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diff --git a/old/67321-0.txt b/old/67321-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index eecec0d..0000000 --- a/old/67321-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,6711 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Co-opolitan, by Zebina Forbush - -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 -www.gutenberg.org. 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. - -Title: The Co-opolitan - A Story of the Co-operative Commonwealth of Idaho - -Author: Zebina Forbush - -Release Date: February 4, 2022 [eBook #67321] - -Language: English - -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) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE CO-OPOLITAN *** - - - - - - THE CO-OPOLITAN - ❧ - A Story of the Co-operative Commonwealth of Idaho. - - - BY - ZEBINA FORBUSH. - - - “’Tis coming up the Steep of Time - And this old World is growing brighter.” - —_Gerald Massey._ - - - CHICAGO: - CHARLES H. KERR & COMPANY. - 1898. - - - - - Copyright 1898 - By CHARLES H. KERR & COMPANY. - - - Library of Progress. No. 26. Quarterly. $1.00 a year. February, 1898. - Entered at the Postoffice, Chicago, as second-class matter. - - - - - PREFACE. - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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 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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - - Yours Fraternally, - THE AUTHOR. - - - - - THE CO-OPOLITAN. - - -[Illustration] - - - - - CHAPTER I. - THE YEAR 1897. - - -During the entire existence of the great American republic no year -seemed more hopeless to the masses of its people than the year 1897. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -It was this strange, contradictory, confusing and incomprehensible -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. - -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. - -Bank stocks, railroad stocks and mining stocks, represented the bulk of -my poor, deceased father’s savings and investments. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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 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? - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - - - - - CHAPTER II. - JOHN THOMPSON—CO-OPERATION - - -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. - -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. - -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 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. - -“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?” - -“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.” - -“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.” - -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. - -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 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. - -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. - -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. - -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 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. - -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. - -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. - - - - - CHAPTER III. -A MEETING OF THE CO-OPERATIVE COMMONWEALTH—COMMITTEE APPOINTED TO VISIT - IDAHO. - - -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. - -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. - -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 who would, as he thought, contribute to its success. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -“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 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. - -“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. - -“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. - -“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. - -“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. - -“The Co-operative Commonwealth is already organized. - -“It even now numbers 3,000 votes, representing 15,000 people—men, women -and children—in its membership. - -“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. - -“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.” - -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 -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: - -“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. - -“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. - -“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. - -“The same objections apply in a less degree to Washington. 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. - -“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. - -“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. - -“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 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. - -“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.” - -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. - - - - - CHAPTER IV. -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. - - -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. - -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. - -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 -Pacific currents breathed over this region, now and then, the balmy -sympathy of southern climes. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. -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. - -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. - -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. - -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 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. - -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. - -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.” - -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 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. - -“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.” - -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. - - - - - CHAPTER V. -DEER VALLEY—THE FOUNDING AND NAMING OF CO-OPOLIS—THOMPSON’S AND EDMUNDS’ - VIEWS. - - -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. - -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. - -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, 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. - -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. - -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. - -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 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. - -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. - -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, 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. - -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. - -“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.” - -Everybody called for the captain. - -“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. - -“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. - -“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. - -“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. - -“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. - -“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, 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. - -“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.” - -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. - -“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 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.” - -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. - -This ended the memorable first day. - - - - - CHAPTER VI. - THE GENERAL SYSTEM—PROGRESS THE FIRST YEAR—LAND TITLES—LABOR ORDERS. - - -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. - -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 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. - -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. - -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. - -The President was to hold office for seven years and was ineligible to -re-election. - -The Vice-President was elected for the same period. