The Washington times., 1919-08-31

people awaken to its advantages ~
support wiz be ample.
The BENEFITS Of cooperative
sanization are not combined 10 for
prices nor TO the reduction % the
ference between labor value and
Feiue. The manager. being an enr Ic4t
OF his patrons. q as anxious 70 sai.
~ tneir appetites as their pu
his expert opinion 6 guarante
tne Quality of the goods offered. Tlt
lneentlFe 70 renovate spoiled Articles
oE 20 work IN inferior grade
merchandise where they WI nct -
easily detected IS to enhance DR.
NO such motive actuates the man
ment OF a cooperative store IN
oition Il might be mentioned th
sreat cooperative Institution arouse
an interest in business rrefhofs
among its members. encourares thrift
ana makes for the betterment 81 It's
community in many ways.
@HoWs7 h Next Question.
The next question is How and.
IKE Hamlet's renowned query fhat
is the question. No factor Is 50 fr-
portant % successful cooperation -
knoWiedge Of the subject. Not onIv
- greater skill and inteilirence d.-
Lnanoed or its manavenepf than ~
the management % q commercial en-
terprise. but its patrons as wei muet
HnoH ar appreciate sone OF its fur.
o-.lli eltal principles. Tie co-opsrativs
q fsenizafiotn runs on closer margins.
uepenaa more on the goodwill 81 :
susceptible 70 the Whims OF pubffe
opinion than any commercial hon9~
ana - less likely TO have thorou~hi,-
experienced management. Lack ~
knoWledEe Is a fundamental we4t-
ness thai unless corrected uflf
eYentualls kin the most proIr-i~r
enterprise.
Enthusiasm q the spark o.
start tne cooperative moVsms trf
siements more substantial an fsrI
tHs are essential to It's success. --or--
then necessity @ one Of The sf -.
tent Necessity coBent and cont.-r.5..
VIII bind members together a. roft
lns else VIII Inability 10 cone al-,r
Win economic adEerslty brint fs
9uieAly q Willingness TO Join g. ~
lows IN common strugRle. reor-
ming the need fer mutuk Fost.
2ecslFe members must net Only
aaopt plan OF orEanfratfcr
ieet onieers but they must
the dnancial support nee
ample but not excessive SIC. 81.
lOttheomfnE Promptly 50 that 49,
,icers may proceed promptly a.
in position to avail ther -
u SNery adgantage the market sFere.
Aetion Imperative NEED
haylng the other essentials. as -.
.',-.i s5eiEe need ts action. Hes fior
-. cisloh, Lloundering on the rsrf 81
the Organizing officers dissipsIs. fks
enthusiasm that Is the rrrr, ~ ~
IN the movement, cfeates Sonbfs s,-
rise TO factions, arouses ants -.
en9 enos IN failure in co-operafIsn
.ii - IN everything else you cannot stand
80 backward. - ~
An easily discernibIs ana eo,v.-
lent cause OF failure Is mismaha~s.
ment and consequently IL Is 49, ~.
nlenl generally assigned to a deffnife
cooperative society. Furthermors h
proFldeS the element OF personal
responsioiiity that seems to be neces-
91Ly When failure occurs. Some
oorne IN mind, however. that ffhe
charge OF mismanagement rests nof
atone on the head OF the establiah-
ment, but devolves upon the director
4te ana finally upon the uembershin
Ehe government OF q co-operatfr-e
organization must be democratic. Al
executive may lead or guide his feI-
lows; he must not control them. So
caileq steam roller tactics are sure to
bruise and irritate the minds 81 tbe
members and the germ OF discontent
tnen nnds favorable lodgment. The
injured members hrst show a disDo-
sltlon 10 md fault but soon reach
stage OF passive indifference. ar
senting themselves from meetfnrs
and paying their dues or assessmerfs
reluctantly. Without actual infen-
ton TO sever their connection they
suner themselves to be Suspended
for non-payment OF dues and even
tually they arc automatically dropped.
This process followed for a time viii
50 impair the strength OF the society
that the entire membership becomes
dissatisfied and dissolution follows.
should Eneourage Backward.
Not only should an executive not
seek arbitrary powers. but he, IN COM
pany with other able and active mem
oers, should encourage the more back.
ward members to participate in the
discussions and activities Of the So
siety. A great many good ideas viii
thus be brought to light and at the
same time the interest Of a large part
Any steps that strengthen an organi-
sation remove by that much the like
ihood Of failure. Democracy to live
and be effective must be exercised.
Situated as is Washington, the ap-
DlicatiOn OF the cooperative theory to
he distribution Of necessities OF life is
not fraught with unusual difficulties
In a small way It has been tried q
number Of times. with a few successes
and many failures. but il must be re-
nembered that Dun's and Bradstreets
tell US that there are q great many
among commercial houses
also. Every successful cooperative
organization has been builded on the
ashes OF preceding failures.
With the Rochdale OF England the
Cooperative Consumers Society On
Russia. the innumerable cooperative
societies in every country OF Europe.
Ind the smaller ones IN this country.
particularly in New England and the
great Northwest. before ne We should,
" close application, be able 70 achieve
, success. BY retaining the present
processes OF distribution in general
,ut transferring the management 70
he people we will be applying the
,nly effectual remedy for the high
.ost Of living.
RsIy blanket SALE TUESDAY.