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- padding-right: .5em; } - div.tnotes { padding-left:1em;padding-right:1em;background-color:#E3E4FA; - border:thin solid silver; margin:2em 10% 0 10%; font-family: Georgia, serif; - } - .covernote { visibility: hidden; display: none; } - div.tnotes p { text-align: justify; } - .x-ebookmaker .covernote { visibility: visible; display: block; } - .w10 {width: 10%; } - .figcenter {font-size: .9em; page-break-inside: avoid; max-width: 100%; } - .x-ebookmaker img {max-height: 31em; width: 100%; } - p,h1,h2,h3 { clear: both; } - .chapter { clear: both; page-break-before: always; } - .section { page-break-before: always; } - .ol_1 li {font-size: .9em; } - .x-ebookmaker .ol_1 li {padding-left: 1em; text-indent: 0em; } - body {font-family: Georgia, serif; text-align: justify; } - table {font-size: .9em; padding: 1.5em .5em 1em; page-break-inside: avoid; - clear: both; } - div.titlepage {text-align: center; page-break-before: always; - page-break-after: always; } - div.titlepage p {text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; - line-height: 1.5; margin-top: 3em; } - .ph1 { text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; font-size: xx-large; - margin: .67em auto; page-break-before: always; } - .ph2 { text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; font-size: x-large; margin: .75em auto; - page-break-before: always; } - .double {border-style: double;border-width: 2px; } - .x-ebookmaker p.dropcap:first-letter { float: left; } - .bb {border-bottom: thin solid; border-right: thin solid; } - .bt {border-top: thin solid; } - /* ]]> */ </style> - </head> - <body> -<p style='text-align:center; font-size:1.2em; font-weight:bold'>The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Co-opolitan, by Zebina Forbush</p> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The Co-opolitan</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:0; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1em;'>A Story of the Co-operative Commonwealth of Idaho</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: Zebina Forbush</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: February 4, 2022 [eBook #67321]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: Richard Tonsing and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive)</p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CO-OPOLITAN ***</div> - -<div class='tnotes covernote'> - -<p class='c000'><strong>Transcriber’s Note:</strong></p> - -<p class='c000'>The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.</p> - -</div> - -<div class='titlepage'> - -<div> - <h1 class='c001'>THE CO-OPOLITAN<br /> <img src='images/title.jpg' class='w10' alt='' /></h1> -</div> -<p class='c002'><span class='large'>A Story of the Co-operative Commonwealth of Idaho.</span></p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='xlarge'>BY</span></div> - <div><span class='xlarge'>ZEBINA FORBUSH.</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='lg-container-b c004'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“’Tis coming up the Steep of Time</div> - <div class='line'>And this old World is growing brighter.”</div> - <div class='line in40'>—<i>Gerald Massey.</i></div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div>CHICAGO:</div> - <div>CHARLES H. KERR & COMPANY.</div> - <div>1898.</div> - </div> -</div> - -</div> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c005'> - <div><span class='small'>Copyright 1898</span></div> - <div><span class='small'>By <span class='sc'>Charles H. Kerr & Company</span>.</span></div> - <div class='c003'><span class='xsmall'>Library of Progress. No. 26. Quarterly. $1.00 a year. February, 1898.</span></div> - <div><span class='xsmall'>Entered at the Postoffice, Chicago, as second-class matter.</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_3'>3</span> - <h2 class='c006'>PREFACE.</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>This volume is given to the public without other excuse -than the simple fact that it has been written. If it is read -it may do some good, but in any event it cannot do injury. -If it is not read the hour which knew it will pass with -it, and countless hours, like waves in Time’s ocean, will -roll on multitudinously, with their burdens of good and -evil, and pass also.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Because the writer believed he had a thought to express, -which, if heeded, would help, in some slight degree, to -right human wrongs, he ventured to offer it in this form. -He had discovered by experience that no radical and permanent -reform can be successfully effected without the -consent of what are called “the substantial business interests” -of the established system.</p> - -<p class='c008'>He has also observed that the system now in operation -is constantly undergoing changes, and that our predecessors -in its control, of a quarter of a century ago, would -scarcely recognize the system by which we live to-day. -These changes have been accomplished through evolution -only. Numbers count for nothing. Millions submit readily -to the will of one.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Education counts for everything, and if we had been -taught that to stand on our heads an hour a day was essential -to salvation most of us would observe that form without -question. Some, however, are superior to error and -are strong enough to be and to do right. But these are -scattered. They argue with their unthinking neighbors -<span class='pageno' id='Page_4'>4</span>and are ridiculed for their pains. Such methods never did -succeed and the world is as much out of gear with righteousness -to-day as it was in the dark ages.</p> - -<p class='c008'>This is the trouble with political Co-operation. It cannot -succeed except in a very slight measure. Why? Because -industrial and commercial education are against it. -Because the Industrial System is against it. Because the -great, the powerful and strong are against it. Political Co-operation -has no money with which to compete with the -competitive system. Righteousness without money is a -will-o’-the-wisp as against Mephisto, with millions in the -competitive system.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Co-operation must enter the lists with means and weapons -similar to its opponents, or else it will fail. Therefore -the writer proposes that the profits of co-operation be -matched against the profits of competition, and if co-operation -can “win out” then the profit system is dead.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Let us raise the cry of Industrial Co-operation against -Industrial Competition, and then go to work. When we are -strong enough we will do what Industrial Competition in -the form of corporations and syndicates has done. We will -become political. Industrially we can grow as all industrial -institutions have, and when we are grown to a magnitude -which forces recognition, the world is ours and again -belongs, not to a few, but to all of us.</p> - -<p class='c008'>This little volume is designed to show, in part, what an -opportunity we have to plant the flag of Industrial Co-operation -on American soil and defend it as it cannot be -defended in any other country.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Yours Fraternally,</div> - <div class='line in20'>THE AUTHOR.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_5'>5</span></div> -<div class='chapter ph1'> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c005'> - <div>THE CO-OPOLITAN.</div> - </div> -</div> - -</div> - -<div class='figcenter id001'> -<img src='images/a005.jpg' alt='' class='ig001' /> -</div> - -<div> - <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER I.<br /> <span class='large'>THE YEAR 1897.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>During the entire existence of the great American republic -no year seemed more hopeless to the masses of its -people than the year 1897.</p> - -<p class='c008'>It is true that the dark hours of conflict, when separation -from Great Britain was sought at the cannon’s mouth, -and later, when civil strife nearly rent the nation in twain, -seemed, to superficial observers, to be more fraught with -danger.</p> - -<p class='c008'>But the problems of those times could be and were readily -understood. Success to the arms of the patriots, in the -one case, and the Unionists in the other, was a simple -solution, although distressing in its pursuit and difficult -of achievement.</p> - -<p class='c008'>But this year was one which was the culmination of -many years of singular abundance, blessed by nature in almost -every conceivable way, and yet by a strange contradiction -of circumstances full of sorrow, distress, hunger and -poverty.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The wealth of this, the richest country in the world, was -made valueless by reason of the belief on the part of its -people that it must borrow the right to use that wealth -from other nations. The supplies of food, clothing and -materials of all kinds were vast, and yet the inhabitants -for some cause were not able to obtain them, although -their needs were great. There were now a few rich and -many—very many—extremely poor.</p> - -<p class='c008'>It was this strange, contradictory, confusing and incomprehensible -<span class='pageno' id='Page_6'>6</span>condition which made men hopeless. Where -to look for help, what to do, the cause, the consequence, -the evil and the remedy, were all subjects of agitation and -deep concern. Everybody except those few who were satisfied -with any condition which did not disturb their own -happiness, had views on these subjects and had conceived -of some remedy. And the multiplicity of these views and -the innumerable varieties of remedies proposed, seemed -to aggravate the general despair and produce an increasing -paralysis of action.</p> - -<p class='c008'>It was in January of that dismal year that I found myself -in the great city of Chicago. I, too, had been affected by -the universal depreciation of property, so that a fortune of -fifty thousand dollars, which I had inherited from my -parents, was now dubiously estimated to have dwindled to -something like ten thousand dollars. I knew it was not -my fault.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Bank stocks, railroad stocks and mining stocks, represented -the bulk of my poor, deceased father’s savings and -investments.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Much of this could not attract buyers at any price. Some -could not be given away. The rest was convertible into -gold at a few cents on the dollar.</p> - -<p class='c008'>But I was too young, being only twenty-five years of age, -to become despondent over the loss of money, and I had -traveled so extensively about my own country and seen -its countless opportunities that I felt a certain elation in -the prospect of building up a fortune of my own.</p> - -<p class='c008'>So that, although a stranger in Chicago, with no friends -nearer than Massachusetts, and without the smallest idea -of a plan for the future, I yet had a firm belief in God, man, -my country and myself.</p> - -<p class='c008'>I did not even doubt the system which had robbed me -of my fortune, and was inclined to look upon all who -denounced it as hostile to the best interests of mankind.</p> - -<p class='c008'>My education was, in a large measure, responsible for -this. Born in Salem, Massachusetts, one of the oldest, -sleepiest and most conservative of American cities, educated -<span class='pageno' id='Page_7'>7</span>in her schools and in one of the staid old colleges, -for which New England was justly famous, how could I -have imbibed anything but ancient, sleepy and conservative -theories of political economy, and fine, staid and somewhat -musty notions of the end and purpose of man?</p> - -<p class='c008'>It is true that my extensive travels had broadened me -somewhat mentally. They had taught me the value of individual -men and had rather obliterated sectional pride, -which I was willing to confess was the besetting sin of the -average New Englander; they had made me acquainted -with manners and customs and had produced in me a -capability of adjusting myself to delicate situations.</p> - -<p class='c008'>But this sort of breadth, while excellent and serviceable, -did not render me tolerant of ideas which were at -variance with those commonly accepted. My distinguishing -characteristic, on which I prided myself not a little, -was an almost encyclopedic knowledge of the history and -resources of my own country. I mention this particularly -now, because I had occasion, later on, to turn my knowledge -to a very useful purpose.</p> - -<p class='c008'>I was inclined to remain in Chicago. There was no reason -for it which I had defined to myself, and I really believe -that, of all the dismal places I had ever seen, Chicago -was the most dismal at that time. I did not have any -occupation, attraction or hope to keep me in this maelstrom -of the human ocean.</p> - -<p class='c008'>I did not like it. I had no friends in it. I did not -seem to find companions. Indeed, I was happy in being -alone, and enjoyed a certain discontent, which was productive -of thoughtfulness, and which set me to expressing -my thoughts on paper.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Governed by an instinctive prudence, which is characteristic -of the New England mind, I had selected a room -in a respectable private house, where there were also two -other roomers, and took my meals at a neighboring restaurant.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_8'>8</span> - <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER II.<br /> <span class='large'>JOHN THOMPSON—CO-OPERATION</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>One day after I had been settled in Chicago for, perhaps, -two or three weeks, the sun shone so brightly and the -weather was so mild that I was tempted to stroll out, on so -exceptional an occasion for Chicago, into the suburbs of the -great city. As I wandered along aimlessly, watching the -gay sleighing parties, I saw one of the young men who -roomed in the same house coming toward me from the opposite -direction.</p> - -<p class='c008'>I had become so far acquainted with him as to have -learned that his name was Thompson, and had overheard -some of his conversation with companions who called at his -room. What I had heard and seen did not impress me -favorably. He seemed to entertain and express views of -an economic nature which were not in accord with my New -England notions, and I was disposed to avoid him. My -first impulse, in fact, was to cross this street and continue -my way alone. Before I could do this, however, -Thompson hailed me with a cheerful, courteous and familiar -“How do you do?” So cordial, good-natured and -attractive seemed his manner, devoid of all affectation or -obtrusiveness, that I stopped, returned his salutation and -suddenly became conscious of a desire to have company in -my walk. So I asked him which way he was bound, and on -his replying that he was simply taking a stroll we both -turned into a side street, and continuing the walk together -entered into conversation.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Thompson was really a remarkable looking man. I -marveled, as I walked along with him, that I had not noticed -this in the two weeks that we had roomed in the same -house, but probably it was because we saw each other only -once in awhile in the hallway as we passed. I now observed -<span class='pageno' id='Page_9'>9</span>that he was a man fully six feet tall, erect and powerfully -built, with a thoughtful, clean-shaven face, strong features -and great earnest, commanding eyes. Indeed it seemed to -me that I never had seen such eyes before. One felt that -they belonged to a master and that this man was a natural -leader of his kind. But I then thought, and afterward -learned, that he was not only a leader but a thinker. Such -a man could, if his heart was enlisted in any cause, sacrifice -not merely life, but, if need be, reputation for the good -cause in which he believed.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“I have thought, Mr. Braden,” said he, as we sauntered -along together, “that you might be interested in a little -project some of us have to improve the condition of the -masses of our people. Have you ever studied the question -of co-operation?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“No, sir,” said I. “I have never studied the question of -co-operation. I presume you mean, sir, co-operation among -laborers. But while I have not studied it I must admit that -I have little sympathy with the theory. It is not practicable -and all attempts which I have observed have failed.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Pardon me, Mr. Braden,” returned my companion. “I -feel that you have not observed the noble and very successful -co-operative enterprises which flourish throughout -Europe and to some extent in the United States at this -time. The truth is, co-operation has proven to be and is -strikingly practicable. In the United Kingdom of Great -Britain and Ireland $60,000,000.00 and more constitutes -the accumulated capital of co-operative societies and on the -continent of Europe the capital involved is much greater.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>It is not my purpose to detail our discussion of this subject. -Suffice it to say that nearly the whole day was spent -in each other’s society. Although by no means convinced -at the close of the day that Thompson was correct in his -views, I found myself deeply interested. I resolved to -study the subject and study it fairly.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The project which my new acquaintance outlined was -one which I at once pronounced visionary. It was, he said, -the design of certain gentlemen, some of whom lived in -<span class='pageno' id='Page_10'>10</span>Chicago, to organize what they called the Co-operative -Commonwealth. These gentlemen had decided to induce -laboring men and other persons who might be willing to -associate themselves in the work to form co-operative societies -and to colonize them in some one state, so that, in -process of time, they would outvote the devotees of the old -system. When this desired result was achieved, they made -no doubt that the Co-operative Commonwealth would be -established and present to the entire world an example of -prosperity which would rouse an unquenchable spirit of -emulation. I could not forbear to sneer at the plan when it -was explained, but when I saw how serious Thompson was, -and looking into his face felt the impression of his strong -character, I was inclined to think about it and began, involuntarily, -to picture to myself an ideal of the Co-operative -Commonwealth.</p> - -<p class='c008'>That day Thompson and I were together much of the -time and went to the public library, at his suggestion, to -prove some of his statements, the correctness of which I -had disputed. I was obliged to admit, when we parted, -that he had made no mistake, and this satisfied me that he -was an authority on social and economic questions.</p> - -<p class='c008'>This man was, at the time when our meeting and conversation -occurred, about thirty-five years of age. He was an -Englishman by birth, but came to this country when only -three years of age with his parents, and settled in Red Bluff, -California, where his mother died shortly after. When -about fifteen he removed with his father to a mining town -in Nevada, where the father speedily acquired a fortune in -mercantile pursuits and in some fortunate speculations in -mining stocks. The son was impatient of restraint as a -boy, ran away from home, and visited nearly all the mining -camps in the west, followed every excitement, became a -skillful miner and acquired an immense fund of useful and -curious information.</p> - -<p class='c008'>When about thirty he drifted to Chicago and worked at a -variety of occupations, being a master of many, but never -rose above the station of a journeyman. This was due to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_11'>11</span>the fact that he worked only that he might obtain money to -procure books, principally on questions of political economy, -and had no aspiration to follow any life but that of a -student. One day when he had been in the city for some -years he saw his father, now an old man, in the crowd on -State street. He had lost all trace of him many years before, -and once in his wanderings he had gone to the Nevada -mining town where he last saw him, and had found the -town deserted except by two old men, who could give him -no information as to where his father had gone. They -simply knew that when he went away he was accounted one -of the wealthiest men in the camp. Now, meeting him on -the street of the great city, he observed that he seemed to -have about him every indication of wealth and position. -He spoke to him, calling him father, and was recognized by -the old gentleman, but with some difficulty. Events following -were sufficiently interesting.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Thompson was taken to his father’s palatial residence on -the Wisconsin lake shore, not far from Chicago, and for a -while lived in great luxury. But this was ill suited to his -character and entirely at variance with the habits he had -formed during his rough western life. He became restless, -and made numerous trips to the city, where he spent his -time in the libraries and among his books. His father, who -was in truth very wealthy, usually went south in the winter -and was in Florida at that time. On the day when I met -the son he designed to take the evening train for his father’s -southern home, intending to go from there to Arizona, -where the old gentleman has some mining interests, but -expecting to return to Chicago in March.</p> - -<p class='c008'>When he parted with me that afternoon he urged me to -pursue certain economic lines of inquiry, advising me what -books to read, and requesting me to give him my views on -co-operation when he should next meet me. This I promised -to do, and when we went our several ways I found myself -looking at the world with new eyes, but with a feeling -that I was getting on rather too familiar terms with a number -of political heresies.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_12'>12</span> - <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER III.<br /> <span class='large'>A MEETING OF THE CO-OPERATIVE COMMONWEALTH—COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO VISIT IDAHO.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>After the introduction of the subject to my notice, in the -manner described in the foregoing pages, I spent nearly all -of my time for at least a month in the study of such books -as had been suggested to me, treating upon the condition of -labor in what is ordinarily called the Christian world. I -was engaged in this occupation when Thompson returned -from his trip to the South and West. To say that I had -become convinced that Thompson’s plan of co-operation -and the establishment of a Co-operative Commonwealth -was practicable would not be true, but in all my researches -I had kept his plan in mind and confessed that I was -anxious to see it put into practice.</p> - -<p class='c008'>I was not convinced by any means that it would succeed, -but I wanted to observe its workings and believed that it -could do no evil. Therefore when I again met Thompson -about the middle of March, I made haste to assure him -that I was prepared to approve his theories and desirous -of taking some part in the experiment which I hoped -would be tried. Upon learning this, Thompson informed -me that he was already a member of the Co-operative -Commonwealth, that a meeting of some of the most -influential projectors would be held that evening, and -that he would like to have me present. I readily accepted -the invitation and at the appointed time and place met him -that evening, and together we went to the meeting.</p> - -<p class='c008'>I was quite surprised upon entering the little hall where -his friends had assembled to find myself in the midst of well-dressed, -refined, intellectual and apparently practical men. -Thompson introduced me to a number of these as a friend -who was interested in the Co-operative Commonwealth and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_13'>13</span>who would, as he thought, contribute to its success.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Although I felt that this recommendation of me was premature, -yet I made no objection to it, because I preferred to -accept the cordial reception which his introduction seemed -to procure for me. We spent about half an hour in conversation -on subjects involving the co-operative idea. I -had little to say, personally, but rather confined myself to -asking questions until the meeting was called to order. -But from what was told me in answer to my questions I was -deeply impressed by the apparent sincerity and general -benevolence which pervaded the assemblage.</p> - -<p class='c008'>I confess that I rather expected to find a somewhat motley -crowd of men, with wild staring eyes, shaggy, unkempt -heads and beards, indulging with furious gestures and -loud voices in bitter and irrational denunciation of the -government and public institutions of my country.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Instead of that these men were as sleek, as mild, as quiet -and gentlemanly as an equal number of bank presidents -might be. Perhaps more so. At any rate, I have seen bank -presidents and directors congregate together in less orderly -conventions and have heard from them far more expressions -of contempt for our government and its laws than -these men uttered. The truth was that the gentlemen -whom I now had the honor to meet were more fervently patriotic -than any similar assemblage I had ever seen. Men -who come together in the name of a church, a party, a bank, -a business enterprise or even a particular charity, are not -prone to hold country above all other objects. But these -men, gathering in the name of humanity, held their country -to be, by reason of its location, character, condition and -opportunities, the most suitable field for whatever was and -is best in the human race.</p> - -<p class='c008'>When the meeting opened Thompson, who was evidently -held in great esteem, assumed the position of presiding -officer. He began with a brief statement of its purposes.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Gentlemen,” said he, “this meeting is called for a purpose -with which you are doubtless all familiar. Lest there -should be persons among you, however, who are not fully -<span class='pageno' id='Page_14'>14</span>informed, I deem it proper to make a brief statement at this -time. The present business and financial depression, -spreading as it does throughout most of Christendom, has -produced a feeling of unrest among those classes of people -who feel it most. This unrest is admitted by all who have -eyes with which to observe, and minds with which to analyze, -to be fraught with danger. It threatens our security, -it threatens our homes, it threatens morals and religion, it -threatens the stability of our institutions, the existence of -the republic and the durability of Christian civilization.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“It is the protest of blind Samson against the exactions -of the Philistines. It is the human heart overflowing with -bitterness at the injustice of men and classes. Ere the pillars -of the temple tremble and the walls of the temple fall -upon us, we offer a remedy and ask that it be applied. In -justice to ourselves, let me say, that we propose this remedy -experimentally. We do not, by any means, know whether -the human system is capable of receiving it, but we are absolutely -certain that it can do no injury. We are also -equally certain that the attempt to apply it will improve -the condition of those who actively participate in our plan. -I ought also to say that if our remedy is accepted and applied -with earnestness and intelligence it will not fail.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“There are in the American states over 200,000 voters -who believe that the true theory of economics is that the -machinery of production belongs to the people in common. -These are convinced that in the theory so expressed lies the -remedy for those economic evils which produce the extremes -of great poverty and great wealth. They are also -ready to participate in some concerted movement which -will enable them to establish a Co-operative Commonwealth -in one of our American states. Our plan is to -direct all those who believe in this system of economics -into one state, enable them to establish themselves there -in comparative comfort and ultimately, by colonizing a -sufficient number of them, to take possession of the political -machinery of that state, adopt a new constitution -and through it establish the Co-operative Commonwealth.</p> - -<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_15'>15</span>“We who have enlisted in this enterprise believe that our -own grand republic, with its system of interdependent yet -sovereign states, offers the field for an experiment and an -example which may enlighten the world. The example of -Utah, although disapproved as to its purpose, presents an -instance of a commonwealth developing under the influence -of an idea.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“When the idea is pure and exalted, and at the same time -furnishes hope to hungry and struggling millions, how -much more likely is it to develop a masterpiece among -states.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“The Co-operative Commonwealth is already organized.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“It even now numbers 3,000 votes, representing 15,000 -people—men, women and children—in its membership.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“A fund of $100,000 has been accumulated and is now -available to establish co-operative colonies and is rapidly -increasing. No colonies, it is true, have been established, -for the reason that we have not yet selected the state for -that purpose. This selection is the special purpose of our -meeting to-night.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Let me express to you, my friends, the belief that we are -now meeting in the most important convention which we -have ever held, because our success depends undeniably -upon the proper location of our Co-operative Commonwealth. -Strong arguments can be produced in favor of the -South and the West, and I have heard more favorable mention -of Tennessee than of any of the states. I hope, gentlemen, -that you will discuss this matter fully and deliberately -as becomes the dignity and high purpose of men who, perhaps, -are about to give to the world its most enduring and -most beneficent commonwealth.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>So the meeting was declared open for discussion. The -gentlemen who participated were not partisans of any particular -section or state and were evidently disposed to be -deliberate and cautious in their selection. Most of them -presented arguments in favor of Tennessee. Some were in -favor of the state of Washington. As I listened to the discussion -I was conscious of a deep feeling of interest developing -<span class='pageno' id='Page_16'>16</span>within me. It seemed to me that intuitively I comprehended -the motives and purposes of these men and that -I had a stronger grasp upon the details of their design than -they. A great inspiration seized upon me which seemed to -swing my mind over every detail and to light up every feature -of this subject. When all who intended appeared to -have spoken, the chairman suggested that Mr. Braden -might, perhaps, present some views which would be worthy -of consideration. I could not forbear compliance and spoke -as follows:</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Gentlemen—I feel a deep and profound sympathy for -the objects of this meeting. When I say this I do not want -to be understood as expressing favor for any plan whereby -the thoughtful, conservative statesmanship of modern society -is to be set aside, and experimental statesmanship is to -be substituted for it. I am convinced that the social system -which Christendom accepts to-day is the best which humanity -has ever employed, and that it would be the worst of -crimes to destroy it without furnishing some practical -model for a new and better one.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“The United States presents a plan which is sufficiently -elastic, an area sufficiently extensive, and opportunities -sufficiently varied and abundant, to make it proper that one -state should be devoted to the development of the co-operative -system. I, for one, am fully convinced that a state -should be selected in which the obstacles to your efforts will -be but few and slight. For instance, you ought not to concentrate -your efforts on Tennessee if there is another area, -less populous, less prejudiced and less attached to the present -system.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“The vote of Tennessee is 321,190. Its population approaches -2,000,000. You must, in order to gain control of -Tennessee, increase its population by nearly 2,000,000 co-operators -casting a vote of nearly 300,000. This assumes -that a portion of the present population is not opposed to -the Co-operative Commonwealth. It is plain to me that it -will take you a generation to accomplish your purpose.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“The same objections apply in a less degree to Washington. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_17'>17</span>The population of that state is 450,000 and its vote -93,435. To direct our colonies to a territory not yet admitted -into the Union, like Arizona, New Mexico and Oklahoma, -would subject them to repressive congressional legislation -from which in a state they would be free. As for -Wyoming, with a population of 60,000 and a vote of -21,000, it does not present a field for our operations as suitable -as some others.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“For my part I am greatly prepossessed in favor of Idaho. -It has an area of about 86,000 square miles, a population of -about 90,000 and a vote of about 30,000. Its vote is now -increased by, probably, 15,000 on account of the extension -of the right of suffrage of women. This will be an advantage -to your colonists, because the proportion of married -men among you will be greater than that of the shifting -population of the mining camps. It is evident that you will -control the state as soon as you have 50,000 men and women -there. Already the Co-operative Commonwealth numbers -3,000 men and this means 6,000 votes. But I make no -doubt that 100,000 men, to say nothing of their wives, are -ready to go to Idaho with your colonies if you choose that -location.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“But you ask, what manner of place is Idaho? I reply, -that in my journeyings throughout my beloved country I -have found its superior nowhere in what goes to produce a -great commonwealth. Its name signifies ‘Light on the -Mountains.’ It has valleys of great breadth and fertility, -mountains covered with extensive forests, lakes of enchanting -beauty, navigable rivers, swift streams, unlimited water -power, inexhaustible mineral resources.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“It has 12,000,000 acres of land which can be reclaimed -by irrigation and made lavishly productive, and there is -plenty of water available for the purpose. It has seven -million acres of forest lands. You, perhaps, have no very -great acquaintance with Idaho. This, in my opinion, -should induce you to select a committee to visit the state -incognito to examine and report on its resources. You will -find that it is capable of supporting a population of 10,000,000 -<span class='pageno' id='Page_18'>18</span>people. These can engage in manufacture, farming, -grazing, fruit culture, mining, wool growing and all the -pursuits followed by the people of Pennsylvania or New -England. The climate is not so warm as that of Tennessee, -but in my judgment that is an advantage. It is much warmer -than in any northern state east of the Rockies and north -of the Ohio river. It is dry and healthful.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Gentlemen, I shall not enter into a further description -of Idaho, but beg you to make an investigation. Remember -that in states whose opportunities are famous those opportunities -have been occupied. If you can find a state which -is but little known you will find its opportunities, open for -you to take possession of and control. Idaho is such a -state.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>My remarks produced a deep impression. I was followed -by several gentlemen who heartily approved the suggestion -to appoint a committee of investigation and to send the -committee to Idaho, to report after a month’s absence. A -motion to that effect was carried providing that the chairman -and two others, to be appointed by him, should constitute -that committee. The chairman did me the honor to -appoint me, and also appointed Henry B. Henderson, a gentleman -of great wealth, a reformer of thirty years’ standing, -and one of the truest and best men who ever graced the -planet with an unselfish life. The assembly then adjourned -to meet again a month after, when the committee was to -make its report.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_19'>19</span> - <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER IV.<br /> <span class='large'>THE COMMISSION REPORTS AND IDAHO IS SELECTED—COLONY NUMBER ONE PREPARES TO ENTER THE LAND OF ITS CHOICE—THE JOURNEY TO HUNTINGTON, OREGON, AND INCIDENTS AT THAT PLACE—ON TO DEER VALLEY.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>The commission to investigate the resources of Idaho -performed their labors conscientiously and after an absence -of about a month made such a report as determined our -people to choose Idaho for the home of the society. This -important detail being settled, it was decided to send Colony -Number One into the field as speedily as possible. The -commission had recommended a valley through which ran -a small stream into Snake river as a suitable location. It -was a beautiful valley, about twenty-five miles in length -and from a quarter of one to five miles wide. The stream -flowing from the high mountains near its source had never -been known to fail, and poured its torrents with ceaseless -power into the flood at its mouth.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The mountains rose only a short distance from its banks -for ten miles along its course, but when it emerged from the -foot hills the broad and fertile acres spread away on both -sides until they reached the top of rich divides. In the -mountains along its border grew great forests of yellow pine -and gold and silver abounded. Gold had also been mined -in placers all along the valley, and was still found in greater -or less quantity. The soil was as rich as that of the Nile, -and everywhere in the wild state the grasses grew luxuriant -and nutritious.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The climate, we learned, was all that could be desired. -Surrounded by high mountains and plateaus and nestling -in the depths of an immense depression, extreme climatic -changes were unknown. The winters were as mild as those -of Southern Ohio and the Chinook winds from the warm -<span class='pageno' id='Page_20'>20</span>Pacific currents breathed over this region, now and then, -the balmy sympathy of southern climes.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Colony Number One was fully organized with John -Thompson as President, Henderson as Treasurer and myself -as Secretary. The number of our members was then -three hundred. We were not limited by any law or rule as -to our membership, but had decided to accept no more applications -until we were fully established in our western -home. It was arranged that fifty men should go to the selected -location and make the necessary preparations for the -colony. Thompson, Henderson and myself were included. -The other forty-seven were made up of mechanics, farmers -and lumbermen.</p> - -<p class='c008'>There were six farmers, six lumber and sawmill men, -six carpenters, three masons, three stonecutters, three expert -sheep men, three expert cattle men, three merchants, -one physician, one blacksmith, one horseshoer, and eleven -who, although men of intelligence and able to adapt themselves -to all kinds of work, were not trained to any special -calling. These fifty paid into the colony treasury one hundred -dollars each; fifty others, who were expected to follow -us in three months, paid in twenty-five dollars; fifty more -paid fifteen dollars; fifty others paid ten dollars, and the -remainder five. All these were to continue payments at -the same rate monthly until the entrance fee of one hundred -dollars was paid, when the member would become entitled -to enter the colony as an active colonist. We found -ourselves possessed, then, on the day of our departure, of -eight thousand five hundred dollars, paid in by members, -and the Brotherhood throughout the United States loaned -us ten thousand dollars from its accumulated fund, to be -repaid in three years.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Our faith and credit, as honest men, were the only security -the Brotherhood required. Each man paid his own fare -and traveling expenses until we reached Huntington, in -Eastern Oregon. From that point until we arrived at our -destination all expenses were to be borne in common and -defrayed from the common fund.</p> - -<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_21'>21</span>It was agreed that until the colony was entirely established, -and its business had reached a tolerably settled condition, -John Thompson should have larger powers than the -presidential office conferred upon him. This was done because -it was thought the exigencies and uncertainties of -the situation demanded his varied experience and the exercise -of his quick judgment and large executive force. We -regarded him as a sort of military chief, although we were -as little like a military band as it would be possible to conceive. -He naturally assumed the leadership and we naturally -submitted to it. The better to direct our movements -he divided us into squads of six, putting the carpenters into -a squad numbered one, and directing them to choose a foreman; -the masons and stonecutters together numbered two; -the sheep and cattle men numbered three; the lumber and -sawmill men numbered four; the merchants, blacksmith, -horseshoer and one commoner numbered five; the farmers -numbered six; six commoners numbered seven; Henderson, -myself and four commoners, all of the latter being educated -men, one an ex-editor, one an ex-clergyman and one -an assayer and chemist and another a surveyor and ex-real -estate man, numbered eight. The physician was not included -in any squad but was, as we facetiously declared, -to constitute a squad by himself.</p> - -<p class='c008'>May 1st, 1897, we took our departure from Chicago for -our future home, and proceeding over the Union Pacific -arrived at Huntington in due time. Disembarking here, -we went into camp on the outskirts of the little town and -commenced the purchase of our necessary outfit.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Before leaving Chicago we had purchased and caused to -be shipped to us a stock of groceries, hardware, a limited -quantity of dry goods, drugs, paints, a number of ploughs, -harrows and farm and mining tools and tools for our -mechanics, a portable sawmill and eight farm wagons at -a cost of nine thousand dollars in all. These were all at -Huntington when we arrived. But we were without live -stock, horses or seed. Thompson, who had been conceded -the title of captain, assigned to each squad its duty. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_22'>22</span>Number One received orders to take charge of one wagon -and load the same with such tools as carpenters required, -and if any room was left over to report to him. Number -Two assumed charge of a second wagon with similar instructions. -Number Three did the same with the third -wagon, but was also directed to purchase, in the surrounding -country, ten milch cows, a herd of one hundred -and fifty cattle and one thousand sheep. Number Four -was instructed to take one wagon and in addition to provide -for the transportation of the portable sawmill. Numbers -Five, Six, Seven and Eight were each assigned to a -wagon, and Thompson, with the aid of two members of -Number Six, who were excellent horsemen, undertook the -purchase of the horses.</p> - -<p class='c008'>We sojourned in the neighborhood of Huntington a -week. At the end of that time our company was prepared -to move. We had purchased a quantity of seed for two -hundred dollars, sixteen draft horses at a cost of eight -hundred dollars, and forty-two saddle horses at a cost of -eight hundred and forty dollars. We had acquired our -milch cows for two hundred dollars, one hundred and -fifty cattle for two thousand dollars and a flock of sheep -numbering one thousand for fifteen hundred dollars, and -there remained four thousand dollars in our treasury.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The road from Huntington was quite familiar to “The -Captain” and myself. Both of us, but at different periods, -had spent considerable time in the vicinity of Huntington -and had explored along Snake river and its tributaries for -gold. We were able, therefore, to point out a suitable road -and as we proceeded upon our journey we encountered no -obstacles except when we found it necessary to cross Snake -river.</p> - -<p class='c008'>This obstacle only served to delay us a short time, there -being at that point a ferry which we employed to take us -across. Once in Idaho our people seemed to acquire new -life. Everything was full of interest. We made no effort -to march in any regular system except that the squad -wagons followed each other in numerical order, the bull -<span class='pageno' id='Page_23'>23</span>train, which had been hired to transport the portable sawmill, -following somewhat slowly far in the rear. The -men in charge of the machinery were residents of Huntington -and well acquainted with the road to our destination, -which was then known as Deer Valley.</p> - -<p class='c008'>As we moved along we found the country settled, but -somewhat sparsely. Here and there a rancher came out -to salute us and, learning of our intention to settle in -Idaho, bade us a hearty welcome. Sometimes we fell in -with cowboys in charge of herds of cattle, and passed -through several camps of miners who worked the placers -along Snake river. Several of these latter were composed -of Chinese and their workings were referred to by the white -miners in other camps as “Chinese Diggings.” We observed -that everywhere the soil was rich but lacking in -moisture except where irrigation was employed. The -grasses, although the season was early, were luxuriant and -the cattle, which had wintered without shelter, were in -remarkably good condition.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Several of the large ranches were among the most beautiful -I had ever seen. One of these, comprising about five -hundred acres, was located where a swift stream, called -Conner creek, flowed into Snake river. This stream had -been tapped at a high elevation and the waters diverted, -by means of a flume, to the rich alluvial lands below. -There a system of small ditches distributed the waters -among orchards of peaches, apples, pears, plums, nectarines -and apricots and among vineyards of grapes and beds -of strawberries. The rancher who had charge of this -wonderful little domain, a portly old man, full of information, -affable and communicative, assured me that he had -traveled the world over but had never beheld a fairer spot -than this. “But,” said he, “Idaho is filled with such -places.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>I asked him about the markets and he candidly informed -me that he had been unable to garner and ship his fruits, -lacking funds for that purpose, but that he had sold his -<span class='pageno' id='Page_24'>24</span>vegetables at a good profit in the neighboring mining -camps. He also showed us a large quantity of dried fruit -which his son had cut and prepared and which there was -a market for in the same camps.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“But,” he said, “I have not found the South to be as -profitable for farming as this locality, because if their market -is more extensive it is also far cheaper. At the outset -the advantage is with us. Our grain, hay, hogs and vegetables -are all readily disposed of and command a good -price among the gold mines.