The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-08-19


4 y described at length in a re-
cent bulletin of the bureau
of labor 1t concerns a colony planted
in the heart of New York city, with
headquarters at 240 Sixth avenue, and
known as the Straight Edge People.
For year or more they have pub
lshed little paper called the
straight Edge" the objects of which
are set forth to be; ito make sugges-
tions and formulate plans for the APP
plication of the Golden Rule to busi-
ness and social relations" The sub
scription price is designed to pay the
cost of the paper, ink, postage and
thirty-fve cents an hour for the me-
chanical and clerical work in connec-
tion with the paper. If the receipts
exceed the cost of these items, the
! surplus is divided among the sub
scrihers. If they fall short, the SUBJ
scribers are apprised of the deficiency
an1 those who wish to apply the Gold
en- Rule do so. There are no paid
contributors. and there is ro space
| for sale for any purpose or at any
! price. Nobody is in debt for the
Straight Edge. 1t is easier and cheap
| er to forgive debts than to keep books"
The industries Of the colony at pres
| ent are job printing, sign making and
| bread baking. The last named indus
| Try they hope To develop into a CO.
! operative Kitchen from which to serve
! wholesome food at cost to families in
the neighborhood. They have recent
| ly taken a farm on Staten Island,
where they hope to raise much of the
! produce needed for their restaurant
| and kitchen in the city. They have
also small manufacturing plant with
| which they turn out certain novelties
! they propose to make. Finally, they
| hope TO establish a school of co-opera-
| tive industry, where they will teach
the art Of social and industrial CO.
| operation.
These people profess to believe it
both possible and practicable 10 apply
| in actual business and social affairs
| the principles enunciated in the Ser
mon on the Mount, and to do this
without running away from cviliza-
tion. They call their institution a
school of methods designed to instruct
people in the best way of doing this.
At present the Straight Edge People.
for economic reasons. are living in a
| communal home; but their plan con-
| templates complete economic indie
pendence of the workers. Each work
er, young or old, regardless of occu-
patton or skill, receives thirty five
cents an hour, which each worker is
free to use in establishing a home out
side. They believe in large individual
| freedom and encourage individual in
itative in all matters. Any surplus
Of earnings over and above thirty
| five cents an hour for each worker
employed, goes to provide like indus
trial opportunities for other workers.
These people have an odd way of
distributing their work and their re-
sponsibilitios. They have a suggestion
box into which any member may put
anonymous written suggestions re-
gardnC the distribution and execution
of the work TO be done. These sugges-
the weekly business meetings. Each
worker voluntarily assumes the re-
sponsibility for such work as he feels
himself best fitted TO do, and all ar
rangements are subject to criticism
! by any Of the members. The more
disagreeabe work is shifted as often
as practicable in order to equalze
the burden. When one has chosen his
work he is trusted to do it without
supervision, but encouraged 10 consult
his fellow workers. in case of doubt
as TO the best methods.
This plan of dispensing with a boss
is said to work we'll and TO have 8
wholesome and stimulating effect upor
the workers. A system of time cards
enables each worker 10 keep his owr
record which is criticized. amended
and irdorsed at the weekly meetings
and all payments are based on The
number Of hours so returned The or
ganization started two years ago witt
: only $50 borrowed capital and foul
members. Being located in New Yorl
: city the rent problem has always beer
a serious one and the growth neces
sarily slow. There are now twelv,
r adult workers in New York city anc
l several additional will be employed
I on the farm.
/. The resemblance between this ex
I pertinent and that worked out by tn
t Oneida community, a sketch of whicl
4 was recently given on this page, /
$ very marked. But if the Straigh
n Edgers hold together lorg enough the,
e. will acquire a boss. No scheme of lif
D succeeds without one.