Title
- Ayer Annual1 not included
- Content: collectivist (The Equality Colony of Skagit County)
- Established: 1898
- Pages: 4
- Size: 15 x 22 in.
- Editor: none listed
- Publisher: The Brotherhood of the Cooperative Commonwealth
- Frequency: Weekly
- Coverage
- Region: Northwest
- County: Skagit
- Unique ids
- LCCN: sn88085617
- OCLC: ocm18032509
Digitization plan
2008-2009 grant
History
- Continues: na
- Related titles: na
Essay Draft
The Bro
therhood of
the Cooperative Commonwealth (BCC) emerged from
the ruins of William Jennings Bryan's 1896 presidential campaign. Leaders Norman Wallace Lermond and Ed Pelton of Maine decided that
the best way to convert
the United States to a Socialist system would be to start a network of communes in a sparsely populated state and peacefully gain control of
the state government through elections. One
the nation observed
the general prosperity possibly under a Socialist system
the entire country would soon follow
their example.
The plan was endorsed my leaders in
the radical community. Because
the state had ample natural resources, a fair climate, and a population generally sympa
thetic to liberal causes, Washington was chosen as
the site for this experiment.
The Equality Colony was founded in September 1897 near
the town of Edison.
The national headquarters of
the BCC opened offices in Edison in 1898.
Though some local papers had been courteous toward
the colonists, o
ther reports had been less favorable. In order to better communicate with
the outside world and with members of
the BCC who did not live in Washington
the group decided to publish
Industrial freedom. Lermond purchased a double cylinder press in late April of 1898. George E. Boomer, a former staff member of
the Socialist weekly
Appeal to Reason soon arrived in Edison work as pressman. 7,000 copies of
the first issue were printed on May 7, 1898. William McDevitt served as editor-in-chief. Boomer contributed columns under
the pseudonym "Uncle Sam," and Bige Eddy of Olympia, Washington contributed "Musing of a Mossback." Subscription were sold by traveling agitator Louis Klamoth and official correspondent W. C. B. Randolph.
The content of
Industrial freedom included "Colony Notes," news of events at Equality, but
the true aim of
the paper was to educate Socialists and advance
the interests of
the BCC.
The editors borrowed some content from o
ther Socialist papers. In June 1899
the post office changed
the rate of postage for
Industrial Freedom from second to third class. At this time
the paper changed its name to
Freedomuntil
the problem was resolved in April 1900. On March 1, 1901
the paper became a monthly, ra
ther than weekly, publication.
The Equality colony started strong it did not prove to be viable and
the state of Washington did not become a Socialist utopia. Economic conditions in
the United States improved and skilled were lured away from
the colony by
the promise of higher wages. By 1903 Industrial freedom had ceased publication, and
the colony officially disbanded in 1907.
Essay Notes
Research
- N.W. Ayer & Son's American newspaper annual - not included
- NDNP Candidate Title List (Appendix A1.2)
- Chronicling America record (LOC) - Industrial Freedom
- WorldCat record - Industrial Freedom
- UW Catalog Record - Industrial Freedom
- WSL record - Industrial Freedom
- Article about Equality Colony
- History Link article on Equity Colony
- LeWarne, C. P. (1975). Utopias on Puget Sound, 1885-1915. Seattle: University of Washington Press.
Top - Smith, F. E., & Lowe, F. M. (1988). Equality Colony. Sacramento CA?: F.M. Lowe?. ]
Reel
- Filmed by: UW
- Positives held by: UW
- Negatives held by: UW
- Call Number: A6841
- 1 reel: 1898-1901
Evaluation
See
Industrial Freedom eval spreadsheets (Google)Totals
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