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>Such incidents, and the sublime scenery which everywhere -presented itself to our delighted vision, varied the -monotony of our journey so that the three days spent on -the way after crossing Snake river seemed to pass like a -dream. We arrived at Deer Valley without any accident of -a serious nature, full of hope, in the best of health and -eager to begin the work of laying, as it were, the corner-stone -of the Co-operative Commonwealth.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_25'>25</span> - <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER V.<br /> <span class='large'>DEER VALLEY—THE FOUNDING AND NAMING OF CO-OPOLIS—THOMPSON’S AND EDMUNDS’ VIEWS.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>It was about noon on the 20th day of May, 1897, that our -company entered Deer Valley. We found a very good road -leading up into the mountains along the south bank of -the stream and followed that without difficulty. The -captain, taking six of our horsemen, including myself, -went ahead of the rest of the company, who followed after -more slowly with the wagons and live stock. The sawmill -machinery was nearly a day’s journey behind them.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The captain’s purpose was to select a suitable site for a -camp which would in all probability be more permanent -than we had yet made. He was quite familiar with Deer -Valley, as I have already stated, and had in mind a -location which on other occasions he had marked as an -excellent place in which to build a city. In a short time -we arrived at this place and commenced an examination -of the surroundings. We all readily agreed that the captain’s -judgment was good and, after viewing the land from -many points, unanimously decided to recommend it to -our company as a proper place to establish our camp.</p> - -<p class='c008'>We were about four miles from Snake river. The valley -at this point was somewhat over five miles wide, walled in -by table lands on either side. These table lands were -high elevations with level summits covering many square -miles of fertile but dry lands. They sloped from the -summits through a succession of three shelves, each quite -level, down toward the valley, and thence the valley inclined -gently toward the river bed. The stream itself -flowed at the bottom of a deep gully and its banks were -prettily fringed with box elder trees. The table lands, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_26'>26</span>their sloping sides, the shelves and the broad area of the -valley down to the fringe of box elder trees, presented -at this season of the year a beautiful sight.</p> - -<p class='c008'>All was dressed in the verdure of the rich grasses which -make the highlands and lowlands of Idaho famous as -the grazing grounds of those great herds of cattle which -abundantly assist in feeding the world. There were a -few trees in places on the slopes of the highlands, and a -hillock which was proposed as the location of our camp, -contained quite a grove. But except for these, and the -fringe of box elders along the river bank, the entire area -was quite open. The stream at this time came tumbling -down the valley at a furious rate, the incline being quite -pronounced. Looking up the valley we saw the giant -mountains on whose majestic tops the snow remained -unmelted, and whose lower sides were black with the -foliage of the forest of yellow pine.</p> - -<p class='c008'>We found here a rancher who claimed to be the owner -of some three hundred and twenty acres of land which he -had attempted to reclaim by means of a rather crude -irrigating ditch which conducted the water of the stream -from a point above to a portion of his ground. He claimed -also to have washed some gold from the sand taken from -the bed of the creek. The man had lived in the valley for -ten years, but was evidently neither a man of enterprise -nor much intelligence. He had once possessed a considerable -herd, but had lost it at the gaming table in some -of the camps, and was poor and anxious to get away into -the “diggings” up in the mountains. He was able to give -some information of value to us, and offered to sell us the -ranch and about a hundred acres of land which he held -under the placer mining laws of the United States, for -two dollars an acre.</p> - -<p class='c008'>We were occupied in making these observations when, -about two hours after our arrival, the wagons and their -escort reached a point on the road near the house (it was -scarcely more than a hut) of the old rancher. The captain -and myself immediately rode over and directions were -<span class='pageno' id='Page_27'>27</span>given to proceed to the hillock, where the grove of young -trees already mentioned offered an inviting shelter, and go -into camp. Accordingly the entire company went thither, -the teams were unharnessed, the horses were picketed, -some tents were pitched and the men were soon to be seen -engaged in conversation in little groups, some standing on -elevations which offered a commanding view, others moving -to various parts of the valley, and others still, lying -down and making observations while they rested. The -farmers were particularly industrious, looking over old -Hacket’s ranch.</p> - -<p class='c008'>As the afternoon of this memorable first day wore to its -close the men all returned to camp, where those to whom -the duty of preparing meals had been assigned had prepared -a feast somewhat more elaborate than usual, and -one of them reminded us that this was the first feast on -the site of our new town and that the anniversary of this -day would hereafter be a feast day for years to come. The -prophecy was hailed with approval and the evening was -given up to feasting and speaking, just as has been customary -on this anniversary ever since.</p> - -<p class='c008'>After the meal was finished we gathered together under -one of the largest trees in the grove and called upon those -who were known to be speakers to address us. Among -others the company called on me and I proposed that, as -we were to have a city, whether it be established on the -spot or in some other place, and as our city must have a -name, that we proceed to give it a name forthwith. To -this one of the company, Albert Ortz, a German, objected, -for the reason that our sheep and cattle men, as well as four -of our commoners, being in charge of the herds which had -not yet arrived, ought to be allowed to take part. To this -I replied that our action would not be binding, if we -selected a name, and we could regard the selection now as -merely informal. This was satisfactory and Ortz withdrew -his objection. I then called for names to be voted on. -Three only were submitted. Alpha, because it was the first -of its kind; Co-opolis, the city of co-operators, and Omega, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_28'>28</span>which Dr. Pinder proposed, because, he said rather facetiously, -our co-operative city was about the last hope which -labor had left for justice in this world. The vote was then -taken and resulted in a large majority for Co-opolis. It -is as well to say here that afterward our absent members -voted unanimously to approve this name, and the city was -so christened.</p> - -<p class='c008'>While this was going on the captain had said nothing -and, I observed, did not even vote. He had been sitting -somewhat apart from the rest of the company with a half-pleased -but yet serious look upon his face. I had come to -understand him very well, and knew that he felt grave -apprehensions for the success of this movement, and now I -made no doubt that he was feeling the responsibility which -rested upon each member of the colony.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Brothers,” said I, “I notice that our captain is serious -when he should be gay. I, for one, vote that the captain -give an account of himself.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>Everybody called for the captain.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“My brothers,” said he, in response, “I regret that you -have called upon me to speak, because the thoughts which -press for expression are not altogether in harmony with -the gayety of our present festivities. I am sure that none -rejoices more than I do for the safe arrival of our party in -this beautiful valley. But my mind is not with to-day nor -yesterday, but dwells with the future. The project which -has brought us here is, in the light of all history, an exceedingly -ambitious one. Failure, it is true, cannot result -injuriously, but success will be a beacon light of hope to -those many millions of men and women who are denied -access to nature’s countless bounties.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“You, my brothers, have wives and children who will -follow you ere long into this fair country. For you, as -individuals, the world is opening out its avenues of comfort, -but upon each of us here rests a responsibility such as -few men have ever assumed. We are here not merely to -benefit ourselves, but to benefit, by the force of example, -the waiting and watching world.</p> - -<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_29'>29</span>“Co-operative enterprises have been successful in many -commercial and mechanical pursuits. As a rule such enterprises -have failed so far as land and its cultivation are -concerned. But there is no apparent reason why they -should be less successful than are the enterprises of commerce -and manufacture. Our purpose is to combine all -laborious or productive occupations. Behold, my brothers, -this beautiful valley! God has secreted in almost every -inch of its soil the gift of productivity. Yonder the mountains -tower above us. God has made the forest to yield fuel -and lumber for our use. High up on the white-capped -summits and deep down in the cool cisterns of nature are -the sources of these waters which flow in the rushing torrent, -and which we may direct thither to moisten this soil. -On the table lands which rise north and south of us our -herds and flocks shall graze.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“You can see, my brothers, that if we fail in our enterprise -the fault will be in us and not in nature. The duty -which lies before us is to work in harmony. We must -encourage competition in all lines of mental, physical and -spiritual progress. But we must rid ourselves of competition -in the simple acquisition of property. We must encourage -individualism in all that makes men practical, self-reliant -and manly. We must destroy it in all that makes -men grasping and unsympathetic.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“My brothers, the great world beyond deems that man -greatest who acquires the greatest fortune or wields the -greatest power, but I say to you that man is greatest who -induces the greatest number of men and women to do -right. Such is the manhood we must honor, and upon the -brow of such we shall place the laurel wreath of victory. -If we work to such a purpose we shall succeed.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“My brothers, the most difficult part of our project -lies in our foundation work. We will meet obstacles. -Some of our number may, perhaps, be of opinion that -the first year or two of our struggle here should be free -from difficulty because our ideal is high. If so it were better -that those immediately return to their eastern homes, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_30'>30</span>because there is nothing for us, the pioneers of the Co-operative -Commonwealth, but arduous labor. Your wives -and children look forward to a time when they may come -hither to homes which you have established where the old -system which has forced you into this unsettled country -cannot affect them. What will you do? Will you subjugate -self, defer to one another’s opinions, and work always -together, and so make your enterprise succeed? I believe -you will.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“My brothers, this work is in your hands. I have been -your leader thus far, but I now surrender the leadership and -insist that the will of the majority be your guide hereafter.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>When Thompson ceased to speak some seconds elapsed -before any one ventured to break silence. His words were -fully appreciated and it was evident that all comprehended -the magnitude of the task which was before them. Mr. -Edmunds, ex-clergyman, voiced the general sentiment -of all.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“You are not alone, Brother Thompson,” said he, “in -your apprehensions. Most of us entertain the same doubts -as to the future which you have expressed. But it is better -it should be so than that we should, in such an enterprise, -be carried away by enthusiasm. When soldiers approach -the dangers of war, where death and glory mingle, -their captain seeks to inspire them with a courage which -dares but does not reason. No need of that with us. The -task we have to accomplish is, in truth, devoid of danger. -It is the easiest ever proposed to the intelligence of man. -All that we need lies where God placed it centuries ago, and -is ours, if only we will take it. If we make this task hard, -it is because we will not reason. If dangers arise, they will -not arise from the mountain, stream or valley, nor yet from -yonder table lands nor grassy slopes. They will arise from -ourselves. This we must study to avoid. This is our work. -One thing, my brothers, we must do from the outset. Let -our community be self-dependent. Let us call upon the -outside world to help us as little as possible. Let us -build our own homes, burn our own lime, manufacture -<span class='pageno' id='Page_31'>31</span>our own furniture and crockery. Let us make it a rule -that whatever we can make ourselves, no matter how -much labor it costs us, that we will make. If we do this and -work together success is certain.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>The clergyman spoke for nearly half an hour and finished -amid great enthusiasm, for his speech was able and -brilliant and calculated to produce confidence in our enterprise.</p> - -<p class='c008'>This ended the memorable first day.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_32'>32</span> - <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER VI.<br /> <span class='large'>THE GENERAL SYSTEM—PROGRESS THE FIRST YEAR—LAND TITLES—LABOR ORDERS.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>The city of Co-opolis was established, after the surrounding -region was duly explored, upon the site of our first camp -in Deer Valley. The Hacket ranch and water rights were -acquired by our company at a small expense, the farmers -went to work upon it immediately and in a comparatively -short time we had many acres of land broken and planted. -We sowed very little wheat the first year, but made a specialty -of corn, calculating that we could feed it to our cattle -and hogs, and believing that we could realize more from our -live stock than from the raising and sale of wheat. We -also planted vegetables of all kinds in quantities which we -believed would not only suffice for our company for the -following winter, but would enable us to dispose of a surplus -in the mining camps in the mountains.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The ex-surveyor, meanwhile, proceeded to lay out a -town. This was a very simple task, as our plan was to -construct a public hall and office building in the center of -a large square, surround the latter by a wide street, and -erect our store, hotel and residences on this street. If the -city grew it was considered that we had ample space at our -command. Meanwhile the sawmill had arrived and had -been conveyed to a place on the banks of the stream and -placed in charge of the sawmill men. One of these having -great experience in the forests of Wisconsin, took a number -of picked commoners and went to the headwaters of the -stream in the mountains and was soon able to send a large -quantity of pine logs down the current, where they were -caught and sawed into lumber of various dimensions. -In three weeks after we started our camp our carpenters -had built a temporary frame store building, a rather crude -hotel and had supplied these with furniture which was -<span class='pageno' id='Page_33'>33</span>rather crude and unfinished but sufficient for our purposes. -It was not considered prudent to erect any permanent -structures until our lumber should become better seasoned, -but carpenters, masons and stonecutters proceeded to excavate -for the fifty cottages which we designed to construct -for our members and their families. In the latter part of -June, such was our industry, we had a very respectable appearing -village, with carpenter and blacksmith shops and -general store. The last was the feature of the village, containing -a stock of hardware, dry goods and groceries and -a stock of drugs of various kinds. The hotel furnished -board and lodging to all our company.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Shortly after our arrival at Co-opolis, at a series of meetings -held for that purpose, we had formed our permanent -organization, taken as our name “The Co-opolitan Association” -and adopted a constitution and by-laws to regulate -our colony.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The constitution dealt only with the system of government -and invested the lawmaking body, which it created, -with unlimited powers as to all other matters.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The President was to hold office for seven years and was -ineligible to re-election.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The Vice-President was elected for the same period.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The first President and Vice-President were elected by -all active members, and any member was eligible, but after -seven years these officers must be elected from among -heads of departments only.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Heads of departments were to be denominated chiefs and -were to be chosen by popular vote from among foremen -and the latter by the Legislative Council.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The lawmaking power was to consist of the heads of -departments and President and Vice-President, the former -presiding at all legislative meetings and the latter, by -virtue of his office, being a member of the Legislative -Council with the right to speak and vote on all propositions.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Whenever twenty per cent of the men and women of -the Association should petition the Legislative Council to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_34'>34</span>declare any office vacant it was bound to submit the question -as to whether such vacancy should be so declared to -popular vote, and if a majority decided in the affirmative -then the Council must declare it. The incumbent whose -office or position was thus vacated was not eligible again -for the remainder of his unexpired term and the full term -following.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Officers found guilty by the Council of misfeasance or -malfeasance in office were also subject to impeachment by -the Council, who were required to pass on the particular -charges submitted to them.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The legislative and judicial functions were both conferred -upon the Legislative Council, and this body could -initiate and complete legislation, but on petition of twenty -per cent of all voters proposing a new law the Legislative -Council was required to submit such law to popular vote -and the decision of a majority of such voters operated as -either an enactment or repeal. This action was effectual -to permanently dispose of such law for five years. The -constitution was also subject to revision, correction, amendment -or repeal by the same method.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The constitution further provided that every person -under twenty years of age should be in charge of the department -of education, that no man or woman should in -any event be required to work more than twenty-five years, -but that after having contributed twenty-five years’ labor -should become entitled to his full share of the profits distributed -annually among members.</p> - -<p class='c008'>This constitution did not limit the right of the people -to shorten the term of service if they so desired. It was -deemed expedient to provide for two classes of industrials, -wage workers and members. The former were such as -were employed and paid reasonable wages. These were -rarely employed except in cases of emergency. The latter -were such as had paid an entrance fee and had been accepted -as equal partners in the enterprise. The wage -workers were such as enlisted in the Industrial Army for -pay and they could not participate in the affairs of the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_35'>35</span>society or settlement. But any one of these who was in -good health and of sound mind could become a member -on payment of the fee required and on enlisting in the -Industrial Army subject to the laws of the society.</p> - -<p class='c008'>No person was admitted who was over fifty-five years of -age except such person was able to contribute to the Association’s -accumulated wealth an amount of property equal -to the full annual dividend of the average member at the -time of his application, multiplied by the number of years’ -service required by members. In later years, as is well -known, the constitution does not admit an applicant who -is over forty except on the same terms.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The constitution was by no means a perfect one at the -outset, but it was sufficiently elastic and stable in its provisions -to admit of such amendments, without danger to its -substantial features, as might, from time to time, be suggested -by experience.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The most conservative force in society has been found to -be, not the wise nor the foolish, but the majority which are -neither the one or the other. These are not generally favorable -to experimental legislation, and long before the -establishment of the Co-operative Commonwealth Switzerland -proved, by the operation of the Initiative and Referendum -provisions of their constitution, that the people -were disposed to accept changes in their social system with -a caution that made progress slow, but retrogression impossible.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The first year of the Co-operative Commonwealth was -a very successful one. We had May 1st, 1898, over one -thousand persons, including men, women and children, in -our city of Co-opolis, two hundred and fifty substantial -cottages, an excellent public hall, a good hotel, a large and -sightly three-story building containing our department -store, postoffice and offices for our President, Vice-President -and heads of departments; an excellent schoolhouse -with graded school and a corps of eight teachers, consisting -of our ex-clergyman, who became first principal, and teachers -who were selected from among the wives of members. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_36'>36</span>All the furniture used in our homes and buildings at this -time was manufactured of such lumber as we had and was -somewhat crude, but sufficient in all respects. In our department -store were sold vegetables produced by us, consisting -of potatoes, onions, beets, parsnips and all of the -hardy variety grown on the old time “breaking” on Hacket’s -ranch. We had home-made preserves and a quantity of -dried fruit. The meat department was well supplied from -our own herds of cattle or from the surrounding country, -and from our flocks of sheep, which had largely increased, -partly through natural causes and partly because much of -the money received for membership fees had been invested -in that direction.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Shortly after we had definitely settled upon a site for -Co-opolis we proceeded to acquire land. This whole valley -was what in the United States land office was denominated -“desert land,” not because it was barren but because it was -unproductive unless reclaimed by irrigation. Under the -law it was permitted that each man enter three hundred -and twenty acres upon declaring his intention to reclaim -the same, and we had in this manner entered, up to June -1st, some sixteen thousand acres.</p> - -<p class='c008'>We had also, for the purpose of complying with the law -and completing our titles, proceeded to a point about ten -miles up the stream, and had there constructed a dam, collecting -the waters of the stream by that means, and were -engaged, whenever the weather permitted, in excavating -ditches, or building flumes so as to conduct a large quantity -of water nearly the whole length of the valley, but high up -on the slopes of the “tables” on the south. The work was -by no means finished, but it was easily estimated that when -our plant was completed over eighty thousand acres of land -would be available for agricultural purposes. That was on -one side of the river. Our plans also included the irrigation -of the north side of the river in the same manner. The -law was such that, being the owners of Hacket’s water -right, and having tapped the stream at a time that no other -settlers could be disturbed or interfered with, we were entitled -<span class='pageno' id='Page_37'>37</span>to the exclusive control of the stream. We found -that the law required us to file our claims to this -water right for record in the office of the Register of -Deeds for the county, and did so accordingly. It was not -difficult for any one of our number to see that we were in a -position to shut out all settlers in this valley who were not -members. The water right was taken in the names of -Thompson, myself, Henderson, Ortz and three others, who -constituted our first Legislative Council, as trustees for the -Association. If any member who entered the land thought -to segregate his tract ultimately from the great body of -land he had only to consider that it was entirely worthless -without irrigation, and that this was exclusively controlled -by the Association.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The Industrial Army at this time numbered five hundred, -one hundred and fifty being women and three hundred -and fifty men. The women were engaged largely in -the Domestic department, but a number were employed -in the departments of Commerce and Education. One of -the merchants had charge of the department store, but -most of the clerical help was selected from among the -women. The bookkeepers were, at that time, all women. -The chief of the Domestic department was a woman and as -such participated in all our legislative councils. The entire -army was divided into companies of twenty, and at the -head of each company was a foreman. Each company was -again divided into two squads of ten and each squad had a -second or assistant foreman. In forming companies or -squads our chiefs endeavored to have the members composed, -as nearly as possible, of men having the same or kindred -trades. We now had three physicians, one of whom -was regarded as an especially skillful surgeon. We also had -an incipient brass band which assisted largely in rendering -the hours of recreation pleasant.</p> - -<p class='c008'>At this time we had a rapidly increasing trade at our -store and were supplying many of the camps with such -goods as they needed. Two of our own wagons were constantly -employed in conveying groceries, hardware and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_38'>38</span>other ware to our customers in the mountains, and it was -not an uncommon thing for five or six wagons to come -down in the course of a day for goods. The enterprise was -successful and the prices which we obtained for what we -sold were very profitable. We were obliged, however, to -constantly replenish our stock of groceries, dry goods, hardware -and drugs from the east. We also sold large quantities -of beef in the mountains and, not caring to draw too -heavily on our own herds for this demand, we kept a number -of men constantly employed hunting and purchasing -animals suitable for the purpose. We also devoted a building -to the sick and our hospital was already quite famous -throughout the entire region. Men in the camps who were -injured or who had become sick preferred to endure the -journey to Co-opolis to avail themselves of our physicians -and nurses rather than risk the rough and sometimes reckless -treatment to which they were elsewhere exposed. Our -hotel, store and hospital were sources of profit which aided -us largely the first and second years of our career.</p> - -<p class='c008'>One of the most difficult problems which we had to solve -the first year was that of providing a medium of exchange -for the use of our own members and also such persons as we -might employ. We recognized that, although the money of -society was at variance and inconsistent with all our plans, -until we had fully established the Co-operative Commonwealth -and acquired the state and all it contained, it would -be impossible to establish a labor-check system. We decided -that money was to be treated as a mere commodity -and purchased as such, just as potatoes, wheat or beef were -purchased. In dealing with the world outside of our society -we must have money until we should become independent -of it. It was on that theory that we endeavored to -keep our fund of United States currency increasing.</p> - -<p class='c008'>How to deal among ourselves was the question. We were -satisfied that members should, as nearly as possible, receive -equal shares of what was produced in our colony, provided -they were industrious and worked honestly, but we deemed -that in the formative period of the commonwealth it was -<span class='pageno' id='Page_39'>39</span>inexpedient to adopt the check system of Bellamy’s social -plan exclusively. We did, however, decide that checks -should be given to those who desired them, but that, owing -to the fact that many of our workers were to be, at the -outset, mere hired men, it would be better to issue -orders for each one’s share as measured by dollars. The -laws of the United States practically denied us the right to -issue money or circulating notes, and our purpose was to -build our state in entire harmony with the constitution. -We proposed to avoid a conflict with the Federal government.</p> - -<p class='c008'>It was therefore decided that each member should receive -wages, to be established upon the basis of a distribution of -sixty per cent of all the society produced, equally divided -among all persons above the age of twenty-one, whether -male or female.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The forty per cent undistributed was to be used to purchase -money for the use of the department store; in other -words, sold for cash. These wages were to be paid in -orders on the treasurer, signed by the president. They were -required to read as follows: “To the Treasurer of the Co-opolitan -Association: Deliver to John Jenkins, Foreman -of Company Number One of the Industrial Army, one (or -any denomination) dollar’s worth of any product, convenience, -privilege or license at your disposal. Signed, John -Thompson, President.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>These orders were to be delivered to the foreman only -and it was the foreman’s duty to endorse or stamp his name -on the back so that, when once so endorsed or stamped, they -became current as a medium of exchange, but not as a measure -of value. The foreman’s duty was to pay his men with -these orders and he was held to the strictest account for the -disposition made of each order. Whenever an order was -received in any department it was stamped canceled and -never again issued. Most of our members for the first three -years preferred the check. As time passed, however, the -credit labor check became more and more popular and in -time crowded out the circulating orders entirely.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_40'>40</span> - <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER VII.<br /> <span class='large'>CO-OPOLIS A CONVENTION CITY—A MENACE TO LIBERTY.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>It was a bright day in the latter part of June, 1902, that -the first state convention of the Co-operative Commonwealth -met in our city of Co-opolis to place in nomination -a full state ticket for the state of Idaho. It was considered -that the co-operators were strong enough to take possession -of the political machinery of the state. The National -Brotherhood, using Co-opolis as a basis for its operations in -the state, had directed many colonies to Co-opolis and we -had taken charge of them as they came, absorbed most of -them in our own Industrial Army, and others we had assisted -to establish themselves in some fertile valley in the -state where they could put their own peculiar ideas and -methods of co-operation into practice.</p> - -<p class='c008'>We now had fifty thousand male and female voters, upon -whose solid support we could count to carry out our designs. -Most of this population was settled through the -southern, central and western part of the state, and there -were at least forty cities and villages entirely devoted to our -cause. Co-opolis contained a population of fifteen thousand -souls—men, women and children. Its Industrial -Army was 7,000 strong, and its members, working not more -than seven hours a day, accomplished the most remarkable -results.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Co-opolis itself, while not comparable with the present -great city, was at that time the fairest city on the face of -the earth. I say this not because it could or did boast of -massive structures, splendid palaces or costly monuments, -for these were absent, but because there was not a mean or -dilapidated building in it and there was not a pauper among -all its people. Millionaires were not numerous, but there -<span class='pageno' id='Page_41'>41</span>were several rich men, all of whom, except Thompson, -whose father had died leaving him a vast estate, and Henderson, -who had always been accounted wealthy, were visitors, -or resided in the city to have the advantage of its -hotel and climate. These latter, be it said in passing, -boarded at the Co-opolitan hotel or rented cottages of the -Association. There were some excellent buildings, among -which were numbered the great store of the Department of -Commerce, which had now grown to vast proportions. The -building was four stories high and occupied nearly an -ordinary city block. The larger part of the goods exposed -for sale were produced in Co-opolis.</p> - -<p class='c008'>In the next block to this structure, on the site of the -present Co-opolitan Hall, was one which more modern Co-opolis -has placed there, but which had a seating capacity of -10,000, and was the largest and best equipped in the state. -With the grounds belonging to it the hall occupied an entire -block. The next block contained a very sightly high -school edifice and its grounds.</p> - -<p class='c008'>All the avenues in the city were so laid out that they -consisted each of a park fifty feet wide with a driveway of -equal width on each side and resembled in some respects -the boulevards of Paris. The parks were well-kept lawns, -surrounded by young trees and traversed by gravel walks. -The driveways were all paved with asphalt, as were also the -country roads extending in every direction for one mile -beyond the city proper. All avenues and streets were lined -with young, thrifty trees, planted by the Association.</p> - -<p class='c008'>All buildings were required to be at least fifty feet apart, -and the spaces between were arranged according to the -taste of the occupants of the houses. There were no fences -in the city. Commonwealth Avenue contained the several -department offices and storage buildings. There were three -electric railroads, which were owned in common by all the -cities, co-operative towns and communities of the state -which at this time centered in Co-opolis. The longest was -one hundred and fifty miles and extended to Boise, the -Capital of the state.</p> - -<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_42'>42</span>The transcontinental roads also entered the city. But the -application of electricity to nearly all locomotion had enabled -the city to preserve its streets from being marred and -rendered unsightly and dangerous by street railroads. The -electric motorcycles, bicycles and tricycles, operated by -storage batteries, which plied rapidly along the smooth and -clean asphalt streets, were the pleasing harbingers of that -system by which we are now enabled to travel on similar -roads throughout the length and breadth of fair and favored -Idaho.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The scene presented by the streets of Co-opolis, on this -convention day, was inspiring. Everywhere the American -flag was displayed, and sentiments of patriotism filled the -air. It was a gala day. Not only had the delegates to the -convention congregated in the city, but friends and enemies -seemed to have thought the event an extremely important -one and came from all parts of the state, as well as -from Western Oregon. At nine o’clock in the morning -groups of people—men and women—wandered through the -streets, viewing the city, and all the public vehicles, motorcycles, -bicycles, tricycles and carriages, were employed in -the same service. For the accommodation and refreshment -of visitors the Commerce department had caused little refreshment -fountains to be stationed in different parts of the -city, along the avenues, and in the parks, containing cool -and pleasant drinks, and lunch counters, in charge of members -of that department, were also located in places. These -supplied the public needs at nominal prices. There were -also pavilions in the parks every six blocks where tired -wanderers could rest themselves.</p> - -<p class='c008'>As the chief of the Messenger and Publishing departments -I had charge of the telephones, telegraphs and public -press of the Association. The Daily Co-opolitan was the -only newspaper which this department published at that -time, but the department was required by our law to publish -whatever any member or association of members was -willing to pay for at reasonable rates. The Co-opolitan, -however, had no mission but the publication of news, public -<span class='pageno' id='Page_43'>43</span>opinions as represented by articles appearing in other -papers, and such articles as might be contributed, if the -contributors signed them. Anonymous editorials or articles -were prohibited and nothing appeared while the paper -was under my charge except what my judgment or that of -my staff approved. My position was one of great importance, -because I was practically in control of public opinion. -I hope I did not abuse my power and at this time am not -conscious that I did so. The opportunity for such abuse -has since been removed by the establishment of many other -papers all printed and distributed by the Association, but -controlled and edited by persons who advocate their own -views.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Seated in the general office of my department that morning -running over the columns of the Co-opolitan, I noticed -an editorial copied from the Boston Transcript of recent -date entitled “A Menace to Liberty.” I immediately read -it and found that it was a direct attack on the Co-opolitan -Association. It classed the movement with the Mormon -occupation of Utah; declared that it was hostile to a republican -form of government; asserted that the men who had -become most prominent in pushing it to the front were -designing and ambitious persons who sought only their own -aggrandizement and alleged that it had become so powerful -in Idaho as to threaten to take control of the state and set -up a government which the constitution of the nation forbade. -It was particularly severe on John Thompson. -“This man,” it said, “is reported to be an illiterate but able -man, possessed of great executive force, who has conceived -the entire plan and has superintended with remarkable -diligence and ability the details of its development. As -President of the company he is the practical uncrowned -king of Idaho. This scheme to embrace a state within the -dominion of one company is the most daring and dangerous -yet attempted by corporate greed. Should it succeed, -grave constitutional questions will arise and congress -will be called upon to deal with this new menace to -liberty and good morals as it did with the Mormon question.</p> - -<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_44'>44</span>“There is this difference, however, that the monopolistic -octopus now threatening Idaho is entrenched behind an -unfortunate system which recognizes the independence of -states and the obnoxious doctrine of state rights, while the -Mormons, being in a territory which was directly within -the jurisdiction of congress, were struck down by the sentiment -of the entire Union made effective by national legislation. -But as our people found means to rend the veil of -this obnoxious doctrine, to strike down slavery in the -South, so it will find a way to rend it again and strike down -such institutions as this so-called Co-operative Commonwealth -or Co-opolitan Association.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>I threw the paper down upon the floor with an expression -and feeling of indignation. I knew that our movement -had attracted wide attention, but never before had I seen -any indication of hostility. The newspaper press of the -United States had generally treated the undertaking as an -experiment which would teach a useful lesson if successful, -but waved it aside as purely idealistic and not likely to -succeed. Now one of the most conservative and reputable -metropolitan dailies in the country, ignoring all its former -expressions of approval, had deliberately reversed itself, -suppressed facts, falsified the truth, and, on the eve of the -success of the co-operative programme in Idaho, had begun -a campaign for its destruction. So entirely consumed was -I, for the moment, by my own passion that I did not notice -the entrance of President Thompson and was somewhat -startled when he saluted me.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Brother Braden,” said he, “you seem to be disturbed -about something.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Yes,” I replied. “Look at that article from the Boston -Transcript and see whether I, and we, have not cause to -be troubled.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“I have seen it,” calmly rejoined he. “But,” he continued, -“I am not surprised. Having read extensively and -seen much I have learned that men are quite likely to view -with complacency, and sometimes approval, the development -of an idea, but the moment that idea becomes formidable -<span class='pageno' id='Page_45'>45</span>they attack it. I expect, in fact, that we will win -the coming election in this state, but when we call our constitutional -convention I am by no means certain that we -will get the majority of delegates.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Indeed,” said I, “I have never heard you talk so doubtfully -before.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“I know it, Braden,” replied Thompson. “The occasion -has never before arisen. You will find, however, that the -battle for the Co-operative Commonwealth has just begun. -I have come over to see you now about the convention. -Our friends are asking me to be the candidate for governor. -I have not been inclined to accept, but I would be glad if -you will give me your opinion as to whether I ought to -do so.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“You must do so,” I exclaimed. “I have not expected -anything else. I know that you consider your position as -President of the Co-operative Commonwealth an objection -to your assuming other duties. It is not. You should retain -both positions. Why, sir, I expect that when the new constitution -is framed it will provide for a President whose term -of office will be commensurate with the term of our President -and that the officers of one will be the officers of the -other. I expect that this dual character will continue to -exist until every trace of property individualism has disappeared -and that then, instead of the Co-operative Commonwealth -being Idaho, Idaho will be the Co-operative -Commonwealth.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>It was evident that the view so expressed made an impression -on Thompson. We talked it over for nearly an -hour and when the time arrived for the convention to meet -it was practically decided that, if the convention should so -desire, Thompson would accept the nomination for governor.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_46'>46</span> - <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER VIII.<br /> <span class='large'>THE FIRST CO-OPERATIVE CONVENTION—THOMPSON NOMINATED FOR GOVERNOR.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>The great hall was thronged with delegates and spectators. -There was a feeling that this convention was to select -the next governor and state officers and people who were -not members, but resided in Idaho, were many of them disposed -to be favorable. The railroads, owners of gold mines, -some of the great cattle kings, real estate brokers, money -loaners and saloons were against us, but the masses were -friendly. We calculated that we had ten thousand more -votes at our disposal than our opponents. It was estimated -by the leaders of the People’s party that more than half of -the inhabitants of the state outside of the Association -would support the ticket, but Thompson had several times -assured me that while more than half were disposed to support -us, most of them had not the mental strength to do so. -Be that as it may the convention met, organized and went -to work. No need to describe all that was done. Mr. -Edmunds, chief of our Department of Education, made a -speech nominating John Thompson for governor. He described -the Co-opolitan Association, presented an historical -sketch of its foundation and development, pictured Co-opolis -as it was when our company reached Hacket’s ranch, -told the story of each year’s work, and, in closing, showed -how one master mind conceived and one master spirit directed -every detail of that magnificent undertaking.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“You would hardly credit, if you were acquainted with -the facts, the history of Co-opolis as I have presented it,” -said he as he proceeded. “From the smallest beginnings -we have progressed to that magnificent estate which lies -before you. The world may behold if it will, and accept the -model if it choose. In five years all this has been effected. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_47'>47</span>In the first year we had only the bare land, the running -water, a few cattle and sheep. In the second year we had -five thousand cultivated acres, ten thousand sheep, one -thousand cattle and abundant harvests. In the third year -we had a surplus of produce and wool, forty thousand -sheep, twenty thousand cattle and with the help of irrigation -abundant harvest. In the fourth year, in addition to -two hundred thousand sheep, seventy-five thousand cattle -and abundant harvests, we have added a woolen mill, in -which we manufacture our own woolen blankets and yarn -and knit our own woolen stockings and shirts. We can sell -these in any market. We are now building another mill -and will work our wool product into cloth. You ask how -we have progressed so rapidly? I reply that the Brotherhood -throughout the United States has contributed much -to our enterprise by purchasing our surplus products and -disposing of them in eastern markets. But better than this -we have never lost the labor power of one able-bodied man -during all this time. The confidence of the Brotherhood -in us was due to the magnificent generalship of one great -man, and that one great man was and is John Thompson of -Co-opolis. (Here the enthusiasm became unbounded and -the audience cheered for several minutes.)</p> - -<p class='c008'>“But, my friends, let me say to you that John Thompson -has not only been a general. He inherited a large fortune -from his father and while he has not contributed one cent -of this to the Commonwealth he has sent men at his expense -to several of the great cities of this country to search -out deserving persons and has advanced to them the funds -to come hither and to pay the one hundred dollars required -of each person on admission. These amounts have been -repaid from the wages of the recipient in due time. I say -to you, gentlemen, that this world does not contain a more -thoughtful, able and public-spirited man than John -Thompson, whom I now nominate for governor of Idaho.