Socialist Letters from a Mormon Time Capsule

Sept. 18, 1908

To those into whose hands these Articles here deposited Shall fall.

My name is George W. Williams Jr I am one of the partners of the firm of Williams & Watson Constricctors of this building Was born Jan. 9, 1871 in Toquerville Utah. In order that you may understand more of the conditions of our day and time I am writing these few lines. I shall call your attention more particularly to the conditions prevailing in our Social world. This year 1908 witnesses the most intense struggle in the whole civilized world, on the part of the money kings, or the Capitalist Class to stay the awakening of the working class. The Latter part of 1907 and this year is witnessing the down fall of their industrial and commercial system. Their financial institutions are failing and going to pieces. Their industrial institutions are ceasing operation for lack of market for their product and thousands __ millions are walking the streets of our large cities seeking employment. The capitalists who own all the machinery of government are using every means under their control to hold in check the rise of the workers who are beginning to show their strength and are carring on an immence campaign of education. But despite their efforts to cause Socialism or the working class movement is gaining ground rapidly. I am a member in good standing in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and among a few workers in that organization who comprehend the class struggle and are fighting and working for the education of our people along these lines. But so efectually has the great money kings done their work of deception among the people that even the Church of Christ is permiated with its pernations doctrines. The Idea being that those who have the ability to corner the worlds wealth and appropriate it to themselves are entitled to it even though it means the enslavement of the masses and the distruction of humanity. Thus you will see the battle before us. We hope for victory, and expect you to be living in the light of a better day when you shall read this.

Fraternally Geo W. Williams Jr.

Thatcher Graham County Territory of Arizona

September 19th, 1908

To those of the Future into whose hands these may fall I Lorenzo Watson, the Sen. partenor of the Firm of Williams and Watson born in crowle Lincolnshire England in the year 1850 Emigrated to America in the year 1862 as a pioneer of my Father’s family to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake in the year 1862 Alone almost a child my Father Mother one Brother and a Sister 2 years later. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and am looking fondly forward to the day when we and all the inhabitants of the earth will be able to live in accordance with the Principles that this Church has suffered to establish – but capitalism is so intrenched today that the Governing Class the Idle few who have acquired private possession of almost all the recorces of nature all the means by which life is sustained that the time and opportunity of leisure vacation and study of the deep and profound _ of religion is almost denied to the toiling masses yet – we witness abiding faith belive that the influence of this and other similar institutions will have the effect of Educating the young so that the will grasp the wrongs of the Capitalist system the injustice of the competitive res__ and within the next decade usher in the much coveted change the Cooperative commonwealth and that – those in the future are injoying the fruites of our labors and that instead of the land been covered with Palasiah hommes of the rich in most-pleasant-places surrounded with all the comfort that welth can buy with c_____ging slaves to attend their every wish on the one hand and hovels and shacks on the other where hunger poverty and wanting no____ and crime of every name and nature is rampant on the sight and the office of which is sickening to those whose natures are attuned to the principles of Justice truth and love. You who read this are living in a land where no need of Armys Navies and Police forces exist where love is governing force where all are working for the good of all and that an injury to one is the convern of all trusting that this is the time looked so egarly for by all the past seems any Profits is the prayer of the writer

Your Brother

Lorenzo Watson

September 18th, 1908

When primitive man crept from his warren and viewed the world, it him then, was a different thing than we find it today.

Man’s upward march has been inconceivably slow, but he has eventually got there, a vastly different thing today, when man steps from his comfortable abode into the streets of busy rush and views the evidences of climbing man, surrounded with all these advantages.

But with all we now enjoy, what is it as compared with what our children will be permitted to enjoy, we go back into our childhood and Recount with amusement the rude affairs of life surrounding our Fathers and Mothers, but they were happy, we are happy, to us, we are in the enjoyment of wonderfull acheivements, surrounded with all manner of conveniences, our advancement towards education is marked.

Now let us take a peep into the future: Achievement will not keep us waiting, if we don’t get up early, we will be found sluggards, and the world will get away from us.

As the Bycicle at one time was a rude machine, but today is used in every phase of life, so the Flying machine will become just as common, land now remote, because of the slow motion of conveyances, the farmer can fly to, and prosper upon its tillage, and the City man can live out of town, which will bring into demand land now unused. As we look upon the old ox-team, we will in time look upon the otomobele, space will be nothing to us, talk about Conference rates to Salt Lake, we will just look down upon St. Johns and Snow flake, in our flight and glance at old St. George, and Southern Utah from whence so many of our People came.

