Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1904-08-01
AN AMERICAN COMMUNE.
Sixty Thousand NE. n Working
Socialist Comm wealth.

sixty nclaanQ NE N working
Socialist Comm wealth.
Capt. W. f. French. 5. a, in the
Arena.-There exists today in our
country a practical working model OF
a socialism on a small but by no
means minute scale. backed by a
naternaI government and differing
specifically only. except in one i'm
uOrtant but readily modified particu-
lar. from an almost ideal commune.
II has been running smoothly for over
a century. comprises about sixty
thousand people In its regular estab-
Iishment and perhaps twenty or thirty
thousand that are Of IL but not in IL,
although enjoying many OF its privi-
Ieges: and az one time IL had a mem
bership Of over two million
This socialism has its being in an or
Eanization that is popularity supposed
20 be. and in some respects is. a des-
rotism-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 ant in Gov
eminent houses, the use OF both being
part OF our perquisites and both being
kept In order free OF expense. Our
uay is generous, our work tin time OF
peacel not arduOUs, and each is sup
posed 70 be pr0pOrtioned 10 our re-
spective abilities and 70 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 10 employ them
for purposes of speculation. extOrtiOn
or monopoly. no. must we use them
O. exploit labor or the public. We en-
JOY free certain other valuable allow
ances-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 il can be har-
vested tat cost where manufactured)
ordinary household repairs; access to
tools and machinery; music OF nigh
grade; a fairly comprehensive library;
golf links. tennis courts and ball
grounds, tobOggan slides. skating
Kinks and swimming pools; a chapel
with a salaried chaplain and no pew
rent: and an amusement hall. which
Is always a fair ballroom and frequent
Is tolerable theater. We may buy OF
the Government. at net wholesale
rates. food. fuel. light. clothing (aIl
free 70 the enlisted man. being a por-
ton OF his ratiOns and aIlOwance).
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 ChOuse remit when on
duty outside OF a garrison; and given
one months holiday or leave OF alb
sauce every year. which vacation may
be accumulated for four practically
fvel years. the cumulative leave be-
ing on full pay. additional on half.
During illness. or while on what we
call sick leave" (no matter II II be
FOR years.. we are on full pay
At the age Of sixty-fcur. after thirty
years service discretionary with the
Presidenl. after forty years service
obligatory GO application be made), or
when injured. mentally or physically
In the line Of duty. an officer is retired
on threeguarters pay. an enlisted man
after serving twenty-five years
Tt IS 20 be plainly seen that rent.
FIRE and endowment insurance. taxes. /
water rates. repairs. competition. mu-
liability 81 employment. iIl-health. pOr-
tl1uIess old age. strike. lockout and