The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-06-08
Which is to Be Founded in the
Rockies.
SOME OF THE IDEAS
That Are to Be incorporated in
the Plans.
Reed Says Too Many Smart
People Spoil Things.

1
erative commonwealth to be establish
ed in Utah:
L was notified year ago that had
been elected president of the brother
hood. 1 did not solicit the RESPONSE
b1llty, but my sympathy goes that way
and L am in hearty accord with the
movement today. The whole idea is a
development of the A. r. u, the prin-
clpal difference being that this move
ment takes in men of nearly all occu-
pattons and the A. r. u. was limited
10 railroad men. l may say, however,
that we will have no use for LAWYERS
ana If preachers fall into the process
sion they must leave their creeds be-
mind. The cornerstone of the whole
undertaking is, mind your own bust
ness. We propose to take in the best
features of former attempts of a kim
dred nature; to proceed slowly on aeon
SerVatiVe basis. If a member of one
OF our communities don't like US after
he has made a trial, he will be at lib
erty to return to the old society, taking
with him all the money that he deposit
ed In the treasury, but no interest.
Take the Rockdale cooperative
store system of England" continued
Mr.. Reed Few people in this cOun-
try are aware of the amount of bust
ness carried on by that society. 1t is
store and labor exchange system, and
last year the amount of business han
died by the society reached 5000, 900 900.
In France there has been in operation
a remarkable success which ought to
be studied by every well Wisher of the
race. One man, M. Godin. has built
up city of 900 people, which is the
model community of the world. The
city is operated under the laws of the
country, but so great is the success of
the cooperative plan that the men are
relieved from military duty on the re-
serves and the community is exempt
by law from many taxes eXacted from
other communities. Godin has ar
ranged a system of education for chill
dren which is a marvel.
He has prepared a list of things
which the child is to be taught when
he is three months old. He has an
other list which is entered upon when
the child is six months old, and 50 on.
The little babes are brought to large
room whose floor is covered three inches
thick with a carpet of dry bran, and
there they are placed while their moth
ers are at work for eight hours The
bran is changed four times a day, and
when the mother is through with her
work she takes her child home to a
house which is built so that the sun
shines in on the east and west. A fea-
ture of the city is that there is not
tenement house in the place.
THE people have concerts, theaters,
amusements schools, plenty of time for
education, and factories are maintain
ed, which turn out variety of arti-
cles called for by other parts OF the
country. The people have a whole hOli-
day Saturdays, and on Sunday a sim
pie religious service is held. There
hasn't been a murder in the community
since its beginning fifty years ago, and
very little petty thieving.
Brook Farm" said Mr.. Reed, twas
a good idea, but it broke down because
the land was poor and the community
had too much genius at the head of it.
Hawthorne, Margaret Fuller, with En-
erson and Thoreau, Incidentally. and
Horace Greeley and Charles Dana-too
much genius. Not enough common
stock; not enough average men and
New Harmony. Ind, broke down for
the same reason. Robert Dale owen
and the class of scientific men he gath
cred around him ran too much to in
tellect and not enough to common, every
day sense Yet New Harmony has
many good points, and today the peo-
pie of that town are above the average
of other towns of Indiana in tntelli-
gence. New Harmony is on the Wa
bash.
ssTake the Oneida community of New
york Notwithstanding their peculiar
ideas of marriage, those people put up
canned goods that are readily sold at
a higher price than any other the eX-
cellence of the product is all the rec
ommendatiOn that is required me
Shakers make brOoms that are always
better than any other brOOms and COM
mand a higher price. There has never
yet been an instance OF cooperation
which might not have been a success
had members of the community re-
Trained from competing with each
other Competition among themselves
killed them"
How do you propose 10 prevent COIL
petition in the Utah settlements?'
I'VE will accept only such persons as
are in sympathy with the movement
and we will have a way OF gehuy e.
ting rid of Objectionable members. For
instance go to Utah and begin in
simple way. Out of the 1,5Oo IN com
munity will be found representatives
I Ell
mend on hard labor and on wind ana
water for power, and have as little use
Of steam as possible. Man takes more
interest in a thing he makes Win ms
hands. OF course we will have news
naner a magazine and many comforts
and conveniences not possessed by tne
average American at the present Tune
s.F,very adult will be required 10 90
come work with his hands. The com
rnunitv will raise about everything II
wants and the money necessary TO pay
the taxes can be had Oy seii ad usTluI
products to outsiders. II Goes away
With the question of the tarin ana prl-
waite enterprise. The enterprislns man
who wants to outstrip an nus nels .l9
+be community. His place is in the
hilrrying, bustling, fretung world and
not in the peaceable community IN
which every man wants to help his
neighbor What we want is simply
comfortable colony where no man Will
fear the poor house or the Jail. Wor-
shin of some kind is a part of mans
nature and Sunday will be a day of
change"
amount to persons joining the commune
II think not" replied Mr.. Reed. ANY
| body can put in what he pleases, but
some very worthy people may not have
anv money to give. We've got a delu-
sion that we must depend on somebody
+ over the ocean. The community will
borrow no money, and see no use for
money in such a community, except to
pay taxes. AS I suggested the COM