Page 506 - The_story_of_the_C._W._S._The_jubilee_history_of_the_cooperative_wholesale_society,_limited._1863-1913_(IA_storyofcwsjubill00redf) (1)_Neat

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The Story of the C.W.S.
services of what is indispensable to any store, a good buyer, who knew the
markets, what, how, and where to buy. The Pioneers' Society invited other
stores to co-operate in carrying out practically the idea of a wholesale
establishment, offering at the same time to find the necessary amount of
capital for carrying on the wholesale business, for which the Pioneers' Society
would charge this department at the rate of 5 per cent per annum. A few
stores did join, but they never gave that hearty support necessary to make the
scheme thoroughly successful. Notwithstanding this counteractive influence,
the " Wholesale Department " from the beginning paid interest not only on
capital, but dividends to the members trading in this department. Had all
concerned in this affair displayed shrewdness and persistence, the practicability
of acting in concert in a matter of this kind would ere this have been
demonstrated, and placed in the category of co-operative "facts."
However, after a time, the demon of all working-class movements hitherto
—jealousy—crept in here. The stores dealing in the wholesale department of
the Pioneers' Society thought that it had some advantage over them ; while, on
the other side, a large niunber of the members of the Pioneers' Society imagined
they were giving privileges to the other stores, which a due regard to their
immediate interests did not warrant them in bestowing. My opinion is that,
had there been no other causes of failure than those mentioned, the " Central
Co-operative Agency" and the "Equitable Pioneers' Wholesale Department"
must inevitably have failed, from their efforts being too soon in the order of
co-operative development.
Failures have their lessons, and, if read aright, lead on to success. The
world seldom or never calculates how much it is indebted to failure for ultimate
success. " Failures are with heroic minds the stepping-stones to success."
At school our children are taught the lesson, and it is one we should learn in
the co-operative school, that
Once or twice, though we should fail,
Try again !
If we would at last prevail,
Try again !
If we strive 'tis no disgrace
Though we do not win the race,
What should we do in that case ?
Try again !
An eminent philosophical writer has very appositely said with regard to
failures, "It is far from being true, in the progress of knowledge, that after
every failixre we must recommence from the beginning. Every failure is a
step to success, every detection of what is false directs to what is true, every
trial exhausts some tempting form of error. Not only so, but scarcely any
attempt is entirely a failure ; scarcely any theory, the result of steady thought,
is altogether false; no tempting form of error is without some latent charm
derived from truth." How often we hear men who never attempted anything
for the good of their fellow-men taunt those who have with the failure of
their efforts for the elevation of humanity. If failure does not command our
admiration, it is very often entitled to our respect.
I have said that the " Central Co-operative Agency " and the " Pioneers'
Wholesale Department " failed from being too soon in the order of co-operative
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