History of American Socialisms Part 25

Even Collins, with all his liberality, had originally too much good sense to attempt a.s.sociation in the promiscuous way of the Fourierists. His first idea was to make his Community a sort of close-communion church of infidelity; and, as it turned out, this was his brightest idea; for in abandoning it he succ.u.mbed to his more religious rival, Johnson, and admitted quarreling and weakness that ruined the enterprise. His advice also to the liberal party at Sodus Bay to withdraw, shows that his judgment was opposed to the heterogeneous mixtures that were popular among the Fourierists.

On the whole it seems to us that it should be considered settled by reason and experience, that the rule we have found governing the prudential theory of marriage on the small scale, should be transferred to the theory of a.s.sociation, which is really marriage on the large scale. Better not marry at all, than marry a religious quarrel. Better have no religion, than have a dozen different religions, as they had at Clarkson. If you mean to found a Community for peace and permanence, first of all find a.s.sociates that agree with you in religion, or at least in no-religion, and if possible bar out all others. Remember that all the successful Communities are harmonious, and the basis of their harmony is unity in religion. If you think you can find a way to secure harmony in no-religion, try it.

But don't be so foolish as to enter on the tremendous responsibilities of Community-building, with a complication of religious quarrels lurking in your material.

CHAPTER XXV.

OTHER NEW YORK EXPERIMENTS.

The next on the list of the Confederated a.s.sociations of western New York, was

THE BLOOMFIELD a.s.sOCIATION.

We have but meager accounts of this experiment. Macdonald does not mention it. The _Phalanx_ of June 15, 1844, says that it commenced operations on the 15th of March in that year, on a domain of about five hundred acres, mostly improved land, situated one mile east of Honeoye Falls, in the Counties of Monroe, Livingston and Ontario; that it was in debt for its land about $11,000, and had $35,000 of its subscriptions actually paid in; that it had one hundred and forty-eight resident members, and a large number more expecting to join, as soon as employment could be found for them. Two or three allusions to this a.s.sociation occur afterward in the _Phalanx_, congratulating it on its prospects, and mentioning good reports of its progress. Finally in the _Harbinger_, volume 1, page 247, we find a letter from E.D. Wight and E.A. Stillman, dated August 20, 1845, defending the a.s.sociation against newspaper charges, and a.s.serting its continued prosperity; but giving us the following peep into a complication of troubles, that probably brought it to its end shortly afterwards:

"We are not fully satisfied with the tenor by which our real estate, under the existing laws, is obliged to be held.

Conveyances, pursuant to legal advice, were made originally by the owners of each particular parcel, to the committee of finance, in trust for the stockholders and members; and a power was executed by the stockholders to the committee, by which, under certain regulations, they were to have authority to sell and convey the same. The absurdity of the Statute of Trusts never having been licked into shape by judicial decisions, a close and unavailing search has since been inst.i.tuted for the fugitive legal t.i.tle.

"Some counselors, learned in the law, find it in the committee of finance, as representatives of the a.s.sociation; others have discovered that it is vested in them as individuals; others still, of equal eminence, and equally intent on arriving at a true solution, find perhaps that it is in the committee and stockholders jointly; while there are those who profess to find it in neither of these parties, but in the persons of whom the property was purchased, and to whom has been paid its full valuation!

"In order to educe order out of this confusion of opinions, and to enable us to acquire, if possible, a less objectionable t.i.tle, it has been proposed to pet.i.tion the Chancellor for a sale, as a t.i.tle from the court would be free from doubt."

If this may be considered the end (as it probably was), it shows that the Bloomfield a.s.sociation died, as the Clarkson did, in a quarrel about its t.i.tles, and in the hands of the lawyers.

THE ONTARIO UNION.

"This a.s.sociation" says the _Phalanx_ of June 1844, "commenced operations about two weeks since, in Hopewell, Ontario County, five miles from Canandaigua. They have purchased the mills and farm formerly owned by Judge Bates, consisting of one hundred and fifty acres of land, a flouring mill with five run of burr stones, and saw-mill, at $16,000. They have secured by subscription, about one hundred and thirty acres of land in the immediate vicinity, which they are now working. To meet their liabilities for the original purchase, I am informed they have already a subscription which they believe can be relied on, amounting to over $40,000. They have now upon the domain about seventy-five members. This inst.i.tution has been able already to commence such branches of industry as will produce an immediate return, and as a consequence, will avoid the necessity of living upon their capital. There is danger that their enthusiasm will get the better of their judgment in admitting members too fast."

