The Russellville Democrat., 1882-09-28

They Of the North and Of England
have fully learned this lesson. The
greatest cooperative concern in
England started thirty years ago
with stock of goods costing $50.
The stockholders were ashamed to
take down the shutters Of their shah
BY little shop, and when one was
bold enough to do this he was pelted
by the street gamin of Rochdale.
That corporation now owns one of
the largest mercantile establish
ments in all England; buys grain by
the ship load and grihds it in its own
mills; has library Of thousands OF
volumes, large reading room; all
immense hall for public meetings;
counts its membership by the thous-
ands and It's capital by millions, all
owned by work people. This has all
been accomplished within little
more than twenty five years. Sew
eral, a score OF more concerns. pro-
jected by mechanics and DAY labor
ers in England and in the northern
sections OF this Union, have made
similar records. The great institu
ton we here describe is founded on
So shares, no one stockholder being
allowed to carry more than $50, ex
cept in cases Of heads of families,
and they are limited to $500.
Suppose now that twenty young
inen of Chattanooga, of any South
ern etbt bauid Pool their cash, say
s0 each, aG6 embark 1t in some line
81 tlaac u manufacture, and it's a
poor young fellow who cannot raise
$50 That is a 81 200 TO start on.
One of the corporation could man
age the business, and at the end of
the first year another $1,000 could
be added, or twice that sum. Sew
eral of the New England cotton and
other industries began IN this way,
and have grown from just such small
beginnings.
The trouble with us is we feel too
big and important to go into a $50
speculation or Investment; the peo
pie must, and they will, as they be-
come more practical in their views
and methods, get over the nonsense
which despises the day of small
things. They must learn to appre-
ciatc that sound old Scotch maxim
that "many titles make a muckle;"
learn that 500 five dollar bills, com.
bined and managed as capital for the
prosecution of business by single
head, make potent trade force,
whereas those drihlets in five hun
dred hands are FILTERED away or lie
idle in bank. There ought to be no
trouble whatever in raising, in $50
shares, sum sufficient to buy and
operate the Ruohs cotton factory in
this city. The iron operatives here,
if they would save their earnings
and combine them, could easily start
many small industries that would
grow into big ones. The great adj
vantage of such combination is
shown forth in the splendid success
of our savings and building associa-
ton, which lends money at 6 per
cent, makes 30 to % per cent. prof
its for its stockholders, and is all
conducted for few hundred dollars
per year, drawing no member, except
few economically paid officers,
from his business III single bust
ness hour in the year. Why can't
this excellent result be initiated in
various lines of trade and industry?
Why isn't it so initiated? Because
our Young men, mechanics, sales
men, clerks, etc, are willing TO live
alone for the present, arc careless
about providing fdf'futute independ-
cnca doa't Gaow ul1lr OWE. aesre-
gated value.
The deyolo,GmsnJ of the Sonth
must finally be accomplished mainly
by Southerners. We shall have aid.
Shrewd capitalists, however, win be
more ready to put in their cash With
us when we have shown what we
can do with our coal, iron, cotton,
timber and the score Of other dor
mant resources lying beneath or
ready 20 grow out OF the earth.
..ry tt ss~-aa