Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-13
THE KANSAS LABOR EXCHANGE.
Cyrus Corning Talks Enthusiastically
About the Success of His Enterprise.

Special Correspondence of The Eycring Star.
TOPEKA, Kan, January ., 1894.
Cyrus Corning. the founder and moving
spirit in the populist cooperative enterprise
known as the labor exchange, the object of
which is to do away with the necessity for
money as much possible and provide a
means of exchange independent of the gov
eminent, was in Topeka recently, more en-
thusiastic than ever over the prospects of
the success of his enterprise. He declared
that the labor exchanges now in operation
have prospered through the entire period of
depression and that the idea is meeting with
general favor among all classes.
1.-The objects and plan of the exchange"
continued Mr.. Corning, have been out
rageously misrepresented by the press. This
has had the effect of retarding the work
but as fast as the people become educated
and understand the principles on which our
league of stores and workshops is founded
they admit that ii is organized on hrm
business basis and that its complete success
depends only upon the establishment of con-
fidence in it. Wherever we have gained a
foothold success has invariably attended
our efforts.
Objects of the Exchange.
"The labor exchange" continued Mr..
Corning. 'is a voluntary cooperative asso-
s~-~
contributions Of its members and for the
benefit of the membership and the general
public. 1t issues no stock, makes no assess
ment and creates no liability for its mem
bership. Its object is to furnish employ
ment to the idle, increase production and
facilitate exchange, and it hopes to Danish
the curse of poverty which lays its hand so
heavily upon the people, and establish in
It's stead prosperity that shall bless every
home in the land.
For the contributions made to 1t in the
line Of business, or otherwise. 1t issues to
the contributor certificates of deposit. which
We call labor checks, in convenient denoml-
nations at the marked value of the thing de-
posted, and these checks are made redeem
able at any branch IF the exchange at their
face value in the property IF the exchange
kept for SALE,
Checks Of the Exchange.
1.-THE membership is based on an agree
ment to receive these checks at their face
value This assures the check at the very
outset field OF circulation. AS they are
perfectly good they will circulate beyond the
membership. Experience proves that they
do. When the checks return to their place
of issue they are Cancelled. Hence they can
never be cornered or manipulated to the in
jury of the people The products of labor
and labor itself are made The base OF the
check and cannot be mortgaged or .ncum-
Dereu, out may De USED In the cnanneiS OF
business for the benefit of the association.
The check base is the base of government
bond Legal tender is regarded a COM
modify and kept only to do what legal
tender money will do. When deposited
checks are issued for 1t the same as for any
other commodity. Thus every deposit in
creases the volume of money doing business
to the amount of the deposit
Under the exchange plan there will al
ways be as much check money to do bus
mess as there is business to be done. Men.
women and children would not be idle for
want of money, and business would not
stagnate for want Of money.
Men, women and children would not
starve and freeze in a land Of plenty for
want of money. An Intelligent people will
rise above the roar of sham battles, and
acting in their sovereign capacity, make
that which will perform all the functions of
money, except for taxes and debt, and wis
dom will dictate that this kind of a medium
of exchange can find no better base to rest
upon than the base of life itself"
Trying the Plan.
Several stores and small manufactures are
now in operation in Kansas on Mr.. Corn
ings plan. He believes that within the next
year the system win have been put In gen.
eral operation in more than one-half of the
towns of Missouri and Kansas.