The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-05-24
A FEW COSSACKS
BADLY DEFEATED
'UTOPIAN DREAM
IS FADING AN Az.
Dreamer Dying After Spending
His Wife's Wealth to Re-
form the World.
Special to The Journal.

Special to The journal.
Cambridge, Nd, May 24.-A man
who tried to reform the world-and
spent his wlfe's money freely in the
attempts dying here, while his uto-
plan dream fades fast away.
It is said to be only a question Of
few short weeks at most when Wal
ter Vrooman, who made one of the
most singular attempts at CONNER
clal cooperation on record, will pass
away. Vroo1nan, dreamer as he was
Of world made over on socialistic
principles, was thoroly honest, and,
tho he spent millions in attempting
to put his wild theories into prac-
tice, no one ever accused him of try
Ing to serve his own selfish purposes
in what he did. His altruis1n was
unquestionably genuine.
Vrooman crowded into twenty years
more socialistic activity than any
other man in this country, and in the
maintenance of his schemes, all Of
which failed, has expended sums est-.
mated to amount to millions.
This included part Of his wife's for
tune. His wife was Miss Allie Graf
FIN, member Of a wealthy Baltimore
family, and her marriage raised a
storm. Her fortune was in the hands
Of trustees. who refused to put her
IN possession Of it, and five years
of costly litigation followed before the
courts declared that the money must
be handed over to her.
Vrooman spent part Of it in philan-
thropic schemes. A year ago Mrs.
Vrooman obtained divorce.
Vrooman first came into promi-
nence about the time the Chicago
anarchists threw the bomb in Hay
market square. He was arrested for
making incendiary speeches protest.
ing against the conviction Of the
bomb-throwers
Later he was heard from In Eng
land, where he announced the found
ing of an institution for the study
Of political economy, and declared
| that his school was under the patron
age Of Oxford university. He was
next heard of in Australia, where he
| raised money for a city he was to
build on the plan set forth by Bel
lamy.
Wife Believed in Him.
He finally showed up in Baltimore
and presented his plans for a COM
that he married Miss Graffin. She
| believed that he would be able to
revolutionize the world and that all
his mission needed to make 1t fact
| was her money.
Within a few months after the
Icourt's decision In her favor Mr.. and
/ Mrs. Vrooman appeared in Kansas
City. Vrooman purchased stores right
i and left to be part of q vast co-opera-
tive scheme. TO call together crowds
! to whom he might explain his plans,
he rented the Century theater for an
| entire week and gave free perform
ances.
| Between the acts vrooman, or one
| Of his lieutenants, explained his CO.
/ r6
/ people to invest $500 each. He final
ly determined to give the world an
object lesson In how easy 1t is to es-
tablish cooperation. He chose Tren-
| ton, Mo-, as the scene Of his triumph.
His Trenton Experiment.
Trenton is near st. Joseph and has
some 5000 population. One fine morn
ing Vrooman and his staff swooped
down on Trenton and announced that
thereafter he would buy the mer-
chants out at their own figures, or they
must take the consequences.
He did not wish to injure any man
he said. On the contrary, he would
treat all as he would want to be
| treated. Within a week he purchased
a half-dozen Of the leading groceries
hardware stores and three drug stores
and had leased the biggest building In
town for q department store and the
headquarters of the Western Co.
operative association, which was the
style Of his commercial company.
| He paid for everything in cash and
he paid excessive prices. He rented
| the Trenton opera-house and for three
months gave first-class plays by first.
class companies, all absolutely free
| Before the end of the first months
| doings the people believed that Vroo.
/ man had actually moved the prom.
Used land right into Trenton.
1 At all these performances Vroomar
scribed themselves as disciples Of Rus.
kin. Vrooman purchased farm OF
1000 acres on the edge Of Trenton
| and there set gardeners at work rails
ing vegetables and fruits for canning
He built large cannery and gave
employment to hundreds at excellen
wages. He established an ax-handle
more.
i The Crash Came.
The crash came a year ago when hi.
4 stated, among other things that Vroo
man had squandered at least quar-
ter Of million of her money. TIL,
Western Cooperative association wen
into the hands Of g, receiver and Mrs
vrooman secured her divorce and re
turned to Baltimore.
! vrooman disappeared. Somewher,
in his travels he married again ans
with his new wife he has now sough
Equiet and rest in Cambridge.
GILLESPIE DENIES HE
IS Guilty. ON 0ATT