Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1898-11-12
Why Our Plans Are as Thew
Are.

The Cooperative Brotherhood.
through the courtesy of the officers
and members of the B. G. c., present
in this issue of the Industrial Free
dom plan for industrial Cooperation
which we believe has never beer
equalled in the history of the world
We are not so vain ais to expect that
our work will be found perfect
We have not made our system
wholly democratic during the first
three years. This may possibly prove
a disappointment to some, but we are
confident that, after careful reflection
all will recognize the wisdom cS our
course
What we all want is the pla,i hat
will bring the best results for all and
is best adapted 10 bridge the chasm
which separates us from truly Co
operative system under which the
Brotherhood of Man. may be recog
nized rot only in theory but in
practice
We have all been schooled from
youth in the Competitive System.
Comparatively lew persons have given
any special study to past Co-opera
tive efforts with view of ascertaining
the causes that have led to their
downfall where they have failed, or
have given them strength where they
have proved successful, &1d there are
still fewer who have had any practical
experience in Cooperative enterprise.
Those who come into our industries
during the first two or three years
will for the most part be strangers to
each other and coming in as they will
without either special study or exper-
fence, eau not be expected to Judge as
wisely as those who have been study
ing the psoi lem for years and have
worked ou' he plan which we now
present besides this we are fOrtu-
rate i'll having both on our Board of
Directors and the Board of Trustees
persons who have had practical ex-
perience Comrades j. B. Fowler anG
j. c. DeArmond have both been mem
bers of Colonies and Comrade De-
Almond surveyed and superintendent
the construction of an irrigation canal
in Colorado about % miles long and
carried it through entirely with Co
operative labor.
Comrades Burgess, Pelton and
Pugh, who are trustees, are now at
Equality and need no introduction to
readers of Industrial Freedom. ;"
Will not such men be more liable to
avoid the shoals upon which other
Colonies have gone to pieces than
persons without experience or special
knowledge of the subject
After three years our plan provides
a in, oil 81.
and by that time our Co-operators
will have had the experience which
will enable them to act wisely.
Until then it will advance the best
interests of all, themselves included,
that persons better qualified by study
and experience should lay out the
work and superintend it's execution.
In these Cooperative efforts where
complete democracy has prevailed
from the beginning, experience has
demonstrated that settled policy can
never be secured. 1t has been i'm.
possible to tell what the policy would
be for a week or a month much less a
year ahead.
This is most detrimental in business
affalrs-and ours is pre- eminently a
business proposition. In order to
secure the best results, plans must
often be madeand negotiations carried
on that require months to complete
and where there is no settled policy
this is simply out of the question.
After our Co-operators have had
two or three years experience in in.
dustrial Cooperation they will see
the wisdom of a definite business
policy and, having learned each others
capabilities, will wisely choose trus.
tees and directors who will carry
forward the work on practical lines.
The present officers and directors
are not ambitious for leadership--tbev
realize too wildly its burdens and
responsibilities for that. We believe
we state the exact truth when we saw
that there is not one among them who
will not gladly step aside when
another better fitted TO bear the bur.
den and advance our cause shall
appear. This spirit should ever ami
mate us all.
No one will rejoice more than our
selves when we shall have complete
democracy in our industries. But
long before that time comes il is
probable that others will appear to
assume the burdens that we now bear.
and to whom we will gladly give our
hearty support. Until then we shall