The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1866-06-02


For those who know me true;
Scr the Heavens that beam above me,
And the good that can do
The Materials OF Desperation.
The beginning of store," as we have
already explained, is Of course a question OF
capital, and we have explained how shat
capital has usually to be raised. Though NJ
store can Horish without capital, il does not
follow that it will flourish With it-that de-
pends upon the persons who employ it. We
will therefore describe the kind of persons
most likely to carry on a store successfully.
The materials Of Co operative Store con
slst of men as well as money, and the quality
Of the men is Of no mean importance. The
early members who originate and establish
store determine lis character for the fu-
ture. For instance; if they insert clause
in their first rules to the effect that portion
of the prosts shall be devoted to educa-
tional purposes, no future members ever
think of abrogating such rule. Most come
to experience the benefits Of it; all have
seen the good effects Of it. The credit Of
the store has been raised by il. and We
have never heard of case in which the
members of q Cooperative Society have
ever gone back anc repealed so wise and
honorable q rule. Neither, on the other
hand, have we ever heard Of a case in which
a society, founded without such rule, ever
instituted il. People who have never tasted
ths value of knowledge care very little for
It, and will rarely, if ever, consent TO pay
for it. On the other hand, mta who have
acquired knowledge know that it is power
az well as pleasure, and will never part with
it. There never was an intelligent man who
would, il he could, 60 back into the helples,
despicable stote Of ignorance. Once, how.
sveF, let store be founded on the basis ol
paying ell the profits over to the members
the ignorant and the selfish will AWAY,
force the continuance of the same state oi
things. They viii look upon money taker
for educational purposes as a robbery oi
their profits, and will cay, s'Let those mem.
bers who want knowledge 20 to. mechanics
institutions, and beg or borrow their know
ledge Of any who are generous enough K
give it or lend it, but let them not diminist
our profits by d farthing in the pound FOL
that purpose" If we mistake not. this \.
the history OF the great Halifax Industrial
Society. 1t rivals the Rochdale Eouitabl,
Pioneers in the number of its members; il
ossal profits; but It has no educational fund
The Rochdale Pioneers have. After paving
Iquarteriy-(1) expenses Of management
| (2) interest due on all loans !; (3l an amount
equivalent TO ten per cent. Of the value O
the fixed stock, Sc. sSsrt to cover its annua
reduction In worth, owing 70 wear and tear
az dividends on subscribed capital Of tn
members; (5) such sum as may Sc requires
for extension Of business; (6)-last bu
one, bat not least-two and a-half per cent
Of the remaining profit, after all the abov
items are provided for, TO be applied to edu
cational purposes Cd the residue, and tha
only, is then divided at Rochdale among al
the members OF the store in proportion (,
TO the amount Of their respective purchase
during the quarter, varying from Is. I'd. Il
2s. cd. in the pound. This proportion il
other societies ID Sd. in the pound, or is.
or Is. 3D., or 2s., or q. 4d., in some case
2s. cd. TO Is. 3d., according to the economy
and wisdom, and magnitude OF the transac
tions Of the store No case has been re
ported In which the profits have reached s.
his, therefore, Of importance that begin
nsrs OF store should be men who under
stand Co operation. 10 the four years, from
1851 to 1865, the Rochdale Pioneers appro
rated the large sum Of Ell ,s41 8s. 1Od.
or nearly $4,000 to educational purposes
Had they not began TO DO this at the first
that il to make appropriations Of this kinC
in the infancy Of the store-they could no
do It now. The man who learned to carry
. COW began first by carrying the calf, anc
carrying i every day his strength grew BY
the exercise, and Ut last he carried the COW
rs easily as he once did the calf. In tn,
same way the society that intends or hopes
to carry the educational COW must becir
with the calf. The illustration does no
spoil the fact; for whether it be 9 cow, or
library, or news-room, both are good fo
consumption the COW for the body. th.
books for the mind. At
| The first intelligent and earnest member
Of the Co operative Society should, there
fore, look OF. FOR persons similarly minded
to join them. Men Of the working class ar,
best, because there is work to be done, ant
they are the most likely to do it. Men O
the working class are best, because there i!
profit to be made, and they need it most
Men who have some ambition, who wish /,
improve their position, are necessary, be
csnse they are likely tS stick to the society
which affords them the means Of doing this
Men with some intelligence should be sough
because fools viii not make Co-operators
Men Of some patience are useful, for sue
cess cannot be compasscd all at n--e Mer
OF some perseverance are required. who vii
Epush on over difficulties, or through then
| at does not matter which, until success i
won. Men who care for tae good Of other
tars invaluable, for Cooperation is schem,
for promoting the welfare and pro6t Of a
the members; and be who cares most 70
lthe welfare Of others will hold on the long
lest work with the best heart, displayitb
fmost forbearance with the. short comihgs b
others, and be Of good cheer in the darl
ldays, when the profits are low. But mel