The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1888-01-05
THE ROCHDALE PLAN OF CO.
OPERATION.

We have received an enquiry In a
late letter from a member of the
Wheel as to the plan of operations of
what is known as the "Rochdale" plan
of cooperation, Inasmuch as this is
a subject which we'll deserves the con
sideration of all farmers, whether they
belong to any farmers organization OF
not, we shall give a brief description
of the n1odus operandt of the Rochdale
plan, hoping that it may excite general
interest. All who have any motive
for desiring to economic on the cost
of making a living should find this a
very readable subject.
Cooperation, when properly under
stood and fairly and honestly carried
ont, is unquestionably the most GER
tain and satisfactory solution of how
those with little capital can say
money and better their condition.
There are a number of forms of CO.
operation in operation to a greater or
less extent in different parts of the
world. Where honestly and efficient
ly administered they have accomplish
GU SlcdU 1SSu1LO. LII OuI SOOLlOIy
the principal examples of cooperative
labor are found in the various estab-
lishments Of Shakers and similar com
munities banded together on religious
tenets. But it is by no means neces-
sary that religious dogmas should find
any place in the formation of cooper
alive associations. If formed and run
on strict business principles, they are
Just as successful as when of a reli-
gious nature.
We all know how universally pros
porous and successful are all the Shaker
settlements in this country. Whether
in running farms, manufactures, or
stores, they always succeed. Others
around them make a failure, but they
always succeed. The fundamental
principle on which lies their success,
consists in the old established princi-
pie, "In union there is strength In
England the greatest example of sue
cessful cooperation is found in the
great association and different branch
es of the "Rochdale Pioneers" This
great association, with a hundred or
more branches, had an extremely
humble beginning. The original "Roch-
dale Pioneers" was composed of a
mere handful of poor weavers of
Rochdale, England, whose combined
capital was probably less than one hun
dred dollars, of which each man con
tributed just five dollars. The occa-
sion of the formation of this associa-
ton was just the same as exists in
many parts of the country to-day, op-
preston on the part of monopoly.
Seeing no liability of help coming
from others, they determined to help
themselves. And this, we remark by
the way, is the spirit that animates all
men who make any great success in
life.
When they had put up all the money
they could, they got the use of an
abandoned building as their store
house, detailed a committee to take
the money and invest in the kind of
goods they needed to the best possible
advantage and put it in this building.
They were not able to employ a store
keeper, so one Of their own number
was appointed to sell the goods at
night, and each one who needed any
thing came at night to buy. All the
purchases were made for cash, and a
record kept of each mans purchases.
When the goods were all sold it was
found that a very fair profit had been
made, and each nan was entitled to
the profit on all the goods he had
bought. But the profits were not
divided among them. The capital,
increased by these profits, and also by
addition members, was again invested
in goods, and again sold with increas-
ed results. These goods vere ol,0ays
bought for cash and Arrays sold for cash,
and it was an easy matter to see how
the profits came in. The plan
prove to be a taking one The people
saw that they could be their own store
keepers; they could buy goods and sell
them to themselves and thus make for
themselves the profits that otherwise
would have gone into the pockets of
the merchants. So in a little while
the handful of Rochdale weavers in
creased to a large number of people,
with a large capital, and a big store.
Then it became necessary to adopt
a more formal plan of management
and operation, and they decided on
the n that. is still in operation, and