Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-06-24
COOPERATIVE IN GLAND.

Rochdale, the birthplace of modern
cooperation in England. was the place
selected for holding the twenty fourth
annual cooperative congress, which
convened there ten days or so ago, and
this fact gave the occasion an added
interest. The subject of cooperation
has dropped TO some degree out of pub
lie interest in England for some time
owing to one reason or an-
other, and anything to renew
interest in the question was doubt
less welcomed by the delegates. The
congress was attended by several
French delegates, who commended the
practical spirit shown by leading En-
Rlish co-operatOrs, who, one OF their
sp0kesmeu said, had learned that social
progress must be made step by step,
and had thus been preserved from the
influence of those who would recon
struct society all at once without pre-
vious preparation.
While saying this much for the Eng.
lish co.operatOrs, the French spokes-
man, NJ. BoyKe, referred to what has
been up 10 the present the weak point
of the cooperative movement In Eng
land, namely, the difficulty found In
relation 70 cooperate production.
English co.OperatOrs, he said, had
shown what could be effected
by cooperation for consump-
ton, but appeared to hesitate
about undertaking cooperative produc-
ton. In France, however, he re-
marked that this second stage had been
entered on too soon, and hence failures
had arisen. Modern French co-opera-
L. lao ~o1 kst
industrial cooperation must be en-.
tered upon cautiously. and that it 70.
CURED experienced men who had re-
ceived Q sound commercial education
and possessed sufficient capital. As
ad illustration Of the success Of CO.
operation under proper circumstances
he referred to the Familistere OF Guise,
which was greater and more prosper
Gus than ever four years after the
death of NJ. Godin, whose disappear.
ance critics of the establishment said
would sound its death knell.
The president of the congress, Mr..
Mitchell, took q hopeful view of the
prospects of cooperative production.
Even up 10 the present, he said, IT had
not proved . failure, but WAS, on the
contrary . great success. The English
and the Scotch Wholesale societies had /,
he said, put something like 9JO0, 900
into production, and the profits
of both societies far exceeded any
losses they had sustained. This view
of the matter must be regarded as yet
az optimistic, TO say the least. The sta
tissues laid before the congress. indeed,
seem TO indicate that cooperative dis
tributon has been a success. The fig
ures showed that the number of socic-
ties furnishing returns had risen from
I boa to l ,624 during the year, and that
the membership had gone up from
LIZ ,05S to 1871. 1863, the share CAPT
tai from e12 ,2el 1852 to fl3,25s, 4s2
the amount of sales from e43. 200, 3I9
TO f4s, 57l ,7s6. the amount of profits
from f4,l70. 93s to ca, ,o30, and the
amount of investments from f6, 2es, 9e4
to &C. 54l, 5s7. When we come to the
question OF cooperative production,
however, the case is different. The Co
operative stores were intended to fur
nish . market for goods made by
workingmen on the cooperative
principle, and this ideal remains very
far from being realized. Indeed, in =
paper read before the congress, II Was
sad thas 1t present only small por-
ton of the commodities distributed
through the store system are manufac-
tured by the co-operators, 80 that the
stores are very large purchasers from
ordinary producing establishments.
Cooperative production therefore
lies IN the fature ss far as Great
Britain % concerned. The president
OF the congress remarked in
the course Of bis address that very lit
Tie pfominence vas given IN the news
papers 10 cooperative AFFAIR." except
when the ean9ress met. The fact 10
that eenersl interest vsil not be spon
saneoasly attracted 20 the cooperative
movement until there appears % BE .
ehance of reaching the real goal Of the
~~~~~.~-s - 1870 ~~~4..~s<1-