New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-05-25
THE ,rw-EyCLaNp PROTECTIVE UNION.

We have frequently had occasion to advise readers
of the progress Of the excellent institution, or rather oil
this system of direct exchanges and economical COM
merce And as a considerable meeting is TO be held TO-
morrow at BallstOn, with view to similar movement
10 this State it proper to review the history and
consider the results of what has been done by Yam
kee felow-ctizens
The New England Protective UniOs had its origin in
the provincial and national City of Boston IL grew
Indirectly out of the series Of Associative Fourerst
meetings which awakened profound an interest in So
eia Reform throughout New-England about the period
of 1928 Among the many emarkable phases OF that
movement was effort among the operatives and WORK
inemeu of New England 10 secure better legal protec
ton of their interests This action expressed itself in
combinations for increased wages, strikes petitions
for a hen-aw, ten-hour law and immense mass
meetings for political agitation 1t finally grew
into the organization Of the Neg-England Work
ing Mems League, the object of which was
the organization of system Of popular agitaOns, by
means of conventions lectures and newspapers with
view to making it test question at elections But all
who took cognzance Of that movement know how dsas
trous, PROSTATE was all industrial enterprise at that
time throughout the country. And the workngmen
themselves found to their sorrow and final dseOm6t-
ure, that while they were standing doOrkeePers at
conventions with clubs of Hercules in hand, and um-
berng the halls Of Legislatures with tuns Of petitions,
ard organizing strikes Starvation injecting their
ranks with infdelity and discord.
After threeor four years of struggle worthy of better
fate discouraged and discordant, the League was
broken up-but it was dissolved only to more
potent form.
Anumber Of the earliest and most devoted friends Of
this series Of agaons resolved not TO surrender the
workipgmens cause with this failure accordingly they
met in little room occupied by one of their number
as a printing Office There, after long discussion
tie idea was struck out that the working class might
least associate forthe purpose Of buying goods for dOes
tic consumption al Wholesale The idea adopted OF
the instant and plan of organization drawn up Two
objects were aimed at in the scheme. The first, that
combined classes and the second benefit feature SINH
lar 10 that Of Fellowship. The conditions Of mem
bershp the payment Of an initiation Fee and slip
uaed sum Of - 50, which to constitute the trad
ing capital and monthly assessment of twenty-five
cents for the benefit fund The officers consisted Of
President VicePresident, Treasurer Secretary, Com
mittee Of Trade, and Visiting Committee look aeI
benefeisries.
The first Association numbered in the beginning about
fifteen persons, with trading capital Of about $40 Ia
first investment for half chest Of tea and few
pounds of soap Their store that same printing Of
fee, where the Union met one week from the time o.
completing their organization to receive and pay for the
tea and soap which the Committee of Trade had been In
sIueted TO buy The goods divided and paid for in
cash. and it found that saving Of al least % p cent
had been made The result of this first experiment was sc
satisfactory all parties that the Committee of Trade
instructed TO make another purchase for the mex
week, and 80 il went on With similar results These
weekly meetings for the purpose of dividing the goods
we're characterized BY discussions Of the method
Trade Members invited their neighbors 70 attend AM
these neighbors whispered the secret to others Indeed
30 rapidly did the idea take with the people that alos
Immediately the Union numbered one hundred members
and otter Divisions the Associations we're called wer
formed in several towns in the vicinity Within few
months there were many ten or twelve Divisions
At this point farther application of the principle
combination suggested namely federation of th'
Divisions for the purpose Of making all their purchases
through one common agent, or Committee Of Trade
The project looked feasible talked over and it wal
finally agreed TO cal convention for the purpose
projecting an organization upon the enlarged idea
That organization called the Supreme Division
the WOrkingmens Protective Union" Such as it was
with all its imperfectons. il went into operation and il
first meeting took place in Boston on January T. 1877
There we're great looseness of organization, narrow
ness Of aim and spirit, and ncompetency both "a
tseut and experience for forming and conducting