upon the community, but the community depends upon 

 them. 



Social science has clearly demonstrated that when condi- 

 tions encourage dependence upon the community or State, 

 self-reliance and individual ambition and energy diminish 

 in proportion, and that this result inevitably lessens the 

 power of the State to assist those who are more and more 

 inclined to lean upon it. There is no such danger in this 

 programme of social progress. " The only necessary man " 

 is hero entirely dependent upon himself. The community 

 will neither water his lands nor reap his crops. lie works 

 or he perishes. He thrives according to his intelligence 

 and industry, or fails to thrive because of his ignorance 

 and sloth. For his ignorance and sloth he is himself solely 

 responsible, because he has the facilities of a good educa- 

 tion and every incentive to intelligent and regular labor. 

 The community of which such men are the units is cer- 

 tain to be healthy and strong, because their independence 

 and prosperity will constantly feed rather than draw upon 

 it. 



In providing for the co-operative ownership of stores, 

 factories, commercial associations, and other instrumen- 

 talities of manufacture, distribution, and exchange, do we 

 depart from the traditions of the race ? If so, it is not 

 the race nor its ideals which have changed, but the con- 

 ditions of industry and commerce. 



The settlers of the seventeenth century, and even of 

 fifty years ago, had little need of co-operative industries. 

 Their women spun the flax and wove the wool. Their 

 men made the shoes and furniture. Their relations to 

 outside trade and industry were very slight. They took 

 from their fields, their woodlands, and their herds nearly 



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