The Sun.
London, England, 1869-06-01 00:00:00

CO-OPERATIVE CONGR.ES3,

A Co-operative Congress, under the presidency of Mr.
Thomas Hughes, M.P., was opened at the Society of
Arts on Monday. There were present delegates from
Leeds, Birmingham, Mansfield, Kidderminster, Bacup,
Nottingham, Manchester, and various other places. In
opening the proceedings, Mr. Hughes said that the last
Co-operative Conference in London was heldin July 1852,
in the hall belonging to the Working Tailors' Association
of that, day. That association was broken up, and of the
fif teen working associations (as distinguished from co-opera-
tive stores) represented at that conference, only one had
survived to the present time—the Hatters' Association of
Manchester. The fact was that the co-opeiative move-
ment was substantially much where it was in 1852.
The reasons for this were not, be thought, far to seek.
For the past seventeen years the members of the move-
ment had not been living up to the principles with which
they started. Originally the main object of the societies
was to make men of their members, training them to feel
their relationship to each other, the worth of fellowship
in work, the duty of aiding and training their weaker
brethren, and to iegard the making of profits and the
production of wealth as a means only to that end.
Since that time they had treated the making of profits
and the production of wealth as the end and not the
means. Passing from what he called the discouraging
side of the retrospect of the past, the chairman said that
they had the consolation of knowing that the practical
leaders of the movement were thoroughly alive to the fact
of its deficiencies, and were conscious of the truth that
they were at the beginning, and not at the end, of these
undertakings. The present congress bad to make the
most of the present position, and on the threshold they
were met by the curious fact that the successful societiesin
.the North had been for some time embarrassed
by too much capital. Their members had been in the
habit of leaving a large part of their profits in the society
to accumulate at interest at 5 per cent. The difficulty on
the part of the management to obtain investments for the
surplus money in their bands beyond the amount required
for the ordinary business of the concern, at that rate had
been found to be very great. The difficulty might
be solved by persuading the members to take
a less rate of interest. There would then be no
difficulty in Ending good investments for all
spare capital. Referring to the importance of the
accumulating societies helping the producing associations
with capital„ Mr. Hughes suggested that an organisation
should be formed for the purpose. The work would be one
requiring the greatest caution and watchfulness, as asso-
ciations for production, as a rule, had not been successful.
The regret caused by that fact, however, was tempered by
the reflection that the rapid and decided success of asso-
ciations for production in England might have made the
establishment of such partnerships of industry as Messrs.
Briggs's Methley Collieries impossible. Than that no
greater misfortune could have happened to the country.
Having detailed the success which had attended the
movement set on foot by Mr. Henry Briggs, and
suggested whether it would not be possible to get the
trades societies throughout the country to take a direct
part in the co-operative movement, the chairman called
attention to the land question, and expressed his gratifica-
tion at hearing that the leading co-operatives in the North
were directing their thoughts to the subject. By a little
adaptation the machinery of an ordinary building society
might be made to work out many of the purposes for
which land was desired. The lawyers would do well to
consider the question carefully, with a view of ascertaining,
first, precisely what they wanted ; secondly, how
far they could get it under the law as it stood
at present ; thirdly, what alterations in the law
would be necessary. Mr. Hughes concluded by expressing
the deep regret with which he had just heard of the death
of Mr. Smithies, who had done so much in advancing the
co-operative principle in Rochdale.
Several letters were read from Italy, Switzerland,
France, and Algeria from foreigners who warmly sym-
pathised with the objects of the conference.
The first paper was " On the best means of utilising the
organisation of the trades unions for co-operative pur-
poses," and was read by Mr. FRASER, of Birmingham.
In the discussion which followed, Mr. M`LEon, of Man-
chester, and a member of the Amalgamated Engineers
Society, expressed the opinion that trades unions were
not at present prepared to join the co-operative movement,
though he frankly confessed that they ought to be. He
suggested that the unions should lend their moneys to
co-operative societies. Since the strike in the building
trade in Manchester, several of the leading working men
had united, and bad obtained a contract. But the diffi-
culty was the money. Why should not the unions lend it ?
That might be done with the best results.
Mr. HOLLAND argued that co-operation did much more
than trades unions in raising the wages of the working
classes.

Mr. ALLEN, of the Amalgamated Engineers' Society,
said that they had no money to lend to co-operation.
All that was subscribed was required for their own pur-
poses.

Mr. 'LLOYD JONES deprecated the principle of co-opera-
tion being adopted in a moment of excitement, and as a
result of a quarrel with the employers of labour.
The Hon. A ÜBERON HERBERT asked whether the trades
unions, if they would not lend their money, could not he
induced to persuade those of their members who were out
of work to co-operate. Exhibitions might be held for the
sale of the work which these men would furnish.
Sir JOHN BOWRING, who took the chair during the
temporary absence of Mr. Hughes, said that everything
in the present age was tending towards the development
of the co-operative principle.
Mr. LUDLOW contended that trades unions when they

banked their mon( y virtually lent it only to the monied
class. ITe suggested the formation of a co-operation bank
composed of a teacuxtion of co-operative societies. With
such a bank the trades unions could leave their funds on
deposit.

Mr. GREENING thought the aggregate capital of the
whole of the co-operative societies of the country might be
brought together to represent the security which depositors
would naturally demand.

The discussion was adjourned.

The Churchmen of Derry are to hold a meeting (on
the Belfast model) in that city on the sth of June.

