The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-01-18

Ersn Ne Printsrs cirsn,&r.
tlo-eperaiion Promotivs OF Ueicaisa%


tio-epcraIion Promollvs OF Uaionisa>
vsricns have been the topics discussed in
.he columns Of the Circular, the objects Of
which have been the elevation Of the craft,
socially and financially. To this end educa-
zion has had its advocates as the means By
which independence might be commanded !;
while others have contended that Union aid
self reliance were the pan aceds which would
cure all ec- ills. !" ard secure to us q social
position that would be q guarantee that our
rights would always be respected. But all
these have left US nearly in the same position
in which they found MS; because the cham
pions Of each Of these theories hare failed TO
recognize the fact that combined apprecia-
ton Of all their suggestions u necessary 70
secure Independence, and consequent SOCIAL
position. Observation-Disclosures il useless
unless put in action. Wisdom alone cAi1not
elevate the toiler; but when brought to bear
in the scOrkiag out Of principle, not only
eleyates les possessor, but secures success /;
and just IS knowledge without action avail
eth nothing, SO does combination without
self-reliance. The power which 10 the result
Of Union and self-reiianre may achieve great
triumphs-may give fame and prosperity 10
q favored few but the elevation Of the
masses can only be secured by the sucesesfnl
solving Of the problem made up BY the
theories already mentione1-eduestion CON-
bination, selfrsliance. Now, Unionisn has
been productive Of noble results, and ha.;
given a strength and power to the craft
| which could have been attained t,y no other
means still it has all been one way-a CON-
bination of labor against capital. All else
~ afs "a ntawnNa an ma knNA
and which gives honor and dignity to our
brotherhood, is almost wholly ignored; and
but a half success is accomplished By the
the power Of Unionism.
How best to secure to des-organizations
q full success deserves tho serious attention
and careful consideration OF every working
man; and We are happy 10 say, this question
is now being considered by the trades-unions
In Europe and this country with that inter
est which It's great importance demands, and
the conclusion to which all seem to have ar
rived is, that the only means by WIN ch SO
desirable an object can be attained is 70 be
found in the system Of Cooperation.
At present the operative, by constant toll,
forges his own chains. He only receives q
portion of the money value Of his train and
bis hands, the remainder goes into the col
ffers of the capitalist, to be used against him
self-either to increase his labor, or reduce
his wages; whilst every ear, by the wear
and tear consequent upon continuous toll,
and the increasing cares OF life, be 10 render
cd less and less sble to endure q contest be-
tween labor and the capital which he has
helped to build up. By Cooperation the is
sue is changed instead of labor against ca
pitaI, it is capital against capital. Ii is
lighting the enemy with his own weapons.
There are times when it is safer 10 grapple
with an enemy than to await the encouGter.
This idea is graphically illustrated by the
practice of the hunters and the trappers In
the prairies Of the Far West, when called
upon to contend with one Of the elements in
its most appalling form. There, where, tor
weeks together, burning sun pours down
it's rays upon miles and miles of grass, and
shrub. and bush, until they become parched
into a magazine of latent combusti0ies,
needing only the smallest accident to qaicA
en- into awful life. Once ablaze, the names
rush, leaping and kissing, like infatuated
demons, outstripping the winds IN swftnsss,
till the horizon 10 filed with fire from verge
to verge and beast, and bird, and creeping
thing fiee before it for life. Not 80 with the
hunters aroused by the neighing OF their
horses, or the warning bay Of their faithful
dogs, they start TO their feet and see the hre
charging down upon them like destroying
most Immediately they are ut work With 10 +.
knife and the axe-the tall grass is cleared
away In q wide circle, and disposed IN heaps
around the ring, when FIRE is kindled IN one
of the hear and passed round the Others,
and, 10 the hunters stand within a magic
circle, fame girdled, its circumference M
o. easing every second, as he counter IRE
does it's work, calmly defying the major con-
aagration, whose March Of destruction
been stayed by contact with its o"n e's-
ment.
Around US are many examples OF trades
organizations making the experiment OF CO.
operation. Unfortunately, however, seme
ave been compelled to adopt IL as a last
81 and against The oppression OF she employ
er. Nav We not be wise in time, and turn
season OF peace to some account In testing a
new power which may prove OF great value
ia an extremity and not only 80, hat whica
would infinitely reduce the chances OF IN ex-
treinety ever arisingi Let cooperative
printing offices be established ia Our large
cities The necessity for such organizations
is shown every day, and is proven by the ex-
perience of every printer. The experiment
has been tried In France, and has been most
successful. A cooperative Office was estab-
lished in 1S4S, and has grown in wealth with
each succeeding year; and snTslS whaI d.
been tried SO successfully In Frssss-. NAV q
\ felssg be tried by the printers of this country
The printers of New York have already com
menced the good ork, and their ereaniza
ton gives evidence Of vitality which augurl
success. Why not? Why may not a print
inc establishment, owned and managed. anC
worked by an organization OF Operative print
era, compete with the Mammoth Steam
Printing" Offices Such an Office could tur;
out work in the very best style of fhe art
and thus offer an inducements to those wht
mrst have good printing; and such an Of
flee would employ journeymen alone. There
wo1ld be no want Of work 70 support such
an office, properly organised and conducted
The work Of the trade organizations, in the
large cities alone, would 20 far to keep a
good sized Office going. This scheme would
do nc injury TO the fair-paying emoloyer
but would rather benefit him by check mat.
/ ing an unfair rival, while the crying disgrace
OF the bIy-system would receive its DEATH
blow.
Viewed from any standpoint the proper
tions Of this economic pripciple are symme.
trical. Socially lite beauties increase tie
more closely ii is compared with modern
trade. By the present system We have..wealth
accumulated in solid masses, and poverty
scattered broadcast-for every millionaire, d
million beggars-whereas, cooperation pro-
misses ~ distribution of that wealth, with a
corresponding amount of relief to the pro-
Queer. Look at It's moral grandeur, as it
stands beacon in the midst OF stormy
sea Of commercial morality for intrigus,
ialsehood and ch.csnefv canno. exist where
sslhshness has no place, and where the good
Of the many is the pass word Of business.
There is no man so dead to hope as not to
sigh for q brighter dag. in whatever position
Of life be may be placed; and how much
more should workingman. sigh for and
strive to obtain the means by which be and