The Rise of Cooperatives
DRURY, JAMES C.
?ooks of Review The Rise of Cooperatives Review by JAMES C. DRURY Economist, author. Professor of Marketing in New York University. AMERICAN COOPERATIVES: YES ? ER DAY- TOD A Y - TOMORRO W. By...
...The Macmillan Co...
...In this 40-page booklet the author has condensed the past, present, end > word about the future of American cooperation, and the result is an extremely worthwhile contribution to co-perative literature...
...Vet the one problem that forced itself upon bis mind was the strange role of the Communists in all the countries which he yisited...
...He emphasizes that thia creates a new problem for Europe and every country to face...
...He is not, however, gifted with omniscience and in his desire to produce a readable book, he has undoubtedly indulged in many generalizations snd has oversimplified many of the situations, which he has described with the pen of a trained journalist...
...Such smugness is an expensive luxury, and the author feels that by both groups resolving to work together,, esch csn contribute to the success of the other, and through an expanded educational program on the part of all, the future of American cooperation will be assured...
...By ?. V. Kaltenborn...
...This survey is also something new in cooperative literature in that it combines all segments of cooperation in the term "Americsn Cooperatives...
...Farm cooperative leaders have been inclined to criticize urban co-operators for a lack of business efficiency, while urban cooperators have criticized the lack of democratic control especially in farm selling cooperatives...
...Which is perhaps as close as we can come to s definition...
...In addition to the copy I have set upon my shelf, 1 have already given two copies of the book to friends...
...In the chapter on "Urban Stores," the development of cooperatives among city people is described...
...The reason private business is developing ahm ? this line is the identical reason given by the author for changes in this direction among cooperatives...
...The author has touched lightly upon the outstanding questions of the day and he has given on the whole a fair summary of conditions, even though it is easy to see exactly where his pergonal sympathies lie...
...He says that "now at last, thanks to the negative lessons of past failures, timely immigrant aid, nurture by the countrywide Cooperative League and several regional leagues, tutelage by farmers' purchasing associations, and various incidental factors, American urban cooperation is making some headway...
...In fact, among economists there are many who feel that postwar competition will force manufacturers (o establish their own wholesale and retail outlets...
...If the average reader uses it as a mere introduction, it will achieve its purpose...
...The Struggle For Democracy Continues ?evfew sbv CLARENCE A. MANNING EUROPE NOW, A FIRST-HAND REPORT...
...ThLS interesting little volume by the distinguished radio commentator should be of value to the average American who is desirous of knowing what travel in wartime Europe is like and of understanding something of the main problems of the reconstruction and reorganization of a wrecked continent...
...Neu) York: Dilier...
...AMERICAN COOPERATIVES: YES ? ER DAY- TOD A Y - TOMORRO W. By John Daniels...
...The only common denominator that makes for successful urban cooperation is our interest as consumers...
...The Increase in processing and manufacturing is selected by the author as the most striking cooperative trend today, and he points out that as yet urban cooperatives are contributing lo it only in slight measure and that farmers' cooperative associations are its propulsive force...
...He pays tribute to their service to the Resistance movements, but after liberation they resumed the enigmatic position of cooperating with the governments but remaining in absolute obedience to and sensitive to every breath of influence from Moscow...
...The author raises the "Crucial Question," which is the maintenance of democratic control...
...Chapter five is devoted to "Over-all Trends...
...The book is a gracious and pleasant description of a journey in wartime...
...Other urban attempts at cooperation were made by the so-called middle classes, but the author says that "the prime movers were idealistic zealots who had unbounded enthusiasm but limited common sense...
...In * refreshingly critical manner he raises some questions which need to be discussed more openly, and frankly exposes weaknesses in organization which should be tolerated no longer in view of future uncertainties...
...More recent, since primitive man had little time for introspection, is the qnery, What is life...
...The fact that physical "laws" ara based upon atomic accident,, that they are "laws" only aa statistics of atomic multitudes, I have never found more clearly illustrated...
...Looking at the biologist's problem from the vantage point of the physicist, he quickens the perceptions of the general readers in both fields...
...The author paints a rather dismal picture of the early hbtory of urban cooperatives...
...Down through the years successive at-mpts at urban cooperation were made by labor groups such as the Working-men's Protective Union, the Sovereigns of Industry, the American Federation of Labor, the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, and the United Mine Workers, with disappointing outcome...
...Packed in these hundred pages, in terms within the grasp of the intelligent reader, is what science today csn tell of the "code-script" within the molecule that seta the pattern of our years...