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Whenever twenty per cent of the men and women of the Association should -petition the Legislative Council to 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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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 -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. 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. - -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. - -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 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. - -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. - -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 -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. - -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. - -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 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. - -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. - -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.” - -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. - - - - - CHAPTER VII. - CO-OPOLIS A CONVENTION CITY—A MENACE TO LIBERTY. - - -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. - -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. - -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 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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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 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. - -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. - -“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.” - -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. - -“Brother Braden,” said he, “you seem to be disturbed about something.” - -“Yes,” I replied. “Look at that article from the Boston Transcript and -see whether I, and we, have not cause to be troubled.” - -“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 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.” - -“Indeed,” said I, “I have never heard you talk so doubtfully before.” - -“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.” - -“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.” - -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. - - - - - CHAPTER VIII. - THE FIRST CO-OPERATIVE CONVENTION—THOMPSON NOMINATED FOR GOVERNOR. - - -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. - -“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. -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.) - -“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.” - -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, 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. - -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. - -“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 barbaric feudalism, and that, whether in its ancient military -or its modern commercial form, it was distorted by selfishness and -greed. - -“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. - -“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 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. - -“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. - -“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. - -“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, 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. - -“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. - -“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 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. - -“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. - -“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.” - -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. - -After the enthusiasm attending the nomination had subsided the -convention nominated the remainder of the ticket. All the candidates -were co-operators, but selected from different localities. - -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. - - - - - CHAPTER IX. - MY HOME LIFE—AUNT LYDIA—MISS WOODBERRY—TRIP TO CANYON LAKE. - - -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 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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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 and chairs in the dining room -also represented our Co-opolitan labor. Aunt Lydia sat at the table with -me and served the coffee. - -“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.” - -“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.” - -“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.” - -“Why, aunt,” I replied, “I will do nothing of the kind. I want you to go -and have made my arrangements accordingly.” - -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. - -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 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. - -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. - -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 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. - -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. - -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. - -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 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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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 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. - - - - - CHAPTER X. - THE CAMPAIGN OF 1902—DRIVING CAPITAL FROM THE STATE—THE POLITICAL - MINISTER—VICTORY. - - -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. - -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. - -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 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. - -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. - -“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. - -“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 moral and legal obligations -which rest upon it shall be strictly and fully paid.” - -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. - -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. - -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. 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. - -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. - -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. - -I did not vote for myself. - -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. - - - - - CHAPTER XI. - THE BROTHERHOOD CONVEYS ITS IDAHO POSSESSIONS TO THE CO-OPOLITAN - ASSOCIATION—ARRANGEMENTS FOR COLONISTS—TYPICAL INSTANCES—JARVIS - RICHARDSON—MRS. ELIZABETH MAXON. - - -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. - -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. - -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 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. - -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. - -When the new colonists began to arrive in large numbers the scene -presented in the main hall of the building was 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.” - -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. - -“What is your name, age, occupation and place of residence?” 