CO-OPERATION. 23 



is probable that the economic administration ot our store would 

 save us from this result. But when one, complete, three-fold ex- 

 change has been made, there is saved all profit, waste, antaoonism, 

 strikes, failures, rent, interest and middle men. The store, now, as 

 related to these, is of prime importance. It makes a market for 

 {)roduction, gauges the amount, and guarantees employment. And 

 this furnishes us with a Held for the inauguiation of exchange. 

 While, all joined together, thej' reinforce and aid each other. 



Now, this three-fold organism contains the application of every 

 element entering into the organization of business. When once it is 

 completely formed, in however small a wa}', its natural superiority 

 of organization must necessarily absorb and drive out the old sys- 

 tem. It cannot resist natural law any more than the weaker can 

 destroy the stronger. And through its outstretching and beneficent 

 arms in new applications, all laborers may be relieved and set free. 

 Every strike that now occurs, we are in a position to utilize, every 

 failure that takes place we can buy in at bankrupt sale, and when 

 the panic comes we can sit under our own vine and fig tree, and 

 say, "Gentlemen, you can have your money ; it is good for nothing ; 

 the trap that you were setting for us, has sprung back upon your- 

 selves ; you can now stay out and perish, or come in and behave." 

 Possessing such a fulcrum of power, we shall find little occasion to 

 'boycott.' Instead of 'teaj-ing down' the old, it will be our only 

 care to get out of its w ay, lest it fall down. "Stay as long as you 

 caw," Nature cries, "we will not compel you, but you must." 



PRACTICAI. REVIEW. 



So, methinks, I see the humble beginning of the first store. It is 

 in an attic. The customers are only ten. Their stock in trade is 

 perhaps but a sack of coflee. It may have taken thirty days for this 

 to accumulate. For, on the first of the month, they make their first 

 division. An iunuble beginning ? But the smaller the better, since 

 this leaves room for growth. By the chain of cause and effect, if 

 there are no wrong or missing steps to retrace, these co-operators 

 can now see the end from the beginning. Tiiis end is, from the at- 

 titude of the consumer, to break all profit-making organizations. 

 The next month, having tohl it to their friends, they are joined 

 by ten others, and they make a division in two weeks. At the end 

 of the second month, each m«mber's encouraging report of how 

 lauch tney had saved by pooling their custom, brought their num- 

 bers to forty, with cash orders, on Saturday night, amounting to 

 $150. Now, they had heretofore simply bought at wholesale, buy- 



