Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About The morning Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1899-1930 | View Entire Issue (June 14, 1908)
SUNDAY, JUNK 11, 1008 THE ''MORNING. ASTORIAN, ASTORIA, OREGON. 13 A jmukil;j'S EAR LIEST ANARCHIST The Man Who Invented the Cylinder Print ing Press Was the Father of the Cult of Peaceful and Philosophical Anarchism Reminisccnses of Josiali Warren's Cel ebrated "Equity" Stores and Com munities of an Earlier Generation UOSTON, June 13, l'M-WIm the juiiircliUt are lum become pretty well known in the patt lew weeks. Uncle Sunt ha been buy discovering some of tboitc whoce (lipitition i ittont violent. Mom American have tin doubtedfy approval hi activity nguinut the Red, Jut what anarchiini is, though, i Mill unappreciated ty ninety-nine people nut of a hundred, That it to my, philosophical anarch bin, although it hat existed a a phi losophy of life for countlm centuries nnd under it present specific name for a good many yearn, is not popu ylirly understood, Most people think f of it u having dome connection with inflammatory oratory and bomb throwing They don't associate it with Mich men a Tolstoy, Ibsen, Walt Whitman,' William Lloyd Har rison and many others who have tmt been wild eyed fanatics, but who, have believed so thoroughly in the free dom of the individual that they have itood opposed to what is called "coer clve authority." Such men believe that in power there I a quality which lead to its abuse and that the ideal condition is one in which enlightened teb'i',hness and intelligence make each individual a law to himself. It s the fashion to speak of anarch ism at a foreign and un-American product, Very few people seem to be aware that the founder of the cult of philosophical anarchism . wa an American, a 'member of one of the most famous families of Massachu setts, a man of strictly moral ami helpful life, and a mechanical genius to whom we owe, among other inven tions, that of the cylinder ores, which throw hundred of newspapers in less than it took the old flat press to print ten. This very able American, Joiah Warren, born "in Boston in 1T98, and resident during a consider able jart of hi career in and. near Cincinnati, has had very little atten tion in" the books on American history and it is only very recently that a little biography, written by William flaillc, a. Boston manufacturer, who is especially interested in the doc trines of philosophical anarchism, has thrown much new light on a most rcmakable chaacte of the nine teenth century, one whose theories and observations had a large influence upon such F.nglish leaders a Robert Dale Owen, John Stuart .Mill and Herbert Sncncer. Personally, Josiah Warren was, of ooursc, a very differ ent kind of anarchist from the fierce reds of France, the story of whose N strained relations with the police has lately been described graphically by Alvan'F. Sanborn in his "Paris and the Social Revolution," the best book ever written on the subject of the foreign brands of anarchism against which President Roosevelt's activities have been directed. Warren, who was a versatile Yankee individualist of the same stock as the hero of Bunker' Hill battle, was a man whom no one would have wanted to deport, even if there had boon an anti-anarchist agi tation in' his day. He simply carried to its logical conclusion the belief of Thomas Jefferson and the anti-federalist leaders of our .early history to the effect that that government is best which governs least. His favorite doctrine was that "Everyone should be free to dispost of his reputation . as he pleases, but always at his own cost." He claimed that "man seeks freedom as the magnet seeks the pole or water its level, and society can have no peace until every member is really free." Mr. Baillie's investiga tions, .recalling very interesting in cidents in the history of - what was xthen the far West, show that although Josiah Warren was not by nature a great organizer, his undertakings were much more successful than the socialistic and communistic ventures which were popular back in the nine teenth century and which without ex ception failed ' because they did not ' take into account the differences which Nature has established among individuals. Tn Cinclnnatti, where Mr. Warren got his start in life as a manufacturer of lamps, he opened on May 18, 1827, the first "equity store," designed to illustrate what he called the "cost principle.". This, was known as the "Time store'' because of a peculiar mid original method adopted' to fix and egulate the amount of the mer chant's compensation.