Cooperatives & Flappers

Collective buying by ultimate consumers is not widely known in the U. S.; but more than 5,000,000 Britons, mostly housewives, are owner-members of Cooperative Societies which buy goods to the stupendous value of $1,500,000,000 per year.

Last week the Cooperative Union Congress--representing the collective-buyer horde--met 4,000 strong in West Hartlepool. Soon the delegates were furiously debating whether to continue in active alliance with the British Labor Party.

Roared Delegate John Weatherhead: "Politics never grew an ounce of tea or turned a wheel. Let's stick to trade and political independence!"

"I know . . ." piped a delegate from Wallsend, "I know one Labor candidate who was elected to Parliament and wanted a new suit of clothes to wear up to London. But did he buy it ready-made in our Cooperative store? No! He went to a b---- tailor!"

Although doubtless vexed by such tidings of Laborite dereliction, the Union Congress finally voted, with a few abstentions, 2,465 to 1,470 in favor of continuing to support the Labor Party.

Large significance attached to this resolution, last week, because among the 5,000,000 collectionists represented by the Union Congress many are young housewives, under 30, and these will soon be enabled to vote for the first time, by the confidently expected passage of the Equal Franchise ("Votes For Flappers") Bill (TIME, June 4, et ante). Collective buying thus looms as an appreciable factor in moulding the new Flapper Electorate.