The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1904-07-14
A Notable Congress.


Industrial Cooperation will solys thu
Labor Problem.
Editor Independent: There was re-
Gently held in st. Louis one OF the
most significant conventions ever as
sembled in this country. This was the
cooperative congress at Congress hall
Worlds fair grounds, June 16 and II
q national congress of industrial CO.
operators from Maine to California,
representing over one hundred mil
lions of financial property interests
and hundreds of thousands of farmers,
dairymen, fruit-growers, business men
and consumers. These delegates met
and organized a national cooperative
union.
Mr.. N. O. Nelson of st. Louis pre-
scented a glowing description OF the
wonderful growth and progress made
by the cooperative movement in Eu-
ropean countries. Stray papers were
presented by Mr.. M. M. Moore OF the
Rochdale Wholesale society, San
Francisco, and by Mr.. c. B. Hoffman,
manager of the Farmers Cooperative
Shipping association, Kansas City,
Mo- Julius Kahn of the First Ma
tional Cooperative association, Chi
|cago, presented paper bringing out
points of vital interest to co-operators,
showing the absolute necessity of rec
oguizing ability and fitness in the Sc
lection of chiefs and officers Mr..
Kahn showed that failures are occa-
stoned by establishing enterprises
where there was no possible chance of
success
Bradford Peck, president Of the Co
operative Association of America,
Lewiston, Me-, addressed the congress
by calling attention to the new eco
nomic conditions resulting from the
discovery of electricity and modern
machinery making it no longer posi-
BILE for man to work alone, thus hav-
ing caused the uniting of the means
of production and distribution to vast
corporations and trusts, which organi-
cations initiate their capital by the is
suing of bonds and stock of which the
people to very large extent are in
direct owners while control is operated
by private greed. Mr.. Peck said:
Our nation is facing a crisis re-
quiring the leadership of men who are
able to cope with the mighty problems
In order to safeguard our financial
and property interests the people
should nominate two men to head the
national ticket who will serve the
farmers, the manufacturers, the mer-
chants, and the wage-workers. The
following five principles should be en-
braced in the problem:
/. Public ownership of all railroads.
mines, and public utilities.
2. The initiative, the referendum.
and the imperative mandate.
3. Equal suffrage.
4. Selecting for chiefs and officers
those who have demonstrated their fit
ness. +.
s. A financial system that shall
meet at all times the requirements of
the commercial interests.
The following resolutions were pre-
scented:
TO establish cooperative exchanges
In San Francisco Boston. and Chicago.
those exchanges 10 make weekly COM
munications with one another Of mar
ket quotations and other suggestions
Resolved. That cooperative societies
recognize the following FIVE cardinal
principles.
1 unlty by cooperative ownership
of the means Of production and distrl-
button.
?. Equal suffrage as golden rule
g. Industrial cooperation for de-
vclopIng true individuality that all
who work shall enjoy the FUN products
OF the toll
4. A trust for organizing eo-work-
crv that they may invest their energy
which Is a woFkIngman's capital.
3. Cooperative exchanges 90 serve
aa receivers and distributors u lust
reward Tor services rendered.
The following committees were
elected: