CO-OFERATION. 5 



Now what is the nature of this advantage that all the producers 

 and consumers can be controlled by a few speculators ? Is not the 

 producer the tirst possessor ? Does not the consumer pay the 

 profit ? And has such a power no advantage over the speculator's 

 necessity ? 



THE FULCRUM OF POWER. 



We saw that the real advantage of profit consisted in its being 

 able to bring the demand to the supply, and that each consumer 

 was the outlet for the profit on that supply. Then, is there any 

 other alternative, except to reverse the pi'ocess by organizing the 

 consumers so as to bring the sux)ply to the demand ? This will relieve 

 profit, serve as an inlet for production and exchange, turn profit to 

 cost, an oligarchy to a democracy, the corporation to co-operation, 

 and mark the evolution from a chaotic, competitive, commercial 

 cannibalism, to that of an ordei'ly and scientific organization of 

 business. 



THE PEOPLE'S POOL.* 



The nature of this consolidation of the consumers is to pool their 

 custom and hold it together so as to dictate the terms upon which 

 it shall be served. The association is voluntary and guided by self- 

 interest. For, each one's custom being his own, he has a right 

 to do with it as he pleases. It is therefore, not a combination, or 

 clique, aimed against anybody, but a co-operation of the whole 

 people against a false system, for universal ends. It is not a new 

 expenditure of power, but a simple change of attitude. "Whereas 

 I once supported usury and found it grievous to be borne, 1 now 

 relinquish it. and suppoi't it no longer. Hereafter, "as for me and 

 my bouse, we will serve the Lord." 



Its Power. — Since the trader must follow his customers, the 

 withdrawal of custom from one place and the casting it in an- 

 other is able to build up and break down trade. The consumers 

 become 'boss' instead of the trader ; — if anybody is to 'be damned' 

 it is he, not 'the public' Moreover, this consolidated custom, as 

 a commercial franchise, is a very valuable piece of pi'operty. 



We now have the driving power and balance wheel of co-oper- 

 ation, constituting the great monopoly of the people. It remains 



* The writer humbly declines any credit for originality in the use of this word. 



