The San Francisco call., 1898-09-10
HIS AIM THE
 EXTINCTION
 0F POVERTY pr. August Greth's Big Project. PLANS A PRoyIDENT TRUST NO CAPITAL REQUIRED TO
 START ON. In Year the Doctor Believes That Big Membership and a Full Treasury Would Be
 Developed.
PLANS A PRovIDENT TRUST
NO CAPITAL REQUIRED TO
 START ON.

Developed.
 A unique and comprehensive scheme for the extinction of poverty has been evolved by pr. August Greth, the we'll known physician of this city. He pro- poses to found vast cooperative asso- citation, or rather a series of associations, which shall offer to any man or woman who is willing to work the neceSsaries and even the luxuries of life. This new organization Is to be entitled the "Provl- dent Trust Society,"" The scheme Is of the same general character as that Of Debs' Social Democracy, but it Is so in- geniously planned that the usual diff culties attending the launching of a socialstic enterprise may be obviated. No capital will be needed to start on. The work is to begin on a safe and sim | pie basis and advance by chapters of l development, growing gradually more | comprehensive until full industrial sys- tenn, the features of which shall be pnll- anthropy, fraternity and cooperation, is l substituted for the competitive system. | Dr. Greth Is the author of book, which | Is now nearly off the press-an able treat ise on industrial cooperation, in which Is outlined the plan of the new organiza- ton.
 Membership In the society will be ar ranged in flve classes. In class No. the dues are to be $1 per month. Members | Of this class will receive the services of physician and dentist free of charge and medicines and dental material at cost. An additional dollar per month will secure admission to class Z, the members of | which are entitled to weekly sick bene- fit of $1O. Another dollar per month ad- mits the member to class 3, tn which he hospital, if desired. dollar month more Is required for membership in class 1 4, where the insurance feature appears. The member of this class can take out a life policy for 5000 and by paying an other dollar per month will secure $2000 policy. The policy may, be drawn when disease or upon reaching the age of 50 years; or he may draw the greater part of the policy for investment, provided that the investment is such as to admit of the society retaining control over 1t. Class 5, membership in which calls for an ad- ditional dollar per month, affords ,o per per, through sickness or accident or who have reached the age limit.
 Class 1 Is to be the basis of the society the sun from which the succeeding classes will develop. All must join. this class before, becoming a member of any of the others. There will be but this one not be instituted until sufficient. funds are on hand to make 1t practicable. Chil- d9sa dren u under l6 years will be admitted to 1 all five classes receive free burial at I death and where two parents who are members of all five classes leave chil- 1 dren unprovided for, such children are to be taken care of by the society in an institution to, be provided for the purpose. | A stational or State central body Is | dispensed with, and the county is made | the unit of organization District | branches within the county are provided | for.
 The funds of the society will be origin ated and maintained entirely by payment of dues in the five classes and from the m yyh hal thr1S {c posed to pay all the benefits and confer all the privileges.
 the success of the society is the provision l for rebates on all purchases of the neces- saries of life which shall be made at which have agreed to give a rebate of to 15 per cent on all goods purchased by members. A large number of leading have so agreed, considering, it a good monthly monthly dues viii be returned s ~as ao the the rebate checks. Hence the members will / receive all the benefits of the society free | of cost.
 The society will hold social and educa- tional meetings at regular intervals, ad- mission to which will be free to all, mem | bers and others.
 cured cooperative production is. to be cautiously begun and gradually extend ed, the ultimate aim being to afford em- l stead of coin, are to be used as a medium of exchange. The various trades will be a board of managers. The society will | deal directly with these boards instead of the individuals. When sufficient funds | have accrued it is intended to supply the 1 the market for the products. | A board of nine directors will have | charge of the affairs of the society in each county, and it's action will be inde- 1 pendent of all other boards, subject only | to the provisions of the constitution and l bylaws | The protector of this colossal scheme. | pr. Greth, feels the utmost confidence that the society will ultimately accom- viewed upon the subject yesterday he said:
 T know that at the first glance it seems vast undertaking, with numerous possibilities of failure when the more complex features are initiated. But for ten years past I have been studying the | subject and shaping the plan of the or ganization, profiting by the experiences and errors of like attempts in the past, adopting those methods which experience has proved to be successful, >--scarding those which have failed and devising others necessary to forward the work of a society differing in many important par | ticulars from any that has ever existed. 1 have submitted the plan in its entirety to the most successful financiers and have received favorable opinions in every irl- 1 stance. By these gentlemen the plan has l been pronounced sound and practical in all its features. Its success will be due to the enormous saving made possible by | large number of people cooperating in the purchase of the necessaries of life. When you come to consider that through ,he | system of rebates on purchases the so- 1 ciety offers all of its far-reaching bene- | fits practically free of cost, there can be no doubt of its success. We are. now about ready to begin the enrolment of members in class No l. About 200. per- sons have already stated their willingness to join, and over seventy business houses | have offered to sign our repate agreement. l We have also secured the services of a | sufficient number of leading physicians 1 and dentists. Within year I expect the society to have membership of 20 900 and a working capital of $1O0,O00 or more. 1