The Washington times., 1911-04-17
COOPERATIVE PLAN
SPREADING AMONG
THE DEPART TMENTS
Clerks and Other Employees
Buy Provisions at Whole
sale Prices.
TALK OF A STORE
is NOT CREDITED
Failure of Original One Pointed to
as Example That Needs
Remembering.

Co-operathe buying, by which en-
Moves of tine Government obtain small
quantities OF provisions at wholesale
prices, is spreading considerably, said a
Government employe.
But he denied the report that division
and bureau clerks and chiefs intended
TO establish such store as was main
tained at Ninth and G streets north
west for some time by the Depart
mental Cooperative Guild. The merits
OF that store lie did not deny: but, at
least, for the present, he said, there
was no thought among clerks of making
another venture of the kind.
The cooperative buying had its in
cipiency in the Agricultural Department.
TO the employes of which it is now
chiefly confined. They have several
times bought dairy products and cured
meats. They have gotten some alluring
prices by their wholesale purchases. 4
shipment of high-Erade butter that is to
be distributed among about twenty
clerks is cited as an example; II will
cost them only so cents pound, while
, at retail it would be 30. 1t is probable
the buying will in the near future in
cIude other household necessaries and
clothing.
Civil Service Council.
Most of the partners in buying are
members of the Civil Service Coun-
Gil, some of whose members were ac-
tive in the-Co-operative Guild. They
regarded seriously. therefore, the ru-
NOR that cooperative stores would be
established-but denied 1t.
The other store is in bankruptcy,
and there are few recollections of un-
alloyed happiness concerning it, 1t
was one of those affairs which just
can't fail. and yet. under the minis
trations of the imp of the perverse,
do fail. The movement for its estab
lishment was initiated in March 1907,
when the Departmental Cooperative
Guild was established to"own" and
operate for the wholesaling and re-
failing of the necessities of life. The
Guild store, unlike the Army and
Navy Stores of London, had not the
credit of the Government; also unlike
the British institutions, it sold to
members and non members at the same
prices, the members deriving their
benefits from membership in quarter
ly rebates or dividends from the pro-
fits of the store.
On that account the more the mem
herS DOuSht from their Guild store
the larger dividends they would re-
ceive. Yet they did not buy as much
from it as did other Government en-
ployes and members of the general
public" Officers of the Guild said 1t
was largely lack of cooperation form
members that caused the store to
fail.
Opening of First Store.
Stock was sold in shares Of so each,
and by November 5, 1907, nearly SlLOOO
had been subscribed, a house on the
northeast corner of Ninth and streets
northwest rented, stock of groceries
bought, and a week later the store
was opened.
The business grew tremendously for
several months, and other departments
were added. But it was notable that
even at an early stage non-members
were contributing 40 per cent of the
trade.
Then troubles began. Some began, Of
fcerS of the guild allege. from the asso-
citation of retail grocerS, who prevented
bakers and other manufacturers from
selling to the guild store. Testimony to
that effect was made by them to one of
the committees in Congress. But officers
said that with cooperation from the
members the guild store would have
prospered and prevailed against all OBJ
stacles. including accused grocers and
lack of cooperation.
Little by little the trade decreased.
There was dissatisfaction among the
members. Then IT was brought into the
courts, and that was practically the
end of the guild store.