, 1874-06-07
MISGUIDED COOPERATION.

not take out his brains to make room for it.
!
MISGUIDED COOPERATION.
! There arc four cooperative enterprises now
under way in this city. Two are productive
the carpenters and the shoemakera. Two arc
t distributiye-and foolish Tho Chicago Coun-
| ellis Of tho sovereigns OF Industry have organ
ized cooperative store, with capital stock
divided into shares OF $40 each. The store is
to be opened when the stock has been taken,
but nobody who does not belong to the sov-
| ereigns Of Industry is allowed to subscribe
| for q share, or ia to be allowed to buy
any goods OF course tie projectors Of the
| enterprise have perfect right to build this
| Chinese wall around themselves, it they choose.
| They might soil stock and goods only to men
| with red hair or ono eye. Tho question is
| whether such policy is wise. 1t Ia not necea-
sary in order to keep the control OF the store in
the hands OF the Order. There might be pro-
vision that no outsider should hold more than
certain number of shares, and TINT only fixed
proportion Of the whole number Of sharos sold
should be put into outside hands. Tho bylaws
OF tho Cooperative Carpenters and Builders con-
tnin such clause. II, however, there is great
anxiety to keep all the stock inside the SoVer-
eigns Of Industry, why forbid non-shareholdcrs
to buy goods at the store? The central idea of
corporation is that it is not for ono but for all.
so-called cooperative store that sells only to
its proprietors is one only in name. It
Is o close corporation, a joint~stock COM
pany organized to carry on the grocery bust
ness. All the great English stores soil to any
body who wishes to buy. They aim to put
pure goods at wholesale prices within the reach
Of everybody, whether the particular individual
is Past Grand Highcockalorum or not. Stock
holders generally get twice much rebate on
their purchases as non-stockholders. They
have, besides, the right to Tote and the right to
use the library, reading-rooms, etc., which
every woll-managed cooperative store speedily
builds up. These advantages are naturally
the exclusive property OF the sharehold-
ers. But the less fortunate can still buy.
Their trade is q profitable one for the
store. Why should it be rejected? II this en-
4pI46o VI tA0 tA4%dGU NOAAGA1a AhA HtEA PAk
upon broader basis, it might have been in full
blast ere NOW, instead Of dragging slowly along.
The second example Of impracticable co-opera-
tion is the Cooperative Temperance Association
Of this city. Unless it's original plan has been
changed, it means to serve God and mammon
by promoting total abstinence and evaporation
at the same time. A man who wishes to buy
paper of tacks or bar Of soap is to be made
to take the pledge, with all due solemnity. Tho
formula will doubtless be sonewha. in this style:
up your right hand. You do hereby swear that
you will noycr taste, touch, or handle intoxicat~
ing liquor, so help you Godi Tho tacks arc 10
cen.s!" Here is another store which deliber-
atoly shuts ito doors to the majority Of people.
The failure ofthese two enterprises would bo
a matter Of small public moment, did it not In
volve throwing discredit upon the great
principle OF cooperation. In this latter,
perhaps. lies the rescue of thousands end |
thousands from suffering and sin. 1t is not I
light matter that it should fail in it's first appli-
cations on Western soil. The public are anxious
that 1t should be honestly tested. ANY sensible |
scheme, honestly managed, will secure support. |
The partial SUCCESS OF the Cooperative Temper
ance Association, despite its absurdity, proves |
tho strength Of the principle. It recalls Boo
caccios story of the Jew who went to Rome and
was converted to Catholicism. He said, in ex-
planat,on Of tho change, that he was convinced |
that any Church which could stand such corrup-
ton as he saw among the clergy of the Eternal
City must ba diy7no! ANY principle which can
stand such abuse as cooperation has experienced
ia Chicago must be truo.