Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1899-06-03
A STATEMENT.
Fairhaven, WASH, Apr. 10, '99.
,Donald. ESQ Newaukum. Wash.


Dear Sir and Brother:-Your favor of Apr.
srd was duly received and would have been
answered Immediately only waiting to find
out definitely about what is going to be
done in the matter. I now know. A paper is
being circulated for signers who are COLONY
members and contributors. When all who
can be found here, at Seattle, Mt. Vernon,
Edison and elsewhere have signed it will be
carried in person and presented to the Colo
ny. If they follow out their undertaking
course as observed by the writer during five
months residence there, they will either ig-
more this demand of absent members as I'M
worthy their notice, or they will give 1t con-
temptuous refusal. When this is done the
colony will be placed in the hands of re-
ceiver. 1t sounds hard, and it grieves me
sorely that this extreme measure is necessa-
ry in oLder to keep other msinformed people
from coming there and also suffer loss and
privations as SO many have Cone. have
given this matter months careful consider
alton that no injustice may be done any one
by hastily given conclusion regarding the
colony management and the result is that
find it impossible to keep still and let 9TH
ers be treated as | have been and as all the
others lover three hundred in number) who
have left the colony in sorrow and disgust
have been treated. To remain silent at this
time is to become party to the acts of the
colony management (?) which do not con-
slider to be honest.
Duty towards those who might injure
themselves by coming to Equality in its
present confused and anarchial state, and
my personal regard for many noble-heart-
ed men and women there force me now to
utterance. Now, when tell you that self
interests is all on the side of silence; that
have membership there and friend whose
interest are identical with my own has one
also, thus making me interested to the ex-
tent of 1920, in having this company 60 on
because if it succeeds we might con-
stantly hope TO realize the face value of
our investment, sometime-when tell you
this you will, perhap s, realize that the
moral obligation to speak against the man.
agement (?) of the colony is strong upon
me now Unmindful of the storm of abuse
that will rage about my ears, and disre-
gardful of self-nterest l say without fear
of successful contradiction that Equality
colony as managed (?) nowis a fraud, fail
ure and disgrace to the name of Social
ism, and for love of humanity if not for
the cause it should either be FORCED to 60
upon an honest basis, or obliterated in the
attempt.
The body of my complaint is found in two
rensons, viz. LIST, that members are prom
Used home in return for their investment
which was made for that specific pur-
pose and not as a contribution to char
liable institution, or bene VIOLENT associa-
ton, and they do not get home. What
they do get is tavesty on that sacred
word. I'd, that certain set rule at the
colony are solidly organized to defeat in
corporation. When the question was put
to one of these pillars of non-iucorporation
why they did not wish to incorporate and
thus become ready to do busieoss in a sys-
tematic way? he unblushingly replied, 1--WE
will not incorporate because if we did we
would then be responsible for our debts"
BY this specimen of charming candor you
will gather that their particular bunco is
to send out the raper showing only the
better side of life at Equality thus induce
ing people to come and join them. AS long
as newcomers are agreeable to certain
Equalityites they may stay and help to get
in more of these memberships to live on.
AS soon however, as the home-seeker, who
finds no home, grumbles little in blasted
hope. he Immediately becomes unpopular
and one way or another life is made unin-
durable there and he mus. choose between
going insane and getting away. Then If
he wants any of his membership fee, that.
was to get him home, returned to him, he
is ridiculed. He must even pay them more
cash to get the few remnonts OF his goods
they condescendingly, (sometimes) let him
have hauled off to the city of competition
there to begin the struggle all over
again, nenniless and bereft of faith in all
mankind.
When my memt ership was purchased 1t
was upon the plain proposition that all who
paid $3.50, were accepted and would work,
could have home. | was accepted, and
worked as others did during my stay, and
after five months in terror of fire and dread
of disease in those fearful apartment
houses came away fully convinced that
the elements for building home are at
Equality
There are many excellent people there
but these do not guide the craft, which is
ruled by willy few, who use the name so
cialism" as a cover for that which is, but lit
tie better than robbery.
make this statement with deep humiliation
for love the cause. 1t seems to the reason