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A M AGAZ IN E
opening of
of the Ford
:he occasion
BROOKS of
·e Socialism
1
swer to his
1ust precede
vfovement is
1y American
t denials of
relation of
::h may sue-
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NUMBER
1
BEFORE SOCIALISM-V/HAT?
BY JOHN GRAHAM BROOKS
FTER a prayer of thanks for the reassembly of Ford Hall, and of
supplication for still greater mutual tolerance and understanding,
Ir. Coleman read a resolution, drawn up
y Mr. Samuel Sagerman, in protest
gainst the trial in Kiev, Russis., of a Jew;h workingman for ritual muraer.
This
ias unanimously passed, and will be forrarded to the Secretary of State.
i.\1r.
!oleman then announced the opening of
1eetings similar to Ford Hall in Buffalo,
r. Y., Manchester, N. H ., and· West Roxury (the l:i.st being that evening adressed by Mrs. Coleman); asked for the
)rmation of a chorus from the Ford Hall
udience ; and told of the unanimous conent of the two committees of the Baptist
· 'o cial Unio n to the continuance of the
1eetings. He then introduced the speaker
f tbe evening-. Mr. John Graham Brooks,
·hosP. topic was "Before Socialism· / hat?"
Financial ps.nics, said Mr. Brooks, come
1 a rhythm, once every ten years. It is
1y belief that Utopian fervors come also
1 a rhythm, but four or five times farther
part-say once in a long generation.
:1'1r. Brooks then traced the history of coperation, first in Europe, where it started
1 England about 1830, and is reflected in
1
israeli"s "Sibyl."
Co-operative stores
·ere first established, then co-operative
•holesale houses, then co-operative ' manu1ctories (established first at Crumpsall),
nd finally co-operative banks. At present
1ere are :J.6.000 co-operative banks and over
30.000 successful co-operative associations
1 Euro pe, doing a large international busiess.
fn America. co-opera tion did not succeed
A
l
~EE
OCTOBER 26, 1913
I·1
.,
·ersally proak to us on
:ivertisement
come early
II
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.
1
ung Russian
TOLUME
O F .N E I G H B O R L I N E S S
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nf
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Hcapaci ty
chew;" and the consequence was that they
died. Another reason for failure was that
while our natural resources still seemed inexhaustible, the count ry was like a young
fellow who has inherited money ; we had
careless habits, and it was not imports.nt
that we should save. An y working man
could escape from unpleasant economic
conditions by going to the frontier. But
now, beginning roughly · with this ·century,
the
frontier
has
vanished;
population has reached the Pacific and . has
turned
back.
Add
il}'.lmigration,
and
the need of capital and efficient_ farming and we see the reason for the rise in
the price of land.
The result is that co-operation is going
to grow and the gods can ·t stop it now! In
California the fruit growers had grown
tired of cut-throat competition and now ha.-e
formed co-operative organizations, which
are spreading eastward. They have produced an economic superiority over competition, 2. nd are beating competition at its
own game. (Applause.)
There are 2000
co-operative insurance companies in this
country.
Minnesota farmers have saved,
by co-operative fire insurance, $15,000,000.
One co-operative store in Michigan gave
back last year to· the working men $101,000
in dividends, 9 per cent. on everything they bought.
(Appl~use. )
This
store, with 1900 stockholders, has given
back since it started over $1,100,000 in dividends. I could tell you o! even more successful stores in Kansas and Minnesota.
Here is evidence to show' that this movement is not a failure in the United States.
vVith the new conditions, the compulsion
of saving, and the experience we have
gained', there is new hope for co-operation
:"<ow. what do we want before socialis m,
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most it is going to do only a part of the
world"s work. Let me state my own - aith:
f
One enormous part of po,ver and business
is going to the State (or the municipality);
first of all, the key to the whole businessthe railroads are going, before the middle
of the century, to the State. (Applause.)
The United States and England among
forty nations are alone in keeping railroads in private hands, and it may not be
five years before they are publicly owned
in England. Then with the railroads will
go the express companies, telegraph, telephone. etc. (Applause.) The passing of
the great machinery of production from
private to public hands will so far prevent
private speculation and the· private receipt
of interest- and profits, just as is now done
in the post office.
Let me dra w an imaginary cir cl~ and in
it place that great group of powers, toge ther with water powers and the electric
sources of power. These will be, not necessarily managed, but controlled absolutely in the interests of the public.
(Applause.) :-Sow, you socialists, there is a
lot outside that circle, and what is going
to come there in the future I am trying to
des cribe. It is not going to be all socialized by any manner of means ; we shall
have too much horse-sense for that. We
shall preserve individualism, and we
shall find in that great surrounding area,
that it will pay us socially to allow interest on money, and to allow men to make
things privately for the market and get a
profit on them. This is against orthodox
socialist theories, but many able socialists
a re agreeing to it. In that outer area cooperation is going to grow, as it does in
Denmark and Belgium, and as it grows it
,vill apply . democracy to the weak link in
,he chain. where it is most difficult.
We
. __ __
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-1
'he relation of
,bich may sue-
Ir. Colema n r ead a r esolu tio n. draw n up
y i\f r. Samuel Sagerma n, in pro test
gainst the tr ial in Kiev, Rus sis., of a Jew;h workingma n for ritual murcl.er.
This
,as unanimously passed, and will be for;arded to the Secretary of State.
Mr.
!oleman t hen announced t h e o pening of
1eetings similar to Ford Hall in Buffalo,
r. Y ., Manchester, N . H ., and West Roxury (the la.st being th at evening adressed by i\1rs. Colema n ) ; ask ed for the
)rma tion of a chorus from t he Ford Hall
udience ; and told of the unanimous conent of the two commit tees of th e Baptist
ocial Union to the cont inuance of t he
1eetings. He then introduced t he speaker
f tb a evening. Mr. John Grah a m Brooks,
·hose topic was "Before Socialisml hat ?"
Fina ncial ps.nics, said Mr. Brooks, come
1 a rhythm, once every ten years. It is
1y belief that Utopia n fervors come also
1 a rhythm. but four or five times farther
pa rt-say once in a long generation.
;\,Ir. Bro oks th en traced t he h is tory of copera tion, first in Europe, where it started
1 Eng-land about 1830, and is reflected in
1
israeli's " Sibyl. "
Co-operative stores
·ere fin::t established. then co-operative
'holesale houses. · then co-operative manu1ctories (established first at Crumpsall).
· nd finally co-operative banks. At present
1ere are 16.000 co-operative banks and over
30.000 successful co-operative associations
1 Europe, doing a large international busiess.
In America, co-opera tion did not succeed
t first. in spite of Toqueville's "capacity
nd passion of America for associaion," because these were turned to
usiness and not to co-operation, and beause the ·Civil War turned men's attenion to other things. But before the war
00 co-operative stores were started, of
rhich two or three are still in existence.
lfter the war, a few clerks in Washin~on,
ieaded by a man named Kelly, started the
;ranger movement.
Although · this was
idiculed everywliere, it carried the idea of
,rganization to the farming class.
These
'patrons of husbandry" educated the peo>le to regulate the gTeat industries, beginling with the railroads, teaching them that
jhese great economic· powers were unsafe
n private hands without supervision; they
;tarted the ideas of the parcels post and
;he income tax ; and they popularized
1mong the farmers the idea of co-operation.
Their co-operative creameries are still existent _
and growing. Then why did granger
co-operation as a whole fail? Because the
leaders did not wait, like the English, until
their stores were -on a solid, democratic ba/sis. They "bit off more than they could
•oung Russian
1
iversally pro,eak to us on
advertisement
o come early
REE
}
~,,,
iLLIAM SHAW
EB. GALLUP
'vV.
HOPKINS
r.::i
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: Place
on
*This ! P~tnre an <l the q 1wstion s a nd a nswe rs
n·ere r eported by )Iiriam Allen deF ord .
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the railroads a r e going, beior e the middle
of the century, t o the State. (A-ppla use.)
T he United S tates and England a mong
fort y nations are alone in keeping rail•
roads in private hands, a nd it may not be
fiva years before they are publicly · owned
in England. Then with the railroads will
go the express comp:rnies, tele graph, telephone. etc. (Applause.) T he passing of
the great machiner y of production from
priva te t o 11ublic ha nds will so far pre vent
· priva te specula tion a nd the private receipt
of interest- a nd profits, just as is now done
in t he pos t office.
Let me dr aw an imaginar y circl~ and in
it place th a t grea t group ot' powers, together with water powers a nd the electric
sources of power. These will be, not necessarily m anaged, but controlled absolutely in the interests of the public.
