Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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LIVE QUESTIONS. A Series of Articles Contributed, by Advanced Thinkers. ILLUSTRATIONS OF PROFIT SHARING. BY 2.-. O. KELSON. Three years ago Emile Levasseur of Paris, the eminent professor, economist and writer on economic subjects, visited Led sire, fie made a general toar of the United States especially, with a view tc investigating the conditions of the American workingmen. He has written much on the subject since his return to Paris. Ina paper published in The Yale Review for August, on the "Standard of Living of American Work? ingmen," he arrives at the conclusion that the average rate of wages in this country is about double the French rate. The cost of food is about two-thirds, of clothing about equal, and of rent consid? erably higher, with more and' better room. He finds the American standard of living much higher and also mere wasteful fie overlooks two important factors-while the American rate of wages is much higher, employment is far more unsteady and the number of unemployed very muchgreater. If the comparison was made between the aver? age income year in and year out of the entire number of workers in France and the United. States, the difference be? tween the two would be great?y reduced, fie also falls into the error of taking his bass from the wages of the highly paid mechanical trades. His average of $2.07 per day cannot include the total of shoe workers, clothing makers, laborers and the great mass of manufacturing in which wages are not held up by unions. - One of the most interesting side shows of the English co-operative move? ment is the annual flower festival. It started 10 or 12 years ago at Crystal palace, in the outskirts of London. It has grown year by year until now it is made the occasion for a grand gathering cf co-operators from ali over the British island. The attendance numbers hun? dreds of thousands. The English eli m ate is especially' adapted to the cultivation of flowers, being moist and of much more even temperature than that of the Uni^ States. Splendid beds cf flowers in front. yards and pot flowers in tbe windows are almost universally found in cities of moderate size and villages. The display of flowers at the festival is something'wonderful Then there, i3 music including a chorus of more than 5,000 voices. The festival lasts several days. Speeches are made by eminent men and by prominent cooperative leaders. The great success of. this can festival has encouraged the prov? inces, and now the Scottish co-operators have theirs, and also the various subdis? tricts of England and Scotland. The United,States.census bureau has tabulated recorded -debts - of - ali sor;;s in the United States: The bonded debt of railroads, strap;- *;railj?oa?s>?"telepl?one companies, telegraph'com^nies, pri? vate water icom other transportation companies am oun ts to $6,200,000,000. The ^ mortgage* on farms amount to $2,209,"?0?,t)0? and on city property to $3,830,000,000. The United States, state, county,- city and school debts amount to $2;'02? ,0.00,000, loans on crop lieos $650,000,000, hank loans $8,077,000,000. A reasonable es l?mate of bank deposite, mercantile debts, retail store accounts and'' other jpersonal debts would carry the total debts of the United States, public and private, to probably $SM),000,000,000, or an average.of $2,140 to each house? hold cf five persons. It is easy to see fran these figures how panics and de? pressions arise, and the question is nat? urally raised whether credit is a bless? ing or a curse. The St Louis co-operative store is showing a steady and healthy growth in membership and in sales. Within the past 13 months the sales have doubled A regular dividend of 6 per cent on members' purchases and 3 per cent on nonmembers' is paid An excellently equipped bakery has just been acquired. The managers and workers are all co? operators and will share in the loss, if there be any, and in the profits when it gets on a profit making basis. The va? rious breads made will be