New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-03-15
COOPERATION IN ENGLAND.

DlATFD-POIIT1CAL TERRORISM USED To KEEP
Up PRICEs-LoRD BEACoNsFIELD on The SIDE
OF THE sHoPs-THE DISSOLUTION OF PAR1IA-
MENT PREDICTED.
[FRoM THB REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNEI
LONDON, Feb. 24.-After much threatening the
tradesmen are at last beginning to execute their
threats Of making cooperation political question:
They have but one notion on the sub1ect-to attack
every candidate who is favorable to cooperation or
who will not take pledge against cooperation
They have begun Will Mr.. Thomas Hughes. For
year or so Mr. Hughes has been the accepted Lib
era candidate at Salisbury. The united Liberals OF
that town, tradesmen included, invited him to
stand at the next election, colleague OF the
Liberal sitting member, DR.. Lush. de
went down to Salisbury several times
spoke, answered questions. was liked. ana
had altogether hearty welcome. His opinions on
cooperation were known beforehand. and whether
they had been not, Mr.. Hughes is not the man TO
keep anything back. The Salisbury tradesmeh
then said they did not care about cooperation
They conducted their business on system when
satisfied their customers and nobody thought o. Il
change in such dreamy old town, lying costly
about its beautiful Cathedral But of late the
London agitation against cooperative stores has
spread TO the country. There is an association,
committee an active. electionceriug agency of the
tradesmeu. not in London only but in various parts
of England. They have got Parliamentary Com
mirtee before which, last session. some very extra
ordinary evidence was produced They have un-
Willingly advertised the stores into general notice
and have worked themselves into state OF anger
which is, to say the least OF 1t. lndlscrlml-
mating They seem disposed to be as violent
against Mr.. Holyoake. who was lately with you, "a
against Mr.. Hughes, though Mr.. llolyoakes CO.
operation Is one thing, and that of Mr. hughes
another. Mr. Holyoake thinks the stores a mistake
Mr. Hughes, Judge favors the stores and though
he may consider them IN certain particulars H.
managed. would extend and enlarge the SYSTEM or
the theory of which the present stores one illus
tration At any rate Mr.. Hughes is known all over
ENGLAND as an advocate of cooperation in some
form: was so known last year as | said. But
whereas last year ms advocacy Of cooperation was
no bar his acceptance by the radesmen and other
electors Of Salisbury. this very same advocacy has
now becomes IN their eyes objectionable offence
They have rcpudiated their voluntary adherence
to his caudidaiure and Mr.. Hughes. not being man
to solicit fsvors from an unwilling constituency. has
res gncd or will shortly resign. letter Will be
publ shed in a few days announcing that he VIII not
be y Libera candidate for Salisbury.
Some personal questions are. believe, mixed mp
in this matter; but they are hardly Of a kind to
ccucern the public or 10 affect the point made by
the tradcsncn II the Salisbury radcsmen were
not themselves the first movers. they are, at any
rate the real opponents of Mr. Hughes. and it is
Nh Hu4hcSs connection with coOperatlon-ihat
and nothing ese-whIch makes II possible to alien
ate the cool viii Of part of the Salisbury electors
What We ara TO understand from the incident is
that one more interest" has taken the field and
that n fresh pledge to be administered TO every
candidate Ii is bad enough That political decara-
tons on specific questions should DO extorted from
these unhappy gentlemen. Il is worse when the
social crotchots Of particular agitators are pro
pounded as tests when man must not only
give answ. IS as to Home Rule and Free Land.
but as 10 anti-vacciEatIen and contagious
diseases and womeus nights. 1t became
worse when the publcans. as it was GER
tain they would. entered tho lists against Sir
Wlfud Lawson. The puDhcaus are now reinforced
by the grocers and ohceSemongers. II this goes
little further. the time may come when people OF
leisure and culture IN Engand Will be as reluctant
to engage in political strife the same classes, or
some of them are supposed to be ID America ii Is
not against procers or licensed vctnallers as n
claqs or "a individuals that any resentment Is felt
stu less AGAINST their taking part poItios That
would be absurd. 1t is their bringing their BUSH
ness into politics which makes mischief aud eXcitcs
disgust 1t would he quite the same il the lawyers
required q candidate to pledge himself to support
an increased scale Of fees Tor drawing deeds and ar
ouing cause, i'm court. What the tradcsmen at
tcmptingIs to keep az artificial prices and exorhi-
faDt profits by political terrorism; by Ostracslug
a. they have Ostracisod Mr.. Hughes, those who
wouid allow the community to protect Itself
against their Tapacity In which attempt
| wish them every possible i'll success,
inst as I wish Mr. Hughes may speedily find con-
stltuency which will not submit to be ruled III
politics 10y men whose politics relate solely to the
pnce Of pepper
This Government, it is to be said, has shown
marked disposition TO coquet with the anti-co-
operative people. Theirs perhaps is one of those
harassed interests winch IT pleased Lord BeacOns-
field To take under his patronage in the Bath letter
IN that distant but happy period when he was at
the head of Her Majesiy'5 opposition II is prob
able the tradesmen have thus far lost moro than
they have gained by their agitation. Thousands of
peope first heard Of cooperative stores through the
attacks upon them. and the business OF the stores
has never increased rapidly as since the trades
men organized against them. But the tradcsinen
may yet turn the tables on their foes II
powerful ministry or powerful party shoud
think ii worth while to champion their cause Wig
orously What the Government has done thus far
does not 90 beyond granting committee Of inquiry
and sending about "a circular among the civil ser
wants cmb0dyug a request for a statement as TO
their connection with any trading society. In some
cases. it is said the heads OF departments have made
il condition of promotion that their subordinotes
should resign their places the Directors Board of
the Civil Service stores Here the tradcsmen
thought that they had scored point. They were
disconnected when the fact brought out that
no less person than Lord Salisbury was trustee
or director Of the HaymaIket concern Nobody bas
vet been found bold enough to propose TO Lord
Salisbury the alternative of resgning that place or
his Office rs Foreign Secretary
Nor did the proceedings before the Parliamentary
committee do them much good nor vet the pubh-
cation of the speeches made and resolutions passed
at trade meetings They lack able leadership