(Applause.) Xow, you socialists, there is a
lot outside tha t circle, and what is going
t o come there in t he futu re I am trying to
des cribe. It is not going to be all socialized by any manner of means ; we shall
have t oo much horse-sense for that. We
shall pr eserve individualism, and we
shall find in that great surrounding area:
that it will pay us socially . to allow interest on money, and to allow men to make
things privately for the market and get a
profit on them. This is against orthodox
socialist theories, but many able socialists
a re agreein g to it. In that outer •area cooperation is going to grow, as it does in
Denmark and Belgium, and as it grows it
will apply . democracy to the weak link in
the chain. where it is most difficult.
We
haye begun to apply democracy to politics,
religion and education, · but only co-opera-·
tion can apply democracy all the way
through.
Co-operation creates a new set
of habits, and a new kind of leader, who
can work with people he does not like, who
can create, manage, and produce social values. It produces automatically an arbitration system which promises to do more
to stop the infamies of war than all the
talk in the world. (Applause.)
There are the following economic ideals:·
individualism, with its variations of indi·
vidualistic and philosophic anarchy, and
communistic
anarchism;
the
various
forms of · socialism ; and communism,
including syndicalism. · These ideals are
all
embedded
in · human
nature,
below the economic order.
We are not
going to get rid of them·· and we don't want
to. because we need them all. The outer
circle is going to put the inner socialistic
circle> -on its good behavior. Since it will
have to compete with freer competition on
,- the outside, all monopolies· being inside the
~:,,circlP.. we need not rear socialism. If we
(Continued on ~
Page 3.)
car eless h a bits, and it wa s not im porcs. nt
that we sho uld save. Any working man
conld escape from unpl easa nt economic
conditions by going to the frontie r. But
now, beginning roughl y with this century,
the
frontier
bas
Yanished ;
population has reached t he Pacific a nd . has
turn ed
back.
Add
ii;nmigr s.tion,
and
the need of capital and efficient_ farming a nd we see the reason for the rise in
t he price of la nd.
The result is that co-operation is going
to grow and the gods ca n 't stop it now! In
California the fr uit growers had gro wn
tired of cut-throat competition a nd no w haYe
formed co-operative organizations, which
are spreading eastward. They have produced an economic superioritl' over competition, a nd are beating competition at its
own ga me. (Applause.)
There are 2000
co-operative insurance companies in this
country.
Minnesota farmers have saved,
by co-operative fire insurance, $15,000,000.
One co-opera tiYe store in :Michigan gaye
back last year to -the working men $101,000
in dividends, 9 per cent. on everything th ey bought.
(Appl~use. )
This
store, with 19 00 stockholders, has given
back since it started over $1,100,000 in dividends. I could t ell you o! even more successful stores in Kansas and :\Iinnesota.
Here is evidence to show' that this movement is not a failure in the United States.
With the new conditions, the compulsion
of saving, and the experience we have
gained, there is new hope for co-operation
Now, what do we want before socialism,
or ,my ism? I have no illusions .. that co-operation is going to " sweep the world." At
The Prayer
ITH glad hearts we unite in
• giving thanks for the joy of
being together again after
months of separation. We
rejoice not only in our established
right of freedom of assemblage, but
we are also very happy in the common fellowship of a wide variety of
folks who are ordinarily separated
from each other by mutual prejudice
pray Thee, Father of us all, during
the coming weeks, a still greater lo ve
for each other, an even better underand misunderstanding. Give us, we
standing of our common lot, and 2,n
ever ·stronger determination . to keep
faith with ourselves and tci lose no
opportunity of joining hands in
earnest endeavor for the welfare of
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FORD HALL FOLKS
J
Kot in the least. In co-operation
thP.re is one vote for each man, not for
each share, and no proxies.
Q: Aren't the laborers in the co-operative mills in England as badly or worse off
than in the capitalistic mills?
A: I don't think it is true. The difference cannot be great, but the laborer in
the co-operative area is a little better o!'f.
Q (same): Then why do they strike?
A: There is not one strike in twenty
as compared with competitive business.
Q: Can public utilities not publicly
owned be well operated for public convenience?
A: I should doubt it. Anything strictly
a monopoly at soine time must go to the
State. But we shall allow a great deal of
private management under very strict control.
Q: What sort of co-operation is there in
the "mutual" insurance companies in this
country?
A: They are not co,operative in the sense
we are now using the word.
Q: How can you control anything you
don't own? (Applause.)
A: Do you own the postoffice? Yet it is
controlled.
Q: Wasn·t it Joseph Warren, the first
American anarchist, who . tried co-operation in the United States?
A: Yes.
Q: The ·e ssentials of our civilization
seem to be property, defences and exclusiveness.
Would co-operation destroy
them?
A: It would -go far toward it if widely
developed.
'Q: Does the Harvard Co-operative Society line up with co-operation?
A: I never got less than S per cent. on
anything I bought there.
Q: Of what a dvantage is co-operation
to the California tenant farmers a nd the
floating population of farmers who -go from
:VIexico to Canada in the ha Yin>? ssP~<:nn?
1
A:
QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY MR.
BROOKS
,,
·-.,..
Q: If co-operation is so strong in EuA: I doubt that statement. Socialism
rope, why do so many European working
is increasing fastest in Austria. Co-opermen come here?
ation will not stop socialism: it educates
A: Co-operation raises the standard
the socialist and makes him safe.
everywhere, but, even raised, the standard
Q: ·when I have brain hunger I can go
of wages of European working men · is
.t o the library and get books. If I could go
much lower than ours here.
and get a hat for head hunger or shoes for
Q: ·what is the social and co-operatiYe
foot hunger would that be co-operation?
benefit of the interest system to the indi(Laughter.)
vidual?
A: No, it would be ~!most pure comA: It is that, stripped of abuses, the bor- munism. (Laughter and applause. )
rower gets as much benefit as the lender,
· Q: Vlhat is your attitude toward the
and it thus has a social as well as indivisingle tax idea?
dual value.
A: I am always asked that. The single
Q: How can there be any- real foundataxer brings us a solid and valu:,..b le econotion for co-operation when the exploitation
mic idea that we shall more .-and more use.
of man by man is legalized ?
Q: Will you name some of those orA: ·Co-operation now does a very stuthodox Socialists who agree with you about
pendous business.
That is a fact, and profits?
your question implies that the fact doesn't
A: Sidney Webb, H _ G. ··wens and Dr.
exist. I don't understand you.
· · Sudekum, the Germs..n Socialist represenQ: If the State were to abolish comtative here from the Reichstag.
petitive adjustment of railway rates, would
Q: Is not the lack of success in this
it not cause a geographical redistribution
country largely due to the inefficiency of
that would wipe New England off the map
the agents who control them?
industrially? I say yes.
A: Partly so, but one of the gre1test
A: '\Vell, I'll let it go at that. (Laughreasons is that the more successful classes
ter.)
in this country have so high a standard of
Q: If we started the parcels post co-opconvenience and service, with which co-operatively without the government, would it
eration finds it hard to compete.
be as successful as it is now?
Q: Is not 1he success of the Belgian coA : It has monopolistic powers that
operation different from that of the Engshould keep it in the hands of the govlish? Did it not start before capitalism
ernment.
was as strong as it is now? (Appls..use.)
Q: In co-operation there is no competi..\: That has something to do with it,
tion. Therefore. how can they arrange one
but what has most to do is that socialism
sc::i.le of prices?
llas such 1·eligious fervor in Belgium.
A:
There is competition remaining in
Q (Dr. Nichols): Do you make any disco-operation. but it is fair competition.
tinction in principle between co-operation
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faces on an
Miss H~
the woman
nia, and 1\1
.were amo:d
. who were I
· of them Vi
the whole ·
The ope1
Ford Hall !
ment in tb.l
vailt,d almq
of unfavora
intermissiol
!;f;todr
~as
1'
In a re
Tr.a nscript
and gener
mending t 1
out the _
ab~
the enter~
' deeply reli~
It regards
meetings 'Ford Hal~
church-goi
ing pews. b
for those
It takes
little ruagaz
enough in l
be control!E
l) J.UJ...Ll;::,.
r question implies that the fact doesn' t
,t. I don 't understand :rou.
! : If the State were to abolish c:omitive adjustment of railway rates, would
not cau,;e a geographical redistribution
t ,vould wipe New England off the map
ustriaHy ? I say yes.
.: Well, I'll let it go at that. (LaughIf we started the parcels post co-optively -without the government, would it
as successful as it is now?
It has monopolistic powers that
uld keep it in the hands of the govment.
! : In co-operation there is no competi1.
Therefore, how can they arrange one
le of prices?
There is competition remaining in
)peration, but it is fair competition.
=se co-operative stores give their serc!S at regular market prices, and all that
y make they call profit. This autotically _ goes back to the stockholders,
,s not arousing too much animosity in
r·e gular market by selling at cost.
~: How can you have successful co-option where all the means of life are conlled by the capitalists?
1..:
That is one reason why it has come
slowly here. But it is increasing. . In
tr instances in Europe the co-operative
.ociation has beaten the trust. I believe
shall do it here when monopoly power
socially controlled.
