Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1902-06-25

xszxSSlG name Is Vroomar
| W. NnooMAN. Walter yrooman
He is n Missourlan by birth, and comes
of a family which has always been or
iginal in its thinking. His father was
n Free Thinker, and the rest OF the
family all have socialistic ideas. In
his youth Walter was known as an agi.
tator. They called him THE Boy An.
| archist." When Martin Irons started a
great railroad strike in 1885, Vrooman
Joined him as an organizer of knights
Of Labor lodges. Several times he was
arrested and Mt Parsons, Kan, he
started riot. Nexa.he became Con.
gresational preacher, and was pastor
of a church in Kansas City, Kan. All
this was before he was 20.
His early teachings, his associations,
his experiences all directed his mind
along socialistic lines. He became
the chum of Edward Bellamy. Then
he went to England, and ut Oxford es-
tablished Rusain Hall. 1t has the sup
port of the federated labor unions, and
1900 students are taking advantage Of
Its university extension system. 1t
teaches communlstic principles. 1t is
the basis of cooperative movement
in England and is working out vroo-
mans IDEAS.
This, In brief, is description of the
man who is just now one of the con-
spicuous figures of the West. He is
not philanthropist, but believes that
his own interests, MS well MS those of
other people. are best served by COM
bination of effort and an equal divis-
ion of financial results. He has mon
ey, and it is invested In the co-opera-
tive movement. He says that Its in
vestment after this fashion gives him
more enjoyment than he could get in
squandering it in the usual excuses of
the rich.
Now, what is this man doing? At
Trenton, Mo-, he has founded Ruskin
College. 1t is school which has self
help as its fundamental principle. 1t
gives collegiate training, but exacts
from its students labor rather than tut
tlon fee. Every student works. Ad-
Joining the college Is farm of 1900
acres IN which he estah,,sbod d,,,v
rho farm was nut nnder c,,,t,rot,on
and timber land was cleared. From
tbe trees cnt down tho stpdents sowod
lumber, which was used in the erection
of factory and other buildings. AK
handles were manufactured. From
some of the farm products CANNED
goods wore turned out This st;,, oo,,-
Times The students of Rnsk;n do al,
tbe work They ora Maid ~ conts IN
hour for tbeir labor and most of tbem
arc thus enabled To earn S3 nor wool,
which covers their EXPENSES for hoard
lodging and tuition. So well did Rus'
kin College succeed that yroomon
.,roadencd his ideas.
The Western Co.onerotive Assoc;a.
ton was formed. 1t purchased n dry
goods store. stocks of drugs. hardware
notions and laundry in Trenton Four
grocery stores were subsequently add.
cd. The raising of chickens and tho
manufacture of drugs and proprietary
medicines followed. Trenton is now in
the grasp of cooperative trust.
There is even a cooperative theatrical
company, with Walter Jefferson. one
of Joe Jefferson's sons. as manager.
Members of the association can attend
performances free, At Gallatin. Mo.
there is Il grocery store. Negotiations
are In progress for several stores at
st. Joseph. At Independence the asso-
citation owns five stores and also 100
acres of land. In addition there is n
complete dairy, which will supply In.
dependence and Kansas City with
milk. There is also grocery store at
Westport. In all the association CON
trolls TWENTY-FIVE stores.
In the purchase of these establish
ments probably half N million dollars
have been invested, of which Mr. yroo.
man furnished something like 5000 600.
Every member of the association finds
employment, is a stakeholder and
shares In the profits. In MANY in.
stances the former owner holds re-
sponsible position in the store. Store.
keepers are beginning to- see the possl.
bilities in the enterprise. and are offer
ing their large stocks of goods In gonna
instances MS much az S50O0O worth
for shares in the nssocintion
sociation Is about IN hill, ,n,aaI -,
lare. II has ,con,red .loO ocrns and ;s
negot;,t;nr for a.nn ,,,r, H. =. -,