The San Francisco call., 1895-11-02
WANTON WASTE OF FOOD
The Cooperative Commonwealth
Issues an Address to
the Public

The California Cooperative Common
wealth denies that it has anything in COM
mon with bodies or organizations from
which life has fed. it claims, instead, to
be very much alive and in proof Of this
points To its regular Thursday meetings
for conference. At one OF the recent meet
ings Judge c. n. Harris and c. c. Speed
were appointed directors OF the common
wealth. There has been an affiliation with
the Labor Exchange and the directors of
those bodies hold joint meetings.
On Thursday evening there was dis
cussion of the waste OF food in this City.
"We should publicly protest." said one
OF the speakers, against the wantor de-
struction of food when so many are in
want. Food enough to provide Tor many
families IS thrown into the bay every day"
The commonwealth intends to arrange
fog placing such food in a depository
which it will provide probably on Va
iencia street
We have had many accessions to our
numbers lately, Notwithstanding Mr.. Fitz-
Force Gordon drylv, 'and we expect
shortly to open commonwealth home on
a larger scale than form erly."
The following address to the public was
formulated at the last meeting OF the
board OF directors
The Cooperative Commonwealth q corporate
organization, which was formed in this CITY
during the spring months for the purpose OF
ahordlng employment and systematic aid to
the unemployed, VINO were then, as now, ex-
ceedingly numerous, desire TO urge upon those
who have at heart q wish to obviate all un-
necessary poverty and suffering among the
people the fact that, as winter rapidly ap-
proaches, hundreds aud thousands OF persons
who are without means and without opportu-
nifty 10 WORK IN the country are beginning to
ncek inio the City, and that these hungry and
homeless ones must In some manner be pro-
tected from absolute starvation. Much was
done by this organization in the way of pro-
VlGlng employment for such sufferers in the
country during the season of harvesting the
fruits ana hops. But with the ending of the
season this character OF employment ceases
and the wages have been exhausted in the en-
forced return OF the laborers from the rural
districts.
In the main our organization has been able
thuS Tar 10 provide so Systematically as to have
incurred but little Indebtedness which has not
been paid up and Cancelled. The small amount
OF $50 IS all that remains unpaid of obligations
incurred.
As to the future, or the coming winter. this
orSanlzatlon mas been at much pains to devise
plans which will prove effective not only for
the supplying OF the immediate wants OF the
unemployed, but for their permanent relief
In this regard we have sought out ways end
means by which the voluntary contributions
when your generosity viii put forth, shall aid
IN enabling the needy ones TO enter upon such
scheme OF organization and united effort as
Will prove in large measure effectual in the
way OF their selfsupport.
Among others OF cooperative and self-sun-
porting appliances which we have inyesfi-
gated, cur attention has been most favorablv
drawn 70 the methods OF that growing and use
ful organization known as the Labor Exchange
A branch OF this Missouri benevolent sociefv
or corporations lis already organized and in work
Ing operation in san Francisco. After full
inquiry we are satisfied that if the unemp!ove6
ia sufiicient numbers were to become members
thereof the system could be readily SO en-
larged in its operations as 10 very materially,
assist, If not completely support, all such mem
berS, by developing lines OF industry in which
they may profitaoly engage for their own
support. The system is one which has for its
main object the convenient exchange OF labor
and the products OF labor, so that each mem
Der will be brought closely as possible TO
the source of supply for all necessares OF life
The demands for charity will thus we believe
be greatly lessened, if not, in the course OF a
comparatively short time, be wholly obvlated
among such as are permitted 10 become MEM
bers.
Further details in this particular arc unnec-
essary, and the foregoing digression has been
INDUCED IN only 10 illustrate our sincere efforts
10 enable the poor to become as mncn sels-sup-
porting as possible. We are encouraged 10 be
heVe tnat our past labors and successes are an
aHgury that with our acquired experience fur
>ler and greatly ucnefcent results await us.
Our thanks Tor what has already been done