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>Mr. Edmunds sat down and the great hall fairly shook -with the applause which, as often as it subsided, was repeated -again and again. James Rutherford of Boise City, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_48'>48</span>a delegate who, although a member of the National Brotherhood, -was, as yet, not connected with any colony, seconded -the nomination and moved that President Thompson -be declared the nominee by acclamation. The motion -was put and carried without a dissenting vote amid the -wildest enthusiasm. The nominee having been escorted to -the platform by a committee designated for that purpose, -addressed the convention, after the tremendous cheers -given in his honor had subsided.</p> - -<p class='c008'>As he stood facing the great audience waiting an opportunity -to begin I thought I had never seen him look so -masterful before. His tall, powerfully built frame presented -the picture of an athlete, and his face expressed an -intelligence which could only belong to a man of great -intellectual force. He was the personification of strength -of physique, mind and will. His face, as usual, was clean -shaven, his black hair was combed straight back from his -forehead, his large dark eyes surveyed his audience with a -look which was a strange commingling of love and command. -I do not believe a man, friend or enemy, in the multitude -before him doubted his sincerity, or was conscious, for the -moment, of any other sentiment than that of admiration. -He drew all men toward him and, as many have often related -to me since, when they came within his influence -they seemed most naturally to fall in line behind him and -acknowledge him as leader. He began to speak slowly, but -his voice could be heard distinctly throughout the great -hall.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Mr. President and gentlemen,” said he, “we have now -reached a point in the history of this Commonwealth which -marks the beginning of an epoch. To my mind it is apparent -that all the events of Christian civilization have been -a preparation for the higher civilization which we are privileged -to usher in. It has been said that ‘Time’s noblest -offspring is her last,’ and we may hope that such offspring is -this day born, and that it will thrive and continue to grow -until time shall be no more. I have always believed that -the old system from which we have sought to escape is -<span class='pageno' id='Page_49'>49</span>barbaric feudalism, and that, whether in its ancient military -or its modern commercial form, it was distorted by -selfishness and greed.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“The motives of the robber baron of the dark ages and -the self-serving organizer of trusts to-day do not differ, -and if in the dark ages the one, by force of arms, held -possession of fertile valleys and exacted tribute from neighboring -peoples, the other by fraud monopolizes an industry -and seeks to crush out all competitors. Death strewed the -paths of both, the one being no less hideous in blood than -the other was in the gaunt and shrunken spectre of starvation. -The one, however, spent itself in its own terrors and -disappeared before the awful ravages of destructive war. -So the other has exhausted itself in greed and making the -automaton serve in the stead of man has taught man the -lesson of co-operation.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“I have never been a friend to political socialism as a -factor in building up the Co-operative Commonwealth. -My judgment has proposed to me the development of the -co-operative principle in commercial and industrial lines -until it became so strong that it could not be ignored. In -that manner the railroads, telegraphs and other vast interests -from unknown forces, developed into those mighty -giants which came to control the government and now -terrorize the people. I have hoped that the Co-operative -Commonwealth developing in like manner, slowly but -surely, might with very different motives and for different -purposes, become strong enough to take the government -and wield it for the common good of all. If I mistake not, -the time has come, the Commonwealth is equal to its purpose, -and we may assume our political rights. If we win -in the election now approaching the state of Idaho will -become a co-operative state. Our aim should be to establish -our system without encroaching upon the constitution -of the nation. We will violate none of the provisions of -that instrument, but we will carefully observe all its limitations. -This will be no more difficult for us than it is for -the great trusts and monopolies, which have become so -<span class='pageno' id='Page_50'>50</span>powerful that they are able to obtain an interpretation of -the constitution when they wish it, whereby its limits have -been and are constantly extended to suit their purposes. -By presenting a model of one co-operative commonwealth, -we may, and I believe will, sooner or later induce other -states to follow our lead, and the entire sisterhood of states -may form one great co-operative nation. But we should -advance to the accomplishment of our purpose, in this state, -with wisdom and caution.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“We must make as few mistakes as possible. Our endeavor -must be to understand and strictly conform to the -law. We must respect the opinions of those who do not -agree with us. We must not disturb any citizen in the enjoyment -of his property and it should never be forgotten -that the Commonwealth depends for its growth solely upon -volunteers. You have, my friends, nominated me to be the -first governor of Co-operative Idaho. I have consented to -accept this dignity only because I now believe that he who -acts as President of the Co-operative Commonwealth should -also be the governor of the state, until every vestige of the -old system is removed from Idaho and all its people have -voluntarily entered the new system. We must have a dual -government, but the Co-operative Commonwealth must -control it.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Idaho, the name of our state, is said to mean ‘Light on -the Mountains.’ We will strive to give it a still broader -signification and, God willing, it shall be a light to all the -people.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“The Co-operative Commonwealth was conceived by men -who believed the human race capable of advancing to the -highest ideal of civilization. It never depended, for its -success, upon those philosophers who chose to believe that -because they themselves did not feel the pinch of want -therefore none others need feel it, nor of those philanthropists -who were always going about giving that sort of temporary -relief which only served to make the source of poverty -all the more prolific and the cause all the more obscure. -They did not ask advice of learned students of history, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_51'>51</span>who by that dim light discovered only the passions -and sins of great sinners, and being diverted by the monsters -whose careers filled the world with their unhallowed -fame, failed to observe the patient, law-abiding, industrious -and sober millions who toiled unobserved in the background.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“The Co-operative Commonwealth is founded upon the -theory that all men can as well habituate themselves to conform -to higher as to lower standards. The individualist, -the theoretical democrat, urges that our system will tend -to destroy self-reliance and to weaken the individual man. -The same proposition carried to its logical conclusion -would abolish all co-operative effort, and as society, even in -its lowest forms, rests upon co-operation, all society is, if -judged by that standard, but weakening in its effects. But -whether co-operation makes men weak depends upon its -purpose. If it is organized for theft, murder or lewdness, -then it certainly tends to make men morally weak. If it is -organized for luxury, riot or intemperance, then it tends to -make them physically weak. If its purpose is blasphemy, -gross materialism and the prevention of the free investigation -of religious truth, it cannot fail to make men spiritually -weak. The Co-operative Commonwealth is organized -for none of these. Its aim is to produce a better and stronger -man mentally, physically, morally and spiritually. It -gives the fullest education to all and endeavors to make the -minds of its pupils independent and self-reliant. It offers -the largest opportunity for physical culture, and in all -moral and spiritual spheres presents the highest and best -standards, without limiting freedom of thought or criticism.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“In brief, the consummation of our programme is, the -complete elimination of speculation, gambling and unjust -advantage from the social state, and to guarantee our members -the rewards of their own efforts. We do not permit the -rich to rob the poor, the strong to prey upon the weak, nor -the keen to sharpen their faculties at the material expense -of those who may be dull. To say that this is injurious to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_52'>52</span>the development of what is best in man, is to assert that life -has no purpose except physical gain, and that the main -purpose of life is to provide clothing, shelter and food. We -hold that these are only the means of life and that the purpose -of life is the highest development of manhood and -womanhood for the acquisition and appreciation of truth.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“The Co-operative Commonwealth is a great insurance -association, and as such guarantees to its member the enjoyment -of his or her earnings. It goes one step further, -and assures him that if accident or sickness shall deprive -him of physical or mental ability, or death shall remove -him from a dependent family, all physical and mental -needs shall be provided for him or them. All such advantages -were and are regarded as lending strength to any -form of society and surely they cannot be other than meritorious -features of our system.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“With a firm belief in the righteousness of our great -cause, and assuring you that my life is devoted to your service, -I again express my willingness to accept this nomination. -I need give you but one pledge and giving that you -can feel perfectly secure that your will is to govern the -future. It is my purpose to use my utmost endeavors to -have a constitutional convention called as speedily as possible, -if I shall be elected, and through that convention you, -my brothers, will establish the Co-operative Commonwealth -forever.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>Again the convention went wild with enthusiasm and -the delegates and visitors crowded around the nominee. -I have attended many state conventions, but never before -saw one which resembled so closely in its magnitude and -tumultuous enthusiasm those assemblages in which the national -parties are wont to designate their choice for chief -magistrate of the great republic. The reason, however, was -apparent. All understood that this convention was to initiate -a peaceful revolution whose influence would ultimately -be world-wide in extent.</p> - -<p class='c008'>After the enthusiasm attending the nomination had subsided -the convention nominated the remainder of the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_53'>53</span>ticket. All the candidates were co-operators, but selected -from different localities.</p> - -<p class='c008'>For Secretary of State, Addison Wellman of Boise City; -State Treasurer, Benjamin D. Corwin of Alpha, then a -flourishing colony, now a great city, on the Snake river, -about sixty miles from Co-opolis. For Lieutenant-Governor, -Edward J. Murphy of Banford, in the northern part of the -state. This ticket, be it said, did not fully conform to our -plan to have the officers of the state and the association -identical, but it was considered best to unite all our colonies -under one brotherhood government within the state and -then to carry our plan of official identity of state and -brotherhood into effect. The platform adopted was very -brief. It pledged the Co-operative Commonwealth to respect -all vested rights and to conform to the constitution of -the United States, but asserted that the sources and machinery -of material production should be owned in common. -It also declared for a constitutional convention to be -called at an early date.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_54'>54</span> - <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER IX.<br /> <span class='large'>MY HOME LIFE—AUNT LYDIA—MISS WOODBERRY—TRIP TO CANYON LAKE.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>According to the laws of the Brotherhood each company -was entitled to a fortnightly holiday and as far as possible -work was entirely suspended on Sunday. The day after -the convention was Thursday and the company of which I -was a member enjoyed a “lay-off” on that day. Although -the convention had kept me up late the night before I arose -early, having arranged an outing in the country with a -small company of friends. The Co-opolitan lay on the walk -as I stepped out to sit upon the veranda while breakfast was -being prepared. I picked it up and sitting down proceeded -to read the news. At that time my residence was on Salem -Avenue where it widened into an extensive park in which -was a lake fed from an artesian well around which a grove -of young trees grew luxuriantly. My house was not a large -one. It had been constructed for me by the association, as -all private dwellings had been for their occupants, upon a -plan such as the occupant furnished. The estimated cost -to the Association was one thousand dollars as represented -by orders paid out by it for the labor and material used. It -is well to state here that the construction of a house was to -the Association hardly more than a question of labor. My -house was, like all the dwellings in the city at that time -except apartment houses, a frame structure. The timber -had been obtained from the neighboring forests by our own -people without cost. It had been sawed into lumber by our -mills. It had been put together by our carpenters. -The stone for the foundations, the lime for the walls and -ceiling, the brick, mortar, sand, and, in short, all but the -nails, screws, locks and gears were produced by the labor of -our own people. Three years later, even these were manufactured -<span class='pageno' id='Page_55'>55</span>in Idaho. So that the house cost little more than -the cost of the labor employed in its construction. But it -was, nevertheless, as well built and as commodious as one -costing three thousand dollars in an eastern city under the -competitive system, showing that our co-operative system -was at least three times as effective in this line as the -competitive system. This showing, however, is limited to -the building trades alone, and does not include the enormous -increase of productivity by the employment of all -labor power in the direction of greatest utility.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The rooms were all provided with open fireplaces for -heating purposes, but the cooking apparatus consisted of a -gas stove. Gas, electricity, steam heating and both hot and -cold water were furnished by the Association at a small -cost. In fact the rent of the house, its lighting and heating -as well as its supply of water, cost me only one hundred and -forty-four dollars per year, or twelve dollars per month, and -the service was complete. Besides this, any repairs needed -were attended to at once and the house was kept in perfect -order. The furniture was also provided by the department -store as selected by myself. Even the carpets were manufactured -in Co-opolis. This furniture was paid for by me -in Commonwealth orders and was mine without reservation.</p> - -<p class='c008'>In those times most of us preferred to prepare our breakfasts -at home, but we usually either had our other meals -sent from the public kitchens close at hand or went to the -public dining halls or hotel. The Domestic department had -charge of the entire domestic work of the city and companies -were stationed in each precinct for that purpose. -Whenever any house wanted domestic work performed it -was only necessary to telephone to the proper station and a -well-trained domestic, either man or woman, as desired, was -sent for the purpose. The time of the domestic was -charged to the house and the cost of the service collected -by the department each month, like the rent, gas, telephone, -water and heating bills. The streets and grounds -were kept in order by the city at the public expense.</p> - -<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_56'>56</span>For nearly a year an aunt of mine, an old widow of most -excellent character, had been keeping house for me. She -was not a member of the association, did no service and -drew no pay, but lived entirely on my bounty. She was a -strict Congregationalist of the New England type, read -her bible diligently, assisted in maintaining a religious society -of that denomination, and was one of the most kindly -and lovable souls in our neighborhood. She was, of course, -too old to become an active member of the society and too -poor to purchase a membership. She did not altogether -approve the system in operation in Co-opolis, but rarely -ever expressed any criticism upon it.</p> - -<p class='c008'>I think she was as comfortable and happy as any old lady -in the country, for her time was employed, either in sewing, -light domestic work, reading, writing letters home, or riding -with the motorcycle which I kept at her disposal. She -was always endeavoring to economize in household matters -because she felt that she was a charge upon me. It was in -vain that I assured her of the growing wealth of Co-opolis, -and tried to get her to realize that I had a share in all this -wealth which would last me my lifetime. She could not -comprehend it and still continued to save.</p> - -<p class='c008'>This morning she was quite busy, according to her usual -custom, and it was not long after I sat down to read that -her cheerful voice called me to partake of the morning -meal. It was not an elaborate one, but it was an Idaho production -almost entirely. The rolled oats were grown, -rolled and prepared in Co-opolis; the flour, maple syrup, -butter and even the sugar were made in Idaho, and none -better were ever made elsewhere. The sugar was the -product of the beet-sugar factory at Laselle, which had -been established by the National Brotherhood two years -before. The salt was manufactured by our Association, and -this morning we had plates which were among the first -productions of a new industry added by the Department of -Manufactures just two months previously. The silver on -the table was some which I had inherited from my mother -and was highly prized. The oak extension table, sideboard -<span class='pageno' id='Page_57'>57</span>and chairs in the dining room also represented our Co-opolitan -labor. Aunt Lydia sat at the table with me and -served the coffee.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Willie,” said she, as she reached me the cream, “I guess -I won’t go to-day. I promised Mrs. Cressy that I would -spend a day with her, and she has a holiday; so, if you have -no objection, I will go there instead of the lake.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Why, Aunt Lydia,” I exclaimed, “what has made you -change so suddenly? Of course you must go with us. Mr. -Fuller and Joe Preston are all going and if you don’t go I’ll -simply have to ride alone. You must go.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“No, Willie.” She always called me Willie. “No,” she -declared again. “The Prestons have company just from -Boston, a Miss Woodberry; I met her yesterday. She seems -to be a very nice young lady and I want you to go with her -and show her the valley.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Why, aunt,” I replied, “I will do nothing of the kind. -I want you to go and have made my arrangements accordingly.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>But my aunt was obdurate and all I could say was unavailing. -The truth was she was anxious that I should -marry and was, very much to my annoyance at times, always -contriving to throw me in the way of young ladies, -hoping that I would meet my fate. I suspected that this -was another scheme of that kind and felt provoked. If I -could have found a good excuse I would have canceled my -engagement and remained at home. But no excuse presented -itself. What was even worse, as I thought, my aunt -had gone so far as to invite Miss Woodberry to take her -place in the party, which that young lady as a guest of the -Prestons, who were also going, very naturally and promptly -accepted. Of course I could not scold the dear old meddling -lady, and so, although much put out, I philosophically -submitted to the inevitable.</p> - -<p class='c008'>After breakfast Joe Preston, a young man about twenty, -who had just entered the Industrial Army, in the Transportation -department, but who had a holiday also, came -<span class='pageno' id='Page_58'>58</span>over and said that he had been to the precinct kitchen and -had all the edibles put up for the trip and that Miss Woodberry -was ready to go whenever I was. He took the motorcycle -from the shed back of the house, adjusted the storage -battery, and conducted the vehicle around to the front -door. I entered and a minute later we were at the door of -the Preston cottage, where we found the entire party, Miss -Woodberry among the rest, waiting with their vehicles. -The formalities of an introduction over I assisted Miss -Woodberry to her place and seating myself by her side we -started away, the rest of the party following.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Our destination was the lake made by damming the -waters of Deer River and flowing about two hundred acres -of land in the canyon where the stream emerges from the -mountains. We called it Canyon Lake and laid out a -park around it, which at that time was not completed, but -gave promise of much beauty. It was my intention to -ascend the divide south of the city, pursue the road which -ran along the slope and take in the scenery which delighted -the eye from that elevation. So we followed the asphalt -pavement as far as it went in that direction and then rolled -along the smoothly macadamized country driveway. The -Co-opolitans of that day were very proud of their roads and -spent much time and labor upon them. They were all -wide, smooth and well shaded and accommodations for -drinking both for man and beast—horses were still in use -for drawing heavy burdens at that time—were provided -from the big flume and the reservoirs of our system of irrigation.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The lady by my side was enthusiastic over all she saw -and so bright and unaffected were her remarks and exclamations -that, before we had gone very far, I began to -enjoy her society. She was not a remarkably handsome -person, but she had what I suppose my female acquaintances -would call “style.” That, of course, was a matter of -dress, all of which had its effect on me as fashion intended, -but none of which I could describe. In a general way I -could see that she had a jaunty hat full of bright-colored -<span class='pageno' id='Page_59'>59</span>artificial flowers, a loose-fitting white waist and a gown of -some blue material. Her form was tall and rather slender, -her hair auburn, her features somewhat pronounced, but -intellectual, her mouth indicated firmness, but was in an -everlasting conspiracy with a pair of large blue eyes to express -all that is bright and sunny in the feminine character.</p> - -<p class='c008'>She had one of those faces, in which no feature was above -criticism, but upon which so many happy thoughts and -kindly emotions were continually expressing themselves, -that criticism was as soon forgotten as made, and once forgotten -was never recalled. I was seized, as we walked together, -with a great desire to show her novel or beautiful -scenes, and to tell her what I knew. I never enjoyed anything -so much as the varying expressions of her face, always -intelligent, always pure, always gentle, and withal -full of strong character. It was evident that she had read -much, seen many places and had a clear understanding. -But it was also apparent that she was in search of the pure, -the beautiful, the good, and she was altogether like what -she sought. One most remarkable fact about her was that -although a Bostonian she did not insist that Boston should -be the sole subject of conversation.</p> - -<p class='c008'>After an hour’s journey from the city, moving rapidly -along the levels, swiftly down the inclines and slowly up -the steep road which ascended to the divide, we reached the -place which I have always considered the best from which -to view Co-opolis. Here our party halted for a time, remaining -in our carriages and discussing the many objects -of interest. The mountains, black and threatening, looked -down upon us as if with sullen displeasure, and beyond the -wild wastes of treeless and houseless valleys, far to the -south, rose the weird forms of the Seven Devils, presiding -over a kind of a golden Hades. But it was not the mountains -nor the wilderness which attracted us mostly.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Before us lay the garden of brotherly love, in whose -bosom nestled the fair city of Co-opolis. That city was -indeed a picture of peace and loveliness, with all its great -<span class='pageno' id='Page_60'>60</span>public buildings, its wide streets, its artificial lakes and -magnificent urban parks. I pointed out the buildings and -parks to my lady companion and took much pleasure in -giving her brief historical sketches of several of them. But -even Co-opolis, with all its artificial beauty, was not the -greatest object of interest. The valley itself, subjected to -the most thorough cultivation to which the most approved -methods could reduce it, lay before us “as fair as the garden -of the gods upon the slopes of Eden.” Directing our attention -to the north we saw the silvery expanse of Canyon -Lake glistening in the sun. Along both the northern and -southern slopes of the valley extended the finely constructed -ditches and flumes conducting the waters of the lake to -many different reservoirs, where they were stored and distributed -when occasion demanded.</p> - -<p class='c008'>I explained, what was a fact, that the rainfall in this -region had increased to such an extent since the valley became -inhabited and cultivated that for two years the supply -of water had been comparatively little used in irrigation. -But irrigation assured us our crops and there was no -danger that a drought would ever destroy them. Eighty -thousand acres constituted our cultivated farm. I pointed -out the apple, peach and pear orchards and vineyards and -spoke of the promise these orchards and vineyards gave of -a large supply of fruit in perhaps another year. I showed -the corn, wheat and potato fields, the vegetable gardens and -the extensive hothouses, and explained that at times three -thousand members of our Industrial Army were engaged -on the farm.</p> - -<p class='c008'>We could also see the numerous sheds constructed in -sheltered places, for the sheep and cattle which our shepherds -and herders attended on the ranges, and the large -barns here and there in which the harvests were stored and -kept. The fields and ranges had produced in the last two -years an enormous surplus. This surplus, however, the -Brotherhood in the nation had taken or it had been distributed -at the instance of the Brotherhood among the new -colonies which it had established throughout the state.</p> - -<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_61'>61</span>My companion asked me the wealth of the colony, and -my answer was that its buildings could not be constructed -in any competitive eastern city for less than $15,000,000.00, -but that they probably cost an amount of labor estimated -by our standards at $4,500,000.00. The 80,000 acres of -land, to which the Association had title, were worth $50.00 -per acre at least, or $4,000,000.00. The personal property, -consisting of machinery, stocks of goods, sheep, cattle, -horses, wagons, tricycles, bicycles, motorcycles and farm -products, were worth $8,500,000.00 and the water right, -irrigating ditches, electric railroads, gas and electric plants, -water system for the city, heating system and public utilities -which brought or could be made to bring a revenue, -were produced by the labor of the Industrial Army, without -an outlay of much cash, and were worth at least $5,500,000.00. -All this has been created by labor in five years, -and, of course, the value of the city lots is not estimated.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Yet the mere fact that 15,000 people lived on these lots -was sufficient to give them an enormous value if they were -to be sold for cash. Indeed, I think the lots in the city at -that time wore worth $4,000,000.00 as an investment, based -upon their rental values.</p> - -<p class='c008'>We continued our observation of the valley in this manner -for about half an hour and then rather reluctantly -moved on. The day was spent pleasantly, in fishing, sailing -and picnicking. There was at the lake an Association -restaurant where, in the summer time, fish dinners were -made a specialty. Special attention was given to supplying -our city with fresh fish and a large fish hatchery was also -located here. The event of the day, however, was the observation -of the scenery from the divide both on the trip to -and the trip from the lake, for we again stopped on our -return and again feasted upon that vision of fertility and -abundance.</p> - -<p class='c008'>When we arrived home that evening we were still intent -on the full enjoyment of our holiday, and, as the great -French tragedienne, with a superb company, had been engaged -for the week by the Association, we went to the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_62'>62</span>theater. Here, again, Aunt Lydia, having an aversion for -theatrical performances, which New England Congregationalism -had instilled into her, preferred to remain at -home, and I was once more obliged to accompany my newfound -friend Miss Woodberry. I may say, however, that -whatever my aunt’s aversion to the theater may have been -I did not share it and the aversion which I felt in the morning -to leaving my good, old aunt at home was not so keenly -felt in the evening.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_63'>63</span> - <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER X.<br /> <span class='large'>THE CAMPAIGN OF 1902—DRIVING CAPITAL FROM THE STATE—THE POLITICAL MINISTER—VICTORY.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>The political campaign of 1902 in Idaho was one of the -most notable ever waged in the United States. It was interesting -to the entire country because it was understood -that if the Co-operative Commonwealth was victorious the -changes which would be effected in the government, laws -and industrial system of the state would be radical and -sweeping. The moneyed interests all over the country were -alarmed, but it may be said that in those times the “moneyed -interests” were always in a state of alarm at every -suggestion of a reform which proposed the betterment of -the condition of the masses.</p> - -<p class='c008'>As a result of this “alarm” a system of colonization in -Idaho was begun with a view to outvoting the co-operators -on election day. But the extent of the Brotherhood of the -Co-operative Commonwealth was little understood by the -business and moneyed interests of the nation. They supposed -it to be practically confined to Idaho when in truth it -had its branches throughout the entire country. The effort -to colonize voters in Idaho was rendered abortive except in -the mining regions of the northern part of the state, and -even there the colonizers were not as successful as they supposed. -The Brotherhood, secretly giving the most useful -aid to co-operators, caused many ardent friends to be enlisted -as colonists of the enemy, and these, immediately on -arrival in Idaho, communicated with our leaders and we -were kept constantly informed as to the movements of the -opposition.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The Brotherhood numbered one million members outside -of Idaho and if we had asked them to contribute to our -financial strength they could and would have sent us from -<span class='pageno' id='Page_64'>64</span>one to five million dollars. This, however, was deemed -unnecessary, and we confined our expenditures to the education -of the masses with regard to our purposes, and the -prevention of the gross frauds which we expected the opposition -to perpetrate. Great speakers of national fame were -sent from all parts of the country to discuss the issues of -this campaign. Competition and co-operation had here -locked horns and this tremendous issue was to be fought -out once for all.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The principal argument made by the opposition was that -the success of co-operation, besides destroying personal liberty, -would drive out all the capital in the state, and all the -capital approaching the state away from it. To this position, -which was depicted on every opposition stump, our -great leader, President Thompson, always made but one -reply.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Drive capital from the state!” exclaimed he. “Prevent -its entrance! Why! Let them take every dollar of gold -and silver and every item of what they call credit away forever. -Let them leave us the land and ability to labor and -we will speedily reverse the order. Instead of Idaho being -a suppliant at the door of capital, we shall soon see capital, -so boastful and arrogant now, an abject suppliant at the -door of Idaho.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Instead of capital directing industry we shall find industry -directing and controlling capital. But how will they -withdraw capital? Will they fill up the mines they -have dug? Will they tear up the rails they have laid? Will -they stop their trains on the boundary line or rush through -without stopping? Will they transport the houses and -farms on which they hold mortgages? They can, of course, -do none of these things, nor do they contemplate it. But -they say we intend to repudiate our indebtedness to them. -In the great record of the Omniscient Lawgiver, in which -the list of those moral obligations which ought to be kept -are found, it is not probable that all the debts of the people -are numbered, but into that we shall never inquire. All -<span class='pageno' id='Page_65'>65</span>moral and legal obligations which rest upon it shall be -strictly and fully paid.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>The fight waxed warmer as election day approached. -Every effort was made to stir up the basest passions against -the Co-operative Commonwealth. We heard of a riot and -what amounted almost to a pitched battle in the mining -regions of the Coeur d’Alene Mountains, and learned, to -our surprise, that we had a large number of adherents -among the Trade Unionists and the Miners’ Unions of that -section. An equally great surprise was that, although our -movement was in no sense hostile to any church, and as a -matter of fact encouraged all religious denominations in -their work, the ministers of the gospel were, as a rule, -among our most bitter opponents and, excepting those who -presided over co-operators of their own denominations, -they were disposed to denounce us as opposed to morals. -I regret to say that from this class of campaign speakers -and political workers came the most outrageous misrepresentations -of the campaign.</p> - -<p class='c008'>I beg to be understood aright. I make no charge against -the church, or against ministers. God knows that I have -the highest regard for both, but I have noticed not only in -connection with the campaign of 1902 but other great campaigns -before and since that when they step out of their -true sphere into politics these amiable, innocent and estimable -gentlemen generally become the catspaws of the -most unscrupulous political monkeys. They are undeniably -caught by men who make the loudest professions of -honesty, justice and virtue, when in truth those who proclaim -their merits in these regards with the greatest vigor -are not necessarily the most sincere or deserving. Vigor of -tongue does not always indicate a healthy conscience, but -it generally catches the political minister.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The day before election Thompson and I met at the Co-opolitan. -The work of the campaign was now practically -completed as far as speaking was concerned. Thompson -had certainly done his duty, for he had spoken in every -county seat and every considerable town in the state. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_66'>66</span>Everywhere he had been welcomed by great crowds and -everywhere it had been acknowledged that he was a man -of commanding genius. Indeed, all this was conceded by -the newspaper press throughout the Union. But he told -me confidentially that he did not trust the appearances -which seemed so flattering and cited several instances to -show the uncertainty of political events. I was a younger -man and my enthusiasm caused me to entertain no doubt -of the complete success of our entire programme.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Election day passed off without incident. The vote was -heavy. Every woman of voting age, as well as every man, -voted, and the vote cast was more than twice as large as the -state had ever cast in any previous election, the grand total -being 190,000. Of these our ticket received 115,000, giving -us a majority of 40,000. We had elected more than two-thirds -of both houses of the legislature and the victory for -the Co-operative Commonwealth was complete.</p> - -<p class='c008'>How we shouted, and went nearly mad with joy in Co-opolis. -The total vote of our city, numbering 6,661, had -been cast for the entire ticket. I have not mentioned the -fact that in the distribution of political honors I had received -the nomination, equivalent to election, for state senator, -and I may now say that I was unanimously elected.</p> - -<p class='c008'>I did not vote for myself.</p> - -<p class='c008'>I was the only candidate. When the result of the election -was known we appointed the following evening for a -grand jollification. It was an occasion to be remembered. -The army, 7,000 strong, not all residents of Co-opolis, as -some were permanently stationed in the country, marched -through the streets, with music furnished by the city band. -This band consisted of one hundred first-class musicians, -and was one of the best in the entire western country. -There were other amateur bands which were drilled to a -high degree of excellence, and the army marched to such -music. There was a grand illumination in the evening, and -a magnificent display of fireworks.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_67'>67</span> - <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XI.<br /> <span class='large'>THE BROTHERHOOD CONVEYS ITS IDAHO POSSESSIONS TO THE CO-OPOLITAN ASSOCIATION—ARRANGEMENTS FOR COLONISTS—TYPICAL INSTANCES—JARVIS RICHARDSON—MRS. ELIZABETH MAXON.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>The National Brotherhood of the Co-operative Commonwealth -had prior to the election of 1902, in a delegate convention -held in Chicago, passed a resolution approving the -Co-opolitan system of co-operation and directing that all -colonies and colonists entering Idaho, under its auspices, -after January 1st, 1903, enter and become merged in Colony -Number One, as Co-opolis was named in the Brotherhood -records. It also transferred all its property, including -the beet-sugar factory at Laselle, a gold mine at Banford, -in the Coeur d’Alene Mountains, and several large tracts -of land and small colonies to us, upon the theory that we -were better able to superintend the details of state building, -while the Brotherhood should simply aid us with funds to -extend our good works, furnish us with colonists and distribute -our surplus product.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Our Legislation Council, anticipating large accessions to -our population on this account, was in constant session and -during the entire winter of 1902–3 large plans were under -consideration for the utilization of the new labor power. -The National Brotherhood had contracted not to send us -more than 10,000 new members during the year 1903 and -to pay us $1,000,000.00 cash or one hundred dollars for -each person sent for our surplus products stored in various -barns and storehouses.</p> - -<p class='c008'>It was not considered that these new colonists should all -remain in Co-opolis. About two thousand of them were to -be retained in certain productive lines in which we were -<span class='pageno' id='Page_68'>68</span>already prepared to set them at work. One of these was a -large woolen mill located down the stream toward Snake -River, capable of employing one thousand hands. We had -a large quantity of wool on hand, and were ready to take all -which was offered in exchange for goods at the department -store. It was also agreed between the National Brotherhood -and our council that they should send us one thousand -persons skilled in the manufacture of woolen fabrics. -These we agreed to receive on equal terms with all other -members. We also arranged for the establishment of a -large boot and shoe factory, an extensive fruit and vegetable -canning factory, and another one still for the slaughtering, -dressing, preparing and packing of pork, beef and -other meats. The slaughter houses were designed to be -situated about six miles from Co-opolis over the divide on -the Seven Devils branch of the Oregon Short Line. These -skilled artisans numbered in all about three thousand. The -rest, consisting of six thousand adults, were to enter the -Industrial Army as common workers.</p> - -<p class='c008'>We estimated that we could employ this new industrial -army in opening up another large valley in the same -county fifteen miles south of Co-opolis. That valley was in -nearly all respects similar to Deer Valley, except that it was -larger and the divides and tables were covered with a thick -growth of timber. We considered that it was proper to retain -about half of the seven thousand new men to work in -and about Co-opolis and to send an equal number of our -older members to the new fields. The plan was, first of all, -to provide irrigation; second, to break thirty thousand acres -of land and seed it to corn; third, to construct buildings -sufficiently commodious to house the companies of the -Industrial Army which might be necessary to make the -valley productive and protect its structures and products -from destruction. It was then intended to be a sort of an -industrial outpost for Co-opolis, and was placed in charge -of the Agricultural department.</p> - -<p class='c008'>When the new colonists began to arrive in large numbers -the scene presented in the main hall of the building was -<span class='pageno' id='Page_69'>69</span>interesting. The department chiefs took turns presiding -at the hearing of applications for membership. I remember -very well my own experience one day the latter part of -January. I had obtained a temporary leave of absence -from the senate in order to assume the duties as chief of -my department. There were eight hundred newcomers, -men and women. Each was sworn to answer truly all questions -put touching his or her age, education, trade or calling, -nationality, former place of residence, family and career. -His application, together with certificates of medical -examiners, was examined and if approved by the National -Brotherhood the following contract was handed him for his -signature: “It is hereby agreed by and between Peter -Jones, party of the first part, and Colony Number One of -the Co-operative Commonwealth known as the Co-opolitan -Association, party of the second part, that in consideration -of the promises, agreements and undertakings hereinafter -set forth, said first party enters the employ of said second -party as a laborer for the term of three years. That he -agrees to do and perform any and all work which said second -party shall require of him in any part of the state of -Idaho to the best of his ability. That he agrees to conform -to all the rules, regulations and laws which are now in force -or shall become in force in or in connection with said -colony, provided the same do not impair the obligation -hereof. Said second party agrees to pay said first party -for said service in the products of labor on hand or obtainable -by said second party, an amount equal to forty per cent -of the yearly product of the labor of said colony divided by -the total number of members of said colony above the age -of twenty years, less fines and forfeitures, the same to be -paid in such amounts, and at such times, within each year, -as shall be provided by the Legislative Council of said second -party.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>The examination to which applicants were subjected is -well illustrated by the record of one who has since become -one of the famous Industrial chiefs of the state.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“What is your name, age, occupation and place of residence?” -<span class='pageno' id='Page_70'>70</span>asked I of a medium-sized man with a strong, -square face, and a large forehead, who arose and held up his -right hand to take the oath.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Name, Jarvis Richardson. Age, thirty years. Occupation, -printer. Former residence, St. Paul, Minnesota.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Name of former employer and when last employed.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Pioneer Press Publishing Company. Was laid off three -years ago.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Reason for discharge?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Improved typesetting machines.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Do you understand and favor co-operation, or are you -desirous of entering the Brotherhood for temporary protection?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“I believe I understand the principle and purpose of co-operation. -Having been excluded from usefulness in my -own trade by the introduction of labor-saving devices, I -realize that an injustice has been done me. I should have -had the benefit of the labor-saving device, but instead of -that I am simply supplanted by an automaton. The machine -which excluded me from my place and has kept me -comparatively idle ever since does the work which it formerly -took five men to do. If the same results were accomplished, -as it ultimately will be, in all departments four-fifths -of the labor of human beings would be thrown aside -and four-fifths of the laborers would starve. This would -curtail the consumption of products of such machinery, and -a portion of those who operate them would then be discharged -on the plea of hard times, limited demand and -overproduction.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“The industrial system now in operation throughout the -Christian world was devised for an ignorant and barbarous -people. Invention, learning, industry and progress are -showing its entire inefficiency. Learning must be limited to -a few if that system is to live. Under it, if industry produces -enough for all, stagnation results, because that system -makes no provision for wise and equitable distribution. -Progress is impossible because it strains society to a point -of revolution and destruction follows. The co-operative -<span class='pageno' id='Page_71'>71</span>system, on the contrary, deems labor-saving machinery a -blessing, and its adoption simply increases production and -is a relief and benefit to the laborer. It does not diminish -his share of the product, but reduces his hours of labor. -You cannot have too much education and learning in the -co-operative system because all are educated, and yet each -is required to submit to his share of labor and drudging. -This tends to destroy false pride, and prevent vanity. -Moreover, men come to realize their true relation to one -another.