Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-09-24
COOPERATION AND STRIKES.

Ihe National Labor Congress, in New York,
mas been considering these eu crossing and I'M
portant subjects, and the discussion shows that
mere Is a great diversity of opinion among the
working people as to the questions involved.
The Committee on Cooperation reported in
FAVOR OF the principle "a applied TO the various
branches of industry, IN whatever shape it may
beapPhed, as one of the most powerful agents
for the elevation of labor and equitable distri-
button of wea th among those who produce it,
They believe that when the principles of co
operation are universally recognized and put
IN prachcI operation, those unfortunate and
Improbable contests between capital and Ia
DOI' called strikes and locks-outs, will disap-
pear from society. Mr.. Heating believed that
SulKes are a necessary evil, for with
out them individual rights cannot he
obtained. BY strikes the condition of
workingmen has been greatly elevated
MIR. SylvIs favored Cooperation, and consId-
cred 1t only question OF time when by CO.
operation the labor classes of the country will
control the principal manufactures and bust
ness OF the country wherein mechanical labor
Is required Mr.. Batory did not think strikes
al all necessary, and as for cooperation he
considered that in its workings IL brought in
justice TO many. Mr.. Ennis considered strikes
a necessary evil, Tor without them he would
not now De working eight hours for DAVIS
WORK SIrlkes depreclate property, as is evil
Gent by the strike between the master masons
ana orlcklayers in New York, aud thereby
give an advantage 10 the latter Mr. Sucker
aoNocated cooperation, and called attention 10
me cooperative building societies in New
OK, and asked the Union TO endorse them A
mOtlon was then made to strike out all relating
10 strikes from the report, which was opposed
Dy MI Hlne and others, and on vote was lost.
he report was then received
The same subjects have been under eonsid-
Grafton in the European Labor Congress.
where there are the same differences of opIn-
Ion The delegations vary in their views of
strikes most essentially, several arguing in
support OF them, while others take strong
ground against them, and in favor of co-ope.
ralNe labor as a substitute. The working
men OF Antwerp say that strikes as a means
OF increasing wages are useless and they
are equally Intellectual in reducing the hours of
labor They produce riots. violence, injury
to the bodies and pockets OF the working peo-
pie. II successful, their effects are but tenn
Porary. If unsuccessful the workingmen are
worse on than before. The only way to benefit
the working people permanently is by co-ope-
Tatlye labor. The Brussels workingmen also
contend that in strikes, the employers often
succeed; the labOrers very seldom. They de-
clare that, In order 10 keep up wages, trades
unions are necessary. All these unions onght
TO be united-locally, nationally, and interna-
uonaIly-so as to provide for the surplus
workmen In all countrIe~; and so keep up the
prices of labor and prevent capitalists from
importing wOrkmen from other countries.
Councils of arbitration are strongly recon-
mended, and they sdvise the adoption of the
cooperative system very strongly. The Eng
hsh delegates are the most ardent and vehement
of the strikers.