The Connecticut labor press., 1920-03-20
COOPERATIVE SOCIETY
 GETS WELL UNDER WAY
Will Incorporate for $50,000 With Shares at $25-Partial Payment Plan Adopted to Allow All Workers to Get In. Rochdale System to Be Fol lowed in Trades Council Stores Plan.

Under the name of "The New Haven Co-Operative Society" the Trades Coun- cips plan to hit the high cost of living and buy from themselves for them selves, is now an assured fact. At meeting of delegates representing prac- tically all of the Organized Labor crafts of the city, held at Trades Council hall on Sunday afternoon it was formally voted to organize the society and incor- porate to do general merchandising business with capital of $5O,0O0 This will be divided into 2,000 shares at $25 each, which may be paid for on par tial payment plan and it is safe bet that soon the entire issue will be taken up and the stores well under way.
 The meeting was an enthusiastic one, every delegate present reporting that his organization was heartily behind the move and would support the stores. The vote to organize when put by President Ornburn of the Trades Council was unanimous, the 28 of the largest unions in the city, who were represented de- claring emphatically for the project.
 George Treiber acted as secretary while Patrick F. O'Meara was elected treasurer, permanently during the or ganization progress. There will be con- stant funds coming in and it was deem
 
 chosen to handle these until the organ ization IS completed and the stockhold- CTS elect their own officers.
 It was figured that $50,0O0 would be enough to start things properly and that the shares should not be more than S22 so as to be within reach of all work ers To enable them further to get into the project it was decided that the shares will be sold on plan of $5 as the initial payment and $4 month until the stock subscribed for is paid for.
 The Rochdale plan of cooperative stores was adopted. This has been work ing satisfactorily for years in England and of late has been made greatly suc- cessful by other Organized Labor CO., operative stores throughout the United States. It provides that regardless of the number of shares any one person may hold in the concern he will have only one vote as will every stockholder and there is therefore no possibility of any small group of men getting control of the organization.
 Two-committees were appointed one to secure literature from the Co., Operative League in New York, detail ing the workings and benefits of the CO., operative stores, and another to pro- cure the necessary stock subscription blanks and receipts. These committees are: On literature, R. Beadle of the graphical, and J. D. McMahon of the Letter Carriers unions. On official blanks, John L. Richards of the Car penters, Chares E. Rohler of the Cigar makers, and Gerhard Beahr of the Bar bers. The session then adjourned until Thursday night at o'clock when it met again preceding the Trades Council meeting to make up report and get ready the stock subscription.
 In the report to the Trades Council meeting President Ornburn detailed the doings of the committee on Sunday and the official receipts and subscription blanks together with mass of 1itera- ture on the subject were distributed immediately copped the honor of being the first subscriber by securing the first share issued and paid Treasurer O'Meara for it in full
 The committee decided for the pres ent to limit the stock subscriptions to two shares to person, so that all who desire will have a chance to get in. President Ornburn explained that the idea of cooperative store is not sole ly to cut prices of goods below the pre- vailing market rate but through the re- turn of dividends to the shareholders to cut the cost of living to them while at the same time providing the necessi- ties at the regular market rates. Ar engagements had been made with the Cooperative League to at all times se- cure supply of goods from whole sale cooperative stores in Boston should the need arise or regular wholesalers decline to sell to the cooperative store.
 The sales of stock started immedi- ately and will be continued through the week and another meeting of the com mittee held at Trades Council hall on Friday night next The meetings of the committee are open to any and all who desire to attend and secure in formation. Those who did not get the subscription blanks but desire them can secure them from either President Orn- burn or Treasurer O'Meara. Interest
 LCo..4;n..ad an E:nhtIa Pana !