to use an "exhaust," as the cold blast was termed. As compensation for already having used his patent they agreed to pay 4d. per quarter for the corn already ground by its usenamely, 92,280 quarters. The total amount paid by instalments was, with interest, £1,557. They further agreed to pay one-sixth of the net profits half-yearly as a royalty, which enabled them to use the patent and all or any of the improvements the patentee might make in it. At this time the balance sheets were sold at one halfpenny each. It was thought too expensive in those days to give them away.

In the early reports of the Society, Co-Operation, with a large O, had Co prefixed to it.

This year the great contest occurred at the addition of two new words to the title of the Society, which hitherto had been "The Leeds District Flour Mill Society." This was changed for "The Leeds Co-operative Flour and Provision Society." This change of name indicated an intention on the part of the progressive members of the Society to venture into a wider field of co-operative trading than merely selling flour. There was little known then of the success of general co-operation. Rochdale's career had not then become an inspiration-the unknown results of a new experiment which inspire the bold and daring, terrify the timorous and unenterprising. A fierce division of opinion arose between the go-forward and the stand-still men. The stationary party who were for a standstill policy did not stand still in their opposition. They were vociferous at the business meetings. They would not obey the voice of the chairman when he called them to order. Now, the first rule of democratic government is, that authority appointed by common consent, must be finally respected. A member who does not observe this rule shows at once his own want of self-respect, and forfeits all claim to the respect of others, since he neither respects himself nor obeys those appointed to conduct public business. Such persons are unfit for democratic self-government. Their proper destiny and their desert is to be kicked by despots. There was a useful rule to the effect that any member refusing to obey the chair when called upon to do so should be fined 1s. One member had to be fined twice before the motion to add the word Provision" to the name of the Society was carried. The voting of the Society was by ballot, which ensured an honest result.

Those who wanted to advance were told that if they desired to carry out complete co-operation they had better go outside the Society to do it. They might set up a new society. It was the progressive party who had made the movement. There would have been no flour mill but for them and their insight and enthusiasm for principle. Now, the use of the organisation which they had made was to be denied them, and they were to be driven elsewhere, and do the work all over again. This language was not peculiar to Leeds; we have heard it in London at a much later date.

So turbulent and uproarious were some of the dissentients that it was no uncommon thing to see two or three policemen assisting the doorkeepers and waiting in readiness for any emergency that might occur. This indicates considerable vivacity as well as contentiousness. It was difficult to hold the stand still men.

1854.

VIOLENCE, WANT OF SKILL-CAT'S PAW AGENTS-MR. GAUNT HOLDS THE FLOOR-THE CRIMEAN WAR REACHES TO THE LEEDS MILL-ADVICE ΤΟ GO OUTSIDE THE MOVEMENT

TAKEN-DRIBBLING.

A

LL the persons who behaved so violently were not opposed to progress. Many of them did not understand it. Those who did were the strenuous opponents. There were agents of the Society and others in a small way of business who foresaw, or were told by larger dealers, that storekeeping might interfere with shopkeeping. Dealers astuter than they, encouraged them to pull the chestnuts out of the fire. Co-operative adversaries of most influence are to be found in the rear. Those in front are commonly doing the work of somebody behind. For a time a lull took place in the fight against "provisions," but there was no armistice.

At the next meeting in the Court House, Mr. Sands was in the chair. The principal question discussed was the extension or alteration of the present mill, or the purchasing of another mill, as the managers were unable to keep

production equal to increasing demands. A special committee was appointed to consider this question.

Mr. Gaunt, with the ability characteristic of him, argued the question, which again came up, as to whether the Society should become a "Provision" as well as a "Flour Society.' As the reader has seen, the name "The Leeds District Flour Mill Society" was changed to "The Leeds Co-operative Flour and Provision Society." This, as the adversaries rightly surmised, was not intended to be a dead-letter alteration. It was meant to be acted upon if the members could be so persuaded. But the real war had not yet come.

Another kind of war elsewhere produced-as war always does disturbance beyond its own field of operation.

The Crimean War had caused great fluctuation in the price of flour, which caused anxiety to the directors, and perturbation among the members. But Mr. Emmerson, the manager, had made excellent purchases and had been unremitting in his efforts for the benefit of the Society. A special vote of thanks was given him, which he well deserved.

The profits for the year 1854 were £1,440. The worth of the Society was now £7,900, with a balance in hand of £1,313.

