New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-04-03
Union Protective Stores.

ne movement for the organization of
Union Stores, as they are called, still advances
in the interior Of this State and in various parts
Of New England, notwithstanding the warm op-
position of the merchants in many localities
We have received several letters asking for In
forms alton on the subject, and take this way of
answering them all at once.
The object Of these organizations is to supply
their members with dry goods, groceries and
other articles of consumption usually obtained
from the merchants, without the profit which
the latter impose. The inhabitants OF village
or school district, for instance, combine under
suitable rules, each putting in due proportion
of money to start with, and appoint Business
Committee. with an agent to 60 to the city and
buy for them all together. The goods are brought
home and each receives what he has ordered, at
wholcsa cost, with d small additional charge,
sufficient to cover the pay of the agent and the
other contingent expenses. If the Union Is
large enough, store Is taken and kept open
every day. and the agent is constantly employed
with other help, if necessary, though as the
business 10 all done for cash, comparatively few
clerks will be required. This is Union Store
and if tho Committee and the agent are compe-
tent and faithful the members will be supplied
with goods at from 20 to 33s per cent. cheaper
than the merchants, who must live and get rich
by their business, can afford to sell them This
saving is one which benefits directly the mass
of the people; it makes the man with the dollar
as rich az one with dollar and quarter was
before and thus the general amount Of com.
fort, enjoyment spd independence among the
population is very considerably increased. We
very well remember the case of one Of the first
Protective Unions organized in the City Of Bos'
ton In the winter of lS46-7 its members. mostly
workingmen, were burning coal in their houses
at S4 a tun, which had been contracted for by
the cargo by their Committee the summer pre-
vious, while people generally were paying 81
for the same article, and poor families that
bough it day by day. in small quantities, were
paying great deal more. No doubt, this is an
unusual case but it illustrates the working of the
principle.
Another great advantage which the communl-
ty will derive from the general introduction OF
the system is a decrease in the number OF per-
sons required in the business Of merchandising.
Now. in every village of any size there are two
or three or more stores competing with each
other, and each employing full corps OF clerks,
managers. &c. The public reaps benefit from
this competition, because without 1t exoroNant
prices would be charged. Now, while the Union
Store dispenses with the necessity for such COM
potion, by furnishing goods always at wholesale
cost and charges, without adding anything Tor
profits, is releases a large number Of persons
from the occupation of bookkeeping to engage
in other empioyments of a more productive nature.
Instead of remaining as commercial agents TO be
supported BY the public, they 60 to increase the
great army Of producers, who employ the dlmin-
ished number Of commercial agents now re-
CURED The machinery Of commerce is thus
simplihed, Its expenses vastly reduced, and the
number Of persons who have to bear them IN
creased.
1t is perhaps natural for the merchants to op-
pose this change, because it threatens 10 take
kom them the business on which Is based their
hope of getting rich. But this is not good
reason for rejecting the new plan, or for giving
it Up where it has been found successful. The In
,eres, the masses ought always to be preferred
to tina, of the few, and always will be in free
country. much more commendable course 10
that adopted by one or two merchants within our
knowledge Instead of proclaiming the Union
system impracticable, and endeavoring first to
prevent the establishment of Union Stores in
their vicinity, and then to injure them after they
were established, these men have gone into the
movement themselves, giving it the benefit Of
their business experience, advice and assistance.
This was acting with manly pubic spirit. and
has insured them, rs it deserved, the enlarged
esteem and respect of their fellow citizens.
We cannot, OF course, undertake to publish
rules and bylaws for the establishment Of Union
Stores, any more than for other plans Of ecaao-