The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1910-06-10

age man and he accepts the idea with
mental reservation, principally be
cause at some time or other he has
held stock in some enterprise of the like
and has been left holding the sack" A
good many Everett unionists, for in
stance, took stock some years ago in a
operative butchershop which flourish
ed for a time and then went on the
rocks of financial disaster and the
stockholders were left to pay the bills.
In most cases however, it will be found
that it wasn't the principle of co-opera
tion that was at fault but the lack of
sound business principles or the tickle
ness of the public. The cooperative store
has been made a success and can be
again and the people of our neighbor-
ing city of Seattle are about to dem
onstrate the soundness of the theory.
Several months ago two eastern gent
lemen came to Seattle and broached the
idea of putting in great department
store that should be owned by @the
working people and the profits OF the
same given back to them in the way
of dividends. Their argument was plaus
ible and their credentials all that could
be asked for and the matter was taken
up by leaders of organized labor and
studied from all its angles. Plenty of
time was taken for thorough investiga
ton of the project and the business
standing of the promoters ascertained
beyond the shadow of debut. Everybody
was painfully aware of the ever-increas
ing cost of living and of the necessity
of evolving some plan by which the con
sumer could be given relief but they
wanted to be assured of the absolute
stability of such an enterprise.
The more the project was studied the
more it appealed to them as practicable
and feasible, and the leaders of or
ganized labor in Seattle determined to
aid the promoters in establishing one of
the greatest concerns from the stand
point of money invested and the pos
sibilities of direct saving to the con-
sumer, ever conceived in the west. The
producer and the consumer alike is to
be asked to go into the venture and
share in pro rata to the money in
vested the profits ordinarily accruing to
the jobber, wholesaler and retailer. 1t
is big idea and will be watched with
interest by the people of all sections of
the state A working idea of the i'm
mense project may be gained in the fol
lowing quotation from an advertisement
of the Equity Cooperative Stores" as
it is called, which appeared in Seattle
paper few days ago:
profits above the reasonable cost of
production, which must be paid to job
bers, wholesalers and retailers, have
brought the cost of every necessity of
life, from food to clothing, to such
point that there is only one thing left
for the working man and farmers to do,
and that is to cooperate, own their own
stores, and cut out the jobber, whole
saler and the retailer, and save the
profits for themselves. This is what
we are now preparing to do, but we
must all work together, and owing to
the necessities of the situation, we are,
for once, all working in harmony for the
same end.
loh hor t10fi ho
men and the farmers are all united in
organizing the EQUITY COOPERA-
TIVE COMPANY which will be the
greatest department organization in the
west. The great strength of the in
stitution will be in the combined eff
forts of the thousands of citizens who,
when each one does even small part,
will be able to accomplish more than
the richest independent merchant would
dare even attempt. The Equity Co
operative Company will bring into op
Grafton the great department store, to
market and handle everything required
by the family, including food, clothing,
hatuNdiSB ohocot VI
goods, drugs in fact everything. Branch
stores will be established at convenient
points throughout the city to handle
groceries, produce and meats for quick
delivery.
"The Equity Co operative stores will
meet competition at every point and
will pay their stockholders 8 per cent
dividends annually, and will rebate all
profits above the expense of doing
business on purchases made by share
holders. Each shareholder will receive
pro rata profit upon the earnings,
whether he owns one share or ten. His
share of the profits viii be in exact
proportion to his own purchases
Everything is ready for the es
Establishment of this great enterprise.
The Westlake Public Market property,
occupying one whole block, and facing
on three streets has been leased with
options to purchase, for the purpose.
The Westlake Market is already com
pletely equipped with modern refriger-
i at;no machinery and a complete cold