The dropping of torpedos from flying machines, and the boring from underneath of vessels by submarene warboats will make warfare terrible. But we are going to cease waring with each other, The Saloon will be a thing of the past, mens lives will be pure, their food and drink will make for pure and Christ Like lives, Then they will love their Neighbor as themselves. Men will seak the wellfair of others, the vast wealth of the world will be so handled that there will be no poor, no vastly rich, all will seak the happiness of others for therein lies the secret of true happiness.

This Academy will have served its purpose and other greater institutions of learning will take its place, at such a time, future generations will, while removing the debris to make room for up to date buildings, uncover these corner stones, read of our present conditions and as we are amused at the thot of the rude conditions of a few hundred years ago, they will read our newspapers, our magazines, examine our relics, and ponder over our books, with marked intrest. They will oppreciate our efforts towards putting down evil and the work of this generation for the good of Humanity, In our resurrected bodies or in the spirit we will look down upon our children in the enjoyment of the fruits of our past and present labors, so good bye future generations for the present,

Your Brother and well wisher.

Andrew Kimball

(who was recently the editor of the “Graham County Advocate”, a socialist newspaper and president of the Clifton, Arizona, local union of the Western Federation of Miners.)

Thatcher
Arizona Terry
September 18, 1908

The laying of the cornerstone of the Latter Day Saints’ Academy on this day affords me an opprotunity to place within the stone of the architects and builders of this structure, this brief statement. As an ardent Socialist I eagerly grasp the opportunity.

What of the future of the great American republic, our Country? It is today a republic only in name, ruled by an oligarchy of wealth as cruel and vicious as ever wasted the wealth of the producers in the past. Mammon is firmly entrenched, apparently in the legislative, executive and judicial departments of the nation, and the great mass of the people, blindly aware of the fact that “there is something wrong” continue to use their power of the franchise, their voting power, in the interest of the privileged classes. The working class especially has manifested stupidity in this regard. Today, we are on the eve of a national election which can only result in more firmly seating the Republican party, that political machine dominated by the master class. As a Socialist I rejoice in this, because it means only a lining up in battle array later on of the forces of Capitalism and Socialism, with the middle class Democratic party, with its pretense of “reform” to deceive the working class, out of the way. The period of concentration of wealth is now on and proceeding with great rapidity.

What of the future? Shall plutocracy rule this nation, or shall an united working class redeem redeem our beloved country and be the first in all the world to erect the banner of a true deomcracy. Shall we have a race of slaves owned by a few satraps who hold in their grasp the immense resources of this country, and a consequent fall and return to desolation of this people for having violated God’s natural laws, or shall we have the Co-Operative Commonwealth and a land with plenty and a happy people who shall rule themselves in accordance with the correct principles laid down for our guidance by a just God thousands of years ago and never violated by a nation without that nation being forced to pay the penalty?

Socialism points out the way. Already a light is breaking on the dark night of despair and suffering, and the seeds of an intelligent, discontent sown among the working class are becoming nourished in a fertile soil from whence shail spring the fair blossoms of economic and social progress and liberty. God speed the day. Let the work of education proceed. God grant that this favored country shall lead the world in this great struggle of a people for perfect liberty. May those who perchance, centuries in the future, may read this, be in the possession of a system of government which is sane, humane and in accordance with God’s mandates.

All hail the dawn of a new era, which points out the way to be followed.

Am I my brother’s Keeper?”

“Yes.”

H.F. Kane

Having the prvilige of placing within the wallas of this structure of learning I esteem it a privilige to make a few satements in regard to presant conditions. Words cannot express the suffering I have wittnessed as a result of the Capitalist system men women and childrens are suffering and.dying with hunger all over the world as a result of over production, and I dread to think of the fate of the many thousands of women who have to choose between death by starvatinoce or prostitution, how can a civalization be so indifferent to the suffering of women and children and its weak and helpless ones under a system that produces so much wealth, but we see the dawn of a brighter day. I am a socialist and agitator and hope to live to see the day when capitalism is over come.

