local centers of the country, such as would guide workingmen
in their search for opportunities of work. * * *

Another action that our labor unions might take in the
interest of the workingmen is in the development of
co-operation. The story of European co-operation is one of
the most encouraging tales of our modern industrial world.
Germany, for example, had in 1877 some 2,830 credit
societies; of which 806 reported 431,216 members; advances
for the year, in loans to their members, $375,000,000, with
a loss of one mark to every 416 thalers, or 23-4/5 cents on
every $297--an indication of soundness in their financial
operations that many capitalistic corporations might well
envy. The rapid growth of these societies is bringing the
omnipotence of credit to the aid of the workingmen in
Germany.

We have within the past decade had a most encouraging
growth of a somewhat similar form of co-operation in the
building and loan associations, which are now estimated to
number probably about 8,000 in the nation, with a membership
of 450,000, and an aggregated capital of $75,000,000.

The co-operative stores have reached a wonderful
development in England, with most beneficent results. There
were 765 stores reporting to the congress in 1881, which
showed aggregate sales of $65,703,990, with profits of
$435,000; while Scotland reported 226 stores in the same
year, representing sales of $17,423,170, and profits of
$113,665.

Against this showing our workingmen have comparatively
little to offer. We have, it is true, had a great deal more
of experimenting in co-operative distribution than is
ordinarily supposed. Co-operative stores began among us
between 1830 and 1840. The Workingmen's Protective Union
developed a great many stores at this time, which together
did a business in their best days ranging from $1,000,000 to
$2,000,000 per annum. In the decade 1860-70 there was an
extensive revival of co-operative stores; plans for
wholesale agencies being even discussed. A few of these
earlier stores still live. Two great national orders have
arisen, seeking to build up co-operative stores, among other
aims.

The Grangers had in 1876 twenty State purchasing agencies,
three of which did a business annually of $200,000, and on