Daily Kennebec journal., 1902-09-08
COOPERATIVE BUSINESS.
Something About the Plan That Is Be
ina Tried Here.

Jesse StinSon has resigned as presi-
dent of the recently organized Co
operative Association and Herbert l..
Emery has been elected in his place. a
board of % directors has been organized
and all the forlnalities will be complet-
ed at the meeting which will be held,
Tuesday. The association has taken
possession of the store of II. G. Haskell
for which it has been negotiating and
viii make this tho starter in the city.
The scheme runs something like this:
The local association made up of local
men and organized by Sperry II. Locke
will be affiliated With other associa-
tions and goods will be bought in large
quantities and with all the possible dis
counts, from the manufacturers. In
this way it is claimed that the most ad-
vantageous prices can be obtained
Each family in the city will be allowed
two shares at so each and no more
This stock will pay interest at the rate
of i per cent. a year and will carry
right to share in the surplus which
will be divided according to the amount
of goods purchased by the stockholder.
IN this way those who trade at the co.
operative store will get their goods at
discount. .the association making its
profit from what if left after the the
G per cent. is paid on the stock and The
surplus divided among the stockhold.-
crs.
The cooperative store will do bust
ness the same MS the others, selling at
the regular market price. The associa-
tion will also wholesale. giving other
stores in the city the benefit of its ad
vaEtages in buying if they so desire.
II the business warrants the associa-
tion will not confine itself to any one
business like groceries. but enter any
lire that can he handled profitably
There is already some talk of putting
mp a large brick block for depart
ment store. One man in the city who
owns "A desirable lot for this has Of
fered to turn it over to the association
for this purpose and offers have been
made by banks for the money to build
the block.
The scheme is not a trust but makes
use OF one Of the great principals of the
trust-thc enconomizing i'll the running
expenses of the business and reduction
of cost OF goods handled by handling
them in large quantities. But the peo-
pie who deal with the association get a
share in the profits and this is not much
like trust.
Something like so families have taken
stock in the association so far. Plans
are being made for a public meeting at
which the scheme may be thoroughly
explained by some of the prominent
nen IN it and arrangements have been
made Tor SECURING, the services of Rev.
| George u. I.ittiefeid of Haverhili.
Mass. Rev. Hiram veroomis of Boston,
Rev. Mr.. Albertsoa. Washington. ID. c.,
| Bradford Peck of Lewiston. ard others.
These meetings are called forums by
/ the association anG Rev. Mr.. Littlefield
| IS me organizer and speaker for these.
| The fact that the people must be edu-
| Gated to the idea the same as to any
| thing elSf that is new is recognized by
! the local association and this is what il
| proposes to do here in the city.
| The local association is organized on
| the plan that is used IN England where
| the sheme is very successful. 1t is also
successfully conducted in the West, and
| is being tried at several places in the
State. There is considerable interest
here Ia the progress of the scheme. ant
much conjecture as to it's success ol
failure.