With hope and blessings for the future generations yet to come,

Mrs. Dora Bigelow Kane

Sept. 18, 1908

To those into whose hands these Articles here deposited Shall fall.

My name is George W. Williams Jr I am one of the partners of the firm of Williams & Watson constructors of this building Was born Jan. 9, 1871 in Toquerville Utah. In order that you may understand more of the conditions of our day and time I am writing these few lines. I shall call your attention more particularly to the conditions prevailing in our Social world.

This year 1908 witnesses the most intense struggle in the whole civilized world, on the part of the money kings, or the Capitalist Class to stay the awakening of the working class. The Latter part of 1907 and this year is witnessing the down fall of their industrial and commercial system. Their financial institutions are failing and going to pieces. Their industrial institutions are ceasing operation for lack of market for their product and thousands and millions are walking the streets of our large cities seeking employment.

The capitalists who own all the machinery of government are using every means under their control to hold [and] check the rise of the workers who are beginning to show their strength and are carrying on an immense campaign of education. But despite their efforts to cause Socialism or the working class movement is gaining ground rapidly.

I am a member in good standing in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and among a few workers in that organization who comprehend the class struggle and are fighting and working for the education of our people along these lines. But so effectually has the great money kings done their work of deception among the people that even the Church of Christ is permeated with its pernicious doctrines. The idea being that those who have the ability to corner the worlds wealth and appropriate it to themselves are entitled to it even though it means the enslavement of the masses and the destruction of humanity. Thus you will see the battle before us.

We hope for victory, and expect you to be living in the light of a better day when you shall read this.

Fraternally
Geo W. Williams Jr.

Thatcher Graham County Territory of Arizona

September 19th, 1908

To those of the Future into whose hands these may fall:

I, Lorenzo Watson, the senior partner of the firm of Williams and Watson, born in Crowle, Lincolnshire, England in the year 1850. I emigrated to America in the year 1862 as a pioneer of my father’s family to the Valley of the Great Salt Lake in the year 1862 alone [and] almost a child. My father, mother, one brother, and a sister [came] 2 years later.

I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and am looking fondly forward to the day when we, and all the inhabitants of the earth, will be able to live in accordance with the principles that this Church has suffered to establish. But capitalism is so entrenched today that the governing class – the idle few who have acquired private possession of almost all the resources of nature [and] all the means by which life is sustained – that the time and opportunity of leisure vacation and study of the deep and profound [truths] of religion is almost denied to the toiling masses.

Yet, we witness abiding faith and believe that the influence of this and other similar institutions will have the effect of educating the young so that the will grasp the wrongs of the Capitalist system, the injustice of the competitive [results], and within the next decade usher in the much-coveted change: the cooperative commonwealth; and that those in the future are enjoying the fruits of our labors; and that, instead of the land been covered with palatial homes of the rich in most-pleasant-places, surrounded with all the comfort that wealth can buy with [cowering] slaves to attend their every wish on the one hand, and hovels and shacks on the other, where hunger, poverty, and wanting no [end], and crime of every name and nature is rampant, on the sight and the office of which is to those whose natures are attuned to the principles of justice, truth and, love.

You who read this are living in a land where no need of armies, navies, and police forces exist; where love is governing force; where all are working for the good of all; and that an injury to one is the concern of all, trusting that this is the time looked so eagerly for by all the past, seems any profits is the prayer of the writer.

Your Brother
Lorenzo Watson

When primitive man crept from his warren and viewed the world, it him then, was a different thing than we find it today.

Man’s upward march has been inconceivably slow, but he has eventually got there, a vastly different thing today, when man steps from his comfortable abode into the streets of busy rush and views the evidences of climbing man, surrounded with all these advantages.

But with all we now enjoy, what is it as compared with what our children will be permitted to enjoy, we go back into our childhood and recount with amusement the rude affairs of life surrounding our fathers and mothers, but they were happy, we are happy, to us, we are in the enjoyment of wonderful achievements, surrounded with all manner of conveniences, our advancement towards education is marked.

Now let us take a peep into the future: Achievement will not keep us waiting, if we don’t get up early, we will be found sluggards, and the world will get away from us.

