Industrial freedom. [volume], April 22, 1899, Image 2

About Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???

Image provided by: Washington State Library; Olympia, WA

                
lß9dQstrial 1 46n
Published weekly by the
Brotherhood Co-operative Commonwealth.
[Entered at the PostoHicc, Edison, Skagit
County, Wash., as second class mail matter.]
TERMS OP subscription:
One Copy, Otic. Year •r'"
" " ' Six Months '"'
foreign went by members $1 per year.
EQUALITY, SATURDAY, APRIL 22.
Be brief: for it is with words as with sun
beams—the more they arc condensed the
deeper they burn. — SOUTUEY.
Notice-- All exchanges will kind
ly change address to Equality.
Generosity, liberality and justice
fear no competition; the'more of either
the better.
Mr. Chas. Theison, Seattle, sends
us a copy of Verdict, for which we ex
tend thanks.
We note with regret, the announce
ment of Miss Helen J. Wescott that
she can no longer edit the children's
column.
The political fight is no longer be
tween democracy and republicanism;
it is now a contest between socialism
and capitalism.
The packing house brigade, the beef
cmbalmers, are now wanting a peace
jubilee and I guess they can afford it,
if not they could plunder the govern
ment Of a few millions more and then
celebrate.
Socialism wont work. No, no, bu{
then Mayor Jones of Toledo was
elected on a practical, working social
ist platform, by a majority of 5,000.
Some people seem to think social
ism works a little.
"You must vote the part}* ticket,"
is gradually but surely losing its pow
er over all but the more intense parti
sans. This fetish has enabled thous
ands of unprincipled politicians to rob
the people with impunity; but its
spell is broken.
f. Yon say socialism wont work. Can
you tell why it wont, seeing that it is
working? Don't free schools work?
The postal service works, does it not?
Can you think of any socialized phase
of modern society that does hot work?
I guess socialism will work.
Do you know that there is a wide
difference between work and drudgery?
All healthful human beings love work;
it is a delight to them, but drudgery
robs those doomed thereto ol all pleas
ure; it is a curse, an abomination to
them and to society and must be
abolished.
So permeated has the republican
party become by the trust virus that
many of its leading organs arc cons
tantly shouting: "Trust the President"
but we observe that in the opinion of
many capable and intelligent people,
the President was "trusted" some
years since at the time Mark Hanna
paid the McKinley over due notes.
We art forced, reluctantly, to admit
that new industries are springing up
under this business administration,
and the most noted of these is the es
tablishment of one at Washington,
D. C. where roseate reports are man
ufactured to order without regard to
facts —reports of wonderful prosperity
are an instance ofthe class ofthe pro
ducts of this Factory.
Our plutocratic friends have evolved
a very elaborate system of statistics
to prove that the laborer is securing
his full chare of the- products of his
toil, but th more intelligent of the
plutis know their claims re felsc.
In spite of their juggling, in spite of
their h'gcnk-n.ciii, the all important
fact remains that THE WAGE, MEAS
URES iv 'the wealth produced, is
IJVKR GROWING SMALLER. In no other
way can you account for the wealth
of the exploiters and the poverty of
the industrious laborers.
The Pioneer Press, the Globe-Dcm-
befat and other papers identified with
the history, traditions nd life ofthe
republican party arc becoming alarm
ed at th logical outcome of party
policies and party practises.
The papers are having a success
ion of chills i nd leverschills prevail
. T'T.x.i.-.'ih.ji ... ii)-r^..i.ir.M rfi)sw»lr »»iinyT*'.ffftl^rii- I rY-^iniinsrrtV* - "*"
ing— they now chatter wildly that
trusts must be brought under the
control of law, just as if natural law
ever yet become subservient to legis
lative enactment.
STATE SOCIALISM IS PREFERABLE TO
TRUST RULE.
In an editorial, March 31st,the Bal
timore News says: "If the trusts are to
be defended on the simple ground of
economy of combination, the socialists
arc ready with the pica that the
greatest combination of all.the state,
would be vastly more economical still.
The whole question is one which all
the signs of the present time point to
as the great problem ofthe coming de
cade, and it is one that we shall do
well to regard as not subordinate in
importance to the sanitation of Lu
zon or the keeping in order of Min
dowoa or Cebu."