The editor of the _Phalanx_ visited this a.s.sociation among others, in the fall of 1844, and gave the following cheerful account of it:

"The whole number of resident members is one hundred and fifty; fifty of whom are men, and upward of sixty children. We were greatly pleased with the earnest spirit which seemed to pervade this little Community. We thought we perceived among them a really religious devotion to the great cause in which they have embarked. This gave an unspeakable charm to their rude, temporary dwellings, and lent a grace to their plain manners, far above any superficial elegance. We have no doubt that they will succeed in establis.h.i.+ng a state of society higher even than they themselves antic.i.p.ate. Of their pecuniary success their present condition gives good a.s.surance. We should think that, with ordinary prudence, it was entirely certain."

We find nothing after this in the _Phalanx_ about this a.s.sociation.

Macdonald merely mentions a few such items as the date, place, etc., and concludes with the following terse epitaph: "It effected but little, and was of brief duration. No further particulars."

THE MIXVILLE a.s.sOCIATION

was one of the group that radiated from Rochester, according to Mr.

Greig; but we can find no account of it anywhere, except that it had not commenced operations at the time of the session of the Confederated Council; though a delegate from it was a member of that Council. How long it lived, or whether it lived at all, does not appear.

THE JEFFERSON COUNTY PHALANX.

This a.s.sociation, though not properly a member of the group that radiated from Rochester, and somewhat remote from western New York, was named among the confederated a.s.sociations, and sent a delegate to the Bloomfield Council. Three notices of it occur in the _Phalanx_, which we here present.

[From the _Phalanx_ October 5, 1843.]

"This a.s.sociation has been commenced through the efforts, princ.i.p.ally, of A.M. Watson, Esq., the President, who for some years past has been engaged in advocating and disseminating the principles of a.s.sociation in Watertown and that section of the State. There are over three hundred persons now on the domain, which consists of twelve or fifteen hundred acres of superior land, finely watered, and situated within two or three miles of Watertown. It is composed of several farms, put in by farmers, who have taken stock for their lands, and joined the a.s.sociation. Very little cash capital has been paid in; the enterprise was undertaken with the subscription of property, real estate, provisions, tools, implements, &c., brought in by the members, who were princ.i.p.ally farmers and mechanics in the neighborhood; and the result is an interesting proof of what can be done by union and combined effort among the producing cla.s.ses. Different branches of manufactures have been established, contracts for building in Watertown have been taken, and an organization of labor into groups or squads, with their foremen or leaders, has been made to some extent. The agricultural department is prosecuted with vigor, and when last heard from, the a.s.sociation was flouris.h.i.+ng. We hope from this a.s.sociation that perseverance and constancy--for it of course has many difficulties to contend with--which will insure success, and give another proof of the truth of the great principles of combined effort and united interests."

[From the _Phalanx_, November 4, 1843.]

"The following statement from the _Black River Journal_ of October 6th, exhibits the affairs of the Jefferson County a.s.sociation in a gratifying light, and shows that so far it has been extremely prosperous and successful. The fact alone of a profit having been made, whether much or little, affords a strong proof of the advantages of a.s.sociated effort, for we apprehend that either farmers or mechanics working separately, would generally find it difficult to show a balance in their favor upon the settlement of their accounts. But a net profit of nearly thirteen thousand dollars, or twenty-five per cent. upon the capital invested, for the first six months that a small a.s.sociation has been in operation, under circ.u.mstances by no means the most favorable, is striking and incontestable evidence of real prosperity. Before a great while we shall have many such cases to record."

ABSTRACT OF SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT.

The first Semi-Annual Report of the property, expenditures and proceeds of labor of the Jefferson County Industrial a.s.sociation, was submitted to a meeting of the stockholders on Monday the 2d inst.

Since the organization of the a.s.sociation in April last, the real and personal property acquired by purchase and subscription, has reached the amount of $54,832.10

This is subject to reduction by the amount of subscribed property applied to the purchase of real estate 5,458.28 -------- Total property on hand $49,373.82

The aggregate product of the several departments of business, to Sept. 23d $20,301.67

Expense of same, including all purchases of goods and supplies 7,331.95 -------- Net proceeds $12,969.72

Of this has been expended in improvement of buildings, making a brick-yard, and preparing summer fallows 1,365.00 ---------- Balance on hand $11,604.72

This balance consists of agricultural products in store, brick manufactured and now on hand, proceeds of jobbing contracts, earnings of mechanics' shops, etc.

Published by order of the President and Board of Directors.

_Report of A.M. Watson to the Confederate Council, May 15, 1844._

"The Jefferson County a.s.sociation has made its first annual statement, by which it appears that capital in that inst.i.tution will receive a fraction over six per cent. interest. Owing to inattention to the principles of a.s.sociation, and a defective and incomplete organization of industry into groups and series, as well as to the fact that in the commencement much time is lost, labor in this inst.i.tution fails to obtain its fair remuneration. Another circ.u.mstance which has operated to the disadvantage of labor, is, that no allowance has been made in its favor, in the annual settlement, for working dresses. These facts are conclusive, to my mind, that the disadvantages of improper or inadequate organization in all inst.i.tutions, will be even more injurious to labor than to capital.

