you rather have a
free laundry where your clothes were
washed without sordid considerations?
Wouldn't you rather have physicians
paid by society and whose interest was
to get you well and keep you so rather
than to run up large bill; free medi.
cines and a wage from the cradle to
the grave, provided you worked in
health; wouldn't you rather have these
than the present conditions and your
opportunity for becoming million
aire? You can have these under So
cialism. This is no speculation-no
idle vagary of the mind. These words
are written on the spot where these
conditions exist Struggling amidst
the fierce fires of competition, thrown
an infant into the center of the CORY
competitive ring, Ruskin has demon
strated the correctness Of Socialistic
principles. In few more years RuslS-
in will demonstrate to enemies this
fact beyond dispute. These words are
more for friends than enemies, and in
another sketch may tell you Of other
strange, but comfortable, practices
that obtain in the Yellow Creek val
ley."
Conceded Everything.
The Minneapolis Tribune, one of the
sblest Republican papers in the North
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