208 THE UTOPIAN COMMUNIST
operatives should fall below ten per cent. The fantastic suggestion
was made that profits might reach 520 per cent. In that event, they
would be credited to members' dues.
Part IV of the document dealt with colonization and provided,
in elaborate detail, for colonies to be established with the funds
of the Arbeiterbund, whose permanent congress would act as
trustee for all colony property. A considerable amount of local
autonomy was guaranteed to such settlements as long as the mode
of life in the colonies did not conflict with the basic principles of
the Arbeiterbund. The constitution described minutely the proc
ess of gaining admission to a colony. A period of probation was
provided; and members were required to make an initial deposit
of $100 for each adult and $50 for each child, to finance their own
travel expenses, and to provide sufficient clothing and bedding for
one year. The constitution stipulated that all colony property be
held in common and that members who withdrew could never
claim more than their original investment.
Another section of this extraordinary document described the
procedures for establishing and operating local co-operatives,
workers' halls, and building and loan associations; the Central
Committee of the Bund was authorized to initiate such undertak
ings on its own responsibility, if necessary. Section VII dealt with
various methods of propaganda and again designated Die Republik
der Arbeiter as "the compass" and "heart" of the movement.
Of even greater importance were the provisions for the admin
istration of this vast dream empire of the workers. At the base of
the pyramid were the local Gemeinde, above them a Kreis, and at
the top a congress of from 25 to 100 members. The Gemeinde
were to elect the members of the congress by a complicated
nominating process which was expected to rate candidates accord
ing to fitness and devotion to the cause. The organization, of
course, reflected the plan described in Weitling's earlier writings.
Those members of the congress who lived at headquarters consti
tuted a central executive committee and were the real governing
body of the organization. This committee kept the records, ad-
barré
(Barré)
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