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

cal an hand ....... 1000 Number Of shares IS -
- sued. .-............" [VV
These two hundred shares are owned by SO persons
tina largest number owned by any one being TO-
and only one person, J. d. Williams OF Taunton
owning this number. The report for Nov !, 1907
had been sent to the Secretary of State when was
at the foundery. On application at the once OF the
Secretary, was unable to obtain copy owing 10 a
regulation which forbds the furnishing of such doc
uments to the press until they have been sent to the
Ieeislature understand the showing for 1869 Is
fully as good as that for 1868
Owing IN the reticence of the Somerset cO-Opera-
tiyes am only able to say further that their success
has been very great only less marked than that oil
the Troy co6peratives and that il gives independence
TO about so men and their families.
This is the extent, as far as l can learn, OF the
purely cooperative movements in this State; but
hear of numbers of schemes on foot of them on
large scale and with heavy capital furnished by
Others than the laborers themselves. This is another
dangerous rock on which many cooperative scheme
has split Men do not care to invest $5 900 or $4,000
in a scheme in whose direction they have no more
voice or vote than those who invest only 500; and
It is almost certain failure to give capital and labor
unequal power in the direction of an establishment
of this plan Still schemes Of this nature are being
planned principally in the boot and shoe manufac-
ture and trade and men have met here who are
half labor advocates, half politicians hope for their
success.
INDUSTRIAL Observation-Disclosures ADVANTAGES AND
DISADVANTAGES
The industrial partnerships in the State are more
humorous than those on the cooperative plan but
their success cannot be compared to that of those in
the State of New-York. The great difficulty with
the usty child of cooperation here is that it has not
the proper nursing. Industrial partnerships will not
give it Strength-co6peratve partnerships are what
is wanted. and are what will come when the people
are educated by experiments such as that at Somer-
set and Troy. 1t is the fault of the inferior
plan of the industrial partnerships that 1t
gives the mechanic only indirect interest in the
results He has legal recognition voice in the
direction of the business he is at it Were only
guest at the banquet and his profits to him too
much in the form of charity. He works with many
dOubtng and few strong hopes he expects reap no
direct advantages from sudden unexpected ad-
vance in the price of the commodity produced by his
work and his partners capital, for these profits APP
parently 60 to the capitalist only. On the other
hand he knows he will suffer to the extent of getting
no bonus if prices fall or there should be great mis-
take made in the direction of the business in which
he has no voice. He is encouraged to hope for reward
only from the increased amount of work done by his
own hands-therefore, he is led to work rapidly
rather than well-itis quantity not quality which
the system leads him to consider the test of work
mauship. He is not encouraged to economy OF any
thing but of the time which is his own; and the
great wastage of tools and material which is chief
expense of all manufacturing concerns, is not cor
rected for this loss does not fall him. Indirectly
and in theory the scheme does encourage economy,
good workmanship, &C., since on these depend the
general suceess-tbe total profit of the establishment
but, practically the mechanic ESQ the manufacture
ers tell mel cannot be made to see this and in ex-
lfs in fba nf nd
workmanship are not satisfactory
The chief benefits arising from it these: /. To
the workman First constant steady employment;
second, morality resulting from this encouraged in
dustry; thrd the actual sum realized from his per-
centage Of the annual profits, IL To the manufac-
turer: FIRST prevention Of strikes; second selection
of the best and steadest workmen; third, increased
production of tools, machinery. and capital
These are the actual general results as shown by
experience Below are the detailed experience of
one of two of the interesting establishments in
which the directors or prOpretOrs have voluntarily
introduced the industrial partnership principle.
sHOEMAKERs' INDUSTRIAL PARTNERSHIP.
At Worcester large corporation runs an extensive
mandatory of boots and shoes. known as the Bay
State Boot and Shoe Factory, employing about 500
hands, most Of whom work "by the piece" The
immediate direction of the establishment is in the
hands of Messrs C. d. Bgelow Of No. 80 Vesey-st.,
*,
Worcester. For many years past these gentlemen
have been advocates of the industrial partnership
principle and have urged it on the stockholders of
the Bay State Factory. In 1867 they succeeded in
gaining the consent of the stockholders to scheme
which may be briefly described as follows:
From the gross profits of each year On amount
equal to per cent the capital stock of the con-
Germ was TO be deducted to cover expenses IS per
cent or one-fourth of the remaining net profits,
was to be divided pro rata according to the amount
of work done, among all wOrkmen earning above o
certain amount. For the year 1869 this amount was
fixed at $50 for females aud 800 for males.
For 1859 these sums were doubled. The first
dividend was made without previous notice
TO the workingmen and women, and merely as an
illustration of what o workman would call " an
earnest of what the Company proposed to do. The
sum thus divided among the constant laborers was
$500 or ~ per cent on the labor of the whole estab
shment OF course all the hands did not share those
who worked but few weeks months ard then
roved away to other factories, or those who lived in
the vicinity. worked for a few days or weeks at q
time, were not taken into the account. In 1868 the
sum thus divided was not quite $1,000 For 1869 the
dividend to be shortly declared win be about the
same or something more The stockholders other
than the Messrs. Bigelow In immediate control of
the establishment are unableto any direct results
or positive advantages arising from this expenditure
and IL is uncertain whether or not the partnership
will be continued in the future. But the Mr. BgelOw
whom saw on my visit considers the advantages
resulting from the schme as very great
"The purpose of the scheme" he said, " was of
course to attract and retain the best and steadest of
workmen. ShOemakers in this State are rowing
set and think il is great advantage to the estab
iahment that we bV this meang keen al many GOOD