Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-01-20
Action Brought Against Amana
Society For Wrongful Abuse
of Corporate Power
IN GOOD FINANCIAL CONDITION
IL tho Action is Successful the Articles
of the Society Will Have to be Re-
vised and Some May Refuse to Go
Into New Incorporstion-History of
the Settlement.
,,ecia, TO Times-Republican.

Iowa CITY. Jan. 20.-The Amana so
c;aty tho only successful communisic
settlement in the United States, may
be- dissolved on account of an action
brought against 1T for wrongful abuse
OF corporate power.
Attorney d. II. Wilson is after the
society seeking its dissolution, ana az
tho at first defeated by the action OF
County Attorney Downing in refusing
to proceed against the society for
wrongful abuse of corporate power, mas
been successful in obtaining an order
of court enabling him to proceed d.
rectly against the society.
The Amana society is organized un
der the incorpora ion provisions OF the
laws of Iowa providing for religious.
charitable and benevolent purposes, and
not for pecuniary profit.
The landed possessions OF the com
munity in Iowa county now amount 10
over $1.500,0OO. The society has been
thrifty and has prospered exceeding
ly. The products of its factories. han-
nels. woolens, indigo prints. and starch.
are widely known as articles OF com
merce over the entire country. Mr.. WI
son claims that the society has been
making money as have few individuals
or corporations engaged in the same
lines OF business. and that its business
methods constitute an abuse of corpor-
ate power not allowed under the laws
Of Iowa.
The Amana society was incorporated
~, VT ic1 nf In
corporation were put in evidence by
Mr.. Wilson in his suit. 1t was founded
as communistic society. The govern.
ment is vested in board of directors.
Hundreds OF acres of Iowa county farh'
land. the best soil in the state. have
been acquired by the society.
The Anana people eat In common,
and their washing is done In common.
but they have individual homes for tn"
families. The young people are given
a choice of leaving the society for the
world, or Of staying in the society. The"
usually take II short visit to the world
as represented by the cities OF Cedar
Rapids. Iowa City and Des Moines and
then return to the society. All goods
are owned in common. but 1t would he
remarkable II the head men OF the So
ciety did not have bit the best
clothes and little bit the best OF the
things OF life that are allowed for en-.
ioyment by the strict rules OF the So
ciety.
The men and women have distinct
dress. the sunbonnets of the women
and the buttonless clothes OF the men.
with their broad, black hats forming
striking costumes
Mr.. Wilson. who is a Marengo attor-
ney. employed, 1t Is said by some per
sons dissatisfied with the workings Of
the society, brought his action under
the title. In the matter of the appli-
cation to direct corporate power" II
he action is successful. the articles OF
the society will have to be revised, and
under the provisions cf
the laws governing corporations 10,
pecuniary profit will be necessitated.
Under these conditions. any dissatis-
ned member of the society could prob
ably withdraw from the society and
take with him his proportionate share
of the society's property. which would
be considerable sum. When 1t IS
considered that this will be the only
chance that the members would have
to get anything more than their sup
port from the society. II is seen that .r
all probability some members of the
society will yield to the temptation to
refuse to go into the new corporation
for pecuniary profit.
Judge Byington, In granting Mr.. Will