New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-08-02
INnnSTRIAL PARTNERSHIP.

Cooperative wOfkingmen III England nave
lately turned their attention to the manufac-
ture of cotton, flour, iron ratings, and wire
work, files. Autographs, &c, with success. and
have even bent their energies upon cOal-mining
with excellent results. The system of CO.
operation in its numerous characters de-
mands an immense amount OF printing,
TO supply which, industrial partnership
printing concerns have been introduced. They
are found to yield handsomely, furnish steady
employment to shareholders and additional
encouragement in pro-rata dividends. The best
partnerships of industry, those which seem to
produce the most satisfactory results TO the
members in common, are often small. They
differ widely from the ordinary system, being
social and not in the least niggardly place the
cO0peratOr on footing of independence, and
elevate him to n point of dignity above the
caprices and brutality of forcmen and direc-
tors. No arbitrary will can enter co6pera-
tive mandatory. The existence of trades
men is too often made miserable in outside
manufactures through the unreasonable and
brutal assaults upon them by insolent foremen
who ingratate themselves with their masters,
by urging driving and brutalizing their men.
There is perhaps no more prevailing misfortune
to which poor wOrkingmen are subjected than
this. Denied the right of q hearing should
they attempt to complain, not Independent
enough to leave and search work elsewhere,
and too much the lovers of peace and morality
TO avenge themselves by open retaliation. mil
lions of mechanics are thus ground down.
What are the tendencies of such a defOrmed
state of thingsf They are first to stereotype
impressions of revolt and lOathing against
labor itself. They operate most for
chilly upon the most valuable class-that
which possesses keen susceptibility and genius.
Another class is aroused to TemOnstrance, made
effectual by means of Trades Unions, one
fundamental aim of which is, in England to
compel masters to accord fair hearing TO all
similar grievances, and, by secret and shrewd
system of manipulations, to effect the dis
charge and humiliation of obnoxious
tyrants. Great strikes, with all their
wasteful concomitants of stagnation in
trade, and famine among families, often origl-
nate in the brutality of foreman. But most
important Of all are their tendencies to create
industrial partnerships. In Sheffield the file
masters once sought to humliate file cutters
union by employing q set of these obnoxious
fOremen. The union being too weak to cope
with so formidable an organization, and dis
gusted with the unpleasant treatment it was
forced to suffer, called meeting, turned its
funds into an industrial partnership scheme,
appropriated $6s,OOO, and in due time created
and registered the Society of the Sheffield
File Cutters" which has, since its foundation
in 1854, attained an annual sale of $4,000.
Cooperation and trades unionism are thus
made to blend their interests for the common
object of pro-rata dividends, certainty in posi-
ton, and protection from the tyranny of
superiOrs
Industrial partnerships have Ialready under
gone the severest tests, and have proved them
selves in most instances sound and practicable.
In the manufacture of flour, Rochdac has taken
the initiative, and its noble mills are grinding
100000 pounds of flour weekly. These mills,
driven by steam, work 10 run of stone, and
cost the co0perators nearly 100000 before they
reached paying basis. AT Sowerby Bridge is
another extensive cooperative Touring mill,