2l6 HISTORY OF TH WHEEL AND ALLIANCE. 



is to sow the seed and make known the moral and econ- 

 omic benefits of co-operation. The harvest is sure to come, 

 and the different enterprises of a co-operative character that 

 are coming to life in all parts of the country, are yet to 

 unite their forces and become permanent institutions." 

 Imogene C. Fales in Industrial News. 



One among the more important branches of co-opera- 

 tion which farmers' and laborers' organizations are adopting 

 is that of establishing co-operative stores. Many of these 

 have been organized of late years with a degree of suc- 

 cess entirely commensurate with the plan adopted, and the 

 earnestness with which they were supported. It would 

 seem from a careful survey of the past experience of 

 co-operative stores, that the failures and only partial 

 successes were, mostly, if not altogether, attributable to a 

 lack of proper education among the people upon this 

 question. There has been too mu"ch dependence on the 

 business manager to make it a success. He would be a 

 shrewd man indeed who could make a success of a co-oper- 

 ative business, when the people for whose benefit the 

 business was organized would not, or could not, see the 

 importance of co-operating with him, at least to the extent 

 of giving him their patronage. There are some things 

 which the people must see, and, seeing, must carry into 

 effect, if we would be successful in our efforts to emanci- 

 pate ourselves from the iron grasp of those who manipu- 

 late our trade. The great trouble is that we do not teach 

 far enough. We explain to a member how, by the co-oper- 

 ative system, he will be enabled to buy his goods cheaper, 

 and obtain better prices for his products. He grasps the 

 idea readily enough. But his conception of co-operation 

 does not extend beyond the locality nor into the future. 

 By not being more comprehensive we lay the foundation 

 for failure. We leave a gap down for our enemies to 

 enter. The store is established on this principle. We 