~ (Mr. Sagerman):
Is an empty stom1 the life of a nation?
I say no.
\: I agree with you. (Laughter and ap.use.)
~: Can you conceive of any method
.ereby the human race would be ·better
than not to allow one man to exploit
'.lther? Would not this be the co-operae commonwealth, and would co-operan then be of any use?
!\ : If you have a substitute better than
i.te control and co-operation I should be
L to hear it.
d
Q: Where will the genius of our capns of industry find expression under coeration?
A.: By working for it precisely as they do
Europe -and even here.
Q: Why is it that the co-operative
)vement is strongest in Belgium and
,nmark, where the socialist movement
progressing by leaps and bounds farther
an in any other . country? (Applause.)
!:
.
."~~~ ~;,,._-"':"'!';:
A: Sidney Webb, H. G. · \Veils and Dr.
Sudekum, the Germi:n Socialist representative. here from the Reichstag.
Q : Is not the lack of success in this
coimtry largely due to the inefficiency of
the agents who control them?
A : Partly so, but one of the gre:,.test
reasons is that the more successful classes
in this country have so high a standard of
convenience and service, with which co-operation finds it hard to compete.
Q : Is not the success of the Belgian cooperation different from that of the English ? Did it not start before capitalism
was as strong as it is now ? (Appl:mse.)
A: That has something to do with it,
but what has most to do is that socialism
has ~uch religious fervor in Belgium.
Q (Dr. Nichols): Do you make any distinction in principle between co-operation
for production and for consumption?
A: Not the slightest.
-Q (Mr. Gallup): Is not the sale of municipal bonds to the public through the
newspapers, as in Baltimore, more democratic and more of a step toward co-operation than the sale through bankers, as in
Boston?
A: Yes.
In Germany the smallest
farmer can get money at 4½ per cent.
through his co-operative credit association.
Q: Isn't it true that if the stronger has
always oppressed the weaker, socialism
proposes to make the working class the
stronger so that they can wipe out the
parasites?
A: That is the object of socialism, and,
as far as it can do it, heaven bless it. It
will also need the habits established by
co-operation.
Socialism alone cannot do
the world's work.
Q: How can you establish co-operation
in this country, where the population is so
mobile?
A: That is one thing that makes it
hai:der here than anywhere else, but not
impossible,
Q : The state already controls the army
and navy, the lunatic asylums, the peni- tentiaries and -the postoffice. Is this so
cialism?
A: Idiot asylums are not business.
There is ·a profound difference between a
lunatic asylum and a railway run for profit.
_(Laughter:.)
·
'}
Q: ·no~sn't co-operation eventually mean
corporation, and thus take us around in a
circle? ·
'
r•~~-~·l .
S
~
A: Do you own the poscotfice"? Yet it is
controlled.
Q : ·wasn't it Joseph \Varren, the first
American anarchist, who . tried co-operation in the United States?
A : Yes.
Q: The essentials of our civilization
seem to be property, defences and exclu·w ould co-operation destroy
siveness.
them?
A: It would ·go far toward it if widely
developed.
'Q: :boes the H arvard Co-operative Society line up with co-operation ?
A: I never got less than S per cent. on
anything I bought there.
Q: Of what advantage is co-operation
to the California tenant farmers a nd the
floating population of farmers who -go from
Mexico to Canada in the haying season?
A: Of none at all, because they have
nothing to do with it.
Q: Will the co-operative societies be
able to fight the trusts as they exist today?
A: As I said, there are four instances
in Europe where they did. They are not
strong enough yet in this country.
Q: ·what sort of organizations are ripe
enough now to realize the co-operative
idea? Are the unions?
A: In Europe the unions are ultimately
mixed up ·with co-operation. In the thirties they were involved in the granger
movement here.
Q (Miss Todd): Would the abolition of
private ownership of land be essential to
the working of co-operation?
A: There are several co-operative villages, and every one has turned the economic rent of the iand over to the people.
Q: What
progress has co-operation
made in Boston, and where can we begin
with it?
A: There
are
several
co-operativebanks, and there is a co-operative store on
Charles _
street, also a co-operative building
society.
Q: Would the complex racial condition
of our city handicap co-operation?
A: Yes, but it will also help. But I never
would start a co-operative store in a large
city.
·
Q: What chance would the penniless
working man or woman have ·to become a
member of a co-operative association, when
they all charge entrance fees ?
.
A: None, if literally penniless, but in
England the fee _is sometimes as low as a
shilling.
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*
*
1
In a recent Saturday issue the l
Transcript ilad a remarkably disc
and generously appreciative editoria:
mending the Ford Hall meetings. It p
out the absolutely unsectarian chara1
the enterprise and yet recognize!
'· deeply religious tone underlying th e:
It regards the educative force ofl
meetings as incalculable, and sayi
Ford Hall has evolved a new ki
church-going whicil has no difficulty j
ing pe,Ys. but rather in finding pews1c
for those wilo wish to fill them.
..
*
..
It takes power to run anything,
little magazine such as this. Is thereJ
enough in the Ford Hall people (tli
be controlled on this task) to makE
the way our Sunday eYening meetin:
This magazine belongs to you both i
tively and literally. It can be m•
great a power on its own account
meetings themselves are. But thi
only be accompl~shed by each on] '
Gome tiling. ·what will you do?
*
*
*
.
It is interesting to watch the d)
ment in other places of the idea thai
hind the Ford Hall Meetings-the
of bringing together in a friendly s
kinds of people to discuss frank!
earnestly all manner of vital questiol
concern the welfare of the individu
of society.
Within my own knowledge there 1
ready meetings very much aftei
stamp, though differing a good ~
many ways. in Lowell, Melrose, We1
bury and -Newton, in Massachusetts
York City, Buffalo and Rochester, i
York State: in Montclair, N. J.;
Rapids, Michigan ; Manchester, NeJ
shire; Richmond, Va., and Chicago,
I. would be very glad to receive par
concerning any others.
.
1
Perhaps the most remarkable reci
velopment of the -Cooper Union anl
Hall idea is seen in a most unusual
afternoon meeting in Lausanne, ,.
land. Here, again, it is a meetind
kinds of people (though limited 1
only unfortunately), with chroniJ
church-goers greatly in the majorit~
met at first in the -Council Chambe
City Hall, but the immediate popu:
1
the gatherings drew such large '1
that a bigger meeting place wa~
ne cessary. And so firmly establisll
1
l
J
)'J·
.)'_
••
:..-'{
-<
FORD HALL FOLKS
co-operation
tan, not for
he co-operaor worse off
The differlaborer in
e better off.
ey strike?
~ in twenty
business.
L
ot publicly
.blic convenl1ing strictly
;t go to the
;reat deal of
y strict cona is there iunies in this
in the sense
nything you
~?
Yet it is
~n, the first
~d co-operacivilization
and exclu.on destroy
it if widely
perative Sot?
per cent. on
co-operation
ers and the
;vho .go from
?;° season?
~ they have
societies be
exist today '?
Lt r insta nces
3
VIII. Thou shall covet all the air and
sunsnine thou canst obtain.
IX. Because of the love thou bearest thy
children thou shalt provide clean homes
tor them.
X. Thou shalt not steal thy children's
right to health and happiness.
JUST BETWEEN US NEIGHBORS
By
GEORGE
w.
COLEMAN
Director of the Ford Hall Meetings
It was good to see so many familiar
fa ces on an opening night. ·
•
*
*
Miss Helen Todd, the noted leader ot
the woman suffrage movement in Catifornia, and lYri-. Ormiston Chant of England
.were among the distinguished strangers
. who were present last Sunday night. Both
of them were very deeply impressed by
the whole character of the meeting.
*
*
*
The opening of the seventh season at
Ford Hall gave no indication of any abatement in the intense interest that has prevailed almost from the beginning. In spite
of unfavorable weather and a six months'
intermission the work began jnst where it
stopped last April, without loss of attendance or enthusiasm.
,. *
*
In a recent Saturday issue the Boston
Transcript had a remarli;ably discerning
and generously appreciative editorial commending the Ford Hall meetings. It pointed
out the absolutely unsectarian character of
the enterprise and yet recognized the
) deeply religious tone underlying the work ..
It rega rds the educative force of these
meetings as incalculable, and says that
Ford Hall has evolved a new kind of
church-going which has no difficulty in filling pews. but rather in finding pews enough
for those who wish to fill them.
..
*
*
It takes power to run anything, even a
little magazine such as this. Is there steam
enough in t he Ford Hall people (that can
be controlled on this task) to make it go
the way our Sunday evening meetings go?
This magazine belongs to you both figuratively and literally. It can be made as
great ~ power on its own account as the
meetin g-s themselYes are. But that can
onl y be accomplished by each one doing
they feel themselves to be in their democratic inclusiveness and non-sectarian character that they hesitated not to accept the
second ecclesiastical edifice in importance
in Lausanne, the Church of St. Francis, as
their auditorium. This is the more surprising in that their meetings are devoid of
hymns, scripture reading and prayer.
