New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-10-09


sOsts -,,,,, -.
= TJ,n,;Iv the whole matter has passed beyond the
domain Of hypothesis or speculation. We are saved
from contention to what might be by know !eage
of what positively ~. Galileo's constrained ap)ura
4On Of TIE true theory of planetary motion uiu
mot ateect the momentum of the smallest as'ero'ui
land thousand specious arguments, desigh,o u
prove Cooperation illusOry and impracaicaoe are
demolished by the simple fact that Co0pSatios Is
no untried theory but subsisting and unqRes-
fionablo fact.
Tnenty-six years have nearly passed since dOzea
poor Ihmble ignorant weavers met IN the Darkroom
of mean tavern at Rochdale-a manufacturing vii
lage Of British North Lancashre-to devise the
and means Of improving their condition The politi'
cal agitations of the time had reached them, and
Chartism Free Trade, &c, doubtless discussed,
rs were Strikes and the kindred enginery of Trades
Unions. The larger number of the little company
could not realize that any decided practical GOOD
was likely to be realized from any all of these
devices. At length of them spoke 10 this effect:
- II We cannot command higher wages, our best
course is to try to make our present earnings 90
spriher than they now do. In this every great
enterprise is prosecuted by combinations or compa-
mics Thus railroads are constructed, canals dug.
and many things achieved that would else be mpos-
sbe Let us initiate the projectors of these works,
on the small scale dictated by scanty means by
combining to buy at wholesale the necessaries OF
1fep After discussion the suggestion was approved,
aud attempt to reduce il to practice resolved on.
A basis of organization for The Rochdale Society
of Equitable Pioneers was forthwith drawn up, and
signed by each of those present who were to pay
twenty pence per week into the common fund of the
association to form a working capital. Only part
were able to do this the instant; and year was
fhenceforth spent in accumulatng cash capital OF
Loo Al xrba IN h.
Meantime their number had increased to twenty
eight and they had hired and rudely fitted up a
building Toadane for their store, which was uuly
opened in presence of the assembled associates ana
sheir families the evening of Dee 81 1874 heht
and fitting mn had absorbed nearly half their cSpital
90 that barely SO remained for investment IN those
prime necessaries Flour, Butter. Sugar. AS they
could not afford cerk-hire their store was opened IN
khe evenings only; the members by turns waiting
pon purchasers ScOffers and skeptics stood around
no boot and jeer; but the Pioneers" minded their
own business and let the heather rage. Such was
1.-The humble beginning of an association of workers
kfor scapty wages, which has since been
hn prosperous activity and which has grown in the
arOurse of quarter of century, into a company OF
Sixty- seven thousand members welding capital OF
hour to five hundred thousand dollars, and doing
business annually to far larger amount-buying
grain by the cargo to be ground In their mill and
seld to members and customers flour or as bread,
while cattle are likewise bought by it in scores,
slaughtered. cut up. and sold out as required. A
clothing store dry goods store, three shOe-stOres,
end five meat-shOps besides magnificent central
warehouse amOngth structures owned and used
by the Pioneers whose library of 5000 well-chosen
volumes and reading-roOm supplied with the best
newspapers are free to the members and their fami
hies-twO and half per cent. of the profits OF the
business being devoted to educational uses. To buy
hpnly the most substantial and serviceabe fabrics to
offer adulterated inferior article; to buy and
el for cash only to charge moderate prices and 10
Idivide eli profits equitably among the members-such
pare the cardinal principles propounded and lived up
30 by the Equitable Pioneers, of whose dongs an
ryewitress wrltess
| LET us glance at the manner of doing business at
he cooperative store. The shop is open ali day. but
BIS most frequented in the evening, being generally
kcrowded on the Saturday night. AS everything has
BIO be paid for in ready money all purchasers must.
hDf course bring their cash with them. Whatever be
Ahe amount q customer lays out Che or she receives
4in ticket, on which is stamped the sum paid-such
Hlckets being vouchers for the receipt OF the money
Tho buyer preserves these tickets until the eXpira-
Mion of the current quarter when he brings them to
the store and for whatever amount OF them he can
roduce he is entitled to proportionate share OF the
hDrOfs of the during the quarter. The whole
EOf his purchases in the time may amount perhaps,
bio five six pounds; If the profits averaged ten per
ent he would be entitled TO ten OF twelve shlngs;
land he might either receive the money IN cash, or
Eave the transferred TO his account credit his
which II would 20 10 increase the
deposits on which he receives interest. The shop
being open to the public and the tin tickets being
ISSUED to all customers alike, non-members are in
Hho habit of disposinR Of them TO members, who are
ECredited for their value on producing them"
The signal success thus achieved at ROchdale
HAS prompted many limitations, not only in Great
Britain but on the Continent; while in this country
E-'Unon Stores" were started quite early 1874
kome of these have prospered, and greatly benefited
Ftheir founders and the community; others have
hbeen mismanaged, through incompetency or rascal
bty, have fallen into bankruptcy and vanished
kfrom of the face of the earth. Cooperation is no
kproOf against roguery. many bank bear wit
mess and the cooperative store which seeks or de-
,sires credit is morally certain to be already well
advaDced the road TO ruin. For of the Of
CO0peration is Cash Payment and concern which
buys on credit will naturally sell on credit thus
blooming itself and its members to founder in
fuuagnire of embarrassment and to work evermore
flor dead horse" Such a concern viii soon be de-
serted by its indebted members who will set off
hOr the ends of the EARTH leaving their thrifty
associates to struggle vainy against fioOdtide of
,adversity which must ultimately bear them down,
3eaying the concern TO be wound up by the sheriff
and sold out by his aUctioneer Debt. for goods had
and disposed of WILL nine times in ten, prove fatal
TO any form of Cooperation.
On the other hand, the habits of thrift, economy,
foresight calculation, which the conduct of Coop
eratiye Store involves and requires, cannot fail to
prove Of signal and permanent advantage TO its
members They at first constrained to save in
order to start their store the humblest scale and
TO many of them the knowledge that they can save
Is novel and benefcent. If the Rochdale Pioneers
have this lday Half Million Dollars invested in
their business-that is, Half Million Dollars worth