THE WEALTH PRODUCING AND DISTRIBUTING SOCIETY.
We, the members of this society, consider life, liberty, and happiness sacred beyond all other earthly considerations.
Therefore we protect life, we liberate human beings from the bondage that money holds over them, we make it possible for them to secure homes and a pension that never can be taken away from them as long as they live.
In securing this much for them we believe that we are laying the foundation for their happiness.
Each member, as they sign their names promising to keep the laws and rules of the society, must remember that they are binding themselves to protect the life, liberty and happiness of all members. As the society holds all wealth in trust for the members its laws are enforced to protect their interests.
Each member is expected to know the value of wealth in comparison with money. They must recognize that money is only a medium of exchange and that the shares of the society represent their wealth earned by labor, and that the society is the only source in which labor can be protected sufficiently to ensure homes and a pension.
In joining the society all must agree to the following rules and regulations and in no wise can any become members without doing so:
I hereby promise to keep all rules laid down by the wealth producing and wealth distributing society.
In using the society’s property in the pursuance of labor or pleasure, its waterways or conveyances, or anythingin connection with said society, I promise to protect it from law suits or any other unnecessary expense or trouble. I take my own risk as to accidents and will in no wise injure the said society by appealing to the law of the country.
I hereby agree to take the society’s shares, scrip, produce, or other commodities in exchange for my labor or money expended in shares, and will in no case exact coin from said society.
I hereby take oath that all money I place with the society is legally mine.
I also agree to give up to the society my shares either bought with money or labor in case of any law suit brought against me. I do this to protect said society.
I agree to abide by the decision of the officers in charge of the society in all cases of disagreement.
I promise that I will not employ those outside of the society to perform any labor for me if I can find what I need in the society and that whenever possible I will buy from the members of the society.
Any member breaking these rules also agrees to forfeit all claim on said society. Members may sell their shares to other members, but cannot withdraw them from the society, because each share represents the strength in the society’s structure, in the same way as the bricks in the wall of a building. If bricks were taken out of the building it would soon fall. The same with the shares; they must remain intact because the money and labor that these shares represent was used to build the members’ home, to ensure employment and a pension when too old to labor.
Each member pays $1.00 per year for general expenses, then agrees to buy at least one permanent share each year at $12.00 per share. Permanent shares represent allbuildings on the land belonging to the Colony as well as improvements. When a member has sufficient permanent shares to entitle him to live in an apartment building or hotel he is exempt from paying taxes or rent, and when he has sufficient consumable shares to justify the society in awarding him a pension he will be independent for life.
All money and labor is invested in permanent shares to buy materials, to build factories, hotels, apartment houses, land or machinery that will be permanent, fruit trees, etc. Members who had homes of their own could buy sufficient consumable shares to ensure them an income. Then as many permanent shares as would be required to allow them to live in an apartment house. It wouldn’t exempt them from paying the regular $1.00 per year for general expenses except in cases where the whole amount had been paid to insure them an income for life.
Scrip was issued with the consent of the officers in charge and only issued to the amount of their security. The signature of the president, secretary and cashier was necessary to make it legal.
It was issued for the purpose of exchange among members. It paid for any kind of labor done for the society, the president having power to issue sufficient to satisfy the demand of its members.
One benefit of scrip is that it cannot be stolen nor can it be issued by any one except those appointed by the society and it must be for value received.
As nearly all members lived in the city and were paid in coin for their labor in the beginning of the Colony, money was as plentiful as scrip and could always be exchanged. This society having its central Colony within thirty miles of the city, made it easier to exchange either its scrip or produce. The city members had money to buyeither shares or produce. The manager of the Colony having the land secured by the membership fee each year could secure all labor by issuing scrip. He could buy from the farmers in large quantities at wholesale the first year or until he was able to grow the food that the members needed; he could then sell to them in exchange for the scrip he issued for their labor, at retail market prices if he employed them. If he sold to the city members they would have money to pay; this money he could use to buy from outside dealers such articles as the Colony could not produce at first.
Special apartments were used for the aged. They were quiet and restful. No children were allowed in the buildings. There were several parlors where they could meet each other when socially inclined, but their own rooms were private. In the beginning of the society some of these old people contributed the best of their furniture towards fitting up these parlors. The society bought them, allowing their value to go on their shares, besides they contributed their tables and chairs for the dining room. Elevators were used on all the floors so as to make it easy for them to go up and down. Separate sections were used for lone men and women. The men’s parlors were fitted up so they could smoke or rest, read, or talk and make themselves comfortable in their own way, only men were allowed in them. The women’s apartments were separated from the men’s by those used by the aged married couples, the married people using those situated in the center.
As the buildings were built the length of the street, this was an easy matter. The public dining room was all in one, but each family or group of friends used tables by themselves. Their own homes and freedom tolive as they wished was the object the majority had in view.