Such "- movement reflects credit on th·e
church that is so reasonable and · tolerant
as well as upon the non-church-goers who
are so dead in earnest in their search for
truth. This new enterprise is called the
Fraternity of Men, and while they declare
themselves independent of churches and
Christian assocjations, they desire to work
in harmony with them, and they appeal to
all good men to help.
*
*
*
Parodies on scripture are sometimes in
very bad taste, to say the least. But the
neighborly version of the Ten Commandments as put out by the Brooklyn Bureau
of Charities breathes a wholesome spirit
and emphasizes some very valuable truths
in a new and striking way. Here it is:
I. Thou shalt honor thy neighborhood
and keep it clean.
·
·
II. Remember thy cleaning day and keep
it wholly.
III. Thou shalt take care of thy rubbish
heap, else thy neighbor will bear witness
against· thee.
IV. Thou shalt keep in order thy alley,
thy back yard, thy hall and thy stairway.
V. Thou shalt not let the wicked fly
breed.
VI. Thou sh< not kill thy neighbor by
ignoring fire menaces or by poisoning the
air with rubbish and garbage.
VII. Thou shalt not keep thy windows
closed day and night.
.I
LET US TR . ST OUR NEIGHBORS.
U
'
It is rather amusing to listen to people
who are so cocksure in giving their detinition·s of good and bad. Sometimes. they are
offensive in their self-righteousness, but generally they do little more than provoke _
laughter. Barney Bill, in one of William
J. Locke's stories, speaks much wisdom
when he says, speaking of his teetotaler
host, ·'He thinks good ctrink's bact oecause
bad has come of it to him-not that he ever
took a drop too much, mind yer-but bad
has come of it to him, and I t!J.ink good
drink's good because nothing but good has
come of it to me. And we've agreed to
differ. Ain't we, Silas?" And that is all we
can do, if we would have harmony and
neighborliness.
We have no. right to impose our beliefs and our definitions upon
others. Let us content ourselves with stating our beliefs frankly and trust our neighbors to use their own judgment as to what
is good and what is bad for them.
BEFORE SOCIALISM-WHAT?
(Continued from Page 1.)
could have in this country as much co-operation as there is in Denmark I should no
more fear socialism, anarchy, or communism than I should fear the Boston Public
Library, a prayer meeting, or Ford Hall. If
they ean beat us on the inside, God bless
them, but they have got to produce and
prove an economic superiority. · That is
what co-operation does.
- Take away with you this: co-operation
carries democracy all the way through. In
a larger and richer human system, we will
learn the value of the person who preserves things as well as that of the person
who ch an. :es thin 2'S.
2
Tt i~
nnt
nor>oC!C:•.l"r;h.,.
-
7
_ __ _ _ _ _ _ _
l
In a recent Saturday issue the Boston
Transcript had a remarkably discerning
and generously appreciative editorial commending the Ford Hall meetings. It pointed
out the absolutely unsectarian character of
, the enterprise and yet recognized the
s deeply religious tone underlying the work.
It regards the educative force of these
m.eetings as incalculable, and says that
· Ford Hall has evolved a new kind of
• church-going which has no difficulty in filling pews, but rather in finding pews enough
for those who wish to fill them.
•
*
*
It takes power to run anything, even a
little magazine such as this. Is there steam
enough in the Ford Hall people · (that can·
be controlled on this task) to make it go
the way our Sunday evening meetings go?
This magazine belongs to you both figuratively and literally. It can be made as
great a power on its own account as the
meetings themselves are. But that can
only be accomplished by each one doing
1,omething. ·wnat will you do?
*
*
Parodies on scripture are' sometimes in
very bs.d taste, to say the least. But the
neighborly version of the Ten Commandments as put out by the Brooklyn Bureau
of Charities· breathes a wholesome spirit
and emphasizes some very valuable truths
in a new and striking way. Here it is:
I. Thou shalt honor thy neighborhood
and · keep it clean.
· ·
II. Remember thy cleaning day and keep
it wholly.
III. Thou shalt take care of ·thy rubbish
heap, else thy neighbor will bear witness
against thee.
IV. Thou shalt keep in order thy alley,
thy back yard, thy _
hall and thy stairway.
V. Thou shalt · not let the wicked :fly
breed.
VI. Thou shs.lt not kill thy neighbor by
ignoring fire menaces or by poisoning the
air with rubbish and garbage.
VII. Thou shalt not keep thy windows
closed day and night.
Tomorrow!
*
It is interesting to watch the develop-
OMORROW the brunts and
·
bruises of Today will have become Yesterday's mere missteps, changing into the Wisdom that has its source in suffering.
Every sharp -stone in the pathway
of our Todays is but a test that tells
whether, on the morrow, we !;hall be
cringing or fighting men and women.
For he who gives up the ·s truggle
Today shall not taste of the sweets of
arrival Tomorrow.
Let us, then, be thankful for the
trials that are ours Today. Let us
welcome them as Experience--the fulcrum that steadies the lever of Accomplishment.
Tomorrow, Today's dregs of Circumstance may turn into the wine of
Success.
Tomorrow the thread that connects
us with wanted Happiness ma~- haYe
grown, through efforts delayed in
fruition, into a great cable.
Tomorrow the dead hopes of Today
shall spring into life anew, and with
the renewal shall come Faith and the ·
Dare to do.
Thank God for our Tomorrows!
Jerome P. Fleis·hman.
T
ment in other places of the idea that is behind the Ford Hall Meetings-the notion
of bringing together in a friendly spirit all
kinds of people to discuss frankly and
earnestly all manner of vital questions that
concern the welfare of the individual and
of society.
Within my own knowledge there are already meetings very much after this
stamp, though differing a good deal in
many ways, in Lowell, Melrose, West Roxbury and ·Newton, in Massachusetts; New
York City, Buffalo and Rochester, in New
York State; . in Montclair, N. J.; Grand
Rapids, Michigan; Manchester, New Hampshire ; Richmond, Va., and Chicago, Illinois.
I. would. be ve~ glad to receive particulars
concernmg any others.
Perhaps the most remarkable recent development of the Cooper Union and Ford
Hall idea is seen in a most unusual Sunday
afternoon meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland. Here, again, it is a meeting of all
kinds of people (though limited to men
only unfortunately), with chronic nonchurch-goers greatly in the majority. They
met at first in the ·Council Chamber of the
Cicy Hall, but the immediate popularity o!
the gatherings drew such large numbers
' that a bigger meeting place was made
necessary. And so firmly established did
others.
ing our
bors to
is good
...........
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.
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BEFORE SOCIALISM-WHAT?
(Continued from Page 1.)
could have in this country as much co-operation as there is in Denmark I should no
more fear socialism, anarc~y, or communism than I should fear the Boston Public
Library, a prayer meeting, or Ford Hall. If
they ean beat us· on the inside, God bless
them, but they have got to produce and
prove an economic superiority. · That is
what co-operation does.
Take away with you this: co-operation
carries democracy all the way through. In
.a larger and richer human system, we will.
learn the value of the person who preserves things as well as that of the person
who changes things. It is not necessarily
a virtue to be more radical than anyone
else.
The conservative is as valuable a
man as the radical; order and stability are
as valuable as progress; and we are going
to keep them all. Two miners were caught
by some falling coal and for two days
struggled desperately to dig themselves
out.
Finally they escaped.
Then one
looked around and said, "Bill it is all up
with us; the sun is going down, and we
can't stand another night." But Bill answered, "Thank God, Jim, the sun isn't
going down, it's coming up, and it is morning." Of co-operation, too, I say, let us
hope that it may be morning.
BRUNO MFG. CO.
Established 1892
Parfun1erie
Tonics of fine
ounce, $1.00.
from a dram
Call on us.
Francaise, Po,vders, Creams, Hair
quality. Perfumes worth $3.00 per
Those worth Sl.00, 50c. We sell
to a gallon to you at wholesale.
21A TEMPLE ST., BOSTON, MASS . .
Back of State House, 2 minutes from Ford Hall.
JUST OUT!
The Romance of the American Theatre
By MARY CAROLINE CRAWFORD
(Secr etary of the Ford Hall Meetings.)
This book about plays, pla yhouses and players
ba s. also. :1 chapter dealing with the social
d ram,, of our own d a y. Sixty illustrations.
For sale at all book-sellers.
.• ':~'--
uJ..J..:,
Let us content ourselves with statbeliefs frankly and trust our neighuse their own ju_
dgment as to what
and what is bad for them.
Price $2.50.
·
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.
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C
FUFf
I\
jfor~ Mall jfclks
I_
A M AGAZ IN E
opening of
of the Ford
:he occasion
BROOKS of
·e Socialism
1
swer to his
1ust precede
vfovement is
1y American
t denials of
relation of
::h may sue-
If
'
I
I
}
l
·l
NUMBER
1
BEFORE SOCIALISM-V/HAT?
