Arizona republican., 1919-12-14
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sore, bakery, laundry, dairy, restau- rant or any other cooperative enter prise, as so many people are doing 'hese days, consider the Rochedale | system.
 This is the advice of the Cooperative | League of America here, whose chief | object is the promotion of the coopera- l tfvs movement in this country. As the | central federation of American CO., operative societies. the league is in | constant communication with hun | dreds of cooperative enterprises in all parts of the United States, so that this i advice Is based not on abstract theory, but on actual observation and experi- ence. In It's opinion, the Rochedale system Is the only form of cooperative venture which stands a chance to sur rive. Every year. according to a member of the league, dozens of cooperative enterprises rise like brilliant torches on me path of progress. only to waver, grow dim and finally to be extin- suished by a chilly douche of dis approval. They are usually created around central personality, who does all of the planning and organizing, and they flourish Just as long as that per sonality manages to keep the good will md interest of his neighbors. Once he loses these, the whole cooperative business collapses with him.
 Immediately this calamity occurs, CO., operation is idscredited. Everybody becomes convinced that Americans are simply not built for cooperation, and anyone else suggesting a cooperative society is regarded with pitying con tempt. In reality the failure is not due to the people, but to the systems they use.
 One cooperative store, for example, ran along smoothly last year until Christmas, when the manager bought q large supply of turkeys at a greatly reduced price. In some way some of the members contrived to obtain two or three turkeys apiece, while others were unfortunate enough to apply for turkeys after the supply was ex- hausted, which created so much hard feeling that the society soon dis banded from a general lack of cor diality.
 We have written to several socie- ties,. said an officer of the 'eague the other day, asking them to let us help them in framing their constitutions, and in installing the Rochedale plan, but they have preferred to work things out according to their own ideas. In almost every case we subsequently learned of a failure.
 Cooperation has received a tre- mendous stimulus as a result of the war;" he continued, land we are anxious to see every new venture suc- ceed. Just before the war cooperation in this country was at it's lowest ebb; 1t was practically non-existent. There were then probably not more than five hundred cooperative stores through ....N ths, xrJh nd isolated, each knowing nothing of the other. One cooperative store in Wash ington advertised itself as the only CO., operative store in the world, claiming 10 have discovered this system of com Inercial enterprise. Now the league has more than twelve hundred socie- ties on It's correspondence list, and new Dnes are springing into existence every month. For the first time 1t is begin ming to look as if the cooperative movement in this country might be- come as important and as powerful as tt is in Europe.
 If they stick to the Rochedale plan" he added thoughtfully, and stared out of the window of his office as if he were envisioning the turbulent city below as it would appear divided into neat, efficient cooperative socie- ties
 According to the Rochedale plan, each member of cooperative society is permitted to have only one vote, re Fardless of the amount of capital he may contribute. As capitalist how ever, be receives from the proceeds of the enterprise the minimum current rate of interest on his investment. In addition to this. the surplus savings or profits are returned as dividends and divided among the members in propor- ton to the patronage of each. Busi- ness is done on a strictly cash basis with an extra charge for delivery service. Goods are sold at the current market price-not at cost. Regular meetings of the society are called tc study the principles and aims of CO., operation, with a view to expansion into larger fields-namely, the whole sale and manufacturing fields. Fed cration with the nearest cooperative societies is also urged, with the ulti- mate purpose of national and world cooperation.
 These are the essential features o the Rochedale system, but the Go. operative League of Amreica can tel you a great deal more about it if yoJ care to write to 1t. It has a long lis of pamphlets and circulars concerning
 
 of great assistance to the would-b, ,ooperatives.
 One of the most important factors ir starting a cooperative society, accord Ing to the league, is starting right Great caution must be exercised so a! not to choose the wrong members. No hat the league has any clairvoyan methods up it's sleeve, but it suggest! that the first dozen members should not be chosen in public meeting where great promises are apt to b, lightly given. but in the seclusion O heir own homes where they can thinl he proposition over calmly and de eide whether or not they care to risl their money.
 one of the chief dangers in a younl cooperative society" warns the league lis mutual suspicion. So long as tn members suspect each others motives there can be no loyalty to the enter prise. Before organizing a society is best to hold a meeting once a weel for several weeks for the purpose o studying the literature on the subject The social intercourse incidental to studying period will eliminate thi danger. for during your many evening together you will learn to know eacl other. When the time comes to cleo officers and management committed you will know whom you can trust The closer the members are knit to gether by social intercourse, the big ger are the chances of success. Ina is why the small immigrant communi lies in this country have so far beei the most successful fin cooperative en terprise; they are much thrown to gether and know each other"
 Tn choosing a manager for the enter prise. it is also well to remember tha experience has shown that worlxin men are the most successful manager