New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-11-06

lie. EnWTlnU
during that year was in excess OF Ga, OOOO ana
IN Scotland in excess OF f2QOo,O00;o o doe
total assets were in. England 5000 900,
and in Scotland upward Of f674OOO; while the
profits realized in England amounted to El,24o, OOO
and in Scotland TO upward OF tlIo'OOo.
THE ROCHDALE PIONEERS.
In order that the rate of progress of the move
ment NAV be better understood, will give the com
paratve position of OF the leading societies be-
tween the years 1871 and 1876. The most promI-
nent and the best known society of course Is the
Rochdale Equitable Pioneers This society IN
the year 1871 returned its number OF
members as 6O21 its capital in round NUM-
bers as clos 600; its sales as G2l6.OOO; and Its
profits rs E23OO0. In 1876 its members num-
bered S. 500: It's capital was G2j4O0O; ITS sales
were 1855. 900; and its profits were t3lOOo.
From this specimen OF the growth OF societies. not
selected as WhiCA the greatest progress
has been made but example OF tho etter class
of societies, q fair estimate may be formed OF the
magnitude and power nj tue cooperative movement
among the working classes throughout England
COMBINING THE coCIE1IEs.
But no fair idea can be obtained OF its scope with
ont taking into account the combination Of indivld-
ua associations into great society for the pnr-
pose of obtaining Access to the wholesale markets
of the world. which has been successfully
achieved by the working folk. The ne
cesslty for this was felt soon after the
passing Of the Industrial Societies Act, and the
consequent multiplication of local societies through
out the country. The result was the formation OF
wholesale society in Manchester, of which The
individual societies became members. 10 take the
year above gwen. 1871 the wholesale society NUM-
bered 23J local societies among ltS members aho
in 1876 the number had rlseu 10 80. rs capital
had increased from 90 600 in 1871 to e94 900 IN
1876 its sales from t75S, 900 to tZ,6JTOUO; ara
n, profits from e, 800 to E30 300. ~ TINS prnci-
ple of combination results are obtained the lIpor-
tancc Of which TO the smaller societies can scaI'ey
| be Oyercstlmated. Inc principe .Vl az az
movement is perhaps better WIN H1''i tb4
| wholesale society than ID any other cqulIy COM
pact way. Inc smallest aud poorest village store.
belonging 10 the wholesale society gets exactly the
same advantages to price and quality IN ~ pur-
! cEascs does the largest society such = h'cu-
| dale. which number It's members by thoh'ahH7
and its sales by hundreds of thousands OF pounds
yearly. Thus the lesson OF mutual ueip IS Deins
| practically Taught o., -.
| / NAV add as another striking illustration Of the
influence OF the movement on the hablts OF th peo
pie - regards foTethOuEht and thrift that unring
! the past lew years no less a proportion tnau bO
| per cent OF the large profits made 10y the
| individual societies have been lett IN them
for reInyestment. As an Illustration OF The InGth0d
m which the cooperative store WORKS. anu enc behe
It's which II cOnfcrs, almost without eH0rt DID Eng
! land upon It's member. | may instance the drcdra-
/ ton made at the receu. Cooperative Congress by
! Dr.. Waits. OF Manchester one OF the Oldest anu
stauuc hes, English coOpcrdtors:
MY experience has been lac said, " that orr 'ys-
tenn OF CO. peratIon literally creation. IL makes
something Out OF nothing without WORK or Hort o;
! sacrifice on the part of members. In 1850 joined
the Manchester Equitable. paying single pound Tor
| nv share In 1870 wanted money. l had "l-A-
drawn no dividend I'd to that tlme but very
/ small portion of the wants of nv family
had been supplied from the store, and, waen | asked
what there waste NY credit, was tod that there
| was upward Of Rob, which sum thrh "italicN.
