Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1905-03-03
LSioux City Tribune.l
moo Ia GnAQfu1. Affa,.

1NAtNAS hoh W. NNiNoA I'VE, oihN
after living as one large fam
lily for over nifty years, the Amana
Communist society, near here, is facing
compulsory dissolution at the hands OF
the law.
Though the members OF the society
WI their own property in common,
and do not require money az a medium
of exchange, Martha Wilson, a large
taxpayer OF Iowa county, has fled
here Il petition asking the district court
10 instruct the county attorney 10 pro-
coed against the society for exceeding
their corporate rights. In a word, Mrs.
Wilson alleges that the peculiar re-
ligious dogmas OF the society have been
used to free IL from the burdens of citi-
zenship; that their communism is a
guise behind which to acquire large
property holdings without being re-
CURED to pay taxes. And il the petit
ton Is sustained the members of the
society Will be compelled to abandon
their communistic scheme and pay
some hundreds of thousands of dollars
in back taxes. For this society of 2,400
members owns the equivalent OF one
of the smaller counties of Iowa, and
their prosperity has been remarkable.
While the articles OF Incorporation of
the society say IL was organized for the
promotion of the temporal n spiritual
welfare and happiness OF it's members,
Mrs. Wilson alleges the society TO have
acquired 10000 acres of land, seven
towns, buildings worth 81. 000, 900, mer-
chandise stores doing a large business,
cotton, wooden and other manufacture
Ing plants; and hat all this is without
the scope OF the corporation, as one
not organized for pecuniary profit.
The petition presents TO the Iowa
courts for the first time the question
Of whether communism is a speculative
venture.
AS long ago as the opening OF the
eighteenth century occurred the birth
of the Anana society. 1t sprang from
the religious branch known as the
Quietists, formed by Miguel de Molinos
In Spain in 1875, de Molinos pleading
for the religion Of the heart in prefer
ence to that OF the ritual. In liza r.. +.
Book and +, l.. Gruber, of Hessia, Ger
many, organized a religious sect, whose
belief was that God inspires men, to
speak and act for Him a much as in
the days of the prophets. Followers
fiocked to the new society, but soon
persecution was aroused and the mem
bers were publicly whipped and their
meetings forbidden. Nevertheless, the
society grew until in 1912, after a love
feast. Christian Metz, George Weber,
William Noe and Gotlieb Alderman
StdElEu " AlIIGIIG~ 10 iIliu dHllOtIlG LOT
the Inspi~rationists.
Upon the advice OF a German mn
Keeper they opened negotiations with
he Seneca Indians and purchased 10,-
COO acres not far from Buffalo, N. Y.
for $1,000 an acre. There they built
a town called Ebenezer, Eben. a stone,
and ezer, help. Just as in the days of
Samuel, h set up a stone in com
menoration of divine assistance, these
pilgrims made OF this town a sign of
their successful struggle for the right
TO worship as they wished. The others
followed. until, in 1914. about 500 had
come from Germany, carpenters,
masons, blacksmiths, merchants. and,
In fact all the tradesmen.
Though, under their able leaders,
they had every promise of prosperity
and happiness, they We're SO annoyed
by the Indians that a committee was
sent to Iowa IND found land could be
bought for SIPS an acre. Accordingly,
about 3,3G0 acres were purchased about
twenty miles west of iowa City, the
New York and sold and the colony
moved to the new western state.
In 1906, when the capital first met at
Fort Des Moines, the society was in
corporated, which provided for the fol-
lowing unique schemes of living.
The control and management of the
society shall be vested in a board of
thirteen trustees 10 be elected annually
out of the number OF elders. The
trustees shall annually elect out of
their umbe n president, vice presi-
dent and secretary. who shall have full
power TO sign all public and legal doc
uments in the name of the society.
Every member liz In duty bound to
give his Or her personal and real prop
erty to the trustees for the common
fund, at the time of joining the soci-
ely. For such payment each member
is entitled to credit thereof on the
books of the society and 10 a credit
signed by the president and secretary
n is secured by a pledge of the com
mon property OF the society.
; Each member is entitled to free
board and dwelling, TO supper ard
car in old age, sickness and infirmity,
n to an annual sum of maintenance,
the amount of which to be fixed by the
trustees. All children and minors af-
ter the death OF their parents and rela-
tives shall be orphans under the special
guardianship of the trustees during
their minority. All credits. If not dis
posed of by Will, or any debts left by
the parents. are to be assumed by the
children. members leaving the society
either by their choice or by expulsion
the common fund without any interest
or allowances for services during the
tine OF their membership"
Under these simple rules the society
has demonstrated that communism can
he made q success, by expanding into a
society OF z, 400 members In fifty years,
building the town of Amana, West
Amana, South Amana. High Amana,
East Amana. Homestead and Middle
Amana- Two wooden mills are oper-
ated. and a calico factory, whose out
put Is much in demand In the outer
world. A seven mile canal from the
Iowa river furnishes most of the power.
When a member OF the society enters
a store he does not need money to buy.
He takes what he wants and the store
keeper charges the amount To him.
This is transferred later 70 the individ-
ual's account in the hands OF the trus-
tees. When one desires a trip or q va
cation he must apply to the elder under
whom he serves, and. IL he has been In
dustrious n has q good balance to his
credit. he will be given the permission
and the necessary funds.
The principle OF communism is car-
/ ried even TO the matter OF food There
are large ommon kitchens. where two
or three score eat, thus saving by co.
operation much OF the labor and ex-
Bsnse IL the Individual household.
Primitive TO a degree are these peo-
pie. Their attire Is the simple apparel
OF old Germany oxen teams carry
supplies from own TO town and do
much OF the work in the fields. No
money is wasted In the purchase Of
paint for their houses. but the expected
/ baroness OF their villages Is relieved
by the broad gardens of flowers where
the women and girls spend long hours
hrfncyuH U1f natures bSoufy Wnrnou