"This inst.i.tution commenced operations without the investment of much, if any, cash capital, and they now are somewhat embarra.s.sed for want of such means. A subscription to their stock of two thousand dollars in cash, or a loan of that amount for a reasonable time, for which good security could be given, would, in my opinion, place them in a situation to carry on a very profitable business the ensuing year. If this obstacle can be surmounted, I know of no inst.i.tution of better promise than this. This would seem to be but a small matter; but when the fact is considered that they are located in the midst of a community which sympathizes but little in the movement, while many exert themselves to increase the embarra.s.sment by decrying their responsibility, it will readily be seen that their situation is unenviable. Their responsibility, when compared with that of most business concerns in the country, is more real than that of a majority of business men who are considered perfectly solvent. Considering the difficulties and embarra.s.sments through which they have already struggled, I have strong confidence in their ultimate success. The whole number of members will not vary much at this time, from one hundred and fifty. They have reduced, by sale, their lands to about eight hundred acres, and I refer you to the annual report for further information as to their liabilities."

We perceive in the depressed tone of this report, as well as in the reduction of numbers and land which it exhibits, that decline had begun and failure was impending. Nothing more is said in the _Phalanx_ about this a.s.sociation, except that it sent a delegate to a socialistic convention that met in New York City on the 7th of October, 1844. We have to fall back, as usual, on Macdonald, for the summing-up and final moral. He says:

"After a few months, disagreements among the members became general. Their means were totally inadequate; they were too ignorant of the principles of a.s.sociation; were too much crowded together, and had too many idlers among them. There was bad management on the part of the officers, and some were suspected of dishonesty. As times grew better, many of those who joined on account of hard times, got employment and left; and many more thought they could do better in the world again, and did the same thing. The only aid they could get in their difficulties, was from stock subscriptions, and that was not much. Men who invested actual property sustained heavy losses. One farmer who involved his farm, lost nearly all he possessed. After existing about twelve months the land was sold to pay the debts, and the a.s.sociation disbanded."

THE MOORHOUSE UNION

is mentioned in the first number of the _Phalanx_, October 1843, as one among the many a.s.sociations just starting at that time. Macdonald gives the following account of it:

"This experiment originated in the offer of a grant of land by A.K. Moorhouse, of Moorhouseville, Hamilton County, New York, who owned 60,000 acres of land in the counties of Hamilton, Herkimer and Saratoga. As most of this land was situated in what is called the 'wilderness of New York,' he could find few persons who were willing to purchase and settle the inhospitable wild. Under these circ.u.mstances he offered to the Socialists as much of 10,000 acres as they might clear in three years, hoping that an a.s.sociation would build up a village and form a nucleus around which individuals and a.s.sociations might settle and purchase his lands.

"The offer was accepted by an a.s.sociation formed in New York City, and several capitalists promised to take stock in the enterprise; but none was ever paid for. In May 1843, Mr.

Moorhouse arrived at Piseco from New York, with a company of pioneers, who were soon followed by others, and the work commenced. The locality chosen at Lake Piseco was situated about five miles from Lake Pleasant, the county seat, a village of eight or nine houses and a court-house. On the arrival of the party it was found that Mr. Moorhouse had made some improvements, which he was willing to exchange for $2,000 of stock in the a.s.sociation. This was agreed to. He also engaged to furnish provisions, tools etc., and take his pay in stock. The land on which the a.s.sociation commenced its labors was a gift from Mr. Moorhouse; but the improvements which consisted of 120 acres of cleared land with a few buildings, was accepted as stock at the above valuation.

"The money, property and labor were put into common stock. Labor was rated at fifty cents per day, no matter of what kind. A store was kept on the premises, in which articles were sold at prime cost, with an allowance for transportation, &c. By the const.i.tution the members were ent.i.tled to scrip representing the excess of wages over the amount of goods received from the store; or, in other words, laborers became stockholders in proportion to that excess. No dividends were to be declared for the first five years.

"The persons thus congregated to carry out the principles of a.s.sociation [number not stated], belonged to a variety of occupations; but it appears that but few of them were adapted to the wants of the Community. Some of the members were intelligent and moral people; but the majority were very inferior. No property qualifications were necessary to admission. It appears that members were obtained by an agent, who took indiscriminately all he could get. The most common religious belief among them was Methodist; but a large proportion of them did not profess any religion, and some were what is commonly called infidels.