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. - -“Name, Jarvis Richardson. Age, thirty years. Occupation, printer. Former -residence, St. Paul, Minnesota.” - -“Name of former employer and when last employed.” - -“Pioneer Press Publishing Company. Was laid off three years ago.” - -“Reason for discharge?” - -“Improved typesetting machines.” - -“Do you understand and favor co-operation, or are you desirous of -entering the Brotherhood for temporary protection?” - -“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. - -“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 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. - -“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.” - -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. - -“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?” - -“I do not know,” was the reply, “how great a manhood your system will -develop. It teaches, however, the lesson of 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. - -“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.’” - -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. - -He of course entered as a mere printer, being compelled to earn -promotion by the efficiency of his work. - -The examination and acceptance of applicants went on 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: - -“Are you married?” - -“I am a widow,” she answered; “my husband was killed in a railroad -collision five years ago.” - -“Have you children?” - -“I have seven—three boys and four girls.” - -“Have you them with you?” - -“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.” - -“You say you live in Boise? You are not recommended by the Brotherhood. -Have you any recommendations?” - -“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. - -“What shall I do for a home?” she asked. - -“We have excellent houses, in one of which you shall live,” I replied. - -“Can I send my children to school?” she continued. - -“You are required to do so. Education is compulsory. Your children will -be turned over to the Department of Education.” - -“Am I to be separated from them?” - -“You and they will live together in the same house.” - -“But I am a member of the Episcopal church. I desire my children brought -up in that church.” - -“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.” - -“Would it be wrong for me to ask how much my wages are to be?” - -“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.” - -“But if I must work I cannot care for my children and get them ready for -school in the morning.” - -“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.” - -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, she seemed so happy that the bystanders wept and I felt -my own eyes grow moist. - -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. - -“Is your mother at home?” I asked. - -“Yes,” was the reply. “Will you come in?” - -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. - -“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. - -“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?” - -I sat down again. Mrs. Maxon also seated herself. - -“I would be glad to learn how you fared,” I resumed. “Will you permit me -to ask you a few questions?” - -“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.” - -“Do you like your work?” - -“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.” - -“How did you get so well settled?” - -“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. - -“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.” - -“Are you then comfortable?” - -“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.” - -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. - - - - - CHAPTER XII. - 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. - - -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. - -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 to it. We took -but one vote on the senatorial question, and the sitting senator was by -that vote elected to succeed himself. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -This was also anticipated by the Department of Commerce at Co-opolis, -and an agent of the Legislative Council 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. - -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. - -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. 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. - -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. - -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. - -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 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. - -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. - - - - - CHAPTER XIII. - THE CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION AND ITS LABORS. - - -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: - -“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. - -“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. - -“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 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.” - -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. - -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. - -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 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. - -A majority vote was sufficient to enact or repeal such law. - -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. - -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. - -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: - -“The Council shall provide for the government ownership of all the -sources and machinery of production and the 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.” - -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. - -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. - -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 Council -expressing dissatisfaction because of this fact in the presence of -Governor Thompson. - -“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.” - - - - - CHAPTER XIV. - 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. - - -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, could -accomplish, both for the one man who owned it and against the many who -were asked to compete with it. - -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 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. - -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. - -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. - -It cost us nothing to advertise. - -We painted no signs. - -We paid no rents. - -The only expense we incurred was the labor we expended, and labor was as -plentiful as humanity. - -Besides this, we employed labor-saving machinery without stint, and -thereby multiplied the enormous power of co-operative labor many times. - -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. - -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. - -We intensified by our establishment in Boise City the well-known effects -of the department store in competitive cities. - -All the trade came to us. - -Nothing could compete with our system, and merchants and hotel men were -compelled to assign for the benefit of creditors, join the Co-operative -Commonwealth or depart from the state. