The examiner. [volume] (Louisville, Ky.) 1847-1849, 1847-10-02
Cooperative League.

| We had long and interesting conversation,
this week, with two mechanics, weavers, from
Stirlingshire, Scotland, on the condition and
prospects of the labo.ing classes, in England.
They are plain, uipr-tending men, who have
been sent out, as Pioneers, TO examine and re-
port about the West. II is their intention TO re-
main here year. If they like it, small body
of their countrymen will leone over, and, should
| they be pleased, after yars trial, larger num-
Der will join them, and make the West their
home.
These mechanics think, that the labOring
classes have made greet advances within the
last ten years. The frs outward impulse given
10 them, according TO their view, was the Char
lists move The seconi, the anti-corn law
league. The third, and most important, is, the
Cooperative efforts which are making all over
the Kingdom.
The cooperative principle, as now acted up
on, Is not necessarily confined to any branch
Of human indistry 1t may be applied to all.
Thus;-if then are ten persons in neighbor-
hood, some of shom cannot read. or write, or
cipher, while others can-or IL among them
there be those Who understand German, or have
some knowledg' of astronomy, and the others
know nothing Of these things-thsy meet to-
gether at statedPeriods, and by mutual efforts,
by eo-opevatiue ID, instruct each other without
cost, and with great social pleasure and generous
happiness. In his way, these two mechanics
have been, mainly. Instructed, aud we found
them familiar. nd oaly with such writers as
Mall, Douglas JGrold, &C., but with Dr. Ar
mold, and the strosy popular writer's of Great
Britain. They mlle not the least show of learn
ing. They talked. indeed, in plain common
sense way, and seemed to take plain common
sense view Of society and the obligations all of
US owed to it.
But the co-operatie principle is applied chief
ly, SO far as to meet he necessities of the labor
ing classes. For iniancs take the shirt ma
kers of London THY lived by their labor, and
that was ali the bit among them could do
They leagued togetber. The result has tsen,
that they get nowgen pence for work which
they only received penny and half fer be-
AoiS' vi coufse tp,u conoltlon Is greatly I'M.
proved, and, if Heal had another song to write,
he could joyously de'ict the great change which
had been wrought f,r the poor women of Lon
don.
These "co-oPerat's leagues" exist in nearly
all the large towns . Great Britain. A mode.
rate sum is subscribed by each laboring man
which Is invested Ia tarious ways; for the es-
adjustment Of readingfooms for the erection of
halls; for the purchsst Of large tracts Of land,
whichb letout to meabers in small quantities-
half an acre, or one, tFo, three or four acres
as they may wish, with cottages thereupon, at
a rent Of four or five Yer cent. on the cost; for
for the pie and joint use of the
producers; for union Cores, in which clothing,
wares, groceries, prov3ons, &c. &C., arc cold to
memoe" at cost. tAiAt Il. 30 far, these Leagues
have done well. Mast Of them have ems, two, |
three, and soms svsr'bur thousand members, |
and they have secured eompstencs and content
10 hundreds upon huntsds wAe were, before, |
Utmost starving. The At Nottingham and |