The log cabin Democrat., 1916-03-11

Helnemann after ne had shown the constitution of the society Tt is not an experiment to solve great social problems. We care nothing for poli- tics, for economies. We have adopted the communistic plan because we think by it's means we are better able to lead true and Christian lives.
 Do you vote?" I asked.
 "No,' said the head of the society. Sometimes we vote in township cleo tions. But not for national issues.
 Then you are citizens?" I said
 Yes he replied. And we try to be good citizens We have no beer because Iowa has gone on record against beer We have even stopped dispensing the wine we make here"
 How are your sympathies in the war;" I asked.
 War is against our religious faith" he said. We do not believe in war. War is unnecessary. It is caused by money. Love for gain is responsible. Here in Amana there is no war for we have no love for gain
 It is this spirit, No love for gain" that is noticeable throughout the Amana communities.
 Educate Their Doctors.
 Take, for instance, the physicians There are three of them, all members of the society. They were sent by the society to the colleges at which they were graduated All their college ex- pense was borne by the society One even was sent to Europe to study. And when they completed their edu. cation they came back to Amana and became community physicians. To members of the society their services are free, but outsiders are charged fee. This fee, however, does not go to the physician It goes to the so- ciety.
 The physicians are the envy of Amana, although none of the Amana residents will admit that there is such thing as envy. When the physicians pass on the road the Amana house wives turn their sunbonneted heads and the Amana boys and girls look with open admiration for the Amana physicians have automobiles. They are the only people in the society who have them. The machines were purchased by the society and they are the only machines in the Amana villages
 Work in the Amana villages is par celed out by the elders. If a man likes machinery he may go to the mills as machinist. If he is fat and cheerful he may be assigned to run one of the Amana hotels. The elders see that the tasks are done and there is little complaint of laziness There is rumor that on one occasion years ago a man who refused to work and on whom suspension from church had no effect was expelled from the so- ciety
 In the Amana villages there are prayer meetings every night in the year. There are 20 ministers. The elders conduct the services in church. at funerals and at weddings.
 Marriage is neither encouraged nor discouraged. Mir. Heinemann, the president, is a bachelor.
 The Ten Commandments are the re- ligious and civil laws of Amana. Oaths are forbidden, averments and confirma- tions are made by affirmation. No at tempt is made to follow styles in dress. Hair ribbons, mustaches, neck ties and other adornments are banned. Games and "all frivolous and worldly amusements are not countenanced. Cards are unknown.
 To the outsider it would seem that life for the Amana children must be something of burden, for school is conducted six days a week, fifty-two weeks in the year, all sports are banned, dancing is unknown and each child must learn sixty-two rules of conduct for children" The teachers are men, members of the society
 Despite the simple life in Amana the children, most of them, stay in the society. President Heinemann and other officials estimate that 60 per cent of the children stay in Amana.
 Can Leave If They Wish.
 Sometimes they go away" said Mir. He;nemann. They seek excitement. But many of them come back We let them go if they wish. There is no compulsion here"
 Women in Amana villages work in the mills, in the stores, in the fields and dairies The stores are general merchandise stores, one in each viii lage They are kept like the Amana houses, absolutely clean, and many people from outside the colony trade in the Amana stores.
 Four members of the society, includ- ing Metz, came to America in 1S42. They were given full power to act for all the members and purchased land where they thought it best.
 The travellers decided on 5000 acres of land on the old Seneca Indian reser- vation in New York. They sent word back to Germany and in three years, from 1S43 to 1S46, some 800 persons