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Industry can never cause overproduction in the co-operative -system. If too much is produced for the members -to consume they do not therefore find it necessary to starve -a portion of their number. Such a condition is hurtful to -none. The co-operative system demands progress. Every -step forward brings a reward and does not suggest a danger. -Every advance is a blessing not to a few, but to all. A -system which is large enough, just enough and expansive -enough to admit of the unfoldment of all the powers and -virtues of the race cannot be less than Christian.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>The manner of the applicant as he expressed himself was -that of a polished and educated gentleman. It was not customary -for us to encourage lengthy speeches on the part of -applicants, during the year 1903 nor the years following, -but once in a while a man of commanding will and intellect -would challenge our attention and we would listen to him -as I did to Mr. Richardson. He was a sufferer from one -cause, and understood the cause and its only cure far better -than a philosopher who only observes and could not feel -the condition it imposed on him.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“It is claimed that the individual is weakened and made -dependent by our system, Mr. Richardson,” said I. “The -claim is also made that the man who escapes the perils of -the industrial system comes out with a stronger character -and a more independent manhood than if such perils had -not been encountered. Have you a different opinion?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“I do not know,” was the reply, “how great a manhood -your system will develop. It teaches, however, the lesson of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_72'>72</span>brotherhood, and gives me protection for my wife and -babies by furnishing me an opportunity to be industrious. -The competitive system might not be objectionable if it -would do the same. But it does not permit fair competition. -It demands that a man be industrious, but gives him -no chance to work. It permits a few to monopolize land, -water, power, money and all the sources, means and machinery -of production, and then asks the disinherited and -landless ones to compete when competition is impossible.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“The system called competitive is not competitive. It -is a system whereby a favored few are permitted to rob the -many. As for the perils of that system developing character, -I admit they do. The most remarkable character and -those most admired in it are the modern Shylocks. If that -sort of character is desirable, then the system is a success, -but I do not covet its benefits. It seems to me the perils of -savagery are much more effective to bring out strong traits -of character and build up a manhood more courageous, self-reliant, -and even heroic, certainly not more brutal, than -the trading, cozening, cheating, gambling, sordid methods -which make up this so-called ‘Competitive System.’”</p> - -<p class='c008'>It was not possible for me in the press of business to continue -the conversation further that day. Indeed, the arguments -offered by the applicant were not new to me, and it -was only because of the strong individuality of the man that -I stopped to converse with him at all. It was, however, a -part of my business to investigate the qualifications of applicants -and when they had been accepted to enroll them -in the proper department. Each department had its enrolling -clerk present, who received the signature of the new -member in the department to which he was assigned. A -few formal questions more were put to Mr. Richardson and -I assigned him to the Messenger and Publishing department, -where a vacancy had occurred within a week by the -death of a trusted member.</p> - -<p class='c008'>He of course entered as a mere printer, being compelled -to earn promotion by the efficiency of his work.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The examination and acceptance of applicants went on -<span class='pageno' id='Page_73'>73</span>with great rapidity after this, and no incident occurred -worthy of note until after the noon lunch. A woman about -thirty-six years old presented her application. After the -usual formal questions I asked:</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Are you married?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“I am a widow,” she answered; “my husband was killed -in a railroad collision five years ago.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Have you children?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“I have seven—three boys and four girls.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Have you them with you?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“All are here. Mr. Thompson advised me to come and -make this application, so I have been saving up all my -money and I am here.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“You say you live in Boise? You are not recommended -by the Brotherhood. Have you any recommendations?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“I have one from Mr. Thompson.” Here she handed me -a note from our President, now Governor of the state, and -upon reading it I found that she was an intelligent and -deserving woman who was anxious to educate her children. -She had saved, through several years’ hard work at the -washtub and in various kinds of domestic work, the fee -necessary to enter the colony, and, although it was her all, -she was ready to pay it for such a purpose.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“What shall I do for a home?” she asked.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“We have excellent houses, in one of which you shall -live,” I replied.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Can I send my children to school?” she continued.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“You are required to do so. Education is compulsory. -Your children will be turned over to the Department of -Education.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Am I to be separated from them?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“You and they will live together in the same house.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“But I am a member of the Episcopal church. I desire -my children brought up in that church.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“The religious education of your children is your own -care. Send them to what church you will. Episcopal, -Methodist, Baptist, Catholic, Congregationalist and other -denominations are represented here.”</p> - -<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_74'>74</span>“Would it be wrong for me to ask how much my wages -are to be?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“You will receive checks or orders the first year entitling -you to one-third as much as a skilled first-year member. -The second year you will receive as much as any other member -of the Industrial Army, skilled or unskilled, officer or -private. Last year each member received $1,200.00 in orders -or checks entitling him to the use of public conveyances, -railroads, house, water, gas, light, heat and other -public utility, to goods, wares and merchandise, meals at -restaurant or hotel, to admission to entertainments, use of -public ovens, and, in short, whatever you need. If your -children are infants the Department of Education has -trained nurses to care for them. If a mother is nursing her -babe we give her a furlough until the period of nursing -ceases, but her pay continues. We encourage the mother -to be with her children as much as possible, as we believe a -mother’s love is one of the influences, under proper conditions, -which inspire purity and develop manhood and -womanhood in the child.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“But if I must work I cannot care for my children and -get them ready for school in the morning.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Women who have children are placed, as far as possible, -in companies which do their work during what are called -school hours. You will be assigned to the Domestic department -and its officers will place you where you belong. -You will go to your work at 9 o’clock and continue until -12. You will then take an hour for your own lunch and -returning to work continue until 5.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>I felt great satisfaction at being able to give this poor -woman information which restored almost immediately the -light of hope to her careworn face. She only asked one -more question. She wanted to know what would become of -her children in case she should die, and when I told her -that children who once entered our Department of Education -were always protected, clothed and supported, without -the slightest dishonor, by the Association and afterward -entered our Industrial Army on equal terms with all others, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_75'>75</span>she seemed so happy that the bystanders wept and I felt my -own eyes grow moist.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Several days after this, being anxious to learn the fate of -this woman, whose name was recorded as Elizabeth Maxon, -I entered, inquired at the office of the Domestic department, -where she was enrolled, and learned that she had -been assigned by her department chief to laundry work -and that her place of residence was number 800 Pine Street. -I took occasion to call there. Upon my ringing the electric -bell the door was opened by a bright-faced little girl of -about fifteen summers.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Is your mother at home?” I asked.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Yes,” was the reply. “Will you come in?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>She ushered me through a small carpeted hallway, into a -neatly furnished parlor, the floor of which was also carpeted, -and the furniture in which appeared to be quite new. -Having been politely offered a chair, I sat down, and being -informed that “mamma” would be in directly I waited. A -minute later Mrs. Maxon appeared.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Mrs. Maxon,” I said, arising, “you will doubtless look -upon my visit as an intrusion, but I felt so deep an interest -in your welfare, after your application and examination for -membership, that I had to hunt you up. Perhaps you will -remember me as the man who presided at that time.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Indeed!” she exclaimed. “Mr. Braden, certainly this is -an honor and not an intrusion. You were so kind to me -on that occasion that I shall never forget you. Will you be -seated, sir?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>I sat down again. Mrs. Maxon also seated herself.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“I would be glad to learn how you fared,” I resumed. -“Will you permit me to ask you a few questions?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Yes, indeed!” was the quick answer. “I will answer -any question. The people are so good to me here that I feel -that you are all brothers and sisters. And see,” (she waved -her hand around her), “I have never lived in such a pleasant -house before. It is heated by steam which comes from -pipes laid under the streets and we have water, gas and -electricity.”</p> - -<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_76'>76</span>“Do you like your work?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“It is very pleasant. Most of the work at the laundry is -done by machinery and the machinery does five times as -much work as the force we have there could do by hand. -All the hard work is done by machinery. Then I have only -to work seven hours a day, too.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“How did you get so well settled?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“The next day after the examination I was told to go to -the office of the Domestic department on Commonwealth -Avenue. I went. The gentleman in charge told me that -when an active member paid a membership fee of $100.00 -the company gave a labor check to her in return representing -$100.00 worth of goods. He gave me the amount in -such check and then directed a gentleman to take me and -my children to number 800 Pine Street, where we should -live. He hailed a passing motor car and we got on that and -rode to this house, my children with me. The gentleman -did not pay my fare, but I paid it.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“I was surprised that it only amounted to what would be -two cents of my hundred dollars. I was quite surprised -also to find that we were to have such a nice house. But -there was no furniture in it then. I left my children with -our neighbor, and went up to the department house and -ordered these carpets, furniture and other things. They -let me have them on time, with the understanding that they -were to keep the title until they were paid for. I got a few -groceries from the store and some meat and brought them -home myself. The furniture came about 2 o’clock that -afternoon and before supper time we were almost settled. -A bell rang out there in the dining room and I found a telephone -there. I answered it and found that the foreman of -the company which I was told to enter had some directions. -He said I was to go over to the ward office of the Department -of Education, about two blocks from here, and report -with my children at 9 o’clock next morning and then to -report to him at 9:30 o’clock for duty. So I did, and all my -little ones were taken and sent to school.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Are you then comfortable?”</p> - -<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_77'>77</span>“I am very, very happy. I never dreamed that such good -would come to me after my husband died. But God has -directed me here and I am very, very happy.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>The conversation continued a few minutes longer. All -her little children, with bright and shining faces, came in -to see me, and I was overflowing with sympathetic enthusiasm -myself before I was able to tear myself away. -And I thought to myself as I returned to my home that the -joy our system brought to these comparatively humble people -was the best indication that we were now, in truth, upon -the threshold of a higher civilization; a civilization that -uses all power, both mechanical and human, to lift up all -humanity; a civilization which does not content itself by -simply emblazoning the golden rule upon painted banners -and church walls, but makes it the measure of every public -act toward all men, women and children alike.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_78'>78</span> - <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XII.<br /> <span class='large'>IDAHO ELECTS A SENATOR—PARALYSIS OF THE COMPETITIVE SYSTEM—BLIGHT AFFECTS THE CAPITAL CITY—CAPITAL WITHDRAWS FROM THE STATE—A SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE—CO-OPOLIS ESTABLISHES A DEPARTMENT STORE AND HOTEL AT BOISE CITY.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>Governor Thompson was inaugurated at Boise City January, -1903. There was no demonstration on the occasion, -the Governor being sworn in by the Chief Justice of the -Supreme court of the state without display. The Legislature -convened the same day, the Lower House elected its -speaker, and the next day the various committees of both -branches of the lawmaking body were appointed. The -third day the entire political machinery of Idaho, with the -exception of some minor officers and some members of the -judiciary, was under the control of the Co-operators.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The work to be performed by the Legislature was regarded -as pressing and important. A senator was to be -elected to represent the state in the United States senate. -The complexion of the two houses made it certain that the -new senator would be a Co-operator. As for that matter so -was the then incumbent. He was a member of the People’s -party and also a member of the Brotherhood and of the Co-opolitan -colony. He was a man of wealth and, being past -the age of forty-five, had transferred property to our colony -worth twenty years of a Co-operator’s income, estimated -upon the basis of such income January 1st, 1902. In addition -to this, his assistance as senator from Idaho had been -invaluable to our cause. When a man became a member, in -this manner, the Association, while leaving him his own -property and the income which he derived from it, required -that all wages, salaries and compensation, which his -skill, labor or use of time might earn should be the property -of the Association, so that the senator’s yearly salary belonged -<span class='pageno' id='Page_79'>79</span>to it. We took but one vote on the senatorial question, -and the sitting senator was by that vote elected to -succeed himself.</p> - -<p class='c008'>But this Legislature had some really serious questions to -consider besides that of electing a senator. It was confronted -by a condition which to all individuals in the state -seemed appalling. The public, outside of the co-operative -colonies in the state, and outside the Brotherhood of the -Co-operative Commonwealth out of the state, was filled -with alarm at the prospect of certain radical reforms being -initiated.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The election of Governor Thompson and a co-operative -Legislature was the signal for all banks, competitive business -houses and money loaners to draw in their loans and -investments, as far as possible, and many of those who were -engaged in the various lines mentioned proposed to depart -from the state. In such cities as Boise City, Shoshone, -Ketchem and a few others of like description the saloon -men and money loaners endeavored to sell out and leave the -state at once.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The banks refused to make any new loans and insisted -upon the immediate payment of such indebtedness as was -then due. The railroad companies began a course of discrimination -against the people of the state and business -houses reduced their stocks of goods. Money, gold, silver -and paper, became very scarce.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Boise City, the capital, before January 1st was in a condition -of business paralysis. As for the several Co-operators, -who made up the Legislature and occupied other government -positions, they had no money—that is, United -States gold, silver and paper. Their entire exchange consisted -of the orders and checks already described. It was -evident that they would not be able to pay cash for what -they purchased in Boise and the merchants and other business -men realized as early as December that they were not -likely to reap a harvest from the new administration.</p> - -<p class='c008'>This was also anticipated by the Department of Commerce -at Co-opolis, and an agent of the Legislative Council -<span class='pageno' id='Page_80'>80</span>was sent down to Boise, who speedily closed a trade for a lot -of land on Boise’s principal street. Then came carloads of -lumber from Co-opolis, and a force of Co-opolitan carpenters -was speedily at work, even in the dead of winter, constructing -a good, substantial and commodious three-story-high -building. One-half of this building was a hotel and -one-half a department store. By January 1st such was the -energy displayed by the Co-opolitan workmen that it was -completed and furnished and the store part was stocked -with a large assortment of groceries, hardware, cutlery, -drugs, clothing, dry goods, fancy goods, millinery, fruit, -meats, boots and shoes, dairy products and many other of -the manufactures and products of Co-opolis and the Co-opolitan -farm.</p> - -<p class='c008'>This, to a very large extent, solved the problem of comfort -and supplies for our representatives. The orders and -checks of the Association were all good at the hotel and -store. A few motorcycles with runners and others without -and some horses and carriages were provided later on. The -inferiority of the streets and roads in and around Boise at -that time made horses indispensable in the conveyance of -passengers in the winter time. The department stores undersold -every other business and in a very short time its -trade from the citizens and from the surrounding country -was enormous. The competitive stores could not compete -with them. The same was true of the hotel. The table -creaked with the finest of Co-opolitan foods and delicacies -prepared by the most expert of Co-opolitan cooks. The -service at the hotel was excellent, the beds were clean and -soft, and the attention given by our hotel attendants made -up for the somewhat temporary character of the buildings.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Notwithstanding the complete prostration of town business -and the absence of work for workmen, skilled and unskilled, -the farmer and the cattle men around Boise began -almost immediately to realize that it was an advantage to -them. They obtained all manufactured goods at our department -store cheaper than ever before. They were also -able to exchange their products for department store wares. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_81'>81</span>The wheat, corn, oats and other staple products of the farm -and cattle from the ranges still found as good a market -abroad as ever and commanded as good prices. That was -not saying very much, however, for prices everywhere ruled -low.</p> - -<p class='c008'>State, municipal, county and other public bonds depreciated -until their value was scarcely more than nominal. -Miners and cattle men were nearly the only classes who -were now able to pay taxes, and both classes were notoriously -expert in evading this duty by false statements of -their wealth. It was evident that before another year -passed, if Idaho depended upon the money of the United -States in circulation within her jurisdiction, for the payment -of public expenses, that her condition was one of -hopeless bankruptcy.</p> - -<p class='c008'>This condition did not much interest the rank and file -of the Co-operators, because they were well satisfied with -their labor-credit checks and industrial orders, which enabled -them to obtain all they needed, even money, under -certain restrictions. But the individualists were in despair -and many of them emigrated with their flocks and herds to -Wyoming. Others who considered that their holdings in -Idaho were too valuable to leave, not understanding the Co-operators’ -plans, contented themselves with abusing what -they called the stupidity of the administration. They knew -it was the unalterable purpose of our people never to issue -public bonds and this was the only method of raising money -for public uses of which they had any knowledge. Some of -them proposed the issuance of warrants upon the treasury, -bearing interest after demand, but this was immediately rejected.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The proposition was made by one prominent individualist -newspaper to issue treasury notes to circulate as -money, but this was at once declared impracticable as being -an encroachment upon the authority of the Federal government -to coin money and the provision of the Federal constitution -prohibiting the emission by the states of bills of -credit. Turning then to state-bank issues the individualist -<span class='pageno' id='Page_82'>82</span>found no encouragement from that quarter, as he was confronted -by the Federal tax of ten per cent of such issues. -Be it noted, however, that some of the bankers were inclined -to favor the issue of state-bank notes and strongly -advised that it be done, arguing that it was better to have -money with the ten per cent tax rather than no money at -all. But the administration simply declared that Co-operators -did not feel the scarcity of money and a far better plan -than any proposed would doubtless be discovered.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The Legislature remained in session just thirty days. -Very few new laws were enacted. Of those which were enacted, -the reduction of all salaries of public officials one-half, -the law providing for a constitutional convention, the delegates -to which were to have no compensation except traveling -expenses, the abolition of several offices, such as insurance -commissioner, labor commissioner, etc., the repeal of -the law authorizing corporations and the enactment of a -law respecting the organization of Co-operative Associations -and their regulation, were the most important. Some appropriations -were made, but it was admitted to be one of -the most economical sessions ever held by any legislative -body, so far as results to the state were concerned. The -law reducing salaries one-half, although not strictly applicable -to existing officials, was effective because all Co-operators -in office willingly complied with it, and that general -compliance influenced individualists to do likewise.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_83'>83</span> - <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XIII.<br /> <span class='large'>THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION AND ITS LABORS.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>The constitutional convention was set for July 4th, 1903 -at Co-opolis. The election was held two weeks before that -time. Few individualists were anxious to become delegates -because the honor was unaccompanied by compensation, -and for the further reason the majority of Co-operators was -now overwhelming. The result was that the same proportion -of Co-operators obtained in the convention as in the -Legislature and it was evident that the progress of the Co-operative -Commonwealth would be carried out. When the -convention met it was called to order by the Governor, a -portion of whose address on that occasion is well worthy of -repetition. After tracing briefly the history of Co-opolis -and the Brotherhood of the Co-operative Commonwealth, -in glowing language, he took up the question of the Co-operative -Constitution and said:</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Gentlemen: You are the men in whose wisdom the -state of Idaho confides and upon whose action here the fate -of unknown generations hangs. I would not presume to -advise you with regard to your all-important mission, but -I shall ask permission to offer, with the greatest humility -and with all respect for your high intelligence, a few simple -suggestions.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“The burden of all I have to say can be aptly phrased in -the somewhat homely language borrowed from the street. -Do not put your state in a ‘strait jacket.’ Do not think -it necessary to prohibit, restrict, define and dogmatize when -you come to make your constitution.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“When you have provided a system of state government -and made clean and emphatic the boundaries of executive, -legislative and judicial power, consider that you have completed -your work. Do not undertake to guard the inalienable -<span class='pageno' id='Page_84'>84</span>rights of man by introducing details, methods and -systems into your constitution. Leave all that to the common -sense and common justice of the people. Let your -Legislature dominate both the executive and judiciary. -That body is designed, or should be, to express the popular -will. The judiciary is designed to interpret that will as expressed. -The executive is to carry that will into effect.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>The Governor’s address did not advance further into the -province of the convention. He spoke, for the most part, -in a merry vein, as if he felt that even if the success of his -work was not yet achieved it had nearly passed the stage of -experimentation, and when he concluded the convention, -while impressed with the importance of its great mission, -appeared to share in their leader’s satisfaction.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The convention continued in session one week. The -result of its work was a constitution, brief, clear and simple. -It provided for executive and legislative departments. -No judiciary was provided for. It prescribed the duties of -the executive department and provided for its branches. -The first Governor of Idaho was to hold office for a period -of three years and all Governors succeeding for seven years -each. He was the chief executive of the state and his duty -was to see that the law was enforced.</p> - -<p class='c008'>There were to be a Secretary of State, State Auditor, -State Treasurer, Attorney-General and Secretary of Co-operative -Industries. The duties of these several officials -were such as ordinarily attached to such officials, except that -of Secretary of Co-operative Industries. It was the duty -of this official to keep a full record of all Co-operative Associations -in the state, their rules and by-laws, and to use -his best endeavors to bring about a complete union of all -under one head. He was also to be the active general of -the militia of the state and superintend all operations of -that body, subject to the order of the Governor. The Great -Council possessed all legislative and judicial power. The -legislative power could not be delegated, but was restricted -and controlled by the people as follows: When twenty per -cent of the voting population of the state should petition to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_85'>85</span>have any law, whether on the statute books or not, submitted -to popular vote, the Governor’s duty was to submit -it at the annual election held in October of each year.</p> - -<p class='c008'>A majority vote was sufficient to enact or repeal such -law.</p> - -<p class='c008'>It was also provided that if twenty per cent of the population -should petition the President to remove any official -from office the question of such removal should be submitted -to the popular vote at the next annual election, and a -majority vote was sufficient to retain or remove such official. -In case such officer was removed by popular vote the -Governor was to appoint a successor to hold until the next -annual election, but the person removed could not hold the -office again until one full term had intervened. The Legislature -had power to delegate its judicial functions in such -manner as it saw fit.</p> - -<p class='c008'>When it was desired to remove the Governor the petition -must be submitted to the Great Council and in case of his -removal the vacancy was filled by that body.</p> - -<p class='c008'>When the convention adjourned its labors had produced -the briefest written constitution in force in any of the -states of the American Union. In my opinion it was the -best. It not only made the legislative body the most prominent -of the people’s servants, but it provided a plain and -simple method for the exercise of such control. It provided -a strong executive to execute the laws and made him -the commander-in-chief of the militia of the state, both -industrial and military, but it gave him no veto or pardoning -power. It was, however, his province to recommend to -the Great Council the pardon of persons sentenced by the -judiciary to punishment, and few instances are known to -our history where such recommendations were not acted -upon favorably. It contained one brief provision which -expresses all that is best in modern civilized government in -a few words. That provision, under the head of Co-operation, -is as follows:</p> - -<p class='c008'>“The Council shall provide for the government ownership -of all the sources and machinery of production and the -<span class='pageno' id='Page_86'>86</span>operation of the same, to the end that no person within the -state shall be idle or needy. It shall cause all railroads, -water rights, mines and cultivated or uncultivated lands to -be purchased by the state as speedily as practicable and -shall levy an army, to be known as the Industrial Army, to -work the same. The state shall never sell, grant or alienate -any of its property so acquired. No property shall be taken -from any person or persons by the state without paying just -compensation therefor.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>All the laws in force at the time of the adoption of the -new constitution, except such as were inconsistent with it, -were to be continued in force until amended or repealed. -All officials, except those whose offices were abolished by -the new constitution, or should be abolished by the Great -Council, continued in office until the next general election.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The constitutional election was held the third Monday -in August, 1903, and resulted in the adoption of this new -instrument. By its terms the old system of legislation being -abolished, the Governor was authorized to convene the -first session of the Great Council the first Monday in January, -1904. An election was called for November, and at -that election the Great Council, consisting of one hundred -and ninety members, representing as nearly as possible one -for each one thousand voters, were elected. All but thirty -were Co-operators. There was no doubt now that the new -state and the new system were, for a time at least, established. -The machinery of government was in our hands -and the future rested with us.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The world beyond Idaho did not apparently concern -itself with us or our system. The defeat of the opposition -which had, in the election of 1902, attacked us with bitterness, -resulted in that opposition subsiding into silence. -The great dailies, magazines and periodicals simply refused -to recognize us, and our system received no notice from the -capitalist world. This was annoying to some of the Co-operators, -both in and out of Idaho, because we felt that -we were ignored and that our merits ought to be proclaimed. -I remember some of our members of the Great -<span class='pageno' id='Page_87'>87</span>Council expressing dissatisfaction because of this fact in -the presence of Governor Thompson.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Merits!” exclaimed he; “what merits have we? We -have simply shown the world that for five years we could -work together and produce wonders. Let us see what we -can do as lawmakers. Let us show what we can do with a -state after we have captured it. If we make some blunders -you need not flatter yourselves that you are unobserved. -If you build a strong and substantial state you need not -fear that the world will overlook that fact. The truth is -that all the capital, intellect and classes of America are -watching for signs of disagreement and dismembership. -They will be disappointed if they do not find them, but -when you are on a solid basis then they will proclaim your -system a wonder and philosophers will come to observe and -study it. We ought to bear all this in mind as we proceed -to the work of making proper laws for the regulation of -this state. Our history is just begun and it rests with us -whether it will continue.”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_88'>88</span> - <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XIV.<br /> <span class='large'>DEPARTMENT STORES IN THE COMPETITIVE SYSTEM—DEPARTMENT STORES IN CO-OPERATION—THE CO-OPOLITAN ASSOCIATION DISCOVERS THE VALUE OF THE DEPARTMENT STORE AS A WEAPON OF WARFARE—THE DEATH OF OLD BOISE.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>The latter part of the nineteenth century saw strange -and novel influences at work in the competitive system of -the civilized world. The great advantages accruing from -co-operation had become apparent, in those days, to a -few, and these employed its methods to a limited extent to -acquire vast fortunes for themselves. Such were corporations, -trusts, great combinations of capital, department -stores and syndicates. These concerns, establishing themselves -in every industrial center, absorbed nearly every industry. -It was impossible for the individual, the small capitalist, -the man, to compete with such institutions, and yet -those who were the greatest gainers from them were the -most zealous advocates of the competitive system. Wanamaker’s -vast department stores in Philadelphia and New -York city were good illustrations of what the co-operative -institution, employed against the competitor<a id='t88'></a>, could accomplish, -both for the one man who owned it and against the -many who were asked to compete with it.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The owner grew fabulously rich. There was no limit -to his acquisitions and he swallowed up all competitors who -could not do business on the same system. Commercial -house after commercial house fell before Wanamaker. Man -after man became bankrupt, not because he lacked business -ability, or was idle or inattentive, but because he could not -compete with Wanamaker. So it came to pass that in -Wanamaker’s great marvels of industry, the department -stores, some of the brightest, shrewdest and most expert -<span class='pageno' id='Page_89'>89</span>business men were serving as managers of departments, -floor walkers, clerks and bookkeepers. It was, indeed, a -vast, ceaseless and mighty army of co-operators intent upon -making the fortune of one man, and with such a combination -competition could not compete.</p> - -<p class='c008'>In Idaho our colony accidentally discovered the use to -which they could put this great “idea” which enabled -Wanamaker to conquer the commercial world and force the -princes of industry to become his willing slaves. This was -the undesigned conquest of Boise City by the Co-operative -Commonwealth. When the first Great Council met in -January, 1904, our Co-operative Hotel had absorbed the -entire business of all other hotels in the city.</p> - -<p class='c008'>All our productive power was so fully employed that we -were able to furnish board and lodging for a small sum, of -a quality such as few hotels in cities of a hundred thousand -persons offered their guests. Our department store was -equally successful.</p> - -<p class='c008'>It cost us nothing to advertise.</p> - -<p class='c008'>We painted no signs.</p> - -<p class='c008'>We paid no rents.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The only expense we incurred was the labor we expended, -and labor was as plentiful as humanity.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Besides this, we employed labor-saving machinery without -stint, and thereby multiplied the enormous power of -co-operative labor many times.</p> - -<p class='c008'>We were better and more powerfully prepared to destroy -competition than Wanamaker, because we had no expenses -and wasted neither time nor money in inviting trade.</p> - -<p class='c008'>We sold daily the best wares and produce which we could -manufacture or procure. The excellence of our stocks, -together with the smallness of our prices, was our recommendation.</p> - -<p class='c008'>We intensified by our establishment in Boise City the -well-known effects of the department store in competitive -cities.</p> - -<p class='c008'>All the trade came to us.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Nothing could compete with our system, and merchants -<span class='pageno' id='Page_90'>90</span>and hotel men were compelled to assign for the benefit of -creditors, join the Co-operative Commonwealth or depart -from the state.</p> - -<p class='c008'>When our new constitution was adopted the Co-opolitan -Legislative Council made a rule that all persons who were -citizens of the state at that time should be eligible for membership -on the same terms as all other members of the -National Brotherhood. Most of the merchants and hotel -men in Boise City whose occupations were gone chose to -join our body and were assigned to positions in the Co-opolitan -store or some suitable department at Co-opolis.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Lawyers being largely creatures of competition, nearly -all disappeared, and the few who remained either joined us -and were assigned to the Legal department or if they remained -and did not join engaged in the precarious business -of settling up bankrupt estates.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The Association had, with the opening of spring, purchased -a pleasantly located tract of land adjoining the city, -laid it out on the plan of Co-opolis as nearly as could be -done, constructed elegant brick hotel and department store -buildings, built a large number of cottages similar to those -in Co-opolis, and a commodious school building, and provided -water, gas, electric and steam-heating plants. About -November 1st, 1903, the entire Co-opolitan plant in Boise -City, including the industrial force employed, removed to -the new town and old Boise was well nigh deserted.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The reason for this move is apparent.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Old Boise was burdened by debt which it was no part of -the design or duty of the Co-operative Commonwealth or of -the Co-opolitan colony to pay.</p> - -<p class='c008'>There was a large bonded municipal debt, a large bonded -water debt and another large school debt.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The gas and electric plants were also bonded, but those -were private debts payable only by such as availed themselves -of their advantages.</p> - -<p class='c008'>There was no way to avoid assuming these public debts -if we continued in the old city.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Some of our enemies, later on, set up a howl against what -<span class='pageno' id='Page_91'>91</span>they termed our immorality in running away from these -obligations. But they were not our obligations. We did -not make them and we certainly had a right to live outside -of the territory affected by them if we chose. In competitive -cities business enterprises and persons of integrity and -fortune usually locate where the public burdens are least -likely to rest heavily upon them.</p> - -<p class='c008'>While Boise City, that is the collection of town lots, -streets and buildings bearing that historic designation, was -blighted, the collection of people who had done all the work -of building it was immeasurably improved by the Co-operative -accession. A new Boise City had begun to grow up on -the commercial ruins of the old, but the Boston, New York, -St. Louis and Chicago people who held large tracts of land -around about and in the city were not benefited by this -change. New Boise did not help them. Indeed, their land -depreciated in price daily.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The banks of old Boise all went into liquidation and -made frantic efforts to collect their debts.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Money loaners did the same.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Insurance agents either fled from the blight or came -to us.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Saloonkeepers, speculators in land, dance-hall proprietors, -persons whose methods of gaining a livelihood were -illegal, women of ill reputation and gamblers all departed -for lands unknown.</p> - -<p class='c008'>From the competitive point of view this hegira was regarded -as a fatal blow to old Boise. Useless as were their -occupations to the production or even distribution of -wealth, they had been deemed necessary, because they lured -money into the city, and this money, being collected in fines -from one class and taxes from another class, went to help -pay interest on public bonds. Many a pious holder of -municipal bonds would be shocked to learn that but for the -toleration of criminal and disgusting practices in the -bonded city the bond would be well nigh worthless. Yet -such was the case.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The Legislative Council of the city of Co-opolis took full -<span class='pageno' id='Page_92'>92</span>notice of the situation at Boise and after visiting and -viewing the city felt and expressed great pleasure. It was -our first venture into a competitive city, and at the outset -we had entertained some misgivings as to the probabilities -of a success. But the seeming necessity of providing accommodations -for a Co-operative Legislature forced us to enter -Boise City and the results were astonishing. The profits -were immense, and it was now evident that the co-operative -system was not only a powerful developer of a new and hitherto -unoccupied country, but that in very truth it was invincible -in the very center of competition. Honesty, -justice and fraternity, in combination with industry, were -unconquerable, and left no room for the gambler, the speculator, -the panderer or the drone. This discovery having -been made, the Legislative Council announced its purpose -to place a department store and hotel in every city in the -state, but to proceed cautiously, so as not to diminish the -annual dividends of members.</p> - -<p class='c008'>By the employment of this great industrial force it -was believed the citizens of Idaho would speedily be -brought to enlist in and share the benefits of the Co-operative -Commonwealth. And events have proved the belief -correct.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_93'>93</span> - <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XV.<br /> <span class='large'>OUR NEW REVENUE SYSTEM—CONSTITUTIONAL BATTLE OVER BILLS OF CREDIT—MONEY IN IDAHO—CONFLICTS WITH CATTLE MEN AND MINE OWNERS—CO-OPERATION AGAINST THE FIELD.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>The Great Council of 1904 readjusted our legal system -to conform to the new constitution and the co-operative -programme. The political subdivision of the state into -counties was not disturbed and local government of these -was delegated to county commissioners. What had been -variously denominated home rule and local option was, -however, greatly extended.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Counties were permitted to determine for themselves -many questions which by the old system were within the -exclusive province of the Legislature. No county or other -subdivision of the state was permitted to issue bonds for any -purpose nor to expend in any one year more than the total -amount received in taxes. But each county had the option -to pay the state tax in money or in the products of labor. -Where a county voted to pay taxes in the products of labor -it was required to maintain as many store houses as were -necessary to properly and securely store its receipts.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The law provided that the Great Council should annually -elect a commission consisting of five members, whose -duty it was to meet at the capital city in October of each -year and determine the value of the various products of the -state. The cereals, for instance, were to be valued at so -much per bushel, vegetables and fruit at so much per -pound, precious metals at so much per ounce, wool, hides, -furs and other raw material at such prices as were fixed in -the schedule prepared by the commission. All articles -named in the schedule were to be received in lieu of money -<span class='pageno' id='Page_94'>94</span>and at the prices fixed, so long as that schedule remained in -force.</p> - -<p class='c008'>This plan would have been impracticable had it not been -for the fact that the Legislative Council of Co-opolis agreed -to take all produce so received for taxes at the schedule -price therefor. The latter, for its own protection, placed a -department store in every county seat, where, under its -contract, it reserved all perishable property and either sold -it in the proper department of its local store or shipped it at -once to a suitable market. The schedule prices were sufficiently -low to protect the Co-opolitan Association from loss. -As for hides, furs, wool and other raw material, and staple -agricultural products, they were carefully inspected by Co-opolitan -commissioners at the receiving department store -or warehouse, and, if not of schedule standard, were not -accepted. In this manner and by this system all producers -were able to pay their taxes without being compelled to -borrow money and in the very wealth which their industry -produced.</p> - -<p class='c008'>All public expenses were defrayed and all salaries were -paid in the products of labor. The salary of a judge, for -instance, amounting to twelve hundred dollars per annum, -neither more nor less than a Co-opolitan received as his -annual dividend, was paid by the state in orders or credit -checks for goods or whatever the Co-opolitan Association -had to sell. Such orders were of various denominations -and in the following form:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-l'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>To the Co-opolitan Association:</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c008'>Deliver to the bearer hereof goods, wares, merchandise, -entertainment or services of the value of one dollar and -charge the same to the State of Idaho.