BY JOHN GRAHAM BROOKS
FTER a prayer of thanks for the reassembly of Ford Hall, and of
supplication for still greater mutual tolerance and understanding,
Ir. Coleman read a resolution, drawn up
y Mr. Samuel Sagerman, in protest
gainst the trial in Kiev, Russis., of a Jew;h workingman for ritual muraer.
This
ias unanimously passed, and will be forrarded to the Secretary of State.
i.\1r.
!oleman then announced the opening of
1eetings similar to Ford Hall in Buffalo,
r. Y., Manchester, N. H ., and· West Roxury (the l:i.st being that evening adressed by Mrs. Coleman); asked for the
)rmation of a chorus from the Ford Hall
udience ; and told of the unanimous conent of the two committees of the Baptist
· 'o cial Unio n to the continuance of the
1eetings. He then introduced the speaker
f tbe evening-. Mr. John Graham Brooks,
·hosP. topic was "Before Socialism· / hat?"
Financial ps.nics, said Mr. Brooks, come
1 a rhythm, once every ten years. It is
1y belief that Utopian fervors come also
1 a rhythm, but four or five times farther
part-say once in a long generation.
:1'1r. Brooks then traced the history of coperation, first in Europe, where it started
1 England about 1830, and is reflected in
1
israeli"s "Sibyl."
Co-operative stores
·ere first established, then co-operative
•holesale houses, then co-operative ' manu1ctories (established first at Crumpsall),
nd finally co-operative banks. At present
1ere are :J.6.000 co-operative banks and over
30.000 successful co-operative associations
1 Euro pe, doing a large international busiess.
fn America. co-opera tion did not succeed
A
l
~EE
OCTOBER 26, 1913
I·1
.,
·ersally proak to us on
:ivertisement
come early
II
~
.
1
ung Russian
TOLUME
O F .N E I G H B O R L I N E S S
~ ... ,:- ?
;'"'
<:" ....
a ...
nf
'rnnnPvillP.~$
Hcapaci ty
chew;" and the consequence was that they
died. Another reason for failure was that
while our natural resources still seemed inexhaustible, the count ry was like a young
fellow who has inherited money ; we had
careless habits, and it was not imports.nt
that we should save. An y working man
could escape from unpleasant economic
conditions by going to the frontier. But
now, beginning roughly · with this ·century,
the
frontier
has
vanished;
population has reached the Pacific and . has
turned
back.
Add
il}'.lmigration,
and
the need of capital and efficient_ farming and we see the reason for the rise in
the price of land.
The result is that co-operation is going
to grow and the gods can ·t stop it now! In
California the fruit growers had grown
tired of cut-throat competition and now ha.-e
formed co-operative organizations, which
are spreading eastward. They have produced an economic superiority over competition, 2. nd are beating competition at its
own game. (Applause.)
There are 2000
co-operative insurance companies in this
country.
Minnesota farmers have saved,
by co-operative fire insurance, $15,000,000.
One co-operative store in Michigan gave
back last year to· the working men $101,000
in dividends, 9 per cent. on everything they bought.
(Appl~use. )
This
store, with 1900 stockholders, has given
back since it started over $1,100,000 in dividends. I could tell you o! even more successful stores in Kansas and Minnesota.
Here is evidence to show' that this movement is not a failure in the United States.
vVith the new conditions, the compulsion
of saving, and the experience we have
gained', there is new hope for co-operation
:"<ow. what do we want before socialis m,
...
-
~- --- -
~ ....
;nncir\nc::
th~ t C".0-00·
\,
most it is going to do only a part of the
world"s work. Let me state my own - aith:
f
One enormous part of po,ver and business
is going to the State (or the municipality);
first of all, the key to the whole businessthe railroads are going, before the middle
of the century, to the State. (Applause.)
The United States and England among
forty nations are alone in keeping railroads in private hands, and it may not be
five years before they are publicly owned
in England. Then with the railroads will
go the express companies, telegraph, telephone. etc. (Applause.) The passing of
the great machinery of production from
private to public hands will so far prevent
private speculation and the· private receipt
of interest- and profits, just as is now done
in the post office.
Let me dra w an imaginary cir cl~ and in
it place that great group of powers, toge ther with water powers and the electric
sources of power. These will be, not necessarily managed, but controlled absolutely in the interests of the public.
(Applause.) :-Sow, you socialists, there is a
lot outside that circle, and what is going
to come there in the future I am trying to
des cribe. It is not going to be all socialized by any manner of means ; we shall
have too much horse-sense for that. We
shall preserve individualism, and we
shall find in that great surrounding area,
that it will pay us socially to allow interest on money, and to allow men to make
things privately for the market and get a
profit on them. This is against orthodox
socialist theories, but many able socialists
a re agreeing to it. In that outer area cooperation is going to grow, as it does in
Denmark and Belgium, and as it grows it
,vill apply . democracy to the weak link in
,he chain. where it is most difficult.
We
. __ __
.i.~
1.;.,iroc::
~
-1
'he relation of
,bich may sue-
Ir. Colema n r ead a r esolu tio n. draw n up
y i\f r. Samuel Sagerma n, in pro test
gainst the tr ial in Kiev, Rus sis., of a Jew;h workingma n for ritual murcl.er.
This
,as unanimously passed, and will be for;arded to the Secretary of State.
Mr.
!oleman t hen announced t h e o pening of
1eetings similar to Ford Hall in Buffalo,
r. Y ., Manchester, N . H ., and West Roxury (the la.st being th at evening adressed by i\1rs. Colema n ) ; ask ed for the
)rma tion of a chorus from t he Ford Hall
udience ; and told of the unanimous conent of the two commit tees of th e Baptist
ocial Union to the cont inuance of t he
1eetings. He then introduced t he speaker
f tb a evening. Mr. John Grah a m Brooks,
·hose topic was "Before Socialisml hat ?"
Fina ncial ps.nics, said Mr. Brooks, come
1 a rhythm, once every ten years. It is
1y belief that Utopia n fervors come also
1 a rhythm. but four or five times farther
pa rt-say once in a long generation.
;\,Ir. Bro oks th en traced t he h is tory of copera tion, first in Europe, where it started
1 Eng-land about 1830, and is reflected in
1
israeli's " Sibyl. "
Co-operative stores
·ere fin::t established. then co-operative
'holesale houses. · then co-operative manu1ctories (established first at Crumpsall).
· nd finally co-operative banks. At present
1ere are 16.000 co-operative banks and over
30.000 successful co-operative associations
1 Europe, doing a large international busiess.
In America, co-opera tion did not succeed
t first. in spite of Toqueville's "capacity
nd passion of America for associaion," because these were turned to
usiness and not to co-operation, and beause the ·Civil War turned men's attenion to other things. But before the war
00 co-operative stores were started, of
rhich two or three are still in existence.
lfter the war, a few clerks in Washin~on,
ieaded by a man named Kelly, started the
;ranger movement.
Although · this was
idiculed everywliere, it carried the idea of
,rganization to the farming class.
These
'patrons of husbandry" educated the peo>le to regulate the gTeat industries, beginling with the railroads, teaching them that
jhese great economic· powers were unsafe
n private hands without supervision; they
;tarted the ideas of the parcels post and
;he income tax ; and they popularized
1mong the farmers the idea of co-operation.
Their co-operative creameries are still existent _
and growing. Then why did granger
co-operation as a whole fail? Because the
leaders did not wait, like the English, until
their stores were -on a solid, democratic ba/sis. They "bit off more than they could
•oung Russian
1
iversally pro,eak to us on
advertisement
o come early
REE
}
~,,,
iLLIAM SHAW
EB. GALLUP
'vV.
HOPKINS
r.::i
i
EE
: Place
on
*This ! P~tnre an <l the q 1wstion s a nd a nswe rs
n·ere r eported by )Iiriam Allen deF ord .
··-......
~~ ~~.;~~} ~
t
~:.~ ~-~, ;~-~
~: ~ ·'~
~,, _
"rr-··
"'; ~
lello,v \\'!lo
11a~
111 11 erHt::u
u1v u c ~.
the railroads a r e going, beior e the middle
of the century, t o the State. (A-ppla use.)
T he United S tates and England a mong
fort y nations are alone in keeping rail•
roads in private hands, a nd it may not be
fiva years before they are publicly · owned
in England. Then with the railroads will
go the express comp:rnies, tele graph, telephone. etc. (Applause.) T he passing of
the great machiner y of production from
priva te t o 11ublic ha nds will so far pre vent
· priva te specula tion a nd the private receipt
of interest- a nd profits, just as is now done
in t he pos t office.
Let me dr aw an imaginar y circl~ and in
it place th a t grea t group ot' powers, together with water powers a nd the electric
sources of power. These will be, not necessarily m anaged, but controlled absolutely in the interests of the public.