of a strictly pure and honest sort The loaves are wrapped in specially prepared paper to keep them clean and fresh. The man? ager of the bakery, Mr Joseph Parvin, is a thoroughgoing co-operator in prac? tice and theory. He has been a co-oper? ative business manager, and has written much on the subject. The Oldham Co-operative society of England has recently celebrated the opening of a new bakery, a new slaugh? ter house and other buildings. Each of these plants is extensive and fitted up in the most complete manner with mod? em appliances. The bakery building in? cludes 17 stalls for the teams. The so? ciety has 11,383 members. Its sales last year amounted to $1,820,000, yield? ing a net profit after paying interest on capital of $218,000. It paid out in divi? dends to purchasers $193,500. Oldham is situated near Rochdale, the birthplace of modern co-operation. The business of these two manufacturing cities is large? ly done by the co-operators. The Leclaire (Ills.) library contains a large collection of well selected books adapted to all classes of readers, learned and unlearned, old and young, farmers and city residents. They will be gladly lent to any one who will read them. Individual applicants will be supplied at any time of day or evening by apply? ing either af the library or to the li? brarian, Miss Thomas, at residence ad joinicg the library. To school districts or reading clubs or literary associations in the country boxes containing two dozen assorted books will be cheerfully supplied and may be retained as long as wanted and then exchanged for others. Thev3iry5ir..sev.e^rJi osrterfe. balance sheet of t?e ?*??ut*'^e?^ operative store, shows sales for the quarter of $420,000, being an increase of $68,500 ovfir the corresponding period of last year. The association has 10,503 members and $871,000 capital. Its net profits after paying all expenses, inter? est on capital and depreciation on fixed property was $61,885. A dividend of 15 per cent was returned to purchasers. The society has a large number of branches, a library and reading room and carries on ? a farm, tailoring shop and other branches of manufacture. If the fanners in every township would organize a co-operative associa? tion, hold regular meetings, arrange for buying their machinery and groceries jointly, selling their products jointly, starting a creamery, and in the course of time a cannery, a mill, a blacksmith's shop and a library, they.could in a few years greatly improve their finances and also their social surroundings.. This is no idle theory, but is vouched for by what farmers' associations have done io? them in different part s of the world. The co-operative associations in the United States are scattered over so wide an area and are so far apart that most of them are unknown to each other. We shall esteem it a service to co-operation, and a favor to ourselves, if all readers of the news in the United States will send ns the address of co-operative so? cieties of which they have knowledge. The Leclaire (lils. ) co-operative store pays regularly 10 per cent dividends on members' purchases. Members may join by taking one $50 . share of stock, pay? able in installments cf 50 cents a week or more. It is open to all. HOW TO ST AST CO-OPERATION. First write to some authority for printed matter in order that yon may thoroughly jinferm yourself. Then talk it np to neighbors and friends. Hold some- small meetings; read aloud to? gether and discuss the points; talk about it from a business point cf view and on its moral side; get a nucleus fully imbued with its importance. When you have ?S many as 25 who .are willing to try it, start a subscription list for membership at $25 or $50 each, payable in small installments such as all can' afford. Organize in a provisional way with a committee, in charge. Do not spend any money on legal organization before yon get fully started and know that yon are going ahead. Co-operation is a voluntary matter and only slight legal forms are necessary. When yon have enough money to buy two or three items of plain groceries in