New-York tribune., 1874-06-17
co.opERaTIyE ASSOCIATIONS.


COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATIONS.
One of the best known of recent cOOpera-
tive schemes which started with fair promise enjoyed
a brisk prosperity for time, but was finally over
whelmed in difficulties was the Jourieymen Printers
Cooperative Association the inception of which was In
November 1861 and the end OF which camelast Autumn
To John Vincent was due most OF the effort which
brought about its beginning. Among other well-known
members at the start were N. w Young Charles b.
Smith and Robert Nick echne. The printers engaged
in the scheme were OF the class OF superior
Intelligence and industry. There we're 25 25members each
of whom pay 81 per week until sufficient means
we're raised begin the enterprise the capital stock
being xed al 5000 Early in 1867 puOlcation Office
with type and fixtures offered for sale on terms
which attracted attention Of the Association, and
the capal was paid up far possible, the property
purchased and work begun. Their office was opened
May T. 1901 of the capital stock having been paid
in. AT first there work for only two mem-
bers. No special appeal was made for patron
age on account OF the merits or the scheme. 1t
was found that small merchants showed no special
disposition help the struggling organization but the
engagements chiefly from large houses who sought
diligently for the lowest rates. Their weekly Install
mens we're paid regularly by the members Of the Asso
ciaon aud the small profits went to swell the stock AT
the end of first year 25 persons were employed The
second years business was prosperous The gains we're
used 10 increase the stock and to add to the material
In June 1862 steam presses were bought. and
seven moro hands were taken. Most OF the employees
had no the Association, the members In the
maIn had lucrative occupations elsewhere. In May.
1862 dividend OF 50 per cent declared The capital
stock was increased 00 2j shares OF $780, the dvi
dend going part payment careful inventory OF the
Office stock. and fixtures made their value $1,000 Dur
ing 1870 the prosperity of the Association continued
dividend OF per cent declared In semi-annual in
d.Iadf fha afnck fe
1s7l and there more dividends. 1t Is claimed
by members that largo printing houses made special
efforts to crush the Association while there was iDu
dicious management u giving credits and In employing
too many persons outside OF the printing department
The Association lost 81 800 by The Fgh Avenue journal
s7OO other debt and other considerable sums n
bad debts. Failure came last Fall, with liabilities of
s21 OOO John Scott was appointed assignee The office
fixtures and machinery sold by auction. bringing
about 5000. The affairs of tue Association are not
vet settled and the creditors have received no dividend
This Cooperative Association stirred up some ifeeling
among a certaa class of printers. who claimed that IL
was not truly cooperative because all Its members did
not work the Office. very largo association was
afterward projected among tho printers This was to
have 1000 members ant 1850 subscribed by them
But Quarrels arose. and meeting of about 200 OF the
subscribers narrowly missed breaking up with blows
The scheme was abandoned but only 50 per cent of the
money subscribed was ever returned.
COOPERATION AMONG TAIlsORS.
Tailors' Cooperative Association, In which Robert
Bissert was the leader and which composed OF 10
iourneymen, was started in May, 1862 at Four
teenth st. and Thriave. Elch member contributed
81 per week. There only 800 OF paid-up
capital to begin with. charter was obtained which
fixed the amount OF capital at 5000, but only small
portion Of this paid In. The number OF men,
bers increased to 90 but dsagrcements arose
and several OF these speedily left. As the Association
at the at and its
neagcr its early struggles hard During the first
year most OF the members were employed on Associ-
alton work. and at the end the value OF the stock
hand was estimated about $1,000, which represented
the results OF the and the weekly instaments Of
the members. But in after employment
irregular there losses and the Association be-
came dsorganized No dividends were made to increase
the stock and two years ago the plan was abandoned.
Four OF the members, however, are now planning the
establishment another cooperative organization In the
Fall with capital of sl,O0O.
EFFORTS IN THE SHOE TRADE.
There il in the shoe trade prosperous assoca-
ion which its opponents and the members OF the Order
of Cspns stOutly declare is not truly cooperative
ganzaion because, they it is entirely controlled
by one man. the superinte ndent and the members
no voice In the management This man was formerly at
the head OF the Crspin Order when contained $4,000
men, and did very much to OrgaDize In this city and
in various sections OF the country but when he started
the manufacturing association he had bitter fight
wage The Order tried best to crush him. but did
not succeed The Association the Excelsior Boot and
Shoe Association at No. los Bleeckerst, and the super
intendent is Thomas Ryan. Mr.. Ryan and
tho members Of the Association declare that it is
purely cooperative. The superintendent owns more
shares than other members ana receives more upon
them Beside the profits on bis shares, he receives
salary Of "a per week for Conducting the business OF
the Association This he does without interference or
assistance from the members, but his continuance in
Office is subject to the will OF the members expressed by
vote at their annual meeting, when they also choose
President This Association started in September,
1870, at No. los Bleeckerst. The shares
were t25 each, and no member could then hold more
than eight. The capital fixed by the charter at
4OO OF which about q O0O paid up by the 80 men,
bers, four or five Of whom owned q couple OF shares
each. The rest had apiece. Mr. Ryan had
been for considerable time urging the ad-
vantages Of cooperation in the Crispln order
TO general acceptance, but when the Association
started it was claimed that 1t violated the rules of the
Order by doing custom-work for manufacturers Men
were set to watch the Association and TO hammer ts
work in every way possible. Members were induced 10
withdraw. II a rule Of the Association that any
member could giving three months notice. receive
all the he had paid into the Association and I'm
the first twelve months sl6i0 paid back After
few weeks five members paid the full limit OF eght
shares. The first year very little profit made At
first there work for fourteen only and the Assoc-
ton had very little stock machinery. After the de-
parture OF many members by Crspn influence the limit
for shareholders raised to twelve shares each 1t
Is sixteen. The Association Is made up OF
eleven members, ten OF whom work daily In the shop
and work IL furnished for 33 Others The wages are
Of the highest exceeding the Crispin standard and
ranging from els TO s3i per week The members draw
hvesixths or seven-eghths OF their pay weekly and
leave the rest DO used ia the business Twice each
year the amount OF these reserves Is made IN and
returned 10 each member, after In the business
while the profits have been applied increase the
stock. All the members have now paid up their stock
bur "A part OF IL was not paid in until recently Ar m,