(Applause.) Xow, you socialists, there is a
lot outside tha t circle, and what is going
t o come there in t he futu re I am trying to
des cribe. It is not going to be all socialized by any manner of means ; we shall
have t oo much horse-sense for that. We
shall pr eserve individualism, and we
shall find in that great surrounding area:
that it will pay us socially . to allow interest on money, and to allow men to make
things privately for the market and get a
profit on them. This is against orthodox
socialist theories, but many able socialists
a re agreein g to it. In that outer •area cooperation is going to grow, as it does in
Denmark and Belgium, and as it grows it
will apply . democracy to the weak link in
the chain. where it is most difficult.
We
haye begun to apply democracy to politics,
religion and education, · but only co-opera-·
tion can apply democracy all the way
through.
Co-operation creates a new set
of habits, and a new kind of leader, who
can work with people he does not like, who
can create, manage, and produce social values. It produces automatically an arbitration system which promises to do more
to stop the infamies of war than all the
talk in the world. (Applause.)
There are the following economic ideals:·
individualism, with its variations of indi·
vidualistic and philosophic anarchy, and
communistic
anarchism;
the
various
forms of · socialism ; and communism,
including syndicalism. · These ideals are
all
embedded
in · human
nature,
below the economic order.
We are not
going to get rid of them·· and we don't want
to. because we need them all. The outer
circle is going to put the inner socialistic
circle> -on its good behavior. Since it will
have to compete with freer competition on
,- the outside, all monopolies· being inside the
~:,,circlP.. we need not rear socialism. If we
(Continued on ~
Page 3.)
car eless h a bits, and it wa s not im porcs. nt
that we sho uld save. Any working man
conld escape from unpl easa nt economic
conditions by going to the frontie r. But
now, beginning roughl y with this century,
the
frontier
bas
Yanished ;
population has reached t he Pacific a nd . has
turn ed
back.
Add
ii;nmigr s.tion,
and
the need of capital and efficient_ farming a nd we see the reason for the rise in
t he price of la nd.
The result is that co-operation is going
to grow and the gods ca n 't stop it now! In
California the fr uit growers had gro wn
tired of cut-throat competition a nd no w haYe
formed co-operative organizations, which
are spreading eastward. They have produced an economic superioritl' over competition, a nd are beating competition at its
own ga me. (Applause.)
There are 2000
co-operative insurance companies in this
country.
Minnesota farmers have saved,
by co-operative fire insurance, $15,000,000.
One co-opera tiYe store in :Michigan gaye
back last year to -the working men $101,000
in dividends, 9 per cent. on everything th ey bought.
(Appl~use. )
This
store, with 19 00 stockholders, has given
back since it started over $1,100,000 in dividends. I could t ell you o! even more successful stores in Kansas and :\Iinnesota.
Here is evidence to show' that this movement is not a failure in the United States.
With the new conditions, the compulsion
of saving, and the experience we have
gained, there is new hope for co-operation
Now, what do we want before socialism,
or ,my ism? I have no illusions .. that co-operation is going to " sweep the world." At
The Prayer
ITH glad hearts we unite in
• giving thanks for the joy of
being together again after
months of separation. We
rejoice not only in our established
right of freedom of assemblage, but
we are also very happy in the common fellowship of a wide variety of
folks who are ordinarily separated
from each other by mutual prejudice
pray Thee, Father of us all, during
the coming weeks, a still greater lo ve
for each other, an even better underand misunderstanding. Give us, we
standing of our common lot, and 2,n
ever ·stronger determination . to keep
faith with ourselves and tci lose no
opportunity of joining hands in
earnest endeavor for the welfare of
W
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FORD HALL FOLKS
J
Kot in the least. In co-operation
thP.re is one vote for each man, not for
each share, and no proxies.
Q: Aren't the laborers in the co-operative mills in England as badly or worse off
than in the capitalistic mills?
A: I don't think it is true. The difference cannot be great, but the laborer in
the co-operative area is a little better o!'f.
Q (same): Then why do they strike?
A: There is not one strike in twenty
as compared with competitive business.
Q: Can public utilities not publicly
owned be well operated for public convenience?
A: I should doubt it. Anything strictly
a monopoly at soine time must go to the
State. But we shall allow a great deal of
private management under very strict control.
Q: What sort of co-operation is there in
the "mutual" insurance companies in this
country?
A: They are not co,operative in the sense
we are now using the word.
Q: How can you control anything you
don't own? (Applause.)
A: Do you own the postoffice? Yet it is
controlled.
Q: Wasn·t it Joseph Warren, the first
American anarchist, who . tried co-operation in the United States?
A: Yes.
Q: The ·e ssentials of our civilization
seem to be property, defences and exclusiveness.
Would co-operation destroy
them?
A: It would -go far toward it if widely
developed.
'Q: Does the Harvard Co-operative Society line up with co-operation?
A: I never got less than S per cent. on
anything I bought there.
Q: Of what a dvantage is co-operation
to the California tenant farmers a nd the
floating population of farmers who -go from
:VIexico to Canada in the ha Yin>? ssP~<:nn?
1
A:
QUESTIONS ANSWERED BY MR.
BROOKS
,,
·-.,..
Q: If co-operation is so strong in EuA: I doubt that statement. Socialism
rope, why do so many European working
is increasing fastest in Austria. Co-opermen come here?
ation will not stop socialism: it educates
A: Co-operation raises the standard
the socialist and makes him safe.
everywhere, but, even raised, the standard
Q: ·when I have brain hunger I can go
of wages of European working men · is
.t o the library and get books. If I could go
much lower than ours here.
and get a hat for head hunger or shoes for
Q: ·what is the social and co-operatiYe
foot hunger would that be co-operation?
benefit of the interest system to the indi(Laughter.)
vidual?
A: No, it would be ~!most pure comA: It is that, stripped of abuses, the bor- munism. (Laughter and applause. )
rower gets as much benefit as the lender,
· Q: Vlhat is your attitude toward the
and it thus has a social as well as indivisingle tax idea?
dual value.
A: I am always asked that. The single
Q: How can there be any- real foundataxer brings us a solid and valu:,..b le econotion for co-operation when the exploitation
mic idea that we shall more .-and more use.
of man by man is legalized ?
Q: Will you name some of those orA: ·Co-operation now does a very stuthodox Socialists who agree with you about
pendous business.
That is a fact, and profits?
your question implies that the fact doesn't
A: Sidney Webb, H _ G. ··wens and Dr.
exist. I don't understand you.
· · Sudekum, the Germs..n Socialist represenQ: If the State were to abolish comtative here from the Reichstag.
petitive adjustment of railway rates, would
Q: Is not the lack of success in this
it not cause a geographical redistribution
country largely due to the inefficiency of
that would wipe New England off the map
the agents who control them?
industrially? I say yes.
A: Partly so, but one of the gre1test
A: '\Vell, I'll let it go at that. (Laughreasons is that the more successful classes
ter.)
in this country have so high a standard of
Q: If we started the parcels post co-opconvenience and service, with which co-operatively without the government, would it
eration finds it hard to compete.
be as successful as it is now?
Q: Is not 1he success of the Belgian coA : It has monopolistic powers that
operation different from that of the Engshould keep it in the hands of the govlish? Did it not start before capitalism
ernment.
was as strong as it is now? (Appls..use.)
Q: In co-operation there is no competi..\: That has something to do with it,
tion. Therefore. how can they arrange one
but what has most to do is that socialism
sc::i.le of prices?
llas such 1·eligious fervor in Belgium.
A:
There is competition remaining in
Q (Dr. Nichols): Do you make any disco-operation. but it is fair competition.
tinction in principle between co-operation
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faces on an
Miss H~
the woman
nia, and 1\1
.were amo:d
. who were I
· of them Vi
the whole ·
The ope1
Ford Hall !
ment in tb.l
vailt,d almq
of unfavora
intermissiol
!;f;todr
~as
1'
In a re
Tr.a nscript
and gener
mending t 1
out the _
ab~
the enter~
' deeply reli~
It regards
meetings 'Ford Hal~
church-goi
ing pews. b
for those
It takes
little ruagaz
enough in l
be control!E
l) J.UJ...Ll;::,.
r question implies that the fact doesn' t
,t. I don 't understand :rou.
! : If the State were to abolish c:omitive adjustment of railway rates, would
not cau,;e a geographical redistribution
t ,vould wipe New England off the map
ustriaHy ? I say yes.
.: Well, I'll let it go at that. (LaughIf we started the parcels post co-optively -without the government, would it
as successful as it is now?
It has monopolistic powers that
uld keep it in the hands of the govment.
! : In co-operation there is no competi1.
Therefore, how can they arrange one
le of prices?
There is competition remaining in
)peration, but it is fair competition.
=se co-operative stores give their serc!S at regular market prices, and all that
y make they call profit. This autotically _ goes back to the stockholders,
,s not arousing too much animosity in
r·e gular market by selling at cost.