In some instances young married people also used apartments in these buildings if they had no children.
One large public parlor for both men and women was on the lower floor and was used at first for entertainments. All the parlors were furnished with good, comfortable chairs, rugs, pictures, draperies, etc., not necessarily new, but in as good order. The main object being to have them homelike and cozy.
The society was able to reach a larger number by practicing these economies and it helped these old members to dispose of their things when they first joined the society. Five hundred dollars enabled one person to secure one room and a small pension for life after they were sixty-five years of age with all privileges allowed in the apartment buildings. This did not include their board, but gave them more freedom in their choice of food and besides they could use the scrip issued for clothing or any purpose. They could cook their own food if they wished or buy it already cooked.
As the aged had no social homes provided for them the society found it could supply that difficulty by accepting members over 65 years of age for not less than $300. This amount would allow them one room, heat, light and their laundry done, or where two occupied one room it was $500 for their lifetime. This included their board. They were expected to find their own furniture, bedding, etc., and attend to their own rooms and wait upon themselves unless they were ill. After their demise if any means was left it went to the society.
Five hundred dollars was the lowest sum accepted where a pension was granted, and that only secured a small room. One thousand dollars secured a larger andbetter room and a larger pension. The age of the person made a difference also and these figures are only given to indicate possibilities that would suit all kinds of people. The apartments were also arranged so that the people could be classified. They could change their apartments if they wished also. This low amount is stated to encourage those of small means and help all to secure homes.
The society’s apartment hotels were built to accommodate not only wealthy people but those of refinement, who had only a small amount of money. Small rooms could be found in all the buildings as well as large. They were built in different localities to suit the habits and tastes of all. The main idea being to secure the people against fraud and robbery by the failing of so many insurance companies, banks, and mortgages or where their savings had been placed, and to secure all from poverty, from the infant to the aged person.
Men and women who had been accustomed to give a percentage of their wages each week in times of strikes, found that it was as easy to pay the same amount into the society for shares, for the money that secured shares was not lost even though the depositor failed to keep it up. It was safer than in a bank also and drew a better interest even than if it was on a mortgage. The small amount accepted (twenty-five cents per week) brought it within the reach of all industrious people. The advantage of free burial in case of death, besides their being able to sell the whole amount of shares in case of sickness, or disaster, was appreciated. The money so invested could not be lost to the depositor, because it was either invested in land, buildings, or other valuable properties that secured it. Never before in history had the people’s savings been so perfectly secured to them; nomatter how large or small the amount. People gave up their life insurances and when they lived in the Colony even their fire insurance, because the society was sufficient assurance for everything connected with their lives. Those who were saving money to buy homes invested it in permanent shares because the shares earned for them $1.20 each year, per share, which amounted to $6.00 each single share in five years. In this way two shares bought one more in five years with its interest alone. (As it had to stand five years before being added to the principal it did not earn compound interest.) Those who wished to secure homes within a limited time and whose income was small could do so with less money than in any other way. For they could secure shares entitling them to use one room or as many as they could afford. Inexpensive apartment houses were built first so as to meet the demand of the majority who would be employed. The members lived in the apartments and paid rent for them when they couldn’t pay for them in shares; but if they lived there five years that rent was allowed on the shares.
Apartment houses were built instead of cottages, for many reasons. They were cooler in summer, and could be heated better and with less expense in winter. They also afforded protection to lone women, as night and day watchmen kept guard in the halls.
Some apartments had small kitchens so as to meet the demands of all the people, but many used the public ones, for each could have their own stoves, etc., and the persons in charge kept them clean. The majority, however, bought their food already cooked or left their orders each day with the cooks in charge. All apartments had large windows and porches. They were built the length of the street, the streets being shorter than usual, so as tomake the gates that opened into the houses on the ground floor convenient to go through with the steam wagons or automobiles.
This track was used to bring everything into the building, the main doors being kept in better order by this method. The kitchens and dining-rooms were on the lower floor or basement as they were called and were on one side of the track, the other side being used for store rooms. This arrangement kept everything unsightly (such as many back dooryards are) from the gaze of the curious and enabled the apartment windows to face the street with its flowers and trees on each side in summer.
They were built facing east and west, so that all occupying them could benefit by the sun’s rays and yet be protected from the intense heat in summer from the south side, or from the severe cold in winter on the north side.
The public parlors and library were at the end of each upper floor. The inexpensive apartment houses were built not only to last for ages but to give comfortable homes to its inmates. They were built plainly but of material that gave them a superior appearance. As the society owned the buildings, the members could secure better apartments as they increased their shares, or as soon as a better grade was built. Apartment hotels were built in modern style to accommodate those of large means and who wished to secure their money by investing it in the society’s shares. Money so invested proved to be absolutely safe besides returning a better interest, and whether a small amount or large it came to the member (without any annoyance or delay) either weekly, monthly or quarterly.
