Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1897-07-05
An Open Letter TO Debs.

| Eugene DFbS
Dear Sir:-Pcrmit me to thank you for
the great efforts you are making to ele-
Nate the working classes from their pres
ent degraded position and so direct. them
that they shall enjoy all the fruits OF their
labor ana use machinery for the happiness,
prosperity and moral elevation of the mass
es and not as now, because machinery, as
II is now used, is the curse of the working
man, and has bliGhtPd his efforts at every
turn. For nearly seventy years | have
watched with great interest the various CO.
operative efforts that have been made for
the benefit and eXaltation Of labor. Robert
owen, the great philanthropiSt. OF New
LanarK, IN Scotland. first promulgated the
great truth that labor, land and machinery
can. be made to produce all the comforts,
necessdrles and iuNuries of life by co-operd-
tlon. with one hours labor from each per
day. Lord BrOugham and most of the In
Slish press Endorsed Mr.. Owens plans and IL
appeared probable he would be able to raise
suf1cient funds to start Il COMMUNICATION
at one of his lectures the question was
asked what would be the religion. he said
II had nothing to do with religion, and all
would worship or not according TO the die
tates of their own consciences. Up to this
time he was the most popular man in En-
grand. Ihen the clergy denounced him as
an inhdel and opposed him in every way.
Inc Rockdaie cooperative mill has sue
eeeded because the stockholders understood
and attended to their business. The New
Harmony colony in Indiana failed because
they did not understand the cooperative
PIIhclPlJ. Inc LABOR exchanGe IN Gray 5
Inn road, London, failed because the man.
agement got into the hands of men who ran
II for their own benefit. and Harmony hall,
in Hampshire. also failed because Robert
owen deNiated from the original plan of
building that beautiful structure by draft
ing suitable members from the numerous
social halls in London and other large
towns, who were known to be true and
earnest in the cause of cooperation. In
stead, nine-tenths of the thousands spent
there driftcd into the hands of those who
had no interest I'm making il a success. So
II Will ever be if the rank and file and lead
ers do not understand the great truths and
Df ~ FNan and nEn 20
make personal sacrifices to carry out that
grand principle and e&emplify by their con-
duct the sincerity and devotion to make the
experiment, which. If successful. will be
the means of banishing poverty and its at
tendant crimes from our magnificent coun-
try.
Fellow citizens, pioneers IN this great
work. | implore you. for the sake of suf-
terlnS humanity. be true TO yourselves. be
Forever remember that If your task is hard.
theirs Is harder. Let no party jealousies
ever sWerNe you from the line of duty and
obedience to your own selected leaders. To
be successful you must be obedient. hon
est and energetic. Ii difficulties arise. sur
mount them, but never shlrk any unpleas-
ant duty that is considered necessary for
you to perform. and do it with alacrity and
cheerfulness. 1t will engcnder love. re-
spoct and faith in you from your officers.
Eugene DebS, you have undertaken a
most herculean work, and if you succeed
you Will become the greatest benefactor to
the w~orkingman the world has ever seen,
- - ESNA NNNN"o W. ~ AAdNN llO 4
strated to the toiling millions and the world
a way out of their misery TO independence, |
comfort and happiness. and no fear OF pow
erty for the future. All persons should aid
you in your praiseworthy efforts, for the |
are ripe for such experiments, and |
cooperation is the only salvation for the |
toiling millions. |
Your great undertaking will be successful
Just in proportion as the rank and file in
diligently understand the grand work they
are engaged in. Your pioneers must be Sc
with great care. They must he hon.
Industrious. intelligent and have an
abiding faith in you and your plans. II
possible. select men who have gone through
the hardships of Il frontier life and can
urn their hand to almost any kind of work.
and from the land. to make the colony al
most se!f-supporting from the beginning.
colonies have failed because the pion-
eers were skilled mechanics. selected for
heir talking rather than their working ca
)acity. Skilled mechanics seldom make
good pioneers TO work on the land. because
heir habits are formed in Il different line
and they soon become Disguised with their
surroundings. and failure is the result.
Yours in the great cause.
GEORGE WHITE.
GIL