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -The reason for this move is apparent. - -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. - -There was a large bonded municipal debt, a large bonded water debt and -another large school debt. - -The gas and electric plants were also bonded, but those were private -debts payable only by such as availed themselves of their advantages. - -There was no way to avoid assuming these public debts if we continued in -the old city. - -Some of our enemies, later on, set up a howl against what 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. - -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. - -The banks of old Boise all went into liquidation and made frantic -efforts to collect their debts. - -Money loaners did the same. - -Insurance agents either fled from the blight or came to us. - -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. - -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. - -The Legislative Council of the city of Co-opolis took full 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. - -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. - - - - - CHAPTER XV. -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. - - -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. - -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. - -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 and at the prices fixed, so long as that schedule remained -in force. - -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. - -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: - - To the Co-opolitan Association: - -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. - - Jacob Wirth, John Thompson, - Secretary. Governor. - -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 -and staple products and still lower for produce generally considered -perishable. - -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. - -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. - -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 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. - -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. - -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. - -All money obtained by the sale of surplus products, manufactures or -property of any kind in other states, or 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. - -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. - -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 taxes should be levied on land values. In other words, what is -sometimes called the Single-Tax system was adopted. - -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. - -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 do so was -an advantage to some other state which did, we certainly had no occasion -to feel envious. - -Mining property owned by corporations or associations was valued at the -full par of its capital stock and assessed accordingly. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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! - -Idaho simply made laws which in other states or countries have never -been disapproved as immoral. - -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. - -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? - -We did not steal the gold which glistened in its dark caverns! - -We did not rob the capitalist of the labor which he owned! - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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 were effected by this -Great Council, but those mentioned were the most sweeping. - -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. - -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. - - - - - CHAPTER XVI. - MISS CAROLINE WOODBERRY AGAIN—THE WEST PARISH—PUBLICATION OF MISS - WOODBERRY’S NOVEL—MARRIAGE—WE VISIT NEW ENGLAND. - - -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. - -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. - -Good clothes, ornaments, books, pleasant homes and all the conveniences -of modern life were within the reach of all. - -Humanity is so constituted, however, that its members must compete, -contend and battle with one another. - -What shall be the field for this competition? Over what shall the race -contend? Where shall be the battle ground? - -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. - -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 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. - -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 -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. - -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. - -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 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. - -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. - -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 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. - -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. - -“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?” - -“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.” - -“Yes!” exclaimed she. “But what else? Does not the Co-opolitan -Association provide for some reward for a meritorious work?” - -“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 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. - -“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.” - -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 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. - -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. - -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 me my wife. Caroline was agreeable to this plan -and I made all arrangements accordingly. - -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. - -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.” - - - - - CHAPTER XVII. - THE UNITED STATES CONVEYS PUBLIC LAND TO THE STATES—THE CO-OPOLITAN - ASSOCIATION RECLAIMS THE SNAKE RIVER VALLEY—A GREAT AND BENEFICENT - ENTERPRISE. - - -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. - -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? - -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. - -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 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. - -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. - -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 was changed from a wilderness into a productive -and beautiful garden. - -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. - -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. - -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 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. - -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. - - - - - CHAPTER XVIII. - PUBLICATION OF MRS. BRADEN’S NOVEL—THE PROFITS OF THE ASSOCIATION AND - REWARD OF THE AUTHOR—THE PUBLISHING DEPARTMENT EXTENDS ITS SPHERE. - - -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. - -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 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. - -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 -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. - -We fought the devil with fire, and had a theory that if we could gain -control of his fire we could extinguish it. - -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. - -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. - -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 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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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 business. I also -established correspondents all through the world and had the latest news -sent to the Co-opolitan newspaper. - -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. - -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. - -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. - - - - - CHAPTER XIX. -THE STRANGER FROM LONDON—BOISE CITY BONDS AND A LOAN—THE PERIL OF IDAHO. - - -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. - -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 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. - -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. - -“Good afternoon, sir,” said the old gentleman as he entered the door, -smiling and bowing good-naturedly. - -He had the air of a man whose business could not be very weighty, but -whose motives were invariably humane. He was as white as an angel. - -“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?” - -“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.” - -“I am at your service, Mr. Hickman,” said I. “Will you be seated?” - -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. - -“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. - -“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.” - -“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. - -“I