Many ofthe large doilies are admit
ting similar statements to their col
umns.
Oh! its coming, and trusts furnish
the motive power and nothing candc
stroy the trusts except a monopoly
of all the trusts—the cooperative
commonwealth.
B C C PLAN.
Colony, Membership fee $160: In
sures Members against want or fear
of want, Free Homes; Steady employ
ment with full product of labor; Best
Educational Facilities; common own
ership of land and all means of pro
duction. "Equality" Colony, located
on pugetsountl. Postoffice,Equality,
Wash.
This is our plan, it is toward this
goal that we are working, but we
have not yet been able to realize all
that our plan contemplates. Is this
any reason why we should not have
a plan?. When you Set out to build
a house or a barn you first decide up
on plans and then you work to con
struct the building so as to realize
just as you had planned; you would
not refuse to work because you could
not have a finished structure at the first
blow, and so it is with us. We, are
slowly, and we think surely ap
proaching a realization of our plans.
You oppose socialism, but you and
I agree that great wrongs exist, and
you and I would right these wrongs,
but we may not agree on methods.
In all probability, you insist on fol
lowing the old, timeworn methods
which have proven to be wholly inad
equate. .
You still think that what has been
must continue to be, but some of- us
think that all earthly things are, in
their very nature, transitory and
hence change is the law of progress,
that the simple fact that the present
system of production and distribution
has had an existence is evidence that
it must give place to something better.
Is not this a reasonable view and one
that is in perfect accord with history
and the laws of advancement?
We think collective ownership of all
the means of production and distribu
tion will prove an effective remedy
and no one has yet been able to dem
onstrate the contrary, but all our ex
perience and the trend of modern
thought tavors this view ofthe prob
lem.
Then why not withdraw your op
position anil give socialism an open
field? [fit should then fail, all of us
would join in demanding something
better.
The Coming Age lor April shows
marked improvement where we hail
thought improvement scarcely possi
ble. '
The subjects treated arc all timely
dealing with some of the multitudi
nous phases of the mighty serological
movement of the age. '.
The writers for the Coming Age arc
in the advanced ranis of modern
thinkers and always present the lat
est thought in its erispest and spic
iest aspect.
i in. i. ci latest effort is to have De
troit own the street car lines in order
to give everybody the benefit of the
three cent fare. The same object
could he better cured by free compe
tition, but state socialism is prefer
able to permitting traction companies
to combine and monopolize the bus
iness.—Pittsburg Dispatch..
But free competition is a back num
ber and no i. but a fossil can expect any
thing more from that source.
Oh! down with trusts, say the
republican and democratic pic hunt
ers, but the trusts wink one eye arid
help themselves to whatever is in
tif.^BBRBfIsSSBSSSIBSB%sVBSSBBSBSSBSBBBSHK
A movement has been started in Chi
cago to prevent the use of automo
biles. It will result just as all such
movements do that are started to
prevent scientific advancement; in ut
ter failure,News-Herald
Hut then the Herald tries to pre
vent the growth of socialism, and the
Herald will get run over too, unless
it takes its own advice and ceases to
obstruct scientific advancement.
Editor Industrial Freedom:
Dear Sir How is it. is the plan of starting
several different colonies under the auspices
of the BCC abandoned"'
What relation docs Equality colony hold to
the organization of the 11 CC? Does the
funds paid in as payments on the membership
fees belong to the general funds of the BCC,
and may they as such I"' transferred to any
colony the. member having contributed them
may wish to join, or does, as I have heard
stated, Equality colony claim the ownership
of all such funds; and docs or will said colony
organization under all ox camstances refuse
to transfer any such funds to any other colo
ny if so requested If so, on what right or
ground of justification does she base this, her
claim ¥
Will you please enlighten us upon these
points through Industrial Freedom. If you
cannot give it a place In your paper please
submit it to the burc:tu of eorespoadeiiec.
