Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1890-09-25
Business Cooperation.

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accomplish results that could not b.
achieved by individual efforts, dates
back many years and has proven success
full where governed by proper rules ane
directed by business men. Until recent
years (say since 1861 cooperation
has been directed in favor of capital
neither labor nor custom having been
considered. While capital is necessary,
without labor and custom in business
it could not succeed Business con-
Quoted on the joint stock plan is where
capital rules. We find often a
large business, perhaps owned by many
stockholders, yet controlled by very few.
Hence when capital votes instead OF
men, we often find the many lose their
entire investment, which passes into
the hands of the few. More than half
century ago this was by some declar-
ed to be wrong, and a system devised
giving only one vote to each stock
holder and paying capital certain price
agreed upon for it's use. and after
meeting the expenses to give custom
and labor their share of the profits;
reasonable per cent of the profits be-
ing set aside as a reserve fund to pro-
teet The business, each customer and
lsborer to receive profit in proportion
to the amount of custom given or Ia
Dor performed. If this plan OF bust
ness was universally adopted by the
producers and laborers it can readily te
seen how few millionaires there would
be. Instead of profits being piled up
all on the side of capital they would be
distributed back to the customer, pro-
Queer and other laborers. This
idea was grasped by the Grange in its
early history and is adhered to by the
order, and, as we firmly believe, should
be by all. It is proper that capital
should be paid for its service, but GER
tainly not more than custom or labor.
The division on the Joint stock plan is
unequal. To the extent that a business
prospers the profits should be distribu-
ted. This would soon put new life and
energy in the laborers, and the improve
ment in the morals would also soon be
seen and felt all over the land. Be-
cause there have been some mistakes
made, resulting in failure, is no good
reason why farmers and laborers should
cease their efforts in a good work.
The failures that have occurred
have been caused by depart
ure from adopted rules. We must
not lose sight of the original idea, l. e.,
that We are only to use the BUSINESS
associations to save and not to speculate.
yet hope to see tie farmers and 9th
ers take hold Of this system of bust
ness. There is too much in it for them
to permit n to lie dormant in such
large district II they could realize
the vast benefits to be derived there
would soon be many associations start
ed in our state. One thing must be borne
in mind (among Others that 1 will speak
of in the future, that good results will
not come without effort Then do not e.
pect big thing at the start. Make up your
mind to be satisfied with progress.
1t has been charged that there were
many in our early history that expect
ed great things without aiding. Be this
as it may that day is past. One thing the
order has been taught from the begin
ming that we are not entitled to the prof
it's on others capital, labor or custom.
The time was when CO operation with
the farmer or small capitalist was prob
lematical matter OF experiment, a
question to be decided not by theoretical
argument, but by practical test. This
came to be, by the organization of local
cooperative stores, which proved to
be SO successful that it WIS found nee
essary for these stores, in order to
supply the demand, to have central
distributing store. buying all goods
from first hands. In the face of the
fact that this central store reached the
manufacturers about the time of gen.
eral financial depression. followed by a
series of short crops, it has from year
to year shown a marked improvement,
paid from 10 to 20 per cent an capital
% to 5 per cent on trade, increased its
capital stock from S265 to over $4,000.
This has been done by a very small
fractional part OF the farmers of Texas,
and proves conclusively that f.
nancial cooperation. under practical