The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1876-05-13
FROM OHIO.

CLEVELAND, April 20, 1876.
ITO the Editor of the woRkISsAAS's ADVOCATE
The Sovereigns Of Industry are quite
strong in this city, numbering over ], 200
Tembers. They have several councils or
branches located in different sections Of
the city, and it is said they are growing in
numbers every meeting. The chief in
ducemeDt of their Society, as | under
stand it, is its purchasing system. 1t is
conducted in this fashion the members
agree to do all their trading for clothing,
boots and shoes, dry goods, etc, at
whichever store in the city which will give
them the greatest discount from their reg
ular retail prices. To get at this, they sp-
point committee to visit the various
dealers, examine their prices, learn terms
as to the deductions to be made. The
committee reports at the next meeting,
and the Council determines which stores
will have their custom. This done the
members are furnished with two cards, one
containing the names Of the store, owners,
and their address, another, which is a GER
tihcate that the bearer is a member Of the
Order, on the presentation of which
alone to the store keeper when the pur-
chase is made, will the discount be allowed.
You see they do not show their card to the
store owner till they have bought their
goods at the very lowest figures possible
then when handing the greenbacks to pay
for them, they hand the card also, which
calls for the per cent of. Thus consider
able money in a month, is saved to the
member Cash dealings only are permis-
sable.
The system Is not new with them, how
ever. 1t has been carried on for some
years by the machinists and blacksmiths,
kminers and others here.S 1t is a good idea
and enables the judicious purchaser to
save something in buying, from the ordi-
nary prices charged, which is highly neces-
sary these hard times.
but the sovereigns are not satisfied with
this, they have made a step forward, and
are about to open provision and grocery
store on the cooperative plan, For this
purpose they have rented commodious
store on the corner of Ontario and st.
Clair streets, for which they will pay a
rental of $500 per annum, ana are stocking
it with goods. They have it nicely fitted
up, and expect to open out in few days.
fOne thing in their plans | do not like
though, and it seems to me it will not be
long before they will discover they do not
like it either. The system in which they
have agreed to operate is cooperative only
for those who are members Of the Brother
hood and to none else. A man must be a
Sovereign before he is eligible to become
shareholder in the store, and they will
allow no share in the profits to their GUS
TONERS who are not members of the Order.
This, while they call their store "co-
operative store, in my mind robs it OF the
right to such title. How SO answer,
because under such system there is no
difference between their store and any
other private firm or corporAtion.> Gus
tom is more than capital i'll all enterprises
and is entitled to a share in the profits
which il yields. The recognition Of this
principle, and paying for it, is what has
built up the British Cooperative estab-
lishmentt founded in 1874 by twenty
eight poor weavers and a capital Of $40,
to its present gigantic proportions, having
a membership of over five hundred thou.
sand and a cash capital Of over $50, 900, 900.
The man who trades in Rochdale store,
though not shareholder, is paid the same
dividend on his gross purchase as one who
holds fifty shares, and this is right and
just The share capital receives its due
reward in its 8 per cent per annum, or
whatever is agreed upon, out Of the first
earnings, after expenses, then the balance
is divided pro rata upon the purchaser,
less what is retained for propaganda or
other purposes This is what makes the
distinction between a CO operative institu-
ton and any other. The Sovereigns must
open their minds a little bit wider and
Welcome men into their cooperative
efforts, who though not Of their order, may
be good co-operatOrs, and would work for
their success. They must enlarge their
souls, and pay the poor customer. who
may not have the means to buy share in
the store, but who is willing to purchase
there in preference to another, on the
ground that they are moved to their en-
terprize from principle animated by q
wish to do strict justice to all men,
whether they be SovereignH or not, q
proper per centage for his custom. Want