The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-11-13

which would have deferred those less deter.
mined, start was effected, location Sc
cured, and board Of directors elected. For
months the results were somewhat disheart-
ening; the old, old story was repeated, disaster
was predicted; the croaksrs were in the as
cendant. and patronage was refused or given
with embarrassing reluctsnce. At the end
Of the year the exhibit was far from encour-
aging, yet, by sheer dnt Of perseverance,
good management and rigid economy, a bal
ance on the right side Of the ledger was Sc
cured, and this, too, although the sales
amounted to but few hundred francs
The following year showed a marked i'm
provement. Ia 1868, its sales bad increased
to 1921 80 francs in 1857, its profits
reached the sum Of 26,S5S 80 frs; in 1868,
%, 1856 rs fr., while, ut the time of our visit,
10 September, its sales, for 1859, alone,
amounted to over ], 200, 900 frs, and its pro-
fits to over 10000 frAncs-its working cap
ltal had increasei to 400, 900 francs and it's
AiOAuOCAouiR W SBOOO' Ato OhonOu eoe9O-
lishments. exclusive Of the general magazine
to the number Of fourteen, are scattered
throughout Zurich, city Of 10000 inhabit-
ants, each Of which, under the superintend-
ence Of saleswoman, is doing an excellent
business. Eight Of these establishments are
the property Of the society and six are rented.
The general magazine from which the branch
stores are supplied, also the property Of the
society, is q substantial brick structure, sit
uated short distance from the railroad de-
pot, on the banks Of the LImmAt. IL is $50
feet square and four stories in height, exclu-
sive of the cellar, which contained wines to
the value Of $4,000 francs. Tbe stock Of
goods on hand was immense, and would
have done credit to many Of our pretentous
wholesale establishments. Here we found
clerks, who are constantly employed, work
men, who pack and unpsck goods; the chief
OF the magazine, the general manager and
the president. There is also public read
ing room, containing we'll selected assort-
ment Of magazines. periodicals etc., to which
the members are admitted free. At the time
of our visit--:he dinner hour-we found it
literally patronizsd by those for whose ben
eft it was intended, the workingmen, and
loDged for the time when q similar sight
would greet us in the cities of our own
land /; for we could not help connecting the
success Of the principles Of cooperation, in
this instance, at least, with the means af-
forded for social and intellectual culture.
There is one feature connected with the
business management Of this society to which
We wish 10 call particular attention, sys.
TEN which generally prevails throughout the
contInent-that while goods are cold cheap
er at the cooperative stores than IN the
other establishments, no dividends are de-
clared, and no distIncuo1 10 made between
the customers and the stockholders, all the
profits being reserved as al 0ccumul0tire
fund, for the further prosecution Of cooper
alive pursuits. b. this means the directors
have been enabled TO purchase and erect
light substantial structures for tbs benefit
OF the organization. They have a!so been
enabled to purchase a tract Of land in the
immediate vicinity Of the magazine, upon
which they propose to build q cooperative
butchery and kitchen, and also an exhibition
room, where artisans can at all times offer
their productions for sale, aud receive two
thirds of their value when deposited.
Connected with the stores Is also bakery,
where six men are constantly employed, who
form an organization Of themselves strict
ly cooperative in character. As their wages
are more than twice as much as are paid in
any similar establishment, they are perfectly
satisfied with the success of their expert
ment. But the workingmen Of Zurich have
not been satisfied with the establishment Of
distributive enterprise. They have now
in successful operation cooperative stone
cutters association, formed in 1867, and a
first-class lithogrsphc workshop, from which
is now being turned out some Of the finest
work produced in Switzerland.
One word with regard to the management.
The society is composed Of three distinct
branches; the general. the executive and
the supervisory or arbitration committee;
each Of which has a president, vice-presi-
dent and secretary Of its own. The duties
of the officers Of the frat branch is to pre-
side at and keep q record Of all public meet
ings; to the second is committed the general
executive business OF the association. This
branch consists of nineteen members, in
Guiding the President, six of whom are elect
ed annually. From this body purchasing
committee is elected, Of which the president
forms one by them all goods are purchased
and sold. To the third committee is en-
trusted the questions Of finance and arbitra-
ton, in case Of dispute, and If this body is
unable to satisfactorily settle any discrep-
ancy, the matter 10 then brought before
majority Of the joint committees.
Thus it will be seen that, while many
of our American associations have gone
down through the cupidity, restlessness,
jealoases and sheer mismanagsment Of those
connected with them, and while humbugs,
(the Rev. DR.. Spear among the number,
have all proven(O that successful co-opera-
ton IS, and must continue to be an impossi-
bility, our less favored brethren in the old
world have quietly gone to work, proved the
absurdity Of these arguments and given us q
glorious example, from which we would do
well to copy.