The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1869-09-18
Partnerships of Lndustry.

Partnerships of Industry.
Mr.. Archibald Briggs, of the Wildwood
CollIeries, Normsnton, read q paper on
Partnerships of Industry, aod what di-
visioa Of profits between capital and labor
as most equitable and practicable" The
PAPER was merely an explanation of the
scheme laid by the Messrs. Briggs before
the Trades Union Commission, winch was
published IN No. 200 OF the Co-operator for
May 29. Mr.. Briggs remarked that all be
would say on the topic Of Industrial Part
nerships generally, was, that in their own
case, in the West Riding, all the parties
concerned were perfectly satisfied with the
result since the Inauguration Of the system
in 1865, Directors and shareholders, man
ayers and workmen were. all content and
no one wished to 20 back to the old system
complained that the report of the Tr sdei
Union Commission was most damaging Il
the principle OF Industrial Partnerships-
conveying, as it undoubtedly did, the very
false impression that it tends " 10 limit the
profits OF the employer to fixed amount !"
whereas, by their experience they had found
their profits to be much more elastic, and to
have materially increased, under the present
system. He conceived that the full, COM
piete and general adoption Of the Industrial
Partnership principle, in it's perfection
would not only render the weekly remuner-
alton of the workman, and the initial profit
Of the Saritelist, more reliable ,Apd narnas,
the cause u iboss hsartborniafs "a Is5| !.
ousies-not 10 speak Of the extremes Of
strikes and lOck-outs-which were now.
alas too common. He would throw ont.
for the consideration Of any company adopt
Ing their system, whether-as an incentive
to, and initiating in, habits of saving-it
might not Do good arrangement on pay
ing the bonus accruing to labor, to reserve
portion OF it-say one-tourth-to be in
vested as might be defined most beneficial
in shares Of the company itself or other
wise. ln this case be would open an &C.
count with each workman, in which be
would be CREDITED with his exact portion Of
this retained bonus, and with interest there
on ut such rate as the returns realized on
the investment nigh allow, after paving the
expenses Of bookkeeping, &c. For toe man
agement Of this fund, . committee shall be
annually elected by the men interested
those OF the directors, or other officers of
the company, however, to be er-o6icio mem
6ers. To prevent the men from foolish.y
drawing out the amount standing to their
credit, no one lsbould have the power Of
thus Withdrawing his portion, without lay
ing his case before the committee, and OBJ
taining their sanction. Should this rule be
too stringent, it might be medifies, accord
ing to circums4ances-the object being to
make it matter Of trouble and difficulty
for workman to withdraw his ssvings.
From the hand-to-mouth manner in which
the bulk of colliers lived, he was strongly
convinced Of the value Of some such arrange
ment. K was q most delicate matter for
one in different worldly position to speak
strongly as to the improvidence Of the work
ing classes but if we were 10 devise means
to enable them to raise their position by
the establishment Of such q system as be
nad described, 1t was necessary to consider
the whole question from every point Of
view. We ought not, nay, we could not
shut our eyes to the fact, that much of the
pauperism OF the country, and especially
the great distress which invariably recurred
IN seasons of depression and stagnation Of
trade, might be avoided by the poor them
selves, if they exercised more forethought
and economy. Tne great economical value
Of the ordinary form Of Cooperative stores,
was that they led the working man to take
the first step in saving. Many, however,
still hung back, and a system of Gas it
were,) compulsory saving would rescue
them from their present position Of dan
ger, and they would be induced, when
once they had experienced the advantages
to be gained, to continue voluntarily a
course Of provident conduct, which, under
other circumstances, they would never have
entered upon. In conclusion, Mr.. Briggs
expressed his regret that the royal commIs-
sion on trades unions, after hearing full evi-
dence regarding the system to which he was
attached, aud the benefits accruing from its
working, both from the directors and men.
should have passed q judgment adverse to it
In many respects, apparently without hav-
ing understood the principles upon which it
is founded.