Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-09-29
THE ROCHDALE PLAN.
SUCCESSFUL WORKING OF CO.
OPERATION IN ENGLAND.


and declared a dividend of 500, $50, $50.
TO casual observer this would seem
TO imply that tho movement was moth
ing but gigantic mercantile aud trad
ing concern achieving only CONNER
cial and capltallstic success, and leav-
Ing the more important matters OF JUS
tice, equity and love for suffering hui
manity to be carried on by some other
reforming power.
For many yearA' active experience
with the societies In Great Britain, |
am enabled to say that this Inference
Is not correct one, az there 10 probn-'
bly, no ono movement outside of Chris
tianity that has done more TO benefit
the wage.earners OF those islands than
the plan, started by few half'starved
striking operatives, at n small place on
the hunks Of the river Roche, just over
half century ago
When, In the year 1914, these appar-
emily helpless men formed their as
founding resolution TO found society
whose object, among other things, was
ito commence the manufacture Of such
articles as the society may determine
upon, for the employment OF such
members rs may be out OF employment
or who may be suffering In consequence
OF repeated reductions In their wages,
and the purchase Of land, which shall
be cultivated by members who might
be out Of work, or whose labor may DO
badly remuneratcd, and also to arrange
the powers OF production, distribution,
education and government 1t was
prophesied that they would never be
able to hold together sufficiently long
to establish small grocery store; that
they would--as ia far TO frequently
done by workingmen-quarrel among
themselves, suspect each other OF dis
honesty and disagree about methods
That there are over 100000 OF peo-
pie In Great Britain alone at the pres
emit time connected with the movement
Is evidence that great moral victory
has been won over individual exclu-
siveness.
Because tho members have the OPP
tion Of withdrawing or reinvesJing
their dividends, 1t is mistake to sup
pose that the profits Of the society are
dispersed. That very privilege Of pleas
ing themselves about the matter in
sures more capital being accumulated
by tho members than would be the case
under compulson. In the days Of tho
"press gang" 1t was always said that
one volunteer was worth ten pressed
men, and, under the Rochdale plan OF
cooperation, voluntary efforts have al
ways been more powerful than COM
pnlsory methods, A glance at the fig
ures issued by tho Cooperative Union
will confirm this as the custom in those
societies. Dividends paid to members
ut the offices is invariably spent again
before leaving the premises at the var
ious stores, thus insurlng not only an
increased capital, but an additional
profit to the movement.
In 1897 the sales advanced $24, S43, 11C
and the shares IS, 323, $50 upon the pre-
vious years figures
If the profits we're derived from 9th
prs than members OF the societies the
charge of being a capitalistic move
ment would be true; but MS they them
selves create the dividends which they
receive -contrary to all my observa-
tions OF purely mercantile concerns
which generally make profit out Of
others, especially poorer persons--i'
seems unjust to accuse them of sucl
conduct
1t has displaced host Of brokers
middle-men, commission agents, job
bers and wholesale merchantmen, by
establishing its two great wholesale
houses--the Scottish and English co
operative wholesaler.
They, in turn, have supplanted the
steamship companies by securing u
feet OF steamers Of their own. They
have prevented the possibility of adul
iteration of food by buying currants in
Greece while growing; butter III Den
mark, France, Germany and Ireland al
the farmers doors; growing their own
tea in India and having representatives
in the United States to obtain, at first
cost, apples cheese, canned goods and
other western produce to the extent o.
nearly $3,OOO,OOO per year, and all that
at saving to their members of ovei
rs per cent Of obtaining commodities.
The United Societies have establish
ed grist mills, wooden mills, boot and
shoe factories, farms, tailoring, dress
making, millinery, cabinet-making
works, eating-houses, restaurants, etc
These victories can only have beer
won by corresponding advance in the
character and tone of the victors, unt
/ II they have not done more it is not be
| oonsa Of anv dpfent In the plnn bui