The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1877-02-21
What is True Corporation.
FRoNrENAc, Feb. 10Th, II.

FRoNrENAc, Feb. l2th,'77.
Mr.. Editor:-There seems to be an
unusual effort put forth just now, on
the part of certain reformers to get up
what they call cooperative societies.
They generally appeal to farmers and
urge them to form associations for buy
ing their own groceries, dry goods, SC,
aul selling their own grain. l do not
believe that the advocates of these Gre
formatory" movements always fully ex-
anime the philosophy they are so ready
to teach. I do not question their mo-
tives, nor their honesty, but the sound
! ness Of their theories. Suppose the
farmers of this State were to adopt
their "plans," and go into this cooper
| tive business, what would be the result
The first thing necessary would be the
capital to trade upon. This would have
to be contributed by the association.
Next, somebody would have to be ap-
pointed to do the business, and he, or
she, or they would have to be paid by
I the association. And the saving would
be what? The difference between the
cost Of goods thus furnished and those
bought Of ordinary dealers (?)
Is this the truth? Let US see. Who
is to lose the wastage and loss on the
goods; the unsold stock, which may
spoil or go out Of fashion; the occasion
al almost inevitable bad debts; and the
interest on money invested? The So
ciety, of course. Again, the agents
who attend to the business may be dis
honest or careless, and the association
must suffer whatever losses result from
these two likely causes. But grant
that, all these losses and risks consid-
cred, the gain by Incorporation" is still
worth acquiring, who is most benefit.
ted? The members of the society, of
course, say the advocates, of this sys-
tenn. I think not. I think it is the
employees Of these societies. These
are started in business with the socie-
tvs capital, and are secured hand
some remuneration for their labor with
out having any risks to run, and still
they are but shop-keepers, but middle
men, or drones, Us our reform phi]os-
ophers call them. They are not pro.
ducers but take their place in the ranks
of those who live off of the producers.
Instead, then, of this kind of cooper
alton doing away with the class which
lives by the toll of others, it simply
changes the individuals of that class.
It simply draws from the industrial
class those out Of whom to make mid
dlemen, and places them in competition
with the middlemeD previously existing,
and it may force some of the latter to
become producers" That is, it may
drive them into becoming laborers or
farmers. But we must not forget that
experience is essential to the successful
conduct Of any business, and especially
so in case of sharp competition. Now,
the man who Is educated to business
has the advantage of superior knowl-
edge and experience over the employees
of the cooperative socities and, hence,
it is always probable that the latter
will be the first to succumb to the aG-
versities of trade, and that the societies
will be the suffererers.
! But there is a plan of cooperation,
within the reach of all classes of citi-
zens, wholly free from the objections
above noticed, and it is this: Let the
community consolidate its patronage
upon those who will deal fairly by it.
There are plenty of honorable and
worthy business men, who are content
with reasonable profits, and if such are
encouraged and sustained the commune
ty will reap the benefits of cooperation
without incuring any of the risks. The
great trouble with this country is that
we have too many "men in business"
and among the farmers there are still
very many anxious to quit their farms,
move into town and swell the ranks Of
the non-producing classes. The children
of farmers especially are often taught
to regard their owe calling humble one
from which it is happiness to escape,
and to look forward to profession or q