Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1898-05-07
SHORT HISTORY OF
~ THE BROTHERHOOD.
BY N. w. LERMOND.

organization of the Brotherhood of the
Cooperative Commonwealth.
The following extracts are taken
from communication that appeared
in Commonwealth of December, 1895:
LET US UNITE.
Socialists are scattered from one end
of the country to the other, are to be
found in all political parties and in many
organizations. 1t is difficult. if not inn
possible. to arrive at any definite con-
clusion as to their numbers. Since
forces unorganized and scattered are
an element of weakness to any cause, it
becomes highly important that we find
some common basis that will unite all
social reformers in one fraternal band
AS such a basis of union. | propose Il
non-partisan Brotherhood OF the Co.
operative Commonwealth.
When our forces are well organized
and working in harmony through local,
county. State and national unions, some
plan can then he developed to make a
move that will quickly usher in the
new day.
Socialists, the way to organize is to
organize. Don't wait any longer, but
get together aud organize in local
unions, and report for duty to Common
wealth. IS Lafayette place, New York,
which | trust will keep standing Il list
of local unions until the movement gets
well started. [ am glad to be able to
state that the first local union of the b.
of the c. c.. in Maine. was organized
at Warren, Oct. Is, 1898, with three
members. Meetings are to be held
every Sunday at members homes for
social talk. Yours for our cause.
n. w. LERMOND,
Thomaston. Me-. Dec. =, 1896"
About that time. the Coming Nation
printed short notices calling on Social
lists to band together in local unions.
In March, 1896, second union was or
ganized in Maine. and two months
later the Socialists OF San Francisco in
stitutcd a union.
= 1t having been decided to hold Il ma
tional cooperative congress at st,
Louis July "a, a call to perfect the or
ganization of the National Brotherhood,
signed by Henry d. Lloyd. Prof. Frank
Parsons, Eugene V. Debs. Joseph Rodes
Buchanan, Eltweed Pomeroy, Rev. w.
d. =. Bliss. Morrison l. Swift. DR.. c.
f. Taylor, James G.. Clark, Rev. My
ron w. Reed. G. G. Post. Charlotte
Perkins Stetson, Stephen Maybell, Fl.
l.. Loucks, George c. Ward. Henry II.
Legate, Alonzo Wardall S. Fl. Comings,
and l25 other leading social rcformers,
was issued and given wide circula-
ton. The closing sentences read as
follows: n
NNVe urge that all lovers of freedom.
all who are opposed to the continuance
OF the competitive system, with its ter
rible struggle for existence, should
unite as speedily as possible in one vast
fraternal organization. There is no
time to be lost. If we would resist the
dangers confronting us we must act at
once. The drifting process has gone
far enough; the time for action has
come. Organize with one definite aim
in view-the establishment of Co
operative Commonwealth.
In organizing this brotherhood it is
party. nor to add another to the al
ready too lengthy list of reform socie-
ties, but to consolidate the various Co
operative. Socialistic and Nationalistic
societies now in the field, and to bring
together all societies and individuals
not yet affiliated with any Socialistic
order. and thus present IA solid, united
front TO the common enemy of humani-
ty, the poverty-breeding crime-produc-
ing system OF competition.
1t behooves every lover of Justice and
humanity, who has caught glimpse of
the light from the rising sun of "a new
and d1viner system of civilization, to
rally to the support of the Brotherhood.
We urge all cooperative bodies now or
ganized, and all unions, to send dele
gates to the Cooperative Congress to
he held at ST. Louis July -. and there
perfect the organization of the National
Union of the Brotherhood of the Co
operative Commonwealth, and adopt
some practical plan that will hasten
the dawn of the new day.
Owing to the protracted sessions Of
the Populist National convention which
continued through the days set for the
Cooperative Congress, and also owing
to the fact that most of the delegates to
this congress were likewise delegates
to the political convention, it was found
impossible at this time to organize the
National Union of the Brotherhood.
Soon after, however, the Coming Ma
ton opened its columns for the purpose
of perfecting an organization 10y means
of the Initiative and Referendum. and
ON Sept. 10, 1896, constitution was
adopted. and IA board of seven trustees
elected. A few amendments TO the
constitution have since been made. As
it now stands, article > states the OBJ
ject5 of the Brotherhood to be:
IA TO educate the people in the prin-
ciples OF Socialism: - to unite ali So
cialists in one tratcnal association. 81
to establish cooperative colonies and
industries. and so far as possible. con-
centrate these colonies and industriesin
one State until said State is socialized.
The eligibility to membership is set
forth in article ,, as follows:
Any person of good moral character
al,e.,sft -. F.,1