LEGAL PHASES OF COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATIONS 117 
accordingly each member is individually liable as a partner for a debt con- 
tracted by the association. 
It should be borne in mind that the association involved in this 
case was organized for business purposes. This case illustrates one 
of the serious objections to unincorporated associations and, in turn, 
emphasizes one of the great advantages of an incorporated associa- 
tion in which generally the members are not liable for the debts of 
the association. 
MONEY MUST BE USED FOR PURPOSE SPECIFIED 
In a New Jersey case 93 it was said : 
* * * The vote must be for some purpose for which the money was con- 
tributed. A majority can not devote the money of the minority, or even of a 
single member, to any other purpose without his consent. 
The rule that money can be used only for the purpose for which'' 
contributed appears settled. 94 In the West Virginia case just cited, 
a retail butchers' protective association was organized with a con- 
stitution which specified the purposes for which money could be used. 
Through dues paid by the members a fund of $1,800 was accumu- 
lated. There were 24 members of the association. At a regular 
meeting 20 were present, and by a vote of 12 to 8 an order was passed 
to distribute all of the money in the treasury except $100 among the 
members. Certain of the members who opposed this use of the 
money obtained an injunction preventing the distribution of the 
money, and the supreme court of the State held that although a 
majority of the members present at the meeting had voted in favor 
of the distribution, yet it could not lawfully be diverted from the 
purpose for which contributed, as set forth in the constitution. 
EXPULSION OF MEMBERS 
It was pointed out earlier in this discussion on unincorporated 
associations that the rights of the members between themselves was 
a contractual one and that the constitution and by-laws, or either of 
them, constituted a contract between the members. It follows that if 
the constitution or by-laws assented to by the members state causes 
for expulsion from the association, ordinarily the courts would af- 
ford no relief if a member were expelled in good faith for such a 
cause. 95 This is undoubtedly the general rule. 96 However, all rules 
of the association relative to expulsion must be followed. 97 
The constitution or by-laws of the association may place the en- 
tire matter of disciplining, suspending, or expelling members in a 
committee or like body. 98 Such a provision in the constitution or by- 
laws, like other legal provisions in such instruments, is binding upon 
all members assenting to them. 
It has been said with reference to unincorporated associations 
that " Courts never interfere except to ascertain whether or not the 
proceeding was pursuant to the rules and laws of the society, whether 
or not the proceeding was in good faith, and whether or not there 
93 Abels v. McKeen, 18 N. J. Eq. 462. 
9 * Kalbitzer v. Goodhue, 52 W. Va. 435, 44 S. E. 264. 
95 Connelly v. Masonic Mutual Benefit Ass'n, 58 Conn. 552, 20 A. 671, 9 L. R. A. 428. 
68 See case last cited and note in 9 L. R. A. 428. 
97 Farmer v. Board of Trade, 78 Mo. App. 565 ; Kelley v. Grand Circle Women of Wood- 
craft, 40 Wash. 691, 82 P. 1007. 
9 « Harris v. Aiken, 76 Kan. 516, §2 P, 537. 
