The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-02-11
HEBRON, FREE LOVE-
APOSTLE, u. S. ENVOY

4Tdyes that are essentially one,
cooperative in the love and truth
that makes oneness, need no law OF
church or state to bind or keep them
together
1T is only in freedom that love
can find its own
ut is not the business Of society
to unite or separate men and women
in the marriage relation. Love must
be set free and liberty must be trust
ed, If noble and beautiful homes are
to spring up to make the earth
garden of truth and glRdness.
when publicly placed in position
where must either affirm or deny
the unity of my life with hers (Mfss
Randi or evade the Interrogation,
can be truthful to the world in no
other way than by establishing the
fact OF this unity"
soclaIisn's High Priest.
In 1892, before Heron became In
oculated with the virus OF socialism,
he wrote book, "a Plea For the
Gospel" and worded the dedication
thus: ITO my wife. Mary overheard
Heron, who has been to me living
conscience
It was Herron's expulsion from the
church and his ostracism by society
which made him a hero in the eyes
Of his fellow socialists and brought
him the greatest honors they were
able to heap ON any man. In The
Comrade, socialist organ of that
period, John Spargo, It's editor, paid
Heron this tribute In September,
1901:
1--WE feel that this man will come
forth out of the fire Of persecution
to be the greatest leader of the
American socialist movement. On
his return from his European tour
in 1900 Professor Heron made
notable declaration for uncompro-
missing socialism at mass meeting
held in Chicago, when he confessed
that for eight years he had been
voting for the candidates of the so
cialist labor party Since that time
he has thrown himself heartily into
the work of the party and his later
writings show that his emancipation
from the bonds OF ecclesiasticism is
complete, He has laid all his mag
nificent powers upon the altar OF the
class-conscious revolutionary social
ist movement of the world
Reunited Radical Factions.
In July of that year, the same
month in which the socialist we'd
| ding Of Heron and Miss Rand was
contaminated, Heron served as
chairman Of the national socialist
convention in Chicago. 1t was at
/ this meeting that he became the rec
| ognized leader of the movement In
! America, for ne brought about the
reunion of the two wings OF social
| ism, which had split in 1899. In 1902
| he was chosen by referendum vote
of the rank and file socialists, over
! all other nominees for the office, as
1 secretary for the American social
/ lists on the international committee,
whose headquarters then was at
Brussels. This was the highest hon
or within the gift OF American So
!! ciaIists. 1t made him their official
!! representative before the world, with
I In a year after his astounding decla-
I ration for socialism's creed Of free
/ love- and his defiance of the prin-
! ciples Of decent living had made him
{ the target for public scorn.
That Herron's scandal was the
socialist marriage philosophy put
into practice is afforded additional
proof in the records of others who,
/ from time to time. have attained
prominence in socialism's highest
1 councils. The names of many might
be added to the list headed by Her
ron. The record is a sordid one OF
shattered homes, broken vows and
I moral degeneracy.
Indicative of the general view OF
Heron is the editorial comment
which appeared in the Congregation
I alist and Christian World in June.
1901, following his expulsion from
the ministry. In part 1t follows:
4 There never has been in civilized
society but one verdict upon such
/ conduct. There never will be. There
never can be so long as sane men
dwell in a universe such as we I'M
derstand ours to be.
1--WE are put into the world pri-
marily. not to agitate in behalf OF
single tax or of cooperative indus
try or a socialistic commonwealth.
but first of all to be good husbands
and wives, fathers and mothers,
sons and daughters. brothers and
sisters. No degree of activity and
apparent success in efforts looking to
the public welfare can atone for lack
of fidelity and tenderness In these
primary human relations The family
always has been and always will be
the sphere in which men get their
best discipline and their largest
growth. Not until man Is trying
10 do his utmost to fulfill the obliga-
lions of l1inship with others ought
he TO venture out into the wide field
of action in which the general good
of society is the object sought. For
tunateiy, we are not without men
and women who are loyal both to the
family and to society, and who are
serving both with unflagging zeal.
! From such persons as these and