~: How can you have successful co-option where all the means of life are conlled by the capitalists?
1..:
That is one reason why it has come
slowly here. But it is increasing. . In
tr instances in Europe the co-operative
.ociation has beaten the trust. I believe
shall do it here when monopoly power
socially controlled.
~ (Mr. Sagerman):
Is an empty stom1 the life of a nation?
I say no.
\: I agree with you. (Laughter and ap.use.)
~: Can you conceive of any method
.ereby the human race would be ·better
than not to allow one man to exploit
'.lther? Would not this be the co-operae commonwealth, and would co-operan then be of any use?
!\ : If you have a substitute better than
i.te control and co-operation I should be
L to hear it.
d
Q: Where will the genius of our capns of industry find expression under coeration?
A.: By working for it precisely as they do
Europe -and even here.
Q: Why is it that the co-operative
)vement is strongest in Belgium and
,nmark, where the socialist movement
progressing by leaps and bounds farther
an in any other . country? (Applause.)
!:
.
."~~~ ~;,,._-"':"'!';:
A: Sidney Webb, H. G. · \Veils and Dr.
Sudekum, the Germi:n Socialist representative. here from the Reichstag.
Q : Is not the lack of success in this
coimtry largely due to the inefficiency of
the agents who control them?
A : Partly so, but one of the gre:,.test
reasons is that the more successful classes
in this country have so high a standard of
convenience and service, with which co-operation finds it hard to compete.
Q : Is not the success of the Belgian cooperation different from that of the English ? Did it not start before capitalism
was as strong as it is now ? (Appl:mse.)
A: That has something to do with it,
but what has most to do is that socialism
has ~uch religious fervor in Belgium.
Q (Dr. Nichols): Do you make any distinction in principle between co-operation
for production and for consumption?
A: Not the slightest.
-Q (Mr. Gallup): Is not the sale of municipal bonds to the public through the
newspapers, as in Baltimore, more democratic and more of a step toward co-operation than the sale through bankers, as in
Boston?
A: Yes.
In Germany the smallest
farmer can get money at 4½ per cent.
through his co-operative credit association.
Q: Isn't it true that if the stronger has
always oppressed the weaker, socialism
proposes to make the working class the
stronger so that they can wipe out the
parasites?
A: That is the object of socialism, and,
as far as it can do it, heaven bless it. It
will also need the habits established by
co-operation.
Socialism alone cannot do
the world's work.
Q: How can you establish co-operation
in this country, where the population is so
mobile?
A: That is one thing that makes it
hai:der here than anywhere else, but not
impossible,
Q : The state already controls the army
and navy, the lunatic asylums, the peni- tentiaries and -the postoffice. Is this so
cialism?
A: Idiot asylums are not business.
There is ·a profound difference between a
lunatic asylum and a railway run for profit.
_(Laughter:.)
·
'}
Q: ·no~sn't co-operation eventually mean
corporation, and thus take us around in a
circle? ·
'
r•~~-~·l .
S
~
A: Do you own the poscotfice"? Yet it is
controlled.
Q : ·wasn't it Joseph \Varren, the first
American anarchist, who . tried co-operation in the United States?
A : Yes.
Q: The essentials of our civilization
seem to be property, defences and exclu·w ould co-operation destroy
siveness.
them?
A: It would ·go far toward it if widely
developed.
'Q: :boes the H arvard Co-operative Society line up with co-operation ?
A: I never got less than S per cent. on
anything I bought there.
Q: Of what advantage is co-operation
to the California tenant farmers a nd the
floating population of farmers who -go from
Mexico to Canada in the haying season?
A: Of none at all, because they have
nothing to do with it.
Q: Will the co-operative societies be
able to fight the trusts as they exist today?
A: As I said, there are four instances
in Europe where they did. They are not
strong enough yet in this country.
Q: ·what sort of organizations are ripe
enough now to realize the co-operative
idea? Are the unions?
A: In Europe the unions are ultimately
mixed up ·with co-operation. In the thirties they were involved in the granger
movement here.
Q (Miss Todd): Would the abolition of
private ownership of land be essential to
the working of co-operation?
A: There are several co-operative villages, and every one has turned the economic rent of the iand over to the people.
Q: What
progress has co-operation
made in Boston, and where can we begin
with it?
A: There
are
several
co-operativebanks, and there is a co-operative store on
Charles _
street, also a co-operative building
society.
Q: Would the complex racial condition
of our city handicap co-operation?
A: Yes, but it will also help. But I never
would start a co-operative store in a large
city.
·
Q: What chance would the penniless
working man or woman have ·to become a
member of a co-operative association, when
they all charge entrance fees ?
.
A: None, if literally penniless, but in
England the fee _is sometimes as low as a
shilling.
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*
*
1
In a recent Saturday issue the l
Transcript ilad a remarkably disc
and generously appreciative editoria:
mending the Ford Hall meetings. It p
out the absolutely unsectarian chara1
the enterprise and yet recognize!
'· deeply religious tone underlying th e:
It regards the educative force ofl
meetings as incalculable, and sayi
Ford Hall has evolved a new ki
church-going whicil has no difficulty j
ing pe,Ys. but rather in finding pews1c
for those wilo wish to fill them.
..
*
..
It takes power to run anything,
little magazine such as this. Is thereJ
enough in the Ford Hall people (tli
be controlled on this task) to makE
the way our Sunday eYening meetin:
This magazine belongs to you both i
tively and literally. It can be m•
great a power on its own account
meetings themselves are. But thi
only be accompl~shed by each on] '
Gome tiling. ·what will you do?
*
*
*
.
It is interesting to watch the d)
ment in other places of the idea thai
hind the Ford Hall Meetings-the
of bringing together in a friendly s
kinds of people to discuss frank!
earnestly all manner of vital questiol
concern the welfare of the individu
of society.
Within my own knowledge there 1
ready meetings very much aftei
stamp, though differing a good ~
many ways. in Lowell, Melrose, We1
bury and -Newton, in Massachusetts
York City, Buffalo and Rochester, i
York State: in Montclair, N. J.;
Rapids, Michigan ; Manchester, NeJ
shire; Richmond, Va., and Chicago,
I. would be very glad to receive par
concerning any others.
.
1
Perhaps the most remarkable reci
velopment of the -Cooper Union anl
Hall idea is seen in a most unusual
afternoon meeting in Lausanne, ,.
land. Here, again, it is a meetind
kinds of people (though limited 1
only unfortunately), with chroniJ
church-goers greatly in the majorit~
met at first in the -Council Chambe
City Hall, but the immediate popu:
1
the gatherings drew such large '1
that a bigger meeting place wa~
ne cessary. And so firmly establisll
1
l
J
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.)'_
••
:..-'{
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FORD HALL FOLKS
co-operation
tan, not for
he co-operaor worse off
The differlaborer in
e better off.
ey strike?
~ in twenty
business.
L
ot publicly
.blic convenl1ing strictly
;t go to the
;reat deal of
y strict cona is there iunies in this
in the sense
nything you
~?
Yet it is
~n, the first
~d co-operacivilization
and exclu.on destroy
it if widely
perative Sot?
per cent. on
co-operation
ers and the
;vho .go from
?;° season?
~ they have
societies be
exist today '?
Lt r insta nces
3
VIII. Thou shall covet all the air and
sunsnine thou canst obtain.
IX. Because of the love thou bearest thy
children thou shalt provide clean homes
tor them.
X. Thou shalt not steal thy children's
right to health and happiness.
JUST BETWEEN US NEIGHBORS
By
GEORGE
w.
COLEMAN
Director of the Ford Hall Meetings
It was good to see so many familiar
fa ces on an opening night. ·
•
*
*
Miss Helen Todd, the noted leader ot
the woman suffrage movement in Catifornia, and lYri-. Ormiston Chant of England
.were among the distinguished strangers
. who were present last Sunday night. Both
of them were very deeply impressed by
the whole character of the meeting.
*
*
*
The opening of the seventh season at
Ford Hall gave no indication of any abatement in the intense interest that has prevailed almost from the beginning. In spite
of unfavorable weather and a six months'
intermission the work began jnst where it
stopped last April, without loss of attendance or enthusiasm.
,. *
*
In a recent Saturday issue the Boston
Transcript had a remarli;ably discerning
and generously appreciative editorial commending the Ford Hall meetings. It pointed
out the absolutely unsectarian character of
the enterprise and yet recognized the
) deeply religious tone underlying the work ..
It rega rds the educative force of these
meetings as incalculable, and says that
Ford Hall has evolved a new kind of
church-going which has no difficulty in filling pews. but rather in finding pews enough
for those who wish to fill them.
..
*
*
It takes power to run anything, even a
little magazine such as this. Is there steam
enough in t he Ford Hall people (that can
be controlled on this task) to make it go
the way our Sunday evening meetings go?