Few things better show the depth and tenacity of the old co-operative inspiration than the following incident. Those told to go outside the Society and form another, if they wished to bring into being what they called "true co-operation," began to act on the instruction. The first meeting to form a new co-operative society for the sale of groceries and provisions was attended by James Hole, David Green, Lloyd Jones, W. West, E. Gaunt, W. Emmerson, E. Gledhill, and H. Wardman. The new Society was to commence as soon as 1,000 members were obtained. Their prospectus said "the profits would not be dribbled away in bonuses." Not a happy phrase, for even "dribbles" of money may temporally fertilise the household, as small showers do the earth. Nevertheless, provident accumulation is better than dribbling. Dribbling brightens the field, but it is thrifty accumulation that makes the crop. The whole profit made in the proposed new Society was to form an accumulated fund for the further development of co-operative principles, and the employment of working men by means of their own capital. This was the plan on which many of the co-operative stores were originally con

ducted. A good deal of the capital supplied was lent them without interest. The profits were intended to be used as a common fund for the self-employment of members in co-operative workshops, and finally in the collective organisation of an industrial city, self-supported, self-sustained, self-directed, for the benefit of the whole. This is the only scheme of co-operative life in which competition is reduced to a minimum and barter becomes a choice instead of a necessity. This was the idea in Robert Owen's days. All modern co-operation is part of this larger conception. The chief leaders who inspired and organised the flour mill had this idea in their hearts. It was the advocacy of this conception which inspired the Rochdale co-operators. It all appeared in their first profession of aims. The Redemption Society had the same object. The Thousand for Marsala Garibaldi could collect, but the thousand names required before the new Society of Lloyd Jones, David Green, and others could be floated, were never obtained. One thousand were a large number of men to find, animated by an exalted idea, which required sacrifice of the immediate gains for future benefits. The industrial city is an affair of large capital, conducted by men with the genius of Godin. The only form of co-operation possible to average men of small means is by store and workshop, where immediate benefit comes to all or accumulates at their control. Nevertheless, the Lloyd Jones scheme is of historic value. It throws a flood of light on early co-operation and its methods of procedure.

1855.

A TAME YEAR-AN ANTI-ADULTERATION SOCIETY-LLOYD

ΤΗ

JONES'S FAR-SEEING PROPOSAL.

HIS was a tame year of few incidents, but they were notable enough to make the next year crowded with affairs.

Mr. Lloyd Jones was elected a director, Mr. Speed became. president, and was much regarded for the dignity and uprightness with which he maintained the interest of the

Society. A society was formed in the town of Leeds to check adulteration generally, and the Mill directors wisely supported their endeavours. This was the first attempt of joining an outside movement and showing their respect for and interest in the community. The town trade was afflicted with almost universal adulteration. The People's Mill offered a protection in the matter of flour, but as it had no co-operative store it could not help them to purity in anything else. But it showed good feeling in taking part in a movement intended for the benefit of their neighbours. At length the Government took up the question and appointed a committee of inquiry. Mr. Lloyd Jones proposed that the Society should send two representatives to London to give evidence on the Government committee. Mr. Jones saw much further than his colleagues. There might have been a few pounds' expense incurred about it, but £100 of gain might have or would have come by the publicity which would result, besides the proof it would have given to the people of Leeds that the Society's sympathy with honest trade was not barren. The directors had not the wisdom to accede to Mr. Lloyd Jones's proposal, but the Government put an end to their indecision by summoning Mr. Emmerson, the manager of the Leeds mill, and the manager of the Rochdale Corn Mill, which was then attaining an important position. Their manager also testified that flour was adulterated with peas, barley, plaster of Paris, alum, ground bones, and several other injurious ingredients, as we shall see. The beautiful thing was that some millers loudly protested that it was impossible to make good flour when corn was not good without some of these deleterious substances. So when corn was bad their theory was that it must be made worse, and then it was good. By the Government summoning the Leeds manager the Society lost the credit of volunteering to send him. Mr. Lloyd Jones or Lord Goderich could have told how it came about that the Committee of Inquiry sent out a mandate for Mr. Emmerson's appearance. It was the following year when the Committee reported, and the reader will see then how interesting the proceedings were.

The rules, which had been previously amended, were again amended. Indeed, the rules were continually being amended. Every year the Society was outgrowing the limitations of its earlier days.