February, 19 18 STATt i Price Ten Cents omrade "THE PAINTED PIGEON" —a smashing Story by ROB WAGNER "BIRTH CON- TROL" -by MARGARET SANGER Beginning a Remarkable Series entitled " MODERN RE- LIGIOUS MOVE- MENTS" (Plantation -Woods and Scenes in the Colony) "DOES CO-OPERATION PAY?" "FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND DEM- —By E. RALPH CHEYNEY OCRACY" -By THERON P. COOPER TIMELY EDITORIALS —By JOB HARRIMAN FI CTI ON — POETRY — HUMOR Your Gateway to rreeoom Llano's 16,000 Acre Plantation in the H^f:?K!ands of We^iern I.oir^ RTan; THE Llano del Rio Co-operalive Colony was established at Llano, AM Pit: DEVELOPMENT Los Angeles County. California, in May, 1914. It attracted .- attention throughout the country because of the calibre of the Farming . Colony thoroughly realizes the respons- ibihties and the •.r.cosi-.l.m put it. Efficiency men who were conducting it. Hundreds joined the colony and during upon is insisted on, and once each week the three years hundreds of acres of orchards and alfalfa were planted, foremen are required to attend efficiency classes. The remaining a community garden was grown, and many industries were established. workers are also given instruction. Records are kept show- ing use of time, achievement, results, From the first, the intention was to form other colonies, extending costs. There is a systematic and orderly organization being the work as rapidly as possible. The first extension has been organized. perfected. Land is being cleared and plow- ed as rapidly as possible. With a complete understanding of the needs of [6,000 FERTILE ACRES agricultural production, every available man is put on the farm. This work takes precedence over all else, very avenue of waste is being closed as fast as discovered. After a nation-wide search, it \\'as finally decided (o purchase 16,- Elimination of useless work and re- duction of only partly 000 acres in the healthful highlands of Vernon Parish in Western Lou- necessary tasks is insisted on. The aim of the Colony is isiana, at Stables, one mile from Lccsville, the p.irish seat of Vernon not only to support itself the very first year, but to ha.ve an ample margin left over. Tliis will Parish, This is about 15 miles from the Sabine river, about 40 miles take careful and systematic planning. from (he Red river, (both navigable), forty miles from Alex.^ndria, Through this care and foresight, the new Colony v/ill be 100 miles from Shreveport, and about 200 miles from New Orleans. able to take care of all of its resident;-, including increase. Housing is simplified T!ie highlands of this district are fertile, high, well-drained, health- by the number of houses acquired with the properly. ful. There are no swamps, no malaria, no mosquitoes, no fevers more TRANSPORTATION th.in are found in other states. Health reports shoiv that this portion FACILITIES favorably with other section of the of Louisiana can compare any A hole!, dairy, range stock, small laundry, store, blacksmith and States. is an of drinking water of excellent United There abundance machine shop, vulcanizing plant, gardens, hot beds, herd of goats, quality. ^ some rabbits, some chickens, hogs, printing department, offices, doctors, most careful investigation was made regarding health conditions. A warehouse and materia!' shed, are established departments now in op- Reports compiled by the Health Department of Louisiana w*ere studied. eration. Machinery for the shoe shop is here, but not installed. This Inhabitants of this district were interviewed. All agreed on the health- is true of the saw mill. A moving picture machine is already purchased. fulness this portion of the State, those who have heard dis- of and With chairs, and benches for a theater. Plans are drawn and mr.terial couraging reports from Louisiana are invited to make further and more ready for the new thca-tre and dance floor, these to be separate. The | careful investigation before arriving al conclusions. school is giving practical instruction in grammar school subjects. Tre- tract lies southwest of Leesville and has had of The huge most mendous progress is being made in every department, and the organizing off. Remaining along the creeks.hoWever, are scat- the timber cut of departments is increasing the efficiency of the entire plantation. tered pines of the long leaf variety to supply the Colony with build- ing material for many years to come. About 1200 acres of hard- HOW TO BECOME A MEMBER wood timber worth many thousands of dollars are also on the land and offer opportunities for the establishing of many industries. The The Llano del Rio Co-operative Colony is organized as a stock timber