The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1866-05-12

trough, and Marian had power to polish him,
but better the native Fwel than foreign tin.
sci.
Intelligence and courtesy ma always are combined
As often In a wooden house golden ind"
To be true, and noble, and honest, is the
philopher's stone that Mrns everything into
gold. 1t is better to have q great sorl en-
shrined in fustian than narrow one clothed
in purple. -
Co-operative Societies in France.
The history of cooperative associations
in France presents an inspiring example OF
courage and perseverance, in good cause,
that should not be without it's influence up
on American mechanics. For long time
past the various governments Of France
have thrown every obstaele in the way of
associated labor, and impeded the free
movements of the workingnsen in manner
Of which we can have but little idea in this
country. But the workmen constantly found
means to eyade the laws aud the Influences
brought to bear against them, and the result
was that the present Emperor resolved upon
attempting to control what he could no
Longer prevent, and in his speech to tile
Corps Legislatif in January Lass, announced
his intention to s'Remove the impediments
which exist to the formation of such socia-
ties, and give facilities to an experiment
which seems destined TO contribute to the
ameioration of the laboring classes" Ii
still remains to be seen how far the promise
will be realized. But the fact that it was
lnade may be regarded us conclusive evil
dence OF the strength Of the cooperative
movement in France.
| The jealousy Of the Imperial government
to the cooperative societies is not without
good cause. These institutions kept alive
the flames of Republican liberty, and fur
nished the most determined opp nents to
the ambitious schemes of Louis Napoleon.
IL is certain that if IL were possible to crush
them out that they would have long since
disappeared from France. But they not
only continue, but they have reached a
higher degree OF prosperity. Perhaps the
opposition of the government was q good
thing, as it intended to disabuse the work
men Of the erroneous notion that government
4 aid and assistance were necessary for them.
The sharp experience gained under the pre-
sent Emperor has taught the French opera
tives the invaluable lessons Of self-reliance
and courage, which have finally enabled
them to overcome even the opposition Of
the ruling powers.
In truth a large number of the labor socie-
ties Of France in lo45 were formed on o
wrong basis, and were founded on the capi-
tai error Of looking to the government for
results that could only be achieved by indus
try and eeonomy.-Most of these have dis
appeared from existence, and are replaced
by others en- a scunder basis. 1t was not
until 1868 that the cooperative principle
as 1t prevails in England and Germany, was
introduced and permanently established in
Paris. In that year the Society Of Credit
and Labor was established. Vt was formed
on the plan Of saving earnings and lending
the money to societies for reproductive pur-
poses. For instance, FIVE hundred men Of
different trades might contribute to COM
mon fund and lend the money to dozen or
| fifty of any one business, say Of shoemakers,
IN order to establish cooperative shop
This plan worked very successfully. In
1868 the society organised with nominal
capital of 20, 20 francs, about five thousand
dollars, of which only 4,lS2 francs were
paid up. In 1865 the society had 100 share
holders, with capital Of $4,000 francs
($22 .000) and discount business OF 542,-
900 francs ($ll8,000). This society have
lent money to a number OF what are called
| "production" and Consumption" societies,
or labor associations and stores. No less
than thirty Of these societies are now in sue
cessful operation in Paris alone. The
movement is rapidly gaining ground. The
French workmen appreciate the advantages
offered BY those institutions, and they hesi-
tate to make no sacrifice necessary to place
themselves in Inc condition of capitalists
and shareholders.
/ The movement is not confined to Paris.
A Society of Labor and Credit has been
organized in Lyons, and is working success
fully. A ''PeopIe's Banko has been estab-
lished at Colmar. A society of consumption
lco-operative store] works successfully at
Havre, and co operative workshops and
factories begin to spring up in all manufac-
turing cities In France. The workmen
everywhere appreciate the advantages to be
derived from mutual employment Of saw
ings and labor, and the result il a marked
improvement in their condition.
| We place these facts before our readers.
in order to encourage them them to initiate
the example of the W0rkmen Of Paris.
There is no ison why they should not
make the attempt. We have liberty of
thought and action to degree entirely un-
known in France, and our mechanics can
earn more money and save more. There are
In new forK SusutU skilled W0rkmen, whose
gross earnings amount to the enormous sum
of $i60, 100000 year. On the 2lst Of
January last there were twenty-sevea saw
ings banks in this city and Brooklyn. The
deposits in the New York Savings Banks
amounted to S72, ,92S, ,766, and in the Brook
lyn Savings Banks to 81, 5,266,576. There
we have q total in round numbers Of eighty
six millions Of dollars deposited in the saw
ings banks Of this city and Brooklyn during
1884. Ii would be perfectly safe to assume
that at least half this money was deposited
by workingmen. Here we have magni6-
cent fund Of forty-three millions of dollars,
paid out of the hands of the laborers and
the mechanics Of New York and Brooklyn
for comparatively insignificant returns. II
is lent to rich men who profit by 1t, and
live in brown-stone front houses. IL this
money, or even tenth part Of it., were lent
70 intelligent workmcn to start co-opera-
tive stores and factories, the result would
soon change the whole face Of society.
II appears almost inconceiyable that our