The comet. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1877-1882, 1879-10-11

"Pohou oh ouJurudyS no JnaL tne COSL OF I'll
manager should be small. The staple arti
cles wanted by the neighborhood could al
be purchased at wholesale prices and solc
again at very small per centage ovel
actual cost. If the store was not situated
on a navigable river or railroad, The hauling
of the goods should be given to the Gus
tomers-and it might be so arranged dur
ing the fall and winter that the wagon!
hauling cotton to the railroad or river coult
return loaded with goods belonging to the
store. The profits should be small, sufi'
cient only to pay the expenses of the man
agement and a fair interest on the capital.
The Association, buying and selling alone
for cash, could never fail. The capital
need not be large, since sales for cash
always furnish the ready means of replen-
ishing the stock
As experience would enable the associa-
ton to learn more and more the wants of
the customers, and as the improved condi-
ton of the farmers consequent upon an
adoption of this system, would in time de-
mand articles of elegance and luxury-the
business of the store could be extended.
Orders could also be made by the manager
for any customers who would advance the
money for articles not within the scope of
the business of the Association; and in this
way the benefit of wholesale prices be OBJ
tanned. On railroads the Association by
its large purchases could get the benefit of
carload freights.
1t is the experience in England that these
stores have greatly benefited their custom
ers and shareholders. 1 do not see but
that they would be of the greatest advan-
tage here.
1t may not be generally known but it is
nevertheless fact, that goods in the whole-
sale houses i'll commercial cities are always
sold lower to merchants-"t "tto the trade, as
they call it-than to others. The differ
ence in many articles is as much as 25 per
cent. This saving alone would enable the
Association to sell most articles at the
wholesale prices charged in the cities to
those not merchants and yet realize hand
some profit. Yet it should be remembered
that the profit sought is only fair interest
on the money, and that the main object of
the Association is to furnish its customers
for cash, goods at the lowest cash prices.
Cooperation stores it will be said will
injure the merchants To some extent
they will, but if the country be prosperous
(and these stores will contribute to its pros
perity) there will always be plenty room for
the enterprising merchant; and if there
should not be, he must remember that he
is mere distributor of wealth, not orea-
tor of it, and if he cannot make this dis
tribution as economically as cooperation
stores can, he must submit to the inevita-
BILE fate which dooms the extravagant and
costly to supplantation by the economical
and cheap.
[ do not mean to make war on any class
or occupation. My regret is that all can
not and do not flourish in Mississippi. The
merchant is useful distributor of produc-
tion. He performs an important, even es-
sential, part in the economy of life. But
i must be remembered that a retail merN
chant not engaged in foreign trade is not
producer of wealth. After all his exertions
not one dollars worth has been added to
The wealth of the State. Merchants engaged
in foreign trade do add to the common
wealth by SO much as their gains may be
lerived from their correspondents in other
and also by 80 much as they may
Increase the value of domestic productions
,y finding new purchasers, and the conse-
luent new and increased demand for them
But tho domestic merchant, such alone as
We have in Mississippi, is mere distribu-
or of the creation of others. He is con-
,enient, even essential, but from our i'm
,rovident system of credit, he has been
orced into kind of dealing, profitless in
he main to him, and utterly ruinous to his
ustomers. He must assist in changing
his system and restoring a prosperity
mong the people at large, which will en-,
BILE him to make legitimate gains by
rade which benefits and does not destroy
lis customers.
1t is not unfriendly to the merchant to
rge policy which will advance the public
prosperity, though it may dispense TO some
xtent with his services, any more than
litigation and strife is un-
riendly to the lawyer, or the adoption of
ficient sanitary regulations is antagonistic
o physicians. The fairest and best policy
that which most subserves the public
,ood, and gives each and every interest and
ccupation and calling the equal chance
nd opportunity of success.
The principle and practice of co-opera- =,
on might be extended much farther, as |
he farmers advance in prosperity and in
he knowledge of the practical workings of !,
ssociated effort. They might have CO. !
agencies to sell their crops and G
} purchase supplies; and through these @
gencies they might secure correct reports
( the condition of growing crops in this y
I'D other countries es--the actual supply ON L
and, and the probable future demand. /
The practice of cooperation and associ- :
hon, when once entered on, will evolve a
ther and more extended enterprises to t
hich it may be applied
4 l., hot Spnfn- -
IN people are unaccustomed to associated 1