Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-18
ALL FOR ALL, NONE FORSELF
Two Washington Boys Who Propose Test
of Socialism.
VIII Become Members OF a Colorado
Community Based on the Co.
Operation Principle,

eoiohy Win sociaiistlc tendencies, which
mas been established in the southwestern
part of Colorado. The young men re-
ferred to are William Kent, son Of Rev.
Alexander Kent, and Carl E. Julihn, son
OF DR.. Julihn, a local physician. Neither
YET tWenty-one years of age, and both
graduated from the local Central High
School last June. Both have been ardent
students of political economy during their
scnool life, and since completing their
studies In theory, have been longing to
put their ideas of advanced government
into actual operation. The most promising
neld was found with the colony mentioned,
and they resolved to become full fiedged
members of the community. They will ar
rive there next week. and will at once enter
upon the new relation as citizens of
community where all work for all, and
none for self
This colony is located in the southwest
part of Montrose county, fifty miles south
of the town of Montrose. The town al
ready established by the colony has been
named Pinon. A tract of government land
mas been acquired by the colony, which
is known as the Colorado Cooperative
Company, and each person becoming
member of the community is entitled TO
take up land under the homestead grant
act, by paying the nominal purchase price
to the government. 1t Is the intention of
Messrs. Julhn and Kent to take up land
as soon as each becomes of age, each cal
culating to acquire forty acres, and in
time transform it into paying ranch.
Inducements Presented.
The inducements held out to persons to
become members of this community are
the acquisition of land and the working
of it to the advantage of all concerned
The location made by the company is
an ideal one. and the soil is as rich as
any in Colorado, but in order to improve
It, the company is building an immense
ditch, fifteen miles long, for irrigation
purposes. When this water is available.
the land of the community is expected
to be worth five or six times what 1t is
now: Each member of the community
working on the ditch receives, in return,
the water right to his forty acres, and,
In addition, the number of days each MEM
Der works is placed to his credit. so that
If he wishes a greater water right he has
only to exert himself more. The land is
well adapted for the raising of fruit and
grain. The fruit of Montrose county, it is
said. compares favorably with that of
California, and the climate is very much
the same as California
One part Of the plan of the colony is that
all officers, who are chosen by the men,
bcrs. have to do as much work as the
rank and file, and receive only the same
credits for their work as any other laborer.
The town is as yet small, and no difficult
problems of local self-government have
presented themselves. Yet the scheme
IS such that no matter how many men en-
roll themselves as seekers after homes in
the community, there will be perfect sys-
tenn in the allotment of lands and in the
administration of affairs. The members of
the community, however, are very careful
not to admit persons of doubtful charac
ter, or the idle and vicious. to membership.
They emphasize the fact that there is no
use for the adventurer, the anarchist, The
lazy or those seeking something for moth
ing.
All on n Level.
All men have to work alike, and if each
lives up to the conditions demanded of him
he stands in to make a good, comfortable
home in fertile country, which gives
promise of rapid development in the near
future AS yet the country is not opened
to railroad traffic the nearest town being
Montrose, reached by the Denver and Rio
Grande railroad. and from which teams
freight to Pnon once a week. Messrs.
Kent and Julihn will reach Montrose in all
probability in time to catch the freight
wagons to Pinon next week. They expect
to stop day or so in Chicago, in order to
get some necessary materials for their out
fit before plunging into the deeper and
woolier west.
This altruistic colony It is understood,
manages its affairs for the good of all.
There are no private enterprises. Each
member upon entering. states his particu-
lar preference in the matter of occupation,
and he is then put to work at the trade for
WHICH ne Is most suited. Ihere
definite or binding terms entered upon by
the nOvitiate desiring entrance into the
community. He can leave it when he
pleases, and he always retains the right to
the lands acquired. In case any member
desires to transfer his lands to others, he
will find himself somewhat hampered by
certain restrictions Of the company, but, in
general, the administration of affairs is
such that after he once joins there are few
reasons for severing connection with the
community.
The Founders.
The original members of the colony num-
bering about twenty, founded similar COL
ony in Mexico about five years ago, but on
account of the laws of that country and
the superior advantages offered by resi-
dence in the United States, they removed to
Colorado, and settled on this tract of land.
which had been government reservation
for the Ute Indians prior to their removal
TO Utah. Among the original organizers
was Miles D. Bowen. a well-knoWn free
thinker of this city, who formed the colony
In connection with Judge p. A. Simmons,
e. L. Gallatin, J. H. Gabriel of Denver
Mrs. Annie l.. Diggs of Kansas and Prof
f. G. Brown of Philad elphia.
Women are by no means ruled out in this
colony. They are entitled to hold land in
their own name, and take as important a
part in the administration of affairs as the
men. People who are up on economical
problems of the day believe hat tbs CO.
operative plan of work and self-govern-
ment, set apart from disturbing influences
of thriving centers Of population is des-
tined to work out some interesting results
in political economy. That it will prove
profitable to students of political economy
can hardly be doubted, so that even if
Messrs. Julihn and Kent do not decide to
settle down and become rancheros and COW
punchers of the far west, they will have in
creased their fund Of learning on the social
istic problems of the day.
MONETARY COMMISSION ADJOURNs.
Secretaries Now Engaged In Draft.
Ing the Report.
Chairman EdmundS has dec1orod the