The Richmond palladium. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1855-1875, 1870-10-29
THE PALLADIUM,
SATURDAY, OCT, 20, 1870.
Co-operation.

Some OF our IN chaniCs and bust
ness men are making an effort to
organize . Cooperative Associa-
ton for the manufacture of furni-
ture. It is On effort in the right
direction, and one that merits pub
tic favor. There are, however,
enc or two features which should
be modified or abandoned. The
first is the one which allows any
one member to own 500 shares of
e95 each-the capital of the Asso
citation being 100000. Labor and
Capital are inseparably connected.
and Labor is always dependent up
On Capital. Agricultural Labor is
not SO intimately connected with
Capital as is Mechanical Labor,
and consequently does not so soon,
nor to suoh an extent, feel the
weight of the opposition ofmassed
Capital or the pressure Of tight
monetary affairs. In Europe Cap
itol has concentrated and accnmu-
lated in the hands of the few at the
expense of the many. The power
and influence OF the few is CORES
pondingly great, and proportion
ally subversive to the interest aud
welfare Of the multitude: Coop
Grafton is an attempt on the part
ofthe Labor to relieve itself from
this ver.shadowing influence of
concentrated Capital, and apply
to it's own pressing needs the prof
it's arising from it's industry and
good managene nt. One of the
most important questions to be
solved by our American people is,
can We prevent the concentration
of Capital in the hands Of the few.
For many years this question has
been the subject of earnest and
thoughtful consideration on the
part OF our eminent statesmen and
and philanthropists. And Coop.
Grafton is one Of the measures
which this consideration has sug-
gested. It is the working in con-
cert, upon their combined resourc-
es, Of the many whose individual
means is limited, but whose col
lective means constitutes Capital
and is sufficient for the carrying
on of large establishments. This
Cooperation Of the many, by ag-
gregating and managing their own
funds, distributes the proceeds Of
their industry among themselves,
and not among the few. This
statement of the subject will prob
ably make it plain that to allow
any one member to own 500 shares
is o mistake that should be cor
rected. 500 shares at S25 per
share amounts to 912,500 which is
one fourth Of the entire capital,
and would, in case Of financial
distress, throw the whole thing in
to the hands of three or four capi-
telists, and it would again be La
Dor VS.. CAPITAL.
The other Objectionable feature
is the proposition to the City
Council to either exempt the prop
erty Of the Association from city
tax, or for the City to take $4,000
Of its stock. To exempt its effects
from taxation is directly in con-
fict with the State Constitution
which says Taxation shall be
equal" It is evident that it would
be unfair because it would allow
the Association to compete with
otE or firms in the city that pay
taxes. II would make it's stock q
splendid investment for Capital
where it would be entirely free,
and where it would bear no part
ut all OF the public burdens. Es-
pecially would this be SO If one
person might own 500 shares.
Such thing would be both unfair
and impolitic. It would be equally
unwise for the City TO take stock
in 1t. There are other estab
liehments in the City equally
deserving Of such aid, and for
the Council to establish such q
precedent would be the height OF
municipal folly. Any legislation
which favors one class Of our peo-
pie, or one kind Of trade, is, to
that extent, prejudical to the in
terests of the rest of the people, or
the other kinds of trade. The
City has justly no right to levy
tax for anything except for mu-
nicipal Government, lin which in
cludes Police. Sanitary Regula-
tons, & c.), municipal Improve
ment,-by which is meant Street
Improvements. Draining, Water
works, &c.,-and for Sc hool Pur-
poses. Any further taxation is
always disadvantageous to q very
large minority, and most general