Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1902-03-21
BIG COOPERATIVE ENTERPRISE.
Walter Vrooman Buys Stores in Missouri,
And Hires John Doggett, Of Kansas City, to
Manage the Business.

Goods Company, has signed contract with
Walter Vrooman, president of Ruskin Hall, at
Oxford, England, and chief promoter of the
cooperative movement in this country, by
which he (Doggett) becomes manager of the
cooperative department stores of the Western
Cooperative Association. in northwest Missouri.
There are such stores now at Trenton, Patton
burg, Maysvile and St. Joseph.
Mr.. Vrooman said to reporter in Kansas
City, the other day, that his purpose is to ex'
tend the cooperative movement throughout the
entire United States. He has already bought
FIVE retail stores at Trenton, and has practically
closed deals for six more. He intends to pur-
sue the same course in other towns as rapidly
as practicable. In few months, he will es-
tablish gigantic cooperative store in Kansas
City. He predicts that the cooperative move
ment will have obtained control of every retail
store in America within FIVE years, and in
twenty years, will have converted the United
States into one great cooperative common
wealth, in which the people will own every
business and share in its profits. Mr.. Vrooman
will carry on the propaganda, while Mr.. Dog
gett will have direct charge of the business.
Mr.. Doggett is one of the oldest business
men of Kansas City. He says he has made
thorough examination of Mr.. Vroomans plans,
and says they are based on sound business
principles.
Mr.. Vrooman discussed his plans:
"The cooperative movement was started in
Englan forty years ago. It now has $I25, ooo,-
aud
nually distributes 81, 900, 900 among its profit
sharers. 1t has the endorsement of the English
trades unions, and embraces one-tenth of the
entire population Of Great Britain.
"We decided few years ago to extend the
propaganda to the United States. With this view,
we founded Ruskin college at Trenton, Mo. 1t
is branch of the Ruskin college at Oxford,
England, and sociology and the political SCI
ences are the studies to which most attention is
devoted but the educational movement. We
have invested about 5000 in business en-
terprises in Trenton, Pattonburg, Maysville
and St. Joseph, and still have about 100000
in the bank, which we expect to expend in the
same way"
"Where does this money come from?" was
asked.
"Well, that's thing do not care to state.
The important fact is that we have it. We
believe that the only way to beat combination
is to form bigger one with which to fight it,
and that the policy we are pursuing. We have
practically forced the merchants of Trenton to
sell out to us. We shall do the same way
wherever else we go. We pay man just
what his stock invoices at. Some protest
against this, but when we show them clearly
that they can't compete against the cooperative
store, and they will be ruined if they hold out,
thew consent to sell to us, and become members
of the association and share in its profits. We
now have practical control of Trenton, and
think three fourths of the people there are in
| sympathy with us. We shall next pursue at
Pattonsburg, Marysville and St. Joseph the
same policy we have at Trenton. The move
ment is growing very rapidly. We are finding
that it is easier to do thing than to convince
people that it can be done. We will ultimately
conquer and get control of every trust in the
coutry, just as will the retail stores"
Besides instructing its stockholders In its
college, the company furnishes them entertain
ment free of charge. 1t has theate,s in all the
towns where it has established branches.
The CO. operators plans ale being widely ad-
vertised, and Mr.. Vrooman says men are pour
ing into the colony at Trenton from every
1 direction.
"Our scheme is different from any ever tried, !"
he said "The socialistic and communistic
i T.. ,,oI 81 os1,