The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-09-29
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 1868.
Capital and Labor-Co-operation.

labor ever found expression in words, 1t had
been recognized as one of the most difficult
problems for practical solution. The interests
of master and man seemed to be fundamentally
at variance; and as skilled industry elevated
the labOrer into higher grade of intelligence
he became more keenly aware Of the difficulty
of adjusting his relations with his employer
and the old chronic dissatisfaction ripened
into that rebellion of reason that has assumed
such strange forms and advocated such diverse
theories of remedy, especially in England and
France. Much literary force has been enlisted
in the cause, and the theoretic distractions
offered as solutions Of the practical difficulties
have been often crude, and sometimes even
oomical in their misapprehension Of the neces-
stiles of the case.
Those who hold the hopeful creed that the
world is growing wiser by experience, see
strong proofs Of their theory in the various CO.
operative movements instituted by the labor
ing Glasses. An infinite number of ''societies''
are alIeady established, even among the lowest
industrial ranks, in which the member by the
payment of a small sum is assured of main
tenance during illness and respectable burial
There organizations are very numerous, espe-
oially in cities, among those operatives who de-
pend solely on the days wages, and have
suffered bitterly from the insecure tenure of
employment and the frequent fluctuations of
trade.
Necessity has compelled the distressed
workman to find refuge in some scheme Of
mutual support, and the stern logic of suf-
fering has driven him to a step which the
wisest economist must accept as admirably
adapted to the most essential needs of hu-
manity, and a truly philosophic foundation
for more complex organic atoms in the future.
In these simple forms of association is struck
out the first great idea of mutual defense. The
union of laborers in such cause is, however,
but more peaceful form of the old antago-
nism against capital; but these very unions are
susceptible Of growth into that species of asso.
citation in which the only peaceful solution OF
the old difficulties can be found-a system
which unites within itself both capital and
labor, and harmonizes their conflicting inter-
ests by making one person at the same time
the employer and the employed.
The experiment in Rochdale, Eugland, has
been 80 successful that it is worthy of study,
and its history is curiously typical of the whole
question from it's slight beginning, and the
cause of it, to its present complete success.
A number of flannel weavers had lost all the
boarded savings ofyears by the dishonesty Of
an official in savings bank, and, disheartened
and almost despairing, they sought for some
surer plan that would secure them from such
calamity in the future. They were only
twenty in number, with capital of but
one hundred and forty dollars. They deter
mined to rent store, at an outlay of fifty dol
lars, and invested the rest of their capital in
stocking it with groceries. This was their
humble beginning, or, as 1t is expressed in
the statistical account of their venture, "The
Rochdale Equitable Pioneers commenced ope-
rations in 1874, with twenty eight members,
twenty-eight pounds, no business and no
profits ~
In 1845 the membership had increased
to seventy-four, the funds to one
hundred and eighty-one pounds, the business
to seven hundred and ten pounds, aud the
profits to twenty-five pounds. Steadily has
the petty experiment expanded, year by year
attracting additional workmen to cast their
mite into the treasury, until in 1867 they
reported 1923 members, fl2S,4 ,435 funds,
f2S4, ,91O business, and f41, ,619 profits
No mere money value can express the bone
Rt derived by the operatives of Rochdale from
this industrial union. In the language Of one
Of its membsrs:-"They are weaving their
own stufs, making their own shoes, sewing
their own garments, and grinding their own
corn. They slaughter their own cattle, and
the finest beasts in the land waddle down the
streets of Rochdale for the consumption of
fannel-weavers and cobblers." By sending
experienced buyers into the best markets of
the kingdom, the community secures a supe-
rior quality of all needful commodities; and
by placing their business in the hands of COM
petent and honest men, they secured to them
selves the fair value of their wages aud de-
Tended themselves against commercial deceit.
Asimpler form of cooperation has been esta
blished in Edinburgh, and has been in success
full existence for seven years. 1t is styled the
Edinburgh Cooperative Building Society, the
members of which build their own houses,
thua creating employment as we'll as a means
of Investment. A deposit of f5 only is re-
quired, the payment of the rest of the pur-
chase money being spread over fourteen
years, the purchaser occupying the house
during that period and paying for 1t by install.
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