The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-07-15
DEPEND ON BRASS BANDS
BOOth-Tueker'S Humorous idea
About Keeping Together
The ColOnistS He Will Settle
on Semi-Arid Lands.
He Confsrs With Governor Leedy
About the Proposed COLOMBIA
ton of the Poor Of Cities

F. de La Tour Booth-Tucker. comman-
der of the Salvation Army in America.
spent q half hour with Governor Leedy
yesterday afternoon He was accom-
panied by Judge J. s Emery of Law
renee. Editor Cowgirl of the Kansas
Farmer, Industrial Commissioner Davis
of the Atchison. Topeka & Santa Fe. and
J. r. McFee. social secretary of the Sal
walton Army.
When the party reached the governor
office number of clerks from other state
house offices dropped in to listen
Commander Booth-TUcker explained
how he proposed to start a colony in one
of the western states with people from
the cities.
I hardly see how you can do it," the
governor said; Il should think they would
tire of living so far apart Those people
don't understand farming and are accus-
toned to living together in large numbers
Wouldn't they run away?''
Commander Booth-Tucker leaned over
toward the governor and looking him
square in the face said in tones that
showed the greatest possible degree of
confidence in his scheme: They wouldn't
run away. Give a man who has been
homeless and often without food for his
family, a home and he won't run away.
Give him his wife and children and a lit
tie cottage TO live in and he will stop
there the rest of his days. Our plan does
not contemplate having men separated on
large tracts of land. We know that the
people We are accustomed to dealing with
have lived in cities and like company.
We will give them company. We will put
them on little tracts of five or ten acres
apiece We have them work in day time
and will find something to interest them
with at night. We will have brass band
That will interest them Governor
Leedy laughed and the commander Joined
heartily.
But do your people know anything
about farming?' the governor asked
Many of them grew up farms and
went the city to seek their fortunes,
the commander replied They failed to
make them, and will gladly go back to
farms if they can do so with the knowI-
edge that they will be cared for and
helped until they can take care of them
selves Our plan is TO make them pay for
their homes, or rather to help them pay
for them a little at time. If mans
allotment cost US $500. will try to have
him pay a dollar a week until he shall
have paid up everything We intend that
ultimately each man shall own his
home
Ed Little asked: Commander. how
does the condition of the poor in this
compare Win the GOnCILlOn OF
the poor people in the cities OF India?''
THE poor people of India do not live in
the cities The want and misery of
India is in the villages The people of
that country are easier to help than the
poor of Europe or America Caste is re-
sponsible for it. There everybody has
trade; the one his father followed before
him In Europe and America there are
thousands who have no trades and are
of value to them in making their living"
The commander described the misery of
the lowest classes in the cities.
THAT is what makes Socialists" OBJ
served Mr.. Davis.
The governor took exception to his
statement Commander Tucker teaches
Socialism, he said: that is he teaches
some Socialism, but, commander, after you
have taught these people some Socialism
how are you going to stop them from en-
bracing Socialism in its entirety2''
We will have no trouble about that.
When we teach men to work and be self
respecting we do not feel at all anxious
about the results
But, commander" the governor said.
you are bringing here a large number of
people and teaching them some of the
doctrines of Socialism Are you not
afraid that they will attempt to over
Our colony will not be political: it will
be Industrial. and we hope religious. The
political results are beyond our times; we
only serve our own age
Governor Leedy has SociaIistic ideas
himself. and his arguments seemed to be
intended in part for Mr.. Davis. who ex-
planned that when he said Socialists he
meant Anarchists, a very different kind
of people
This led Commander Booth-Tucker to
tell a story.
Not very long ago. he said the Queen
of Denmark visited city in that country
where had a Salvation Army bar
racks. Some Anarchists put bombs IN
der certain bridge in the town, intend
ing to blow up the royal carriage The
leader of the party had been attending
our Salvation Army meetings and came
to US to tell US what had been done. Our
captain had the dynamite removed and
only the police knew of it's existence. The
leader of that band of Anarchists is now
a captain in the Salvation Army. At that
time he was not a member. That is the
class of people We work among; people
for whom other churches do not care
The governor babe Commander Booth