Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1897-05-27
DEBS' SCHEME.
A Socialistic and cooperative
Commonwealth to Be Founded.
An ARMY TO LEAVE CHICAGO IN JUNE
The Final Halt May BE In Utah-Much
Secret Organization Work Already Ac-
cOmpllshed-b MANY Leading Socialists
Interested In the Movement.


OF Eugene V. Debs and his lieutenants
go astray or run foul OF the govern
ment authorities again, he intends to
have his name live in history as the
Moses Of the unemployed. He intends
to lead ian industrial army" Of at least
100000 men tout of this land Of bond
age" and across country by turnpike
to new Land Of Promise, where mil
lionaires, railroads and jails are as
scarce as hens teeth. There the
army" will pitch its tents and the
foundation will be laid for new
socialistic cooperative commonwealth.
The "arny" is to evacuate Chicago,
after first being organized here, on or
soon after June 20. On that date,
which is just five days after the Ameri-
can Railway union convention will
gather here, big open-air mass meet
ing of unemployed and strikers of all
trades will be held, probably on the
lake front. Then the trumpets and
drums and cymbals will sound and the
banner OF the new commonwealth will
be unfurled to the breeze.
The line of march has not been de-
cided upon for the reason that the OBJ
jective point is yet in doubt. Debs says
the final halt will be in some western or
southern state, probably Utah. 1t is
his intention to organize this cooper
alive commonwealth in some place
where the present population is so
small that only short time will pass
before the government can be entirely
controlled by socialism. and thus the
foundation will be laid for peaceful
revolution" which Debs says he be-
lieves can only end in socialism spread
ing to every state in the union and the
ultimate capture of the reins Of ma
tional government.
The promoters Of this scheme have
been quietly at work for many months.
Much secret organization work has
been accomplished. Debs has made
several secret visits to the city. Head
quarters Of the propaganda have been
established in West Madison street.
Arrangements for the coming conven-
ton Of the A. r. U. are also being
made at this place, and the several
men in charge are kept busy with
mass Of correspondence. The location
Of the room is known only to chosen
few.
Many leading socialists of the coun-
try are interested in the new common
wealth scheme, and there is no doubt
an attempt will be made to carry it out
as planned. The last issue of the
Railway News, the official organ of the
American Railway union, contained
an article outlining the scheme over
Debs' signature. A few additional
facts were given out yesterday by one
of his chief co-workers having charge
OF branch of the promotion work in
Chicago. Branch headquarters have
been established in other large cities,
but Chicago is to be the starting point
Some Of the details of the plan are to
be made public within fortnight.
1t is claimed by the promoters that
the scheme will not want for financial
backing sufficient to insure success. 1t
is asserted that no professional tramps
will be eligible to enlistment, and that
only able-bodied workmen, willing to
endure hardship and ready for hard
work need apply. The problem of
finding and sheltering the "army"
while on its march is said to have
been worked out satisfactory. When
the end of the overland trip is
reached sheltering huts are first
to be provided, then land is
to to be titled and cooperative indus
tries are to be established. 1t is
argued that enough skilled mechanics,
farmers and artisans will be found
ready to enlist to insure the success of
the new colony, and that enough
money will be Forthcoming to secure
the army from starvation until it can
become self-supporting.
One of the most interesting Of the
questions yet to be solved is the wom-
an problem. Some of the dreamers
who father the plan say it may be de-
cided to bar out the fair sex during
the first six months of the existence of