...namely, to control the whole vertical line of producing-wholesaling-retailing as respects quantity, quality and cost, and to effect the maximum savings resulting from such control...
...In the final chapter, "What of the Future," the author discusses the revival of interest among labor groups in cooperatives, and points out that what will result from this interest remains to be seen...
...The picture which Daniels paints of the present urban movement is much more promising...
...If the author does not make clear what life »», be certainly indicates how it carries itself on...
...It is a good introduction to the troubles of Europe...
...25 rents...
...In this way all kinds of people—unionists, white-collar workers, professional men, and even business men and bankers can work together, for their interests as consumers are identical...
...The older, which Pilate knew, is What is truth...
...Schr?dinger makes complicated structures as simple as in a primer (or nearly ao...
...xii -f 187 pages...
...But for those people who read it only casually and rest upon the optimistic and hopeful conclusions, the work may be another opiate...
...The four-and-a-half-page epilogue "on determinism and free will" suggests a handling of the religious aspect as neatly as earlier, the biological, chemical, and physical...
...Integrating Our World Review by JOSEPH T. SHIPLEY WHAT IS LIFE...
...Farm Marketing or Selling Cooperatives, Farm Purchasing Cooperatives, Urban Pur-cbssing Cooperatives, and a variety of cooperatives either Sellin« or purchasing services of one sort or another, are all encompassed within the 40 pages...
...Five for $1.00...
...On these rest all the others, such as What are the avenues toward an enduring peace...
...Perhaps be anticipates something else, but it is hard to see how he can remain satisfied with his optimistic conclusions...
...Included is a very healthy discussion of Ihe question as to whether there should lie or could be one national, organization representing all...
...The reviewer i.i not as optimistic on this point as the author...
...retailers to establish their own wholesale and manufacturing units, and wholesalers to combine with small manufacturers and small retailers into a sort of cooperative organization, to enable them to compete against other large integrated organizations...
...It is not quite clear whether the author looks upon this trend as exclusively cooperative in character, for it is evident among non-cooperative forms of business organization as well...
...Kaltenborn realizes that the struggle for democracy is not yet over, that it has Keen made mrre bitter and difficult by the various interpretation's of the word by its friends and enemies, and that the decent right and the decent left must beware of sharpening their differences by yielding to propaganda from malevolent enemies of democracy who are playing on the hopes and desires of the mass of humanity for a better world...
...The little book of Erwin Schr?dinger approaches the second basic question with knowledge and wisdom...
...auch technical terma as "energy threshold" become in his treatment natural parts of the process of continuing existence...
...AN asks two basic questions...
...To illustrate this distinction: a loyal unionist bs a consumer would change his appeal from "Buy union-made goods because they are union-made" to-"Buy union-made goods because they are of better quality and afford the consumer more real value...
...In the chapter on "Native Origin," the author shows that far from being a foreign importation, cooperatives are of native origin and had their beginning among American farmers while the nation was still in its infancy...
...By Erwin Schr?dinger...
...He recognizes the difficulties of blending the "union mentality" and a "middle class" mentality into a harmonious cooperative group, but feels that as middle class white-collar workers become organized, this ? *oblem might be solved...
...and hia association of biological mufotion with phyaical quantum comes so gently that all parts of your mental equipment remain intact...
...ike most writers of the present time, when everyone is seeking friendly relations with the Soviet Union, he does not draw the logical and obvious conclusion from his observations but expresses the hope that the Soviet Union will'chart a new path thst will lead to the desired goal...
...Perhaps he foresees a Soviet-German rapprochement, as he hints on ,his concluding pages...
...forty pages...
...or When are you going to increase my salary...
...1.75...
...The New Leader Publishing Association, 1945...
...In the chapter on "Grassroots Growth,'" the history of cooperation in the United States from 1820 when local cooperative fire insurance units were established among farmers, the growth of the Grange (after the Civil War) and its development of retail and wholesale stores based on Rochdale prii ciples, the consolidation and integration especially of the selling cooperatives after World Wer I, and the more "ecent expansion of farm purchasing cooperatives, are briefly but adequately covered...
...or Will you come to the movies with me tomorrow...
...It may come as a surprise to some people to learn that urban cooperative stores were established in the United States in the same year, 1844, that saw the birth of the Itochdale store in England...
...Examning the mochsnism of heredity...
...91 pages...
Vol. 28 • September 1945 • No. 37
