The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-05-17

/ : 10 secure the workman a Ialr share OF
profits, and protect his share by giving him
adequate representation ON the directory of
the company for which he works. 3. To
credit the customer with the share that re-
mains when justice has been done to all
producing agents concerned in serving him
4. To set apart, as the stores do, funds for
educatlona d journalistic purposes. Ii
does not pay TO have fools for members,
and it is shabby to depend for information
upon papers written and speeches given BY
charity Thus every producing society
would be cooperative all through, self
acting, aud self-sustaIning.
MIR. Hughes read paper written by Mr.
Ludlow, Oh the same subject, the gist Of
which was that the consumer should not be
supremely considered, for production was
the divine element, and consumption was
the animal element in cooperation pro
ductlon ought to be the primary object Of
a cooperation and a preference should be
given to the productions of cooperative
societies. The main thing should be to
make producers their own masters, and
not merely to put producers under body
of cooperative masters instead Of lndivid-
ual masters.
Mr. Stapleton, Of Newcastle, moved:
That in the opinion Of this Congress it is
essential to the full and complete develop
ment of co operative production i'll union
that the individual should invest his
savings therein, and that the constitution
Of cooperative productive societies should
provide for the Just and equitable division
Of the profits between capital and labor,
and, as far as practicable, trade" He con
tended that if the cooperative principle
was thoroughly to proceed, labor ought to
have the privilege Of investment.
DR.. Rutherford seconded the motion,
and Mr. Holyoake, Mr. Greening and Mr.
Linis (of Lurgan) supported it.
Mr. Marcroft, Of Oldham, contended
that the investment of capital ought To be
encouraged, from whatever source it came
Mr. Head (of the firm of Fox, Head q
Co, Middlesbrough) said he held that a
man was only half a man until he had
something to lose. lie remarked that he
had thrown his whole soul, during the last
six years, into the carrying out Of the
principle involved III the industrial part
nership at Middlesbrough, with which he
was connected. In that industrial part
nership there was at present no arrange
ment for the workman investing heir sa
wings.
clause to give that opportunity to the
workmen was at tilst put INTO the articles
Of agreement; but there was only one
instance during three years Of workman
under the firm applying to invest hls sa
wings that clause was withdrawn. The
firm consequently came to the conclusion
that that part Of their scheme Was lar
ahead Of the time, and withdrew it. and
instead of it promoted a cooperative dis
tributive store, which, although for some
considerable time only had twenty
members, now had $50 members and
turned over about $40, 900 a year III trade;
aud a cooperative building society was
now beng provided (APplause) He
contended that the capitalist was a man
who did not spend all no got, or whose
forefathers had not spent all they got, and
deemed that the capital was an enemy Of
labor, and remarked that if the working
man spent all, or more than he earned, lie
could never rise IN the social scale
The fifth annual congress of delegates
from co operative societies in Great Britain
and Ireland was resumed on Tuesday NOR
ming in the Mechanics Hall, New Bridge
street, Newcastle Mr. Thomas Hughes,
NJ. r., in the chair.
NEXT PLAtEOF MEETING.
BY an unanimous vote Halifax was cho-
sen as the place where the congress will
meet next year.
WHAT sOCIETIEs Should BE CONSIDERED
COOPERATIVE.
Mr.. Morrison moved That this Con-
gress accepts to cooperate associations, en-
titled to return delegates to future con
crosses, provided such association contrib
ute to the Congress Fund.-. All distr b-
utlve societies or companies which provide
III their rules for division Of all net
profits, after paying fixed rate Of interest
ON capital, among purchasers, whether
shareholdmg members OF not, IN proportion
TO purchases. 2. All productive societies
or companies which provide in their rules
for ust and equitable division Of all net
profits between capital, labor, and, as far
as practicable, trade. 5. In the case of SO
cletles or companies partly dIstrlbutive and
partly productive, all such as embody in
their rules or regulations both the princi-
pies mentioned above At the same time
this Congress continues to urge on all dis
tributive societies the duty incumbent on
them Of adopting the principle Of paying
all employees in part in proportion to the
net profits made in the department III
which they may be employed.
DR. Rutherford moved as an amendment
That this Congress cannot regard any So
ciety as cooperative which does not divide
profit with labor and trade"
Mr.. Tate (Gateshead) objected to DR.
Rutherford's suggestion, on the ground
that 1t would leave out such societies as the
Gateshead one
Mr.. Haswell moved that the words,
provided such associations contribute to
the congress fund" be omitted from the
resolution.
A delegate moved that delegates be al
lowed representatives according to the
amount subscribed
Mr.. Hodgson Pratt held that it would
be fatal to shut cut any societies, ana sug-
gested an alteration of the resolution i'll
that respect.
Mr. Holyoake agreed with the resolutions
proposed by Mr.. Morrison.
The Chairman suggested that authority
be gwen to the Central Board to decide
what societies be represented at the Con
gresses.
Mr. hbbern Leeds thought DIR. Ruth
erford's 5 suggestion should be adopted
Mr. Scott (Oldham) suggested that the
question be adjourned to another year
Mr.. Josiah Rhodes (HeckmOndwick) }
moved that the resolutions of Mr. Morri-
son be referred to the Congress Board to
report on next year.
Other amendments were moved, and on
being put to the meeting, DIR. Rutherford 5
amendment was carried.
! AN IMPROVEMENT IN VENETIAN BLINDS
A novel application Of colored and
/ ground glass, instead of wood or iron laths,