Respectfully,
T. ('. XOKVIL.
TrysilN.Dak. '
Question No. l. No. The purpose is
to perfect and develop the mtcr-eolo
nial production and exchange feature
of the BCC just the same as it always
has been; the difference is entirely one
of method. The original plan has
been dropped. It is found to be best
and most practical in our judgment
to establish and make one colony sell
supporting, establish a base of opera
tions and supplies and then advance
to the establishment of others, than
it is to scatter our forces to the four
winds.in an attempt to establish sever
al straggling, struggling communities
simultaneously. Our opinion derived
' from experience is, that the original
plan providing for a central and supe
rior organization, whose duties would
later grow out of the colonies federa
ted relationship was a little pre
mature. It will be all right when
there any colonies. to federate. It is
more in accord with the natural order
of things we think, to first establish
colonies, then follow with the superior
officers when the colonies feel tne ne
cessity for them. That such officers
should not work apart from the colo
nies but in them, and with them, and
just so soon as the first one is estab
lished. Therefore whenever Equality
colony becomes sell supporting, and
the means are at our disposal tor the
purchase of more land and machinery
you will hear of the establishment of
another colony, but not before.
Question No. 2. Membership fees
do not constitute part of the general
fund. Membership tees go to Equali
ty colony, unless the contributor spec
ifies to the contrary, when they are
held in reserve, placed in the coloniza
tion fund and separated in our books,
from funds devoted to immediate col
ony needs.
Equality colony lays no claim to
the hinds of the li CC.. The national
treasurer is the custodian and the na
tional officers disburse such funds by
virtue of certain provisions in the na
tional constitution. Previously to
June 17, 1808, when Equality colony
by referendum vote was granted au
tonomy, all contributions to the colo
nization fund went for the purchase
of the site, etc., for Equality colony,
save the considerable sum which was
expended in visiting other localities
meanwhile, with a view to locating
other colonies.
The general fund is constituted from
the dues of the members, and any
surplus which may be realized in any
direction, such as from the operation
of the paper for instance. Current ex
penses are paid from this fund and pe
riodically any surplus remaining is
transferred to the colonization bind
and from thence to Equality colony if
needed. A glance at the last report of
the national treasurer will show that
on March23d $197.85 was turned
over to Equality. This included every
cent iii his custody, includes the con
tributions to the steamboat and edu
cational funds, which Equality is
bounden either to apply or refund to
the national board. " This amount
should be reduced $10 owing Equali
ty at the time for board ol national
officers.
Now relative to Equality colony
"under all circumstances refusing to
transfer such funds to any other cob -
ny," why Equality colony will fulfill
every obligation it owes anyone we
believe up to the very best of its abil
ity. Respectfully,
Oliver P. Daks, .
National See'y.
Bettor Thin I', ''amy.
Yes, that doc* eecin "ini.-oobiblo," out
tx.ttl'fl what they ur« Mylflir ulout "The (lo
oj«ilitun." -Head it for yourKclf. o have'a
K|K>«i!tl uiranj-enient with the publishers and
cm furnish copies of this splendid prophecy
of ilie x-onilnt. co-operative com icon wealth
for a very low tig ure. Single copies 16 cents;
two copies 25 cents; 10 copies $1. If you
haven't read the "The Co-opolitan", you are
not abreast of the progress of this co-opera
tiv.i age. [ Bend order* to National Heerouwy
U C C, Equality, Wash.
IREWW.
The author of ATA has given us
the gospel of Constructive Socialism.
He has laid down peculiarly and dis
tively a system of Cooperative gov
ernment. He shows not simply how
to cooperate but how to organize a
cooperative system. . Nay, more than
that, he pioneers the way to practical,
organic socialism, and the only way.
There lies the power of the work.
Like a sunburst in midnight it makes
plain and clear what was but dark
ness before. It reveals the way; and
by the power of its own inherent
light, shows all other ways to be but
as gropings in closed paths.
A peculiar aild distinctive-character
istic of this system, and that which
perhaps most of all shows the com
prehensive wisdom of the work, lies
in the fact that it contemplates the
immediate, practical initiation of the
principles of cooperation into busi
ness enterprises by commencing with
such degrees as the average man is
ready for and understands, and at the
same time it provide* for the progres
sive development of those principles to
the highest and purest degrees of so
cialism.
