The advocate., 1892-05-25

attention, and has as members some -four
hundred energetic and intelligent peo
pie. BY cooperative labor they have
nearly completed an immense irrigating
canal which will water a large tract Of
fertile land. They also propose to build
a railroad
All these are significant object lessons
and abundantly prove the practicsblllty
of carrying on various industries and es.
tablishing prosperous communities by
cooperation. Some Of these have doubt
less been assisted by favoring Circum.
stances and advantages entirely IOcai
in their nature, and cooperation to be
really "jntegral" and applicable to the
affairs of mankind In general, and to
prove itself really "the law Of the new
civilization" must shcw itself capable Of
Tightening mans burdens and bettering
his condition aVbereUer it finds htm. II
must come In form so simple and eff
cient that the great majority who are SO
situated that they cannot abandon their
present homes and avOcstiOns to seek
places more favorable to cooperative in
duStry, may grasp and apply its grand
and simple principles. The system out
lined In G.. B. DeBernardi'S book, called
"The Trials and Triumphs of Labor" re-
qulres no change of calling or location,
but tells in a clear and forcible manner
how the industries already in operation,
or those needed in a neighborhood, can
be organized and established on a CO.
operative basis. The book can be OBJ
tanned from the author, who lives at
WarrenSburg, Mo. 1t will well repay a
perusal. AS to the practical workings
of the labor exchange system the follow
Ing statement from the manager of a
flourishing organization of this kind at
Marshall, Mo-, may be of interest to the
friends of cooperation.
AS there is considerable inquiry going on
among the people as to the Labor Exchange,
it's aims, objects, plans and principles, and
believing that if the farmers, mechanics,
merchants and laborers would study and
inform themselves upon the above subject
we could go ahead and build up instead of
tearing down or waiting in idleness for
money to turn up to put us into activity.
Four months ago everyone we talked with
about the Labor Exchange would say it will
be good thing if you can get it into uni
versal use, but do not think you can make
it work with few. Now the plain facts are
that within the last three months we have
bought and paid for with our checks 81, 400
worth of goods and redeemed $500 worth,
leaving in the hands of the people 5000 worth
unredeemed, and now the unRnswerable
argument comes in that we have increased
the circulating medium to that amount in a
flexible way, going out as we, the people,
needed it, and coming in as our needs de-
mand. At no time is one of our checks is
sued except the property is deposited, which
is the basis, ,and not one cents worth allowed
to leave the Exchange unless for other
commodities of equal value or the check
being received calling for the goods or cash
being deposited for them. making as it
were mutual bank for to deposit either
money or produce perfectly safe, as not one
thing deposited, either money or produce, is
loaned or trusted out, nor are we allowed to
take one thing into our keeping without
issuing the check or paying for the same with