Northern Wisconsin advertiser. [volume] (Wabeno, Wis.) 1898-1925, 1904-07-28
AN AMERICAN COMMUNE.
Sixty Thousand Men in a Working
Socialist Commonwealth.


Capt. w. E. French, u. S. A.. in the
Arena.-There exists today in our
country a practical working model of
socialism on small but by no
means minute scale, backed by a
paternal government and differing
specifically only, except in one inn
portant burt readily modified particu-
lar, from an almost ideal commune.
1t has been running smoothly for over
a century, comprises about sixty
thousand people in its regular estab-
lishment and perhaps twenty or thirty
thousand that are of it but not in it,
although enjoying many of its priv
leges; and at one time it had mem
bership of over two million.
This socialism has its being in an or
ganization that is popularity supposed
to be, and in some respects is, a des-
potism-a case of the lion lying down
with the lamb inside, or of 'out of the
strong cometh forth sweetness the
lion in this instance being the United
States Army.
The United States is our employer,
taskmaster, paymaster and most kind
and considerate public parent. We
live on Government land ana in Gov
eminent houses, the use of both being
part of our perquisites and both being
kept in order free of expense. Our
pay is generous, our work Tin time of
peace) not arduoTs, and each is sup
posed to be proportioned to our re-
spective abilities and to age and
length of service We are allowed,
gratuitously, the use of land and water
all the natural opportunities, in fact),
but are not permitted to employ them
for purposes of speculation, extortion
or monopoly, nor must we use them
to exploit labor or the public. We en-
joy free certain other valuable allow
es-comfortable, artistic, modern
shelter; medical and surgical attend
ance, including nurses, appliances and
drugs; transportation when travelling
on duty, with fair baggage allowance
and sufficient mileage to cover all ex-
ira expenses; ice where it can be har-
vested Cat cost where manufactured)
ordinary household repairs; access to
tools and machinery; music Of high
grade: fairly comprehensive library;
golf links. tennis courts and ball
grounds, toboggan slides, skating
Kinks and swimming pools; chapel
with a salaried chaplain and no pew
rent: and an amusement hall, which
is always a fair ballroom and frequent
ly tolerable theater. We may buy of
the Government, at net wholesale
rates, food, fuel, light, clothing (all
free to the enlisted man, being a por-
ton of his rations and allowance,
weapons and certain articles of furni-
ture. We are furnished with stoves,
furnaces, ranges and cooking utensils;
provided with feed for horses when on
mounted service; allowed commute
ton of quarters (house remit when on
duty outside of a garrison: and given
one months holiday or leave of abb
sence every year, which vacation may
be accumulated for four practically
five) years, the cumulative leave be-
ing on full pay, addluonal on hsii.
During illness. or while on what we
call sick leave" (no matter If It be
for years., we are on full pay.
At the age of sixty-four, after thirty
years service discretionary with the
President). after forty years service
obligatory if application be made), or
when injured. mentally or physically.
in the line of duty, an officer is retired
on three-quarters pay, an enlisted man
after serving twenty-five years.
1t is to be plainly seen that rent.
fire and endowment insurance, taxes,
water rates, repairs, competition, mu-
liability Of employment, ill-health. por-
tionless old age, strike, lockout and