Like all great discoveries, inventions
and ideas, the simplicity and common
sense of the thing make us marvel
that it had never l>cen thought of be
fore. But it never had. Though the
author modestly disclaims originality
it is original for all that. What he
has done is to track the path of ' nat
ural evolution. It is nature's way
that he shows us. He shows us that
it is a mistake, nay a blunder to re
fuse to do what we can, because -we
cannot at once do the ideal. He
shows us that it is likewise a blunder
to wait for political government to
transmute everything into the social
istic; and he does it by showing that
it is unnecessary.
The system laid before us requires a
distinct, understandable and not too
radical, degree of cooperation in all
the business enterprises connected
with each other through the Alliance.
It permits at first a certain percent
age of profit or dividend as the case
may be; but provides for their gradu
al elimination at a fixed rate of de
crease by a like fixed rate of increase
in the direct labor-share, call it wages
or what you will.
Speaking to this point the author
says;
"There are degrees and kinds of co
operation that the people still regard
as experimental, such for instance, as
eliminate private property and divi
dends. Such cooperation we did not
feel warranted in demanding of those
who were not educated up to it.
There is no reason however, why
those who are equal to it and favor
the purest socialism should not join
us. The educational teaching of the
Alliance distinctly points to these
ideals; but it does not require an at
tempt at their practice by those who
are not clear about it. We will glad
ly receive however, any colonies or
enterprises or companies who arc .-it
tempting it and give them the benefit
of our connections." ;. '-'■
. The author's reasoning, justifying
this, in the inititiation of a socialism
less than govesnmental arc absolutely
irrefutable. But so broad and com
prehensive, so logical and evolution
ary are the principles upon which the
system is built, that the whole leads
directly, easily and surely up to the
most complete governmental socnlism,
and such he in effect declares to be its
ultimate object. .V irl/i-C
The fact is that it isa governmental
socialism, organized and operated at
first as a private society. It provides
for the government of industries or as
the author prefers to call it, for the
"Policing of Industries"; and it does
this by a system of supei vision and
inspection—a marked and most orig
inal feature ofthe plan.
VVHKRH~I¥~PRQSPF.RITY?
There have been several big bank
failures reported during the past two
weeks. Also a number of heavy com*
mercial failures. Also a large number
of strikes on hand. These things arc
common during the past few years,
but they are not common at this par
ticular season of the rear. Just now
crops arc being marketed, stock is
being marketed, accounts tire being
paid. We are now in the midst of the
business harvest ofthe year. What
causes failures now? if this is nat
ural now in the best season of the
year, what will it be in the dull mon
ths of the coming year'—Quill.
Norristown, Pa., Was paying $100
a yen r for arc lights and the owners
swore that they could not be nro
duced for less, " Hut then capitalists
will swear to anything The town
put in its own plant audit produced
arc lights, interest on the entire plant
included, for $35 a year. The plant
will be paid for in just four rears by
the saving on street lighting alone.
When yon hear a franchise holder ex
patiating on the extravagant of pub
lic managment and the cheaper pri
vate service, just wink the other eye.
—Ex.
A man who would not buy a $10.00
suit of clothe without" looking
round" will obligate himself to' help
pays3,sooforas3,Qoocrcamery with
out ever thinking of "looking round."
Weather Report for lot
Kept by Lewis Mayhew. D h to -
Observer, New Whatcom. "**
'I! Vi! f.2 * '.
SB 5* £3 £*sl
.— y^ vtiif]
January /.... 80 18 ". ' 1« " "~7
February.... 67 31 $*(, }ii
March 66 J] -j'oi ■■'»«
April 01 '31 j'g 7 .-■ •'•)/;,
I'l'' 67 85 l.fig •'-.';
.lime 76 40 " 95
duly .... 83 48 101 ''':•> i
August 84 44 j no ••:..
September... 84 42 2.35 "•"• i
0ct0ber...... 08 35 3'^ ■• |
November — -57 26 '400 '; ' !
December.... 66 in 3.13 ."•'*!
■ ■ '■' .)
auci (i ..- 4
REPORT FOR 18!)!),
January f.B 3 3 <„, .
February' ."4 8 325 „■
March 13 26 1.43 FJ
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