The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-14

dustrial history. administrative science,
and cOgEate subjects. Lectures and
provided and circulating libraries and
reading rooms are maintained. Many
of the associations provide an annual
outing for their members. These out
ings are paid for out of the reserve
funds.
Various cooperative societies have
arrangements with doctors. dentists,
and artisans by which members Sc
cure dividend checks when patroniz-
ing them. In other words, commits
sion is allowed to the societies by the
parties with whom the arrangeme nts
are made in consideration of the
patronage afforded.
Labor Unions.
Many co-operators are members of
la Dor unions and there has been a pos
sibility that the two movements would
to some extent coalesce. Up to the
present time, however, although the Co
operative Union has a committee on
labor unionism and the two movements
conventions there has been no active
aid or official cooperation between
them.
A Women's Cooperative Guild organ
ICES the women members of co-opera-
tive societies for social and similar pur-
poses. 1t has a representative on the
educational committee of the Corpora
tive Union.
Various weekly and monthly publica-
tionS are supported by the cooperative
societies, and there are also local So
ciety records published with circula-
tons ranging from 1000 upward The
circulation of most of the general pub
locations varies from IL, 900 to $4,000, but
there is one with $4,000 subscribers. The
publication of largest circulation, how
ever, has nearly 100000 subscribers and
is the organ of 500 societies. 1t is is
sued by most of them as their own re-
cord, with from 1 to 16 pages printed
especially for themselves.
A number of the consular reports de-
scribe the semiprivate cooperation
concerns which are patterned to
greater or less degree after the Roch-
dale and allied systems. The most i'm
portant of these is the Civil Service
Supply Association, which originated
among employees of the Post Office
Department who clubbebd otgether to
secure wholesale rates on the more
common household supplies. The ex-
pertinent was an immediate success and
other governmental employees joined
the movement. The Civil Service Sup
ply Association established the first de-
partment stores in London which after
many years were opened to the gen.
era public. It's sales now approx
mate 100000 annually. No dividends
are paid. The Army and Navy Stores
are operated on the same general lines
Consumers coal associations have
recently succeeded in a number of
British cities. A representative or
ganizat ton of this type in London OPP
crates by securing competitive tenders
from leading collieries each summer
and, when prices have thus been
ascertained, furnishing order blanks
to members upon which the latter
contract for the next winters supply.
The amounts of these orders are total
ed and arrangements are concluded
with the successful bidders. The coal
to time during the following winter
upon orders from the purchasing
member. Each member is liable only
for the amount of his contract order.
Membership is secured by purchasing
a share of the concerns stock at So
or by taking a life ticket at $2.55. The
saving of coal has varied recently
from 80 cents to $1.30 per ton, ac-
cording to the grade and other cir
cum stances