New-York tribune., 1918-01-06
Cooperative Bank
Aids the Revolution

Aids the Revolution
At the outbreak of the revolution
the cooperative bank of Moscow, the
central financial agent of the cooper
atiye organizations, made grant OF
money to the Council of Soldiers and
Wcrkmen and one to the Council of
Peasants. These grants gave the need
ed financial support during those fate
full early days Of New Russia, when
forward-looking people the world over
were tensely watching the fate of de-
mocracy in the great nation whose ter
rtory embraces one-sixth the land sur
face Of the globe and is the home Of
one-tenth the earth's population.
In order to estimate the Importance
OF the Russian cooperative movement
at its correct value and to foresec
clearly the results that may be expect
ed from its continued expansion, one
needs to be familiar with the leading
political and industrial events that
have influenced its development or
have been Influenced thereby. While the
United States was preparing to solve
the problems arising out Of the Civil
War, the oppressed people of Russia
we're laying the foundations Of the
great cooperative movement which is
now one of the chief stabilizing cle-
lnents among its vast population. In
1864-6o the first cooperative societies
were formed. At first they met with
little opposition, but fifteen or twenty
years later, during the period of re-
action which set in with the accession
Of Alexander III, father Of Nicholas II.
the cooperatives felt the heavy band
Of oppression. Efforts were made to
suppress existing societies and char
ters, for new organizations were held
back, sometimes for as long as ten
years. Several persons even who at
tempted to effect cooperative organize
tions of producers were exiled TO
Siberia.
About 1897 the cooperative organiza-
tions broke into new activity. Count
Witte had become Minister Of Finance,
and he promulgated a broad programme c
of industrial development for Russia
and there was a great boom in industry.
Factory System
Unspeakably Bad
1t should be remembered that prior
to this time there had been only a
very small class Of skilled workmen in
Russia. There had been some factories,
but these were dependent for their
labor supply, generally speaking, upon
tlitions were unspeakably bad and the
peasants hated factory work. AS a re-
suit, they would remain in the factories
only during the coldest weather. Theit
wives and children stayed behind in tho
country, and as soon as the father had
saved few roubles and the warm
weather set in he would quit tho fac
tory and go back to the farm: If he
found one factory uncomfortable, he
>,ould try different one the next sea-
son. and his ambition was TO be able to
save enough money to buy two or three
COWS so that he might quit factory life
for good.
But with the new industrial era in
augurated by Witte conditions in the
factories became more stable; efforts
were made to improve the standard Of
labor and, gradually, there developed
class OF permanent factory Workmen.
This class was recruited from the peas
ants. who brought their families away
from the country districts and made
homes for them in the commercial CEN
tres.
From this time on cooperation throve
in the towns, rs we'll as in rural dis
tricts, and as it assumed no political
activities and created no political hos
tilities. the cooperative movement was
left free to bestow its benefits on all
classes of workers-on factory hand as
we'll as peasant; on government en-
ploye as we'll as the skilled artisan. 1t
soon became a factor of great social
Importance. Small groups of consum-
ers' cooperatives united to organize
wholesale coope ratives, and so success
full were many of these organizations
that libraries. schools, hospitals, peo-
Pies houses, theatres and other rccrea-
tlonal centres We're opened and success
fully conducted by them from the prof
its derived through cooperation. In
most instances these various centres
were the only ones of their kind open
IN the villages, and as consequence
the cooperative system grew in prestige
and in social value. 1t sent strong
roots into tho daily life of its members
In short, it became vital agency for
unified interest and potential for uni
fled activity.
Felt First Urge