The Northwestern standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1885-1886, 1886-03-27
Oo-operation and It's Benefits.
II, the Editor of The Standard.

To the Editor of The Standard.
Cooperation, we are told, is in itself
very old thing. If not as old as the
hills it is as old as humanity. 1t is
friendly society, inasmuch as it renders
comparatively poor people able to en-
jov benefits which they could not 9th
erwise possess. ] refer you to the early
ages of man, TO the dark ages, which
has kept our religion alive, notwiJh-
standing persecution, imprisonment
and burning at the stake, and yet by
looking at the houses of worship all
over the world we see the fruits of Co
operation. If cooperation has not the
means of reforming the world, it has
the means of reforming millions in 1t.
It is the means of lifting up the trading
community of this country by honest
commercial transaction. Cooperation
of to-day is an acknowledged power in
the and-acknowledge by all classes
of society TO be one of the most bene-
fetal movements that was ever orga-#
nized to benefit the classes Of the peo-
pie. Cooperation promises, in any
capacity, fair measure, good quality,
and no adulteration. For instance,
take our cooperative mercantile gro
Gerry store in this city. They do not
believe in oIeomargine, or what is
termed butterine, or in any other COM
modify knowing it to be Of inferior
quality. Should they purchase such
they would simply purchase a whip TO
thrash themselves with. What they
believe in is economical and equitable
dealing. E5 is asked, rs there any
thing saved by co-operation2" Letthem
take brief glance at the rise and pro-
gress of cooperation in England. Years
before 1874 cooperative societies had
been tried in many different ways, but
it was not until that year that those
twenty-eight men of Rochdale, Eng
land, put them on d fair, equitable and
sound basis. It was at a very critical
period of the history Of the country,
which was on the verge Of revolution.
Thousands of people were starving and
could not obtain bread. for the accursed
corn laws had not been repealed. Sub
sequently they wee repealed by Robert
Peel who, when he saw that the corn
laws were the curse of the country,
brought in his measure TO repeal them.
1t WAS at this time that these twenty
eight men met together to consider the
best means of improving their condi-
tion. They began their venture in
very small way, some wheeling their
wares through the streets in a wheel
barrow. But success was theirs, great
er than anticipated, and at one time
looked like mountains; when approach
ed, vanished into mole hills. That So
ciety had now grown into million
members in the country, which, at an
average of four in the family would be
four millions. The annual turnover
is over twenty millions pound sterling,
the profits on which is over three mil
liens, or over 8 Per cent on the pound
returned On their purchases. This is
the result of cooperative enterprise; it
is an example of what can be done by
working men and women combining
together who, can by energy, peTseyer-
ance and thrift, acquire a capital ae-
cumulating to the amount of S35, COO
coo, which put into the pockets an
nuaiIy. in the shape OF interest, the
sum of s2.o0O,O00. Cooperation taught
self-help, which, after all, is the best
help. Cooperation does great work
in encouraging the working classes to
be thrifty. and viii continue to be one
Of the greatest bulwsrks against pau
perism in the country. Worhngmen,
help yourselves by helping others.
Patronize cooperative stores and re-
ceive an equal share of the profits of
your purchase. III. Z. LEONARD.