I
The Peoples Voice
VOL. 5.
NORMAN. CLEVELAND COUNTY, OKLAHOMA. FRIDAY, JULY 23. 1807.
NO 52
WORTH WHILE.
Tta wicy enough to b* ple&nant
When Uf« flows along like * ttong; [winlle
But the man worth while In the one who will
When everything goemletul wrong;
For the teat of the heart l« trouble,
An<1 It alwayt* come* with the years,
AnU the muile that la worth the pralae of earth
la the fewile that comet* through tears.
It la easy enough to be prudent
When nothing tempts you to stray,
When without or within no voice of sin
Is luring your soul away ;
Hut it's only a negative virtue
Until It iatrle<l by Are,
Anil the life that Is worth the honor of ea
Is th« one that resists Ueklre.
lty the cynic, thesa<l, and the fallen,
Who had no strength for the strife,
The world's highway la cumbered today ;
Hut they make up the Item of life.
But the virtue that conquers passion.
And the sorrow that htdea In a smile —
It la thcae that arc worth the homaga of earth,
For we flud them but once In a while.
— Ella Wheeler Wilcox
THE RUSKIN COLONY.
From the New York World.
A unique colony of people lives
about fifty miles northwest of Nash
ville, Tenn. They have sought this
retired spot, where they are attempt-
ing to work out quietly a social
problem. Socialism is their "relig-
ion;" they practice what Fourier
and Bellamy preached.
They contend that all actual wealth
is the result of the application of
labor to natural bounty, and, having
secured almost inexhaustible natural
bounty, they propose to apply their
labor to it and retain in the hands
of the producers the products of la-
bor, declaring also that nothing will
go out in the way of interest on
capital. As they will not be taxed
on every exchange of the products
of labor, they will retain the entire
products of their labor to be enjoyed
by themselves. Neither will they be
wage-slaves, living in constant fear
of poverty.
Their colony has been established
under the most favorable conditions.
If this people, under these condi-
tions cannot succeed, then Social-
ism by sections—independent of na-
tional Socialism—is a failure. The
name of the colony is the Ruskin
Co-operative Association. It is lo-
cated in Yellow Creek valley, one
of the most healthful and beautiful in
Tennessee.
The colony owns 1,509 acres of
land, possessing almost every natur-
al resource. With the exception of
the metals, these people have in
abundance the raw material for the
manufacture of almost everything
necessary to the physical comfort of
man, with the skill, intelligence and
industry to reduce it to use. A gen-
eral store and mill are maintained,
which do a good trade with the out-
side world.
A big printing building has been
constructed. The only materials in
its construction which were not to
be had without cost were the hard-
ware and glass. It is a building of
three stories, 50x100 feet. The first
floor is used for the heavy presses,
the second for bookbinding, and the
third is a public hall. In this hall
the association holds its busineas
meetings. It is also used for lect-
ures, theatrical performances, etc.
Their newspaper, The Coming Na-
tion, which is here edited and print-
ed, is a weekly socialist paper. It
is ably edited, the editorials and
articles being written by some of the
best socialist writers in the Union.
It has a circulation of 60,000. dis-
tributed throughout every state in
the Union, Canada, and even in
Europe. The paper brings to the
colony a monthly revenue of $800.
They also print a great number of
books. The paper admits no ad
vertising except of these books and
pamphlets, the printing and selling
of which is a source of revenue.
In this community are men skilled
in agriculture and horticulture, first-
class mechanics, engineers, iron-
workers, printers, bookbinders and
authors. There is almost no branch
of industry which has not here
some skilled representative. In the
colony are some excellent musicians
and lecturers, so that the commun-
ity is practically independent of the
outside world.
The townsite is laid of? in streets.
houses, one large, the other small,
one for large, the other for small
families. The houses belong to the
association. No rent is levied. Ev-
ery resident of the community, re-
gardless of the character of his or
her work, receives equal compensa-
tion—the men who edit the paper
get no more than the woodcutter.
So much is allowed each woman and
child. Their theory is that a woman
ho attends to her domestic duties
is rendering as much service to so-
ciety as the man who otherwise la-
bor, and so every housewife draws
a salary. Each child is granted an
allowance for its support. Each
family is entitled to a house if de-
sired, but the general practice is
that a number of them combine and
maintain a co-operative kitchen and
dining room.
