The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-05-27
Is President of the Proposed
Debs Colony Plan,
Which is to Settle 100000
Chicago People
WHO ARE OUTOF WORK
In Some Western State ON Co.
Operative Plan
News of Its Objects Comes From
San Francisco.

San Francisco, May 27.-The hope Of a
/ new dawn, which Eugene v. Debs and
| other members of the American Railway
! Union think they see in sort of cooper
alive commonwealth. is reaching the
! formative stage in this city. The work is
being carried on by NJ. E. Morse and d
| band of hopeful converts to the common
wealth idea.
The society of which Mr.. Morse is the
! leader meets at 2 p. m. every Sunday and
it has hopes that the idea will soon be
popular all over the state.
The cooperative commonwealth is the
specific remedy that the society proposes
for the congestion of population in busy
centers, and the labor exchange idea, as
organized by State Organizer Clark, is
the scheme Debs recommends as a solu-
ton in part of the money problem.
In recent letter to the society Debs
described the plan as follows:
Industrial cooperation as the basis of
higher type of civilization will be the
principal object.
'SoOn after the work is under way it
is proposed to begin active operations in
some western state. The state will be
colOnized by our people the leaders will
converge there, a full ticket will be nomi-
mated and we will undoubtedly have votes
enough to secure complete possession and
control of the state government. We win
then establish the cooperative common
wealth and the state government will be
in harmony with it. The Iabor1ess thou
sands of the country will be invited to
the state and will be given equal oppor-
tunities with all others to develop re-
sources and enjoy life, liberty and the
pursuit of happiness
The headquarters of the organization
are at Thomaston, Me, and the follow
ing the officers. President
W. Reed; secretary. N. W. Lermond;
organizer, Eugene v. Debs; dean. Prof.
Frank Parsons; editor, A. S. Edwards;
master workman, w. J. Smith.
The following excerpts from the local
prospectus show the plans in view:
'''In nearly every branch of industry
thousands of men and women are being
displaced by Iabor-saving machinery,
owned by a few money lords, and cast out
as driftwood to float up and down in
to them-cheerless world.
"A few thousand dollars invested in
land, buildings and machinery will pro-
vide means whereby these people by CO
operating and employing themselves upon
their own farms, in their own factories
and mills may produce all the necessaries
and many 1uxuries of life and, retaining
the wealth thus created, gain freedom.
Should 10000 men and women, uniting
their efforts and means, each on an aver
age contributing $10O, come together in a
favorably located section of the country.
while they might not be able to establish
the cooperative commonwealth entire
yet they could carry on cooperative in
dustry a sufficiently large scale to be
practically free from outside competition.
With a cash capital of 81. 100000 these TO-
600 individuals can buy sufficient land and
machinery to start them on the road to
industrial fFpA6nr11
as they can raise their own food and pro-
vide themselves with other necessaries
these pioneer co1onists will need help
from the reserves.
Let those who are holding lucrative
positions under capitalist employers and
who do not wish to enter the brotherhood
community at first contribute monthly
from their earnings such sums, from 10
cents to so, as they can spare or duty
dictates. If. when the industrials are
ready to begin active work, there are rs
600 reserves, each on an average contrib
uting 81, $4,000 will be available each
month to sustain these pioneers while
''breaking ground" and getting under
way. Since, however, no active indus
trial work will be done for at least FIVE
mOnths-contrfbutions to the colonization
fund being paid in during that period-a
sum of at least $780, 600 will have accumu-
is slower than here estimated, yet, never
theless. it is only a question of time when
these figures will be reached. At any
rate. should there be only 900 industrials
and 5000 reserves a beginning can be
made next SPRING
The local brotherhood is very hopeful
that relief will come to thousands within
another year, and members who are sup
posed to be close to the national leaders
say that there are prospects that a start
will be made somewhere in middle Ten
nessee. If the plan succeeds there. with
the aid of members all over the Union
the next proposition will be to organize
branch colony in California for the ac-
commodation of the overflow
There is great confidence in local circles
that the movement, already given an i'm
petus by Debs, will soon prove very popu-
lar in this city and throughout the west
The plan is to assess each member of
the national organization 10 cents per
month. this sum to go ultimately toward
esta blishing and maintaining the colony
until such time as it shall be placed on
paying basis. It is the purpose of the in
dustrial department to build factories
mills and shops The function of the ex-
change department is to have charge of
the distribution of all products and COM
modities, esta bishing a warehouse in
each colony for the products of the fac
tories, farms and mills The superintend-
ent of this department shall keep ac-
counts with each colony, and all orders
for goods shall pass through his hands.
This department shall act as a central
clearinghouse.
Leaders of the local order say they are
well pleased with the progress made up
IN date and thew heliav-a ttare hr-iYh%