Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1885-09-27
woRXNeMEN SHOULD READ THIS.

Industrial Cooperation in Minnesota.
CaristiaH IHiCH.
The first Co operative Barrel Association
Of Minneapolis was organized in the fall OF
1874 with q capital stock of $4,000, each
member paying in SIS and a weekly assess.
meut Of s.. The success of this orgsnlza-
ton was such that it was followed IN 1917
By second, in $50 By third, and IN 1881
BY fourth and fifth, and subsequently by
two more-an doing we'll Each stock
holder has but one vote, however many
shares of stock he may possess, q con-
dition which tends to prevent consoida-
ton of the stock IN q few hands.
These cooperative organizations possess a
good property, are very thrifty and success
jul, with a capital stock ranging IN each
case from Slj,O 900 TO $4,000. paid up They
are all doing a good business. What Is more
important. the coopsrs who before this CO.
operative movement had poor reputation
for sohriety and law and order, now stand
high in the estimation of the community as
good citizens. The first association, the old
'Co-opsrsrive." has its own mandatory of
Of stock in Chippewa county, Wisconsin,
EMPLOYING there q capital OF $50, 900, with
prudence and success, The seven CO oper-
alive companies are doing business to the
amount of 81 100000 yearly. For these
facts We are indebted 10 Mr.. 7. G. Rankin,
Of Minneapolis, whose letter appended fur
pishes additional and interesting intorms-
ton:
The cooperative shops have been max
ing rapid progress as well as continuous
progress since 1881. Tsree more have
been started, of which however, one Joined
itself to the old Co operative, the mother
organization. There are now seven, all do
ing well, and working in perfect harmony.
They supply all our mills, except three, and
are doing fully tour-6fths of all the cooper
s,ing work OF this -four city. They claim
six-seveuths of al the work done. The boss
shops have disappeared, one by one, until
there is but one left, and its owner has
tried several times to sell out to his work
men.
The great mills favor the cooperative
shops, because CD they are sure Of the best
work, and (2) they are never disappointed
by them. The shops help each other IN q
pinch-will divide orders, and otherwise
eouahze matters They are filed with
mixed multitude Of Swedes, Norwegisns,
Irish, Germans, Italians, aud Americans,
vet (l) they consult dispsssionately, (2) vote
fairly. (9l submit without hesitation, (+)
work faithfully, (5) choose their best men
always, (6) obey implicitly, and
IN have unlimited faith in CO.
operative effort. During their ex
istence the eight shops have not less than
L o.4,e1al e. han1la thafr
money. Out Of this number not one has
given any security, not one has proved care
less or dishonest and not one dollar Of de-
cit or defslcatiou has been charged
against thin. After their eight years ex-
perience il is now admitted they are unas-
sailable and unconquersble while united.
They have now taken steps to establish
cooperative store on the pure Rochdale
system-cash sales at current rates.
I'VE are now taking stock to buy town
ship of land in this State; hope to be one
Of a company that will form q cooperative
village on it this fab This, in nv opinion,
will be the very tsblelsnd Of cooperative
effort and of society. l hope to be able
hereafter to send you items for publication
in regard to it. We can get land for less
than 81 per acre, in 8 region of good soil;
good, soft pure water, 6ne timber, close to
this and other good markets. sm nearly
66; have been eo-operstor ever since l
began to hear OF Rochdale work; have
preached for thirty-6ve years al least, aud
now have more faith than ever.
THE stock is held BY practical workmen;
they prefer to have each man interested in
that way. Stock receives wages on y; prot
lis are divided according to wages.
There are twenty two cooperative socie-
ties in Great Britain, most of them from ten
to twenty-five years Of age, and nearly all
of them declaring moderate profit