After breakfast, at a fixed hour,
each member of the colony goes to
his or her work under a particular
superintendent. At noon dinner is
served. At 2 p. m. work is resum-
ed, and continues till 5 p. m. Then
the workers retire and change their
clothes for holiday attire. They de-
vote the remainder of the time to so-
cial and literary recreation, business
meeting, study, etc. A free kinder-
garten school for children under 7
years, and a higher school for those
older, are maintained.
A twenty-five acre tract for build-
ing an industrial and economic col-
lege, where socialistic philosophy
and economics will be taught, has
been set aside. The teachings of
Jesus are the basis of their social
condition. It is contended that to
teach proper social conditions they
must add to example theoretic
teaching. To do this effectively an
institution is necessary, where stu-
dents actuated by the new social
motive may be equipped for intel-
lectual battle with the philosophers
of individualism and where can be
taught a new economy, setting man
above money, work above wealth
and true progress above party and
growth above gretd, and that those
who teach must be independent of
the poverty of time-serving and free
from avarice.
A MODEL REPUBLIC.
By Anna D. Weaver.
The twenty-two small states bound
together in a common kindredhood,
nestled down in the Alps, across the
ocean, presents to America an ob-
ject lesson most perfect and beauti-
ful. It is a copy for all the nations
to imitate. The wild flower in the
exuberance of its native heath,
blooming in the rare beauty and
sweet simplicity of nature. And no-
where on this earth has nature
touched with such a master hand as
in sunny Switzerland. Her delight-
ful climate, picturesque mountains,
verdant valleys and lovely chain of
lakes; and last and best of all,
keeping with their surroundings, her
magnificent, loyal men and women;
with a purely natural government—
the government beheld to prophecy
by our immortal Lincoln. Beauti
ful, prosperous little Switzerland;
with a density of population of two
hundred persons to the square mile,
self-poised, self-supporting, and self-
governed; without a legislated tramp
or millionaire within her borders,
and because of her just and equit-
able system of laws, one of the most
happy, prosperous, contented nation
on the globe.
And Switzerland's system of legis-
lation is not an experiment; not a
wild, untried, impractical theory. It
is a demonstrated fact. Nearly a
half century in actual practical op-
eration, with the most salutary sat-
isfactory results. Just what Cod
made it possible for this earth to
become — a veritable Garden of
Eden. But a prodigious band of
legalized public plunderers has been
permitted to come down upon the
American producers, like wolves up
on the fold; legally robbing them of
their possessions; placing a price on
the products of their toil; separating
ers and ruled; of landlords and ten-
ants; of bond-holding tyrants and
debt- and usury-paying slaves. And
what is the remedy? Easy enough.
Be your own law makers. Repeal
the bad laws, and replace them
with good laws for the equal and
exact good of all. How is this to
be accomplished? Through direct
legislation—the initiative and refer-
endum. Look at Switzerland's sys-
tem of law-making and law-enforc-
ing for a moment. Beautiful, sun-
ny Switzerland; with sense and bal-
last enough to manage and control
her own affairs to her own credit
and benefit.
Made up of twenty-two small
states or cantons, of essentially con-
trasting local peculiarities and ten-
dencies, around a common center;
she is an invulnerable little fortress
all by herself. No intriguing unjust
law can creep in to disenthrone her.
She is her own law-maker. She
stands supreme in the exercise of
her own divine right. The gray
matter in her brain which God gave
her for a purpose is in active oper-
ation. She is thinking while she is
working. If a law is made which is
not good for the common weal she
repeals that law. If fa representa-
tive placed in her Chamber devel
ops selfish, arrogant traits, by a
vote of her peopie he is put out.
Direct legislation is the infallible
goad to hold representatives in their
proper places and to compel them
to be the servants of the people to
do their will.
The initiative instead of being a
dangerous innovation has led to re-
forms which the Chamber would
never have been disposed to giant
without it, and thus it has become a
very useful and necessary agent for
the advancement of civilization.
The initiative guarantees that minor-
ities which are not represented in
the Chambers shall be heard. The
initiative causes the people to give
an opinion and the defeated party
will not come again in a hurry. It
requires no longer for the people to
change their minds than it does for
interested parliamentary cliques to
change theirs. In a democracy the
people must be led to express their
opinion. And there is no other
way for the people to express an
opinion except through direct legis-
lation.
