:".AINT-SIMON.) Of the French communists, Charles Fourier (q.v.) probably liad the greatest influence. Ile did not advocate abolition of pri vate property. but believed in associations of 2000 people who should live in a 'Phalanx,' work and consume in common so far as pleased them, lint who were by no means to be equally inter ested financially or to share equally in proceeds. Strictly speaking, Fourier's scheme might he called a coi?perative corporation save for its features of common life. Buchez (18111) advised that laborers save enough to start productive associations. Louis Blanc developed this idea, saying that the State should assist the laborers in founding 'ateliers soeiaux.' These would gradually overcome the capitalistic system and lead to communism.
At this time. in England, 11obert ON\ ell had be come very prominent by his works and his teach ings. Owen came to his ideas not by way of lure speculation, but felt himself driven by the logic of the situation in which lie found himself. Ile was a successful manufacturer interested in his employees. He finally advocated the form ing of groups of from 500 to 1000 persons. who should provide themselves all the necessaries of life. The members should live in great houses ,1111'01111dPd by gardens, and all artificial distine tions between men should be thrown down. Such
colonies would prove so attractive that the exist ing industrial system would break down because of the desertion of the workmen. In 1819 it was attempted to start such a colony at Motherwell, but the funds were not sullicient. In 1824 Owen came to America, where his presence did much to start a wave of communistic thought, and where some twelve colonies were planted. none of which lasted more than a few years. During his absence (1826) some of his friend. purchased 201 acres of land at Orhiston, near Glasgow, and built a. large building in which all should live, each sharing in the division according to his labors. The death of one of the founders. with other difficulties. brought an end to the plan. Similar colonies at Rahnline in the thirties and Queenswood (1841) likewise failed, the latter after live years' existence. Owen's attempts to realize communism were not successes: lie did succeed, however. in establishing cooperation. (See OWEN, lionEnr.) Other notable attempts along the same line were made in England by Charles Kingsley and Thomas Hughes, to whose biographical notices in this work the reader is referred.