</p> - -<table class='table0'> -<colgroup> -<col /> -<col /> -</colgroup> - <tr> - <td class='c009'>Jacob Wirth,</td> - <td class='c010'>John Thompson,</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class='c011'>Secretary.</td> - <td class='c012'>Governor.</td> - </tr> -</table> - -<p class='c008'>This method of collecting taxes and paying state expenses -proved fully equal to the emergency. The Co-opolitan -Association lost nothing by it. All schedule prices -were fixed, as I have already stated, at a figure which was -slightly lower than the cash market price for non-perishable -<span class='pageno' id='Page_95'>95</span>and staple products and still lower for produce generally -considered perishable.</p> - -<p class='c008'>But the producer also found his advantage to consist in -the facility with which it enabled him to meet his public -dues at all times promptly, thus avoiding penalties, interest -and expenses. The system had not been long in operation -before a question arose, concerning these orders, with the -Federal authorities, who, at first, pronounced the Co-opolitan -Association a kind of a banking institution, and the -state orders upon it devices in the nature of state-bank -issues. The effort was then made to compel the Co-opolitan -Association to pay the ten per cent tax imposed by the -Federal law on such issues.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The question was never brought into the courts, because -the most eminent and expert lawyers in the Union agreed -that such orders could no more be regarded as money than -the checks of business men upon their bank deposits, the -promissory notes of debtors, the tickets of transportation -companies and the time checks of mining and other large -corporations controlling labor.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Another question arose of a more serious character upon -the right of the state to emit “Bills of Credit.” This the -Federal constitution prohibited. A test case was made -upon one of the state orders and taken to the United States -Supreme Court. The decision of that tribunal was rendered -by a divided court, a majority being of opinion that -they could not be regarded as coming within the prohibition -of the constitution referred to. These orders, the -court held, were not designed to circulate as money, because -they were directed to a private association of individuals -designated as the Co-opolitan Association, and simply directed -such association to deliver goods to the bearer. It -was not a promise on the part of the state to pay money, nor -to deliver goods. It was to be honored on demand, and -when received by the Association in question was forthwith -canceled. Evidence was offered by the parties seeking to -void the orders that as a matter of fact they did circulate -as money. This was held to be immaterial, for the reason -<span class='pageno' id='Page_96'>96</span>that the fact, if shown, would not tend to prove that such -was the intention of the state. The truth was that very few -of the state orders so circulated. They were usually presented -to the Co-opolitan store at any county seat without -intermediate transfer, and a labor-credit check or industrial -orders were issued instead.</p> - -<p class='c008'>It is true that such industrial orders so circulated and -were treated as money by the people of Idaho, but the practice -was not encouraged by Co-operators, because it was an -incident of individualism and not of co-operation. Their -circulation could not be prevented so long as the co-operative -plan embraced the purchase of all property owned -or produced by individualists in the state, and payment on -goods or property as represented by these orders. In 1904 -more than one-half of the people of the state were members -of the Co-opolitan Association, and great numbers of those -who were not members were daily becoming so. It was believed -that in time our industrial orders would cease to circulate -and perhaps be entirely superseded by the labor-credit -check. It should be borne in mind that the labor-credit -check, not being transferable, never passed out of the -hands of its owner.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The policy of Idaho and the Co-opolitan Association was -to prevent, as far as possible, the circulation of money in -the state. It was treated as if it were a kind of poison -which produced among men most dreadful diseases, and -at the same time was an instrument of moral, financial and -social ruin. We were fully convinced, when Co-opolis was -founded, that if co-operation was to succeed some system -must be applied which would exclude money from use -among Co-operators. But it was recognized that outside -of Idaho money was and must continue to remain king, as -long as the industrial competitive and individualist system -governed their affairs. For this reason the Co-opolitan -Legislative Council accepted money, but sought in every -possible way to prevent its circulation.</p> - -<p class='c008'>All money obtained by the sale of surplus products, -manufactures or property of any kind in other states, or -<span class='pageno' id='Page_97'>97</span>which might come into the co-operative stores, was immediately -turned over to the Legislative Council and by it deposited -in a strong safe in the basement of the Council Hall. -Here it was guarded as if it were a deadly peril to the public -weal.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The safe in which it rested was opened by a combination -known only to the President, and it stood in an iron chamber -whose great lock was turned by a key held by one of -the Council. This was enclosed in another iron chamber -which was opened only by a different key held by another -member of the Council. There were twenty-six chambers -of different sizes, the smaller enclosed within the larger, -and twenty-six locks opened by as many different keys, each -councilor holding one and no more. It took twenty-six -councilors and twenty-six keys to reach the safe, and no -money could be taken from it except in the presence of at -least one-half of the members of the Legislative Council. -But it was a rule of the Association that if any person living -in the state desired money with which to travel outside of -the state he should make his affidavit to that effect setting -forth the amount he desired, and upon his application for -such an amount, if the Council were satisfied that it was -made in good faith and that the money would not be expended -in the state, the application was granted. Articles -which the Department of Commerce were compelled to -import from other states or countries were also paid for -from the accumulation in the safe.</p> - -<p class='c008'>After disposing of the question of how taxes and public -expenses could be discharged the first Great Council took -up the question of what property should be taxable. -Among the private individualist enterprises in Idaho mining -and grazing predominated. Both the mine owners and -cattle men, whose herds were permitted to wander at will on -the ranges, were expert “tax dodgers.” How to reach them -and compel them to pay their just and fair proportion of -the expense of running the state and maintaining the -schools was an important question. It was decided that all -<span class='pageno' id='Page_98'>98</span>taxes should be levied on land values. In other words, what -is sometimes called the Single-Tax system was adopted.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Wherever cattle men occupied a range together the total -number of cattle upon it was determined, owners’ names -were obtained and the value of the range per acre was estimated -upon the basis of its use for grazing purposes. Each -owner was then made liable for the tax on the total acreage -of the range occupied, and the proportion each was bound -to pay was no question for the state, but was a question for -the cattle men to determine for and among themselves. -Cattle men now found it impossible to escape their taxes as -formerly, each being zealous to require his neighbor to pay -his part, and it must be confessed that they showed a strong -disposition to leave the state, so that the ranges abandoned -by them were left for the use of our herds.</p> - -<p class='c008'>It ought to be said, however, that the cattle owners did -not abandon the state without a fight. They resisted the -collection of taxes, claiming the system to be unjust and -against public policy. One of the trial courts decided in -their favor, but the case was appealed to the Great Council, -which, it will be remembered, retained the Supreme Judicial -authority in itself. The matter was referred by this -body to six of its members, all lawyers, and indeed the only -lawyers in the Great Council, all of whom were Co-operators, -and the trial court was reversed. There was also an -armed resistance to the collection of the tax, but the cattle -men were speedily put to rout, the state militia suffering -no other loss than three men wounded. The newspaper -press throughout the Union, however, took sides with the -cattle men, claiming that the system of taxation had been -adopted for the sole purpose of driving these “honest” men -from the state and taking possession of “their” ranges. The -truth was that the men who left the state on account of this -law did so to escape honest burdens and went where the -laws were more unjust, or if not unjust not effectual to -prevent the shifting of such burdens dishonestly to other -shoulders which ought not to bear them. We offered no -encouragement to dishonest practices, and if our failure to -<span class='pageno' id='Page_99'>99</span>do so was an advantage to some other state which did, we -certainly had no occasion to feel envious.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Mining property owned by corporations or associations -was valued at the full par of its capital stock and assessed -accordingly.</p> - -<p class='c008'>It was the policy of the state not to encourage the mining -of the precious minerals by private enterprise. The miners -of the state were fast becoming absorbed in our Co-opolitan -Association and wages had risen to nearly four -dollars per day for skilled or unskilled workers, because a -membership in the Co-opolitan Association or its Industrial -Army paid that amount annually.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Mine owners sought to obviate what they called the evil -of high wages by importing cheaper labor. At first they -attempted the introduction of Chinese miners and later an -ignorant class of Italians, Hungarians and Slavonians. Our -Great Council prohibited aliens from owning, holding or -acquiring real estate or making investments of any kind -within the state on and after the date of the passage of a -law to that effect. It also prohibited the importation of -aliens into the state as laborers, or the employment of any -such by any person, association or corporation.</p> - -<p class='c008'>These laws were all held to be valid and constitutional -by the Supreme Court of the United States, which some -years after their passage had occasion to pass upon them.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The result was that capital engaged in mining in Idaho -withdrew and some of the mines were purchased at a low -figure and operated by the Co-opolitan Association.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Here again the press of the United States denounced -the immorality of the Co-operative Commonwealth, because -of its oppressive conduct toward capital. Immoral indeed!</p> - -<p class='c008'>Idaho simply made laws which in other states or countries -have never been disapproved as immoral.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The Co-opolitan Association gave to labor the same high -wages in all its departments, and in that manner made laborers -anxious to join the Association. This left the mine -owner to do his own work or pay as much as the worker -could earn as a Co-operator.</p> - -<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_100'>100</span>The capitalist could not compete in the labor market -with labor itself, when labor employed its skill and force -in its own behalf. If the mine which was made to produce -wealth for capital and peril, distress and death for labor, -became valueless, because there was no longer a force to -work it, whose fault was that?</p> - -<p class='c008'>We did not steal the gold which glistened in its dark -caverns!</p> - -<p class='c008'>We did not rob the capitalist of the labor which he -owned!</p> - -<p class='c008'>The labor of men and women was not his vested right, -like his mine. He had preached the merits of competition -and we had simply competed for and won the labor force -that dug his mine.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Now the mine was worthless because the men who made -it would no longer work it. What did the Co-opolitan Association -do which was immoral? Having taken its labor -force and set it at work for itself, this mine had no value -except if the labor force could be restored to it.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Capital could not do it. The Co-opolitan Association -could. We purchased it for what it was worth without the -labor force, which nobody owned. We could never have -done this if capital had been able to work that same force -and steal its products. Yet the newspaper press of that day -denounced us as immoral and was effusive in its praise of -the competitive system.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The Great Council at this session provided for a Supreme -Judicial Court and as many County Courts as there were -counties. The purpose of this system was to secure the -proper administration of justice.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The Supreme Court was not authorized to decide any -question of the constitutionality of a law enacted by the -Great Council adversely, but if in their opinion such law -was unconstitutional they were required to certify the same, -with their reasons, to the Great Council for review. The -jury system was preserved, with the exception that in civil -cases a majority of the jury decided. Many radical changes -<span class='pageno' id='Page_101'>101</span>were effected by this Great Council, but those mentioned -were the most sweeping.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The Great Council of 1904, perhaps because it was unhandicapped -by precedents, was the most memorable, for -the swiftness and merit of its legislative work, of any session -which has occurred since. Its successors had been, in -a very marked degree, required by public sentiment to conform -to its standards.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Humanity, as all history proves, when once it accepts a -system, whether good or bad, is loath to abandon it, and -permits it to be changed only when the necessity for change -is made apparent by experiences often of the most distressing -nature. For this reason revolution has rarely ever produced -lasting results except in the mere form, and not in -the substance and spirit of things. If it be contended that -society has undergone great changes in those respects let -it be remembered that evolution, not revolution, did it.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_102'>102</span> - <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XVI.<br /> <span class='large'>MISS CAROLINE WOODBERRY AGAIN—THE WEST PARISH—PUBLICATION OF MISS WOODBERRY’S NOVEL—MARRIAGE—WE VISIT NEW ENGLAND.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>Long before the year 1904 drew to its close a great -change had taken place in my life. The feminine disposition -of my aunt to make matrimonial matches had been -successful in throwing me into the society of Miss Caroline -Woodberry and after the ride to Canyon Lake, of which I -have already made mention, I was with her whenever leisure -and opportunity permitted.</p> - -<p class='c008'>In Co-opolis there were in all seasons amusements and -entertainments of every kind, and if we tired of one we were -not at a loss for diversion which, while it could not increase -the happiness I found in the young lady’s society, aided me -in administering to her pleasure. Society in Co-opolis was -even then refined and intelligent. I do not mean to leave -the impression that our people had in six years acquired -all the arts and foibles which fashionable society in eastern -cities mistake for refinement, but it really was wonderful -to see what improvement prosperity had produced in the -manner, bearing and language of most of our people. -While it is possible that such prosperity in the competitive -system, would have caused many to develop the worst -traits of their character, yet the absence of all opportunity -to amass a fortune in speculation or by gambling methods in -the co-operative system insured to each the enjoyment of his -own portion. Nobody was or could be purse proud. Nobody -was or could be dependent upon charity. Nobody had -occasion to be ashamed of his material condition.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Good clothes, ornaments, books, pleasant homes and all -the conveniences of modern life were within the reach of -all.</p> - -<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_103'>103</span>Humanity is so constituted, however, that its members -must compete, contend and battle with one another.</p> - -<p class='c008'>What shall be the field for this competition? Over what -shall the race contend? Where shall be the battle ground?</p> - -<p class='c008'>Some philosophers in times past taught that the race must -fall into decay, dwindle into weakness and lose individuality -if it was removed from the struggle for potatoes, meat -and coffee. They, perhaps, honestly believed that it was -fatal to progress to raise mankind to an elevated plane and -let the battle be waged for moral, intellectual and perhaps -spiritual supremacy. In Co-opolis our system eliminated -the mere material world as an object of competition, and -pursuing the law of our nature, we sought to excel in intellectual -pursuits, matters of taste, athletics and what tended -to personal improvement. It was not long before the Co-opolitan -began to be known as being possessed of good -manners, taste in matters of dress and even polish. These -were not pronounced characteristics for many years after, -but I sometimes thought I could see them developing. One -people from whom, in part, at least, the incentive to acquire -and own things had been largely removed, lost in a measure -the cheating, lying, cunning and overreaching habits of -that delusive and obstructing thing called business. Co-opolitans, -six years after the city was founded, habitually -told one another the truth.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Sets and circles existed then, as now, in Co-opolitan society. -Men and women always will choose their own companions -and some common interest will always operate to form -them into associations. If some of the potato diggers discover -that potato digging is not all there is of life those will probably -come to recognize in one another kindred spirits whose -kinship is closer than that of the uninitiated and the circle -is evolved. I was one of a circle or set and Miss Woodberry -was a member of that circle, too. There were literary gatherings, -card parties, socials and all sorts of meetings in winter, -and lawn parties, dinners, dances and all sorts of pleasures -in summer. It must be admitted that our social circle -<span class='pageno' id='Page_104'>104</span>was generally regarded as somewhat select in a literary -sense, because some of the brightest minds in Co-opolis were -members. This did not exclude us from the pleasures -which I have mentioned, but it gave our circle a somewhat -sombre rather than gay reputation. We were just as popular, -however, as any other set, and by no means assumed to -be better than our neighbors.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Miss Woodberry was not a member of the Industrial -Army, and one of the great questions which we often discussed -was whether she should become such. This question -grew more than ever urgent when we decided that we were -sufficiently attached to each other to become husband and -wife. Attached to each other! That sounds and reads -mechanical enough to describe the gluing together of two -blocks of wood, and I have no doubt that because this is, -in the main, an historical work and only incidentally biographical, -it is all the warmth I am expected to express. -I beg pardon! But this lady has been my wife now -thirty years and a better wife no mortal man ever had. -Attached to her! Why! I was so thoroughly and passionately -devoted to her that I came very near incurring the -censure of my department associates and being subjected to -the operation of the Imperative Mandate on the charge of -inattention to business, but escaped, because, as I suppose, -“the whole world loves a lover,” and my attachment was not -successfully concealed. Be that as it may, after we were -engaged to be married, Miss Woodberry became curious to -know what her fate would be; she had accepted me without -much regard to consequences. Now, after the acceptance, -when the consequences were close at hand, she became more -solicitous to understand her position. She had only been a -visitor in Co-opolis and had been a guest of the Prestons, -whom I have already described as my near neighbors. During -this visit she had been engaged in writing a novel, -which she read as the chapters were completed to me. I -was impressed with its merit and believed some of its passages -breathed the spirit of genius. However, although I -judged myself a dispassionate and unsparing critic, I would -<span class='pageno' id='Page_105'>105</span>not trust my judgment upon the production of one who was -prejudiced in her favor. I persuaded her to allow me to -submit her manuscript to a committee of my department -for its criticism, with a view to arranging for its publication -under the auspices of the Co-opolitan Association. As this -committee had proven whenever it deemed a work sufficiently -meritorious to warrant it, to proceed with its publication -and defray the expenses from the so-called publication -fund, it occurred to me that, if my judgment should -be approved, this novel could be published by our department -and would distinguish the admission of its author into -the Association. We had, up to that time, never undertaken -the publication of a novel, but our plant was sufficiently -extensive and commodious to enable us to do so. -Hitherto we were contented to confine our publications to -text books for our schools, a monthly magazine devoted to -co-operation, the Daily Co-opolitan and a large number of -pamphlets. To my great joy the committee, composed of -the very brightest literary men in the city, including our -educational chief, Mr. Edmunds, pronounced it a production -of such merit as to be worthy of publication at the -public expense. I had not disclosed to them the name of -the author and they supposed it was some member.</p> - -<p class='c008'>On the evening of the day when this decision was communicated -to me I went over to the Preston cottage to see -my affianced and tell her the result of my venture with the -committee. She was delighted with the news. It was her -first novel, and to find that the committee had received it -with favor was an event which, as she often told me, gave -her more genuine pleasure than anything ever did before -or has since. We spent an hour or more that evening talking -over the novel, its characters and plot.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The name was “The West Parish.” The opening scene -was laid in the West Parish of Gloucester, Cape Ann, -Essex County, Massachusetts. There were, as everybody -knows, wonderful descriptions of white sandy beaches, the -blue old ocean, ships sailing, marshes and sea birds a-wing. -There were two little boys and an old aunt. The former -<span class='pageno' id='Page_106'>106</span>were orphans, the latter infirm and impoverished, but doing -her best, which was as bad as could be, to keep the little -ones alive. Their father had been a railroad engineer, but -a series of misfortunes deprived him of his savings, and -then, in one of the perils common to his dangerous employment, -he was killed and the mother soon after died.</p> - -<p class='c008'>These little ones, without means and without the sympathy -of the multitudes, who, in their desperation in the -struggle for bread, forgot or did not see them, were sent to -this aunt. That poor old woman had griefs enough of her -own. Her life was well nigh worked out. She had neither -nerves nor strength. Her limbs were stiff and rheumatic. -Her eyes were dim and her aged back was bent. In her -mean little cottage by the roadside at Annisquan she had all -she could do to nurse the fading embers of her life’s fires, -and she was now expected to support these two little infants, -one three and one five years of age. She was cross -to them, but she did not mean to be. She was very impatient -and she did not know it. She did not take them -into her arms as a mother would, but that never occurred to -her. And yet she loved them, but the power of expressing -love had long been crushed out by poverty.</p> - -<p class='c008'>So one day these two ragged, half-fed little boys, with -their tear-bestained cheeks and great eyes, made more expressive -by being set in the pale faces pinched by want, -started out from the old aunt’s house in search of a place -their mother used to tell them about which was called -Heaven, where she said their papa was. The children were -afterward found nearly starved to death lying near the -roadside seven miles from home by some charitably disposed -persons, who fed them and subsequently caused them -to be placed in an orphan asylum, where they were kept -and given a meagre education suitable to their lowly financial -condition. When they were large and strong enough -they were sent to the West and placed in the charge of -farmers, but were widely separated. The author traced the -development of each. Both were naturally possessed of -powerful minds. One became a money maker, the other -<span class='pageno' id='Page_107'>107</span>the champion of a new system for the development of his -race. One was a great banker and amassed millions. The -other was a great co-operator and occupied a high station -in the Co-operative Commonwealth. She carried her story -into the future that she might picture conditions which -had not yet obtained.</p> - -<p class='c008'>In those days it was a favorite method of illustrating -economic principles, and had been made quite fashionable -by Bellamy’s famous work called “Looking Backward.” -Miss Woodberry’s novel was not so remarkable for its plot -as for the vivid contrast which it presented between the -competitive and co-operative system, and so powerfully did -her pen draw the picture that while the brother who gave -his life to the one, though not worse than most of its supporters, -seemed possessed of a demon of greed; the brother -who gave his life to the other appeared to be no more nor -less than a man. This novel seemed to me then, as it does -now, both instructive and artistic and equal to any of those -which my wife has written since.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“What shall we do now?” asked Miss Woodberry. “You -have obtained a favorable criticism and the Association will -publish the novel. What advantage will it give me or you -to do so?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“I shall urge you first to make an application for membership,” -I replied. “Although you were not a citizen of -Idaho nor a member of the National Brotherhood, you will -find that your accomplishments and this novel will gain you -immediate admission.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Yes!” exclaimed she. “But what else? Does not the -Co-opolitan Association provide for some reward for a -meritorious work?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“The Co-opolitan Association will endeavor to be just,” -I replied. “In the case of Dupont, the man who invented -the Dupont motorcycle, which has brought us a large accession -of wealth, the Legislative Council has allowed him -a five years’ furlough and he is now traveling in Europe, -but draws his full pay on the Industrial Army. Dupont has -decided to take only one year now and then the rest of his -<span class='pageno' id='Page_108'>108</span>time hereafter. Then there is Dr. James, who received a -furlough of three months and an advance of $1,200.00 -from his next three years’ pay, for special merit and extraordinary -services of a professional character. We have a -system of rewarding those who display special merit or who -by some new invention add to the wealth, comfort or -power of the Association.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Our Legislative Council requests each department chief -to present, every three months, the names of members most -deserving of reward, and after fully and fairly informing -themselves as to the work, art or production recommended, -dispenses its rewards according to its best judgment. At the -last meeting of the Legislative Council for this purpose ten -men in my department were rewarded. One got six weeks -rest, another two months, a third one week and others various -terms of respite. This was in addition to the vacation. -I am not in the habit of selecting these ten myself. I leave -that to my foreman and in doing so avoid jealousies. I -shall not recommend you, but I believe this novel will suggest -to the Legislative Council the propriety of a reward.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>This reference to her entering some department suggested -the old discussion again of whether she would apply -or not. She was very much attached to the Association and -believed it would ultimately own the entire state, but she -was not sure, she said, that she ought to become absorbed -in it. We considered that we might marry and that I could -supply the house from my income and she could, if her -novel was successful from a financial point of view, do other -literary work at home and for ourselves. But she was not -committed to this view, nor were her opinions fixed. However, -she finally agreed with me in the belief that her life -could be made far more useful as a member than as an individual. -We agreed that if both were employed by the Association -our united efforts would bring us twenty-four hundred -dollars a year so long as twelve hundred dollars was -each member’s income. I had long before converted all the -property which I had inherited into cash of the gold and -silver kind and had turned it over to the Association with -<span class='pageno' id='Page_109'>109</span>the understanding that I would be permitted to withdraw -it in amounts not greater than $1,200.00 per annum, if I -so desired. The Association paid nothing for its use, but -agreed to furnish, on the terms stated, goods, wares, labor -checks or orders instead of money, or even money, if the -proper affidavit and application for money was filed.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Aunt Lydia had also been economical in expenditures for -the house, so that my expenses for two years had only been -two thousand dollars, and I had a thousand dollars in unexpended -labor-credit checks. This was also left with the -Association, undrawn, so that the Association was indebted -to me in the sum of $11,000.00. My affianced wife, as well -as myself, was anxious to visit Europe and Asia, and this -fund of $11,000.00 we calculated would enable us to do -so without pinching ourselves while abroad. It was not -possible to pinch ourselves at home, because at this time -every department was accomplishing wonders in the production -of wealth.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Caroline made her application the next day. Being -neither a citizen of Idaho nor a member of the Brotherhood, -she was obliged to pass an examination as to health, -opinions and wealth. The first was found to be perfect. -The second showed her to be fully acquainted with co-operative -principles and the main features of our peculiar -system. Wealth she had none. But she had what was better -than wealth. She had talent. She had education. She -had some experience in teaching and was a skillful stenographer. -She was accepted and enrolled in the Educational -department. This was in June and her services were not required -until September in that department. She was, however, -placed on the pay roll and given her vacation period -at once. It did not concern the department whether her -school year began or closed with a season of rest. I, too, -was entitled to a vacation of four weeks each year and it was -usual for me to take it in July or August. Ordinarily I spent -it in the vicinity of the great lakes in the northern part of -the state or with parties of excursionists in the mountains. -This year I designed to visit New England and to take with -<span class='pageno' id='Page_110'>110</span>me my wife. Caroline was agreeable to this plan and I -made all arrangements accordingly.</p> - -<p class='c008'>In the latter part of June we were married and on the -very same day, as a part of the celebration, the work of putting -the new novel into type was begun. It was a joyful occasion. -The wedding ceremony was performed at my house -in Co-opolis and Governor Thompson did me the honor to -officiate. It was not a public affair. Members of the Legislative -Council, Governor Thompson and the members of -my departmental staff and their wives were present at the -wedding feast, which was spread at the Co-opolitan Hotel. -That evening my wife and I took a special car at 11:30 -o’clock on the Co-opolis Southern Electric Railroad for -Boise City, from which place we went to Nampa, met the -early morning east-bound train on the Union Pacific and -proceeded on our wedding trip.</p> - -<p class='c008'>We were absent until the middle of August and were -glad enough to return. I say we were glad to return, but -this does not mean that our trip was unpleasant. We were -like people of refinement who gayly abandon the luxurious -surroundings of a beautiful Christian home and, returning -to the primitive habits of their savage ancestry, descend, -for a short season, to the novelty of camp life. However -enjoyable such life may seem for a season there comes a -time, and that speedily, when the novelty wears off, and life -in the civilized world is all the more pleasurable by comparison. -So you descend into the regions of commercial -competition; the waste regions and desert lands of speculation; -the world where old men and women are left to die -in poverty after a life of usefulness; where little children, -innocent of wrong, are trained daily to sin, or are starved -to death in sight of plenty. We were glad to return to Co-opolis -and take up our labors in a land where we could not -hope to acquire more of the world’s good than we could use, -but where we could be sure that we and ours would not be -compelled to try subsistence on less than we needed, and -where every human being was guaranteed “the inalienable -rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_111'>111</span> - <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XVII.<br /> <span class='large'>THE UNITED STATES CONVEYS PUBLIC LAND TO THE STATES—THE CO-OPOLITAN ASSOCIATION RECLAIMS THE SNAKE RIVER VALLEY—A GREAT AND BENEFICENT ENTERPRISE.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>The year 1905 witnessed the inauguration of two important -enterprises in Idaho, each of which has contributed -immeasurably to the development of the Co-operative Commonwealth. -Both were proposed, superintended and owned -by the Co-opolitan Association. The first was the irrigation, -cultivation and settlement of the Snake River Valley. -This valley at that time was noted for its wonderful scenery, -its broad expanse of uncultivated and unoccupied land, and -the majestic river which swept swiftly through it. All -public lands belonging to the United States had, the year -before, been granted to the various states in which they -were situated, each state being required to pay two cents an -acre to the Federal government therefor. Some of the -states proceeded to pay at once and receive the patent for -the lands so granted, and to dispose of the same to settlers.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Among those which paid for their acquisitions promptly -was Idaho. But the money to pay, amounting to one million -three hundred and eighty-six thousand dollars, was advanced -to Idaho by the Co-opolitan Association. This advance, -let it be understood, was not a loan. The state government -could not borrow money. But the Co-opolitan -Association had become so powerful and exercised such entire -and absolute control over the state government that -when it advanced this amount it was well understood that -it was able to reimburse itself at will. The state now acquired -the public lands of the Federal government, but was -powerless to improve them. What should be done?</p> - -<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_112'>112</span>The Great Council had met during the first half of the -year, and its members were all Co-opolitans except eleven. -It realized that it would be open to severe criticism outside -of the state if it should grant the newly acquired lands to -the Co-opolitan Association, whether for a consideration or -gratuitously. It did not concern Idaho what the world beyond -its territory thought, except that we were all anxious -that mankind, for its own good, should not be misled as -to the benefits of co-operation. Before that session of the -Great Council was closed a petition, signed by more than -twenty per cent of the voters of the state, was submitted to -the Governor, on the recommendation of the Great Council -itself, asking that the simple question of whether the public -lands of the state should be granted in fee simple absolute -to the Co-opolitan Association on condition that the -Association improve the same, be submitted to popular vote -at the October election. Under our law it was the duty of -the Governor, if such petition was properly signed, to submit -the question proposed as a matter of course, and it was -done accordingly.</p> - -<p class='c008'>This was not the first time the people had by petition -initiated legislation, but it was the most important question -thus far submitted. There was no doubt as to the result, -because the Co-opolitan Association embraced nearly all -the people of the state except something like fifty thousand -who were scattered along the boundaries of Montana and -Wyoming, being principally placer miners and cattle men. -Even among these there were many inclined to favor the -grant. But the question was very fully discussed. The -Daily Co-opolitan, under my charge, presented the arguments -on all sides. Every company in the Industrial Army -was required to attend at least three meetings before election -day, at which the question was debated by the ablest -debaters we could find, and on election day it is safe to say -that the voters who were ignorant of the merits of this question -were exceedingly few. The election resulted in a vote -of two hundred and sixteen thousand five hundred and -three for and seven thousand three hundred and twenty -<span class='pageno' id='Page_113'>113</span>against the grant. The decision of the people thus registered -was the law of the state and was sufficient in itself to -pass the title in all this land to the Association, but the formality -of issuing the patent was enacted when the Great -Council met the following January.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Great were the preparations the day after election for -the work of reclaiming the Snake River Valley. The Legislative -Council was in constant session arranging the details -of an industrial occupation of a new and broader domain. -The Engineering department had long before procured -complete surveys of all the public lands, and more -especially of this valley. A final survey had been made for -an extensive system of irrigation flumes, canals and ditches, -together with reservoirs for the collection and storage of -surface waters, as well as the waters diverted from the river. -Four thousand men were dispatched, under the charge of -the proper departments, to commence the work and make -excavations along the survey at such points as they could -work most conveniently, and when the freezing of the -ground in the latter part of November made further work -in that direction impracticable the army returned to Co-opolis -and the companies composing it were sent to their -several home cities and engaged in other employment.</p> - -<p class='c008'>When springtime came—the spring of 1906—the work -upon the irrigating system of Snake River Valley was again -resumed with an increased force. It was prosecuted with -such vigor that when the snow began to fly again the whole -system was completed and constituted the most extensive -of the kind on the American continent. The result was that -one million acres of land as fertile as any in the world, not -excepting the valley of the Nile, were made available for use -for agricultural purposes and all of this was the property -of the Co-opolitan Association. The whole of this broad -area was now turned over to the Agricultural department. -The Transportation department was also instructed to extend -the Co-opolis Southern Electric Railroad the entire -length of the valley, and in two years from the time the first -work was done on the irrigating system that marvelous region -<span class='pageno' id='Page_114'>114</span>was changed from a wilderness into a productive and -beautiful garden.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The history of the Snake River region since then has -been one of the most startling illustrations of the power of -co-operation and the quantity of literature devoted to the -description of the valley, its people, its productivity, its -cities, roads, system and methods in all the countries and -languages of the civilized world show how deep an impression -this magnificent product of co-operation has made. -But the wealth which this valley added each year to the -Co-opolitan Association enabled us to carry the industrial -war forward with a celerity not anticipated. The Agricultural -department now—1909—had under its control three -million five hundred thousand acres of land devoted to -agriculture, five hundred thousand acres devoted to fruit -and at least eight million devoted to grazing.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The Co-opolitan Association was and is the most successful -farmer in the world! No wonder! There stand -between it and the consumer no middleman and no manufacturer. -Its own labor manufactures most of its own farm -tools and machinery. It feeds, clothes and shelters its own -farm hands, and both produces and manufactures food -and clothing. All represent to it the cost of labor only. -The wheat produced cost the Association in 1909 only -about five cents per bushel to produce. This estimate is -based upon the cost of machinery imported from other -states and paid for with metallic money. But even this was -too high an estimate, because when a machine was once imported -our mechanics kept it in constant repair, while other -farmers using machinery are continually paying out money -to keep it in serviceable condition.</p> - -<p class='c008'>We paid nothing but labor. Other farmers were compelled -to sell their wheat at the lowest cash price paid by -traders and speculators, who invariably received a large -profit. We obtained that profit ourselves. Other farmers -saw their wheat ground into flour and sold at a profit by the -manufacturer to the wholesale dealer, who again sold at a -profit to the retailer, and the retailer added a profit and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_115'>115</span>sold to the farmer. We received all this profit. The only -cost to us of a barrel of flour was the cost of such machinery -as I have described and the cost of transportation. -The Brotherhood stores at that time sold all our surplus on -commission. At the time of writing this—1917—the cost -of producing a barrel of flour at the great Shoshone flour -mills is, of course, nothing, the farm machinery, mill machinery -and all devices used in connection with such manufacture -being manufactured by the Association.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The facts which I have thus briefly stated must make it -apparent that we were, as early as 1909, and even before -that time, in a position which was entirely unassailable by -competitors who had not placed themselves on a similar -foundation. Our system was in a condition to challenge -the whole industrial world in a free and fair field. We -could and did undersell every business house in all Idaho -and the competitive system, unable to compete against us, -had fled from the state. Its case was hopeless. It had no -footing, and never could have. It recognized capital as -master and labor as its humble servant. Our system reversed -the order and recognized labor as master and capital -as its creature and its obedient servant. For this reason -labor came to us and capital without labor was powerless. -Already this condition in Idaho was affecting all adjoining -states. The Co-operative system was, after ten years of -honest trial, so strong, and so wondrously beautiful in its -strength, that, overleaping the bounds of the co-operative -state, it was infecting Oregon and Washington, and colonies -framed upon the model of the Co-opolitan Association -were pouring into those states. But of that I have -something to say in a subsequent chapter.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_116'>116</span> - <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XVIII.<br /> <span class='large'>PUBLICATION OF MRS. BRADEN’S NOVEL—THE PROFITS OF THE ASSOCIATION AND REWARD OF THE AUTHOR—THE PUBLISHING DEPARTMENT EXTENDS ITS SPHERE.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>The Messenger and Publishing department, as I have -previously stated, was under my especial charge. Up to the -time Miss Woodberry, now Mrs. Braden, had given permission -to have her novel submitted to a Co-opolitan committee, -and that committee had reported favorably upon the -proposition to publish it, I had conducted this department -upon the most conservative lines. I confess that, even then, -the vastness of the power of co-operative labor to overcome -all obstacles was not fully comprehended by me. I had as -yet but dimly recognized that the combined strength of -labor directed to the accomplishment of a definite purpose -was simply irresistible. Business in the competitive world -which involves the sale and delivery of large accumulations -of property, real or fictitious, is transacted upon a ridiculously -narrow financial basis, and must necessarily be conducted -with extreme caution. But where the fiction of -money is abolished and the intercourse among men rests -upon the basis of labor exchange, which is as broad as the -earth itself, and as fair as perfect justice, there need be no -fear of setting in motion every productive energy available. -Too much of what men need or ought to have can never -impoverish them.</p> - -<p class='c008'>My wife’s novel was placed upon the market for sale in -due season. The Daily Co-opolitan announced its appearance -and contained an able and very flattering criticism of -it from the pen of Mr. Edmunds. The first was a cheap -edition of twenty thousand copies, and so great was the -pride of all Idaho in this first literary work in the line of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_117'>117</span>fiction which could be considered distinctively Co-opolitan -that the entire edition was exhausted before any could be -shipped out of the state. This edition was sold for twenty -cents a copy in labor-credit checks or industrial orders or -money. But the demand was so great from the Brotherhood -all over the country for this novel that I was compelled to -have another edition of 100,000 copies struck off, and this -was gotten up with so much greater ornamentation and in -so much better style that I thought proper to have the price -fixed at fifty cents a copy. The book had been commented -upon favorably by all the newspapers and magazines of the -United States and England, and not only the Brotherhood -but the entire literary world was anxious to read it. The -time was especially favorable to render it exceedingly popular. -It was just beginning to dawn upon civilized humanity -that Idaho was producing marvels in co-operative industry, -and that a new civilization was born. “The West Parish” -was a masterly presentation of the Co-operator’s case -against the competitor and had a powerful effect in convicting -the latter, before the tribunal of Christian civilization, -of high crimes and misdemeanors. The second edition -was exhausted as swiftly, almost, as water sinks in sand. -Again I was called upon to supply the unsatisfied demand of -the American reader. Its high literary merit, the picture it -drew of Utopia realized, the remedy it pointed out from -the standard of an actual modern experience, the relief it -offered to millions of starving men and women made it the -sensation of the day. All classes read it. Even the conservative -business man who, twenty years before, had, rather -vainly, boasted that he had escaped reading “Looking Backward,” -quietly bought a copy of “The West Parish,” -and, after reading it, handed it, without comment, to his -neighbor.