am anxious, Mr. Braden,” said Mr. Hickman, “to investigate 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.” - -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. - -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. - -“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.” - -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 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. - -The Legislative Council paid very little attention to this proposal, at -that time, ascribing it to the gentleman’s ignorance of our system. - -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. - -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 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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Those who best understood the theory of morals and 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. - -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. - -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. - -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 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. - -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. - -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. - - - - - CHAPTER XX. - THE DEBATE ON THE BOND AND CREDIT LAWS—REV. CADMUS M. DESTY AND THE - MORAL LAW. - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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 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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -The discussion in the great hall was opened by Dr. Desty. 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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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 -the case, however, and it did not indicate that his was the most popular -side. - -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. - -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. - -After reading these affidavits Senator Thompson exclaimed: - -“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. - -“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. If they are bad, -it matters not what demon inspired them, they should be rejected. - -“These laws are for what purpose? To introduce among you the most -iniquitous feature of the competitive system. - -“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. - -“History shows to my mind successive systems of slavery, one chasing the -other through the earth. - -“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. - -“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. - -“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. - -“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?” - -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 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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - - - - - CHAPTER XXI. - WHY IDAHO HAS A DUAL GOVERNMENT—A GLIMPSE AT THE LAW. - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - - - - - CHAPTER XXII. - THE STATE GOVERNMENT—ITS INSANE, WEAK-MINDED, BLIND, SICK, AGED AND - INFIRM—THE INDUSTRIAL ARMY—ITS ORGANIZATION AND PRODUCTIVE POWER. - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Our Industrial Army in that year—1910—contained 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: - -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. - -2nd. The Live Stock department had charge of all cattle, horses, sheep, -hogs and other animals, as well as birds. - -3rd. The Nursery and Fruit department had charge of all orchards, vines -and plants bearing fruit and all horticultural plants and flowers. - -4th. The Irrigation department had charge of all waters and the -distribution of the same. - -5th. The Commerce department had charge of all department stores and was -charged, as now, with supplying the needs of the people. - -6th. The Manufacturing department had charge of all factories and all -manufactures. - -7th. The Transportation department had charge of all highways, methods -of transportation, vehicles and the operation of the same. - -8th. The Messenger and Publishing department had charge of the means and -instrumentalities of communication and publication, including -telegraphs, telephones, signals, newspapers and magazines. - -9th. The Educational department had charge of the education of the -young. - -10th. The Department of Public Amusements had charge of the -entertainment of the people. - -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. - -12th. The Legal department had charge of the legal business of the -Association. This department employed about one hundred and fifty -persons in 1910. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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 or -methods. This department did all the work of experimenting and reported -results. - -17th. The Department of Art had charge of all decorating, painting, -drawing, sculpture, architecture, designing, etc. - -18th. The Engineering department had charge of all engineering work. - -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. - -20th. The Department of Mining had charge of all the mining except coal. - -21st. The Land department had charge of all the unused lands of the -Association. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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 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. - -These several departments were again subdivided by the Legislative -Council into divisions and sections. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -The restaurant and hotel keepers, brokers, commercial 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. - -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. - -We had no gamblers, professional capitalists, speculators or leisure -classes in 1910, but we had an equal number of honest workers. - -We were not compelled to waste time in searching for employment, hunting -for customers or waiting for trade. - -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. - -There were no overdone trades and no overstocked markets. - -Wherever we found power, whether human, natural or mechanical, we sought -to employ it. - -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. - -At and before that time I had noticed that a large number 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. - -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. - -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. - -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 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. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIII. - THE TRANSCONTINENTAL RAILROAD. - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -In Minnesota, Wisconsin and Illinois the several legislatures 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. - -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. - -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. - -In fact, we designed to make a reduction in these respects which would -mean ruin for all competing lines. - -We were able to do this. - -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. - -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. - -So these railroad builders and their financiers placed 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. - -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. - -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. - -No stock, no bonds, no fraudulent construction companies came with us. -We did not deal in dollars nor peddle securities. - -We had naught but labor to expend, and pretended nothing more. But we -had all that labor makes and thousands of willing hands. - -When we built our road we offered it for use as the creature of labor -and not the creature of capital. