New-York tribune., 1901-08-27

and are not bothering about such things and II
there be few who even now realize the in
evitable result they keeping strangely and
wonderfully silent
The beginnings OF the associations were sim
pie and humble enough Here and there few
workingmen banded together and exhorted their
neighbors to join in establishing a grocery store
without exception, far as I know, these
ventures were and successful. The assoca-
tons are stock concerns with a fixed price OF
II share, fully paid up In advance. No mem
Der may get credit for an amount exceeding
the value OF his stock, that there are no
pad debts. The shareholders or members 5
they are called. elect officers an these in turn.
appoint practical men TO run the store or stores.
Gradually the scope Of these stores has been
extended until to-day they undertake to furnish
anything In the way Of house furnishings wear
ing apparel or food. In some of the large towns
where there is large central cooperative as
sociation. with many branches the association
itself makes many OF the articles sold In Glas
gow' for instance, the local association has shoe
factories, jam and preserve works. and bakeries.
In this city they have not yet got beyond tho
establishment Of a mammoth bakery.
Al hrst nearly all the other storekeepers Stub
norniy antagonzed the "Sosh," as the assoca-
tion is known here among it's members boy
colt, more or less organized was attempted
against all VINO countenanced had dealings
with the "Sosh." But that boycott is now little
more than Hfeless corpse, and most clothiers
miliiners and shoemakers are glad TO enroll
Themselves among the merchants willing to
honor "Sosh' orders on the same footing as cash
purchases. For instance, If a man wants suit
OF clothes or his wife a new dress: An order.
good up to specified amount, is given by the
associations manager. and this may be taken
TO any Of the stores the printed list of en-
rolled merchants. The "Sosh' member gets his
or her article at the regular price and the "Sosh
ltself gets from the seller a percentage on the
order
Nothing of more than local concern in such
transactions? Maybe not but the Indications
taken with the progress of recent years, invest
them with an importance exceedingly far reach
ing. Indeed. as | see 1t. nothing but local
jealousies and rrowmindedness can prevent
the ultimate absorption Of most of the Countrys
INDUSTRIES py these associations or their SUI
cessors or successor. Glasgow has been making
a brave effort TO federate all the associations in
81 otland under its wing with the avowed pur-
pose of manufacturing or producing everything
needed; the insurmountable obstacle so far has
been the fact that IL intended to establish
the needed factories in or near Glasgow whereas
each town wants to have a chance to employ
home labor How long Il will take to thresh
this out and settle itself 1 may not venture 10
lrophesy. L do know however that the CO.
operative idea is growing steadily and with con-
siderable raptdity, and that it's disciples are not
likely to remain content after abolishing one
class of middlemen. Their financial resources
growing greater year by year. and II is not
inconceivabe that ere this century is much older
we shall see them running farms raising wool.
spinning ii and making garments, and conduct
ing stores, foundries planning mills. carpenter
shops and so forth
AS I have already said. the thrifty workmen
who are the backbone of the associations are
little If at all, concerned with the political
poets or probable effects OF the movement. On
this point / spoke to one hardheaded Scot
There's nae politics in it, he said. Man.
never mention politics at oor meetin's. It's
a. business. What concerns us is tae get big
davydens in time tae pay the rent and bit
owre"
But don't you know you're the highway to
socialism, with government ownership and all
that in its train?"
Socialism naething We want naething adae
wi socialists and anarchists and thae kind o.
cattle. What were daein is lookin after oor
ain affairs and ain property and lettin'
ither fouks alane. The government kin look