The Topeka state journal., 1897-11-05
COOPERATION
Under the Name of the Labor
Exchange.
Has Extended Over 81 States
and Territories.
STARTED IN MISSOURI.
Organization Now Controls 23
Manufactures.
STARTED IN MISSOURI.
Makes Bricks in Denver and
Furniture in Pennsylvania.

Denver, Nov. 5-One of the most inter-
esting sociological experiments ever at
tempted in the United States is now in
operation in thirty-one states and terri
tories. Under the control of the men in
terested there are twenty-three manufac-
tories, all on the cooperative plan. C.
B. De Bernardo, the originator of the idea
and the central figure in the movement,
in an article practically prepared and
written by him, tells the story of the en-
terprise
The Labor Exchange, as the idea is de-
nominated, is primarily for the purpose of
solving the great problem of how to best
give all men employment. The original
plan was calculated to embrace the best
features of the community experiments
which have heretofore been attempted
and, at the same time, to avoid the err
rors which the promoters of these eX-
periments had fallen into. 1t was believ-
ed that the community idea, so far as
forcing all persons in sympathy herewith
to dwell in the same locality, was an err
ror. 1t really is something of a curtail-
ment of personal liberty to say to an in
dividual; Here shalt thou dwell or thou
canst not be of u.s.
With the belief that the results aimed
at by the community idea could be gained
without burdensome restriction, and that
it could be demonstrated to the world
that there was a reasonable solution of
the problem of a comfortable existence
for ALL with misery for none, the expert
ment which is represented by the labor
exchange was inaugurated.
The exchange was duly incorporated in
the state of Missouri, the headquarters
being at Independence. From here the
work of extension was carried on. The
members of the exchange believed that
inasmuch as in the course of higher de-
velopment there would be less call in or
binary manufacturing pursuits for work.
ers, some plan should be adopted by
which the workers should be given the
opportunity for a comfortable and happy
existence which to a certain extent seem
ed less open to them than in the past.
1t was believed that where opportunity
! existed for men with capital to establish
| and succeed that there also was the op-
| portunity of those who placing their ag-
| gregate funds in one operation. should es-
| tablish, manufacture and sell the very ar
| ticles which the capitalist would produce,
and thus themselves benefit by the same
| causes which enabled a man with a nee
| essary amount of funds to greatly in
| crease the same. There is time when
! there is not opportunity for the success
| of labor upon the co-opera tive plan pro-
vided the business, whatever it may be,
Is operated with the same degree OF care
and fOrethOught which a business man
will bestow upon his own affairs.
The exchange, as it is called, it not con-
Quoted on the principle of share and share
alike. The returns from labor are divided
pro rata among those who contribute ma
terial and others who contribute labor.
An accurate record of this is kept in
every place where the exchange has
branch, and each of these branches acts
erations going to the members thereof.
There is no contribution to a parent
ganization, beyond that necessary to keep
up the general organization headquarters
which enables branches all over the cOun-
try to benefit one by the other.
When a member deposits products, ma
terial or labor in the care of the branch
of the exchange to which he belongs he
receives what is practically a statement
of accounts. since it performs that func-
ton but which has been called certih-
cate of deposit, since it is the associa-
tion's testimony that such material or
labor is in its charge. When, however, such
deposits are withdrawn, the certificate is
recalled and cancelled, else it would other
wise testify to a falsehood, and misstate
the account When only portion of the
amount of the deposit is withdrawn at
time. such partial transactions are ac-
counted for by a statement of the bal
ance yet due-which statement has been
called, in view of its function, a balance
check
With these two simple documents the
Labor Exchange records the whole range
of its relations with its members, and by
them it may at any time, come at not
only their true standing with the same
but also the sum total which said mem
bers have contributed toward the com
mon end. 1t is a seIf-balancing, easily
comprehended system of accounts, and no
better has so far been presented. Such,
then. is the Labor Exchange, its aims
and its working plan.
That it is growing in favor. branches in
Colorado, California, Oregon, w Washington,
Montana South Dakota, Nebraska, Kan
sas, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Arkan-