The workingman's advocate., 1871-06-24

ton possess. We will suppose that you
open shop at your own house your wife
selling, and carrying on the business, on
equitable priaciples. believe in the truth
Of the assertioa, that the duties Of com
mittee are best performed when only one
constitutes quorum so | will proceed at
once to read over some rules. and consider
the object as practically started.
The great objection raised to similar
societies is that it is not fair TO the small
tradesmen in the neighborhood. II pro-
gress were not the natural and inevitable
destiny Of mankind, there might be some
justice in this plea but if We scrupted to
carry out an improvement because it might
injure the minority, the community would
suffer from mistaken kindness to indi-
viduals; We, out of consideration for the
needle, would still be without the sewing
machine, and hand-loom weaving would still
be remunerative. No man can. therefore,
in justice expect support where bis ser
vices are not required. You would not
keep two cooks or two cats, if one could do
all that was necessary and why should you
pay q grocer extra for doing that which, by
combining with others, you are abe and
willing TO do Cor yourself? 7?
The doctor. publican, lawyer and
schoolmaster an try TO find a situation
where their Iabors will be acceptable,
owing to the bad health, dissipation, quar-
relsome disposition or ignorance Of the in
habitants But suppose the inhabitant1
have good health, and that necessary as
sistance is voluntarily given by individuals;
that they are teetotallers that they submit
disputes to q chosen arbitration and that
those Who have spare time take pleasure
in giviag information; why, then, the doc
tor, publican, lawyer and schoOlmaster must
60 somewhere else. But, as Improvements
must be time tried to come out 10 opposition
TO existing interests, these associations must
successfully work for some years before
trade will pereeptibly and inconveniently
feel the loss Of custom.
"That question settled. we will 20 on
With the association. The first thing to be
done is to talk the matter over with few
few friends; and if you San be certain Of
at least q dozen being willing to purchase
their weekly requirements at the shop, you
must be successful. You say you have
yourself got three pounds in the savings
bank, which gives you but little interest.
Well, I will advance something, and will
wak Gor repayment until sum to that
amouat shall have been subscribed for
among sosx friends, in tickets Of the value
Of one pound each. / have no fear Of hav-
ing long to wait, as the capital, when
known to bear an interest Of FIVE per cent,
will soon be taken uP. if the honesty Of the
manager be unquessiOeGble.
AT Rochdale the members began BY
subscribing twopence, and Afterwards in
creased it to threepence per Heek, until
they had accumulated sufficient fE the IN
dertaking. One might have anticiPa ated the
success they have met with from the energy
and resolution with which they commenced;
and when We consider that they bad no ex-
ample Of similar efforts to encourage them,
20 support from those able to afford il, snd
no experience ia the business they we're
about to undertake, we shall best express
our appreciation Of their noble work by
following the good exampe they have set
rs; and, in the combination Of rich and
poor, carry out the principle 70 an extent
only to be compreheDded IN the elevation
attained.
Therefore, with Rochdale before them,
new societies cannot do better than begin a.
soon as the money has been subscribed. AS
the principle is now so thoroughly under
stood, no anxiety need be entertained for
its success, and the few thus commencing,
with small subscribed capital, more read
ily work out their intentions, unencumbered
BY persons who might join them more from
curiosity than from confidence; who would
demand explanations, and question resolu
tions, so obviously unmistakable, that often
gives childish appearance to the proceed
ings and delays the real business Of
meeting, to the hurrying over the most
important object With but cursory con
sideration.
81 will nov read over and explain some
rules, obtained from another association
and which, as it was established ON much
the same plan a the one we propose tc IN
dertake, we could not do better than adopt.
[ have, therefore, altered them where il
was necessary, and We will now call them
RULE This society shall be known as the
.WillingweII Social improvement Associa-
ton Each person. on becoming q member,
shall pay one shilling entrance, snd take up
two shares, 60 the value OF one pound each
The payment Of the sh@res must be made "
either by subscription from the profit OF
the purchase OF goods at the shop Of not lees
than two shillings o quarter.
you see, Cable, by the payment Of
shilling entrance, you insure a person be
ing Interested in the society; aOd, as halt
profits can be allowed to nOn-members, any
non-member can pay his shilling out Of the
profits he may receive from occasional
dealing, as the poor have often great diff
Guilty in finding convenient shilling; bur
all may come occasionally, and pay out Of
the profit they may obtain.
RULE 2.-The capital-that ID, the sums suo-
scribed BY members-will receive an interest
OF five per cent, which ~ill be the frs,
payment out Of the profit obtained.
This gives security to capital, and,
consequently, confidence 10 the association
RUIZ S.-Shares must be repaid to members
who NAV wish to retire from the association
tA regulated scale Of one pound q week
from which one shilling per share will b,
deducted towards the payment Of the AHeo
stock
RUIZ 4.-Every member has a vote az ID,
meetings OF the association, without reRaru
70 the number Of shares be may hold.
"This rule prevents q member compro-
missing the welfare Of the association, b
claiming q voice in proportion to bis inter
est This rule may appear unjust, and i
not generally acted upon but each mem
Der bas really an equal stake all social 10
terests are on a par, because each man il
equal 10 the eyes Of the Almighty each
mans life. wife, child and house are oi