Co-operative Change Undesirable.

To the Editors of the Crimson:

In view of the different characters of the plan outlined at the last annual meeting of the Harvard Co-operative Society and of the plan now reported by the Directors it is unfortunate that the Directors did not call a a special meeting of the Society for the sake of a full discussion. A further mistake was made by the majority of the Directors in refusing to publish the minority report. Had the majority of the board restricted their report to the presentation of a plan of reorganization the injustice of their action would not have been so great. As a matter of fact, however, they accompanied this report with an argument in favor of its adoption. In all justice then they should have included the argument of the minority against the change. I must ask the courtesy of the CRIMSON for the publication of a few considerations not yet advanced.

The Harvard Co-operative Society makes all of its purchases on a cash basis--wisely, in order to secure the maximum discount. Practically its only outstanding obligations, therefore, are its leases, and its realizable assets, its stock, are vastly in excess of these liabilities. In proportion to its business it is probably more sound financially than even the Memorial Hall or Randall Hall Dining Associations, excellent institutions as they are. The Directors now propose that this very successfully managed co-operative organization be discontinued, for the new form of organization is co-operative neither in form nor in effect. It is unfortunate that the co-operative principle should be discredited thus needlessly at Harvard where it may be supposed to exist under exceptional conditions in regard to intelligence on the part of its members, and heretofore exceptional disinterestness on the part of its officers.

It has just been said that the proposed plan is not co-operative in effect,--it is obviously not so in form. It is worth while making this clear. The reorganization plan leaves to the trustees, wholly beyond review of the Society, the incurring of increased expenses, and above all the fixing of salaries. The tendency in this direction of the five initial trustees was shown at the last annual meeting. At this meeting the removal of the tailoring department to new quarters with an increased rental of $600 was announced, a suggestion was made for the removal of the main store with a still greater increase, and salaries were voted to some of the directors, amounting for the current year to about $1000. So far as the writer can remember these propositions were advocated only by those who now ask complete control. Further the proposed plan promises still another salaried office, that of Treasurer. The salary for this office is not announced. The Society has no guarantee that this will be all or that other salaries will remain at their present amounts. Control is one of the essentials of co-operation--not mere rebate.

For the credit of the co-operative movements the Society in its present form should be made a continued success. WALLACE C. SABINE.