The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1894-08-21

ton of the State Alliance to the Labor
Exchange. Incorporated by the Legis-
lature of the State of Missouri, March
LIST, 1888.
The Labor Exchanges a CO operative
industrial association now having
working branches in our own State; is
attracting the attention of thoughtful
men throughout country, especial
ly in the Western and Pacific States.
l respectfully recommend the appoint
ment of a committee to investigate the
merits of the Exchange, and If the
benefit to be derived from it's operation
are really such as they appear to be
from my limited knowledge of its
working, that some means be devised
whereby it may be tested on q small
scale with q view to the adoption Of its
principles and methods of business by
the State Agency, if practicable. The
unmistakable trend of the world is to-
ward cooperation and unquestionably
the most marvellous business success
the world has ever seen is that of the
Rochdale Equitable Pioneers Asso-
ciation' of England. The central
wholesale store does a business of near
ly $34, 600, 900 annually. This co-opera-
tive business began in 1884 with %
members and $40 as capital.
The Labor Exchange as it appears
to us is the true principle of business
and is the most perfect system of CO,
operation, production and exchange
ever inaugurated among men. 1t ap
pears to have all the advantages and
none of the defects of other systems of
co operation and in simplicity and
power unsurpassed.
1. TheL abor Exchange enables the
common people" as Abraham Lincoln
said to help themselves.
2. The Labor Exchange adapts itself
to secure it's advantages to all sorts
and conditions of men.
8. 1t interferes with no privaterights,
or individual opinions.
4. 1t substitutes the benificence of
cooperation, for the warfare Of com
petition.
5. 1t rewards the producer of wealth
by securing to him the wealth he
produces.
6. 1t secures to any laborer his just
title to the permanent wealth he pro
duces by his labor.
z. Itenables every producer of wealth
to capitalize his own product thus
destroying the power Of money to
Cypress.
s. 1t stimulates industry, creates a
field for individul energy and secures
for its reward while avoiding the war
fare of competition.
9. The Labor Exchange touches no
mans fortune, 1t seeks no plumber, it
causes no disturbance in society, it
gives no trouble to statesmen, it need
enter no secret association, it needs no
Trade Union to protect it's interests, it
contemplates no violence, it subverts
no order, it expects no gift, mol asks
any favor, it keeps no terms with the
idle, and breaks no faith with the
industrious
10. The Exchange produces wealth
by the employment of idle labor and
exchanges that wealth among the pro
ducers by the use of a portable account
or labor check.
IL. The Exchange deals with legal
tender as with any other commodity
and never assumes an obligation pay.
able in legal tender.
II In view of this and many other
advantages of the exchange system of
business | al not but express an
earnest desire to see this plan thor
oughly tried, and it's benefits if there
BE- such, be extended to the people of
our State, and if it was universally
adopted in the South in less than ten
years the cotton growing section of
this country woul be the most indie
pendent and wealthiest part of the
United States, we would be in a con
dition to dictate the price of cotton to
the world.