Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1908-01-23
WHOLE IDEA is A FALlAcY.
Systems Of Cooperation Weak Thee.
retlcally and In Practice.

One of the spirits OF the age is or.
ganization and cooperation Of those
who are engaged In the same lines OF
trade, Industry or profession. II has
beer proved beyond cavil that men
have a right to thus organize and pu-.
sue any system in business, or in
their special fields that they desire as
long as their methods are not unjust
toward others. From many organiza-
lions comes much good. From others
things that are harmful.
1t must be remembered that there
are fundamentals in all systems that
cannot be ignored. There are princi-
pies which must be Observed. or fail.
ure will be sure to result. Within the
past dozen years numerous alleged co.
operative organizations have been
formed within the United States.
These organizations have been Of a
kind that involves certain benefits to
members-the elimination of profits
to middlemen, the distribution of earn.
ings to members, etc. Not one in fifty
OF these organizations has been sue.
.ess'ui' anu 'he reason lor iailure Is
that the systems followed we're not 10
harmony with economic laws.
IN the world or m there are
three important factors-production,
distribution and consumption. Were
'here no consumption there would be
no heeu OF production or distribution.
but civilized people must be fed and
-
cIotneu ana thelr other wants sup.
pled' n as ong as intelligent man
eAists there VIII be need and methods
10 supply MS wants. Thus we find
tne ~duc the distributors, and
.ne iat'er class divide into groups
hho"h as FACTORS or 1obbers, thei
agents ana the socalled retailers who
ulrectly supply the consumers.
The common cooperative plans deal
with cutting out the distributors, the
~minati OF that cost In products
which represents the compensation of
merchants whether they be whole
salers or retailers. The present sys-
TEN OF distribution has evolved from
an experience covering some thou.
sands OF years. II Is based upon
equity n upon the soundest princi.
pies or economy. The system cannot
Wen De changed unless the whole field
or human endeavor be modified. PEG
pie must be employed In gainful occu
pations. or they become burdens upon
the classes who are earners. All can.
not be producers. but all can perform
an important part In production. In
manufacture and In distribution. The
cooperative system that means the
Ina OF the factors in com.
merce excepting the manufacturer
means the robbing of a large class Of
a means OF earning subsistence and
an encroachment upon other fields OF
b that are now we'll equalized.
The present system OF distribution Is
the most economical that a be de-
vised. No manufacturer OF food prod.
ucts, unless he have n monopoly. can
maintain exclusive distributing ware.
houses Thus we find the jobber
a co-operator merely, working In
harmony with a multitude Of manu-.
facturers n for them conducting a
general warehouse. guaranteeing the
coiiection n payment OF bills due
them ana Tor his services receiving a
small commission. His agent or trav'
eler sells a hundred kinds OF goods In.
stead OF one particular kind. Here
again we ind cooperation In Its high
- $500 " foih