New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-07-19
THE WORKING ASSOCIATIONS or PARIS.

1hc iOhONibB aCCOuHt lOIu1s ptrt VI tuO
Fourth Number Of Tracts on Christian Social
ism published in London. IL will be found
to contain many interesting statements in
regard to the experiments for organizing la
Dor in Paris and well deserves the attention
of working-men in this country. The writer
presents the results Of personal observation,
and for this reason, as well as for his deep
interest in the emancipation Of industry, is
well qualified TO discuss the subject. We
trust bis opinions will be received with the
consideration to which they are eminently
entitled. The work of solicitation, on the
part Of the lsboring masses, is in fact but
just commenced, and everything that can
throw light on the movement, from whatev-
er quarter, should find an earnest welcome.
One of the most remarkable and promising fea-
lures Of the state of France since the last rcyou-
tiop ia the existence OF those numerous assoca-
tons ouvrieres or Working Trades Associa ions,
the occasional failure Of which is so loadly trum-
peted forth their frequent success so generally
overlooked, in this country In Introducing snort
account Of them into series OF Tracts on Christian
upon which those associations can stand, II they
stand at all, is Christian one-the ground Of hon
esty in their dealings with the world without, oil
fellowship in their dealings among themselves. l
am not here denying the many wild and angry
passions, the many blind prejudces against the
very sources Of their strength, which may have
been mixed up with many OF their acts, may have
marred many of their undertakings bat believe
that those passions and prejudces are bat the
workings Of the spirit Of evil, the spirit Of dsorder
and war, struggling to overthrow the truth oil which
they live 10 testify. IL is with these feelings that
have examined several of them personally, and
have studied the regulations Of others; 1t is with
tbese feelings that shall endeavor TO set forth the
good they have done, or promise to do
Historically, the Working Association oil Paris,
instead of being the new tangled revolutionary
conceptions which suppose them, tend IN fact 70
bind up the broken chain Of tradition, by reeonsti
tutipg upon broader and frmer basis, the trading
Guilds Of the middle ages. The principle OF the
Guild, it is obvious equally with that OF tue Work
ing Associations Of the present day, is that OF fellow
ship between the members OF a given trade; and
the mode in which that fellowship is carried oat is
the same in both cassidy obedience to COM
mon rule. The one il is true stretched farther by
proclsiming itself at once as embracing the whole
of the trade the other goes deeper by thro wing
all trade profits into the domain Of the common reg
ulations while the Guild only claims contribution
toward the expenses Of its maintenance.
1t would be a mistake to suppose that the revo-
luton of ls4s or the works Of Louis Blanc did
more than accelerate the development OF these
bodies Beside Ii. Lecaire, the house painters
establishment of which, for eight years at least
already, the profits had been shared with his work.
men, can trace, at the very time OF the reyolu-
ton at least two attempts 10 progress 10 carry out
the idea OF cooperation among workingmen--
The one an Association Of United Workmen,"
somewhat similar TO a cooperative association now
existing in Salford well as to an establishment
got up by the London trades some time since In
Tottepham courtroad, in which workmen Of yari-
Gus calEings clabbed together TO open common
sbop in the hue st. Honore one OF the leading
thoroughfares OF Paris. This society, which CON-
prised several men who have since risen 70 be
managers Of associations in their respective trades,
afer struggling through several years OF existence,
was at last broken up by the February Revolution
itself On the other hand, Shoe and bootmakers
Association, constituted as far back as october,
1870, wGs already, if | mistake not, exhibiting the
natural transition from the provident club or trades
union to the cooperative association. The con-
ditions Of admission were, the payment OF ls. en-
trance fee, and Is I'D. monthly subscriptions fe-
males being admissible as associates, bus not 70
the general meetings nor to the administration OF
the society The principal object OF this assocla
tion il ia said in the rules, 70 procure work for
its unemployed members, but in order to carry out
such object a workshop is established, and profits
are divided in the proportion o. two thirds between
the members and one third to the reserve fund
Woikmen out of employ, who have passed noyi-
cate of six months, receive l0d. a-dayi the same
allowance il made to the sick. beside medical ad-
vice and relief and visits at least twice week.
But no Illness the result Of bad conduct, voluntary
ARRAYS intemperance &c, can confer the right to
assistance. Finally, retiring pension of II l6i.
is grated to members 65 years old. may ADO,
without dwelling upon them, that the rules oil thus
association, as to sickness, retiring pensions ourl'
ais, &c, appear to me very complete ana admirable.
The two first trades that organized for themselves
cooperate associations after the February heyolO.
ton were the Taiors and the Shrtmakers' need |
not dwell on the latter association, which Is lncon-
siderable in point OF numbers The Talors Asso-
citation was At first, highly favored by the Provii-
iopal Government from whom 1t received permits |
sion to establish itself in the Debtors prison OF the
Rue de Clichy, and large order for clothing. 30 |
much favor had well nigh proved fatal % 1t. IL soon
numbered from l500 to 1000 workmen paid at Is. |
cd. day, and sharing profits equally. In the haste
of executing the 10000 uniforms ordered OF them |
by the Government, many unskllled workmen were |
admitted, some even who had never been In the |
trade: vet in spite Of all these dsadv antages, and
of the political excitement OF the period they had
realized in four months party by their own contrl-
buttons. partly from the profit OF their contract al
though executed at very cheap rate, csPtal OF |
75O6OE or $4,000. The workshop OF Clicby was |
broken up after the days Of June lsis, but enough
associated operatives remained to form a new es-
tablisbment In the hue du Faubourg ST. Denis |
They numbered in October last some sixty in con- |
slant employ, besides several hundred adher-
ents ready TO take their place in the workshop an
soon as there should be demand for their labor
The price of the days work had been raised TO %.
Sd, with power to raise it as far as 2s. I'D. The
operations Of the association during the past year
had been Of the value Of about $4,000, on which |
had been realized about per cent. profit. The |
premises occupied by them were large and well
ventilated; not single case Of cholera had occur
red in the workshop. To the manager, foremen, |
and other oficehoders Of the association, certain
extra expenses are allowed, but their renumera-
ton il the same with that Of any journeyman-
40 admitted on the recOmmS nda- |