The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1886-01-08
KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
The New Cooperative Association.


The PRESS the other morning stated that
it was reported the Knights Of Labor In TINS
city and vicinity numbered 1900 members,
and gave some other interesting facts about
the organization. Mr.. R. A. Williams, in
conversation with reporter, said lately
"We have one feature of our work that may
prove Of interest Our cooperative ASSOCIATION io
will soon extend its operations outside Oh t aLn
order, and ask for share OF public palronage.
1t waslorganized some six months ago. anu o WaS
an idea OF my own. The members OF !. A. 1 ;S9S
were in the habit of complaining OF the nlgh
prices of goods. One day said to them,. ~ nave
some assembly funds on hand. deposit u IN lne
bank and must take just what rate q interest "
the bank may choose to give. They tnnK III II may may
be six per cent, but it is more likely 70 pc less
than four per cent. Now, II you VIII DOT, pordoW tne
assembly funds, and start IN DuSieSs erg' Mi
business on a small scale put tHe4 Lne greatest
of the cooperative societies OF Europe started
with a great deal less money. what say, will
you borrow your own money, Of your you own trus-
Tee and 90 into business In the end about
thirty good knights TOOK up WIN had my offer and
hire a store SO we fitted up small room in our
hall, bought scales and fixtures, and started bus
mes mess with $50 all told. We made much of it, be-
inc mindful that it might some time become
matter Of Importance. We elected treasurer, a
purchasing agent, receiving and delivery clerk,
counts should be audited at least once in six
months, and more frequently if the board saw fit
to do So In practice the accounts have been
audited every month. The goods were bought for
cash and were sold for cash. On an average the
sales were made at decided discount from the
outside prices, but still always at profit to the
association. We first of all bought set of books.
Every one of the association had his own book.
These books were ruled off like this:
nac esoanfT with the Cooperative Association
Goods bought.
COST price OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. .........-.....
prn6t P P .oo;t;
If member bought any goods and did not have
his book with him, the profit on the sale went to
the clerk. At the end of the quarter the profits
due to each man were figured out and given to
him. The sales book of the association was kept
in the same careful manner, The total amount of
sales in each case was given, amount OF profit
were divided Thus, the man who had bought
the most goods, and who had, therefore, made
the most money had to pay the largest share Of
member to draw out once in six months 20 per
cent of his profits in cash. the balance to go Into
the funds of the association. The result of the
business for the first six months was SO startling,
if may use such a word in this connection, that
the members resolved to reorganize on the plan
The shares were placed at 81 each, and the old
members used their accumulated profits in the
purchase of shares The association was then
thrown open to all Knights of Labor residing in
Portland. We have large number of knights in
the city who joined the order in other places They
came into the association by buying one share Of
stock We have at this time capital of about
$500. We now propose to open the association to
the public, and while asking for share of their
patronage, give in return a share OF the profits.
In other words, we shall give to the stockholders
81 per cent of the profits, and the public 33 per
cent. We shall rent small store and select an
agent who will be required to give bonds. We
propose that what comes into his hands shall be
accounted fer.
l hold that these cooperative stores are needed,
but did not approve of the idea of having big
central wholesale Knights of Labor store Started
in New York before the small assembly stores had
been started all around. We must have the mar
ket secured first.
'.The Knights of Labor here have a local nsti-
Labor Sick Benefit Association of Cumberland
County, Maine, to give the full name. This,
which is proving itself to be one of the best
benevolent societies in the city, was organized in
1885. 1t was at first proposed to make it a State
matter, but it at last, and think wisely, de-
cded to limit its operation to the county of Cum
berland. We do not admit every one. A name is
proposed and is then balloted on very much as in
the Portland Citizens Relief Society, and as in
other relief associations. The admission fee
80 to So. We pay the first week member is
sick 81. Then. for the next eleven weeks, we pay
to the sick brother 81 a week. After that it be-
comes matter of special assistance. This is in
part the work that the knights of Labor have ac-
complished in this city. We are rapidly growing,
and have come to stay. We knights do not desire
to level down but up"
Mr.. Williams is the organizer of the
Knights of Labor in this section. His adj
dress is r. A. Williams, So Mayo street,
Portland. He is good representative of
the order he has done much to build up.
When well he works every day, and stands
well in the community.