The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1898-12-15
THE LABOR PROBLEM.
Cooperative Colonization the Prob
able Solution in California.

William E. Smythe, President OF
the Associated Colonies OF New York
and ex Chairman Of the National
Irrigation Congress, ia OF the opinion
that California's progress aud saliva
ton, and in a way the solution of
the labor pro olem lies in the occu-
patton and development OF her ara
BILE lands. Mr. Smythe has for years
studied the questions OF co-opera.
tive colonization as experimental
with in this country and in Europe
and he believes most en-, husiastical-
ly in the wisdom of similar expert
ments in California.
In his address before the business
men OF Los Angeles, in the Chamber
of Commerce, on the afternoon of
October 2Sth, he took splendidly
optimistic view of Cslifornis's OPP
portunities and possibilities and
offered broad plan for the colonz-
alton OF agricultural land on CO.
operative plan.
Speaking OF the vastness and I'M
imaginable wealth of undeveloped
California, he said:
THE hour is exactly ripe for the
occupation OF your surplus lands
aud the utilization of your surplus
resources. Prosperity has departed
from its old haunts along the Allan
tic Coast, particularly in New Eng
land. Labor. saving machinery and
the on-rushing tide OF foreign immi-
grants, are the two millstones which
may grind out grist of settlers for
the West made of the best material
of the old native stock. The sturdi-
est old New England stock have
reached point where they must
get down or get out-get down to
the foreign standard OF living, or
get out to the undeveloped resources
which await them in the West
"The one thing necessary to make
California acres desirable is water,
and Mr.. Smythe advocates, after
discussing the disadvantages OF the
present irrigation methods, the CO.
operative system.
"If our experience" he says, "has
taught us anything it is that there
is but one true basis for irrigation
systems, and that the Cooperative
Company of Anaheim, Riverside and
Ontario. The Bear Valley Works at
Redlands are about to assume this
shape, aud the same tendency is
observable everywhere. The other
system of selling water rights aud
collecting annual rentals has failed
and is doomed to pass away, 1t is a
financial failure because it has not
paid di7iden's; an economic failure
because it has not settled the vacant
lands; a political failure because it.
has not stood the test of judicial in
depreciation.
Suppose the irrigation question
were settled in California so that
we had the foundation for colonies
securely laid; how, then, would we
deal with these other difficulties9
Let us take the easy ones first. The
history, resources and economic
possibilities OF California and the
West-everything relating to soil,
climate, products and markets
should be made the basis OF system
Of popular education much like
Chautauqua and university extern
sion. 1t should include also the
worldwide lessons Of colony build
ing and institutional development.
There should be lectures, monthly
readings and periodicals. This sys.
tenn should be organized throughout
the East and in foreign lands, and
not as free propaganda, but entire
ly upon self-sustaining basis"
Then to get the colonists to Cali
fornia, and here the direct cooper
ative plan develops:
"Why do not the willing men
come to the waiting land2 First OF