The times., 1899-07-03
L COLONY OF SOCIALISTS
An Old Experiment TO Be Tried
Again in New England.
Its Promoter n New Hampshire Man,
But the Community's Home VIII
BE Near Lancaster, Mass - Minis
tcrs and Lawyers Not Wanted
The Plans Are Not Yet Completed.

community to take up its residence IN
New England is being formed in this city
at present and will locate near Lancaster,
Mass., in the early fall. 1t is known as
the Bellamy Colony Association, and now
has membership Of fifty or more, while
its promoters expect that double that
number of names will be on the roll of
charter members by September l.
For several years a little band OF So
ciaiists have gathered in a hall on the
upper floor of the Parkinson Building, at
the corner of Main and Pearl Streets, to
discuss the principles of their belief. The
community idea has been one Of the stock
subjects of discussion, and the progress
Of the Ruskin colony in Tennessee has
been followed closely. The mistakes made
by the colonists there, as well as the sue
cesses, have been carefully noted, and, as
the promoters of the colony here say, will
prove of great value to the Bellamy col
ony. The association which is being or
ganized will be no exclusive affair. Any
one having the price of one share of stock
$500. can become a member, except law
yers and ministers. Men in these pro-
fessions are not wanted.
I'VE believe" said George H Webster.
a Kinsley Street grocer, who is at the
head OF the movement that every man
has a right TO worship God according to
the dictates OF his own conscience, but
he Will have to go outside our community
10 do his worshiping Start a church and
nine times out Of ten you have the best
foundation in the world for a row.
I'VE have absolutely no use for lawyers.
There may be honest men in the profess
sion, / won't say there are not, but We
don't need them in our business. II We
have any lawsuits, we will engage legal
talent outside the community to conduct
our cases"
II is only within a few weeks that the
fact that Bellamy colony was beng
ganized here has been made public. Ru
mors that something of the kind was go
ing on have been floating about for
months, but no amount OF questioning
would induce any of the Socialists to talk.
short time ago, however. Mr.. Webster
granted the Sun" reporter an interview.
Now that he felt certain OF the success OF
his pet project, he said, he had no hesi-
fancy in making it public.
Wide Interest I'm the Scheme.
'I am getting enquiries regarding this
colony from all over the country" said he.
Already twenty or twenty-five men, a
majority of whom are the heads of fami
lies, have pledged themselves 10 go into
the scheme, and there are twice as many
more who are favorably inclined toward it.
Il am a Socialist he continued, "and
while communities are not exactly a part
OF the socialistic scheme, believe in them
thoroughly. have been studying the sub
ject for four years now, and the idea of
organizing a Bellamy colony in this city
originated with me. i started the ball
rolling about four months ago. A COM
mittee was appointed 10 secure a suitable
site for our location, and it has practically
completed its labors. We have already ac-
quired 1,400 acres OF land near Lancaster,
Mass / would tell you the exact location
if il wasn't for the fact that We hope to
get a small piece OF land which adjoins
ours. II is cheaper to buy land through an
individual than as an association or cor
poration. you know, SO think won't give
out the exact location yet
AT first We opened negotiations with the
Shakers at Harvard and Shirley, Mass.
There are two companies there and they
are talking about combining. We couldn't
do anything with them. SO we examined
places on Cape Cod, on Martha's Vineyard,
in northern New Hampshire, and fifteen or
twenty other places before We finally made
up our mind what TO do.
why do we locate in New England?
III tell you. We believe that New Eng
land offers the best market In the world
for garden truck, and we propose to raise
lot of 1t. II also offers excellent ship
ping facilities for reaching the Boston and
New York markets for anything we may
decide TO manufacture. and We shall go
into the manufacturing business quite ex-
tensiveiy."
How much does it cost to join your as
sociation?" asked the newspaper man.
We'll, We have figured on that quite a
good deal and have finally decided to place
the shares at $500 each. Every member
must own one share OF stock, no more and
no less. We must pay for our land and
buy the raw material for building houses.
for each family in this community Will
have home by Itself. We shall not be
cramped for want of money. for number
OF US have pledged ourselves to loan the
association 81, 600 each, without interest,
until such time as 1t can repay US out OF
its earnings, II Ii is needed. After We get
on our feet We shall devise some plan
whereby able-bodied men can come In
without any cash capital. We can't dc
that at the start, however. You see each
member Of the colony will have his house
and board given him. For his labor he
will receive time checks. and the price OF
all commodities sold by US to our own
members will be reckoned In hours. No
money Will be used between the members
and everything will be sold them at the
actual cost We shall buy everything in
large quantities and get the lowest prices.
No Dearth of Converts.
Il am getting letters from every Stat,
in the Union making enquiries about thii
colony. New Workers, Chicagoans, anC
Bostonians seem just as anxious to joiI
US as the people from Kansas Missouri
Colorado. and other Western States Tht
movement isn't confined to Nashua or New
England people by any means. VIII,
shouldn't the people of this country seel
relief from the present conditions2 Tn,
wealth of the United States is now in tn,
hands of few men. Half century from
now the number will be still smaller
Every day trusts are being formed and mel
are being thrown out of employment Tn,
Socialists are not opposed to trusts by an,
means. as a majority of the people seen
TO believe. We do not dispute the righ
Of two concerns or two hundred for tina
matter 10 unite and save the salaries raj,
greater or lesser number Of employees
Trusts are all right in theory. The trouble
is they are controlled by individuals ant
not by the Government
The association will hold a meeting
some time the latter part of this montl
or carly in August TO elect officers an,
have the members sign the articles o
agreement, which have already been draw
up. The association will be incorporate
under the laws of Massachusetts befor
that time, and everything will be in readi
ness for d start either late in August O
early in September.
Mr.. Webster and his associate in tn,
work of promoting the colony, Kneeland Y
Goldman a chemist, who resides on Churcl
Street. and has had a wide experience II
community life, do not deem 1t advisabl,