It was alleged that Commonwealth College in Mena, Arkansas, received $100,000 from the Industrial Workers of the World and $ 50,000 from Soviet Russia.. Commonwealth College was organized in April 1923. The school was located in Louisiana first, but conditions were bad, and the school was not developed as planned. After a thorough search for a suitable location, it was moved to Mena, Arkansas in January 1925. The purpose of this school was established because higher education was beyond the reach of most working youth, therefore, they experimented with placing the workers on a self-supporting basis. A fee of $ 50.00 was charged per semester, payable at the start of each semester. In July 1940, Commonwealth College ceased operating after 17 years. It was alleged that it was teaching programs in the Communist forum rather than in the American arena.
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