The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-09-11
what Co.operasien Ca No.

HORACE tfeeley mas written lettef 10 the
New York Independent giving his views on
the subject Of cooperation. After giving
his views on the wages system, he recon-
mends cooperation as an improvement on
II. lie thinks II will constrain the working
class (so-called) to be more thoughtful and
provident than they have been, while II will
supply the training, II II be needed. The
co-operators will feel the pressing need OF
more capital, better implements, more eff.
cient machinery, from the outset. They
will resolve to economize and to work
harder, in order to accumulate the means Of
comprising the desired economies.
Wages may In the average be ever so fair
and Just, yet most unequally distributed.
Twenty men In q shop are paid SIS each per
week, and collectively they earn 1t; but the
work Of some Of them is worth third more
than that Of others, who are paid exactly
the same. This Ect Is known, and It tends
"what's the usei'' asks one melted 10
greater efficiency; 81 get my SIS per week
anyhow, and I shall get no more II do
twice as much" Thus the system tends to
promote incapaclty and lack Of skill as well
rs unthrift.
The wages system is simpler and less COM
pick than cooperation, but simplicity can
be purchased at too high q cost; and the dis
cussions and perpleXltles OF body Of CO.
operators, seeking to award to each pay
ment for services on basis OF Justice and
equity, could not fail TO be found instructive
and profitable.
Cooperation Is not mere theory, a crude
speculation. The Yankee whaling business,
so important and fourishing through forty
years, was almost entirely prosecuted on
this basis. The whaler was sometimes
owned by several persons, while Its outfit
was furnished by others. Suppose the whole
to have cost 100000; 1t was divided into
two hundred shares, each representing u 200
vested In the 'lay," and each entitled to
alike in the profits Of the venture. 30
all Is easy enough. But one hundred
shares more are issued, whereof the captain
Is allotted ten, the first mate five, the second
mate three, each experienced whaler two,
and each greenhorn one; and now the yes
sci sets forth on her cruise "round the
Horn" to last three or four years. On her
return her oil and bone are sold to the best
advantage, the proceeds realized, and appor-
toned to each shareholder according to the
number Of his shares. This plan was found
In practice to work 60 well that, though orig.
mating In solitary experiment, II gradually
became nearly or quite universal, and under
1t the American whalcrs surpassed all others
In daring, efficiency and success.
There arc many other examples of sue
cessful cooperation but they are mainly so
recent that their success may be fairly deemed
inconclusiye, and choose to rest on results
thoroughly matured, of wide notoriety, and
derstood business, and knew how to make II
pay, the owners and outtltters Of our whal'
Ing fleet Of twenty to flfty years ago were Of
the number.
However adequate may DO the wages
usually paid for labor, we know that thou
sands are unable to obtain them. mar
who falls below the average capacity of his
r., AL. a tn,th 10, IN In nFl
at all. Employers decline to give full wages
for partial service journeymen refuse tc
work with associates who do not receive full
pay. Hence the most needy class can often
obtain no work whatever. Cooperation
would make room for them, paying them
whatever they should earn.
We are often told of dearth Of employ.
% ment-"nothing to do" We ask, How Ii
this 7 Are these tailors, matters, shocmakers
etc., idle because every one has an ample
supply Of clothes, hats and bootsi o no
there are more In need Of those necessariei
of life than there were last year, when WORK
was abundant. The unemployed mechanics
as they yalnly pace the streets, meet thou
sands In need Of the products Of their handi
craft-nay are themselves In such need
Thore are thousands suffering for lack o.
seasonable garments yet no call for the Ia
Dor Of those who, possessing tho requisite
skill, would gladly and cheaply make them
think this jangle could not occur unde
the sway Of cooperation.
Whether cooperation will ever entirel.
supersede the wages system may plausibl
DO questioned. There are conceivable appli
cations Of labor which, 1t seems, can hardl!
DO recompensed under any other than tn
wages system. For the present co-operatio
seeks TO supplement rather than supplan
hiring. Let 1t have fair trial and hayln
succeeded or failed let 1t be judged accord
lngly. There is not particle Of DANCE
that 1t will command greater degree @
popular favor than Its merits, demonstrate
by experiment, shall fairly Justify.