The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-04-03 00:00:00

CO-OPERATIVE CONGRESS.

A co-operative congress was held in London on 3londiy at
the Institute, 55, Castle-street, Oxford-street. The number
of delegates present was large, and on the platform were
Mr. Thos. Hughes, Q. C., Mr. Walter Harrison, Dr. Warrall,
and others :

The inaugural address of Mr. Thorold Rogers dealt
mainly with the question of capital and labour, and
the potency of co•operation to perform that in which
trades unionism failed. Capital and labour, had for
centbries been in deadly conflict, but he believed that
victory was sure totthe former, and a collapse the fate
of its rival. He regretted the terms "capital" and
" labour " should have ever been used in relation to
the employer and the employed ; they were both capi-
talists and both labourers. Both contributed to the
product, and both earned wages. The work of the
employer was that of management, and that of the
labourer intelligent toil. At one time the masters had
the power by law of securing cheap labour, for the
fixing of wages was vested in the hands of magistrates.
That system was swept away half a century ago.
(Cheers.) Combination was not now illegal, and the
labourer was hoping soon to have better terms from the
masters. Trades unionism had properly said that the
right of the employed to combine was as great as that
of the employer; the latter had obtained cheap labour
on their part by compulsion, and now it was fairly the
duty of the employed to make labour dearer by combi-
nation, and thus to do what capital had done, viz., watch
the turns of the market, and check the fall of prices
by shortening the supply, thereby regulating the con-
sumption. This, he held, was good, both to the em-
ployed and the employer. To the former it gave
certainty, security, and freedom from fluctuation, and
to the latter advantage in dealing for labour. In sup-
port of this view he referred to the struggle now going
on in South Wales, which he considered must end in a
-victory for the capitalist, for the reason that the
labourers had not the reserve funds that their oppo-
nents possessed, and therefore must submit. In his
opinion trades unionism was thoroughly ineffectual to
struggle against the resources and organisation of capi-
talists; its machinery was powerless to deal with the
question of capital and labour. The only remedy for
escape from the forces by which wealth was becoming
concentrated into a few hands was the principle re-
ferred to by the congress. Co-operation, rightly under-
stood, was the harmony of divergent interests repre-
sented by capital and labour. As regards the adjust-
ment of differences now existing between the labourer
and his employer, he was of opinion that the harmo-
nious principle of co-operation was a power most likely
to effect the desired end. Certain it was that the prin-
ciple once adopted by the people would lead to less
waste and less cost, and they would then find out that
profits are, after all wages. In conclusion, the speaker
observed that nothing, he was persuaded, was more
important than a knowledge of the laws of nature,
and especially the laws of social economy, the posses-
sion of which was the highest wisdom and the growth
of civilisation. (Cheers.)
A vote of thanks was accorded to the president,
upon the motion of Mr. John Holmes, of Leeds, and
seconded by Mr. Slatter' of Manchester. At the same
time a strong desire for the publication of the docu-
ment in full was expressed.

A paper "Upon the Schulze-Delizch system of
Banking "was then read by Mr. W. Morrison. and
in the discussion that followed it was declared that
the system was not suitable for England and would
not work well. Another paper "On Co-operation v.
Individualism, or how to Increase the Strength of
the Association," was read, and the meeting closed
with a vote of thanks to the chairman.