The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1914-06-11
Discussed by ex.President TAFT q
Centennial Celebration Of the
Founding Of New
Harmony

cialism 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 COM
munity ideas tried to prove the prac-
tical value Of their theories. The
former president outlined the history
of these experiments here and drew
his conclusions.
The most notable experiment at
New Harmony he said, that Of
Robert Owen, failed, as all Socialism
must fail, because 1t found no sub
stitute for the motive essential to
arouse and make constant human ef-
fort that is furnished by the institu-
ton Of private property and the shap-
ing Of reward by competition and nat
ural economic adjustment. The p'an
was based on the assumption that
man was a different being from what
he is. II he were so perfect that
his love Of human kind would ban
ish from every one in human form
selfishness and retain in him the en-.
ergy, self sacrifice and industry in
behalf of others that he now mani
tests in behalf of himself and those
near to him, then there would be no
need for the organization of a So
cialist community because we would
have 1t 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 ihust be a
failure.
Center Of Experiments
New Harmony, as Prof. Taft de-
scribed, was the center of two ex-
periments in Socialism Of very differ
ent types. The first of these started
hundred years ago by George Rapp,
German mechanic, was in motive
primarily religious.
THE Rappites," were classed by
the speaker with the Shakers, the
Zoarites, the Communes of Amara,
the Communes of Bethel and Aurora
and the Oneida community.
The Rappites Of New Harmony sold
out their land to Robert Owen ana
his partners in 1925. The community
Rapp founded was a Heterogeneous
collection of many different elements
Confusion finally resulted; the var.
ious factions finally asked Owen to
exercise his powers as director until
they could reach satisfactory ad-
justment. Five or six constitutions
were adopted within two years. Then
owen had an open breach with one
of his principal partners over the
adoption of the Pestalozzi method OF
school teaching.
"The Owensite community at New
Harmony" said Mr.. Taft, "was one
of a number Of similar communities
inaugurated to carry out the princi'
pies of one social philosopher or an
other. Into them entered many noble
men and women with high purposes
and with the conviction that The Sc
cret of the regeneration of society
and the world had been committed 10
them and was about to be revealed
in convincing realization
What History Teaches
Mr.. Taft gave the history OF severa'
other socialistic experiments and add
ed
~ shall not stop to discuss Social
Ism in general or what it means Tor
II might be difficult to give an aecur'
ate definition, so varying are tne
views of persons who call themselves
Socialists. But no one can read the
history of these isolated efforts IN 'he
direction Of regeneration OF society
on the socialistic principle ana Tue
abolition of the institution OF private
nroperty without most wholesome