The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-06-08
Reviews Several Experiments.
in Socialism in the United
States Of America.
PLAN LACKS SUBSTITUTE
For Motive Essential to Arouse
and Make Constant HUI
man Effort.
MEMORIAL DAY
:, tsY ..see.AIsD rE.ss'

NEW HARMONY. Ind, June g.
Reasons for the failure OF expert
ments in Socialism were discussed BY
William H Taft today In an address
delivered at the centennial celebra
ton OF the founding OF New Harmony.
THIS town proaa!,Iy is the most "a
mtLS OF places IN the United States
Wht E the exponeutS Of SocIalistIc and
community ideas triei 10 prove tile
practical 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
OwSh, failed ~ all socialism nnsr
fail, because 1t. found no substitute
fur The motive ESSENTIAL to atuuse and
make constant human effort that IA
furnished by the Institution Of priyte
property and the shaping Of reward
by competition and natural economic
adjustment. The plan was based On
the assumption that man was a differ
emit being from what he is. If he were
SO perfect that his love Of human kind
would Danish from everyone in hu-
man form seltishness and retain In
MN the same energy, self-sacritice
ana industry In behalf OF others that
ne now mantfests in behalf of himself
ana those near to him, then there
would be no need for the organization
OF Socialistic community because we
would have 1t at hand. Until men are
perfect 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 q,
a failure"
Rapplte History.
new Harmony, as Prof. Taft de-
scrtbed, was the center OF two expert
ments In Socialism Of very different
types. The first Of these, started &
hundred years ago by George Rapp. 4
Gernan mechanic, was in motive pri-
martly religious. THE Rappifesp
were classed by the speaker with tie
shakers, the Zoarites, the Communes
TO- which their members devoted
and Aurora and the Oneida, G0nmuii.
ity They were all successful f0r
years" he said, lin the simple met II
DDS Of manufacture and agriciftiira
to which their melnebrs tinyotea
themselves. They are not examples
usetul for the sociological sludent IN
considering present day Socialism be-
cause their members had not before
them the working out OF new plan
Tor sobrtety and social progress. niit
rather q method Of living satisfae
tory religious community oxibtenea.
IN the intensity of their religious mo-
i've was found spur to industry and
seI-sacritce and substitute for the
institution OF private property which
such communities abolished TTnfiI
otner forms of Socialism fud such i
substitute, they are likely to prove
futile, as the history OF eeveraI
instances Of practical trials have DEM
onstrated."
Inc Rappites of New Harmony sold
out their land to Robert Owen and f1is
partners in 1925. The commurif
happ founded was HETEROGENEOUS
colection OF many different elements
CONFUSION finally resulted; the var.
ious factions asked Owen to exercise
MS powers as a dictator until they
could reach a satisfactory adjustment
rive or six different constitutions
were adopted within two years. Then
owen mad an open breach with one
Of his principal partners over ~
adoption of the Pestalozzi method 81
school teaching. The community
dtsintegrated but the owenes ~
NAMED in New Harmony and the FAM
lily became leaders in the political ana
SOCIAL life OF the state.
OF Short Duration.
The Owenite community 1T New,
Harmony" said Mr.. Taft, twas only
Continued on maze for-. :