About 200 Lutheran ministers waited upon
President Grant on the 15th instant, and after a short
speech from the Rev. Dr. Pohlman, of New York, the
entire 200 insisted Upon shaking' hands with him per•
sonally, and declined to do it by proxy as the rev. doctor
suggested.

ROYALTY AND FRAILTY.—A London correspon-
dent writes :—" We hear terrible things of the shameless
extravagance of the demi-monde in Paris, but matters are
little better in London. Some of the linen-drapers in
our most fashionable thoroughfares would rather see
one of these creatures enter their shops than two or
three real ladies. They find out who is her `friend,'
and if she satisfies them on this point they let her have
everything she requires. A high profit is charged for
the extra risk, and at the last moment the bill of £lOO
or £2OO is usually paid to avoid exposure. The
portrait of one of these fashionable demi-reps is in every
photographer's shop, in the same line usually with the
Earl of Shaftesbury and the bishops. There is an on dit
that this frail sister ' made her appearance at the
Italian Opera in a box exactly opposite the Royal box on
a night when it was occupied by some members of the
Royal Family, and that the lessees received a message
that if ever a similar thing happened again no member of
the Royal Family would enter the Opera House in
future."

MODEL OF A DISTRICT HALL AND OF A SELF-
REGISTERING BALLOT-BOx.—There is now being exhibited
in the Structural DePartment of the South Kensington
Museum a beautiful little model of a district-hall or per-
manent voting-place, made by Mr. William Lovett, the
well-known politician of olden times, and is formed after
a design of Mr. Matthew Allen's, the builder, Taber-
nacle-walk, Finsbury. The model is supposed to contain
a large hall or voting and meeting place, fourteen
large committee-rooms for the use of candidates, a plat-
form in front from which candidates can address the
electors, together with every arrangement within for
voting purposes,- one side of the model being left open to
spew the interior. Mr. Lovett has also designed and
nearly completed the model of a self-registering ballot-
box, as delineated in the People's Charter of 1838, and in
the execution of which he has been assisted by Mr.
Keissler, of Spencer-street, Clerkenwell. These two
models are intended to illustrate Mr. Lovett's plan of a
cheap, just, and efficient mode of electing members of Par-
liament ; in fact, to do away with all expense, save that of
paying for the printing of their bills and circulars.
A CONCERTED STRIKE.—For once there may
be seen in operation a strike which employers and work-
people have combined to arrange. The masters have even
offered to contribute to the support of the workmen if they
will only keep out on strike. The scene of this experiment
is the principal coal region of Pennsylvania, and the object,
of course, is to " starve" the market, and so force up prices.
There are now about 20,000 miners on strike, but they make
no demand for increase of wages, nor have they assigned any
cause for dissatisfaction. The trick promised to be
successful, for coal at once advanced from 50c. to $1 per
ton.. It was thought that better results still might be
achieved if the colliery owners and millers could continue
to agree so pleasantly. Perhaps the invention may not
be wholly new in this country, but it has never been
tried here on so extensive a scale. The sham strikes of
Pennsylvania are likely to gain the same sort of notoriety
as that which Connecticut long enjoyed, perhaps un-
deservedly; for its wooden nutmegs and hams.—Pall Mull
Ogette,

lIR. GOLDWIN SMITH IN .REPLY TO MR,

SUMNE.R.

On the 9th of May Mr. Goldwin Smith delivered a vet/
lengthy address at Ithaca in reply to Mr. Sumner's speech.
lie introduced himself as an Englishman, loyal to England,
and declared that Mr. Sumnerjudged England far too harshly.
There were parties on both sides who had an interest in war. In
England it was the Tories, to whom a rupture with America
would be political salvation. "John Bright could not and
would not remain in office to carry on a war against this
country. He and his friends who are now in the Govern-
ment would go out. The Tories would come into power,
and wield all the resources of England and the united
nation in a death-struggle with American democracy?
Of all the civilized States, England, Mr. Smith argued, Ni as
the least aggressive. She gave up the lonian Islands,
marched out of A byssinia immediately after releasing the cap-
tives, thinks of giving up Gibraltar, and quarrelled with
Russia because the Czar offered her Egypt and Crete if slits
would conniv? at Muscovite designs. With respect to the
annexation of Canada, it was a matter for the Canadians to
decide. England left them free to separate, and to annoy
tnemselves if they pleased. His own opinion was in favour
of England giving up her American colonies as soon as
she could, but aas to ceding them, or any of her citi-
zens by way of compensation for her own liabilities, it i 5 5
thought which honour would forbid her to entertain ;" and if
the Canadians were prematururely forced into the 'Union
they would carry disaffection into its vitals. After ridicul-
ing the notion that the American expedition could secure the
independence of Ireland, and strongly denying that Englisb-
men.favoured slavery. The speaker said—" Honour knowsue
limit to concession but that of justice. My only desire, aye
an Englishman, is that England may pay to the uttermost
arthing any debt which upon any sane theory she can have
incurred, and thus stand clear before the world and in the
hearts of her own people. I trust also that if it is made to appeor
before an impartial tribunal that our Government has failed
however unintentionally, in the performance of any of its
international duties to a friendly Power the payment of
damages will be accompanied with a full acknowledg-
ment of the error. But if Mr. Sumner means
to thrust arbitration aside—if he means to insist
upon being judge in his own cause, on pronouncing us guilty
in any manner which his inflamed fancy can suggest, and
fining and humiliating us at his discretion—we shall appeal
with confidence to the reason and moral sense of the chi'
lised world.'