The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1875-08-09

Nhat Cooperation has Done for the Work.
;nemen 81 England. Lesson for Changers
The Value Of intelligence and Per-
severance.
The Executive Committee Of the Na-sE
tional Grange has adopted the following /
Having examined the details Of the cO-Op-
eratiye societies Of Great Britain as presented
IN their deputation to the United States, pro-
nerlv known as the Rochdale plan, ana Its |
wonderful success, we heartily commend It TO
the careful consideration Of our State and Sub
ordinate Oranges, and to the members OF our
Order. and advise such action on the part OF
the ExAntiye Committees Of tn several states
as may be necessary to the organization and OPP
Grafton Of such cooperative associations with
in our Order"
This important resolution is likely to
be robbed Of part Of its effect by the fact
that very few people know anything
about the ..Rochdale plan" OF cO-opeIa-
ton. We supply the want by printing
the following full and interesting sketch
OF the original cooperative organiza-
tions Of Rochdale, the Equitable Pho
neers' Society, from advance sheets Of
"The Primer Of Political Economy" by
Alfred B. Mason and John J. Labor:
In 1912, twenty eight weavers formed
this company They we're SO poor that
they could pay into the capital fund only
four cents apiece Per week. 1t took
them two years to accumulate a capital
of $40. On December evening in
1874, TOAD lanen dingy little street in
Rochdale, was crowded with hooting
rabble, gathered to see the opening OF
the ..weavers' shop" When the shut
tiers Of the little room the Society had
hired were taken down, the jeering
| crowd screamed with laughter at the
sight Of the almost empty shelves with
in. For long time the twenty-eight
weavers were the only customers. They
could not afford to hire clerk, SO they
took turns in keeping store" in the
evenings. 1t was shut during the day.
The scanty stock Of groceries was soon
sold. The proceeds bought . larger
stock. This went, and the next, and
the next, and SO on. BY buying their
goods directly from the producers. they
got them so cheaply that they could sell
them below the usual prices. pay all the
store expenses, and declare small divi.
dend onttle capital In 1845 their cap.
ital fund was $50. Their membership
was "A. Soon they rented larger room
and hired manager. In 1876 they be-
gan to sell meat in 18+7, dry goods
in 1851, boots and and shoes, and cloth.
ing. In 1852 they opened wholesale
department. From the start the weav'
ers have kept on weaving. This co OPP
erative store is managed by persons they
employ, but it does not interfere with
their work.
| The main building Of the Society il
now the most conspicuous structure IN
Kochdale. Its top floor is plain. com
Portable hall, where the monthly meet
ings are held, lectures delivered ant
parties given. On the floor below art
! the reading room and library. The lat
ter has about 10000 volumes. Ther'
are eleven branch reading rooms in tn
} town, The Society maintains school,
for its members and their children. l
: has collection Of scientific instrument
! which it loans for two or three cents ~
evening to members who wish them 70
their own instruction or tor the enter
4 tainment of their friends. The two low
!, er floors Of the building are divide
into the different stores the Societ
. owns. and the basement is devoted
J. packing and storeage. There are branc
) stores in different parts OF the town.
among them eleven butcher shops an
y thirteen groceries. The society man,
o features tobacco, and has invested som
= az its spare funds in corn, cotton an
wooden mills. These are properly G.
amples OF productive cooperation, hos
ever so that we will not discuss the
here. In December, 1871, the socie
began To build homes for its member
N Ii now sells them coal. Almost fro
ID the beginning it has been their sav'n
to bank, receiving deposits a; any time n
paving interest upon them"
= MIR. George Jacob Holycake, an En-
I'd lish journalist, scholar and co operate
v. has written History OF Co.operati
to in Rochdale." We quote this passa
~ from il:
Those crowdso humble workiBgme
- who never knew before when they
" good food into their mouths. whose We
Il dinner was adulterated, whose shoes
rs ia the water moment too soon, wht
!. new coats shone with devils dust .
- whose wives wore calicoes that Won
Or not wash, now buy in the markets u
The milionaires, and. . far Is pureness
~ food goes, live like lords. They
II. weaving their own SUITS, making th
own shoes. sewirg their own gArmer
ent crindiuY their own corn. They buy
;les purest sugar and the best tea. and gr'
the their own coffee. They slaughter th
~; own cattle, and the finest beasts q
i land wsddle down the streets OF no
rty. dale for the consumption Of hanr
,ci- weaveis and cobblers. The tsetotaleSl
y Rochdsle acknowledge that the y
~ rs has made more sober men since II g
- menced than al their efforts have b
able 70 make in the same time. =
ions bands who never knew what Il was r
=, out Of debt, and poor wives who, dui
s 1.r forty years, never had sixpence unt
-. demned 10 their pockets. now pos
axe little stores Of money, sufficient to b
.nds them cottages, and 60 every week
CIR their own market, with money jung
nres in their pockets. And in that ma