Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1874-12-18
COOPERATION AGAIN.

COOPERATION AGAIN.
The principle of cooperation among work.
ginmen for becoming their own merchants
or In other business, whatever may have
been its results elsewhere, appears, under
proper management, to meet with the very
best practical results in England. Reference
has often been made to the famous Rochdalo
Pioneers, who beginning shop in 1874 with
u hogshcad of sugar and II chest of tea. pur-
chased Mt wholesale in Manchester, had, in
1855, u capital of El2,900, and in 1865
capital Of E32 900. Such brilliant success of
course caused many imitators to spring up,
so that scarcely u town or village but had
cooperative stores, one or more, for the
purpose Of obtaining tho necessaries of life
as cheaply rs possible, by buying directly
from wholesale dealers, and adding to the
prices of such only sufficient to pay expenses,
any profits that might remain over being di-
vided among the shareholders, either ac-
cOrding to the amount of their shares. which
were generally restricted, or according to
that and the amount of their purchases for
the period. No credit is allowed, every
thing being done on the ready money sys-
TEN and every shareholder being necessa-
rily II customer, 1t follows that the more nu-
merous they We're the more successful and
Profitable the business. its prices being also
proportionally nearer the Wholesale point it
being well-known fact that the larger the
number of paying customers to business,
the less percentage is required to be added
tn. fret ,,fi
of profit. In some of the most successful of
these enterprises, however. the profits are
not always distributed, but are allowed to
accumulate, and added TO the capital. the
result being the gradual extension of the un-
dcrtaking into manifold departments of bust
ness and manufacture. the provision OF
schools and colleges for members. and in
other ways. Thus workingmen provide for
themselves both work and merchandise on
the best terms, and labor and capital are
harmoniously reconciled.
One of the latest examples of striking sue
cess in cooperation is reported in recent
number of the London Times, in the case OF
the Accrington and Church Industrial Co
operative Society, which held its annual sol
rec on the eth inst, Mr.. Mundella. NJ. p,
presiding and delivering prizes to the stu
dents attending the evening classes in con-
nection with the Society. Its affairs arc
thus described:
1.-The statistics of the Society tell their
own tale. In 1859 n small number of work
ingmen founded cooperative store. In
the juno quarter of 1860 the Society had 81
members, with II share capital of flO6 3s.,
the receipts for goods beng 100. and the re-
allied profits "a Is 01d. This year the Soci-
ETY. has 1921 members, with share capital
of more than 440,O0O; the receipts for goods
during the past year being El52 900, and the
realized profits fIs,66s OF this last sum.
Ei5,2l6 has been paid in dividends to the
members. Thirty good dwclling-houses
have been built by the Society, and sold to
the members on payment by easy install
ments. A news-room and library have
been established ut tho central store. The
Society has also instituted evening classes
for instruction in science, and has fitted up
good laboratory. Last year the amount
devoted to educational purposes was E243
lbs. Cd, and the results obtained, rs tested
by public competitions, appear &c be highly
satisfactory. 1t would seem miracle, if it
was not u simple and familiar fact, that such
things can grow in fifteen years out of n
small knot of lcllow-wOrkmen resolving to
buy their groceries in common"
Thus we soc that these associations tend
to the encouragement of thrift and educa-
ton, and consequently of self-respect and
self.reliance, powerful levers for the eleva-
ton of the working classes. They arc also
on these grounds powerful practical anti
dote to intemperanco and the public house.
What better social enjoyment could work
ingmen have than to meet and discuss the
affairs of such enterprises rs they have to do
And how elevating an influence on the char
acter must this have, combined with the
feeling that the Society is their own offspring,
and its success. under Providence, duo to
| their own eXertions
1t does not seem that very much has been
done in the way of cooperation on this side
of the Atlantic, except IN the neighboring
Republic, where it is mainly exemplfed
however, by such communistic associations
rs the Oneida Community, the Shakers and
others who herd together in various locali-
ties and profess religious doctrines more or
less strange. This Is, of course, an I'M
healthy form of this great principle, and not
always to be encouraged. 1t is, however,
to be questioned whether cooperation will
be continued success anywhere where 1t
has not religious bond of union. The Men
nonites who have settled IN Manitoba are
one of the happiest organizations under this
principle which exist Mt the present day
Would ii not DO we'll if our workmen were
to study this question. and try what they
could do in imitation Of their English breth-
renP Similar success, and we see no reason
why they should not achieve such, could pro-
vide them with many needml things-good
houses, good food, good clothing, and good
work, where they would be Mt once capital
lists and workmen, and reap the consequent
ly enhanced benefit. Failure in these enter
prises has generally been due to gross mis-
management, dishonesty of oiIice-bearors or
employees, want of agreement among mem
bers, failure Of tho latter TO perform their
duties, &c. Where good management, up
rightness and harmony prevailed there has
generally boon success. Perceiving how
hearty men are in labor when they are in
terested In II beyond their wages, many en-