</p> - -<p class='c008'>I now found that these two editions of the first publication -of my department, in the book line, had added -$40,000.00 in United States money to the accumulations of -my department, and this I turned over to the Legislative -Council, according to law. Again I printed an edition of -<span class='pageno' id='Page_118'>118</span>one million copies. This was prepared in much cheaper -style, and by advice of our Legislative Council, whose advice -I had asked, I placed this edition in every book store -and on every news stand in the United States at five cents -a copy. This I did because it was now apparent that it was -producing a great awakening among the people, and I desired, -or rather, I should say, we desired, that the poor who -had no means might also read. But we realized a profit -even at that price, and we knew no better way to destroy the -profit system than to take its profit.</p> - -<p class='c008'>We fought the devil with fire, and had a theory that if -we could gain control of his fire we could extinguish it.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The million edition of “The West Parish” was taken -rapidly by the class for which it was intended and the Publishing -department realized the sum of $30,000.00 from -that source after paying cost of transportation. I now -placed an edition upon the market for standard use consisting -of twenty thousand copies, finely illustrated and elegantly -printed and bound. This was sold at one dollar per -copy, although in the competitive system it would have -been difficult for the publisher to have sold that edition on -the market for three dollars a volume and to have realized a -profit.</p> - -<p class='c008'>My wife’s fame, of course, was now world-wide. -Wherever the English language was read her name had -become a household word. Her novel had also been translated -into most of the languages of Europe and was working -its way throughout the countries which described themselves -as Christian, although more slowly than in England -and the United States. The Co-opolitan Association was -mindful of her incalculably great service to the cause of -co-operation which it regarded as its own and at the proper -time, without any department recommending it, the Legislative -Council considered the propriety of offering her a -reward which her work and her genius merited.</p> - -<p class='c008'>What should it be? The mechanic who invented a labor-saving -device or machine, the artist whose painting had -displayed extraordinary merit, the sculptor whose genius -<span class='pageno' id='Page_119'>119</span>had chiseled in marble some living thought, the self-sacrifice -of some hero in a moment of peril, all these merited -reward, and our Association had dealt and knew how to -deal with these.</p> - -<p class='c008'>But here the work had not been of moment so much because -of its allurement of wealth as its supreme value as an -educator. The Legislative Council considered that she was -entitled to five years’ release from duty as a member of the -Industrial Army, and so awarded. She was entitled to this -time at once and continuously, if she so notified her department -chief, Mr. Edmunds, or she could give notice that she -would take a portion of the time between certain dates. As -a matter of fact, she chose two years’ release and leave of -absence commencing January 1st, 1907, and the remainder -of her time later in her twenty-five years’ term of service.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Having discovered the power which my department -could wield, not only in Idaho, but in the world, I determined -to exercise it to the fullest extent. Linotypes, electroplates -and all the devices for saving labor were unsparingly -employed.</p> - -<p class='c008'>I determined to put a Co-opolitan edition of all standard -works of all spheres or departments, literary, scientific, religious -and political, on the American market in every great -city.</p> - -<p class='c008'>I began with Shakespeare. I caused an elegant edition -of that immortal poet’s work to be gotten up in excellent -style, and sold for about two-thirds what it would cost any -other house in the United States to produce. I increased -my plant and followed the edition of Shakespeare in quick -succession and at similarly reduced prices, with editions of -all the standard English authors.</p> - -<p class='c008'>In three years’ time I had Co-opolitan book stores established -in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, -Washington, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Chicago, St. Louis, St. -Paul, Minneapolis, Omaha, Atlanta, New Orleans, Galveston, -Denver, San Francisco, Portland and Seattle. The -competitive publishing houses could not compete with our -system and house after house fell before us or limited their -<span class='pageno' id='Page_120'>120</span>business. I also established correspondents all through the -world and had the latest news sent to the Co-opolitan newspaper.</p> - -<p class='c008'>My arrangements were such, in conjunction with the -Brotherhood and Co-operative stores now springing up -everywhere, that I had a Daily Co-opolitan issued in every -one of the cities named, and the news was flashed to them -daily, as it was to Co-opolis. I endeavored to have each -Daily Co-opolitan in the hands of the national Brotherhood -and each was issued on the plan of the great daily -which was sent from Co-opolis to all parts of Idaho. The -national Brotherhood was daily increasing in numbers and -power.</p> - -<p class='c008'>My idea in extending branches of my department was to -aid the national organization in destroying competition. -How well I have succeeded the years have proved. The -publications of the Co-opolitan Association have displaced -all others and have brought millions to the safe in the basement -of the Council Hall.</p> - -<p class='c008'>My department was divided in 1910 and I was confined -to one portion called the Publishing department. A new -department, including the messenger, telegraph, telephone -and postal service, was created and Jarvis Richardson was -elected its chief. I would be glad to comment upon the -glorious administration of that new department, by that -great and good man, but the scope of my present work does -not permit. Necessarily in such a work as this I can but -give the reader the most salient features of my own personal -experience which tend to throw light upon the development -of Idaho under the Co-opolitan control.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_121'>121</span> - <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XIX.<br /> <span class='large'>THE STRANGER FROM LONDON—BOISE CITY BONDS AND A LOAN—THE PERIL OF IDAHO.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>The year 1906 should be considered one of the most -memorable in the history of Co-operation, more on account -of the great peril in which our system was placed than on -account of any extraordinary undertaking. Yet perhaps I -ought not to say that the year was devoid of important undertakings -either, inasmuch as the Co-opolitan Transcontinental -Railroad was conceived and planned that year. It -was in connection with this enterprise that our peril was -unwittingly incurred. The large accumulations of money -which our Association was constantly making had become -known to the world, so that if our Legislative Council entered -upon the consideration of any great proposition the -decision was looked for in financial circles, both in Wall -Street, New York, and Lombard Street, London, as being -a matter of prime importance. Co-opolis was now a formidable -opponent and rival of those celebrated centers of competitive -iniquity. Its methods were, however, the exact -opposite of those of Wall Street and Lombard Street.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The proposition to construct a transcontinental railroad -was particularly interesting. It was the plan of Mr. Seabury, -chief of the Transportation department, to build the -road in question from Co-opolis to Chicago by what he declared -to be the only route which extended all the way -through a productive country. This route was to parallel -the Union Pacific to the Great Shoshone Falls, thence to -Idaho Falls, thence veering slightly in a northerly direction -to pass through the coal, iron, oil and cattle fields of -Wyoming, thence entering the Black Hills region near the -center, to proceed across the limestone foundation of that -<span class='pageno' id='Page_122'>122</span>wonderful country, down Rapid Valley to Rapid City, across -the divide to Box Elder Valley, down that fertile valley to -the Cheyenne River, down Bad River to the Missouri, over -the Missouri, and thence through South Dakota, Southern -Minnesota and Wisconsin to Chicago. It was also proposed -that this road should be extended to Seattle, on Puget -Sound.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The plan was considered sufficiently practicable to warrant -the Legislative Council to instruct the Engineering -department to run preliminary surveys along the proposed -route as far as the Missouri River. This order was given in -the early spring; I think the records will show that it was -about April 10th. A month later there appeared at the Co-opolitan -Hotel an elderly gentleman who registered as Lester -Hickman, London, England. Mr. Hickman appeared -to be merely an English tourist. He did not, at first, make -special efforts to get acquainted, but neither did he display -any aversion to talking with other guests or citizens who -might come in his vicinity. There was nothing about him -to particularly attract attention, except that his face was -very pale, his hair white, and his eyes were very gray. -Perhaps they would have been very white, too, if that had -been possible for keen, observing eyes. Mr. Hickman’s -clothes fitted him perfectly and his style of dress indicated -the neat and modest gentleman. He looked the picture -of scholarly innocence and spotless purity. In passing -through the hotel I had noticed him several times during -the week, and I had seen him on the street several times, -but never felt any special curiosity as to who he might be. -One day I was in my office when the young man who acted -as my messenger and office attendant handed me a card, -upon which was the name Lester Hickman. The attendant -said the gentleman was in the anteroom and would be glad -to speak with me if I was at leisure. I was at leisure and -told him to show the gentleman in.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Good afternoon, sir,” said the old gentleman as he entered -the door, smiling and bowing good-naturedly.</p> - -<p class='c008'>He had the air of a man whose business could not be very -<span class='pageno' id='Page_123'>123</span>weighty, but whose motives were invariably humane. He -was as white as an angel.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Good afternoon,” I returned. “Your name, I see, is -Mr. Lester Hickman. I have noticed you several times -about the city. What can I do for you?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Do not let me disturb you, sir.” Mr. Hickman looked -as if he could become my most intimate friend in five minutes, -as he smiled patronizingly and held his hand out -toward me with a gesture which seemed to indicate that he -was a great man at leisure and that I was a great man whose -time might be occupied. The whole manner of the man -flattered me and I felt that he had my confidence at once. -“I only called for information,” continued he, “and do -not wish to take your time, which I know is valuable.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“I am at your service, Mr. Hickman,” said I. “Will you -be seated?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>Mr. Hickman sat down. Even that he did with such -graceful, unassuming dignity, and with such exalted deference -to me, that I felt flattered again.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“You have a wonderful city, Mr. Braden,” he exclaimed. -“Your people have certainly built up a wonderful -Commonwealth.” He looked at me as he said this, as -if he attributed the wonders he had seen to me.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Yes,” I replied. “The Co-opolitan has reason to be -proud of his city. We have performed what has never before -been achieved in nine years.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Very true!” assented my visitor. “But you should have -added, Mr. Braden, that no people ever did as much in all -time.” Here he smiled, and I had an undefinable feeling -that he rather considered it would not have been done by -the Co-opolitan Association, even, if I had not been a -part of it. I found myself warming toward this sprightly, -perfectly straight, white little old man wonderfully. He -was either the most innocent, interesting and lovable or -the most artful and cunning of men. I was inclined to -think the former, but experience had taught me that such -men would bear study.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“I am anxious, Mr. Braden,” said Mr. Hickman, “to investigate -<span class='pageno' id='Page_124'>124</span>your system of co-operation with a view to establishing -a similar system in England. Some of us have a -plan on foot to aid our impoverished and idle classes to gain -a foothold on earth and I have been sent by my association -to study Idaho. It occurred to me that you could aid me -in obtaining the information I desire.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>I certainly could not refuse so innocent a request, and I -and my people always hastened to extend aid to such an -enterprise as he described whenever it was proposed. I -assured the gentleman that I would place my department -at his disposal and recommended him to see Mr. Edmunds -of the Educational department. The latter would place -our historical records at his disposal and he would gain, -from that source, the fullest information.</p> - -<p class='c008'>This white gentleman remained with me nearly an hour. -A more entertaining conversationalist it has rarely been -my fortune to meet. He had traveled extensively, was acquainted -with most of the famous men of England, and the -moral tone of his conversation was the highest conceivable.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“There is only one thing I notice about your system -which I cannot approve,” said he. “Your Association has -pursued a course calculated to destroy the value of all the -public bonds in Idaho except those of the state. There are -Boise City municipal bonds, for instance, which have no -value in the market because you have constructed a magnificent -co-operative city outside the territory affected by -them. I do not see how you can escape the charge of immorality -in refusing to pay them.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>These remarks were made by the white saint with such -apparent sincerity that I did not at that time doubt they -sprang from an honest heart. I met him many times after -and he never referred to that subject again. He remained -in Co-opolis three months, during which time he was a -constant attendant upon church and I observed that he was -often to be seen in the company of the members of the ministry. -Just before he departed he called upon the Legislative -Council, then in session, and asked to make a statement -<span class='pageno' id='Page_125'>125</span>to that body. The request was granted and he spoke -briefly. He said he understood that the Legislative Council -was considering plans for the construction of a transcontinental -railroad, that he understood the Association was not -then prepared to build the road, but would be obliged to -defer the completion of it until its finances permitted; that -he was acquainted with numerous philanthropic gentlemen -in England who were much interested in Co-opolitan success; -that he was able to procure from these gentlemen a -loan of one million pounds sterling for the Association, at -the nominal rate of three per cent interest per annum, the -bonds to run for twenty years; that he would use his best -endeavors to accomplish this purpose, providing the Association -would agree to purchase at the end of that time the -outstanding municipal bonds of the various cities for fifty -cents on the dollar. He said he had no knowledge as to who -might be the owners of such bonds, but for the good name -of the Association he desired to urge that this course be -pursued.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The Legislative Council paid very little attention to this -proposal, at that time, ascribing it to the gentleman’s ignorance -of our system.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Mr. Hickman had not been gone a week before I made a -discovery which startled me. I found that a petition was -being circulated, under our Association law, asking the -President of the Association to submit three laws, which -were attached to the petition, to the people, to be voted -upon at the next October election. What appalled me most -was that they were being circulated by the clergy, who -went from house to house for the purpose.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The first provided that the Association borrow $5,000,000.00 -for the purpose of constructing a transcontinental -railroad and issue bonds on such road bearing three per cent -interest per annum and running for twenty years. The -second recited the moral obligation of the Association to -assume certain municipal bonds which had become valueless -and to pay for the same, setting forth also the fact that -as long as these bonds remained unpaid the territory formerly -<span class='pageno' id='Page_126'>126</span>occupied by the cities of Lewiston, Boise, Ketchem, -Shoshone and several others would be valueless. It then -provided that the Association pay for these bonds at the -rate of fifty cents on the dollar in five years from the -passage of the law. The third provided that all industrial -orders be retired and that all labor be paid for after January -1st, 1907, by labor checks which would be non-transferable.</p> - -<p class='c008'>While these three laws were to be submitted separately -for the voters to pass upon, they were attached to one petition. -The law permitted this action at that time, but as -soon as possible after this abuse was discovered the Legislative -Council corrected the plain defect so that each law -must be supported by a separate petition in order to obtain -a reference to the people, and the correction was so obviously -proper that it has ever since remained the law.</p> - -<p class='c008'>I made no doubt when I saw this petition that the white -saint-like personage, Lester Hickman, was an agent of some -English syndicate, and that this whole scheme had been set -on foot by him to get the municipal bonds of these several -cities paid.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Some time after I learned that I was correct in this surmise. -His syndicate had procured the bonds referred to -for a mere nominal sum, and hit upon the plan of loaning -the Association $5,000,000.00 and getting the bonds paid -at the same time. As for the proposed loan, it would have -been as safe as the bonds of the nation, and the entire -financial world so regarded it. Why not? The Co-opolitan -Association was absolutely solvent and was looked upon as -enormously rich.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Hickman was a shrewd agent. He had amassed great -wealth for himself, and was as artful as any living man in -inducing men to part with the fruits of their industry without -receiving due compensation. In approaching the Co-opolitan -Association he donned the sheep’s clothing of an -adviser and advocate of co-operation, and went immediately -to the ministry and preached morality. With them -he succeeded.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Those who best understood the theory of morals and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_127'>127</span>could preach it in all its purity were least able to discriminate -between the spurious and the real. Hickman belonged -to a class of artful tempters who have done more to -enslave mankind and degrade morals than any other. Members -of this class go forth daily from our great cities to -lobby in legislative bodies, bribe judges, corrupt city councils -and induce the representatives of the people to give -away valuable public privileges or part with public utilities.</p> - -<p class='c008'>In Co-opolis Hickman enlisted the clergy by making -large donations to the churches, talking to them about a -high standard of morality which he professed, claiming to -be entirely disinterested and assuming a modest and retiring -piety. He was a financial Talleyrand.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The result of Hickman’s efforts was that after he was -gone, and almost before we knew what was going on, the -petition containing thirty thousand names of members -of the Association was sent to the President. This was -not twenty per cent of the population of the state, but at -that time all Co-operators were not members of the Co-opolitan -Association. There were several distinct associations, -embracing in their membership a total of nearly -forty thousand. There were, besides, some thirty thousand -who were not members of any association. Three years -later all co-operative associations in the state were received -into the Co-opolitan Association, and the individualists -who still declined to become identified with our organization -were few. But at the time the petitions in question -were presented the thirty thousand names affixed to them -constituted twenty per cent of the total vote of the Co-opolitan -Association.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Here then issue was joined. However impatient our -chief officers might feel with the Co-operators who had imprudently -and unwisely raised these serious questions, or at -least the bond and credit questions, there was no alternative -and the duty to refer them to the popular vote was imperative. -Some of us felt that it was a great misfortune, -and I confess that I trembled for the result. Let me say -now, as a candid man, that I have never been very sanguine -<span class='pageno' id='Page_128'>128</span>of the success of any issue which was left to the popular -decision, except on the one occasion when I felt faith in the -successful establishment of the co-operative programme in -1902.</p> - -<p class='c008'>My faith even then rested upon a theory that the masses -will sometimes do right impulsively and err when they stop -to deliberate. As a candid man, I am also bound to say that -experience proves my suspicions to have been unfounded in -every instance. Our referendum law was, and is, in one -respect, superior to that of Switzerland. It provided then, -as now, that proposed laws should be published for a period -of six weeks at least, but, in addition, it very wisely denied -to any member the right to vote unless he had attended -three public debates in which the law to be voted on was -discussed. Our method then, as now, was to appoint certain -days for such discussions, and we selected the ablest -disputants on both sides of the question at issue to fully -present the arguments on their respective sides in joint debate. -In this manner the people became fully informed. -These disputants were generally recommended then, as -now, by the partisans of one or the other theory, but if no -recommendation was made the Association appointed an -able and learned man to represent the defaulting side.</p> - -<p class='c008'>No political party has ever existed in Idaho since 1905. -Men have combined on numerous occasions the better to -support their convictions with regard to certain proposed -laws; but the men who honestly agreed on one proposition -were just as likely to honestly disagree as to the next question. -So that each organization was at an end when its -mission was accomplished. Moreover, as all are provided -for, there is no occasion to form parties to secure political -office.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_129'>129</span> - <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XX.<br /> <span class='large'>THE DEBATE ON THE BOND AND CREDIT LAWS—REV. CADMUS M. DESTY AND THE MORAL LAW.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>The discussion of the bond and credit laws referred to -the people to be voted upon at the Association election in -October, 1907, was as earnest, interesting and thorough as -any which had ever occurred in Idaho. The advocates of -their adoption were vigorous and persistent and regarded -themselves as conscientious.</p> - -<p class='c008'>They were not honest, however, with themselves. They -had allowed an artful and unscrupulous agent of the competitive -system to convince them that a moral question was -involved and to delude them into believing him to be a -great and good man.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Indeed, Hickman had written a pamphlet on “Co-operation -and Financial Integrity,” which was published on his -return to New York City from Co-opolis, and a large number -of these had been sent back to Co-opolis and distributed -throughout Idaho.</p> - -<p class='c008'>It was an able presentation of the view he desired his -partisans in Idaho to urge. It was not his view, however, -but simply the plea which a shrewd lawyer in the competitive -world might make for a guilty criminal. It was sufficiently -effective to become the text-book of the affirmative -in the discussion, and they lauded Hickman to the skies -until it was proven that he had for years been the trusted -agent of the celebrated banking house of Rothschild. After -that the bond advocate mentioned Hickman no more.</p> - -<p class='c008'>In this discussion every member of the Legislative Council -of the Association and every member of the Great Council -were listed in opposition to these laws. Ex-Governor, -now United States Senator, Thompson was one of the most -<span class='pageno' id='Page_130'>130</span>active of the negative speakers. On the side of the affirmative -was the Reverend Dr. Cadmus M. Desty, the famous -pulpit orator, a most conscientious man and an intelligent -Co-operator. He had become convinced, and I would stake -life itself that he was perfectly honest in the matter, that -our whole system must fail if we broke what he conceived -to be God’s law, and did what was unjust and dishonest.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The whole basis of his contention was the moral law. -He was an emotional speaker. It was his custom to support -his views by making copious quotations from the bible and, -drawing from them some conclusions which were satisfactory -to his mind, launch into an exhortation which was perfectly -irresistible to some of his emotional followers.</p> - -<p class='c008'>In those days our discussions were not conducted as they -are to-day. Then the disputants were given an hour or an -hour and a half each to present his side. Our system of -requiring the affirmative to state an argument in ten minutes, -and the negative to reply in the same length of time, -continuing in this manner for several hours in the presence -of referees who permit no divergence from the subject, is -calculated to exclude oratory and passion, and raise the discussion -to an intellectual plane. But the system was not -adopted until 1912.</p> - -<p class='c008'>It must be confessed that the oratorical contests of the -old style were as interesting as a circus or gladiatorial show, -in which respect they were superior to the give-and-take -method of to-day.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The greatest of all the debates of that campaign occurred -between Senator Thompson and the Reverend Dr. Desty -during September. One of these took place in the great hall -at Co-opolis. There were present 9,000 members of the -Industrial Army and one thousand pupils from the schools. -It was our custom to have the Educational department send -a certain number of its wards to these discussions, in order -to have them familiarized with Co-opolitan methods. These -questions were always discussed fully in the schools as well -as in the Industrial Army.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The discussion in the great hall was opened by Dr. Desty. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_131'>131</span>He insisted that the bonds of Boise City should be paid, that -the poor people, who doubtless held them, factory operators -in the unfortunate competitive cities, perhaps, had purchased -them in good faith; that the action of the Co-opolitan -Association, which he entirely approved, had rendered -these bonds valueless, and that the Association, which was -founded on principles of justice, equality and righteousness, -should not withhold from these poor people what belonged -to them.</p> - -<p class='c008'>He also pointed out the fact that as long as the bonds -remained outstanding the territory affected by them would -be lost to the Association. Then came the wonderful, soul-stirring -oratory of the man, which moved his hearers to the -depths. I almost felt, as I listened to him on that occasion, -that perhaps he was right.</p> - -<p class='c008'>When he finished the applause from all parts of the -hall was deafening. I believe now that it was more an -acknowledgment of his wonderful oratory than because he -had produced a conviction of the correctness of his views, -but I was distressed by different thoughts then.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Senator Thompson followed on behalf of the negative. -The Senator was at that time in the very prime of an exceptionally -strong and vigorous manhood. He had occupied -the important positions of President of the Association -and Governor of the state, the former for seven years, the -latter for two. His reputation was world-wide, not as an -orator, but as the father of the Co-operative Commonwealth -and the possessor of extraordinary administrative ability. -He had not, as yet, taken his oath of Senator of the United -States, having been but recently elected, and was hardly -known as a public speaker outside of the state. He was not -an emotional orator.</p> - -<p class='c008'>His chief characteristics in debate were his ready wit, his -complete command of the subject under discussion, and his -logical and powerful array of facts. He was the opposite -of the Reverend Dr. Desty in nearly every respect. That -day he was at his best. As he came forward to the speakers’ -stand he was received with terrific applause. This was always -<span class='pageno' id='Page_132'>132</span>the case, however, and it did not indicate that his was -the most popular side.</p> - -<p class='c008'>He commenced by informing the audience that he did -not desire to use any personal influence with them concerning -the exercise of their suffrage. He wished them to be -guided by truth and wisdom only. If the people of Idaho -were not sufficiently intelligent to save their Co-operative -Commonwealth then it must fall, because their intelligence -was its sole foundation. He had some evidence to present -for their consideration.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Here he read three affidavits from England, which set -forth the business, character and history of one Lester -Hickman. These averred that gentleman to be the president -of the American and English Bond and Trust Company, -limited, of London, and that his company was the purchaser, -for a mere nominal sum, of the municipal bonds -of the cities of Idaho. They further averred that Hickman -was known as a bitter enemy of all movements for the bettering -of the condition of the people, and neither more nor -less than a keen broker and speculator. They also set forth -that Hickman’s reputation for honesty was somewhat -shady.</p> - -<p class='c008'>After reading these affidavits Senator Thompson exclaimed:</p> - -<p class='c008'>“This is the prophet of financial morality whose teachings -are invoked for your instruction by my good and sincere -but misguided friend, Dr. Desty.” At this point the -applause which shook the house and was again and again -repeated marked the turning of the tide of public sentiment -against the affirmative.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“I think now,” resumed the Senator, after quiet was restored, -“that the bond and credit laws are dead. But I -would not have you decide this question on the simple fact -that the man who instigated them is a selfish hypocrite and -schemer. I want you to understand these laws thoroughly -and adopt or reject them on their merits. If they are good, -it matters not who proposes them. Let them be adopted. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_133'>133</span>If they are bad, it matters not what demon inspired them, -they should be rejected.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“These laws are for what purpose? To introduce among -you the most iniquitous feature of the competitive system.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Once allow it to be introduced, whether under the guise -of necessity or morality, whether by Shylock or by an erring -angel, and I would not give a straw for your entire -system. It will eat its way into the very heart of your body -politic and destroy all that is worth having about it.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“History shows to my mind successive systems of slavery, -one chasing the other through the earth.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Bond slavery succeeded chattel slavery and has nearly -crushed liberty to death in the great republic. There is -not the slightest reason why the Co-opolitan Association -should become indebted to private persons.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“We are the public, the law, the will of Idaho, and what -we desire within the state that we can have. If we wish to -build a railroad beyond the state we ought to have no difficulty -in doing that.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“What is necessary to such a road? First you must have -the line surveyed. That has been done. Next you must -have the right of way. That will be somewhat expensive. -But if the right of way costs us five million dollars why -should we borrow it? We have it already. Even if we did -not have it, let me remind you that from 1862 to 1892, a -period of thirty years, Idaho produced nearly two hundred -million dollars of gold and silver, and her producing population -was at no time greater than thirty thousand persons. -With a population such as we have to-day we can produce -gold enough, if gold is needed, in a single year, to build -this road.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Would not Idaho be demented to borrow gold from a -hypocritical agent of Rothschild when we can, without incurring -debt, take it from our own valleys, creek beds and -mountains?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>The Senator treated the question of bond issues from -every point of view conceivable, with a power of description, -illustration and argument that not only held his audience -<span class='pageno' id='Page_134'>134</span>spellbound, but fixed its logic deep in the minds of all -who heard him. Such was the effect of the affidavits which -he read upon the mind of his reverend opponent that the -latter declared his intention never again to enter upon the -discussion of political questions or questions of public -finance. Thenceforth he confined himself to religion and -became a world-renowned pulpit orator.</p> - -<p class='c008'>When the election occurred the vote was overwhelming -against all these laws, the last going down largely on account -of the unpopularity of the two others known as the -land and credit propositions. Our system did not permit -the submission of a rejected law for at least five years after -its rejection. The proposition to abolish the labor orders -and pay all labor in non-transferable checks was a really -meritorious one and ought to have been adopted.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The people, however, are so constituted that once their -suspicions are aroused they are much readier to say no than -yes, and the abolition of orders as a medium of labor exchange -had to wait until 1912. It is gratifying, however, to -be able to say that the people were less and less inclined to -demand such orders, and more and more inclined to receive -the labor checks.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The defeat of the bond and credit laws had the effect of -placing the Co-opolitan Association and the co-operative -system on an enduring basis. The entire world now realized -that it was an assured and successful system and in -every state in the Union the tendency was toward the enactment -of laws favorable to co-operative action on the part -of the laborer. Nearly all the states, seized by the spirit of -the hour, began to discuss the propriety of calling a constitutional -convention and reforming their systems of state -government upon the model of Idaho.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The features of our state constitution most favored were -its provisions embodying the initiative and referendum -and the imperative mandate, which I have already described.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_135'>135</span> - <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XXI.<br /> <span class='large'>WHY IDAHO HAS A DUAL GOVERNMENT—A GLIMPSE AT THE LAW.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>The second Governor of Idaho and the second President -of the Co-opolitan Association, succeeding Senator Thompson -to both positions, was Hon. Henry B. Henderson. The -political machinery of the state was in the control of the -Association and our policy was to make the executive officers -of the Association the executive officers of the state -also. Some of those readers who live beyond the boundaries -of Idaho into whose hands this history may come -do not comprehend why we continued to run two organizations -in the name of the people, instead of one. They are, -perhaps, at a loss to understand why the Co-opolitan Association -did not, when it had acquired nearly all the land in -Idaho and embraced nearly all the population of the state, -transfer its dominion to the state government and operate -its co-operative system as a state institution. The reason -is simple enough. The state was necessarily limited in its -powers by the Federal constitution. There were several -very important functions which were by that instrument -denied to state governments, but not to private corporations, -and we desired to exercise them.</p> - -<p class='c008'>I have already adverted to the fact that the Federal constitution -prohibits the state from issuing “bills of credit.” -This does not prevent corporations, associations or private -persons from doing so. When we dealt with the commercial -world “bills of credit” were often necessary. Moreover, -our industrial orders might be construed to be bills of -credit and this plan of labor exchange was, in reality, one -of the most important features of our co-operative system. -If the state had inaugurated such a plan the Federal prohibition -would have crushed it at once.</p> - -<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_136'>136</span>Still another important power would have been lost had -the state government owned and operated our system. We -could not have extended our business into any other state -in the Union. It was our purpose to build railroads. Most -of the states permitted a corporation organized in another -state for that purpose to build railroads within their limits -and take land for their right of way by right of eminent domain. -No state had a law upon its statute books which -gave similar powers to another state. It had never been -contemplated that a state would do business or own railroads -within its own limits, much less within the limits of -another state.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The Co-opolitan Association was organized under the -laws of Idaho. There the Association did not so much conform -to the laws as the laws conformed to the needs of the -Association. This dual system proved to be extremely useful. -We made the state perform police duties for us and -regulate the relation of our members to one another. We -had a system of courts regulated by state law, but these had -little to do. In 1910 we repealed the laws giving remedies -for the collection of any debt or the enforcement of any -contract entered into after January 1st, 1911, except -against the Co-opolitan Association. We had a criminal -code and punished crimes, but the people were all provided -for and educated, so that three great causes of crime—poverty, -excessive wealth and ignorance—being minimized, -the criminal courts had little to do. That other cause of -crimes—drunkenness—is uncommon. All alcoholic or intoxicating -drinks were not only sold by the Association, but -were of the purest quality. It was and is a crime to import -any liquors into the state for sale, but the Association is its -own manufacturer.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_137'>137</span> - <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XXII.<br /> <span class='large'>THE STATE GOVERNMENT—ITS INSANE, WEAK-MINDED, BLIND, SICK, AGED AND INFIRM—THE INDUSTRIAL ARMY—ITS ORGANIZATION AND PRODUCTIVE POWER.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>All the labor of the state of Idaho was, as early as 1910, -performed exclusively by the Industrial Army of the Co-opolitan -Association. We had intended at the outset of -our career to transfer all our property to the state government -when it should come under our control, but for the -reasons already mentioned that plan was abandoned. Even -as late as the year following the adoption of our Co-operative -institution we expected to pursue that course. But as -soon as we began the actual work of legislation we discovered -that the better and simpler method, and one which -rendered it easier to avoid conflict with the Federal constitution, -was to keep the state government within very -narrow limits. As a result the state government delegated -all its important functions which could be delegated to the -Co-opolitan Association. Its Great Council still continued -to exercise its legislative and judicial functions and the -executive still continued to act as the chief police and military -officer. But the state government was hardly more -than a bridge connecting the Co-operative state with the -Federal Constitution. The latter could not recognize the -former, but the state government could, and did. The -state complied with the constitution of the country as a -political organism. The Co-opolitan Association, as the -industrial, financial, social and commercial organism, did -as it pleased. Notwithstanding all this, the Co-operative -state, the state of Idaho and the Co-opolitan Association -were one and the same, and the last-mentioned, embracing -all the people of the state and its membership, was the living -and controlling power in and behind the whole.</p> - -<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_138'>138</span>We had expected that the state of Idaho would have an -Industrial Army of its own. Experience, however, convinced -us that it would be far better to do all its work -through the Association. Insane, weak-minded, blind, -sick, aged and infirm persons who were members of the -Association were cared for by the Association, so that the -state had no duty to perform toward them. The children -of our members inherited membership, losing it only by violating -its laws in some few particulars, so that insane, weak-minded, -sick or infirm children of members were all cared -for. To care for persons who might be afflicted, however, -and were not members of the Association was the state’s -concern. To punish criminals was its duty. The Great -Council contracted with the Co-opolitan Association to care -for its afflicted and its criminals, and the sole consideration -which it charged for this burden was that it have the benefit -of the labor of the able-bodied among them.</p> - -<p class='c008'>We soon found that the criminals whom the state consigned -to our care, when given a fair opportunity, were -most of them able and willing to work. This was all the -more apparent when we offered a reward, consisting of -wages equal to a Co-opolitan’s dividend, for meritorious -conduct. We rarely ever permitted a convict to become a -member of our Industrial Army, however meritorious his -work, but we did not oblige him to quit our service on the -penitential farm or in the penitential factories when his -term of service expired. Yet we did admit Barnstead, who -invented a flying machine; Applegate, the inventor of the -electric plough; Turner, that poet who sang with wonderful -power the songs of Remorse, Injustice and Sorrow, and -some thirty others. The state criminal is now almost a -thing of the past, yet fifteen years ago our penitential farms -and factories were important concerns. But we made them -pay. They produced not only enough wealth to support -themselves substantially, but enough to support the state -insane, weak-minded, sick, aged and infirm, whose several -asylums adjoined the farms.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Our Industrial Army in that year—1910—contained -<span class='pageno' id='Page_139'>139</span>twenty-four departments, in which 1,025,525 persons were -at that time enlisted. Of these four hundred and sixty-two -thousand one hundred and twenty-one were women. -It was a magnificent body of well-trained, intelligent, earnest, -industrious and faithful men and women. The chief -of this body was the President of the Association. Its -movements were directed by the Legislative Council. Its -general laws were enacted by that body, but each department -and subdivision had regulations of its own which did -not conflict with those provided by the Legislative Council. -There were then twenty-five general departments, as follows:</p> - -<p class='c008'>1st. Department of Agriculture. All occupations requiring -the cultivation of the soil, except such as were within -the Nursery and Fruit department, were within its province.</p> - -<p class='c008'>2nd. The Live Stock department had charge of all cattle, -horses, sheep, hogs and other animals, as well as birds.</p> - -<p class='c008'>3rd. The Nursery and Fruit department had charge of -all orchards, vines and plants bearing fruit and all horticultural -plants and flowers.</p> - -<p class='c008'>4th. The Irrigation department had charge of all waters -and the distribution of the same.</p> - -<p class='c008'>5th. The Commerce department had charge of all department -stores and was charged, as now, with supplying -the needs of the people.</p> - -<p class='c008'>6th. The Manufacturing department had charge of all -factories and all manufactures.</p> - -<p class='c008'>7th. The Transportation department had charge of all -highways, methods of transportation, vehicles and the operation -of the same.</p> - -<p class='c008'>8th. The Messenger and Publishing department had -charge of the means and instrumentalities of communication -and publication, including telegraphs, telephones, signals, -newspapers and magazines.</p> - -<p class='c008'>9th. The Educational department had charge of the education -of the young.</p> - -<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_140'>140</span>10th. The Department of Public Amusements had -charge of the entertainment of the people.</p> - -<p class='c008'>11th. The Department of Health had charge of the public -health, the care, treatment and cure of the sick and the -burial of the dead. Also all hospitals, sanitariums, mineral -springs, medicines, drugs and medical practice.</p> - -<p class='c008'>12th. The Legal department had charge of the legal -business of the Association. This department employed -about one hundred and fifty persons in 1910.</p> - -<p class='c008'>13th. The Timber and Forestry department had charge -of the timber and saw mills of the Association. It was also -charged with the preservation of the forest.