All members had to be truthful and honest in their dealings or they could not receive titles. Only titledmembers had votes on the regulations and rules pertaining to the society.
Members were allowed $100 on their shares for every new member they presented if the member thus secured remained in the society two years and paid all dues.
This percentage was added towards the purchasing of shares for the member who presented the new member.
Many members secured shares in this way that helped them eventually to have homes that they could never have in any other way.
Members could build tent houses for summer use by paying rent for the land.
Members who lived on the land controlled by the society had the benefit of free burial when they lived in the Colony two years, and had paid for two shares (these shares were used to partly pay the expense, the society paying the balance); this was only done when the members were buried in the Colony’s burying ground or cemetery.
All members who intended leaving their shares after their demise to any one except to the society had to make a will to that effect, or the society claimed the right to use the value of such shares for the benefit of the aged members who were unable to provide all they required. All shares left with the society by members who dropped out and did not sell them was used for the same purposes in five years after the last payment was made.
When any member left children or any one dependent upon them they were expected to secure their shares to them, and if the children were young the society held said shares until the children became members entitling them to the privileges, or it used the amount for their care until they were old enough to work. In such casesthe society or some member adopted the children and became responsible for them.
Many children were adopted by the society when their mothers had been left destitute. These children were provided for by a special fund for that purpose. It took care of them until they were old enough to provide for themselves, but they were then bound to return to the fund a percentage of their earnings each day to keep up the same advantages for other children situated as they had been. Children adopted by the society were not taken away from their parents as they were from private persons, for the parent could live in the Colony, but the society could compel the children to live in the Colony until they had repaid it for any expense incurred in their childhood.
All young people who were employed by the society left a percentage of their earnings to be used for present necessities for either the aged or children, then they were exempt to the amount as well as the interest that would accrue from buying consumable shares, for the rising generation could do the same for them in their old age. This was one of the greatest advantages in the society, after the first generation of children were grown, for by that time the society knew the average expense of supporting each member.
The amount each member had to pay was so small that a large number invested their savings in factories. The stock was five dollars. That gave all a chance to invest. The poor man or woman who had their savings in the bank or those who lived on the investment of money, all had a chance to secure better interest. You see there was no risk. The market was already secured. Every member was interested.
Every dollar’s worth sold had to be by a member appointedby the President and approved by the members. For ten per cent on every dollar’s worth had to be allowed the society for securing the market. Ten per cent had to be allowed the member who bought from them also, but was not paid them in coin but added to the shares. That made it cheaper to them than advertising. The company had to employ the society’s members. Factories were started in the city, but only remained there until they were built in the Colony.
A committee of members could build a factory on the land secured by the society free from ground rent if it could be done without their going in debt, for no materials unpaid for could be brought upon the society’s land. This rule was made to prevent law suits that would endanger the society.
These members were allowed to make all they could out of it, within the rules, for a certain number of years, but had to sell to the society when the time was up, at the cost price of labor and materials, etc.
One or more people would take up the different branches and were given the exclusive right to sell to the society as long as they kept within the rules. The rules were that a member was to receive ten per cent on every dollar’s worth of goods they bought. This percentage was to be added to their shares. All goods to be sold at a price regulated by a committee of members and those who were investing in the enterprise. Dry goods of all kinds were represented, hardware, crockery, etc. A general overseer was appointed to see that a right percentage was paid to the society for securing the customers.
Three men started a hat factory, for both men and women’s hats. They were given the exclusive right tomanufacture them as long as they kept within the rules of the society.
Two women started the millinery department. Four others dressmaking. Three men did tailoring, others took charge of the shoe department, all using their own capital, each group paying their share of the rent. Every line of business was represented that the members required.
It gave all a chance to invest their savings. As each business venture enlarged so that more partners were required to run it, the society took charge of it. In every instance those who started the business and had brought it to that point, were given charge of it at a percentage that paid them more than it would to keep on alone. The society had to pay cash for everything that it controlled; so did the members when they sold under the society’s patronage. If there was no debt there was no danger of the society being wrecked.
In all the large department stores several salesmen and saleswomen saw the advantage to themselves in co-operation with the society and soon such stores were started in the cities. They realized their benefits and determined to secure homes and pensions without delay. Each department was represented by those that understood the business. The money that had been kept in the banks was withdrawn and the days of small beginnings had returned once more.
It was a satisfaction that no one could become rich from their labor except those who were co-operative with them. The people lived more simply, the chief aim being to live honorable, truthful lives; to gain titles that showed friends and strangers who and what they were was worth more to them than all the flash and make-believes that had contented them in days gone by.
The society found it cheaper to make good roads with the labor of crowded-out men than to use the old system of cars. Automobile cars that carried coal and grain, as well as every kind of produce, spoke loud and plainly as to the price they were going to pay those magnates of commerce.
