Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1899-05-27


and family during the above time did not ex-
coed in value one months labor from one av-
erage worker, and the bad moral effect Offset
the benefits OF their work in ratio of ZIG TO
T.. But he got his money back besides an al
lowance for the few days he labored.
Another bone of contention has been over
members going out to work for themselves
individually falling to realize that those who
remained behind were working for them in
their absence. This matter is, however, in
fair way to be remedied, a better understand
ing having come about through frequent dis
cussion of the subject.
Most of our people here at present realize
to a greater or less extent that they are
part of the colony, and that its failure through
any fault of the coonists would stamp each
colonist as an individual failure also
Brighter days are slowly dawning for the
colony through the natural gradual growth
of the cooperative spirit among the people,
and when that spirit is firmly implanted in
each breast success will be attained and not
before. "A house divided against itself can
not stand"
~ word regarding those who have invest
then after time withdrew. At first sight it
looks as though unless their investment was
returned, such persons were defrauded. But
there is another side to the story. Does any
sane person suppose that any of us would
have undertaken the work had we not SUI D.
posed that, at least the greater part of those
joining intended to stay with the proposition
and eight her through" There was con-
tract implied when we banded together, that
we would support one another in carrying
the load, and every useful member that drop
ped out left the burden that much heavier
on the remainder. Had most of US realized
that so many of our comrades would have
failed us, we would have stayed where we
came from and not have made the sacrifices
we did in breaking up our homes and coming
here
The worst part of this dropping out bust
ness is the qualification it gives the enemies
of Socialism who are continually encouraged
in believing that they scent another social
istic tizzle." Some one has to stick and ''stand
the gatf' or fizzle it would be, and we cannot
afford any more such. They are becoming
monotonous, and the plea can very plausibly
be raised that if we make a fizzle of colony
socialism, we would do the same in an at
tempt to establish state socialism, and we
cannot controvert the statement.
The best way is to make success of the
smaller enterprise and tackle the larger as
we come to it.
Now don't understand that | am advocating
that people remain within the colony after
becoming dissatisfied with their associates
Not by any means, for a lot of inharmonious
disgruntled people will soon create hell
>upon earth" for each other, and had better
separate. The point | wish to make is that
after coming in and leading the colony to be-
lieve that they can be depended on to carry
along the proposition it is rather hard to
press the repayment of their fee on leaving,
especially after they themselves have helped
invest the capital in such a manner
that it cannot be reached perhaps for years,
being generally expended in making perma-
nent improvements Or maintenance during
the first two or three years of pioneer life.
We should at least have the use of the in
vested capital for reasonable length of time
to Offset the damage done by Withdrawals.
for repeat again that we should not have
made this venture, and run the risk of making
ridiculous the sacred cause of socialism. to
say nothing of breaking up and losing our
individual homes had we not believed that
most of our comrades would have proven to
be thoroughbred bulldogs and stayed with us
to the bitter end.
One great factor in ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
TO many pioneers has been the fact that
through reading Bellamy's Looking Back
ward" and other idealistic works many have
impressed upon their minds beautiful pic
ture of socialism that cannot possibly be re-
allied short of National or International So
ciallsm, and coming to a rough backward
colony with the usual repulsive surroundings
the reaction is too great, and not possessing
the necessary stamina to endure and assist in
building up the ideal. gloom, homesckness,
tears, reproaches, etc, naturally follow, and
then comes departure, and perhaps a.state-
ment that Equality is fraud" and they
have been deceived -
Some expect $4,000 conditions for $lG0
investment.
Some Of our best people have left Us for va
rious reasons who were not at all dissatisfied
with the people here A number would have
liked to remain but members of their families
would not.
a colony Il certainly grand school for Il e
study OF human nature. Thought seems to
How in waves and gets in its work so sudden
" that il is hard keeping track Of It. You
fvfst.r taat