Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1898-10-01
Equality is the Place.


tenths of the visitors and members
who come to Equality colony, the wri-
ter hereof was several days trying to
understand why it was that the ma
tional officers of the B G c did not To-
cate at Equality, and one of the most
difficult tasks l have had since be-
coming a member is to attempt to
explain to inquiring friends-who
never fail to ask why the board is not
here.
Here at Equality, Cos acres Of land
is paid for, much of it cleared, several
thousands of dollars improvements
in buildings, ditching, some roads
made, machinery bought, paid for and
set running, acquaintances estab-
lished; all this and much more already
here, and not somewhere else, and
that is nucleus around which should
be built the industrial organiza-
ton which shall radiate from this
center to the boundaries of the state.
1t is law we'll known to business
men that concentration of capital
and energies at one point is the road
to success, and when success is at
tanned, establish other centers then
with safety. This is not a law for
capitalists only, but natural one,
and sorry we should be if we do not
know enough to use it for our purpose
as they do for theirs. The world al
ready half believes in cooperation,
and only wants some absolute proof
of its practicable to come to us in
droves. 1t is useless to preach so
much and allow the best and largest
colony to crawl along at snail's gait.
Everything that possibly can be done
toward that end is the truest and
most effective advertising.
The presence of the National Board,
the printing plant, which should and
could thus be made large and prof
liable industry, the correspondence
and publishing business would enable
us to get a postoffice, which seems
promlematical without them. The
social gain, by close pertonal touch,
the brotherhood feeling of solidarity
making it possible to explain little
misunderstanding by word of mouth,
that naturally arise which could not
be done if the board were miles away,
is of no little Importance. The
undersigned was member of
Kaweah colony and can testify that
he voted differently on matters per-
tanning to the colony, before he went
to the community, than what he did
after he got little experience as a
member. The same principle is at
work here. Actual touch with the
work here causes nearly all who come
to believe in concentrating right
here and building up good sized
strong and healthy town at Equality
One actual success, large enough to
attract public attention, and the
whole state is ours: while we might
have several feeble, separated colo
mics and still be unknown. AS to
going into competitive business in a
large town-well, dear me. What
have we been saying about tie over
production of the little trader as
against the colossal combines. | was
in Seattle few days ago and inquired
about the steamboat business and
found it badly overdone' For use, a
steamboat is as good as ever, but for
profit, nil.
Next to the political illusion is the
idea that we can make money by get
ting a little six-bit outfit and COM
pete in the open market with the
capitalists. When we grow strong
enough to get large machinery we
can defy them, but not until then.
Production for use" should be the
slogan of the B &C for some time yet.
In making things for our own use we
cannot fail. In buying and selling we
may, nay must.
To sum up: Economy of manage
ment, benefits to be derived and in