As far back as 1848 the constitu-
tion of the Swiss chambers of rep-
resentatives contained the initiative
and referendum. Fifty thousand
signatures could compel the cham-
bers to discuss any legislative pro-
posal which that number of citizens
might suggest. And all questions
LITTLE BROWN BABY.
(Paul Lawrence Dunbar, a negro boy, em-
ployed In running an elevator In a large elty
"That conference, thoroughly
representative of a goodly part of
the Peoples party, acted with com-
poema, and is now flatting England, w here he
ia reading his productions to delighted a%n«!l-
ence* The following to one which for quaint
humor,  w«**tneaa of aenttruent and beauty of
compoaltlon, will take rank with the beat of
American dialect poema.]
Little brown haby wif spahklln' eyes.
Come to yo' pappy an' set on his knee.
/Vhat yo' Injen rtolu', suh— inakln' wan' plea?
Look at dat bib—you'a ex dirty ex me;
Look at dat inouf—dat's inerlatwer<, I l et ;
Come heah, Maria, an' wipe otT his ban's.
Been gwine to ketch you an' eat you ap, yIt,
Beln' ao atlcky an' sweet—goodnettM lan'at
Little brown baby wlf *pahklin' eyea,
Who'* nappy'sdarlln' an' who's pappy,achlle?
Who in it all de day nevah tries
Fur to ho croax, er once loneN «fat untile?
Whah did y< 'glt dem teef ? My you'x a scamp?
\\ hah did dat dimple come Tom on yo' cliln?
Pappy do' know you—I b'llevea you'sa tramp;
Mammy, dis heah'a some ol' straggler got til!
l^t's throw him out'n de do' In de san',
We do' wan't straggler a loatln' 'roun' hyeah;
Let's gin him 'way to de big huggah-man;
1 know he's hldln'eroun' heah right neah.
Itwggah ma>i' huggah-man! come In de do',
lleah's a bad boy yo' kin have fur to eat,
Mammy an' pappy do' want him no ino',
bwaller htm down Pom hit haul to his feet I
l)ah, now, I thought dat you'd bug meclosa.
Go, back, ol* buggah, yo' shan't have dia boy,
lie ain't no tramp, ner no straggler, of co'se;
He's puppy's pahdner an' playmate an' boy.
Come to yo' pallet now—go to yo' res', fskles;
Wlsht you could alius know ease an' clear
Wlsht you could stay Jes' a chile on my breas'—
Little brown baby wlf spahklln' eyea!
—Interior.
AN UNBIASSED OPINION.
■tilmendable "" control, without dis
play of prejudice or petty feeling.
I he sum of its labors and conclu-
sions it boiled down into an address
to the people of the United States
declaring that the Peoples party was
born to live, not to die, that the
aims of the party could not be ad-
vanced by smothering the party
identity in fusion deals with the
Democratic party, that the Peoples
party can better serve its purposes
by maintaining its independence
than by subordinating itself to an-
other party, and that, therefore, fu-
sion arrangements, whereby the par-
ty loses its identity and sacrifices
the advances of all but one of its
aims for the advancement of that
one, cannot be regarded as permis-
sable by good Populists. . . The
address, or rather appeal, of the
Nashville conference for union has
in parts the ring of lofty patriotism;
it is ever marked by a spirit of rare
toleration for those who entertain
honest differences of opinion, a tol-
eration doubly commendable in a
conference growing out of a polit-
ical schism. ' Let dissensions cease,'
reads the address. ' Close up the
gaps and forward to victory. Let
every Populist become a mission-
ary, to proselyte the unthinking and
convert the mistaken. Let us meet
prejudices with facts, passion with
patience and ignorance with intelli-
gence. The fiat of God must be re-
spected: " Let there be light." ' "
tie 1  t>niocntr* ukrI n it ml thorn* who were l< 
publicum •(■111. Kuntiin m lUmulrlng fopn.
Hmu tnto It- original element. ''
How anxious the Old Party and
fusion papers are to see "Populism
dying ! Fusion cou'.d have done
the work—but the Nashville confer-
ence has shattered that weapon af
the enemy. Populism and the Peo-
ples party still live, and are growing.
