The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1894-03-21
CONSUMERS CIRCLE.
AN INTERESTING MOVEMENT OF
WHICH LITTLE HAS BEEN HEARD.

AN INTERESTING MOVEMENT or
WHICH LITTLE HAS BEEN HEARD.
Buchanan Investigates and Under the en-
fuence" Tells All About 1.-THE Writes
just Like a Full Pledged .'Circlist''-Co-
operators Who Cooperate
Among the many ideals, theories and
propositions for the improvement of
The peoples condition there is one
which is not yet widely known, but
which has impressed those who have
given it careful thought as containing
more than ordinary merit when Judged
as a principle or as practical plan. /
refer to the Universal Union of the Con-
sumers' Circle. This movement had it's
birth in the brain Of Henry A. Beck
meyer of Newark, N. j., and in the 10
months it has been in existence its la
bors have been chiefly confined to New
Jersey, New York city and few of the
cities and towns of New England and
the Atlantic coast states. Mr.. Beck
meyer has for years been close student
of cooperation, theoretical and prac-
teal, and as chairman of the co-opera-
tive board of the Knights Of Labor has
had excellent opportunities for obtain
ing knowledge along this line
For more than year l have from
time to time, as had opportunity, given
attention to this new idea, with view
to thoroughly mastering its principles
and plan of operation. Igive herewith
the result of my investigation. using
the phraseology peculiar to the circllst.
very properly declares that. in a work of
such vast magnitude as the emancipa-
ton of labor organization, unity of pur-
pose and concert of action are among
the very first essentials to bring about
speedy success We can establish as
the most extended unit purpose the de-
sire to see justice done the worker.
Some possess this desire; others do not.
This will separate all society into the
two great divisions of the fair and the
unfair. There can be no middle division,
for a lukewarm fair man fills the unfair
with the hope that he can be brought
into their service, and this lends moral
encouragement to the cause of the I'M
fair. Labor can truthfully assert that
The that is not with us is against us.
We have so determined unity as to
purpose. We turn now to action. There
are three principal modes of action that
can be adopted by organized fair work
ers, two modes by all of them-namely,
as united producers and as united con-
sumers-one mode by some of them as
united voters.
The wide introduction of machinery
and improved methods of manufacture
are making the worker as producing
force more and more unnecessary-hei is
steadily losing his hold upon industry
from the side of the producer-and con-
cert Of action from this direction, the
strike and like means of relief are be-
coming imperative. To organize and
manage the affairs of the workers as
united producers is hence styled old
trades unionism.
Many male workers and few female
workers have been endowed with the
right of franchise-they can vote. 1t
has been sought in various ways to
bring the workers together for united
action at the ballot box, but with rather
unsatisfactory results, considering the
many years that have been devoted to
the work. Not men but money rules
the world, and the fair hopes for the
many inspired by the ballot conscien-
tiously cast have more than once been
dashed to pieces by the impact of the
concentrated dollars welded by the few
To operate with the ballot with the
workers organized as producers is styled
new trades unionism.
The workers have never been organized
distinctively as consumers. Sporadic
attempts have been made to drill them
as nOncOnsumers of certain unfair prod
ucts, but the boycott as general weapon
never gained Roadway, as there is moth
ing solidly constructive in an essentially
destructive policy. What the general
organization of the worker in his capac-
ity as consumer will accomplish in his
emancipation remains yet to be seen. 1t
has never been tried. 1t is something
new, and in its support, beyond the few
though very satisfactory results already
reached in an organization practically
but just born, there are to be advanced
for its adoption mainly solid arguments
and weighty reasons.
1t is the natural basis of human Or
ganization, for men are not all produ-
GERS, men are not all voters, but all men
are consumers. In the world of produc-
ton we find the few but well organized
wealthy nonproducers facing in deter
mined struggle the many divided, i'm
poverished producers. AS matters stand
now, all need not produce to live, but
all must consume to live. Upon what
all must do we can easier found last
ing brotherhood.
We will be attending to our natural
and proper business, which is to con-
sumo and so enjoy existence. Produc-
ton should be attended to by machinery
and other inanimate forces harnessed in
the service of man. Workers are too apt
to believe that their only business in
this world is to work. By emphasizing
the fact that we are first consumers, that
our business is to consume, to live, we