Arizona republican., 1903-08-02
A COOPERATIVE CORPORATION
New Business Enterprise of a Most
 Promising Character.

A new enterprise that will surely he of great importance to many people in this valley is now in process of forma- ton and announcement of completed details will be made in few days. It is rather the evolution of an eminently successful merchandising business into q cooperative corporation that may reasonably hope for rapid growth and magnificent results The business re- ferred to is that of McKee's cash store, and the moving spirit in the enterprise is the proprietor. William Mckee. who conceives that by applying to the new concern the sound business principles that have already brought him d flat tering measure of success. he can widen his field of usefulness in way that will eventually insure him d pleasing bank account, and while doing so help large number of his friends who have confidence ill his judgment into the possession of corner lots on Easy street
 Before outlining the plan of the new corporation it will be explanatory to mention d few fundamental principles on which it is based-a few reasons why it should be Q success In the first place MT. Mckee has demonstrated to his own satisfaction that the cash store is the safe business. With no disre- spect to his humble beginning. he started with a pound of sugar and box of crackers and now owns a store that any man might we'll be proud of. having reached the point where he can launch the enterprise he has had in mind from the beginning for this idea is no new thing with him; it has been ft,lI arnr1lnx-a1 in no st can be here. He has only now reached the point where conditions. facilities and sthe proper financial standing, warrant the venture. In the matter of condi- tions it is a fact known to all observ- ing citizens that Fl PaSo is now a big city for its size and will be a bigger one. With eight railroads and month ly pay roll of S450.0O0. it will. afford d market for everything raised in this valley as soon as it can be gotten there at competitive minimum of time and freight expense, and recognizing this MT. Mckee has already establish ed cash store in that city The com pletion of the Phoenix X Eastern rail road at an early day will settle the matter of quick time and cheap rates. It will al the same time afford similar communication with Bisbee. Douglas, anu iiltcl VI eHiilS pOiiit.' iio" elhu eo bc later developed. Another condition is the fact that many farmers in this valley raising large crops of cereals. hay, fruits, and other things. are handicapped for a market. There is no institution here that can buy their en- tire product for top prices. If they buy largely they must buy cheap for a speculative future. If they sell the farmers produce in large quantity for him, they must have liberal commits sion in self-protection. Another prin- ciple is that of cooperation. When man gets two or three hundred of his fellow citizens to feeling a personal in- terest in his business. and shaping things for his success as well as their own, there is bound to be something doing.
 The plan. therefore, is to transform McKee's cash store into a. corpora tion under an appropriate name and with conservative capitalization for large operations. Stock will be sold to local people. farmers preferred. at par. and never to any one at less than par. and to no one man in quantity ex- ceeding S1J0 These stipulations will be made in the articles, or bylaws, tc- getkcr with another that will obligate every shareholder, in the event of his election to the directorate or to an office to oppose any policy of deviation from the cardinal principle of doing a cash business. Stockholders will elect offi- cers and conduct the business as any other corporation
 The reason for preferring farmers is not so much for raising operating funds as it is to secure cooperation. for in d cash store all money looks alike if it's good money For instance. in the store here will be q competent man who will be specially charged with handling farm products in large quan- tity and disposing of them in other mar kets at no expense to the farmer stock holder, who is helping 10 pay his sal ary anyhow. If d farmer comes in with' a ton of butter or d million eggs and the local store is not in need of them all-in other words, the market is glut- ted at the time-this clerk will receive the goods forward them to the best market available. and in due time make return to the farmer With agents in Fl Paso. and in other towns. the Phoenix clerk will be in touch with every available southwestern market. The same with hay. barley, wheat or any other large product. Reversing the principle when the Phoenix mar ket is short on butter eggs, potatoes or anything else. as il frequently is, agents elsewhere may be long on the same commodities In fact. it gives the patrons of the store the benefit of all markets both for buying and sell ing. The work is done gratis for the farmer, for in the end the accom- modations are evened up and each far mer has hundred dollars invested for the carrying on of the enterprise and in turn shares in the annual profits. And while the store is doing valuable