Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-08-07
APPLIED COOPERATION.

In another part OF the News today
IS letter from an esteemed friend who
lived several years IN Great Britain
and there became familiar with the
workings Of cooperative societies as
they exist ln that country and other
parts OF Europe There are In bis come
municauon one or two statements that
need explanation, lest his Views meet
with misappreheus.on 90 some respects
by those familiar with cooperative
efforts here. I'm his suggestions our
friend makes a number OF points that
are worthy OF more than passing noe
tIce; IN fact they have been urged 10
times past upon the people, and # has
not been 70 the profit OF the latter that
the advice has been neglected.
The statements OF our correspondent
that need explanation are those leading
Up TO his conclusion that IN Utah the
people "hoye allowed the principle of
cooperation TO DE dormant" This is
an error The principle has been test
ed fully. and wherever lntelIigently
persisted 90 has proved a signal sue
cess. This demonstration has been
ample to show the correctness Of the
principle as applied to the business af-
fairs OF the masses II must De rec
membered that the principle OF cooper
alton applies 20 the investor ana proc
Queer as well as 90 the consumer TO
the seller as well as TO the purchaser
z. c. VI. J. and the various co.opera-
tive stores throughout the intar-m1un-
tain region. instituted hy the movement
which President Brigham Young Inc
auguratcd o third of century ago are
notable examples OF SUCCESS. primarily
60 the Investor under existing conditions
and secondarily 90 the customer, the
whole community having reaped vast
benefit The advantage 90 Che Investor
10 small Nay-eo-opeIai''n giving me
opportunity TO accumulate working
capital that the individual never could
have obtained sIngiy-is that q steady
dividend Of profits has followed care
fully managed Institutions. and the
price OF merchandise mas been Kept at
the lowest possible hgure. Thus the
investor mas received double Dement,
while the customer has not been With
out goodly snare OF proht 100 the re-
duced prices In TINS respect these coo
operative stores, from the parent insu-
tuition down, have dIitered from amy
other mercantile corporation, IN % very
essential fealuTe,to the good of the pub
hc They have never held up prices.
as ordinary mercantile corporations
do when opportunity affords but have
perslstenty Kept them down sometimes
IN the face OF considerable difficulties.
Thus they have been beneficial institu-
tlons ana az the same time practically
impregnable to periods Of financial
panic,
With this explanation that shows the
activity OF cooperation In Utah Zoo one
part OF It's legitimate field, the sugges-
tons Of our friend as 10 another part
are cleared OF any Misunderstanding.
In this. as be says. there are no co-
operative societies. when there might
be scores OF them in this part Of the
country TO the decided advantage of
those interested. The investors have
applied the principle " cooperation;
the purchasers have not done SO sue.
cessfully g. indeed, any really eanIt
attempt has been made az 1t, This proc
ceeding on the part Of the purchasers
Is the cooperation that has proved so
satisfactory elsewhere. and could not
be otherwise here, n carried out il
gives 20 the producer the profits OF ro-
tail business, where there IS practically
no capital stock on which dividends are
10 be paid This latter featur. rs
amply provided for Zoo the plan OF the
british ana Belgian cooperative s1.