-' All' good had a certain price which was fixed by their cost in money together with a fair ltinding charge to cover the run ning expenses of the store and then a (.barge win also made for a much of the merchant' time as was con mined in making the purchase. In- it v; va'warv , ?b ; -i i JOSIAIf WARREN. , Inventor of the cylinder printing press and founder of the cult dl Philosophical Anarchism, From a has relief. cideiit were not unknown of econom ical persons grabbing for goods from the counter and getting off with only one cent' worth of the merchant's time. In payment for the time service the customer ordinarily gave his labor note, something after this form: "Due to Josiah Warren on demand thirty minutes in carpenter work. John Smith," After Mr.Smith had ac cumulated notes representing, say, half a day's work he would be en gaged by Mr. Warren to make need ed repairs at the store or in his, house. Profit in the ordinary sense of the word was eliminated, and yet there was f.but'dr.nt incentive to the merch ant to exert himself to 'increase his buMiiess. The equity store was, successful, was iniated clscwlnwc, and many of the principles laid down by Mr. War ren have been put into practice by the great department stores of today. On account, however, of his personal feeling aga.inst land speculation ami because the store was located on land which he had leased from Nicholas I.ongwortli for ninety-nine years, and which was likely to make him a rich man without his giving an equivalent service to the community, he enter prise wa s given up. ' Later, in the midst of various activ ities as a manufacturer and inventor Mr. Warren was concerned in the establishment of several "equity com munities," the most famous of which was that at Brentwood, Long Island, where a little group of individuals settled on a desolate tract of land covered with scrub-oak, and built a village community which has bad a very considerable degree of prosper ity. The original pioneers were hardy people who believed thoroughly in Mr. Wnrren's idea of self help and in dividual initiative i and who in a sur prisingly short time provided them selves with homes and some of the comforts of life. Later as a result of sensational publicity given to the enterprise by the New York papers, the colony found itself almost over whelmed with cranks, ignorant of the ideas on which the village was found ed. True, however to the principle of philosophical anarchism which gives equal rights to all in natural oppor tunities the pioneers refrained from taking any steps toward excluding the newcomers, so long as they did not invade the rights of others. ; The invaders unquestionably how ever, hurt the cause of the individual ists. As Mr. Warren himself wrote: "One man began to advocate plurality of wives and published a paper to support hi view; another believed clothing to be a Mtpcrfluityv and not only attempted to practice bis Adam ic theories in person, but inflicted his viewt upon hit hapless children. A woman with an ungainly form dis playcr herself in public, in men's attire which gave rise to newspaper com ment that: 'The women dressed in men's clothe and looked hideous.' Still another young woman had the diet 'mania w severely that after lin ing upon beans without salt until re duced to a skeleton she died within a year," The burdens which the real settler at Brentwood had to bear on account of these unbalanced persons were very real but because they respected the rights of others and accorded liberty to do even the silliest things, knowing that experience and the principle which allows uch things to be done at each one's own cost, would work the surest cure, they never in terfered. The financial depression of 18S7 bankrupted the paper box manufact ory wlu'ch one member had establish ed at Brentwood as a means of pro viding work for others and of making a living for himself. After that indus trial conditions caused many of the pioneers and most of the cranks to leave, although the co-operative tend encies of the little community and the pleasant external features of Brent wood have lasted down to this time, two or three of the original pioneers still surviving. Mr. Warren himself, although greatly interested in theories of in dividual initiative and although very practical and competent so far as his own work was concerned, had the weakness of his qualities