Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-12-06

:
TIE COOPERATIVE Firms.
u FREDERlC !. HAsKN.
Especial Correspondence Of The Argus).
New York. Dec. 4--In these hectic days Of
frsnxisd family finance when the life Of the
average New Yorker II Just one moving
van after another. envious attention y
directed toward . certain group Of thrifty
citizens who are residing calmly. COM
fortably and cheapiy in their own apartment
houses.
Their leisure hours are never invaded by
landlords md real estate agents. their sleep
Is undisturbed by Nightmares OF sudden evtc-
tons, and their eyesisht unhurt by constant
contact with the daily ITO let" columns- They
live in attract;ce, sunny homes, containing the
latest Inspirations in plumbing. the newest
styles In windows. and the hottest kind Of heat.
For all Of these Injuries they pay about thirty
dollars per family per month, with the pleasant
knowledge THAT the rent can never be raised
unleas they permit It.
They are not wealthy. They are hard work
ing people-carpenters, painters, paper hang
ers, tail0rs, Epesetters and shop-keepers and
their families-who are not often found dwell
Ing in luxury when the rest Of the world Is
putting up with all sorts Of incouveniences.
How do they do it? Well, in the first place,
they live In Brooklyn. but that does not ex-
plain it. Brooklyn is not immune from the
high cost Of living any more than any other
fovn Rut thew are Finns. and that does ex-
Main . xreat deal. The Ffnns as YOU may have
observed, are an extremely thrifty lot. They
come from country where life Is . constant
hattis With = harsh climate. and where sur
viyai IA largely 4 matter Of economy and CO.
oneration. IA a result the as1ressive instinct
~ hi~hlv daveloned IN the Fann--he never stops
6rhting lie.
So It happeas that while most Of us have
been sitting around deploring the high cost
for food and rents. the Finns Of BROOKLYN have
haen forming cooneratfye societies and forcing
down Their iiyinf costs to the lowest possible
minimum. Besides two cooperative apartment
houses. thew own a community club house, a
cooperatiye restaurant and plots of ground
upon which cooperative bakeries and dairies
/ are soon to be erected.
First came the club house. which is ALWAYS
the nrst sociai move Of the Finns wherever
ifhev 70. II is an attractive building with cof-
| Tee and game rooms. smoking parlors, womans
club rooms. and an auditorium where public
meetings. dances and theatricals are held. To
the Finn drama is almost as essential as food,
no that the people do not consider it an extraV-
lance to employ a dramatic coach for their
vounr people. Across from the club house is
the cooneratiye restaurant. and nearby ia = lot
which some day. when building conditions be-
como a tribe more stable. Il to support q CO
lonerS.ive moyinr, picture house.
l. Thu chief activity of the c1uh hOusA aO0n
hac.ms tha voicine of discontent with Twin,
condttions Tha rinna. having come to Amer.
ica- the land OF opportunity. seekine reliei
from, a stern and exactinr Environment. were
FRANKLY disannointed Thev found Themselves
I crowded Into rrimv tenements. with insufficien1
heat and water and liehf- and air. and unable
to earn enough To Obtain ANYTHING better. The
v.res which had apneared 40 high to them
from the other side OF the ocean seemed ID
shrink yisibly "A thew were doled out for food
and rent and clothes.
But the Finns were not satisfied merely to
discuss conditions. They decided to change
them The carnenters and the nainters and tht
nIasterer. and naner hangers among them
knaw a good DEF about building and II was
thew VIM Hnaiiv su~restad the idea ~ !. ~.
Inncr.tiveIv owned anartment hons. The,
rssiixed that n wopld he a hn~e undar+.tins
~ f.ro,ie. v;,h an 1,ttia ..,,its1 h,,t &C.,;
sncs IN finland had t.weht them Tho va1ns =,
coonerst;on >-- Wv '"ANe "
n The hav,nn,n, On camille. nor. inter
| ..+.S q, ~. r.o,ect h. -. a. s.t,,ai1 49,,
Ito the stage OF signing contracts and buying
s s,s :ss :. It ssss !; to ;ss