Volume 6, No. 2, June, 1918

The Internationalist Page thirty-three
Co-operation the World Over
Notes About the Chief Co-operatives Gleaned from Many Sources
THE CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT IN GERMANY
COMMUNITY CO-OPERATION
The imminence of the social and political revolution in Germany is
evident to the discerning in the great growth and present power of the
German Co-operative movement with its program of industrial democracy.
A recently received report by the Co-operative League of America, 2
West 13th st.. New York City, from the Co-operative Distributive, Building
and Savings Society, "Produktion" of Hamburg, Germany, shows
that it has 7,000 members, a share capital of over $442,500, an increase
over last year of $37,500. The retail turnover totals about
$3,011,600, an increase of $1,229,500.
RETAILERS ALARMED AT GROWTH OF
CO-OPERATIVE IDEA
A grocer's paper of San Francisco recently published an article expressing
great alarm at the growth of co-operation. The article is
financial assistance. There has already been pledged in subscriptions
over one rnliioa dollars for the eslaHislment of co-operative stores,
and for propaganda educational activities. Thirty stores have been
organized which are to cany all classes of merchandise to be supr Led
to members at prices which will eliminate middle profits.
"The aim of the promoters is to place stores in every county in
North Dakota, and then to branch out beyond the state and cover as
wide a territory as possible. As m*my stores as are necessary to supply
the patrons will be established in each community, with all their requirements."
The article continues:
"The scheme of organization provides that no store shall be founded
with a lesser membership than 200. The average is actually 300.
The agreement signed by those who acept membership sets forth
very clearly how the company proposes to operate. On the basis of
that agreement, a purchaser of a membership certificate pays $100 to
the company. The first $ 1 0,000 so subscribed goes to the establishment
of a store. The balance may be use':! by the said company, either
to establish and maintain a central buying agency, or wholesale establishment,
or to carry on educational work or propaganda along all
lines deemed by the board of directors of the Consumers' United Stores
Corporation to be in the interest of or beneficial to farmers, and for the
assistance of farmers'" organizations, such as relate to the economic, educational
or political interests of the farmers, or both.
"Through the organization of this string of stores the Nonpartisan
League leaders are hopeful of dominating the retail business of the states
in which they operate. Following the stores comes the organizing of
banks. A beginning already is evidenced by the success of the League
m obtaining control of one bank in Fargo and another in Grand Forks.
The article gives further details of the plan of organization and states
that within the year officers of the Consumers' League expect to have
75 stores in operation. Space is also given in the paper to a brief
outline of the tremendous strength -of co-operative institutions m European
countries and states that the war, so far from weakening them,
has actually .added to their strength and growth.
In summing up its conception of co-operation as a present menace
to private retail business, the Advocate states that "a number of leading
business men have already suggested that the retailers should also combine
and operate their own buying and selling agencies, in this manner
achieving the position of being able to successfully compete with the
co-operative
stores."
This article is truly a fine, free statement of how the retailers actually
fear co-operation when once it is firmly and efficiently established. The
retailers know full well that at this time when the people are being
taught to eliminate waste and unnecessary expense in the handling of
goods from factory to consumer the private retailer is doomed to ultimate
extinction. Co-operative distribution is right in the spirit of the
times and now is the right moment for its active promotion. The
louder the cry of the retail grocer's publication, the surer we may be
that we are on the right way.
—R. P. BRUBAKER. in "Pacific Co-operator."
THE CO-OPERATIVE' MOVEMENT IN JAPAN
In Japan there are 5,000 co-operative societies, 2,000 of which are
credit unions. These societies have a membership of over half a million.
This represents a really remarkable movement toward Japanese
economic emancipation, inasmuch as in 1900 there were but 17 societies.
It is quite evident to students of social problems that our local communities
are not going to become completely democratic until the
members of the community have learned how to co-operate and have let
their knowledge form a habit. But to the co-operator it is clear that
this amount of co-operation is not going to be brought about until the
members of the community have learned to work together in their own
and their mutual interest, with the comfortable assurance that not one
of them is making profit out of any of the others. Until the community
has this comfortable assurance, it is certain to divide itself up
into groups of suspicious people, who would let their prejudice rise
above their reason and make impossible a democratic handling of local
problems of interest to the whole community.
The system of voluntary economic co-operation, illustrated by the
co-operative store society, is well calculated to increase the spirit of
co-operation in the community. It must not be forgotten, however, that
the co-operative store is but a beginning in community co-operation,
although it is fundamental. It would be highly valuable in itself even
though it did not lead to other related forms of co-operation since it
has the power to regulate prices throughout the whole community, and,
in a large measure, to raise the quality of merchandise sold not only in
th e co-operative stores but in all other stores. But the co-operative
store must grow and become more and more a department store, supplying
most of the needs of its members; and as it becomes the economic
center it will also evolve into the social center for its members,
who are ever becoming a larger proportion of the community. Cooperative
entertainments—including lectures, plays, moving pictures,
library, games, and competitions, picnics and outings, serve to bring
the members nearer together and make their lives haDDier and more
worth while.
Every co-operative economic enterprise can give still other benefits
to its members. Co-operative insurance is thoroughly practicable; a cooperative
bank and loaning institution will be found highly beneficial in
many ways; and co-operative housing will be a natural extension of
the service of the store. Perhaps even before these things come about
a co-operative flour mill and bakery will have proved a big saving.
Of course, many co-operative extensions will have to wait on the
organization by co-operative stores of their big central wholesale, since
it is probable that the wholesale will prove the most satisfactory imeans
here, as it has abroad, of carrying on co-operative insurance, banking
and manufacture.
But there is no reason why any community convinced of the value
of economic co-operation should not extend the field of its working
together almost unhmitedly ; and where this community is so fortunate
as to possess a newspaper which will aid them in this work, the possibilities
of developing a useful, intelligent and happy citizenship are
sufficient to enthuse every lover of socia' progress.
—SCOTT H. PERKY, Secretary Co-operative League of America.
OKLAHOMA CO-OPERATION
In Oklahoma there are at the present time over one hundred thriving
co-operative organizations and that many new associations are either
in process of formation or are just opening business. Co-operative
stores are being organized at El Reno and Oklahoma City. At Chickasha
and Shawnee co-operatives are running particularly successfully and
and doing much to lower the cost of living. The Chickasha store is
paying four percent a month on purchases.
Postpaid
Mailed in plain
wrapper
AMERICAN PUB. CO., 363
SEXUAL
KNOWLEDGE
ILLUSTRATED
BjWINFIELD SCOTT HALL,M.D.,PM).
SEX FACTS MADE PLAIN
What every young man and
Every young woman should know
What every young husband and
Every young wife should know
What every parent should know
Clolh binding—320 pages—many iDnslratioiis
Table of eontente, & commendations, on request.
Winston Bldg., Philadelphia