As the bicycle at one time was a rude machine, but today is used in every phase of life, so the flying machine will become just as common, land now remote, because of the slow motion of conveyances, the farmer can fly to, and prosper upon its tillage, and the city man can live out of town, which will bring into demand land now unused. As we look upon the old ox-team, we will in time look upon the automobile, space will be nothing to us, talk about Conference rates to Salt Lake, we will just look down upon St. Johns and Snow flake, in our flight and glance at old St. George, and southern Utah from whence so many of our people came.

The dropping of torpedoes from flying machines, and the boring from underneath of vessels by submarine war boats will make warfare terrible. But we are going to cease waring with each other, the saloon will be a thing of the past, men’s lives will be pure, their food and drink will make for pure and Christ-like lives, then they will love their neighbor as themselves. Men will seek the welfare of others, the vast wealth of the world will be so handled that there will be no poor, no vastly rich, all will seek the happiness of others for therein lies the secret of true happiness.

This Academy will have served its purpose and other greater institutions of learning will take its place, at such a time, future generations will, while removing the debris to make room for up to date buildings, uncover these corner stones, read of our present conditions and as we are amused at the thot of the rude conditions of a few hundred years ago, they will read our newspapers, our magazines, examine our relics, and ponder over our books, with marked interest. They will appreciate our efforts towards putting down evil and the work of this generation for the good of humanity. In our resurrected bodies or in the spirit we will look down upon our children in the enjoyment of the fruits of our past and present labors, so good bye future generations for the present,

Your Brother and well wisher.
Andrew Kimball

(who was recently the editor of the “Graham County Advocate”, a socialist newspaper and president of the Clifton, Arizona, local union of the Western Federation of Miners.)

Thatcher
Arizona Terry
September 18, 1908

The laying of the cornerstone of the Latter Day Saints’ Academy on this day affords me an opportunity to place within the stone of the architects and builders of this structure, this brief statement. As an ardent Socialist I eagerly grasp the opportunity.

What of the future of the great American republic, our Country? It is today a republic only in name, ruled by an oligarchy of wealth as cruel and vicious as ever wasted the wealth of the producers in the past. Mammon is firmly entrenched, apparently in the legislative, executive and judicial departments of the nation, and the great mass of the people, blindly aware of the fact that “there is something wrong” continue to use their power of the franchise, their voting power, in the interest of the privileged classes. The working class especially has manifested stupidity in this regard. Today, we are on the eve of a national election which can only result in more firmly seating the Republican party, that political machine dominated by the master class. As a Socialist I rejoice in this, because it means only a lining up in battle array later on of the forces of Capitalism and Socialism, with the middle class Democratic party, with its pretense of “reform” to deceive the working class, out of the way. The period of concentration of wealth is now on and proceeding with great rapidity.

What of the future? Shall plutocracy rule this nation, or shall an united working class redeem our beloved country and be the first in all the world to erect the banner of a true democracy? Shall we have a race of slaves owned by a few satraps who hold in their grasp the immense resources of this country, and a consequent fall and return to desolation of this people for having violated God’s natural laws, or shall we have the Co-Operative Commonwealth and a land with plenty and a happy people who shall rule themselves in accordance with the correct principles laid down for our guidance by a just God thousands of years ago and never violated by a nation without that nation being forced to pay the penalty?

Socialism points out the way. Already a light is breaking on the dark night of despair and suffering, and the seeds of an intelligent, discontent sown among the working class are becoming nourished in a fertile soil from whence shall spring the fair blossoms of economic and social progress and liberty. God speed the day. Let the work of education proceed. God grant that this favored country shall lead the world in this great struggle of a people for perfect liberty. May those who perchance, centuries in the future, may read this, be in the possession of a system of government which is sane, humane and in accordance with God’s mandates.

All hail the dawn of a new era, which points out the way to be followed.

Am I my brother’s Keeper?”

“Yes.”

H.F. Kane

Having the privilege of placing within the walls of this structure of learning, I esteem it a privilege to make a few statements in regard to present conditions.

Words cannot express the suffering I have witnessed as a result of the capitalist system. Men, women, and children are suffering and dying with hunger all over the world as a result of over production, and I dread to think of the fate of the many thousands of women who have to choose between death by starvation or prostitution. How can a civilization be so indifferent to the suffering of women and children and its weak and helpless ones under a system that produces so much wealth?

But we see the dawn of a brighter day. I am a socialist and agitator and hope to live to see the day when capitalism is overcome.

With hope and blessings for the future generations yet to come,

Mrs. Dora Bigelow Kane