The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1868-05-23
COOPERATIVE NEWS.
Co-OpeTatlon.

From an article il the March issue Of the
GALAXY, by Richard J. Hinton, ard tilted
John Bright at Home" we extract the fol-
lowing
! with the cooperative movement tho
name Of Rochdale is most beneicially asso-
ciated. 1t may not be out place to state,
while we are on the way to Mr. Bright's re-
sidence, which is on the outskirts, but with
in the corporate limits Of the town, that in
addition to the twenty-six stores, zen read
ing-rooms and large library belonging to the
Rochdale co-operators. there are also one Of
the largest cotton-mills in England, the finest
/ Touring mill in Lancashire, besides the very
handsome business block Just erected. The
capital stock Of these enterprises amounts to
over a million and half Of dollars. Al
tAfs 70 0tsRed By mechanics and Ldborers
During our war the poor rates of this place
were nearly 800, o. less than any town Of
similar size in tn manufacturing districts
This was under the distress produced by the
cotton famine"
| Workingmen of America, this is but a
simple statement Of facts but oh what Q
conviction it must carry with it. The most
powerful arguments, presented in a rhetor-
ical flourish Of words, Is not as convincing
proof Of the effectiveness of cooperation, as
an alleyistor Of the miseries and privations
that beset the toiler at every turn, in these
days Of inequality, when labor does the work
and idle capital reaps the reward, as is this
plain simple statement "D1riRg our war
the poor rates Of this place rers nearly $780,
600 less than any t0rn Of slBIitar size IN
the manufacturing disfYieGs." With the be-
nehts Of this system, so easily put into p.ae-
tice, staring the suffering toiler squareIy in
the face, why is it be continues to disregard
its warnings That the plan in English
hands can be brought to more sucresful issue
than in this country has been clearly dis
proved by the many establ shments OF the
kind now in hourishiDg condition in differ
ent sections Of the country Is it true, that
! The long continued bondage in which the
producer hss been held, the letters of which
il cannot be denied he himself has helped to
forge, have left him with no vestige Of smbi-
ton beating in his breast True, the labor
ing man can never, at the present rate OF
wages, hope to accumulate, by saving FROM
the profits ~ OF his labor, sufficient to enter
into business on his own account Bot on
the cooperative plan it is not requisite hat
he should have half fortune ere be car en-
ter into successful competition with his
nelGhbor, backed up by the mighty power Of
capital. IL is far better that pinch and stint
should be practiced for the time being In or
der that future benefit may accrue there
from. 1t seems, however, that the major
portion Of our laboring population have, BY
long endurance of suffering, become imbued
with logged sullen disposition not to
learn, not to see, nor even try to see, that
there is yet salvation for them. Why, with
such undeniable FACTS, making themselves
apparent at every turn where intelligence
and an exercise Of that ability to see and I'M
1erstand, which every man endowed with or
binary sense possesses, II seems almost an
utter impossIbility that Leings, claiming for
themselves the title of men, are content to
toll on, labor on, on, on, while they and their
families live; yes, live, and when that is
said all Is said. GOOD helps him only who
helps himself" and unless the working peo-
pie Of this country, by their own exertiOns,
endeavoT to throw OF the lethargic mantle
which has so long enshrouded them, they
will ind but few either willing to or capable
OF doing for them. In almost any business
a hundred men, with hundred dollars each,
can be employers Of their own labor, and if,
of the profits Of this labor, the capitalist,
who now controls it, is enabled ia few
years to build up palatial residence, and
retire from the "cares Of active business life,"
only to give place TO another, who, in turn,
pursues the same course, and with similar
results, why may you not jointly divide this
fortune" with your ninety nine fellows. and
still each have sufficient to furnish all the
comforts as well as necessaries Of this life
The question needs no answering. Wehave
seen and read scores Of articles pretending |
to advance arguments to show that the plan /
cannot be put into pracuce, and their asser- |
tons Of this kind are backed By statements |
of establishments started on the co-operatiye |
principle, and which, for the want OF efficient /.
management, or proper support Of members, |
have been allowed to languish and die. We
say we have read and re-read them, but we |
ask no more for their complete rsfatation
than is contained in the extract given abov<kl
THINK, THINK, THINK, THINK 1he word can
not too long llnger in your ears. go /
TIE Workingmen of McGregor, iowa have
organized cooperative store, under the
name and title Of 'sThe McGregor Cooper.
alive Producing and Distributing Associa-
ton" Article sixth reads as follows:
Q. No distinction shall be made in the
membership or officers OF this Association ON |,
account OF eek or nationality. And wher.
ever the masculine gender IL used in these
articles, it shall be understood to mean be or |.
she, him or her, &c. /
The goods of the Association arento be
sold at one price to all consumers, whether
stockholders or not, and nosetockhclder I'M
der any circumstances viii Abe entitled, TO
more than one vote.
FoRkIos
hlR. A. A. WALfos las addressed Eve pub
lie meetings in London during the present
week, In support Of the United London and
Provincial Cooperative Building Company
just established. At each meeting the COM
pany met with the greatest possible sympa-
thy and support, and We may now consider I
It to be an accomplished fact. We are in
formed that about 1000 shares have bean al
ready applied for.
An HoUR EACH DAY.-There was q lad
who, at fourteen, was apprenticed to soap |
boiler. One OF his resolutions was 10 read
IN hour day, or at least at that rate. He q
had an old silver watch, left him by his nm
lie. which he timed his reading hy. Here (
NAMED seven years with his master, and I
iaid when be was twenty-one he knew a Z
much a. the young squire did. Nov Let I
rs see how much time be had to read in. in
even years, at the rate Of an hour each day. q
I would be 2,656 hours; wrich, at the rate q
u eight reading hours per day. would be r
dual to 81 q dava--naariw ona waery. 80 Ill.,. n