wholesale packages, buy them and distribute them at -the ordinary retail prices in some spare room of one of the members. You have incurred no expense, and when this distribution has taken place yon will find in your possession 35 or 20 per cent more money than you laid out Yon can then buy a larger variety and yon have some money coming in all the time from weekly installments; When the membership, and business have grown sufficiently to justify hiring a store? room, then select un inexpensive place and keep it open evenings. In the course of time it may-be kept open-afternoons twice a week; later on two, three and finally six fnH days--a week.. This is a very small way of starting, but it is the surest way, and it is about the way in which xhost of the co-opera? tive societies which now do a business of millions a year were started. Under no circumstances either buy or sell on credit; under no circumstances incur ' expenses that will -consume ihe- gross profit or the greater part of "it. Always lay the chief stress on the moral ideal of ? co-operation. . Foiled. Senator Wilson cf Washington and his brother, Harry Wilson, look very much alike. One day in Spokane, where the two brothers live, Senator Wilson, who had just returned from hi3 legisla? tive duties, was stopped on the street by a man who had known him for years. "Harry," said the man, "when will your brother John be here?' ' "In a day or two," said John with? out a smile. "Tell him I want to 6ee him on an important matter. " "Certainly," said John. "And you will not forget it?" "I'll try not," promised John, and thus another office seeker was foiled. Washington Post. The wheat fly is said to have been nearly as destructive to the wheat crops of this country as the Hessian fly. SPECIFIC FOR .SCROFULA. Since childhood, I have been afflicted with scrofulous boils and sores, which caused me terrible suffering. Physicians were unable to help jne, and I only grew worse under their care. At length, 1 began to take AYER'S Sarsaparilla, a :i d very soon grew bet? ter. After using half a dozen bottles I was completely cured, so that I have not had ;i boil or pimple on any part of my body for the last twelve years. I can cordially recommend Ayer's Sarsa? parilla as the very best blood-purifier in existence.''- (i. T. REINIIAKT, Myersville, Texas. THE ONLY ?TOELIVS FAIR Sarsaparilla Ayer's Cherry Pectoral cures Coughs ard Colds TASTELESS TONIC IS JUSTAS COO D FOR ADULTS. WARRANTED. PRICE 50 cts. GALATIA, ILLS., NOT. 16,2893. Parts Medicine Co., St. Louis, Mo. Gentlemen : -We sold last year, 600 bottles of GROVE'S TASTELESS CHILL TONIC and hare bought three gross already this year. In all our ex? perience of 14 years, in the drug business, have never sold an article that gave such universal satis* laction as your Tonic ? Yours truly. ABNEY. CASS &CO SOLD-No Core, No Pav, hy A J. China J P. W. DeLorme, J. S. Hugbsoo k Co. LODGE DIRECTORY. Olaremont Lodge, No. 61, A. F. M. Meets Thursday rights; of eacL mon tb, on or before the Foll Moon.. L. S. CARSON, W. M H. C. MOSES, Secretary. Beuah Chapter, No 25, R. A. M. Meets on First Tuesday of each no nth. L. 8. CARSON, High Priest. F. M. SPANN, Secretary. Gamecock Lodge, No. 17, E. of P. Meets every Monday night at 8 o'clock, except fifth Monday night. H. B. BLOOM, C. CJ R. WALSH, K. of R. & S Sumter Lodge, No. 1077.??. of R\ Meets every First and Third Mon tay nigbtsfat 7 o'clock. iW.JJ. DURANT, Die H. C. Mosas, Rep'r. fidelity Lodge, No. 251 ,K.