is. beech, magnoha, white oak, cypress, walnut, post oak, company in order to secure the protection of the la^v to the fullest red oak, sweet gum, and hickory. Tire trees are splendid ones, extent. Each member purchases two thousand shaves at the par value and this body of tiraber is not to be surpassed in quality. of $1 a share. One thousand is to be paid in cash or equivalent be- fore the member becomes a resident of the colony. This furnishes A TOWN CAME WITH IT. the capital for financmg until the colony lands are producing. The remaining thousand shares is worked out at the rate of $1 a day When the purchase was first contemplated, and it ^vas finally credited on stock. In addition the member is paid a small cash wage, decided to buy the 16,000 acres near Leesville, it was found that the and credited with a bonus which brings the total amount to a lumber hamlet of Stables stood on the property. This was ac- $4 day. Each member is furnished >vith a place to live and is guaranteed quired v/ith the land. A hotel of IS rooms, 27 habitable houses, steady ^employment. 100 other small houses, one shed BO.'^SOO feet, one shed 130x200 There is also the Insralment Member plan by whir o can- feet,- one shed 80x100 feet, one store 30x90, one office 40x50, eight not make payments in full at once may take out ip other sheds and structures. The lumber in these buildings, together on which they may pay $10 or more each month. T rd in Wnh other lumber on the place, amounts to about 2 mill-on feet. this plan are invited to 'write specially concerning it. Ties for a railroad extend across the land. A concrete power house and 5 concrete drying kilns (cost to erect them, $12,000) each kiln about 20x70 by 20 feet high, are also included. Stables is on the AGENTS WANTED main line of the Kansas City Southern Raikoad. This town will be Trustworthy agents are desired in different communities, and those occupied for a while, but later a more systematically laid out town will who can furnish first-rate references are invited to, correspond with the be built. rvicriibo!s]-i:p Dtparlment concerning becoming our representative. WHAT CAN BE PRODUCED ? • FOR MORE INFORMATION This is the first question asked. A .careful investigation has been made. No chances of mistake were taken. It is found that a great More detailed information is given in the "Gateway to Freedom" variety of products do well here. Peaunts, s\vcet potatoes, melons of ^/hich outlines the idea of co-operative colonization, the reasons for all kinds, corn, cotton, and sugar cane, will be the best producers it, and what is hoped may be achieved, together \j\lh the methods and the best income-bringers. Vegetables of all kinds do well, and to be used. The folder "Llano's Plantation in the Highlands of berries vs'ill yield great returns. - --- - This region is not sufficiently v.-ell Louisiana" goes i? detail concerning the new 16.000 acre developed for fruit to make detailed statements possible, but from a tract. numbier of sources of undoubted reliability, assurance is given that The new colony . .na can support a population of perhaps figs, peaches, prunes, cherries, and similar fruits can be profitably several thousand persons. It offers wonderful opportunities to all grown. Cattle and sheep and goats can find forage during nearly the who join. You are invited to write to the Membership Department entire year, while the raising of hogs is profitable because of the abun- for full information about ar.y point not made clear, .-.nd answers to dance of corn that may be gro\vn here. questions you ask. Address Llano del Rio Colony^ Stal in. Si. ^^iijsiana Membership Department "No matter whose lips that 'speak, they must for every man's life, no matter what his doctrine be free and ungagged. Let us believe that the —the safety of free discussion, no matter how whole truth can never do harm to the whole of wide its range. The, community which dares not virtue; and remember that in order to get the protect its humblest and most hated enemy in the whole truth you must allow every man, right or free utterance of his opinions, no matter how false wrong, freely to utter his conscience, and to pro- or hateful, is only a gang of slaves." tect him in so doing. Entire, unshackled freedom —Wendell Phillips. Political Act C o o p e r t 1 o n 1 i The Western Comrade "The Most Constructive Magazine for Socialism in America." Entered as second-class matter November 4lh. 1916. at tKe postoffice at Llano, Cal., under Act of March 3, 1879. Application for entry as second-class matter at the postoffice at Leesville. La., pending. JOB HARRIMAN Managing Editor ALANSON SESSIONS Associate Editor ERNEST S.