This magazine belongs to you both figuratively and literally. It can be made as
great ~ power on its own account as the
meetin g-s themselYes are. But that can
onl y be accomplished by each one doing
they feel themselves to be in their democratic inclusiveness and non-sectarian character that they hesitated not to accept the
second ecclesiastical edifice in importance
in Lausanne, the Church of St. Francis, as
their auditorium. This is the more surprising in that their meetings are devoid of
hymns, scripture reading and prayer.
Such "- movement reflects credit on th·e
church that is so reasonable and · tolerant
as well as upon the non-church-goers who
are so dead in earnest in their search for
truth. This new enterprise is called the
Fraternity of Men, and while they declare
themselves independent of churches and
Christian assocjations, they desire to work
in harmony with them, and they appeal to
all good men to help.
*
*
*
Parodies on scripture are sometimes in
very bad taste, to say the least. But the
neighborly version of the Ten Commandments as put out by the Brooklyn Bureau
of Charities breathes a wholesome spirit
and emphasizes some very valuable truths
in a new and striking way. Here it is:
I. Thou shalt honor thy neighborhood
and keep it clean.
·
·
II. Remember thy cleaning day and keep
it wholly.
III. Thou shalt take care of thy rubbish
heap, else thy neighbor will bear witness
against· thee.
IV. Thou shalt keep in order thy alley,
thy back yard, thy hall and thy stairway.
V. Thou shalt not let the wicked fly
breed.
VI. Thou sh< not kill thy neighbor by
ignoring fire menaces or by poisoning the
air with rubbish and garbage.
VII. Thou shalt not keep thy windows
closed day and night.
.I
LET US TR . ST OUR NEIGHBORS.
U
'
It is rather amusing to listen to people
who are so cocksure in giving their detinition·s of good and bad. Sometimes. they are
offensive in their self-righteousness, but generally they do little more than provoke _
laughter. Barney Bill, in one of William
J. Locke's stories, speaks much wisdom
when he says, speaking of his teetotaler
host, ·'He thinks good ctrink's bact oecause
bad has come of it to him-not that he ever
took a drop too much, mind yer-but bad
has come of it to him, and I t!J.ink good
drink's good because nothing but good has
come of it to me. And we've agreed to
differ. Ain't we, Silas?" And that is all we
can do, if we would have harmony and
neighborliness.
We have no. right to impose our beliefs and our definitions upon
others. Let us content ourselves with stating our beliefs frankly and trust our neighbors to use their own judgment as to what
is good and what is bad for them.
BEFORE SOCIALISM-WHAT?
(Continued from Page 1.)
could have in this country as much co-operation as there is in Denmark I should no
more fear socialism, anarchy, or communism than I should fear the Boston Public
Library, a prayer meeting, or Ford Hall. If
they ean beat us on the inside, God bless
them, but they have got to produce and
prove an economic superiority. · That is
what co-operation does.
- Take away with you this: co-operation
carries democracy all the way through. In
a larger and richer human system, we will
learn the value of the person who preserves things as well as that of the person
who ch an. :es thin 2'S.
2
Tt i~
nnt
nor>oC!C:•.l"r;h.,.
-
7
_ __ _ _ _ _ _ _
l
In a recent Saturday issue the Boston
Transcript had a remarkably discerning
and generously appreciative editorial commending the Ford Hall meetings. It pointed
out the absolutely unsectarian character of
, the enterprise and yet recognized the
s deeply religious tone underlying the work.
It regards the educative force of these
m.eetings as incalculable, and says that
· Ford Hall has evolved a new kind of
• church-going which has no difficulty in filling pews, but rather in finding pews enough
for those who wish to fill them.
•
*
*
It takes power to run anything, even a
little magazine such as this. Is there steam
enough in the Ford Hall people · (that can·
be controlled on this task) to make it go
the way our Sunday evening meetings go?
This magazine belongs to you both figuratively and literally. It can be made as
great a power on its own account as the
meetings themselves are. But that can
only be accomplished by each one doing
1,omething. ·wnat will you do?
*
*
Parodies on scripture are' sometimes in
very bs.d taste, to say the least. But the
neighborly version of the Ten Commandments as put out by the Brooklyn Bureau
of Charities· breathes a wholesome spirit
and emphasizes some very valuable truths
in a new and striking way. Here it is:
I. Thou shalt honor thy neighborhood
and · keep it clean.
· ·
II. Remember thy cleaning day and keep
it wholly.
III. Thou shalt take care of ·thy rubbish
heap, else thy neighbor will bear witness
against thee.
IV. Thou shalt keep in order thy alley,
thy back yard, thy _
hall and thy stairway.
V. Thou shalt · not let the wicked :fly
breed.
VI. Thou shs.lt not kill thy neighbor by
ignoring fire menaces or by poisoning the
air with rubbish and garbage.
VII. Thou shalt not keep thy windows
closed day and night.
Tomorrow!
*
It is interesting to watch the develop-
OMORROW the brunts and
·
bruises of Today will have become Yesterday's mere missteps, changing into the Wisdom that has its source in suffering.
Every sharp -stone in the pathway
of our Todays is but a test that tells
whether, on the morrow, we !;hall be
cringing or fighting men and women.
For he who gives up the ·s truggle
Today shall not taste of the sweets of
arrival Tomorrow.
Let us, then, be thankful for the
trials that are ours Today. Let us
welcome them as Experience--the fulcrum that steadies the lever of Accomplishment.
Tomorrow, Today's dregs of Circumstance may turn into the wine of
Success.
Tomorrow the thread that connects
us with wanted Happiness ma~- haYe
grown, through efforts delayed in
fruition, into a great cable.
Tomorrow the dead hopes of Today
shall spring into life anew, and with
the renewal shall come Faith and the ·
Dare to do.
Thank God for our Tomorrows!
Jerome P. Fleis·hman.
T
ment in other places of the idea that is behind the Ford Hall Meetings-the notion
of bringing together in a friendly spirit all
kinds of people to discuss frankly and
earnestly all manner of vital questions that
concern the welfare of the individual and
of society.
Within my own knowledge there are already meetings very much after this
stamp, though differing a good deal in
many ways, in Lowell, Melrose, West Roxbury and ·Newton, in Massachusetts; New
York City, Buffalo and Rochester, in New
York State; . in Montclair, N. J.; Grand
Rapids, Michigan; Manchester, New Hampshire ; Richmond, Va., and Chicago, Illinois.
I. would. be ve~ glad to receive particulars
concernmg any others.
Perhaps the most remarkable recent development of the Cooper Union and Ford
Hall idea is seen in a most unusual Sunday
afternoon meeting in Lausanne, Switzerland. Here, again, it is a meeting of all
kinds of people (though limited to men
only unfortunately), with chronic nonchurch-goers greatly in the majority. They
met at first in the ·Council Chamber of the
Cicy Hall, but the immediate popularity o!
the gatherings drew such large numbers
' that a bigger meeting place was made
necessary. And so firmly established did
others.
ing our
bors to
is good
...........
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BEFORE SOCIALISM-WHAT?
(Continued from Page 1.)
could have in this country as much co-operation as there is in Denmark I should no
more fear socialism, anarc~y, or communism than I should fear the Boston Public
Library, a prayer meeting, or Ford Hall. If
they ean beat us· on the inside, God bless
them, but they have got to produce and
prove an economic superiority. · That is
what co-operation does.
Take away with you this: co-operation
carries democracy all the way through. In
.a larger and richer human system, we will.
learn the value of the person who preserves things as well as that of the person
who changes things. It is not necessarily
a virtue to be more radical than anyone
else.
The conservative is as valuable a
man as the radical; order and stability are
as valuable as progress; and we are going
to keep them all. Two miners were caught
by some falling coal and for two days
struggled desperately to dig themselves
out.
Finally they escaped.
Then one
looked around and said, "Bill it is all up
with us; the sun is going down, and we
can't stand another night." But Bill answered, "Thank God, Jim, the sun isn't
going down, it's coming up, and it is morning." Of co-operation, too, I say, let us
hope that it may be morning.
BRUNO MFG. CO.
Established 1892
Parfun1erie
Tonics of fine
ounce, $1.00.
from a dram
Call on us.
Francaise, Po,vders, Creams, Hair
quality. Perfumes worth $3.00 per
Those worth Sl.00, 50c. We sell
to a gallon to you at wholesale.
21A TEMPLE ST., BOSTON, MASS . .
Back of State House, 2 minutes from Ford Hall.
JUST OUT!
The Romance of the American Theatre
By MARY CAROLINE CRAWFORD
(Secr etary of the Ford Hall Meetings.)
This book about plays, pla yhouses and players
ba s. also. :1 chapter dealing with the social
d ram,, of our own d a y. Sixty illustrations.
For sale at all book-sellers.
.• ':~'--
uJ..J..:,
Let us content ourselves with statbeliefs frankly and trust our neighuse their own ju_
dgment as to what
and what is bad for them.
Price $2.50.
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