FAMILISTÈRE SOCIETY OF GUISE, FRANCE.

The study of the history and practical operations of the Familistère Society of Guise is of interest for reasons quite different from those that render interesting the study of the other industrial centers that have been described. In the latter cases the industrial undertakings have been organized and conducted on the same basis as that existing for the conduct of business generally. The industrial organization of the Familistère of Guise, on the other hand, is unlike that existing any where else in the world. This organization has been the result, not of a historical growth, but of a deliberate putting into execution of a previously elaborated scheme by which it was intended to build up a special industrial community on a distinctly communistic basis. The object sought was to secure a perfect mutuality of interests of all concerned in production. This mutuality was to be obtained not only by the introduction of an advanced type of cooperative production and distribution, but by the erection of large tenement houses, called "familistères," in which the members of the society should reside almost as one big family, by the common education of the children of members, by the erection of a theater and bath and wash houses for general use, and by the development of mutuality in every way through the organization of mutual insurance and aid funds and kindred institutions. The present society dates from 1880, when it took over the business until then carried on by M. Godin as an individual enterprise. To

a See footnote to the beginning of this series of articles in Bulletin No. 3.

him. When but 11 years of age, while at school, he was harboring plans for improving methods of instruction. But from the moment of his entrance into active industrial life he devoted all his energies toward devising methods for the improvement of the conditions of the industrial classes. The development of the communistic ideas of St. Simon, Cabet, and Fourier gave a final shaping to his thoughts, and in him Fourier found his most ardent disciple. It is unnecessary to enter deeply into this period of Godin's life. In his book entitled Solutions Sociales, published in 1871, an English translation of which was made by Marie Howland in 1886, Godin has given us his autobiography and a full statement of the development of his theories and his connection with Fourierism. In the abortive attempt of M. Victor Considérant, in 1853, to establish a community in the State of Texas to be conducted on Fourier's communistic plans Godin lost 100,000 francs ($19,300), or one-third of his fortune at that time. Nothing daunted by this failure, Godin determined to introduce into his own industry his ideas regarding mutuality, and by the gradual reconstruction of the organi zation of the industry transform it into one conducted upon a strictly communistic basis. The ideas that he wished to realize were, briefly, these:

First, and above all, the principle of mutuality was to be developed in every possible way. To do this there were to be created institutions answering to almost every need of his employees, by means of which the lives of the employees were to be lived largely in common. The keystone to the whole system of mutuality would be the congregation of his employees and their families into large tenement houses, called "familistères," where to some extent they were to live as one great household. The children were to be educated in common schools; a cooperative store would furnish supplies to all the members; mutual aid societies and insurance funds against accidents, sickness, and old age would develop the spirit of solidarity; and bath and wash houses, a theater, restaurants, etc., were to be erected for

common use.

Second, the industry was gradually to be transformed into one conducted on a strictly cooperative basis. The employees were to own not only all the familistères where they lived, the schools, theaters, etc., but the manufacturing plant as well. Nothing, probably, shows the remarkable business capacity of M. Godin better than his recognition of the impossibility of putting his plans, in their entirety, into immediate execution. For success it was necessary first to create a stable body of workingmen devoted to the interests of his establishment and to develop in them the principles of mutuality. It was his intention to create all the institutions necessary for the life of an industrial settlement, such as he planned, while he was yet in complete control, and then, when the ground had been completely prepared and the essential parts of the machinery of government had been running satisfactorily

for some time, to bring into existence the association of workingmen that should take over ius management and introduce the principles of complete mutuality, oth in the conduct of the industry and in the ordinary life of the employees. To do this required a period of twenty years. The first step was taken in 1859, when the corner stone of the left wing of his principal familistère was laid. This wing was finished and occupied in 1861. The following year (1862) the central pavilion was commenced, and in 1865 it was ready for occupancy. It was not until 1877 that this familistère was completed by the erection of the right wing. The increased demand for apartments, after the constitution of the society, led to the erection in 1882 of the small familistère of Landrecies, and, in the following year, the large familistère of Cambrai. School buildings, a theater, a restaurant, and bath and wash houses were in the meantime erected, until finally there existed around the factories all the buildings necessary for the self-contained life of the members of the society.

