The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-20

I&RTS ness as well. ana tnat TINS IS
~ the fact with reference to Robert
Dale Owen has been strikingly exemplified
in the present agitation to place a MEM
orial to this celebrated character in the
Statehouse. at Indianapolis. this to be done
by the women of Indiana for whom per-
haps, Robert Dale Owen did more, in the
large, than any other one person or in
fiuence in this commonwealth.
This movement has recently been inaugur-
ated by Mrs. Julia A. Conklin, well-known
as a writer and a clubwoman and actively
identified with the public life of the State
for many years. and is sponsored by the
State Federation of Clubs, although it is
not to be limited to the latter organization
but is TO include every woman in Indiana
who may wish TO contribute the smallest
possible sum TO help swell the fund to
honor the memory of this benefactor of her
sex.
who is Robert Dale Owen?" ask many,
and even those who have knowledge of his
life and public service have only a vague
notion of what he really accomplished,
save that he connected in a general
way with the founders of New Harmony,
or at least with the early life of that COM
munity. Robert Owen, his father, was one
of the remarkable men of his time, enter
tanning advanced views as to the organiza-
ton and conduct of society at a period
when such problems were given little
sequence, put down radical and some
thing of visionary, although he was ac-
counted a great philanthropist of his day.
A Scotchman by BIRTH an employer of Ia
Dor and an acute observer of social condi
tons, he evolved a scheme for the reOr-
ganlzation of society at large; now known
equalization might be brought about and,
to his notion, many of the ills of that time
to a newer country for the theater of his
effort, he purchased the 10000 acres on the
Wabash river in this State owned by the
Rappites, who had for ten years occupied
this spot but who, for some obscure reason,
now desired to return TO Pennsylvania.
Robert Owen regarded this as a happy op-
portunity for the development of his social
theories and with a number of other per-
sons, some of them celebrated, established
the community known as New Harmony
Robert Dale Owen came to this country
with his father in 1926, and Immediately
actively interested himself in the work of
the settlement. He taught in the schools of
the town, and here it was that equal educa-
tional privileges for both sexes were first
established. He edited a paper. and also
declared himself to the proper authorities
a citizen of this country. 1t may here be
| apropos to quote Mr. Owen when he was
later twitted in Congress with being a
| foreigner, Mr.. Owen saying, in effect that
| in the place of his birth he had no choice
| had he been given the selection of a spot
il would have been in the Pocket of In
| diana" his allegiance TO his adopted coun-
| try and State being of the most ardent
/ character.
In 1886 he was elected to the Legislature
| of Indiana, and at once began a propo-
| ganda for the betterment OF the educational
| and property conditions of the citizens of
| the State, this finally resulting in some of
| the most beneficial laws now on our statute
| books. Through his efforts the law setting
| aside for educational purposes two-thirds
of the surplus revenue appropriated TO this
State was passed, and he was also instru-
mental in bringing to a successful issue
other important measures pertaining to the
/ educational system of Indiana.
IL mis- long continued fight and
| strenuous advocacy of more liberal laws
| governing the property rights of women,
! however, that should make his memory
| an honored one, for during his first term in
the Legislature he introduced a bill Civ
/ ing to married women and widows the
| right to own and control property. While