New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-27

SETS.
A DIFFERENT SYSTEM FROM THAT OF NEW
YoRK-HINTs TO CAPITALISTS IN Co-oPERA-
TION-ADvANTAGEs OF INDUSTRIAL PART
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF BAY STATE BOOT AND
SHOE FACTORY, AND OTHER ESTABLISH
MENTs--rHE EFFECT OF COOPERATION ON
REAL ESTATE.
IvRoM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENCE
Boston, Mass., Dec. 49," Cooperation in mann
featuring is not as yet success in Massachusetts,
This. or remark to the same general effect has
been the result of every interview have had with
manufacturers in this State including firms Ia Bos-
ton, Worcester, Maiden. and Somerset. II Is their
opinion, not mine. In the main, however, i cannot
differ from it but it must not be concluded that the
reverse of the assertion is the truth Cooperation IN
manufacturing is certainly not q success here, but it
is far from being failure 1t is infant IT is true
but it is clearly apparent that the child Is strong and
lusty, and promises with proper nursing to do well
eventually.
at is uphill work with US" have been invariably
told in one instance in very emphatic manner and
responding tone by one whom had expected TO find
very enthusiastic on the subject. having talked and
projected it for IL years. and practced it for three
four.
THAT is complaint which all inventors and pro-
jectors of great schemes have made,' answered.
"Yes, reckon so,' he answered with the air
of one who does not know what to say.
IF remember rightly, it required the untirina
personal efforts of twelve very enthusiastic Apostles
to set Christianity on foot and STILL after Is centu
ries of labor and teaching more than one-baH the
inhabitants of the world remain unconyineed.
IGNORANCE THE CHIEF DIFFICULTY.
might have truthfully added. following the hall
rreverend simile to its natural conclusion that the
advocates of cooperation have the same enemies to
overcome those against which the Apostles OF old
contended, namely: ignorance, incredibly and
prejudice II will be remembered that the most con-
vincing arguments employed by the first Christian
teachers were miracles. The Massachusetts, coopera'
tives have not performed yet any very startling
miracles but think their experiments will appear
to be of very interesting If not convincing char.
acter In the hope that they may dspel some of this
prevailing ignorance incredulity and prejudice
particularly since the greatest Of these Is downright
ignorance-and educate some to q better comprehen'
sion of the advantages of the scheme give you the
facts as l have CLEANED them.
Cooperation as applied to manufacturing in
Massachusetts differs from cooperation as i have
described it in NewYork in an important particular
Here we have simply Industrial, while there you
have purely Cooperative partnerships In New-York
the movement originated with Labor; here Capital
has been the prime motive power. In New-York
few dozen laborers in each trade by association have
consolidated their savings and employed it as capital
to give the productive power to their labor for the
benefit of Observation-Disclosures and Capitalist being
for this purpose rolled into one In Massachusetts,
Capital. in the hands Of a few thinking men, has
sought to encourage Labor, by pecunary reward, to
increase its productive power for the mutual benefit
of Capitalist and Laborer distinct, but not opposing
interests. The result Is the establishment in New
York of purely cooperative partnerships the result
in Massachusetts appears in the form OF Industrial
partnerships only. 1t is not cooperation in It's
highest and best form.
COOPERATIVE IRON FOUNDRY AT SOMERSET.
have found but one institution here conducted
on the purely cooperative principle 1t is an iron
foundery on the plan of the Troy Cooperative
Foundry already described in THE TRIBUNE. and
is located at Somerset Like the Troy association
it is o "close corporation" combining its member
ship to only many as the capital will give con-
slant employment to- and keeling the secrets and re-
suits of its success to itself The members per-
fectly willing that all others should go and do like
wise but they are not disposed to teach them from
their experience how to do it, The association was
formed, so the Somerset co6peratives say, to make
money, and as much money as possible. not to es'
tablsh the fact that manufacturers generally make
too great percentage. They say that now that
they have become capitalists as well as laborers, they
have no patience with theihue and cry in which they
formerly joined that capital robs labor and that the
manufacturer reaps disproportionate share Of the
profits of the labor of the mechanic "Fellow-work.
men in our own trades unions" said one of these CO.
operatives to me, abuse and BLACKBOARD us-yes,
Sir. BLACKBOARD us because we are able to realize 80
ner cent profit on our savings and labor; and If we
tell them how il is DONE they still abuse for not
letting them In to share success, instead of build
ing up an association of their own as we did. Pre-
judice is SO great and SO unreasonable ..
They are willing to bear the odium of dividing 100
per cent profits on their capital and labor provided
the dividends are actually realized in cash or stock.
The positive good of the IS 40 stockholders in the
Association appears to be of far Importance in
the ewes of the Somerset people than the negative
good of the entire race of iron founders Their own
principal land interest," not principle for others.
seems to be their guiding idea in other words, they
labor for practical not to establish theory
of doubtful value.
They speak-all the successful coJperativcs have
met-upon the Importance of combining membership
in the associations to few Cooperation IN tins sense
is selish-shrewdly selfish In the somerset Associ-
alton learn that the basis of membership has been
fxed at g. 900 of capital for each member. the idea
being that il requires the investment Of at least that
amount to give a niolder constant reniunerative
employment. six days in the week. year in and
wear outp The violation of this rule is the secret OF
half the failures in cooperation. l told you in
former letter of failure at West Troy have heard
of several since, the most noteworthy being that
Of the Pittsburgh establishment. of which the late
W. II. sylvis was to have been the head The capt.
a g. ,h;s foupfaYv 6xed ut Sl5OOOO believe was