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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? - -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. - -Similar consequences followed the completion of this road that followed -the establishment of our department store and hotel at Boise City. - -The business of nearly all the roads to the coast came to the -Co-opolitan. The other roads could not compete with us. - -We reduced our rates to one cent a mile. The other roads followed suit, -supposing it possible for them to force us to terms. - -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. - -Freight rates were also reduced. The result of this road as to the -manufactures of Idaho was to give them a “boom.” - -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 we were able to sell them cheaper than English manufacturers could -without a tariff. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Since Seattle became a co-operative city it has grown to be the great -Pacific seaport of the co-operative world. Its 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. - - - - - CHAPTER XXIV. - CHARLIE WOODBERRY ASKS QUESTIONS. - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -“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.” - -“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.” - -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. - -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. - -“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.” - -“Ask me any question you please, Charlie. If I cannot answer them your -sister there will,” I replied. - -“Charlie and I have already had some correspondence and talks on the -subject,” said Caroline. “He does not think the system attractive.” - -“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 makes the Association own everything. -That is very distasteful to me. Nobody can ever own his own home, even.” - -“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. - -“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. - -“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. - -“Yet you can only use what you own and you can do no more with what you -borrow. - -“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. - -“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. -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.” - -“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?” - -“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. - -“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.” - -“But he cannot convey it to his children,” said Charlie. - -“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 them better -than the old homestead and the Association builds them a house to suit -them. Is not that better?” - -“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?” - -“Charlie, are you a slave to-day?” I asked. - -“No, indeed!” exclaimed Charlie, almost indignant. - -“Is a government official a slave?” - -“Of course not.” - -“How about a soldier in the regular army?” - -“Why, he is certainly not a slave.” - -“How about a clerk in the postoffice department, for instance? Is he not -in the same position as a member of the Industrial Army?” - -“No. It is a similar service, but he serves his government and country.” - -“What is your business, Charlie?” - -“Accountant for the Waumkeag Cotton Manufacturing Company.” - -“What are your wages?” - -“Eighty dollars per month.” - -“How many hours a day do you work?” - -“Ten hours.” - -“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.” - -“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?” - -“You could withdraw your wages and no more. You could go where you -please with the wages.” - -“But the accumulated capital. Would it not be unjust not to let me have -my part of that?” - -“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?” - -“Three years.” - -“If you should work for that corporation fifty years would you get any -more than your wages if you should withdraw?” - -“No.” - -“Who would get the benefit of your work?” - -“Why, the stockholders.” - -“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.” - -“That sounds well, Mr. Braden. But have you any such retired members -yet?” - -“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 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.” - -“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?” - -“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.” - -“Who pays for his treatment by physicians?” - -“He pays for it himself out of his income from the Association.” - -“Suppose he should wish to change his climate in order to recover? How -shall he make a change?” - -“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.” - -“Suppose a man dies leaving a wife and family after five years’ -employment. What does the Association do for the family?” - -“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.” - -“When a man enters the Army does he become entitled to the full income -of a member in good standing at once?” - -“He does not. The first year he or she receives only one-third of the -income of a member. The second year and 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.” - -“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?” - -“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 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?” - -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. - - - - - CHAPTER XXV. - THE TERM OF SERVICE—THE SURVIVORS OF TWENTY YEARS—SPREAD OF - CO-OPERATION—SECRET OF CO-OPOLITAN SUCCESS—1917. - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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 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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -We have no banks. We have no money and no department which makes a -business of handling money. We have no occasion to deposit or store -labor-credit checks. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -We insist that all should be equal in the start, and that they have no -advantages which they cannot create for themselves. - -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. - -It is an incentive which makes robbers, thieves, murderers and tyrants -and produces a host of evils. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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 of anything into this state, so -varied and abundant are its resources and productions. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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 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. - -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. - -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. - -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! - -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. - -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. - -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. - -It is unfortunate that history has been so far deprived of the records -of that wonderful country, by the destructive fanaticism of its Spanish -conquerors, that the details of its system must remain obscure. - -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. - -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? - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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 him, -through a series of years, in profits on the raw product of land. - -Now in Idaho land was cheap, and cheap land is the co-operator’s -salvation. - -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. - -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. - -It was able to avail itself of near and high-priced markets. - -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. - -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. - -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. - - - - - L’ENVOI. - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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 similar statues erected and paid for by subscription in their -cities. