Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-07
THE FARMERS ALLIANCE.
WIN This C0rporation be More 6aeceae-
ful Than lts Predecessor.

From the Indiansvolis News.
The cooperative purchasing movement in
sugurated by the farmers Of Southwestern In
diana 10 fraught with importanos, and has var
ious phasea The organization seems 10 have
its origin in the agitation which united ths
farmers OF the wheat-growine states in an en-
deavor to break mp the tvine-binder monopoly
but instead Of combining their oo-operstivt
efforts wholly 70 the work Of smashing tn
twine trust, they have enlarged the scope Of
taeir purposes into great general self-helpine
scheme, which may or may not be beneficial
The movement began in Indiana Ave or sIz
months ago and has risen with mighty power
II has necessarily been disastrous to some in
terests of the local comm unity, more directly
the storekeepers and middlemsn through whom
the farmers have for years been doing their
trading, and indirectly the town people, who
are affected by the activity Of local trade the
prosperity OF the home business men.
Everything commonly needed IL now pur-
chased by the farmers, under . contract made
by their organization, known a. the Alliance,
at stipulated profit for the storekeeper OF
about 10 per cent The system extends to
milling, blacksmithing and harness mendine
service, and includes even the purchase Of
collins. In short. there seems to be no kind OF
town business that the Alliance, within the
short period Of its existence, has not already
attempted to control for the benefit Of IL
farmers The result has been the suspension
Of business BY many storekeepers who nnd
themselves without customers, while others
have moved to places where competition Il
still free. In effect, the movement presents at
this time two phases-the curtailment Of local
trade prosperity on one side, and on the other
the benefits derived from the new system by
the farming classes who hitherto contributed
most to that prosperity.
COOPERATIVE BUYING By YARxRRs
has never been made permanently successful.
Eighteen years ago it was attempted in the
northwest and fourished for time, but soon
discrepancies in the accounts OF the store
keepers were discovered the farmers found
that prices were increasing. while weights and
measurements we're decreasing and confidence
in the management Of the stol es was destroyed,
resulting in the collapse Of the system. Later
1t was again tried by the Grange, much more
formidable move than the Alliance, but after q
few months the cooperative stores were aban-
doned. Again failure resulted from manage
ment that destroyed the confidence Of the
farmers.
Among other classes cooperation has been
successful. The most notable instance Of how
it may be made beneficial is to be found in the
history OF the Rochdale equitable pioneer so
ciety OF England, which, within q period OF
about forty years, has accumulated over
$4,000 900, 600. after beginning on $140 Of CAPT
tai. 1t controls not only stores but mines and
manufactures and various other institutions,
such as reading rooms, libraries, hospitals, and
schools. The most important lesson in it's his
tory is that 1t started in a small way and was
managed cautiously. A revolution in trade
methods was not attempted Immediately. II
grew slowly, but surely and immensely. It ia
now the controlling and sustaining power Of an
incomparably prosperous community.
II the conservative methods Of the Rochdale
society should be followed by the alliance. the
cooperative movement might be made perma-
nently beneficial. 1t is great and far-reach-
ing undertaking. 1t cannot be made lasting
success by starting of with whoop and hur-
rah, and that appears to be the grave mistake
that the alliance is making. The controlling
idea should be to build up-nOt tear down.
The destructive idea is pretty sure always to
be a boomerang. To secure the confidence of
the members, the thing most essential to sue
cess, progress should be made slowly, with
care to place the trusts of the organisation in
the hands Of honest men, and to choose wise
and conservative leaders. Farmers are natu-
rally suspicious men, and they will be hard to
hold together permanently In such an organi-
cation. Ii excitement is encouraged there Is
sure to be reaction, and the collapse Of the
organization may result. II managed simply
business venture by the farmers and Tor
the farmers, with care to prevent the organize
ton from becoming involved in politics in any
way 1t may be made Of permanent benefit. II
the undertaking is not lasting, 1t will have
been OF far more harm than benefit.