YearNo. of SocietiesSales—FrancsProfits—FrancsNo. of MembersNo. of EmployeesValue of Realty FrancsPaid-up Capital Francs
190416826,936,8733,140,210103,349178510,302,0591,146,651
190516128,174,5633,035,941119,581175212,091,3001,655,061
190616233,569,3593,493,586126,993180912,844,9761,694,878
190716639,103,6733,843,568134,694209314,280,9551,940,175
190817540,655,3593,855,444140,730212814,837,1141,942,266
190919943,288,8674,678,559148,042222315,850,1581,893,616

Table Showing the Growth of the Wholesale Co-operative Movement in
Belgium from the Date of Its Beginning in 1901

YearAmount of Business Done—Francs
1901 760,356
19021,211,439
19031,485,573
19041,608,475
19052,219,842
19062,416,372
19072,796,196
19082,995,615
19093,221,849
19104,489,996

PROGRAM OF THE BELGIAN LABOR PARTY

Adopted at Brussels in 1893

Declaration of Principles

1. The constituents of wealth in general, and in particular the means of production, are either natural agencies or the fruit of the labor—manual and mental—of previous generations besides the present; consequently they must be considered the common heritage of mankind.

2. The right of individuals or groups to enjoy this heritage can be based only on social utility, and aimed only at securing for every human being the greatest possible sum of freedom and well-being.

3. The realization of this ideal is incompatible with the maintenance of the capitalistic régime, which divides society into two necessarily antagonistic classes—the one able to enjoy property without working, the other obliged to relinquish a part of its product to the possessing class.

4. The workers can only expect their complete emancipation from the suppression of classes and a radical transformation of existing society.