Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-05-28
SKILL AND LABOR.

F.... ~ llHI-I II
Our Mechanics ihe Architects of Thefr
Own fOrtunes-HOw They may BE-
GENE Independent of Money Mem
OPOIies. .siHi5llI8 Ea
To the Editors of the Union and American:
Mr.. McCann's articles on manufacturing
are powerful and his efforts highly COM
mendable but / fear his appeals to our
capitalists are in vain. They are held back
from acting as he desires by such powerful
Bonds. e21Fsi' 9 .at, %
Is there no other resource? There is.
The people-the workers-can help them
selves, if they will. How By the CO.
operative system. The largest furniture
factory in Cincinnati is carried on in this
way. So is a large carriage factory in this
city. Both are the most profitable concerns
of the kind in the country. .isla, a#sse
How can this system be inaugurated
here2 Very easily. Let an association of
mechanics of various branches be formed.
Rent large building (ssy Mr.. Morgan
on the Square), fit ii up with machinery
such as each branch requires, and the same
power will do to run the machinery
throughout the establishment. Space and
power can be rented out or apportioned in
limit and extent as required by each, and
each branch can bear its proportional share
of the general expense. In some of the
large manufacturing buildings in the
North, you will often find as many as
twenty different branches of manufacturing
carried on by the same power, under the
same roof. 10 this way industrious me-
chauics of small means are enabled to man.
nfacture on their own account. Indeed,
many OF the largest manufacturers in the
North began their enterprises in this way.
No large salaried presidents; no secreta-
fies ditto; no superintendents each man
understood his own business and man.
aged it.
Let US not wait for capitalists to start
immense concerns. Better have twenty
small manufacturing establishments than
one large one. The latter, il is true, will
give meagre living to goodly number
Of people, but enriches only the capitalists
who own it; while the former will make
rich all who have an interest in them.
For proof of this, look around you. Every
small, industrious manufacturer in Nash
Vile has amassed a handsome fortune.
Reduce this 10 practice. Let q number
Oh skilled neCnduiCS III tul6 City uolle tuolE
means and labor, each class in their own
particular branch, and commence business
in small way attend TO it strictly, in
dustriously and economically, and my word
for it, in few years, each one will be in
possession of large and lucrative buzz
ness.
The union of small means will produce
large capital, and large results will follow.
Let me illustrate, without for a moment
intending to draw any invidious religious
contrast. What denomination has finer
churches or benevolent institutions, than
the Catholic2 Yet their congregations are
for the most part formed of the humble
and the poor. But that people are liberal
and united in small things, and union
produces great results.
Let our mechanics and citizens generally
unite and club together their small means
and skilled labor, and the result labored
for by Mr.. Mccain will be obtained; but
do not wait for the capitalists. Let them
1.-THE capitalists) build the projected cot
ton mill, and we will thank them, and
wish them "God-speed," but let the work
ers work. "The Gods help those who
help themselves" a.. G.