Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-07-08
ORGANIZE FOR
SELF PROTECTION
Government Employees Pro-
pose to Live On Cooper
alive Plan

WASHINGTON, July $40 meet
the increased cost of living, clerks in
the various executive departments here
have formed the Departmental CO.
operative guild" have incorporated it
and intend to open in short time q
series of stores in which can be pur-
chased ofod, clothing, furniture, medi-
cine, and in fact practically everything
that is needed in housekeeping. The
capital stock of the guild at present
consists of $4,000 shares having a par
value of $40 each, fully paid and nom
assesable, and large amount Of 1t
has already been subscribed for. The
officers of the guild are DR.. A. Patten,
president, representing the treasury
department; C. w. w. Hanger, depart
ment of commerce and labor, vice pres
ident; Amos Tyree, war department,
secretary; DR.. M. j. Holmes, war de-
partment, assistant secretary, and Ben
jamin U. Steele, treasury department,
treasurer. The following statement
has been issued as to the necessity for
Objects and Purposes.
''The increased and increasing cost
of the necessities of life Is one of the
most evident features Of our countrys
industrial growth The increase in liv-
ing expenses appeals with special force
to all persons, who, having fixed SAL
airy, do not participate in the general
prosperity, and who are obliged to pay
from 20 to so per cent more for house,
hold commodies than when their COM
pensation was set. In the case of
many thousands of portions in the gov
eminent service today the salary has
never been changed since it was es-
tablished on hard time basis during
a period of industrial depression. The
signs of the times indicate no relief;
on the contrary, there is every reason
to believe that the cost of living will
greatly increase in the next few years,
and there is now pending an advance
Of 10 per cent in the price of the very
STAFF of life through excessive de-
mand for American wheat for export.
As to the Benefits.
1.-THE Department Cooperative
guild, Incorporated, has been estab-
lished primarily to meet the existing
conditions and to enable it's members
to procure all kinds of household and
personal articles at the minimum cost.
The guild is concerned rather with
money saving than with money TAX
ing, and every benefit arising from it's
operations is shared absolutely by the
members.
"The purpose of the guild is to es-
tablish various kinds of stores at which
members may purchase goods at the
ruling market prices. The advantages
arise from the ability of the members
to obtain credit to the amount of their
stock holdings in excess of one share
and from the return to each mem
Der of 90 per cent of the profits aris-
ing from his trade: furthermore, the
profits from the trade of non-members
are returned to members in the form
Of dividend on the stock. Member
ship is restricted to persons in the
service of the government of the
United States or of the District of Co.
lumbia."
There are approximately $4,000 gov
eminent employees in this city, and the |
proportion of these that will support |
the guild when it begins active opera !
ton is awaited by the retail merchants I
here with considerable interest and |