The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-06-05

pcnSe of misery and degradation to the
workers in the mills, crowded together as
they were under the factory system Con-
scious that as real ruler of the 1900 oper-
atives he owed them duty, he resolved to
do what he could to relieve their condition.
He accordingly improved the houses and
streets lessened the hours of labor. estab-
lished store where necessities were sold at
q low price. and by his persuasive pressure
introduced habits of cleanliness and sobriety
in a remarkable degree. More than all this.
he provided abundantly for the education
of their children, spending thousands Of
pounds in building and maintaining an insti-
tuition where the children were taken al
most from the cradle and given such sur
roundings and training as would develop
the better qualities of their nature. All
this was done in accordance with his fixed
belief that mans character is formed by cir
cumstances, and that by providing proper
surroundings from infancy the best of char
acter may be produced. The result at New
Lanark was exceedingly good. as witnessed
by many visitors to the place The inhab-
ftants were Industrious, sober, virtuous and
eontented beyond those of any other manu-
featuring village in the kingdom Owens
acknowledged success here led him to desire
the application of his principles to the ma
ton and even the world. His ideas ex-
banded until in 1917 he gave to the public.
as remedy for existing pauperism, his
scheme of communistic villages. Hencefor-
ward he was much before the public eye
and attracted much attention. gaining by
his agitation the position of founder of So
cialism in England.
HIS PECULIAR VIEWS.
ATov,or x-ftf, hfe rroDonooad onfpfonS as IN
property he held views as TO religion that
led to disagreement with one of his partners
and to Owens final retirement from the
firm, about 1928. He held that most of the
crime and misery in the world were due to
three great evils, namely-private property.
irrational religion and a system of marriage
based on the other two. He believed in
common property, absolute freedom of be-
lief and marriage depending for its duration
upon the will of the parties, although he
never attempted to give practical effect to
the latter belief. Meeting with strong an
tagonism at home, it is not surprising that
Robert Owen seized the opportunity pre-
scented by the visit of Richard Flower to
England. Taking with him his son William,
ne reached Harmony in December, 1924.
Early in January he made the purchase,
and then returned to the East, accompanied
by first division (seventy or eighty of the
Rappites on their way to Economy. Owen
visited Washington and other important
places in the effort to enlist the sympathy
and support of leading men for his enter
prise, and was granted the use of the Hall
OF the House of Representatives for the pur-
pose of giving lectures explaining his pro-
5ects In the course Of these lectures he ex-
hibited model of the village he intended
eventually to build. 1t was to be a quad
rangular structure, capable of accommo-
dating 1900 people, and offering all possible
conveniences of life On his return he pro-
posed, in the words of William owen, that
q society be formed here, on the principle of
united production and consumption, to be
composed of persons practicing all the most
useful occupations necessary to the we'll
being Of a complete establishment, to whom
lodging, food, clothing. attendance during
sickness and a good education for their chill
dren will be secured. The profits to accu-
mulate, in order to form new community,
or this principle of complete equality. as
soon as a sufficient sum shall be realized"
In accordance with his public invitation to
the Industrious and well-disposed of all ma
tons and creeds to come to New Harmony
Gas the village was now called. Mr.. Owen
found upon his return a collection of people
representing all but two States of the
Union and nearly every country in north
eTn Europe. and holding all shades of re-
ligious opinion, but chiefly liberals. April
q, 1926 Mr.. Owen addressed the people, ex-
planning his views and purpose, which was
to introduce the proceedings requisite to
produce good instead of evil, and happiness
Instead of misery
But since the individual system estab-
fishes selfish habits and customs, a period
Of probation and education would be neces-
sary. The system of equality could be in
troduced only gradually. Accordingly, on
the LIST of May, the people adopted a con-
seitution for the Preliminary Society of
New Harmony" The government under
this constitution was to be by committee
appointed by Owen, the members of the So
eiety having the privilege, at the end of the
first year of electing three additional men,
bers of the committee. Then, at the end
OF the second year, or during the third, it
was expected that the people would be
ready for a community of complete equality,
% be formed on property purchased by the
associated members. In the meantime there
might be some pecuniary inequality, espe-
clally in the case Of the men of science,
whom 1t was expected to attach to the edu-
'cational features of the plan, but who might
require higher reward than the ordinary
member could have. The bulk of members
were not to "act unkindly or unjustly to-
wards one another" but to give their
best services, receiving "such living adj
vantages, comfort and education for their
children as this society and the present
state of New Harmony afford" and upon
equal terms for ALL" There was no pro-
vision for money, but each family was to
have credit at the community store in
proportion to its members; 1t should be
debited with goods drawn from the store
and credited with the value of services
rendered, values to be fixed by the commit
tee. Heads of departments of industry were
referred to and their appointment implied
Complete liberty of conscience was guaran-
teed, and good education for the children
promised.
COMMITTEE GOVERNS.
A few weeks after the adoption Of this
constitution Robert Owen returned to Scot
land, leaving the direction of the community
iil the hands of the committee. This COM
niittee reported to meeting of the full
society every Wednesday evening its actions
OF the preceding week, though apparently
this was a mere courtesy. The committee
assigned duties and quarters to the men,
hers. endeayoring to give. each congenial oc-
eupation. Each head of 4 family and each
single unmarried person was given a pass
book in which were recorded the credits
on account of services and the debts on ae-