From the last number of the Phil-
adelphia American, by Wharton
Barker—whom not even a subdem-
ocratic piehunter will dare assail—
we make the following short ex-
tracts:
"So often have our people put
faith in leaders who have proven
false to their trusts, who have thought
more of self preferment than of the
public weal, and who have sacrificed
the interests entrusted to their care
for their own self advancement and
emolument, who, though elected to
defend the interests of the people,
have served the ends of oligarchy,
that there is general suspicion of
leaders. . . The general distrust
of leaders may have been made use
of, doubtless has been made use of,
to raise up antagonisms to Senator
Butler and his course as chairman
of the Peoples party national com-
mittee. That he has not acted in
his official capacity for the best in-
terests of the Peoples party, that he
has even betrayed his party is un-
questionably the belief of many
honest Populists. What foundation,
if any, there is for such belief we
know not. That Senator Butler has
shown courage and ability in the
senate we do know, that he has de-
liberately, wittingly, sold out his
party, we cannot believe. Doubt-
less he has made mistakes, erred
of moment were compelled to be I perhaps in his judgment of the best
submitted to the people, direct, be- interests of his party, but we all
our once happy, prosperous, con-
There are two sizes of dwelling tented people into a nation of rul-
fore they could become a law. "The
people be damned" cuts no figure in
a Swiss representative.
Switzerland is a true democracy.
Through direct legislation the peo-
ple rule. America is no more a de-
mocracy. Through the intrigues of S ance> if's not fair to assume,
interested political tricksters, she believe he erred in putting off
has sold away her birthright. There
is only one way through which she
may regain her lost inheritance.
Direct legislation holds wide open
the door to freedom. Through its
opened gates the American people
are destined to pass. God hears
the cries of the impoverished, the
oppressed and the downtrodden; and
is answering them through the souls
and the convictions of his people.
Through much of suffering and
tribulation they have come to be
shown the way to their own eman-
cipation. Saved—in this life, here
and now, from the intrigues of po-
litical trickster in the hands of the
remorseless money kings, to be our
own law makers, our own emancipa-
tors! Let us clasp hands together
in a common union and a common
cause, and, from ocean to ocean,
shout the glad tidings. And it
seems the very angels in heaven
comes closer down to earth and
with bright and happy faces send
back the glad refrain.
Populism has taken on new life.
make mistakes, we all err at times.
That he has intentionally done inju-
ry to the Peoples party, that in al-
lying it with the Democratic party
his set purpose was to retard his
party's growth, to belittle its import
to assume. We
the
meeting of the Populist convention
in 1896, until after the meeting of
the Democratic national convention,
we believed at the time, and we be-
lieve now that it would have been
best if the Peoples party had gone
forward and led, not waited and
been obliged to follow. It was the
place of the Peoples party to lead,
for the growth of that party was the
force that impelled the Democratic
party to become the advocate of
the free coinage of gold and silver.
The Democratic party had to take
up the silver issue in self defense.
And having driven the Democratic
party, the Populist party should
have led the way in defense of the
rights of the common people, it
should do so today. If it is the
party for the formulation of great
policies and the forcing of new is-
sues, it should take the lead in their
enforcement."
After further consideration of dif-
ferences among Populists, and of the
reasons assigned for calling the na-
tional conference at Nashville, the
Americnn continues:
"I he Pond Creek News, subdem.,
in an item regarding the Democrat-
ic Wichita Beacon, says it is "one of
the best populist daily newspapers
in the United States." In reprint-
ing the item the Beacon denies the
charge of being "populist" by cut-
ting it out. Why must a subdemo-
cratic paper tell such stupid lies?
"The trouble is," declared a local
five-cent politician of the Repubic-
an sect, the other day, "the r;ason
w'eat is so cheap is because there's
so much more raised than there
used to be. W'y, just look at Okla-
homy ! " The unfortunate simple
ton didn't know that the world's
wheat production averaged as many
bushels to each inhabitant twenty
years ago as it does now—and yet
it was worth to the farmer nearly
twice as much per bushel then as it
BUCKLEN'8 ARNICA SALVE.
The Best Salve in the world for Cuts
Bruises, Sores, Ulcers, Salt Rheum,
Fever Sores, Tetter, Chapped Hands,
Obiblains, Corns, iind all Skin Erup-
tions. and positively cures Piles, or no
pay required. It is guaranteed to give
perfect satisfaction or money refunded.
Price SAcenti per box. For Sale by
Blake & Heed's Drug Store.
Oklahoma Assessed Valuation.
(leaver county
Itlnlne
Canadian
Cleveland ..
Custer 
D  
Day  
Garfield
Grant 
lireer 
Kay
Klngfl*her .
