The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1922-07-14
COOP. CONGRESS
MAKES HISTORY

Brighton, England. Il fortnight
ago, was the scene of a most signif-
icant meeting, according to reports
received by The Cooperative League
at New York City. Sixteen hun
bred delegates elected by cO-opera-
tive societies, met to consider the
questions of national and interna-
tional Importance.
This meeting was the annual con-
gress of The Cooperative Union, the
| national educational federation of
| British cooperative societies, which
performs the work in Great Britain
| done by The Cooperative League IN
the United States. The delegates
represented a membership of 1926
| AIS co-Operators, and together with
| their families, constitute one-third
of the population of Great Britain.
PRESIDENTS were shattered at the
Brighton congress by the appoint
ment for the first time of wom-
an to preside over the congress. The
new president. Margaret Llewelyn
Davies, in her inaugural address,
emphasized the fundamental charac-
ter of the Cooperative movement.
I'VE are working for no patch
work notifications, for no reconcile
alton of capital and labor for no
infusion of better spirit into old
industrial FORMS" she said. 1--WE
are laying the foundations Of new
industrial civilization. The rallying
cry for the whole labor world is the
replacement of capitalism by an in
dustrial democracy producing for
use. 1t is such a non-capitalist So
clety that co-operatorS are actually
creating. Our program transfers
the power of capitalism into the
hands of the people organized dem
ocratlcally as consumers; makes cap
ital the servant of labor; allows for
a partnership with the workers;
abolishes profit, socialises rent, and
will ultimately get rid of the pres
ent wages system. 1t opens the
great portals of international trade
in such a way that all nations may
pass through it fraternally together.
1t gives real power to our political
democracy by the creation of an eco
nomic democracy"
The congress went on record in
favor of the establishment of a CO.
operative daily newspaper. During
the past year, there was a persist
ent campaign of misrepresentation
the columns of the newspapers con-
trolled by private merchants. The
delegates of the congress resolved
to combat this campaign by means
of a daily cooperative journal to
be established as soon as possible.
The political policies of the CO.
operative movement were discussed.
and demands were made upon the
GOVERN mont tO in of
against cooperative enterprises. The
establishment of cooperative col
lege, the attitude of cooperative So
cieties towards their employees, and
other important issues were debated.
1t was announced at the congress
that the co-operators of Great Brit
ain had subscribed 74,190,375 pounds
to the capital stock of their enter
prises; that the land and buildings
owned by their societies were valued
at over 2S,000,000 pounds, while the
goods on hand in their establish
ments were worth 25,000,000 pounds.
The sales in these societies in 1920
amounted to 219,000,000 pounds, on
which a surplus-saving of 100000
pounds was created, for distribution
among the members in proportion to
their purchases.
One of the most inspiring occa-
sions in the congress was the In
ternational meeting, which was ad-
dressed by German, French, Belgian,
Swedish, Finnish, Russian, Georgian
and Indian delegates. The foreign
delegates reported on the condition
of their cooperative societies and
pledged themselves to work towards
the international solidarity of all CO.
operative societies.
Heinrich Kaufman, one of the
leaders of the Perman Cooperative
Movement, stressed the peace pro-
gram of cooperation.
Being co-operatOrs, he said, eve
are men of peace. Our movement
develops best when there is peace
and friendship and confidence among
the nations. The German co-opera-
tors wish and ask you to work with
all your might in the sense of our
| old cooperative ideals of peace, lib
erty and fraternity. 1t is not suf-
ficient that the arms have been laid
down. 1t is the economic peace and
with it the economic life through
out the world, which must be re-
established. The liberty of econom-
ic life shall be our aim, and hand
in hand, animated by fraternal feel
ing, we will make all efforts to reach
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