Coperation in the Middle States Classic Reprint

Excerpt from Coöperation in the Middle States

In November, 1866 the store was closed. It was a great disappointment, writes Mr. Phillips. Our hearts were set on success, but it was our fate to fail.

Yet the record of this first American experiment on the Rochdale plan is not wholly one of failure. From 1862 to 1866 there was published in Philadelphia the organ of American trades-unions, Pincher's Trades' Review, which was very friendly to cooperation, carried far and wide news of the above store, and thus led to the organization of many others. Most of these failed, but not all. Out of the experience of failure has come success, until now, as will soon be shown, strong societies have arisen to demonstrate that the growing intelligence and spirit of cooperation of American workmen can transform the experiments of a few so-called dreamers into practical means of social re form. As described in the previous chapters, the Sovereigns of Industry established many stores in the Middle States. Extravagant expenses, mistaken methods, incompetent man agers, and, chief causes of all ills, jealousy and ignorance among cooperators who would not cooperate, led to the same results as in New England. A detailed description of all this would be fruitless. I propose rather to confine my self to such existing enterprises as have survived all perils and proved their right to exist.

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