Evening star., 1914-06-08
Former President Speaks at
Rappite Observance at
New Harmony, Ind.
FAIRBANKS Is EXPECTED
TO MAKE ADDRESS, ALSO
Fitting Tribute Paid to Robert
Owen, One of the 0riginators
Of the Movement.

NEW HARMONY, Ind. Juno s.-The
dawn Of Owen day found this little city
crowded with visitors and with partici-
pants IN the Rappite observance, the
height Of the centennial celebration OF
the founding Of New Harmony Fitting
tribute was paid to Robert Owen. the
man who originated one Of the most dis
cussed experiments in the history Of
socialism.
The feature of the program was an ad-
dress by former President William II
Taft. Mr.. Taft discussed various phases
Of Kappite life and of Robert Owens ex-
pertinent. and pointed out the significance
Of the foundation Of the colony. Mr.. Taft
and Charles W. Fairbanks, former Vice
President motored to New Harmony
this morning from Evansville, where they
spent the night. Mr.. Fairbanks is to
speak tomorrow.
Visitors found many things of interest
to claim their attention today. There are
exhibits of many historical objects In
show places Of the city. One Of the most
interesting is in the public school build
ings. where relics brought here from
Economy, Pa, where the Rappites made
their last stand. are on display; speak
ing trumpet used by Father Rapp in ad-
dressing his followers Is in the collection.
The centennial celebration closes Satur-
day.
This town probably Is the most famous
Of places IN the United States where the
exponents of socialistic and community
ideas tried to prove the practical value of
their theories. Mr.. Taft outlined the his
tory of these experiments here and drew
his conclusions.
Says SOCIALISM Must Fail.
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 con-
slant human effort that is furnished by
the institution of private property and
the shaping OF reward by competition and
natural economic adjustment The plan
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 Danish from every one
in human form self1shness and retain in
him the same energy, self-sacrifice and
industry 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 a socialistic COM
munity because we would have 1t at
hand. Until men are perfect beings of
this kind, socialism must either consti-
tute a tyranny 80 rigid as to destroy not
only the right of liberty and to inter-
fere with the pursuit of happiness, or 1t
must be a failure.
THE Owenite community at New Har-
mony was only one of a number of simi-
lar communities inaugurated to carry out
the, principles of one social philosopher
or another. Into them entered many
noble men and women with high purpose
and with the conviction that the secret
Of the regeneration Of society and the
world had been committed to them and
realization. There were other Owenite
experiments. one at Yellow Springs, Ohio:
another at Nashoba, In Memphis: another
at Haverstraw. IN New York; another at
Coxseckie in the same state, and a third
at Canton. Ohio, the Kendall community.
Then followed the disciples of Charles
Fourier. His theory was not purely so
cialtstfc, but kind Of compromise of a
scheme of harmony between capital and
choice and variety Of occupations. short
hours and sought to make labor attrac-
tive. The various communities were called
Phalanxes. The famous Brook farm at
West Roxbury. Mass, was one OF these.
There were many others, but In ten years
or less they were no more. Another
Frenchman, Etienne Cabot. described
what he called a voyage In Icaria which
gave his ideal Of a community on a
led to the attempt to establish a settle
ment in Texas, another one in Illinois
and a third In Iowa. called Icarian com
munities, but they. too. faded out.
Tells How It Must Come.
Mr.. Morris Hnlauit, leading socialist
xls-