in that he lacked the gift of leadership. This lack, together with the difficulty of co-ordnating the activities of a srm.il community with a big business world run on extremely different principles, is held by Mr. Baillic to account for the circumstance that while his F.quity villages never failed dismally as communistic and socialistic at tempts have failed, none of them has proved an unqualified success. His press in the years 1830 to 1832 was his rnosj monumental achievement. Improved methods of stereotyping al so received a great deal of his atten tion about 1840 to 1845, and the pro cssess which he invented are now in use in the finer classes of stereotype work. He died at Princeton, Massa chusetts, in 1874. The conceptions which now go under the name of "philosophical an archism" spread from Mr. Warren's few public addresses and scattered writings to England and other coun tries, where the American idea of ac complishing results through individ ual effort and voluntary association instead of by governmental fiat ap pealed strongly to advanced original thinkers. In a letter written toward the end of his life Mr. Warren sum med up his philosophy of society in the following statement: "Almost with fear and trembling I ventured years ago to offer one, on condition that I should preserve my freedom to change it whenever 'increasing know ledge' should show its defects: and I gave the 'SOVEREIGNTY OF EVERY INDIVIDUAL over his or her Person, Time, Property, and Responsibilities'; and here I add, Rep utation." That is the kind of anarch ism which first grew up on American soil. Sore Nipples. Any mother who has had exper ience with this distressing ailment will be pleased to know that a cure may be effected by applying Chamberlain's Salve as soon as the child is done nursing. Wipe it off with a soft cloth before allowing the babe to nurse. Many trained nurses use this salve with best results. For sale by Frank Hart and leading druggists. THOUGHTLESSNESS CRUELTY, Most of the cruelty of the world is thoughtless cruelty. Very few people would intentionally add to another's load or make his burden in life heav ier or his path rougher. Most of the great heart-wounds are infficted . by thoughtless thrusts, flung out often in a moment of anger, when perhaps, we were too proud to apologize or td try to heal the 'grievous wounds we had made. Can anything be more cruel than to discourage a soul who is struggling to do the best he can, to, throw stum bling blocks in the path of those who are trying to get on in the world against great odds? No life is the same after you have once touched it. Will you leave a ray of hone or one of despair, a flash of light or a somber cloud across some dark life each day? Will you by thoughtless cruelty deepn the shadow which hangs over the life, or will you WW luilk rw haps Our Oxfords Are the Bel. We Think They Are. The styles or the workmanship could not be better. Every woman likes them so much daintiness--so much beauty about them. Oxfords in patent kid, Corona kid and colt skin. The new Golden Brown Tans also Lace, blucher or button. Handsome creations in ribbon ties with French or buckle Cuban heels. . Oxfords should be fitted correctly. We are experts at fitting. No gaping or slipping when we do the Oxford fitting. ASTORIA'S BEST SHOE 479 Commercial St. ' M Mt ;) era F . . .... :.'. ' J hrT) TV W M rdiS Mr Grays River, Win Siatarday Eve., j Dance Will Be Given in Meserve's New FLOOR MANAGERS: Jack Malone, Music Will Be i Tickets for Dance, $1; Including Supper, $1.50 ;; THE STEAMER WENONIA WILL RUN AN EXCURSION FROM ASTORIA, LEAVING CAL LENDER DOCK AT 3:30 P. M. Will call at Knappton and all way points, arriving at Grays River ;; at 7:00 O'Clock P. M. ' , . A PICNIC DINNER will be served during the day in the beautiful park; a patriotic program is being j; prepared for the occasion by the Dramatic Club. All are invited to come. ( , 'by kindness dispel it altogether? No matter how you feel or what is dis- turbing your peace of mind, never 1 We Never Sold Women's Oxfords as FasT: as We Are Now 4 Selling Them.. Per I 1QOS - :: - AT Hall Sailing, Frank Sorensen Furnished By Grays River Orchestra t W. N. MESERVE .!'.' allow yourself to send out a dis- couraging, a cruel or an unkind word or thought. Success Magazine. 0) 11 J y 1 1 " STORE Astoria Oregon r - : :- July 4 M. Sverdrup, O. P. ' Subscribe for the Morning Astorian, 60 cents per month. Contains all the Associated Press reports and locaL FT3 Cl.D