</p> - -<p class='c008'>14th. The Labor department had charge of the unclassified -labor of the Association. From the Educational -department all students passed into this department, where -they were generally required to serve three years. All persons -enlisting who did not possess a trade or evince some -special aptitude were also generally assigned to this department. -Advancement to other departments, or the official -positions in this one, were the rewards of merit. This department -was also required to find constant employment for -its forces or to report forthwith to the Legislative Council -its failure to do so. In the latter case the Legislative Council -would cause new enterprises to be undertaken.</p> - -<p class='c008'>15th. The Department of Public Improvements was -charged with the investigation of all plans for new roads, -parks, waterways and the improvements of the methods, -conveniences and comforts of the people. Plans or ideas -were received by this department from any person and -whenever a plan or idea was accepted, provided it was new, -original and meritorious, a reward in the form of a vacation -was given the originator.</p> - -<p class='c008'>16th. The Department of Invention was charged with -the duty of searching out, investigating, testing and introducing -all labor-saving inventions to the Association. -This proved to be one of the most useful departments. -Manufacturers are not usually able to find time to experiment -and are generally averse to introducing new machinery -<span class='pageno' id='Page_141'>141</span>or methods. This department did all the work of -experimenting and reported results.</p> - -<p class='c008'>17th. The Department of Art had charge of all decorating, -painting, drawing, sculpture, architecture, designing, -etc.</p> - -<p class='c008'>18th. The Engineering department had charge of all -engineering work.</p> - -<p class='c008'>19th. The Department of Building not only had charge -of all buildings, and was responsible for their healthfulness -and security, but was the manufacturer of all building material, -except lumber, and quarried all stone employed by -it or shipped to another state. The granite, white calico -and lilac mottled marble, the gypsum, sandstone and other -building stone, as well as ornamental onyx stone, produced -by our quarries, were, and still are, handled by this department.</p> - -<p class='c008'>20th. The Department of Mining had charge of all the -mining except coal.</p> - -<p class='c008'>21st. The Land department had charge of all the unused -lands of the Association.</p> - -<p class='c008'>22d. The Food department had charge of the preparation -and distribution of all foods at public or private tables, -the killing, dressing and packing or canning of meats, and -the preparation, preserving or canning of fruits, vegetables -and other edibles.</p> - -<p class='c008'>23d. The Department of Fuel, Heat and Light had -charge of all heating and lighting plants and all sources of -fuel, such as coal mines, gas wells and oil wells.</p> - -<p class='c008'>24th. The Department of Science had charge of the -scientific investigation, of the geology, mineralogy and -natural resources of the state and their chemical analysis.</p> - -<p class='c008'>25th. The Department of Accounts and Statistics was -then, as now, the Auditory department. In addition to -this it received and transmitted all orders between the departments. -For instance, if the flour section of the department -store desired flour the Commerce department must -send its orders to the Department of Accounts and Statistics. -Here the order is recorded and immediately transmitted -<span class='pageno' id='Page_142'>142</span>to the Manufacturing department. If the Manufacturing -department has no flour it transmits an order to this -department for wheat, which is recorded and transmitted -to the Agricultural department. When the order for wheat -is filled this department is notified by the department filling -and that receiving, and so with the flour when delivered. -This department also keeps a full record of all the property -and products of the Association.</p> - -<p class='c008'>These several departments were again subdivided by the -Legislative Council into divisions and sections.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Our method of co-operation, through the instrumentality -of the Industrial Army, resulted in our being able to produce -more than three times as much wealth each year as an -equal population usually did in the competitive system.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The population of the state at that time, including men, -women and children, was 3,160,000. Such a population in -a competitive state will contain about five thousand lawyers.</p> - -<p class='c008'>We had one hundred and fifty lawyers and four thousand -eight hundred and fifty strong men in our producing ranks. -The wives of these men were also in our Industrial Army.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Such a population in competition usually supports six -thousand saloon men and bartenders. Liquors were sold in -the various department stores of the Association at that -time and in the restaurants and hotels, but there were no -bars and no saloons. They were handled incidentally with -drugs, medicines or foods. In the competitive system the -liquor dealers and bartenders form a special force. The -liquors in Idaho were dispensed by the clerks and waiters -who handled other goods. We could safely count six thousand -workers in our Industrial Army aiding in the production -of wealth instead of six thousand saloon men and bartenders.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Instead of eight thousand claim, commission, real estate -and insurance agents and collectors we had an equal number -of men at work in our factories, on our farms, or in the -distributing departments.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The restaurant and hotel keepers, brokers, commercial -<span class='pageno' id='Page_143'>143</span>travelers, hucksters and peddlers and merchants in such a -population in a competitive state would number sixty thousand. -All these, instead of preying upon us and consuming -the fruits of our labor without giving any return for it, -were now at work with us.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Body and personal servants who wait upon the rich in a -state of three million inhabitants will number in the neighborhood -of ninety thousand, and all these were in our Industrial -Army helping to increase the annual wealth of the -state.</p> - -<p class='c008'>We had no gamblers, professional capitalists, speculators -or leisure classes in 1910, but we had an equal number of -honest workers.</p> - -<p class='c008'>We were not compelled to waste time in searching for employment, -hunting for customers or waiting for trade.</p> - -<p class='c008'>We were not distressed by the pressure of a few overburdened -and a large number who could get neither the -burden nor the reward for carrying it.</p> - -<p class='c008'>There were no overdone trades and no overstocked markets.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Wherever we found power, whether human, natural or -mechanical, we sought to employ it.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Two incentives were furnished by the Association to honest -and diligent effort on the part of the worker. The first -was promotion to a higher grade. The second was a reward -in the nature of a leave of absence. These incentives were -powerful, especially as Idaho, being one of the most beautiful -and picturesque states in the Union and abounding in -game, offered an inviting field for recreation. But another -force was also at work among the men and women of the -Army. Each felt that he was a partner in this great enterprise. -Each regarded the idler who “stole time” as his foe. -Each was determined that the other should do his duty, and -the laggard and loafer was regarded with such contempt -by his associates that no one cared to incur the odium of -that reputation. This had a very pronounced effect both as -to the quality and quantity of the work done.</p> - -<p class='c008'>At and before that time I had noticed that a large number -<span class='pageno' id='Page_144'>144</span>of those who entered the Army from other states were -actuated by a desire to earn the large dividends paid to -members for several years, cash their checks or orders and -withdraw. In a few instances only have I noticed that -these intentions were carried out.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Such persons found that in our system they were able to -obtain all the best fruits of competition without the worry, -distress and mockery of that system. Their labor was better -rewarded, their hours of toil were shorter, they were -never confronted by want, they were called upon to divide -with neither poverty nor distress; they were equal to the -best as far as material things were concerned and they were -not superior to any one in those respects. I remember that -a few were, or affected to be, distressed because they could -not own any real estate. But in a few months they realized -that they would never be disturbed in the possession of the -house they occupied as long as it satisfied them, and that, -should sickness or death come, their families were safe.</p> - -<p class='c008'>When a workman was injured or fell sick his dividend -was paid as fully as if he were at work. If injured by accident -or negligence he had no remedy, although the person -responsible for his injury might suffer punishment. His -assurance of receiving his membership dividends was sufficient -comfort.</p> - -<p class='c008'>If the worker urged that he should have a vested right in -the Association property, above the share of its annual earnings, -it was only necessary to remind him that in the competitive -system he would never think of demanding of his -employer a similar share, and was generally compelled to be -satisfied with a pittance for wages. In the co-operative -system he received his dividend, which represented, in -1910, twelve hundred dollars per annum, purchased everything -he needed cheaper than competition ever made it for -him, was insured against accident or sickness, had his family -protected against his death, was furnished educational facilities -and positions for his children, and was more certainly -a part of the governing power than he could be under any -constitution. Instead of being the hunted victim of a hundred -<span class='pageno' id='Page_145'>145</span>ingenious robbers who flattered him with the promise -that he would strengthen his individuality by permitting -them to chase and starve him and his family, he discovered -that his individuality improved with prosperity and his -confidence and courage rose in an equal and healthy contest.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_146'>146</span> - <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XXIII.<br /> <span class='large'>THE TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>The Co-opolitan Transcontinental Railroad was completed -in 1910 to Chicago. Two years before that the last -spike had been driven at Seattle, on Puget Sound, and -trains had since been running regularly on that portion of -the road. The construction of the road through Washington, -Wyoming and South Dakota was not interrupted by -any obstacles or opposition. Indeed, the people of those -states offered every inducement for us to pass through their -country.</p> - -<p class='c008'>When we reached the Black Hills in South Dakota we -found the route from Silver City to Rapid City down the -narrow valley of Rapid Creek occupied by a partially completed -railroad which the projector had been compelled to -abandon for lack of funds. This we purchased for a small -sum. With that exception the right of way through Washington, -Wyoming and South Dakota cost us practically -nothing. Moreover, the farmers in Eastern South Dakota -aided us with their labor, accepting the produce and merchandise -which we brought with us from Idaho for pay. -The labor orders, also, were in demand along that part of -our road, and we established the department stores in the -states where these orders were soon received back for wares.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The state of Washington was at the time our road reached -Seattle largely under the control of the Washington Co-operative -Association, and that Association, being like the -Co-opolitan, a creature of the National Brotherhood of the -Co-operative Commonwealth, deemed its interests identical -with ours and aided us materially in pushing our enterprise -in that direction.</p> - -<p class='c008'>In Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois the several legislatures -<span class='pageno' id='Page_147'>147</span>had denied to all, except domestic corporations, the -right to exercise the power of eminent domain. This law -had been passed at recent sessions of their legislatures at -the instance of certain railroad companies to exclude our -line. The people of these several states had been much -incensed when the laws mentioned were enacted. Had the -initiative and referendum been in force there as in Idaho -this would not have been a serious impediment. We could -then have gone among the indignant citizens and procured -a petition signed by twenty per cent of the voters of the -state asking that the obnoxious laws be submitted to the -popular vote.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Such was the feeling against the corrupt corporations at -the time that people would have hastened to sign such a -petition. But they had no initiative and referendum law, -and so were at the mercy of the corruptionists.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The plain reason why the competing railroads desired to -exclude our line, and why the farmers desired to have it -enter these states, was the understanding that we would -reduce all rates, both passenger and freight, to the great -advantage of the farmers.</p> - -<p class='c008'>In fact, we designed to make a reduction in these respects -which would mean ruin for all competing lines.</p> - -<p class='c008'>We were able to do this.</p> - -<p class='c008'>In the first place the road had cost us nothing but labor, -except what we paid in cash to purchase the Rapid Valley -Road and the right of way over the lands of certain hostile -farmers. Even this cash represented our labor and was -valuable only as it would purchase other labor or its -products.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Then the competitive roads had been enormously expensive -to build. The projectors were compelled, when -they proposed their enterprises, to bribe a large number of -so-called capitalists to advance money which had doubtless -been intrusted to them by laborers for investment. Such -capitalists, having little they could call their own, must -needs obtain it.</p> - -<p class='c008'>So these railroad builders and their financiers placed -<span class='pageno' id='Page_148'>148</span>side by side with the genuine million won from labor a -false and pretended million which had its inception in and -owed its existence to fraud. Then the true and false were -made to pass together, with extended hands demanding of -the toiler a portion of his product as their lawful dues. -The one was just, the other a fiction and a sham.</p> - -<p class='c008'>False stock, which never had any basis in labor; false -bonds, which had no mission except to defraud labor of its -product; false pretenses, which made it possible for knaves -to live by their wits, were the excuses which capitalists put -forth for those extortionate rates by which the people were -impoverished.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Our railroad represented no such presumptuous and dastardly -pretensions. We came as labor should come to labor, -asking no more and no less than labor’s honest dues.</p> - -<p class='c008'>No stock, no bonds, no fraudulent construction companies -came with us. We did not deal in dollars nor peddle -securities.</p> - -<p class='c008'>We had naught but labor to expend, and pretended nothing -more. But we had all that labor makes and thousands -of willing hands.</p> - -<p class='c008'>When we built our road we offered it for use as the -creature of labor and not the creature of capital.</p> - -<p class='c008'>To build it and equip it we began at the very foundation. -The ore we mined, and smelted it in our own furnaces. We -fashioned our own plough and with it turned the furrow. -We made the harrow and followed it afield. We planted -the grain and when it ripened in the golden sun we harvested -it with blades our own hands wrought. We delved -again, and from the mines we brought the ore, and in the -blazing furnaces we moulded the steel automata which, at -our bidding, amid the Shoshone’s roar, reduced our wheat -to flour, or wove the wool of our own flocks to cloth.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Then we made rails of steel, and of the pulp of straw -made paper ties, and threw up grades, or hewed our way -through rock-ribbed hills. And so our road was built to -Minnesota’s line and we proposed to build it through that -state and onward to Chicago.</p> - -<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_149'>149</span>It can be seen that our own road could, when completed, -be operated far cheaper than any of the competitive class. -We had our coal in Idaho at first cost; our iron at first cost; -our steel rails, ties and all necessary equipments at first -cost. No brokers or speculators intervened.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Our railroad force wore clothing which we made, and no -retailer exacted from our employe a profit. We fed him -with our own home-grown and home-made flour, sugar, -beef and supplies. How could the competitors compete -with that?</p> - -<p class='c008'>We did not delay long at Minnesota’s boundary. The -Brotherhood in that state soon organized a company under -the laws of the state and its stock was nearly all conveyed -to our Association, except just enough to enable us to have -nominal officers in the state as the law required. The same -course was pursued in Wisconsin and Illinois and our road -was completed in due time.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Similar consequences followed the completion of this -road that followed the establishment of our department -store and hotel at Boise City.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The business of nearly all the roads to the coast came to -the Co-opolitan. The other roads could not compete -with us.</p> - -<p class='c008'>We reduced our rates to one cent a mile. The other roads -followed suit, supposing it possible for them to force us to -terms.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The Legislative Council thereupon placed the fare at one -dollar for the through trip from any point along the line to -Seattle and one cent per mile for any distance less than one -hundred miles. This was continued for two years without -any change and the travel on the road was enormous and -profitable at that price.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Freight rates were also reduced. The result of this road -as to the manufactures of Idaho was to give them a “boom.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>Our woolen goods were especially salable. We had over -four million sheep in Idaho and our woolen mills were consuming -all the wool yield and that of Washington, Oregon -and Montana. These goods were of superior quality and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_150'>150</span>we were able to sell them cheaper than English manufacturers -could without a tariff.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Two years before our road was completed to Chicago, -after the last spike was driven at Seattle, we began the construction -in that city of three large buildings costing one -million dollars each.</p> - -<p class='c008'>These were of the most magnificent character and were -equal to anything which in the competitive system would -have compelled us to spend four or five million each. The -reason was that we furnished the stone, slate, marble, lime -and all building material from Idaho and performed all the -work with our own Co-opolitan labor. We also transported -men and material on our railroad.</p> - -<p class='c008'>One of these buildings was a co-operative store, another -a co-operative hotel and a third a Palace of Amusements. -This supplied Seattle with all needed in the way of clothing, -food, hotel entertainment or accommodation and -amusement or recreation, and constituted that combination -by which we had successfully defeated all industrial or -competitive opposition in Idaho.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The Washington Co-operative Association had arranged -with us that we should be allowed Seattle as our seaport -town, and we proceeded to establish a steamship line with -China and Japan and arranged for other lines to countries -bordering on the Pacific Ocean. This we had no difficulty -in doing, as we had gold and silver in large quantities, taken -from our mines or won from competitors, with which to -deal with the barbarous people who use them.</p> - -<p class='c008'>As for Seattle, it had long been inclined to co-operation. -Its business men and citizens had been for years struggling -against every conceivable disadvantage and were completely -at the mercy of trusts and combinations of the most -unconscionable character. They had been approaching -closer and closer to bankruptcy day by day until our “Three -Brothers,” as they called the hotel, department store and -amusement hall, received them into their fraternal arms.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Since Seattle became a co-operative city it has grown to -be the great Pacific seaport of the co-operative world. Its -<span class='pageno' id='Page_151'>151</span>widened avenues, its magnificent parks, its comfortable cottages, -its great wharves and piers, its forest of masts, its -magnificent Industrial Army, its schools and institutions -of learning all bespeak a prosperity which is the pride of -her citizens. And this pride is all the more excusable because -the Seattle of to-day is the property of all her citizens -and not the property of a few.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_152'>152</span> - <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XXIV.<br /> <span class='large'>CHARLIE WOODBERRY ASKS QUESTIONS.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>We were seated on the veranda of my house on Salem -Avenue. It was a summer evening after tea in 1912. My -wife sat by my side and her brother, Charlie Woodberry, a -young man about twenty-two, sat with us. My little daughter -and a number of children about her own age played -upon the lawn in front of the house.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The day had been an exceedingly hot one—such a day as -the farmers say is excellent for corn—but the evening was -cool and delightful, as all the evenings are in Idaho.</p> - -<p class='c008'>We were engaged in watching the children as they played -and listening to their merry laughter. As the evening wore -on and the dusk deepened into darkness, when the little -girl, tired of play, came and sat in her little chair on the -veranda, our conversation took a more serious turn.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Charlie was a visitor from Fall River, Massachusetts, and -in that city was employed in the office of a large factory in -the capacity of bookkeeper. I think his salary was at that -time about eighty dollars per month. He was spending his -three weeks’ vacation with us.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Mr. Braden,” said he, “I learned to-day that your book -‘Co-operative Economy’ is probably responsible for your -being Governor of Idaho and President of the Association. -I have never read it, but my two days’ visit in Co-opolis -makes me anxious to read it.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Yes,” I replied. “Probably the book did have more to -do with my selection than anything else. I certainly hope -you will read it, because I have endeavored in that book to -explain the whole co-operative system as industrially applied -in this state, and, while you will hardly read it for -pleasure, you will understand our system better if you -study it.”</p> - -<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_153'>153</span>The term of President Henderson of Co-opolis had expired -the year before and I had been selected to succeed -him both as President of the Association and Governor of -Idaho. I had also completed the latter part of 1910 my -work referred to by Charlie Woodberry. Whatever may be -said of the book, it was a success from the outset.</p> - -<p class='c008'>It was adopted as a text-book in all the co-operative -schools in Idaho, Washington, Oregon, Utah, California, -Colorado, Nebraska and the two Dakotas, and in many -other states and territories, and was read extensively by the -more intelligent of the general public. Most economic -works were, up to the time “Co-operative Economy” made -its appearance, devoted to analysis and explanation of the -competitive system. My work discussed Co-operation as it -was and as it ought to be. In our schools such a work was -needed, as co-operation was the chief study pursued in conjunction -with all useful branches. I suppose it must be -admitted that this work gives me more satisfaction at this -time than anything I have ever done, because, although the -Publishing department was successful under my administration, -it was not due to my sole efforts. “Co-operative -Economy” was my own thought and was produced outside -of the work which the Association assigned me.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Mr. Braden,” said Charlie, “I would be glad to ask you -a few questions about co-operation and the Co-opolitan -Association if you would kindly answer them. I have a -general idea of the system, but its features are not clear to -my mind. If I could get in a nutshell a few truths—or -what you claim to be truths—I believe I could read your -books with much more interest.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Ask me any question you please, Charlie. If I cannot -answer them your sister there will,” I replied.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Charlie and I have already had some correspondence -and talks on the subject,” said Caroline. “He does not -think the system attractive.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“I will not say it is not attractive,” returned Charlie, -shaking his head. “I simply say it is not attractive as I -understand it. Now, take, for instance, the feature which -<span class='pageno' id='Page_154'>154</span>makes the Association own everything. That is very distasteful -to me. Nobody can ever own his own home, even.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Well, Charlie,” said I, “that is the way you have been -educated. If you had been taught to believe that personal -ownership of property was a burden, and had a tendency to -diminish your personal security, you would view the case -in a different light. Think a minute. Take a Mongolian -when an infant, transfer him to London, rear him as a -Christian and an Englishman and he will despise the -system and religion of China. But take an English baby -and let him be reared in Pekin as a Chinaman and he will -doubtless hold London and Christianity in abhorrence.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“We talk of the peculiarities of the Chinese mind, and -doubtless there are many which have been formed by the -education and environments of centuries of time; but -the Chinese education is more responsible for the Chinese -mind than nature is.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“You have been taught that it is desirable to have property -stand in your name. In the competitive system to -own property makes you the object of attack. It is dangerous. -You are always fearful that somebody will rob -you. If you own none, in the competitive system, you are -despised, no matter what your personal merits may be.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Yet you can only use what you own and you can do no -more with what you borrow.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Why should you wish to own it, then, if you only get -the use of it in any event? In the co-operative system it -has been found convenient to have individuals own certain -things. They own their own furniture, their clothes, -wall pictures and small ornaments. In short, they own -whatever in the house is severable from it, including tools -which they employ for private use and what they can -lightly carry about their person.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“They do not own house or grounds. They simply have -the use of them. But they are entitled to the use of house, -grounds and all the conveniences connected with them as -long as they wish. Their children after them are entitled to -that use. In the competitive system you cannot get more. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_155'>155</span>Co-operation also assumes the cares of the Co-operators as -far as material things are concerned. You do not have to -worry about the ownership of that which has no other than -use value. In competition you have to own your property, -care for it personally, protect it and pay taxes. This diverts -your mind from thought and fills it with worry, and in addition -to that people overlook your merit and inquire, not -what you are, but what you have, and woe betide you, whatever -your merit, if you have nothing.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“But does not common ownership and the inability of -the occupant to own his home render him careless and -wasteful? Does he take such an interest in his home as -he would if he could call it his?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“The ownership of the home in the competitive system -does not make the owner so careful to avoid waste as our -system makes the tenant. As I have said, the occupant, be -he owner or tenant, can enjoy only the use of his house -during his life.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“In the competitive system how many owners waste their -houses? Some are drunkards and mortgage them and waste -their value in drink. Some are gamblers, and lose the value -at the gaming table. Some insure them and burn them to -get the insurance money. Some go into business, mortgage -the home for money or credit, fail and lose the property. -Thousands of houses stand idle and go to waste in -every competitive state, while thousands of homeless people -walk the streets in every large city or tramp the country -roads. In our system the state cares for every home and -make a home for every man. The man knows his home -is permanent. It cannot be taken from him without his -consent.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“But he cannot convey it to his children,” said Charlie.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“No. He cannot compel his children to take it whether -they will or not. But if the children desire it, when the -occupant dies or departs, they may have it on the same -terms if they are members of the Industrial Army that their -parents did. Let me say, however, that when the children -marry they generally present a design of a house which suits -<span class='pageno' id='Page_156'>156</span>them better than the old homestead and the Association -builds them a house to suit them. Is not that better?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“So much for the home,” remarked Charlie. “I am almost -satisfied with your explanation. It at least gives me -the cue so that I can study the subject fully. Now, I have -long felt that you were asking a man to be a slave and give -up his personal liberty by entering the Industrial Army. -Why is not that true?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Charlie, are you a slave to-day?” I asked.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“No, indeed!” exclaimed Charlie, almost indignant.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Is a government official a slave?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Of course not.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“How about a soldier in the regular army?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Why, he is certainly not a slave.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“How about a clerk in the postoffice department, for instance? -Is he not in the same position as a member of the -Industrial Army?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“No. It is a similar service, but he serves his government -and country.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“What is your business, Charlie?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Accountant for the Waumkeag Cotton Manufacturing -Company.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“What are your wages?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Eighty dollars per month.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“How many hours a day do you work?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Ten hours.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Is it slavery to work ten hours a day for a private corporation, -for eighty dollars per month, and not own any interest -in the corporation? Remember that the Co-opolitan -Association pays one hundred dollars per month and requires -only seven hours’ work per day at the most. Then -every minute’s work in the competitive system is for private -persons, while in the co-operative system it is for the public -good.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Well. But suppose I should want to leave the service of -the Association after I had worked for it ten years or less. -Could I withdraw my part of the accumulated wealth and -take it away?”</p> - -<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_157'>157</span>“You could withdraw your wages and no more. You -could go where you please with the wages.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“But the accumulated capital. Would it not be unjust -not to let me have my part of that?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Charlie! I forgive you, of course, but you are brilliantly -stupid. How long have you been at work for the corporation -which now employs you?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Three years.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“If you should work for that corporation fifty years -would you get any more than your wages if you should -withdraw?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“No.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Who would get the benefit of your work?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Why, the stockholders.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Yes, or perhaps the bondholders! You could invest -your wages in stock in that corporation if you chose. You -cannot invest them in the Association. But after investing -in the cotton company you are liable to be frozen out by the -big holders. Now, frankly, do you not see that you may -work forty years for your company and then in old age -have not enough to sustain life from day to day? This -could not occur in our system. We exact now twenty-five -years’ work of each member and then he is free. After he -has given us twenty-five years’ work he becomes entitled to -his dividend for the rest of his life just the same as if he -worked.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“That sounds well, Mr. Braden. But have you any such -retired members yet?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“You must not call them retired members. We believe -that those who earn freedom by twenty-five years’ work will -be among our most useful members. They will still be interested -in our work. They will still participate in our elections. -They will take a personal interest in maintaining -and guarding the Association whence they draw their -income. Our Association is now only fifteen years old. In -ten years more three hundred of us will be entitled to release -from systematic labor. It is possible that the Association -will give us earlier release, as our co-operative wealth -<span class='pageno' id='Page_158'>158</span>is so great at present, and is increasing so rapidly, that we -are considering the propriety of diminishing the number -of hours of labor per day to six and the number of years to -twenty. We have many persons who have earned long furloughs. -In every such instance the member during his or -her furlough is a useful member. If he travels he brings -home to us the best of information. If he seeks pleasure -he studies that very important pursuit and we learn from -him how to make life enjoyable.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“You certainly are able to make pertinent and seemingly -complete answers, Mr. Braden. I shall ask my questions -now, not to puzzle but to elicit information. Suppose a -member becomes sick. Does that stop his income or -dividend?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“If a member becomes sick he is turned over to the -Health department. As long as he is in the charge of the -Health department his income continues.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Who pays for his treatment by physicians?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“He pays for it himself out of his income from the -Association.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Suppose he should wish to change his climate in order -to recover? How shall he make a change?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“If the Health department reports such a remedy for any -sick member of the Industrial Army leave of absence is -granted and he is permitted to go to such climate as is -recommended.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Suppose a man dies leaving a wife and family after five -years’ employment. What does the Association do for the -family?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“The funeral expenses are paid and the family receives -the deceased member’s income until the youngest child -becomes of age, provided the child remains in the Educational -department. If the widow is healthy and able to -work she is received into the Industrial Army.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“When a man enters the Army does he become entitled -to the full income of a member in good standing at once?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“He does not. The first year he or she receives only -one-third of the income of a member. The second year and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_159'>159</span>all years after he receives as much as anyone. Members -are on probation the first year. The three years members -are entitled to promotion to higher grades and the members -during the first three years are required to do the drudgery -of the Association. We have made exceptions to this rule -when we have offered inducements to skilled laborers, but -otherwise all who enlist, especially from the Department -of Education, must pass through the three years course.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“One more question, Mr. Braden, and I will ask no more -until I have read some chapters of ‘Co-operative Economy.’ -Do not your members regard a new volunteer as an -intruder? Do they not consider that he is suddenly admitted -to share what they have produced without making -an equal contribution? You have, say, three million dollars’ -worth of wealth in Idaho. Why should one who never assisted -in producing it be admitted to participate in its benefits -without paying a large membership fee?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“He does pay a fee of one hundred dollars and he gives -the first year’s labor for one-third the income of one member -for that time. If he has not one hundred dollars we do -not always exclude him. We simply take it out of his income. -But you must remember that the Association is a -great corporation, in which the shares are not transferable -and one member can only own one share. The Association -keeps all the machinery and sources of production in its -exclusive control. Every person who enters to-day agrees -to furnish twenty-five years’ labor. No person can receive -the benefit of such a membership unless he so agrees. The -Association, therefore, has as many twenty-five-year contracts -as there are members of the Industrial Army. Let -us suppose that one member has worked for twenty-four -years when a new member is admitted. The latter is now -to work twenty-five years and the former one. The latter -is to give twenty-five years’ work to the former, who one -year later must depend upon the labor of the latter to support -him. Tell me which of these men is getting the advantage, -the man whose twenty-five years of labor in the -past has provided the machinery and improved the source -<span class='pageno' id='Page_160'>160</span>of production or the man whose twenty-five years of the -future will operate the machine and render the source of -production fruitful. Is it not a fair bargain after all? If -a man forty-six retires from labor and a man twenty-one -takes his place and supports him will the former object?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>This closed the economic discussion. My wife did not -take part except as a listener, but she was deeply interested. -Our little girl had fallen asleep in her arms and she now -softly arose and carried her into the sleeping apartment. -Charlie and I still continued on the veranda a little longer -enjoying the pure and cool atmosphere, and pursued our -conversation on lighter subjects.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_161'>161</span> - <h2 class='c006'>CHAPTER XXV.<br /> <span class='large'>THE TERM OF SERVICE—THE SURVIVORS OF TWENTY YEARS—SPREAD OF CO-OPERATION—SECRET OF CO-OPOLITAN SUCCESS—1917.</span></h2> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>An important question came up before the Legislative -Council at one of its meetings in May, 1916. It was as to -whether the term of service in the Industrial Army should -be reduced from twenty-five to twenty years.</p> - -<p class='c008'>After full discussion it was decided to refer the matter to -popular vote at the referendum election of October following. -It was accordingly referred, but not in the form in -which it was at first considered.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The question submitted was: “Whether the term of -service in the Industrial Army shall be reduced to twenty -years to all members in the Grade of Honor at the expiration -of that time.” All persons who had performed their -duties faithfully and whom their companies, by a majority -vote, recommended to advancement to the Grade of Honor -were, after serving fifteen years, so advanced.</p> - -<p class='c008'>This had the effect of rendering our workers more diligent, -and it was believed by the members of the Legislative -Council that if men could shorten their term of service five -years by industry and faithfulness it would increase the -efficiency of the Industrial Army. The people of Idaho -thought so, too, and after a most thorough discussion, in -which it was made apparent that the Association could well -afford to shorten the term, the election of October resulted -in a practically unanimous decision in favor of twenty -years.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The 20th of May, 1917, completed the service of thirty-six -members. Twenty years before our little company of -fifty, under the leadership of John Thompson, had entered -<span class='pageno' id='Page_162'>162</span>Deer Valley and established our camp on the present site of -Co-opolis. Since then fourteen of that company had -passed to “that country from whose bourne no traveler returns.” -The thirty-six who remained were nearly all of -them high in the councils of the Association and some had -achieved reputations which extended beyond the limits of -Idaho.</p> - -<p class='c008'>We who composed that little company were, on this -twentieth anniversary, released from the burdens and duties -attaching to the Co-opolitan system, and thenceforward -were entitled to come and go at will. Wheresoever we -chose a habitation in the state the Association undertook -to provide us with suitable houses, and, our income continuing -as large as if we were still employed, we were expected -to, and could, pay the rental of the house and our living and -other expenses without stint.</p> - -<p class='c008'>One dollar of credit, as represented by the labor-credit -check, was neither depreciable nor appreciable by the act -of interested or disinterested persons. Abundance or scarcity -of any product, as measured by the demand for it, was -the determining factor of price. Our credit dollar was invested -with large purchasing power because co-operation -produced abundance and guaranteed to each of us a quantity -of any needed article, and a quality of comfort, pleasure, -convenience or accommodation equal to the fair exchange -value of labor.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The thirty-six whose service ceased on this anniversary -were men who were devoted to the principle of co-operation -and ready to make any sacrifice to the success of the Co-opolitan -Association. Most of them had lived comparatively -frugal lives. For fifteen years the income which they -had derived from their service had been twelve hundred -dollars per annum at least. This was allowed them on the -books of the Association and the labor-credit checks were -delivered to them each month, as to all workers. If they -failed to exhaust their month’s credit during the month -the surplus remained with the Association.</p> - -<p class='c008'>We have no banks. We have no money and no department -<span class='pageno' id='Page_163'>163</span>which makes a business of handling money. We -have no occasion to deposit or store labor-credit checks.</p> - -<p class='c008'>No man has any claim with us upon anything but the -fruits of labor. These we hold until he calls for them, and -we pay him no interest for their use. In fact, we have no -use for what he leaves with the Association. We prefer to -have him take it and consume it himself. The Association, -for instance, has a menagerie and circus which it sends from -city to city. We see no reason why a man who desires to see -such an exhibition should refrain from doing so from motives -of frugality. The Association prefers that the admission -fee be taken out of every labor-credit check. Of course -this does not usually happen, because the members do not -always desire to witness such an exhibition when it appears.</p> - -<p class='c008'>If a man is frugal and spends but little of his monthly -credit he does not lose it during his life. It is a matter of -prudence to save something, so that he may use it if he goes -abroad, and the Association holds itself ready to furnish -him the money of any nation if he makes the proper application -for it.</p> - -<p class='c008'>But if a man dies his unexhausted credit is canceled. -He cannot will it to his wife or children. The wife is -given a place in the Industrial Army and his years of service -are accredited to her, so that if he has served ten years -up to the time of his death only fifteen more are required of -her, or ten years if he or she should be a member of the -Grade of Honor.</p> - -<p class='c008'>As for children, if they are members of the Educational -department and are left orphans they are allowed the father’s -portion until they arrive at age, when they enter the -Industrial Army. These provisions are necessary to co-operative -success. To permit a man to leave his accumulations -to his son or daughter takes from them the incentive -to labor. They cease to be useful or acquire a superiority -which nature did not give them.</p> - -<p class='c008'>We insist that all should be equal in the start, and that -they have no advantages which they cannot create for -themselves.</p> - -<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_164'>164</span>The competitor claims that this removes the incentive for -action. This is not true. It removes one incentive out of -many, and the worst and most injurious one.</p> - -<p class='c008'>It is an incentive which makes robbers, thieves, murderers -and tyrants and produces a host of evils.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The competitor says it is unjust because it takes from -wife and child their support. It does not. We give the -wife a chance to be useful and an income for her use equal -to the income of any.