The Washington times., 1901-07-29


00o the profits would amount to $4,000 a
year. This he would turn over to an as
sociation to buy land and to found CO.
operative village. to which he would
transfer the printing plant. Anyone con-
tributing sie0 or securing 200 subscribers
| would be charter member to aid in or
| ganizing the colony. Each member. man
| or woman. was to have an equal voice,
| whether contributing much or little No
| one would be obliged to work for the
| community. Everyone was to be free 10
| do as he or she willed, so long as in so do
| ing the equal rights of others were not
| infringed.
This proposition met with much favor.
! The circulation of the paper grew rapidly.
July 25, 1874, when the printing plant was
moved to Tennessee City, Tenn, the sub
scription list had reached 60.eo0.
THE Brotherhood of the Cooperative
| Commonwealth was organized in the
| fall of 1885 with headquarters in Maine.
| Its avowed objects Were: !. To educate
people in the principles of socialism. 2
| TO unite all socialists in one fraternal
association. 3. To establish cooperative
colonies and industries, and, far as
possible, concentrate these colonies and
| industries in one State until said State
is socialiZed.
BY referendum vote the admission fee
to any colony was fixed at $3.50 Money
poured in rapidly, an agent was sent in
1897 to find a suitable site for colony
in the State Of Washington. Some 620
acres We're finally secured in SkaCit
County. and colony No. /, Equality, was
organized in November of the same year.
In June. 1898, Equality became autono-
nous. and since that time the Brother
hood of the Cooperative Commonwealth
has had only a nominal existence. 1t is
therefore needless to give even an out
line of the constitution and bylaws
under which it proposed to organize and
socialize the State. So far as can be
ther effort being made by the Brother
hood of the Cooperative Commonwealth
to organize other colonies.
THE Colorado Cooperative Company is
located at Pinon, Monrrose County, COL
Near Pfnon is a large tract of ground,
about 1000 acres. known as Tabequache
Park, which only needs irrigation to make
II one of the most fertile regions in that
famous fruit-growing country The San
Miguel River is near at hand, but hun
dreds of feet below the level of this plain
About 1884 some persons discovered that
ffteen miles or so upstream the eleva-
tfon of the river was greater than that of
the park. and that it was quite possible
to construct a ditch from that point to
the park and bring 1t an ample supply |
of water. 1t was decided to form a CO.
operative company for the accomplish |
ment of this purpose. In order to prevent |
a few individuals from getting large |
tracts of this lano and reaping the chief |
benefits of the enterprise, it was stip- |
ulated that no one person could secure a |
water right at cost for more than forty |
acres. Membership included the purchase |
500. No one could hold more than onef
share and no stock could be sold by the |
to persons not becoming men,
bers. Membership entitled one to all the |
privileges of the company. such as get
ting goods at the company store at cost; |
also employment by the company at their
which were 20 cents an hour. were not
paid in cash, but in food supplies and
shelter, and in credit on the water right
of the members. The cost of the ditch
ftrtNsaA tod ...t.I
the ditch would add to the land was put
at 800 600
THE Straight Edge People is the name
.hosen by a little band of co-operators
Avenue. New York City. They claim to
,e associated for the purpose of living
ma working together harmoniously and
industrial enterprises upon
correct fundamental principles" For a
rcar or more they have published a little
,aper entitled THE Straight Edge the
'bject OF which. as set forth in the paper,
$ to make suggestions and formulate
,lans for the application Of the golden
ule 20 business and social relations
The Willard Cooperative Colony was or
fought 1000 acres of land in Cherokee
'ounty, North Carolina, and was incor-
'orated under the laws of that State In
,ranting the use of her name Miss Fran
es Willard expressed her hearty approval !
+ the purposes and principles of the col
ny and her deep interest In the under
alIng.
The colonists numbered about fifty. all
arnest Prohibitionists, and anxious TO
ound a community free from the vice
md poverty so common TO city life. De-
laring for Protestant Union Church. |
ased only on the Bible and the Apostles
reed, they adopted their religious
lotto, In essentials, unity; in non-essen-
ials. liberty; in all things. charity" {
'heir business motto was Manhood be- '
ore money-co-operation versus competi-
lon: their political creed, opposition TO
rusts. natural monopolies, and the liquor
rattle Capability and honesty in can I
idates were the only qualifications for
flee. Their land cost them 81 90, only ,
ne-third of which they were able to pay
own. The balance they were never able
} meet After two years so of strug- S
le. they were forced TO disband and lose :
II they had put in. Many of the mem (
ers Joined the Christian Commonwealth. :
Georgia, where they had a repetition
their former experience. q