Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-06-09
TAFT DISCUSSES
SOCIALISM IN HIS
INDIANA ADDRESS
Centennial of Town
OF New Harmony
Is Celebrated

New Harmony, Ind, June S.--Rea-
sons for the failure of experiments in
socialism were discussed by William H.
Taft today in an address delivered at
| the centennial celebration of the
founding of New Harmony. This
town probably is the most famous of
places in the United States where the
opponents of socialistic and eommun-
ity ideas tried to prove the practical
value of their theories The former
President outlined the history of these
experiments here and drew his conclu-
sions.
The most notable experiment at New
Harmony, he said, that of Robert
owen, failed, "as all socialism must
fail, because it found no substitute for
| the motive essential to arouse and
make constant human effort that is
furnished by the institution of private
property and the shaping Of reward by
competition and natural economic adj
justment. The plan was based on the
assumption that man was a different
being from what he is. If he were so
perfect that his love of human kind
would Danish from everyone in human
1
same energy, self sacrifice and indus
try in behalf of others that he now
manifests in behalf of himself and
those near to him, then there would be
no need for the organization of So
cialistic community because he would
have it at hand. Until men are per-
feet beings of this kind, socialism must
either constitute a tyranny SO rigid as
to destroy not only the right of liberty
and to interfere With the pursuit OF
happiness, or 1t must be failure"
New Harmony as Prof. Taft des-
cribed, was the centre of two expert
ments in socialism of very different
types. The first of these, started
hundred years ago by George Rapp, a.
German mechanic, was in motive pri-
marily religious. The Rappites'
we're classed by the speaker with the
! Shakers, the Zoarites. the Communes
of Amana, the Commune of Bethel ana
| Aurora and the Oneida Community.
| They were all successful for years,
he said, "in the simple methods OF
manufacture and agriculture to when
their members devoted themselves
They are not examples useful for the
sociological student in considering
present day socialism because their
members had not before them the
working out of a new plan for society
and social progress, but rather meth
cd of living a satisfactory rellglous
community existence. In the nten-
sity of their religious motive was
found a spur to industry and SELF
sacrifice and a substitute for the IN
| stitution of private property Vhch
such communities abolished. untli
othar forms of socialism find such
substitute, they are likely to prove
| futile. as the history of several IN
stances of practical trials has depon-
| strated."
The Rappites of New Harmony SOLD
ont their land to Robert owen and his
rartners in 1925. The community
Rapp founded was a Heterogeneous col
lection of many different elements.
Confusion finally resulted; the various
ractions asked Owen to exercise his
I Mowers as a dictator until they could
roach satisfactory adjustment. Five
or six different constitutions were
adopted within two years. Then owen
bad an open breach with one of his
nrincipal partners over the adoption OF
The Pestalozzi method of school teach
ing. The community disintegrated but
tbe Ovenses remained in New Har-
monv and the family became leaders IN
tho political and social life of the
state.
1.-THE Owenite community at New
Harmony" said Mr.. Taft. was only
one of a number of similar communl-
ties inaugurated to carry out Tue
principles of one social philosopher OF
another. Into them entered many
noble men and women with hlsn pun
nose and with the conviction that the
/ secret of the regeneration or society
and the world had been committed TO
them and was about to be revealed III
convincing realization. Ihere were
other Owenite experiments, one at yell
low Springs, Ohio, another at Nasnopa'
in Memphis, another at Haverstraw, IN
New York, another at CoxsacKle III tle
same state and third at canton
Ohio. the Kendall Community Iheh
| followed the disciples or Charies
Fourier. His theory was not purely
Socialistic, but a kind of compromise
of a scheme of harmony between capi-
tal and labor in which he gave TO all
Ia borers a choice and variety OF occu-
nations. short hours and sought 10
| make labor attractive. Inc various
communities we're called PhalanNes'
The famous Brook Farm at west
Roxbury Massachusetts,, was one OF
! these. There were many otners' put
in ten years or less they were no more.
Another F'renchman, Ettienne CABOT
described what he called q voyage IN
Icaria which gave his ideal OF COM
munity on a communistic and social
istic basis. This led to the attempt
to establish a settlement in Texas,
another one in Illinois and third in
Iowa, called Icarian Communities, but
they too faded out.