</p> - -<p class='c008'>We give the child his education and an opportunity -equal to the best when he becomes a man. We insure these -things and the husband and father is relieved from all -worry on their account while he lives. Is not this worth -many times the riches of the competitor which are so ready -to vanish and leave wife and child in the ranks of abject -and despised poverty.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The twentieth year of the Co-operative Commonwealth is -indeed a proud one. The great state which we occupy is -entirely under the control of the Co-opolitan Association. -It contains four million people and two and a half million -active members of the Industrial Army. Its inhabitants -are all in cities, but no city is greater than one hundred and -fifty thousand persons, except Idaho Falls and Shoshone, -where the great water power, generating electricity, gives -exceptional advantages for manufactures. Idaho Falls contains -three hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants and -Shoshone two hundred and twenty-one thousand. In Shoshone -are the great flouring and woolen mills, but nearly -every needful and useful article is also produced through -the medium of its marvelous electric power. Idaho Falls -is more famous for its cotton mills, and other cities are -numerous which are devoted to manufactures of various -kinds. The city of Rokybar is the Pittsburg of Idaho and -the Association steel works at that city are the largest in -the world.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Laselle is the producer of beet sugar, and all the sugar -used by our department stores in Idaho is supplied from -our factories there. There is little necessity for the importation -<span class='pageno' id='Page_165'>165</span>of anything into this state, so varied and abundant -are its resources and productions.</p> - -<p class='c008'>These cities of Idaho are all laid out and conducted on -the plan of Co-opolis. Each one of them covers an area -nearly three times as large as that of any competitive city. -The streets are all one hundred and fifty feet wide, consisting -of two driveways fifty feet wide and a park of equal -width separating them.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Numerous parks are located at convenient distances from -one another. The buildings are all at least fifty feet apart. -There is ample sunlight, pure air and space for children to -play or for older people to take recreation.</p> - -<p class='c008'>There are flowers, fountains, artificial lakes and trees in -profusion. Monuments and statues have been erected in -many localities, representing art and history and illustrating -the power and beauty of co-operation. The streets are -all paved with asphalt. Most of our buildings are constructed -of brick or stone and of the material necessary for -the purpose Idaho has inexhaustible resources.</p> - -<p class='c008'>In this twentieth year of the Co-operative Commonwealth -the United States is moving swiftly and quietly to -that condition which Bellamy beheld in “Looking Backward.” -Washington was the first state to join Idaho as a -Co-operative Commonwealth, which it did in 1910. Oregon, -Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Kansas, Nebraska, -North and South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana and -California followed in quick succession in about the order -named. Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, -Tennessee, Arkansas, North and South Carolina and Texas -are almost ready to wheel into line.</p> - -<p class='c008'>As for the other states of the Union, the co-operative -system is gaining ground every day. In the United States -Senate there are forty Co-operative Senators. In the House -of Representatives there are one hundred and forty-three -Co-operators.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Through the influence of Idaho the United States government -has purchased and now operates five transcontinental -lines of railroad, and it is probable that it will, in a -<span class='pageno' id='Page_166'>166</span>few years, acquire most of the lines which are sufficiently -valuable to warrant their operation. It owns all the telegraph -lines in its territory, having purchased them as early -as 1908.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Nearly all the cities of the country have become the owners -of their own public utilities, such as street-car lines, -telephone, gas, electric and water systems and plants, and -from the income derived from them have almost succeeded -in relieving their citizens from the burden of taxation.</p> - -<p class='c008'>But the private department stores, labor-saving machinery, -trusts and monopolies, which continue to exact -tribute from and oppress the people for private gain, are -our unconscious and unintentional allies, and the thousands -of good citizens who yearly move westward to avail -themselves of the opportunities which exist in the Co-operative -Commonwealths called into being by the success of the -Co-opolitan Association do not fail by their correspondence -to light the fires of the new and higher civilization in every -city and hamlet of the nation.</p> - -<p class='c008'>This success is one which Idaho and her people are, at -this time, disposed to credit, in a somewhat larger degree -than history will or should approve, to the immortal senior -Senator from Idaho, Hon. John Thompson, and his associates -of twenty years ago. All honor, indeed, to them!</p> - -<p class='c008'>But I maintain that conditions, circumstances and a -great nation of intelligent, honest, industrious and comparatively -temperate laboring men and women made their work -possible in America when it could not have been successful -in any other country in this world.</p> - -<p class='c008'>I do not say this from motives of patriotism. I say it -because it appears to me that the reasons to support the -allegation will be recognized and approved when stated.</p> - -<p class='c008'>In the first place, there has never before been any extensive -experiment with industrial co-operation for the benefit -of the workers engaged in it, where land was the basis of -all operations, except in ancient Peru.</p> - -<p class='c008'>It is unfortunate that history has been so far deprived of -the records of that wonderful country, by the destructive -<span class='pageno' id='Page_167'>167</span>fanaticism of its Spanish conquerors, that the details of its -system must remain obscure.</p> - -<p class='c008'>But happily the indisputable fact remains to give courage -to co-operators who do battle in the dark corners of the -world that Peru was a co-operative or socialistic state, and -that its people were happy, prosperous and contented.</p> - -<p class='c008'>This fact suggests the very pertinent question whether -the people who boast a high state of civilization like that of -modern New York and Boston are equal to the establishment -of a system as just, as fair and as equitable in the production, -distribution and protection of wealth as the comparatively -ignorant, simple-minded and uncivilized inhabitants -of ancient Peru?</p> - -<p class='c008'>The example of Idaho proves that we are. But in England, -France and Germany the co-operators have confined -their undertakings almost exclusively to manufactures and -distribution. The land has rarely entered into their calculations, -or when it has been considered has never been regarded -as available. In Idaho we have made land the chief -feature of our enterprise, and I maintain and, in fact, know, -that we could never have succeeded in any marked degree -if we had not done so.</p> - -<p class='c008'>A commonwealth which has not the title to its own land -is like a house suspended in the air. Even the co-operative -societies engaged in manufacture and distribution manufacture -and distribute what comes, primarily, from the -land.</p> - -<p class='c008'>When they receive the raw material to manufacture or -distribute it has been handled by a number of traders, -brokers and other middlemen and its price increased oppressively. -We avoided all this by owning the land.</p> - -<p class='c008'>In England and other densely populated countries the -rich land has all been taken and the owner, whether lord -or peasant, will not part with it except for a large sum of -money. The co-operator is thus excluded, in those countries, -from the use of land. It costs him nearly as much in -spot cash to acquire it as the brokers and traders take from -<span class='pageno' id='Page_168'>168</span>him, through a series of years, in profits on the raw product -of land.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Now in Idaho land was cheap, and cheap land is the -co-operator’s salvation.</p> - -<p class='c008'>I also believe that we were fortunate in locating our -colonies in Idaho. The reason for this is that after we had -acquired the land of Deer Valley, placed it under irrigation -and rendered it highly productive, we had the use of millions -of acres of grazing lands for our herds and flocks.</p> - -<p class='c008'>I cannot conceive that a co-operative society could begin -its career under more favorable conditions than did the Co-opolitan. -It could not have found a better location for its -productive farm and city in any other state. It had the best -facilities for irrigation and controlling all the waters necessary -to render its land productive; it had the means to attach -its members to the common purpose.</p> - -<p class='c008'>It was able to avail itself of near and high-priced markets.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Better than all this, it had the open ranges embracing -millions of acres of good grazing land, which it was permitted -by the laws to use without cost. If we had not possessed -this advantage, my judgment is that our struggle -would have been increased and prolonged.</p> - -<p class='c008'>I believe that cattle and sheep were the most advantageous -kind of wealth for us to handle. We allowed them to -roam at will, with but few attendants, over our ranges, and -we were at little expense to care for and feed them. Besides -this it was a form of wealth which was capable of -transporting itself to some extent. Had we attempted a -different location where there were no ranges and put our -capital into almost any other form of property we would -have failed.</p> - -<p class='c008'>These natural advantages and the system whose development -I have endeavored in these pages to trace are, in my -judgment, responsible for the success which the Co-opolitan -Association has made in twenty years.</p> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_169'>169</span> - <h2 class='c006'>L’ENVOI.</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>My narrative, kind reader, is finished, but if you have followed -it thus far you will doubtless feel some interest in the -present condition of some of its chief characters and features. -Of Senator Thompson I need say only that he is one -of the most honored and famous individualities in this -world.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Being a native of England, he is not eligible to the Presidency -of the republic, else I verily believe he would be -chosen to usher in the Co-operative Commonwealth which -seems to be one of the probabilities in the near future. But -Senator Thompson is in the prime of manhood and you -can be sure that he will be one of the chief actors in the -coming change.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Mrs. Braden is as famous in her sphere as Senator -Thompson is in his. Having written, as the world knows, -five novels of the highest merit, all of which have been received -with extraordinary favor, the Association has rewarded -her by remitting her entire term of service in the -Industrial Army. This has not had the effect of silencing -her muse by any means. She is as industrious as if both -fame and fortune were wanting. The fires of true genius -do not require the inspiration of greed to make them burn -more brightly.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Mr. Edmunds is now an old man. He will accept the ease -which the expiration of his term of service enables him to -enjoy. Although seventy years of age, he is strong and -hearty, and we hope may live, as he seems likely to, for -many years.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Henry B. Henderson died three years ago. A bronze -statue of him stands in the park on Commonwealth Avenue, -in front of the Council Hall, and I am told that the -people of Shoshone and Idaho Falls are arranging to have -<span class='pageno' id='Page_170'>170</span>similar statues erected and paid for by subscription in their -cities.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Boise City is a beautiful city of fifty thousand inhabitants. -The municipal indebtedness of the old city was long -ago purchased by the Co-opolitan Association for a small -sum and the flood of co-operative enterprise poured over -and through the old townsite at once.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The city of CO-OPOLIS is not, as I have already stated, -the largest city in Idaho. It contains a population of one -hundred and fifty thousand. It is the oldest co-operative -city in the state and the most beautiful in the world. Its -buildings are substantially constructed; its parks are well -kept and better finished than are those of most other cities, -and its trees are older and more mature. It is believed that -it will be the favorite city of residence for the members -whose terms of service in the Industrial Army expire. At -present it is the seat of government in the Association -domain.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Idaho is still a “Light on the Mountains,” as its ancient -name implies, and its effulgence had found a shining way -into thousands of homes throughout the world.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Truly may it be said that her mission is being grandly -accomplished and that the people that dwelt in darkness -have seen a great light.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Thank God! The higher civilization is here.</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c003'> - <div><span class='large'>[THE END.]</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c013' /> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_171'>171</span> - <h2 class='c006'>THE SOCIAL DEMOCRACY OF AMERICA</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c014'>has as one of its main objects the peaceable establishment, -in some such manner as outlined in this book, of the</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>CO-OPERATIVE COMMONWEALTH.</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c008'>We believe in the efficacy of object lessons, and the Social -Democracy of America is working for and advocating -the Co-operative Commonwealth, where all shall receive -their full share of the wealth they create and the Brotherhood -of Man shall be an actual fact. In order to do its work -in establishing this ideal state of perfect justice between -man and man the</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>COLONIZATION COMMISSION</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c015'>of the Social Democracy of America has formulated plans -and methods for putting the ideas contained in this book -into actual operation.</p> - -<p class='c008'>If one million working men would pay ten cents each into -a fund to help such a plan, it would mean one hundred thousand -dollars a month, or one million two hundred thousand -dollars a year. If one hundred thousand should do so, it -would mean one thousand dollars a month and one hundred -and twenty thousand dollars a year. In five years, with -judicious management and cautious expenditure of such -funds, the results would be marvelous, especially as a dollar -in the hands of co-operators would prove far more efficient -than a dollar employed in the extravagant and wasteful -channels of competition. -<span class='pageno' id='Page_172'>172</span>Send a dollar for thirty-four sample copies and make thirty-four -converts to the cause of reform.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Six cents will pay for “Merrie England,” a book of 190 -pages, which has had a sale of 850,000 copies in England -and has only begun to sell in America. It is a popular yet -scientific statement of the principles of Socialism. It is addressed -to the people who are prejudiced against anything -of the kind. Get a man to read “Merrie England” and the -book will do the rest. We mail two copies for 10 cents, -twelve for 50 cents, twenty-five for $1.00, a hundred for -$3.50.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Ten cents will pay for “President John Smith,” by Frederick -Upham Adams, a book of 300 pages. It has passed -through twenty-five editions in a year. It is a success because -it points out practical methods for intelligent political -action by which the people of the United States may -take possession of the government and run it in their own -interest. We mail a dozen copies for $1.00; fifty copies -for $3.75.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Twenty-five cents will pay for any one of the following -valuable books:</p> - -<p class='c008'>The Co-opolitan, by Zebina Forbush.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Evolutionary Politics, by Walter Thomas Mills.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Man or Dollar. Which? by a newspaper man.</p> - -<p class='c008'>From Earth’s Center, by S. Byron Welcome.</p> - -<p class='c008'>A Breed of Barren Metal, by J. W. Bennett.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Money Found, by Thomas E. Hill.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The six books, or six copies of any one of them, will be -sent postpaid on receipt of one dollar. Special terms to -agents, with full list of reform literature, will be mailed -upon request.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-l'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>Address</div> - <div class='line in4'>CHARLES H. KERR & COMPANY, Publishers,</div> - <div class='line in20'>56 Fifth Avenue, Chicago.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='chapter'> - <span class='pageno' id='Page_173'>173</span> - <h2 class='c006'>MEN WANTED.</h2> -</div> - -<p class='c007'>We firmly believe that in “The Co-opolitan” we are giving -to the people of the United States a book that will be of -untold value in hastening the progress of human brotherhood -and a civilization based on justice. We believe the -people are ready for this book, and that any intelligent man -who believes in co-operation and knows how to express his -ideas can make a good living by selling copies. We want -to hear from such men.</p> - -<p class='c008'>We also want to hear from those who have no time for -selling books but who believe intensely in human brotherhood -and want to do their part in making it a fact in this -present life. Our object is to provide them with literature -for wide distribution, at prices that are based on the actual -cost of production.</p> - -<p class='c008'>One cent will pay for a copy of “The Ethical Aspect of -the Labor Problem,” by Rev. J. Stitt Wilson. It is addressed -to Christians and proves that the profit system -under which the people are struggling is directly opposed -to the teachings of Jesus.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Two cents will pay for “The New Democracy,” by Frederick -Upham Adams, the editor of The New Time. It is a -clear and forceful statement of the ideas of Direct Legislation -through the Initiative and Referendum.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Three cents will pay for a new pamphlet entitled “The -Majority Rule League of the United States,” which gives a -practical plan for organization to be put in practice at once. -It gives a valuable appendix on Direct Legislation. Fifty -copies mailed for $1.00; 500 for $7.50.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Three cents will pay for a sample copy of The New Time, -the greatest reform magazine in the world, 100 large pages -each month, full of timely articles, news and pictures that -no reformer will consent to do without if he once sees it.</p> - -<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_174'>174</span>The three members of the commission were appointed -August 1, 1897, and their work was outlined before the -publication of this book.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The manuscript was read by one of the members of the -commission and received his hearty commendation, as presenting -arguments of a high character in favor of colonization. -Many ideas elucidating legal points are also brought -out in the clearest manner.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The Commission is attempting to work out practically the -main idea presented in this book. Any reader who becomes -desirous of aiding in this noble work, or who wishes information -concerning it, should address Secretary Colonization -Commission, S. D. of A.,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>504 Trude Bldg.,</div> - <div class='line in8'>Chicago, Ill.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c013' /> -</div> - -<div class='section'> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div><span class='xlarge'>THE LEGAL REVOLUTION OF 1902.</span></div> - <div class='c003'><span class='large'>BY</span></div> - <div><span class='large'>A LAW-ABIDING REVOLUTIONIST.</span></div> - <div class='c003'>CHICAGO:</div> - <div>CHARLES H. KERR & COMPANY.</div> - <div>1898.</div> - </div> -</div> - -</div> - -<p class='c008'>The following specimen pages of</p> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> - <div class='nf-center'> - <div>“THE LEGAL REVOLUTION OF 1902”</div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c015'>are published by permission of the author from advance -proofs of the book, which is now in press. Every loyal -reformer will be interested in this new work, which outlines -a radical and aggressive political programme to be -carried out in the near future. The book will be handsomely -printed on heavy book paper of extra quality, and -will be sold at fifty cents in paper and one dollar in cloth, -with liberal terms to dealers, agents and newspapers.</p> -<div class='section'> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c005'> - <div><span class='pageno' id='Page_iii'>iii</span><span class='xlarge'>PREFACE.</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -</div> - -<p class='c007'>“The Legal Revolution of 1902” purports to be a -history of social conditions in the United States for a -period of about fifteen years following the year 1897. It -attempts to picture changes and reforms amounting to -an industrial revolution—which I think should, and will, -be made—as if the country had already passed through -this period. All matters of fact recorded as having -taken place before 1897, or “before the Revolution,” are -true; quotations from newspapers and other publications, -and utterances of men, prior to that year, are also true; -whatever is mentioned as occurring afterward is, of -course, fiction.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Some of the characters in this narrative bear the same -names as distinguished persons of to-day, but no pretense -nor claim is made that they speak or represent in any -manner the views or sentiments of those whose names -they may happen to bear. The characters have been -named to give added interest to the story, to connect it -more plainly with the evident trend of social and political -conditions, and to more clearly elucidate the opportunities -which lie within the power of men.</p> - -<p class='c008'>The principal idea of the work is to show the people -their power, wherein it lies, and the methods of exercising -it to right their grievances, if they feel that such -exist.</p> - -<p class='c008'>If I succeed in bringing all who read these pages to -a full understanding of the power of the people, and -<span class='pageno' id='Page_iv'>iv</span>how to use that power, and wherein lies the basis, the -very foundation, of our institutions, I shall be content, -even though they do not agree with this story as to the -extent of existing evils, or the measures it inaugurates to -alleviate them. While endeavoring to clothe my ideas -in an interesting and readable narrative, some exaggerations -have been made; yet, in confidence to the reader, it -must be said that, in the main, I believe in every line of -the work; in the principle of every reform proposed; in -every change pictured and result prophesied. Indeed, I -can see no other road for a law-abiding, intelligent and -prosperous people to travel, and no other possible destination -to be reached, than the one herein imperfectly -portrayed.</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>A LAW-ABIDING REVOLUTIONIST.</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_v'>v</span></div> -<div class='section'> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c005'> - <div><span class='xlarge'>THE LEGAL REVOLUTION OF 1902.</span></div> - <div class='c013'><span class='large'>CHAPTER I.</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -</div> - -<p class='c007'>“Well, mother, I’ll run down and get the mail,” said -John Brown to his wife, as he started for the village postoffice. -On arriving there he found his “grist” of daily -papers that regularly visited his home, and also two letters. -One was addressed “Hon. John Brown, Member -of the Illinois Legislature.” He looked at it and incidentally -remarked to a friend with whom he was conversing: -“I wonder who that is from—‘Return in five days -to Mark Mishler, Attorney-at-Law, Springfield, Ill.’; I -guess it is not of much importance to me; I don’t know -any such person.” And with that he put it, unopened, -into his pocket, and looked at the other.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Indeed, New York, from brother Benjamin! I -haven’t heard from him in a long time. Mother and I -were just talking about him and wondering if he had -forgotten us. She’ll want to hear the news, and I had -better go right back to the house,” and he started, carrying -the letter and papers in his hand. It was but a few -minutes’ walk, and he was soon home.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“See here, mother, a letter from Ben,” he said, starting -to tear it open.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Is it possible!” she exclaimed, with considerable surprise; -“we haven’t heard from him since his wife died. -He is no hand to write, and I’ll warrant it is news of importance; -probably sad news, or we wouldn’t hear from -<span class='pageno' id='Page_vi'>vi</span>him now. You remember he never wrote us that Glen -(his only child) was born until he was two years old. Of -course he wrote during that time, but never mentioned -that fact, and it was so strange, since he always writes so -much about him now, when he writes at all.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>By this time the letter was opened, the spectacles adjusted -to his nose, and Mr. Brown began to read:</p> - -<div class='lg-container-l'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“My Dear Brother and Sister—</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c008'>“You know how difficult it is for me to write, and I am -sure you won’t think strange because of not having heard -from me before. I often think of you both, and have -frequently resolved to write, but have neglected it until -days, weeks and months have slipped away. I am in -deep trouble now. You know that ten years ago the -company set me back to flagman. The wages for such a -position are very low; I have been able only to live and -keep the family, and have found it impossible to lay by -anything. A year ago an accident, a collision, occurred -in the yards between a couple of switching freight trains. -It was charged to me and I was ‘laid off.’ Perhaps I -was to blame. I worked long hours and was very tired. -I am getting old, anyway. My eyes, and faculties as -well, are getting dim. Since then I have had no work, -and have employed my time about the garden and with -my poultry, out of which I have made a little.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“But Glen, though only sixteen, had completed school, -and had also learned the glassblower’s trade in the factory -here, and with my pension and what little I could -earn was able to support me and keep the house up in -good shape, so I did not feel badly. In my old age I -felt I had earned a rest, and Glen, noble boy! was satisfied, -and insisted that I should have it. But now, just -as he has his trade well learned, and had, as we supposed, -the means of gaining a livelihood through life for himself -and a way of supporting me in my old age, improved -machines were introduced into many of the larger factories, -<span class='pageno' id='Page_vii'>vii</span>that almost entirely displaced the glassblower and -absolutely ruined his trade. They were not put in the -factory here, but it was seen that the factory would be -unable to compete with the machine-equipped factories, -and that they must put them in or close up.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“After the machines began to be used it was evident -that half the factories would supply the market. So -the big ones all joined together into one big company, or -trust, and closed up a number of the factories. The one -here went into the big company, and the Board of Directors -of the big concern voted it to be one of the factories -that would be permanently closed. Lots of the machinery -has been moved away, and there is little probability -of it ever being operated again. At any rate it has -now been closed for three months, and Glen has been unable -to find a day’s work of any kind to do, and there is -little hope of any here. Glassblowers have been laid off -in all the factories that are still running, and those now -retained are taken from the force of older employes and -there is no chance whatever for a new man now. So -Glen will probably never find work again at his trade.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“And the town! You have no idea of the condition -here. The glass factory was almost the sole industry. -There is not another enterprise of any importance. Two -thousand men, who fed ten thousand people, or the whole -town, are thrown out of employment at the mandate of a -trust, and the whole place is ruined. No western cyclone -ever wrought worse havoc, because after one of them has -passed the people can go to work and rebuild, but there -is nothing here they can do to get even bread to eat.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“The very day it was known the factory would be permanently -closed residence property depreciated one-half, -and in fact it is scarcely worth anything now, and will -not sell at any price. My place, which cost me a lifetime -of toil, and for which I paid $2,500 principal and no -end of interest, will not sell to-day for $500.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“But the question with the people here is, not how -<span class='pageno' id='Page_viii'>viii</span>much their property has depreciated in value, but how -they are to get work by which to earn a living.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Glen and I think we want to go West. We would -like to go out where you are, and want to know what you -think about it. Can we make a living there? We have -been thinking if we could get a little patch of ground -near some good-sized town we could, by gardening and -poultry raising (at which I am becoming expert, by the -way), get along and make a living; and Glen is a bright -scholar, and I have been thinking that perhaps he could -get work of some kind out there.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“I don’t want to be a burden on you, but God knows I -will be on the state if things continue as they are. And -Glen, he deserves a better fate than the world seems to -have allotted him.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Please let me hear from you soon. With kind regards -to sister Jane and yourself,</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“I am, your brother,</div> - <div class='line in16'>“BENJAMIN BROWN.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c008'>Mr. Brown was visibly affected as he slowly read the -letter, and tears filled the eyes of both himself and his -wife by the time it was completed.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Well, mother, what had I better write him?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>To which the good woman quickly replied: “Send -for them both to come at once and make their home with -us—at least for the present. You will soon go to Springfield, -and will be gone all winter attending the Legislature. -You expect to hire someone to attend the stock -and the farm while you are away, and you always hire in -the summer. Perhaps they might like farm work, and -suit you better than anyone you can hire, and so stay -permanently.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“The Lord has taken all our dear children away,” she -continued; “and if Glen is the boy his father has always</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c013' /> -</div> - -<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_xxiii'>xxiii</span>“‘Fellow reformers, would you be free? Would you -see the regimen of corporate power and class despotism -at an end? Would you see the shackles stricken forever -from the limbs of humanity, and behold emancipation—the -rebirth? Do you believe that this can come through -the ballot? No! You do not.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“‘Have not the reformers spent their lives, their fortunes, -and their energies in the cause of political reform? -Have they not seen the cunning and unscrupulous always -victorious, emerging from every campaign master of the -spoils? Have you any hopes that this will be changed in -the future? The past is one long protest against the -ballot as an instrument of reformation.’</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Scarcely a day passes that I do not receive one or more -appeals to join one or the other of the revolutionary orders -being formed in this country, and offers of money -and arms are frequently received if I will give my efforts -to the cause of revolution. Thus far I have persistently -declined to give aid or encouragement to such movements. -But if, through the writings of such men as Private -Dalzell, revolution comes, in spite of all efforts to -prevent it, I will not be found among the cowards, nor -on the side of the plutocratic classes. * * *</p> - -<div class='lg-container-r'> - <div class='linegroup'> - <div class='group'> - <div class='line'>“J. R. SOVEREIGN.”</div> - </div> - </div> -</div> - -<p class='c008'>“Let me see your scrap-book, please,” said Glen. It -was handed to him, and he settled down to read, while the -others conversed.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“That letter appeared some time ago,” said Benjamin, -“and I’ll warrant it has been read by every member of a -labor union. I tell you something is going to happen. -Where, or when, or what it is going to be I don’t know, -but I do know the power of the labor unions, and doubt -not they will play an important part in the struggle. I -haven’t a particle of doubt but those societies which Mr. -Sovereign mentions are being formed. It is this great -<span class='pageno' id='Page_xxiv'>xxiv</span>chasm between the rich and the poor that is causing the -trouble. The laboring people are piling up wealth, and -it is all being appropriated by the rich, and the poor find -it harder each day to make a living. This is especially -true in the factories of the East, where labor-saving machines -are displacing thousands of laborers.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Don’t you think,” said Mr. Smith, “that their further -introduction should be prohibited?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“The labor unions,” was the reply, “do now, to some -extent. The shoe manufacturers of Lynn have not dared -to introduce a certain lasting machine recently invented, -because the lasters’ union has declared against it, and yet -it is claimed that that machine will revolutionize the shoe -business. You see that shows the strength of the unions, -and what they can do if they get started. Oh, there are -bloody times ahead for us. I believe one of your Western -governors said lately: ‘The high buildings and grand -palaces of our big cities will be spattered with the lungs -and livers of humanity before this thing is adjusted.’ -He was called a crank, but he was not far amiss.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“I am inclined to think,” said Mr. Smith, “that you -take a too serious view of matters. Your brother tells -me the glass factory in your town was permanently closed -by a trust. Is that possible? I never heard of such an -outrage. I should think the managers of the trusts -would be in danger of their lives.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Now you are coming to it. See! it makes a revolutionist -out of you to even hear of such a thing,” said Benjamin; -“yet you don’t see revolution coming. Suppose -you knew nothing but one trade, and you found the factory -in which you had worked all your life permanently -<span class='pageno' id='Page_xxv'>xxv</span>closed by a trust, and it was impossible to ever again -work at your trade. When you become an actor in such -an affair it is worse than a picture in your imagination. -If you were placed in that position you would see what -is coming.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“But has it really been permanently closed by the -trust?” he again asked.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Closed! Why, certainly, and it is nothing new. -Hundreds of factories have been permanently shut down -by trusts, in order to decrease production, raise prices -and throw thousands of laborers out of work.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Well,” said Mr. Smith, “I guess you are right, but -what is it going to be, and what are they going to do?”</p> - -<p class='c008'>“O, I don’t know. They will at least have revenge. -It may be we’ll have anarchy, and the fulfillment of the -bloody scenes painted in that wonderful book, ‘Caesar’s -Column.’ Have you read it? It is fearful. Enough -to curdle a man’s blood.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>At this point Glen, who was still looking over his -uncle’s scrap-book, said: “I believe Uncle John is getting -to be quite a Socialist, judging from these clippings. -Let me read some of them. They are mostly from the -metropolitan dailies”:</p> - -<p class='c008'>“WANT IN THE CITIES.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“A few days ago we quoted from an editorial in the -New York Tribune to show that there never before was -such great distress in the chief city in the country as at -present, and that the victims were not merely laboring -men, unable to find employment, but professional people -and small merchants as well. The Times-Herald editorially -testifies that want is as general and intense in Chicago -as in New York. It says:</p> - -<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_xxvi'>xxvi</span>“‘Perhaps since the great fire there has not been a -keener occasion for generous giving. The country is -now in the fourth year of a period of hard times. Very -rich men have had their fortunes trimmed, so to speak; -moderately rich men have been reduced to a sharp counting -of the cost of casual luxuries. All classes have suffered -in degree, but thousands and thousands of those -brave folks whose only hope in life is to fight for the ship -till they fall face forward fighting on the deck have been -precipitated from a hard-earned and perilous independence -into a black and hopeless poverty. * * * We -do not share the opinion of the versifier who wrote “Organized -charity, cold as ice, in the name of a hard, statistical -Christ,” but we submit that the present crisis, -when ill-clad, half-famished shapes confront us on the -streets; when the cold pinches the denizens of hovels and -tenements; when the children in a thousand squalid -homes cry for sustenance, when women fight for bread -at the county agent’s door, and able-bodied men swarm -on the railroad tracks, eagerly begging fragments of -coal—this crisis is not to be met with perfunctory measures.’</p> - -<p class='c008'>“In another article published in its news columns the -Times-Herald declares that:</p> - -<p class='c008'>“‘Chicago has 8,000 families actually starving to -death.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“‘It has 40,000 wives, husbands and children begging -for a pittance of food to keep body and soul together—huddled -into single rooms and freezing in the blizzard -that visited the city yesterday.’”</p> - -<p class='c008'>The next item reads:</p> - -<p class='c008'>“DISTRESS IN GREAT CITIES.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“The public authorities and organized charities of Chicago -are having more than they can do to care for the -tens of thousands of destitute people in the Garden City, -and the New York Tribune confesses that the want in -<span class='pageno' id='Page_xxvii'>xxvii</span>that town is as dire as in Chicago. ‘At no moment within -the memory of the present generation,’ says the Tribune, -‘has the number of unemployed in this city been so large -as just now, and never before has the strain on public and -private charity been so severe as during this winter season -(1896–97). It is not merely the laboring classes—that -is to say, the classes who may be regarded as within -facile reach of philanthropic relief—who are the sufferers, -but those who may be described as professional men, -clerks, the salesmen, the architects and the literary men. -Few, save the clergy and physicians, have any idea of the -extent to which privation and actual want prevail among -these victims of the bad times that are marking the close -of the deplorable Democratic administration, and doctor -and parson alike wax eloquent about the destitution of -the families of those unfortunate men who, while eager -for work and ready to do anything for the sake of a living, -are for the first time in their lives unable to find -employment of any kind.’ After adverting to the sympathy -extended to the unfortunate inmates of Sing Sing -and other prisons, who are losing their sanity because -there is no work to employ them, the Tribune adds: ‘It -may be questioned whether the first duty of the people of -New York is not toward those of their more honest and -honorable fellow-citizens whose enforced idleness, due to -their inability to find any employment, is driving them, -too, to the verge of insanity—an insanity caused not so -much by the brooding over their own unhappy lot as by -the spectacle of their wives and little ones literally starving -before their eyes. It is not merely on the ground of -philanthropy and charity that some means or other -should be devised for their relief, but on the score of policy -and economy. For the less enforced idleness there is -outside the prison the fewer convicts there will be within -its walls.’”</p> - -<p class='c008'>The next clipping is as follows:</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c013' /> -</div> -<div><span class='pageno' id='Page_xxxii'>xxxii</span></div> -<div class='section'> - -<div class='nf-center-c0'> -<div class='nf-center c005'> - <div><span class='xlarge'>CHAPTER II.</span></div> - </div> -</div> - -</div> - -<p class='c007'>In November, 1897, when evil forebodings were everywhere -hovering about, Mark Mishler, a robust, big-hearted, -good-natured lawyer, sat one day in his office at -Springfield, Ill. He had just been beaten in a case he -had tried before the Supreme Court because the law on -which he based the case was declared by the Court to be -unconstitutional. He never was mad; his good soul -would not let him; but if ever he was perplexed it was -now. His mind reverted to the Constitution of the -State. He read it over, as he had done many times before, -but now he took a special interest in reviewing it. -As he read and reread he said to himself: “Thank God! -There is one thing bigger than a Court—that is the Constitution, -and the people are above that yet. They make -the Constitution itself. It ought to have more laws embodied -in it, and this one should have been a part of it.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>And as he thought on, his mind reverted to the Constitution -of the United States. He turned to it and scanned -it over for the first time in many years, perhaps since he -was a law student. He had little practice in the United -States Courts, and had had no occasion to read it. After -he had finished he leaned back in his chair in a meditative -mood, saying to himself: “There is the foundation of -all our institutions, State and National. That was the -beginning. It was the corner-stone of the Republic, and -on it all that is good in this country is based.”</p> - -<p class='c008'><span class='pageno' id='Page_xxxiii'>xxxiii</span>He thought on, and added to himself: “And all that -is evil, then, must likewise find its basis there.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>The very thought surprised him. In deep meditation, -and with strange, unaccountable feelings, he continued -until he read the article recognizing human slavery, and -declaring the slave trade should not be prohibited before -the year 1808. He always knew that, yet he could hardly -believe his eyes. He read on till he came to the amendment -freeing the slaves, adopted nearly three-quarters of -a century afterward.</p> - -<p class='c008'>“Well,” he gasped, almost aloud, “I knew that; I -helped pass that very amendment freeing the slaves and, -as we were charged at the time, ‘confiscating millions of -dollars’ worth of property.’ But lawyer as I am, with -twenty-five years of practice, I never thought but Lincoln’s -proclamation freed the slaves.”</p> - -<p class='c008'>He dropped back in his chair, lost for half an hour in -silent study. As he sat, entirely consumed in his -own thought, his very countenance unconsciously brightened. -His heart grew light. His eyes beamed within -him. He felt a sort of inspiration. A new idea, and a -happy one indeed, sprang like an angel of light into his -mind.</p> - -<p class='c008'>He well knew, and had studied much, of the rise and -fall of the grand ancient civilizations, and with evil forebodings -hovering like a dark, dreary, dangerous cloud -over our land, he had often pondered long as to what -would be the outcome with this one. As he went to -and from his office and his home, and each day met -men strong, hearty, but pale-faced, asking, not for bread, -but in the name of God for work, he could not well prevent -<span class='pageno' id='Page_xxxiv'>xxxiv</span>the question recurring to his mind. He had often -thought the last star of hope for our civilization had almost -set, but as he sat there that moment, in all-absorbing -thought, behind a suddenly beaming countenance, -all those evil forecasts left him. Our civilization would -live! The sad pictures of strikes, riots, war, famine, and -pestilence, and a constantly decaying civilization, were -no longer stern realities. It was like being awakened -from an ugly nightmare by the sweet chipper of the birds -on a bright spring morning, with the beautiful rays of -the rising sun streaming through his windows.</p> - -<p class='c008'>He had seen, as by a flashlight, the people’s great highway -to peace, to prosperity, and to happiness. He saw -wherein lay the power, the strength, of the people. The -ballot was indeed all-powerful. When properly applied -it was above and beyond Congress and Courts. It was -the Legislature that made laws for legislatures. It was -the Court of Courts, and from its decision there was no -appeal. He had read again, for the first time in years, -the article (No. V.) in the United States Constitution -providing for its amendment, and for a Constitutional -convention. Through the United States Constitutional -convention the people’s will was law, upon which no -court could pass judgment, even if their law provided -that the Court itself be abolished and the judges retired -to private life without salary or with the additional penalty -that they be transported. Anything the people -wanted they might have. What more could they ask or -hope for by resorting to riot and war? How many of the -people knew this? Practically none of them.</p> - -<p class='c008'>Mark Mishler then and there declared to himself that</p> -<div class='pbb'> - <hr class='pb c013' /> -</div> -<div class='double section'> - -<p class='c016'>It ought to be read by -every man in America.—<strong>FRANCES -E. WILLARD.</strong></p> - -<p class='c017'>An invaluable help to every -reader and thinker.—<strong>EX-GOV. -JOHN P. 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