Page 103 - The_story_of_the_C._W._S._The_jubilee_history_of_the_cooperative_wholesale_society,_limited._1863-1913_(IA_storyofcwsjubill00redf) (1)_Neat

A Hopeful Dawn.

isolated and untaught, in a fight for life against the powerful forces
of a great new industrial era. The bitterness of resentment was
vented in the murders and riots of the Luddites; while in the
co-operative productive efforts of the early Owenites the more
characteristic idea of peaceful resistance found expression. But
violent opposition and pacific alike had failed. In the co-operative
sphere there was failure multiphed and universal, failure full of pathos
even when most inevitable. And during the years since then the
tale had been Uttle better. Yet the memory of the hope of freedom
was in men's blood. They could not cease to strive for the lost
o\\'nership of their tools, for the unforgotten idea of self-employment,
for the unfading dream of the industrial commonwealth. The
success of the co-operative distributive movement, and the measure
of production by societies or small federations resulting therefrom,
had quickened anticipation. Now the prime organisation of
"
co-operators, our central co-operative institution," as the News
described it, was leading into the productive field the whole great
body federated through it. A new and better era seemed at last to
have opened.
But, to witness the institution growing strong enough for this
development, we must pick up the story where we left it in 1870.
For the year 1871 the sales of the Wholesale Society totalled three-
quarters of a million sterling. In the next year—still more
wonderful!—they exceeded the million. The increase brought
certain extensions of premises at the Balloon Street headquarters.
The business already was covering something more than the
provision trade; for the advertised hst of articles ended sm-prisingly
and mysteriously with " soaps, sewing machines, &c." Further,
an arrangement had been entered into with a Cheshhe manufacturer
for the supply of boots and shoes. This latter department was
separately constituted under its own manager in August, 1872.
Blankets were offered to societies at the same date, and the
manufacture of blanlcets was spoken of. About the end of 1872 a first
step was taken toward a fully-equipped warehouse for Manchester
drapery. Beyond the region of Balloon Street, the Newcastle
Branch was established, the London Branch was in sight, and South
Wales Societies were agitating for a branch at Cardiff or Bristol.
Under such circumstances the Quarterly Meeting of November,
1872, decided to drop the "North of England" from the Society's
title, thus reducmg it simply to the Co-operative Wholesale Society
Limited. The busmess was felt to be expanding lustily; it had
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