The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-01-20

was also member, and still retains his inter-
est. The other members were prominent and
active members OF the typographical union.
Care was taken, as Of necessity should be in
all such undertakings, TO enlist in the scheme
the best class of printers. 1t would not be
true and Just history of the undertaking to
omit to say that the leaders and directors, and
managers of this enterprise were men of more
than average intelligence and industry. These
traits, as we'll as money, are necessary to the
any trade. Only such men can hope to be
successful manufacturers either by the old or
the cooperative plan. Those below the aver
age Of intelligence must always expect to be
only hired laborers. 1t is the great and just
rule of life which the most perfect scheme OF
cooperation, the most powerful plan Of pro
tective union. cannot alter one jot or little.
The first payment of the original instalment
was made in November, 1866, and regular
weekly payments were made from that time
forward The capital stock was fixed at $4,000,
and it was not intended TO begin work until
that sum was paid up. The members were
patient, persevering men, some OF whom
to get the requisite capital. tBut early
in the year 1867, the office OF the New
York Shipping List was offered for sale at
sacrifice; and the attention OF the co-operar
tives was called to THIS as an opportunity
for beginning business at once. The Office had
used but little over month; the material EN-
braced full assortment Of newspaper type,
much of which could be used In the higher
class of Job work On examination 1t was
found to be bargain at $4,000, at which It was
now held; Mr.. Beach, the proprietor, offering
to sell to the association on easy terms. few
of the twenty-five members, anxiods to begin
operations, proposed to pay up their share OF
the capital stock at once, and several did so.
By May !, 1867, about $3.50 Of the capital stock
was thus paid in. OF this sum $500 was paid
in cash for the office; three notes, at six,
twelve and eighteen months, were given foh
was opened by the association, as announced
on small card, the only effort made by it'in
the way of advertising, as shook, job and
general printing Office" One of the principal
mistakes of the management has been the fall
ure to advertise.
The establishment on its opening gave en-.
ployment to only two of the members Of the as
sociation. The members pat their Office on
precisely the same footing as any other job Of
ice, appealing to no society OF organization
for help, but taking whatever came. They had
expected, and reasonably enough, the custom
of small merchants and tradespeople strug-'
Cling like themselves; but 1t is their expert.
ence that the greater part of their custom came
from other classes large houses having much
printing to be done, looking closely as to its
cost, and engaging it where it could be had
cheapest We learn that like experience
marked the opening of the Tailors' Co-opera-
tive Union. 1t was the experience Of MIR. Ro-
bert Bssert, the originator OF the latter es-
tablshment, that the working classes them
selves would largely patronize the. association.
He has found that, On the contrary, the sup
port has come mainly from Broadway clothiers,
large merchants and manufacturers, and, SIN
gularly enough, from cditors-"classes OF
men," as workingman expressed IT. TO us,
,,tth np1rn n
operation than the working classes seem to be
with its Advantages
The business of the Journeymen Printers
Association did not rapidly Increase. WORK
came in slowly, the weekly instalments to
ward raising the capital stock were regularly
paid, and the small profits were spent IN IN
creasing the stock. AT the end OF the first
six months the business gave employment p Hanr 10
five men, and ut the end OF their hscal year.
Nav, ls6S-twenty-flv printers found constant
employment ut the regular Union prices.
The second year of the adventure was SILL
more prosperous. Even in the dullest season
business was above the average OF that ENJOY
ed by surrounding establishments. The busi-
ness was extended as the patronage Increased,
the profits going to swell the stock or to add
new material The new steam presses were
purchased in June, 1869, and these gave en-
ployment to three additional hands. The ma
jority of those employed were Journeymen
not interested in the profits OF the concern
The most of those who had entered INTO Inc
scheme held more lucrative positions IN other
offices; these they retained, investing what they
could spare in the association. At the close ofthe
second fiscal ,year-May, l669-the association
gave full and remunerative employment 10
tWcnty-eight compositors and pressmen. At
the end of that year the association also oe-
clarcd dividend Of fifty per cent. The capi-
tal stock was increased to SIS, ,000-twenty-fye
shares of 5000 each, and the dividend went In
mart payment. The members were 80 well sat-
istcd with the investment of their money In
this scheme that they were unanimously ID Ia
yor of enlargng the establishment and increas'
ing the capital stock. At the same time, the
office, stock and fixtures were carefully inven-
toried at $4,000. A second dividend Will be
declared about January !, 1870, and half
yearly aftcrward. 1t is thought by the presi-
dent and manager that the stock inventory at
the end of 1869 will show value OF not less
than $4,000.
All this. it must be remembered, is the re-
suit of the Investment originally OF only SlZSo,
and at no time of more than $4,000, and the
labor Of two men originally, and not more
than twenty-five men at any time since. The
sum paid in by the co-opcratives has averaged
not more than 50 per week, sum so 1nslgnl.
llcant as not to be missed. II suppose" said
the president, alluding to this p0lnt, "tnat
there is not one OF the members who; ASIDE
from his interest in the concern, Is not as wen
off to-day as If he had not paid his STOCK at
all" It would have been deposited in bank
drawing but six per cent. interest, or proDar
bly spent for some object which would nave
been not only useless but dangerous.
The partial success Of the Journeymen Prln-
tcrs' Association created considerable commo-
tion in the Typographical Union OF this city.
It was urged that the concern was not proper
ly cooperative, as it was confined to only
TWENTY-FIVE members, and not open to all mem-
bers OF THE craft. The twenty-five members
suggested to the jealous malcontents that the
field was open to them to form another. One
was undertaken, but the error OF admitting
too many members was committed. One
thousand members subscribed $500 as capl-
tall but soon uuarrelled among themselves, ana
about two hundred OF them having met IN con-
yention to settle the difficulties, did so by In
dulcing in free fight The association was
broken up, but only about elghty-nlne per
cent. of tile monies subscribed was returned
Experience has shown that the fewer the MEM
bers and the larger the weekly instalment, the
greater the chances Of harmony and success.
THE rAIL.oRs' COOPERATIVE UNION.
The establishment at the corner OF Four
tcenth street and Third avenue was startled IN
The spring of 1869 by Robert Blissert and sew.
cntcen associates. Their capital stock con-
sisted of the 81 per week subscription OF the
eighteen members; and not yard OF cloth was
on hand when the scheme was started and
work began. The want OF capital OF course
was q serious obstacle to rapid success, and
oro ~ M ticII-