Evening journal., 1921-01-26
DEFECTS IN COOPERATIVE MOVEMENTS.


ployes OF the Treasury Department at Washington
furnishes appropriate text for few pertinent obser-
vatons the subject OF cooperative movements in gen
eral and government operation communisc operation
toward which the cooperative movement tends
The store conducted by the employees Of the Treasury
Department not government undertaking in any
respect unless. perhaps the employees had The use OF
some government in buildings for their enterprise
The scheme was started in an effort 10 beat the high
cost OF living, in the belief that by buying wholesale the
large group OF employees could get supplies at prices
dover than charged by the retail stores
There were originally some $500 members Of the CO.
operative association but 100 dropped out.
Each Of them had paid in a membership fee OF 50 as
working capital and the 100 got their money back
Whether the remaining $500 will get all or consider
able part Of their investment remains 10 be seen.
Press dispatches say that the reason for the abandon
men OF the cooperative store that the store could
not compete service with the chain stores which are
located In an parts Of the city and which provided the
members Of the association with convenient sources Of
supply their homes.
Those who bought from the association store were
compelled to carry their purchases home the street
cars and quite likely found themselves subjected to
much delay securing service because there only
one store to the 6OOO members.
This matter scryice is large factor in all kinds Of
business, and 10 is in this respect that government oper-
alton any ori n communstic operation falls.
One OF the early acts Of the Railroad Administration
10 consolidate the ticket Offices Of the various rail-
road companies in The larger cities.
On the face OF IT, this economy. There was a
very manifest saving in rents there apparent
saving in clerical assistance and there may have been
other indications Of economy.
But the public did not like the consolidation and on
return of the roads TO private management, o separate
ticket Offices are being opened ayain.
With the consolidated ticket Office control OF all the
ticket selling, the patron could take The service he was
given or go without The natural development
spirit OF haughness, sometimes bordering nsolence
on the part OF the ticket sellers.
"The public bo damned" fast supercoding the old
plan OF the public be served" which had been built az
under a system OF competition for business
Win separate ticket Offices ready serve the public
there is always The incentive TO please patrons in order
that there future patronage may be retained
Press dispatches do not tell what Kind OF persona
attention the members Of the cooperative assoca
ton at Washington received, but unless human nature Is
different there from what 1t is elsewhere the tendenc.
for the managers OF the cooperative store to be
in their efforts to please. The managers had no parcu
lar incentive to work overtime in order 10 please the
customers.
The chain stores made every effort TO please and
diton, situated TO enable them to give
convenient service
Thus win 1t usually be in any communistc under
taking, and particularly will II be true in government
enterprise where The government employe has very slight
incentive 10 make himself especially useful TO patrons
the service over which he has charge.