ORGANIZATION AND DESCRIPTION OF THE SOCIETY.

The character of the Familistère Society of Guise at the present time differs little from what it was in 1880, when the society was first constituted, except in such particulars as would necessarily result from an enlargement of the business and the construction of two additional familistères. The description that follows is of conditions as they exist at the present time:

The business comprises the manufacture of stoves, iron ware enameled with porcelain, lamps, kitchen utensils, etc. The total amount of land owned by the society for its various purposes amounts to 41.6832 hectares (103 acres), of which 35.3813 hectares (87.4 acres) are at Guise and 6.3019 hectares (15.6 acres) at Laeken, Belgium. The plant at Laeken is operated in every way as a branch of the central establishment at Guise. A familistère has been built there for the housing of the employees, and the industry and life of the employees are conducted under the constitution and regulations that prevail at Guise. No further special mention will be made of Laeken. The figures, however, given in all the statistical tables, excepting those on pages 593 and 594, which pertain only to Guise, relate to the entire industry as carried on at both places.

The land owned at Guise is situated on the river Oise just on the outskirts of the village. Of the total of 35.3813 hectares (87.4 acres) the factories and their dependencies occupy 10.6103 hectares (26.2 acres), the familistères, schools, etc., and the open place and grounds surrounding them, 2.6514 hectares (6.5 acres), and the remaining land, 22.1196 hectares (54.7 acres), is given over to parks, lawns, vegetable gardens, etc. The river Oise divides the ground into two parts. Upon one bank are located all the factory buildings, the smallest of the familistères, and the bath and wash houses. On the other side are

built around a central place the main familistère, usually designated the "Palace," the third familistère, and the schools, theater, restaurant, etc.

In 1880 M. Godin believed that the time had come for putting into execution his long-cherished plans of an association to consist of the workingmen of his establishment who should take over the industry and conduct it and its various mutual institutions on a cooperative basis. All the institutions necessary for the working of his plan, including even a system of profit sharing, were then in existence. For years he had been at work on the drafting of a constitution. This was now completed. The workingmen whom he had already accustomed to the principles involved in it were called together and the constitution was formally adopted. Its length, some 150 pages, and the detail of its provisions-it regulates not only the organization of the association, but lays down at length the rules for the subsequent administration of every branch of the service-render it inadvisable to attempt to translate it in extenso. Instead, only the provisions necessary for a satisfactory understanding of the basis upon which the association is organized and its affairs conducted will be discussed. But even to do this will require considerable space, as the system here put into operation provides not only for the organization of an industry along special lines, but the regulation of all the details of life of its members grouped together in a unique community.

The association is named Familistère Society of Guise: Cooperative Association of Capital and Labor (Société du Familistère de Guise: Association Coopérative du Capital et du Travail). Its objects are declared to be the organization of a solidarity of interests among its members, by means of the participation of capital and labor in profits, and the maintenance of common institutions for their mutual welfare. Its membership consists of persons of both sexes, who, having signed the constitution, are the possessors of one or more shares of the society's certificates of stock and cooperate in the work of the society.

The scheme of membership provides for a regular hierarchy through the division of members into classes, according to the extent to which they are interested in the affairs of the society and the length of time they have been connected with it. The members proper are divided into three classes, viz, associés, sociétaires, and participants. To become an associé a person must be 25 years of age, a resident of the familistères and an employee of the society for at least able to read and write, an owner of certificates of stock of to the value of at least 500 francs ($96.50), and he must b by the general assembly as an associé. A sociétaire is red 21 years of age and free from military duty, a resident of a an employee of the society three years, and he? managing council as a sociétaire. A partici