New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-11

IL is an encouraging fact for all industrial interests
OF this country that the working classes are at length
earnestly directing their attention from Protective
to Cooperative Unions. Both are means by which
Labor seeks to protect Itself-tbe fancied or real
enemy in both cases being Capital seeking to get the
most work for the least money. Practically the
American Protective Unions are organizations which
have tended TO produce sncb antagOnism and pre-
cipitate strikes. Cooperative Unions rightly con-
Quoted are calculated 10 reconcile Capital and Labor
by combining their interests and thus to abolish
strikes altogether. The great defect of the PrOtec-
tive Unions has been the fact that they have been
aggressive and expensive, therefore, unwise orga-
nizaiions. They have maintained at heavy expense
long and formidable strikes, bnt settled nothing.
Where the Unions have succeeded in enforcing their
demands il has been bnt for time; the submission
or compromises of the employers have been but
temporary and the struggles have been liable
to renewal ut any moment. The Iron Mol
ders' UniOn-one OF the strongest on this
continept-spent during and since the war
over million and half dollars in conducting strikes
for higher wages without etecting anything of prac
teal value. The cooperative associations Of the va
rous trades proving, the contrary 10 he defen-
sve and profitable unions; not only saving the
money formerly spent in useless strikes, but adj
ding an actnal profit TO it, The experience Of
the Iron Molders--of which more in future arti-
ces-fuly prove this, as does also the success
of the associations named below. Their tend
dency TO prevent strikes. II will be powerful ar
gument in favor of strikers in the future to point
capitalists, who refuse their demands the ground
that they cannot afford the required advance in
wages TO successful cooperative unions without large
capitals voluntarily paying the demand. There can
he no stronger argument advanced than such
hon tn flayni
this country.
great deal Of matter has recently been published
in this country relative to the of the co0pea
tive establishments in England, France, and Ger
many. This material has generally been Of desul-
tory imperfect, and theoretical character and Of
little valne 70 practical men. The consequence ia
that tor the lack of practical knowledge of these
terprses the aboring classes have not engaged with
zeal in similar schemes. The United States is con-
sidered by men who have long been engaged in CO.
operative movements abroad, wider, and freer,
and i'll every sense a better field for cooperation than
any in Europe, hut it is as yet the least cleaned of
them all. We propose nothing further in regard to
the theory of corporations the simple purpose of all
such schemes is, or should be- TO combine capital and
labor-making each labOrer his OVID employer Our
purpose here is to give in such detail as can gather
it the experience of the only successful cooperative
associations in this city for the guidance and en-
couragement of those who are contemplating sim
liar schemes. We are sorry to say that
these details are not perfect and fnl IL is the con-
sequence of a strange and iI-defned but neyerthe-
less very strong jealousy existing among working
men. The working classes as rule, are the last to
give their support to the established cooperative
adjustments; and speak of all such enterprises not
only in doubtng but contemptuous terms. On the
apI fonp1 with ia
tons, those pecuniarily interested in cooperation
have been unwilling to give information which
would serve to enghten Others the proper steps
to be taken in forming and conducting like assoca-
tons. 1t is difficult to imagine why such feelings
should exist; we do not attempt to explain their ex
istenee, but TO note them as weak point In their
organization which the labOring men ought to mend.
The most prosperous of the cooperative assOcia-
tons of the country not IN New-York City sin
deed the 5000 or 10000 members of the trades
unions of this city have been far less active than
those of other cities. The iron moders, clothing
cutters builders carpenters and others are at pres
ent organizing associations the cooperative prn-
ciplc, but the only ones in New-YOrk which may be
called successful are the Ourneymen printers, at No.
lGC William-st, and the ourncymen tailors at Four
feminist. and Third-aye.
JoURNEYNrHN PRINTERS COOPERATIVE AssocIA-
TION.
Mr. John Vincent, formerly a compOsitor in TIE
TRIBUNE Office, and ut present foreman in The Cth-
zen composing ROOM was the originator of the Asso
citation, at No IGG Willam-st, the most successful
Of the three cooperative establishments among
printers in the country. One of these ia in Phila-
delphia the other in Chicago; both are younger
than the New-York Association, and little is known
We shall be glad to hear more of their success. The
New.York establishment Indirectly the result Of
the failure of strike. InlS4 Mr. Vincent was one Of
many thrown out Of employment by that failure. and
repaired 70 Boston where, shortly after, he again
left idle by the failure OF a second general strike III
the newspaper Offices The strikers at the time were
anxious TO get statement expressing their views OF
the differences between publishers and printers be-
fore the public: and being offered stho use of ava
cant Office fort that purpose several printers set up
printed and published q circular, setting forth in
strong terms, the grievances of the strikers. The
circular attracted attention, and committees from
various trades unions in Boston waited upon the
printers and offered them pecuniary aid II they
would continue TO publish the circular in the form
of weekly paper, to be the organ OF the Boston
Workingmen's Unions, embracing and representing
all trades. Arrangements were at once made; the
office and material were rented; thirteen of the
strikers formed a cooperative partnership in which
their LABOR was lneI ohiy Cdpdi' anu p"Poli Oaou
The Boston Voice. was at once issued by them No job
work was obtained nor, indeed, solicited, as the
material which they possessed was exclusively that
of newspaper Office. The thirteen involuntary CO.
operatives made respectable living out of the office
but the great difficulty in the way of success was
the want of capital and at the close Of the year the
paper died, and the enterprise came TO an end. The
profits were nOhng the labor Of the associates had
not even been paid for at the regular Union rates
But each of those engaged in this adventure came
out of with the conviction that smal capital and
good management was all that was necessary to the