Page 43 - The_story_of_the_C._W._S._The_jubilee_history_of_the_cooperative_wholesale_society,_limited._1863-1913_(IA_storyofcwsjubill00redf) (1)_Neat

CHAPTER IV.

The Foundestg of the Society.
Christmas Conferences at Rochdale and Oldham—The Special Conference in
Ancoats—The Wholesale Society and Liverpool—Preparing for Business in
Manchester—Years 1861-3.
"r 1HE romance of the wholesale side of the movement," says
I
-L Miss Webb in Industrial Co-operation, " is not in its inception,
but in its marvellous growth and expansion, and in the possibilities
that yet lie before it. But for being illuminated with the co-operative
spirit and enthusiasm of its founders, its origin might almost be
counted a commonplace evolution of sound commercial practice."
This is all true, except that in the deepest sense there are no common-
place evolutions. Glance over any usual statement of the origin
of the C.W.S. and it will seem very simple and matter-of-fact.
The law is altered. Mr. Greenwood draws up a plan, the plan is
put into operation, and so on. But study all this closely. See a
wide movement gathering strength and putting responsibihty
upon a few leaders; consider the humble circumstances and limited
knowledge of those few in proportion to their task; remember the
previous failures and the new possibilities of a breakdo\vn on a
great scale; discover the incessant care and self-sacrificing industry
by which the prosaic result was attained, and the dull story begins to
live.
The conference next following that at Manchester was held at
the Oldham Industrial Society's Stores on Good Friday, March 29th,
1861. The committee's original seven points of reform had now
increased to twenty-seven or more. Mr. R. A. Slaney, the Liberal
member for Shrewsbury, who had done such good work in 1852, was
asked to take charge of the proposed measure, and a petition to
Parliament was agreed upon. Late in June, 1861, the Bill was
brought before the House of Commons by Mr. Slaney, with Cobden
and a Mr. Ewart as backers. Cobden's great colleague, John Bright,
also expressed willingness to assist. Further delays occurred,
and, despite considerable efforts, finally it became necessary to
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