Lincoln
Logan 
Motoki
Oklahoma ...
1'awnee
Payne.
Pottawatomie..
Roger Mills
washita
Woods
Wood wart! .
Total 
$1,007,4)6
... 3*itl 
3.2M.H30
. I,H47,*H3
447,034
$*0$
328,488
. 1.102,(101
i,oo3,:ioo
840,279
2,549,119
1,064,908
3,038,
l,3(M,ft 
4,306,087
536,496
1,683,8(9
I.;M4.I;M
334,4.13
477 864
1,109,061
1,148^866
$81,641,668
The
El Reno Democrat: "The eyes
of thousands of independent voters
are on the Peoples party and if it
stands by its colors, and conditions
do not change for the better, it
will sweep the territory; but if it
begins to falter, it is lost. ' He who
dallies is a dastard, and he who
doubts is damned,' and if the Peo-
ple's party does not stop dallying
with the old broken down hags of
Democracy, and stop doubting the
justness of their own cause, all the
preachers that can stand between
Oklahoma and hades will not be
able to hold them together."
Recently Senator Butler wrote to
Prof. Vincent of the Nonconformist,
that he (Butler) was going to raise
money and send speakers from
Washington to help the Populists of
the Fourth Indiana congressional
district in their present campaign
against both of the old parties—a
good old-fashioned three-cornered
fight; and this fact we are sur-
prised to see the Southern Mercury
assume as evidence that Vincent is
a fusionist. To us it looks, rather,
as a symptom of Butler's desertion
of fusion. Be fair, Bro. Mercury—
leave the shady work to the sub-
democrats.
"Populism Dying!" That is the
heading which the Wichita Beacon,
("one of the best populist dailies in
the United States," according to the
fusionist Pond Creek News,) puts
over the following paragraph from
latest issue of Tom Watson's paper:
' If we cannot arrest tlio fulling to pieces of
our party those who were once Democrats will
ibrary.
The city library has received new
books, making them now over 350 vol-
umes. The citizens are cordially in-
vited io come and see them. The hours
are from 3 to 5 p. m., every Saturday.
Reunion Picnic.
A barbecue picnic and old settler's
reunion will be held one mile east of
Denver, Sept. 122nd 18117, to cominemo-
rute the 6th anniversary of the open-
ing of the Pott country to settlement.
A rojul time is contemplated.
Harvest .1 iibileo.
A Harvest Jubilee will be held on
Aug. 12, 13 and 14th at J. C. Clarke's
grove, 3j miles east and 1} north of
Norman. The ground privileges will
be let to the highest bidders at 1 p. m.
July 31st, on the grounds. Fuller par-
ticulars will appear in next week's
issue. Every partof Cleveland county
will be represented at this meeting.
Poverty Social.
The M. E. Juneyors is goin to giv a
poverty social at the opery house,
July 20th. You are kordially invited
to cum.
Every ladie is requested to ware a
kalicoe dress without ruffles, she is
not to ware bangs or jewelry. The
gents is requested not to ware neck-
ties, biled shirts, kufs, stand-up-kol-
lers or iled hare, waxed mustasli or
karry any sigars or sigarets. No one
is to use eny kind of a fan, but a pain
leef and eny body is not to karry eny
kind of watch, but a waterberry.
Enybody vilatin thes ruls and reger-
lations will b lined.
(Refreshments, ice cream and cake.)
Coming Again!
Brooks, the Photographer, will re-
open his Gallery, Aug. 1st, for 10 days.
CAN'T STAY LONG this time. Re-
member—the first ten days of August,
only.—Get some of the best Photos,
made in Okla., while you have this op-
portunity. Sam old p ace. North of
Bank. Very Respectfully,
W. e. Brooks.
/>RJiSS GOODS is what every-
one must have, so we have decid-
ed to have A SALE, and sell at
reduction on Saturday and Mon-
day, July 24 26, Fawns, Percales,
Challies, and French Ginghams.
Percales formerly sold at ioc, we
will now sell for 7c; 13c Percales
at 9c. Challies worth 6^c, at 4c.
Our Ginghams reduced to 7c. are
rare bargains indeed. Common
ginghams 4c up. We have black
Alpaca which is 40 per cent lower
than is bought elsewhere. Genu-
ine Table Linen v;c at the New
Xork Racket. E. M. Maphis.