The Connecticut labor press., 1920-02-28

my a1d to group ot people organized 1 for the purpose of destroying the
 American Federation of Labor.
 Political Activities.
 I desire to ca1l the attention of the | delegates to the New Haven Trades Council, that politically the labor move.
 ment in New Haven accomplished ev-
 erything they attempted in the year 1919 Our only fight, however, came about 1T
 the election of the general registrar for the democratic party early last fall which resulted i'll the overwhelming de feat of organized 1abor's enemy, Ed ward P. Keating. This was accomplish ed, my friends, without allying our or
 ganization with either of the dominant
 political parties, and 1t may be noted
 at this time friends of the defeated gen.
 era1 registrar of voters have already
 started a campaign for his reelection
 two years hence, but as president of the
 New Haven Trades Council, I am hope
 f,1l that the members of organized labor
 will see to it that this man is never re-
 turned to an office within the gift of the
 voters of tne organized labor move
 ne1lt.
 I wish to direct your attention also
 for few moments to the political
 situation for the coming year. The
 American Federation of Labor, includ-
 ing the railroad organizations, known as
 the Big Four, have outlined stern
 political policy for the national and state
 elections this fall, which Is directly in
 accord with the previous political posi-
 ton assumed by the Trades Council,
 that Is that determined effort be made to defeat our enemies and elect our
 friends. Fortunately, the labor move
 ment had four friends i'll the last Gen.
 era1 Assembly from New Haven i'll the
 persons of Senators Bailey, Clyne and
 Bishop, and Representative Mccarthy.
 These men, to whom I refer, worked harmoniousiy with-Labor's representa- lives in the Assembly, but no one can predict a. this time whether these men will aspire for reelection or not and 1t therefore, behooyes every member r5of the Trades Council to register in the pri- maries SC that they may play more important part in nominating the can- didates for these positions this fall
 Tn our national election, which will also take place this all, the voters of New Haven will be called upon to cast their vote for United States senator and records of these political aspirants will 
 union in ample time for their considera- ton prior to the date of election. The members of organized labor have not taken advantage of the right to vote III many instances. This was discovered last fall in our campaign against MT. Keating,S when we found hundreds of labor men who were not on the voting list until they were requested to do so by a committee having this matter in charge. It is extremely urgent that every organized worker i'll New Haven prepare for a di1igent campaign which syi1l be waged this fall against every enemy of the Trade Union Movement. I most respectfully recommend that the Trades Council continue its non-partlsan political policy, third party at this time would only divide 1abors forces and permit the reactionary politician to again be reelected.
 Co-0perative Organizations.
 The all absorbing question of the day: How can the high cost of living be re- duced to a reasonable basis o' IS one 1n- tensive1y discussed in every home Ill the city of New Haven and the country at large. The menace to health and the growing distress caused by the inabil- ity to meet the ever upward tendency of prices, has permeated millions of homes The great unrest IS forever manifest; the people are growing ever and ever more dissatisfied, and the fun damenta1 principles of the government are sWaying in the balance. What can be done to alleviate this perllous con- dition? Equalization boards, price fix ing boards, federal administration, state and municipal administration, have mis- erab1y failed to solve this question. The solution is simple III npy opinion: The remedy lies with the Consumer, he and he alone holds the power to regulate and control the high cost of living, through the organization of cooperative store in our city, I have been giving consider able thought and study to this proposi- ton for some time and l find the only successful cooperative movement has been organized following the Rochdale principle which has been in use in Eng land for three-rlarters of a century.
 The Rochdafe principle provides: First, one vote only for each member, regardless of the size of his stock hold ings. Second, capital to receive divi- dends at not more than the legal rate. Third, surplus savings are profits to be as dividends to buyers i'll pro- portion to the purchases made by each individual Fourth, or the surplus can be used for educational work and social activities c4 the members. These are the sinlpl,, rules on which tens of of cooperative societies have been organized in Europe and America. There are certain business methods. which are essential to the success of CO., operation. Among them are: First, business to be done, for cash only. Sec ond, goods to be sold at the market prices, charged by other stores and not at cost. Third, careful bookkeeping and accounting with the monthly reports to the members. Fourth, frequent meet ings to discuss the store, to widen its and to promote educational activities Five, federation and contact with other cooperative societies and affiliation with a wholesale cooperative society as soon as possible. A cooper alive store is a store in which the con- surners are stockholders. They elect a director and i'll turn get all the profits or surplus or savings, which are dis tributed back to them at the end of the year on the amount of their purchase. The consumers are their own middle men. They own the store and operate it.
 I urgently recommend that the New Haven Trades Council elect or author ze the appointment of an organizing committee, consisting of one member of each affiliated local union, whose duty # will be to fami1iarize themselves with | what cooperation means, the general | committee to be sub-divided into small