The herald., 1897-06-19
SATURDAY, JUNE 10, 1907.
GIVE THEM A CHANCE

The socalistic colony scheme Of
Eugene V. Debs seems to be gathering
momentum. When his project to estab-
lish a cooperative colony Of the indus
trious unemployed was announced some
three months ago it was received with
mingled ridicule and incredulity by the
well-to-do, conservative half of the
world, and with more or less Of enthusi-
was neither depressed by conservative
incredulity nor transported by the
clamor and confidence of his adherents,
but went quietly to work to devise ways
and means of giving practical effect to
the work in hand.
In this direction he has secured the
active cooperation of the leading So
cialistic reformers of the country. Prom
inent among those who were present as
delegates and took part in the initatory
proceedings at Handel's hall in Chicago,
on Tuesday, were Edward Bellamy, Pro-
fessor Parsons of Boston Law univer-
6lLy, rev. MY IleCo VI DSihNSi anu
Henry D. Lloyd and Professor Esmond
OF Maine These men, with Mr.. Debs,
are fair samples of the leadership under
which the new crusade is to be inaugur-
blow up the country, nor to assassinate
railroad presidents, nor to do any of the
thousand disgraceful things OF which
the unemployed are from time to time
accused by certain section of the pub
lie press but simply to secure extensive
tracts of land in the most available loca-
tions and there to establish cooperative
colonies through and by means of which
some of the homeless millions who are
now drifting aimlessly about may secure
shelter and sustenance for the present,
with the promise of home and independ-
ence to be worked out by their labor in
the future.
The managers are now negotiating
with the officials of the Union Pacific
Railroad company for the concession of
certain lands in Utah to be moved upon
anu OCCuplcQ ny tllt NdlS "a VI liIc COl-
onists, as soon as the title to these lands
can be obtained. AT this stage of the
movement even the most ultra enemy of
organized labor must admit, if he is hon
est, that the project is feasible and re-
spectacle and that its motive is one of
the very highest. OF course, the scheme
may result in failure as so many Coop
erative schemes of local selfgovern-
ment have done in the past, but there
are certain causes at the back of the
present plan that may turn the scale
upon the side of success. The principal
among these is the fact that the move
ment has it's origin in stern necessity
hunger, want, estitution-operating
upon men who are largely intelligent
and industrious. 1t is in no respect a
socialstic utopian scheme, nor under
taken by dreamy explorers in the realms
Of the marvellous. 1t is cool, deter
mined effort by certain energetic lead
ers who are more or less distinguished
In their day and generation, to find lu-
crdtlNe employment lOl ml4NONS OIL IN
dustrious hands that continue idle
through the force of circumstances.
The demands of cooperation as the
basis of an enduring municipal organi-
zation will make heavy drafts upon the
fraternal sentiment Of the community.
If, however, there shall be found in the
body polite sufficient seif-denial to hon
or every such draft, the common pur-
pose can in nowise fail so long as there
are willing hands to labor and seed time
and harvest shall not fail. If, therefore
these pioneers shall succeed in laying
their foundations upon these lines they
have only to beware of returning to the
orthodox fold by which each is striving
to ride through life upon his neighbor's
back. This is the system of all past
time that must pass away before the
dawn of higher civilization, and if our
contemporary reformers can lead the
way, we should at least wish them sue
cess.
j