The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-05-09
COOPERATIVE NEWS.
COOPERATIVE Societies.

From the Pittsburgh Advocate.
This modern contrivance hinges upon
true principle, and one Of great value, If
properly carried out. 1t is the tendency Of
trade, in settling dOwl Under the rule OF d.
vision of labor, to place many media be-
tween the producer, or importer, and The
consumer, all Of whom have their profits,
thus increasing the cost to the consumer and
diminishing the price received by the pro-
ducer. The eOsoT erative plan sets out to
break through this system and escape its dis
advantages by saving these intermediate
profits to the consumer. 1t cannot break
down the system, but breaks through il, in
fn favor Of certain individually or localities.
1t Is correct an principle in the same sense
that new machine is, which, With the en-
ployment Of few hands and good combi-
nation, produces a result that previously
employed many grades OF labor.
1t is clear, therefore, that the success o.
the new movement will depend on the con-
struction and adaptibility of the machine to
the desired end. So many experiments have
been tired, and so much experience gained,
that it may safely be assume that wherever
it is managed by capable and honest men it
will work advantageously. The thing need
ed is simple, competent agency to buy well
Of the original importer or producer, to man
age the business honestly, and TO sell to the
consumer, either at the Wholesale cost or st
price which will return him dividend Of
profits sufficient to reduce the articles be
consumes to their wholesale cost. Thus there
results a combination among the associates
of such a society by which, in one concern,
they do business in all its stagee, from whole
sale to retail trade. for the benefit Of the
consumer. While it 10 impossible for this
system to become universal, il may neverthe-
less work well in special cases and where
ever q careful plan and honest agents can be
secured, il is well worthy the attention Of
the operative classes.
4 But there is another view in which this
movement is of greater importance. 1t will
dissipate the deluslon Of the natural antag-
onism between capital and labor; it is the
beginning q t6e combination Of capits and
labor for the profit of the laborer. The mo-
ment the laborer lays up money he begins
to be capitalist. The moment he learns
- combine with others, and use their scat
tered fragments Of capital in . common en-
terprise, for q common good, the antagonism
IS gone. As things stand now, capital is
timid, and the laborers' savings fly into saw
ngs banks for the highest security and the
lowest rate Of interest. The capital, belong
ing mainly to the working classes accumu-
lated in saving banks in this State, is more
than $50, 100000. These are the elements
OF great power. The moment that the own
ers of this capital learn to use it safely, and
at an advantage greater than 6 per cent. per
annum, this dormant power becomes active,
and capable Of producing beneficial results
to the laborer himself.
The operative classes have, heretofore,
the power in their own hands. The main
point for them in cooperative enterprises is
to secure well matured and sound plans !;
honest agents, personal understanding OF
and supervision over the working OF the en-
terprise, aid the successful results viii be
certain to follow.
THE Arst quarterly report Of the First Jer-
sey City WOrkingmen's Cooperative Asso-
citation ending March 80, shows that the
quarterly profits amount to $f96 ~.
TEE workingmen at the factory Of Stein
way & Sons, in New York, about fcar hun
bred and fifty ia number, have lately orga..-
iEed themselves into . cooperative society.
They elect q committee from the number,
and to them they give weekly list Of their
wants. The goods are then purchased 81
wholesale prices and distributed. The work
men say that they save from u 30 to g. per
week on their purchases.
A co-oPnRATIVE building bank has come
into existence 10 New York, which proposes
to give man house of his own in about
eight years for the sum that he now pays in
rentss