The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1876-11-30
WHAT COOPERATION HAs Eff
FECTED IN ENGLAND.

FECTED IN ENGLAND.
The laboring man OF England has led
the way to the solution of many of the
great difiicultiessswhich beset his class.
Read the following and see how much
even poverty can accomplish when it
unites intellitfence 70 perseverance,
1.-The concentration OF population in
the manufacturing districts OF England
is past belief till enc has ~een such q
center as Leeds. Here the British
workman may be seen at his best and at
his worst. His liberal patronage of the
gin>shop and his love for the gentle
Dull~pup, have been fertile theme for
official pens. 1t is more agreeable to
report what he has done to help himself,
to organize his idle shillings into fed
er;.l union. of dividends. and to teach
himself and children sobriety and thrift.
Here Is 2 tangible expression of York
shire common sense,--a handsome four
story block OF stores. splendid in plate
glass, carved stone work, and architect
ural display.-a halt-holiday in the
mills, and the streets swarm with
work people OF every age aud condition.
Albion street is not too wide for the
traffic that pours along its sidewalks and
road way, and gathers about the open
doors of the Leeds Industrial actually
struggling in aud out, and pressing
tnickly up to the centres One door
leads to a grocery store, the next to a
drapery store, another door leads up
stairs to the house-furnishing ware
rooms, the Quitting department, and
the boot and shoe store There is no
display in the windows Cater the CO.
operative manner,) and we may follow
the multitude inside to watch the active
trade Plain, Woodworking people,
perhaps grimy from their toll. they press
up 10 the counters, cash 10 hand. ready
TO buy. The statesmen have evidently
prepared for good demand, and the
staple goods, already put up in conve-
nient packages, are piled in enormous
heaps on the counters. They deal out
the bundles with wonderful speed, take
the money, make note in = sales book,
tear oil the voucher Cor halt-leaf.) and
give it with change to the customer !.
Each one takes his or her goods. and
moves rs quickly MS possible to make
room Tor others. Near the door, in
tiny Office, such as is sometimes used for
the cashier III American stores. sits
little girl Each oue presents & fly~leaf
to her, and receives q tin or brass token
representing the amount OF the purchase
This is the evidence oil trade at the So
cety's stores, and will be guide Ia
estimating the ALLEGATION of profits next
dividend day. For every bag OF flour
the member may buy he viii receive
back u bonus or dividend of two shill-
Ing aad six pence. On all other goods
the bonus viii be two shillings and two
pence III every pound those tokens rep
resent. This IS the key to this active
trade; this explains this eagcrness to
buy this is the 'excuse for being that
the society can show
'~The shops seem to lie equal to the best
OF their class in London or New York.
The stock is very large. OF apparently
the best quality and is admirably put up.
ready for immediate SALE Gong up
stairs we find the building blocked with
people intent on trade. 4 woman COM
ing downstairs. her three boys making
much clatter with their new wooden
shoes, brushes past man with wicker
baby ,carriage gnsser one arm and 4 mop
broom under the other. There IS plenty
of roughness, broad Yorkshire dialect,
toil-stained clothing, aud good English
rhsh and scramble: every man for HIM
self; but, with all, there is 8 feeling for
order and honest good-na,1re. Above
stairs there are halls ard corridors pack
ed from floor to ceiling with boots and
shoes. brushes, kitchen ware. household
goods. and ready made clothing. The
people swarm into every nook and corr
ner, bes:ege the salesmen. and drive a
lively trade. These busy shoppers and
anxious buyers are the members OF the
Leeds Industrial. "a few OF the 10000
the legal owners Of this
the 50 branch stores. tue shoe
and the great hour>mill at
Marshall street In the Holhcck district.
Every man and woman Of this Company
has Ave or more shares in this society,
or has paid down good shillin rs to let
them earn the shares Each one OF these
in that handsome dividend
of fl6 200 LIS. sd that was paid last
quarter day. That is. more than two
pounds q year apiece or two shilliug< and
3 trifie over in every 2io pennies they
spent 1t the stores, besides the interest
st per cent. year on their united share
capital of ti23, 552 LIS. IL I'D