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -Thank God! The higher civilization is here. - - - [THE END.] - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - THE SOCIAL DEMOCRACY OF AMERICA - - -has as one of its main objects the peaceable establishment, in some such -manner as outlined in this book, of the - - CO-OPERATIVE COMMONWEALTH. - -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 - - COLONIZATION COMMISSION - -of the Social Democracy of America has formulated plans and methods for -putting the ideas contained in this book into actual operation. - -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. Send a dollar for thirty-four sample -copies and make thirty-four converts to the cause of reform. - -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. - -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. - -Twenty-five cents will pay for any one of the following valuable books: - -The Co-opolitan, by Zebina Forbush. - -Evolutionary Politics, by Walter Thomas Mills. - -Man or Dollar. Which? by a newspaper man. - -From Earth’s Center, by S. Byron Welcome. - -A Breed of Barren Metal, by J. W. Bennett. - -Money Found, by Thomas E. Hill. - -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. - - Address - CHARLES H. KERR & COMPANY, Publishers, - 56 Fifth Avenue, Chicago. - - - - - MEN WANTED. - - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -The three members of the commission were appointed August 1, 1897, and -their work was outlined before the publication of this book. - -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. - -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., - - 504 Trude Bldg., - Chicago, Ill. - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - THE LEGAL REVOLUTION OF 1902. - - - BY - A LAW-ABIDING REVOLUTIONIST. - - - CHICAGO: - CHARLES H. KERR & COMPANY. - 1898. - -The following specimen pages of - - “THE LEGAL REVOLUTION OF 1902” - -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. - - - - - PREFACE. - - -“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. - -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. - -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. - -If I succeed in bringing all who read these pages to a full -understanding of the power of the people, and 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. - - A LAW-ABIDING REVOLUTIONIST. - - - - - THE LEGAL REVOLUTION OF 1902. - - CHAPTER I. - - -“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. - -“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. - -“See here, mother, a letter from Ben,” he said, starting to tear it -open. - -“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 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.” - -By this time the letter was opened, the spectacles adjusted to his nose, -and Mr. Brown began to read: - - “My Dear Brother and Sister— - -“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. - -“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, 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. - -“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. - -“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. - -“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. - -“But the question with the people here is, not how much their property -has depreciated in value, but how they are to get work by which to earn -a living. - -“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. - -“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. - -“Please let me hear from you soon. With kind regards to sister Jane and -yourself, - - “I am, your brother, - “BENJAMIN BROWN.” - -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. - -“Well, mother, what had I better write him?” - -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. - -“The Lord has taken all our dear children away,” she continued; “and if -Glen is the boy his father has always - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - -“‘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. - -“‘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.’ - -“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. * * * - - “J. R. SOVEREIGN.” - -“Let me see your scrap-book, please,” said Glen. It was handed to him, -and he settled down to read, while the others conversed. - -“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 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.” - -“Don’t you think,” said Mr. Smith, “that their further introduction -should be prohibited?” - -“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.” - -“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.” - -“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 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.” - -“But has it really been permanently closed by the trust?” he again -asked. - -“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.” - -“Well,” said Mr. Smith, “I guess you are right, but what is it going to -be, and what are they going to do?” - -“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.” - -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”: - -“WANT IN THE CITIES. - -“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: - -“‘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.’ - -“In another article published in its news columns the Times-Herald -declares that: - -“‘Chicago has 8,000 families actually starving to death. - -“‘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.’” - -The next item reads: - -“DISTRESS IN GREAT CITIES. - -“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 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.’” - -The next clipping is as follows: - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - CHAPTER II. - - -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.” - -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.” - -He thought on, and added to himself: “And all that is evil, then, must -likewise find its basis there.” - -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. - -“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.” - -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. - -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 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. - -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. - -Mark Mishler then and there declared to himself that - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - It ought to be read by every man in America.—=FRANCES E. WILLARD.= - - An invaluable help to every reader and thinker.—=EX-GOV. JOHN P. - ALTGELD.= - - - Social Systems - - ARE TREATED IN - - THE NEW TIME - -+------------------------+ -| Among Contributors are | A Monthly Review of Advanced Thought. Edited by -| | =B.O. Flower= and =Frederick Upham Adams=. -| SENATORS | Filled to the margins with timely topics. -| Butler | Monthly—magazine size—illustrated. At all -| Morgan | newsstands. ::::: -| Stewart | -| Mason | -| | -| CONGRESSMEN | -| Simpson | 10c. A COPY ... $1.00 A YEAR -| Towne | -| Howard | -| Vincent | -| | -| GOVERNORS | =SPECIAL OFFER=—For 12 cents in stamps we will -| Pingree | mail a sample copy of =The New Time= and “Merrie -| Rogers | England” 190 pages, the most popular reform book -| | in print. -| PROFESSORS | -| Parsons | -| Will | -| Bemis | -+------------------------+ - - - Charles H. Kerr & Company, Publishers - - 56 FIFTH AVE., CHICAGO - ------------------------------------------------------------------------- - - - - - TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES - - - 1. P. 88, changed “employed against the co-operator” to “employed - against the competitor”. - 2. Please note that the sample sections beginning with THE LEGAL - REVOLUTION OF 1902 are part of the advertisements. 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