Wealth beyond what each could use was only foolishness. It was almost as bad as giving their labor away. They received honors when they donated wealth to the society for the benefit of little children, invalids, or the aged. Young people were given extra advantages who cheerfully helped those who belonged to them and who were unable to do all for themselves, but no member was allowed to support another if that other was better able to work for themselves than the one who was doing it. The society gave employment to all healthy men and women who were members and paid their dues. All being consumers, they helped to keep the scrip in circulation. In the beginning of the society many city members sent their aged parents to the colony to live. It gave them a chance to do light work when they were able, and their permanent shares could be added to those members at the old peoples’ death.
Those who held highest rank were always given the best offices. They also controlled the councils, because they gained their titles for honesty and truthfulness first, then for special services to the society, bravery in times of danger, self-denial in giving up their wealth for the love of the people. Merit, not money, ruled. Often those who held the highest titles saw that someone besides themselves were better fitted for the duties that naturally came to them. In those cases the best person was appointed of either sex. No one could hold an important office that had not received a title, nor could they in anyway be placed over members who had proved themselves superior.
The object of giving titles was to place the best members in control. Money had ruled so long and so unjustly that it was necessary to place the members in positions that they would be honored for their integrity. So the custom was established at the beginning of the society. All knew what to expect when they joined and could not complain if they saw a certain class preferred to themselves. No person’s honesty was taken as a matter of course. The business of all concerned had to be constantly under the supervision of committees formed each month to audit the accounts, receive complaints, and settle disputes. It is a well-known fact the world over that some people are always in trouble. That kind know nothing else and they must be weeded out of the association, otherwise they will cause a dissatisfaction that no power can stop if let run on. They are like a small fire that can be controlled in the beginning. Compel such people to sell their shares if reasoning fails to bring them to their senses. The greatest good to the largest number must always prevail. There is nothing so contagious as unreasoning discontent among a mixed people.
Patience is necessary in all walks in life, but was never needed more than in becoming accustomed to the new forms of government. So many would forget and fall back to the old ways at first, and those who were careless were nearly always jealous of the persevering members who surpassed them.
The scale of wages was the same as union men and women received in factories outside of the society, even if the hours were less per day, excepting in cases of piece work that was done by old or infirm people, who only worked as they were able at any time.
The pensions paid to members for the first ten years were according to dividends earned in the factories, etc., in which their money or labor was invested. After ten years it was increased, but at no time could it be decreased.
Ten per cent each year was paid for interest on these shares until the pension was paid, but had to be left to accumulate with the society until then. When a member begins to draw a pension the amount will have to be according to the number of shares and the age of the members when the first allowance is paid. When a pensioner begins to draw his pension at forty-five years of age, it will be less than if they did not draw it till they were fifty-five or sixty years of age, for the amount of shares will have to be divided so that they will last at least until the member is seventy-five years old.
This does not mean that the pension will cease at that age, for it will be paid as long as the member lives.
To protect itself the society had to make rules to pay pensions, according to the members’ shares, but it was found by practice that such large amounts were donated for this purpose that their shares were much larger than their personal shares represented.
This rule had to be made during the first generation, but after the first generation of children had the advantage of being provided with homes and an education in childhood, and regular employment in mature years, the society was able to pension them at forty-five years of age, because it had the whole benefit of their labors until that time. In winter we had the machinery so arranged that it could either run the weaving of cotton or the different kinds of materials just by adjusting a certain lever of machinery. In this way we kept men and women employed all the time, securing at least eight hours a dayto all who needed it. At night the white materials were woven when practical and night workers were given shorter hours with the same pay as the day workers. In this way all were secured steady employment, for the same was done with every kind of factory work. In the summer a large percentage of these people were given different employment. Some went to the wheat fields, others to the cotton plantations, for the steam carriages made it possible, or the fruit farms, etc. The first few years it was necessary to work just as many hours in the society as out of it; as soon as all the exchanges were complete the hours were shortened, and those who were not able to work so long each day, even at the first, were given less to do, for the society never was a money scheme but a protection to labor. At the same time those who only worked three or four hours a day got that much less for their labor. It had to be that way at first or idle people would have shirked their responsibilities. This put a stop to overproduction in all lines of goods. All had a large field of employment to choose from and nearly all were satisfied, at least all were better satisfied than they had been before they joined the society.
At the end of five years the society owned the first land that it had built upon and all the industries on it, besides. Then dividends were granted to members, either in permanent or consumable shares, according to the amount they had at the time. The society holding the right to keep in its possession sufficient money or script to increase the standing wealth. The dividends were secured to the first members at this time to reward them for trusting its management and giving the society its impetus. It showed the value of small beginnings and taught a lesson in co-operation among the members in the most practical way.
THE END OF THE RULES.
THE END OF THE RULES.
THE END OF THE RULES.