266 THE UTOPIAN COMMUNIST
convinced that four or five individuals living in the colony were
the ringleaders who were determined to destroy the Arbeiterbund.
The persecution complex from which he suffered much of his
life led him to the conclusion that there was a plot afoot to beat
him and burn the colony, and he related a fantastic tale of crossing
the river on the ice at Dubuque and proceeding on foot to Galena
to escape the conspirators who wanted to prevent his return to
New York. They plotted, he said, to have him arrested as an
embezzler and then to report to his loyal followers that he had
been killed because of "the rage of the people." He claimed to
have documentary proof to substantiate these charges, but it was
never presented to anyone.
Some of the larger Gemeinde remained steadfast in their loyalty
to their leader. The Baltimore group in a public statement chided
the colony for abandoning communism and advocated a new
undertaking over which Weitling would have "unlimited execu
tive power." The Gemeinde in Philadelphia, in a round-robin
letter, supported their leader, testified to his honesty and loyalty,
justified his policy with reference to the mill site, and concluded
that his only fault was "too much faith in people." At the same
time, an unsuccessful effort was made to launch a "Communia
II," not by his friends, but by his enemies.
By the middle of February, the returns on the referendum con
ducted among the locals of the Bund were in, and the vote was
favorable for Weitling. The majority approved the framing of
another charter and authorized him to hold the deed for transfer
to the new organization. The New York Gemeinde gave him full
powers of attorney, and Weitling asked other groups to do like
wise. Baltimore and Detroit promised $2,000 in new contributions.
A few weeks later, however, opposition to Weitling broke out in
Philadelphia and a "purge" of the membership in New York re
sulted in heavy financial loss.
Meantime, Ludwig Brandenberger, a roughhewn Bavarian who
knew no English, had succeeded Weitling as administrator of the
colony. He demanded additional funds from the Arbeiterbund to