Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1921-01-20

the principles Of true cooperation,
showing that the failures were not in,
herent in the Rochdale plan. but thai
they were due to the violation of the
fundamental principles of success. A.
gam, in 1917, there began an era 81
prcfiteering that partially prepared
the public for any reasonable meas.
lures promising relief. The labor UNI
ions, in particular, were quick 10 see
1.-THE advantages of collective owner
ship and operating the business of re-
tailing and wholesaling.
Rapid Growth
| In 1919, the League opened six
branches; in 1920, it opened twenty
1.-TWO more. AS this article is written
December 10th, 1920 nineteen 9TH
Ter societies are organizing and will
shortly become affiliated branches. AT
the end Of the year 1920, the Pacific
Cooperative League will be operating
lbs cooperative stores, with an ap-
proximate membership Of $4,000.
The League is operating in the States
of California. Oregon, Nevada, Ariz-
ona, New Mexico, and Texas. Imper-
alive demands for its services has com
lpelled the League to spread oyer a
wider range of territory than it de-
sired, but the drawback of scattering
stores is more than compensated for
by the unity of action secured by
their federation into harmonious
business and educational movement.
300 members, with an average capi-
tai per member of $4,000. The COM
bined sales of the League branches
The League stores have an average Of
now amount to about $3.500,000.00
year.
The League Plan Of Operation
In necessarily short article Of this
nature, it is impossible to give a de-
tailed explanation of the plan Of oper-
alton Of the Pacific Cooperative
League. The following, however, will
give the reader a comprehensive idea.
When a local group organizes a
branch of the League, it consults with
the home office in San Francisco as
to the minimum capital and member
| ship required. Having been advised,
it usually secures the assistance of a
trained, salaried organizer to raise
the capital and secure the members.
All funds are deposited in a central
bank to the account Of the Pacific CO.
operative League. and members are
credited. In addition to the loan cap
ital subscribed. members are required
to pay a $40 associate membership
fee, which is used by the Home Office
to pay organization expense, a sub
scription to the official organ, the Pa
cific Co-operator, to the member for
one year, and to help defray expense
Of educational work, payment Of dues
to the International Cooperative AL
lance, etc.
When the store has raised the re-
quired capital, the League appoints a
manager. with the approval Of the To-
cal Board of Directors, to open the
store. The manager is hired and In
structed by the Home Office. He must
render daily report to the Home Of
flee Of sales and disbursements. He
must, in purchasing goods from other
than cooperative sources, secure the
permission Of the Home Office. From
his daily reports, the Home Office Ac-
counting Department prepares a mon
|thly statement Of the stores financial
condition to be read and discussed BY
the members at their monthly meet |
ings. The handling of funds is CEN
ralized. all large bills being paid BY |
draft on the Home Office.
The fundamental of the RochdaIe |
system are adhered to. including cash
sales, fair market prices. one man, one
vote, nominal rate Of interest on cap
ital, and rebate of surplus on pur-
chases at the end of specified periods, |
usually SIX months.
A Democratic Organization
The Pacific Cooperative League is
a thoroughly democratic organization. |
Each store elects its local board of d.
rectors. which acts in an advisory ca
pacity in determining points of local
policy. Annually a convention is held |
to which all branches send delegates
one delegate for each 200 members
or fraction thereof. These delegates
elect the general manager.
The Future of the Movement
The movement on the Pacific Coast
is at present in a well-fortified posi-
ton, and owes its security to its con-
sentative business methods. Its policy