| asked the same question some days agoLh Apu'
| ISIS and then found then found tnat thcIe Was
n ding to MY credit upward of $50 and S0 tlr Is
/ | was concerned that was "a creation. hao done
nothing Tor n. have avoided gong 10 the meet
| luga at Che store, because vas AFRAID thai ihE
rt TNI.sk wars
Besides the combination Tor business purposes IN
one gso .-al society the corporate SOCIETIES ~ the
United Kingdom are bound together ia p social or
/ gauILldOu, represented by yearly congress at
who. Gers chosen who carry on the Work OF
fine movement m dI1i rent part, OF England ~ tlr
! interval. of the metIu-5 OK tic Congress. inns
! grr.. Board l- represented by newspaper, ana
l. constantly spreading the principles OF the Julon
bv the pubucauo1 os pamphlets and by Lectures III
he lirdsoye view above given OF the progress
cf coOper1 tiUn Iu Fin gland is necessarily OF mea-ic
and unsatisfactory character. wlii, however, en-
dcdypr To- sum up pilt tde ttoui5t ~ AiCH MA 70
have been attained. In tlls uDiuall"H, WHlch IS
now composed of upward Of LOO societies,
and numbers JOO,COO mcmoer', tie iuDddieu-
! T,i principle, have been publicly accepted that
ryert article shall De sold for precisely Wn1t l.
t,t mo- ort of .dUl Iteration snail tolerated. a.I
tDai an dealings shall he Tor ready money. The
b,ucfccat effect az these III e- mas zen fell Wh'i-
ever tto societies nave established themselves ."
credit system waich weighed with suct, tcuI'ii
pressure upon the poor h's disappear l' ltet "Nt
obtained pure articles OF consumption Tor less
money. and. what is OF more Importance, the
m tEe irdu--r,al eduaaton which has r.
suited from the management Of III b association.
lac members have learned ID understand ala
9DU..,afe the conditions, Of Industrial Success, the
teachings of economic science and Jhc real ppsS ol =
aces, oi tllde. l. has been practical training Which
has Csfc.cd, % @ great extent vague IheuI'7 ol
/ experience; and IN the nature, even more tuaI III
| the past the tendency l. 30 produce harmony Oe-
tween employers aud all working people b. reveal
iHg t. tae latter some Of the necessities
and al ID
| and aIocdIng them means OF ascertain
ing the real conditions oI TRADE ana t"e pros
! meet. of the markets. Above all, the movement has
Infused hop. intO Ives which before were c,gued
down uy conditions that aeemed % ldug over I-eh
| ike d malignant fate, ana against Which u wa,
scarcely possible TO contend with any nope OK sue
OTHER EDUC TIONAL ADVANTAGES.
Imav add that education. also. has been promoted
in direct manner by esla5 Ishing III connection
with the local societies good free hbrare
aud classes. Almost every society in the Union
Il now pledged to devote a percentage o. 2l9 upon
all profits to educational purposes. As The accumu
lat,on. of the societies grow large they are being
used tor the purchase or Improvement OF houses io
The members; and the best sort OF independence j,
being deyel 3pcd by the establishment OF proydent
dispensares and insurance societies. But all such
success genuine 1t mas been, Is only 10 be regarded
as a fOretaste OF what is possible III The future
! The ann of the leaders Of tine movement does not
stop short of a thorough orgnZ 'tI0n ol demand
and supply rs TAR members OF the Jnlon are con-
! carn.d Already certain cautious experiments have
| been made in the manufacture ana production Oi
article, OF first necessity, and further deNciopnent
I'm this direction may lee now confidently looked
| for OF course this step Will Toe Tar mora
Gitficu,t than the one which has already been
| taKe4-namciy, the organization OF distributions
The result, are still doubtful and many PERSONS
! fayorarly disposed 70 the principles of the move
mcut have no faith in the capacity OF sucn cOmbl-
nations 10 carry on production on scale which the
| conditions Of Industrial life require In our time
Nv own faith however, Is that II Will be done and
that before very loig.
that the principle admitting all persons employed
i'm their works 20 share OF the profits. IN one form
or aa0thcr, Is growing IN strength day by uA{' Inc
most prominent instance OF THIS, perhaps, Is The case