Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1897-06-24
What Debs Proposes 10 Do.

With the state of Washington occupy
ny first thought, IL Is said tina; the loca-
ton of the proposed cooperative com
nnnwcalth of the old American Railway
'nion has narrowed down To two states,
he second one being Idaho. President
Debs is said to favor Washington. and
gives as his reason for doing so that the
general population Is not so large as that
Of the other states proposed. with the ex-
seption of Idaho, its voting population Is
considerably less and 1t would take n
shorter time to secure control OF the
state through the medium OF the polls
For this is how Mr.. Dehs's followers pro-
pose to make the cooperative scheme
general.
Ii is pointed out by those who favor
Washington that If an attempt was made
o get control OF Tennessee. Colorado.
Utah or Texas. 1t would take century.
md might never be accomplished, 1t IS
Known that Mr.. Debs has had cores
1ondence with the governor of Washing
on. and that he is favorably inclined
toward the proposed effort
There was no meeting of the new So
.ial Democracy yesterday. for the reason
hat the committee on constitution was
rot ready to report. but the meeting VIII
De held this morning.
There has been considerable talk dur
ing the last forty-eight hours of an at
Tempt several railroads were making to
get hold of the movement for advertis-
ng purposes, and 1t has been said that
offers have been made 10 some OF the
delegates. President Debs said last night
hat he had heard nothing of this, and
chat. so far as he knew no offer had been
made.
Mr. Debs said that the support of the
organization would come through volun-
tary contributions. and that already a
number of persons had told him that they
would contribute just as soon as funds
were needed. This will be very soon. for
The first work that will be done after the
adjournment of the general convention
will be to get recruits for active opera
tons. Chicago is to have the general
headquarters and II Is from here that the
project will be directed.
The committee on constitution will re-
port that the unit of organization shall
be local branches, which shall be limited
to 800 members. There will be organiza-
lions in all the states and territories. In
April of each year each local branch VIII
elect a representative to the State Union
which will meet at the state capital in
MAY of each year. AT these meetings the
state unions will elect a representative to
the national council which will meet
each June at the national headquarters
in Chicago.
The national council will elect board
of managers. and this board Will choose
chairman. vice chairman. secretary,
treasurer and organizer. The executive
authority is to be vested in the directory,
and to eliminate the one man power sys-
tenn Ifl:tt mas pTeNalitu III IilsiHy pTSdHlZd-
tons in the past the chairman's duties
are to be confined to presiding over meet
ings An official paper will be published
weekly and each member will receive
copy of it.
Mr. Debs said that after the adjourn
ment of the general meeting the direc-
tory will select committee to visit the
various states that are spoken of. Once
the place is selected the first contingent
that will star. out will be the men who
are to till the soil and provide the neces
saries of life. These will live in tempo
rary quarters. but they will be quickly
followed by the building trades, who are
to construct the houses and factories.
This having been done machinery for a
big clothing establishment. shoe factory
and other factories will be purchased,
and those who work will make material
for the colony only.
Capital is rot to be encouraged, and 1t
is Mr.. Debs's opinion that it could not
thrive anyway. for the reason that no
one could compete in anything they got.
The three material neeessities-food,
clothing and shelter--having been pro-
vided. the colonists will then turn their
attention to the intellectual education OF
the colOny.-Chicago Record.