&L. of E. Meets every Second and Fourth donday nights at 7 o'clock. J. S H?GHSON, Protector B. J RHAME, Secretary. Sumter ?ouncil, Na. - 649, A. L.qf E: Meets every Second and Fourth Tuesday nights at 7 o'clock? W. F. RHAJI?, Com. J. N. CORBETT, SecJ Sumter Lodge, No. 1, A. O. ?. W. Meets every Fir*t and Third Thurs? day nights at 1 o'clock H. C. MOSES, M. W B. WALSH, Rec. Pocahontas Tribe, No. 16, /. O. R. M. Meets every Friday's Sleep at tbe Stn Run. R. 0. PURDY, Sachem. B. C. WALLACE, C. of R. Sumter Council, No. 7 Jr. 0. U. A. M. Meets on Second and Fourth Toes day nights of each month at 8 o'clock. WM YEADON, Councillor. B C WALLACE, Sec'ty. Holly- Wood Gamp, W. of W. Meets every Third Wednesday night at 8 o'clock. E. W. HURST, Con. Com. R. S. HOOD, Clerk. Carolina Council, No. 515, C B. L. Meets every Second and Fourth Wednesday in Monaghan Block. NEIL O'DONNELL, Pres. A. H. EBERHART, Sec. Chucucla Lodge, No. 261, 0. G. C. Meets Second and Fourth Wedne3 day nights at 8 o'clock. G. N . MARSHALL, Com B C. WALLACE. Secty. All of the above fcocieties hold their meetings at the 4Masonic Tem? ple, except when otherwise ppeci fied. mm Garden Seeds* Buist's and Ferry * just received. AU kinds. Most Reliable. Onion Sets? Red and White. DRUGS ! -Toilet Soaps Frostilla for Chapped Hands ! Fresh Drugs Every Week. Prescriptions Carefully Com? pounded Day and Night. J. S. HUGHSON & GO., DRUGGISTS MONAGHAN BLOCK SUMTER, S. C. Order Your PROVISIONS AND GROCERIES _J?ROM GEO. f. STEFFENS & SON,, holesale Agents, Charleston, S C -Agents for MOTT'S CIDEE EEC SEAL CIGABS, AND DOVE HAMS Tie Largest ann Most Establishment Sm Geo. S. Hacker & Son, --MANUFACTURERS OF DOORS, SASH, BUNDS) Moulding & Building Material. tffice end Warerooms, King, opposite Can? non Street; CHARLESTON, S. C. p&r Pnrebutc our make, which we guaran te superior to any sold South, and thereby pare money. Window and Fancy Glass a Specialty October 16-o $ To iou ? % -- $ I Who Usc ? I PENS, INK, ?jj ? Paper, Blank Books:* I-LJ--* 3) At H. G. OSTEEN & CO'S ft $ You can get everything that you <fe 3) want at the lowest prices. We are so V U> situated that we ctn afford to make * prices closer than any one else. <? <& . ft jj? All Goods are new and of ^ $ the best quality. No shop- J worn goods. $ $ We mate a specialty of School $ ?X Supplies and also keep a full line of ft jj? Stationery, Blanks Books, Etc. ' j| Come and inspect our goods. 3) H. G. OH & CU. j I LIBERTY STBEET, $ I SUMTER, S. C. J FOR THE JANUARY TRADE. I Will be Well Prepared to Meet the Demands of the January Trade. Just Received. One car load of fine Mules. One car load of 1-horse TVagons. To Arrive This Week. Two car loads extra choice work horses. Somter. S. C , Deo. 28. 1896 me e ? Gunning! Gunning! Gunning! STRICTLY HIGH GRADE. The Best Is the Cheapest. There is none better th an tne. GUNNING Finest in Finish? Best in quality of material and work? manship. Style unequaled. Tool Steel Bearings. Seamless Steel Tubing. Perfect in every detail. We are "GUNNING" for you. Send for Catalogue. klein Sewing Machine & Bicycle 60. ELGIN, ILLINOIS. Includes HO Uoabridged Dictionary, information R ebt Down to Date. You eau keep Up ?o the Times by adding an A nuca! each ^ ear. THE COLUMBIAN CYCLOPEDIA, 35 Volumes 7,500 Illustrations 28.600 Pages, Complete and Up to Date. The largest Americio Cyclopedia. Pronounces nil Titles. Volumes of Handy Size. Furnishes the Largest and La:?st Mips. No other Cyclopedia even pretends to claim these features, but don't rou think they are pretty important? Send us your name and let us show you in de'-ail ibe various points of superiority possessed by THE COLUMBIAN. It covers the whole range of knowledge; ?3 prepared by the most able and experienced editors and ejeiopedi* writers, and is commended by the best judges throughout the country. The Best Family Library. Because it is clear and simple in language, free from technicalities, non partisan and non sectarian, and above all Neither "British" nor Sectional but Thoroughly American. A work of reference which is foreign or narrowly sectional bas no place in an Americac Home. Sold on easy terms of payment. G-arretson, Cox & Co., Publishers. BUFFALO, N. Y. For full descriptive circulars and "> ?T?IIQ nnlTlirnlllOn Unnlr Pf? ? 81 Whitehall St. teams send to our Southern agents J lillj UUlUJllUJull JjuUl Uli., I Atlanta Ga. I have got the wagon yon waot and My Prices are Eight. I represeot some of the best wagon manufacturers in the United States and Can Compete With any dealer Io the South in price and quality. Call and examine my stock for yourself and be your own judge. Talk is cheap and so are wagons now. GEO. F. EPPERSON.