Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1874-03-19

one class OF textiles is worth, say $3.50, GOO
The annual rent ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 1910 O
The annual payroll ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. $1,000
The annual product. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, $4,000
The annual profit, at a fair rate.......... 25,0OO
These figures are not fanciful, but near
ly actual.
Let us suppose the capitalist or owners
to be in one class, the laborers in another
class, and the manufacturers, merchants,
or capitalizers in third division, and
that all equally desire to forward our plan
OF cooperation.
Reduce wages to the lowest possible
point at which the operatives can live,
and pay them weekly; or, say, pay rs per
cent of present prices and reserve 25 per
cent for the common fund. Reduce the
rent in same proportion.
Divide the net profits at the end of the
year into three equal parts-for the CAPT
talists, laborers and capitalizers. 1t is to
be remembered in this proportion that
the capitalist and capitalizer represent to
society number OF persons who are en-
ployed under them, though not laboring
in this one cooperative enterprise.
The laborers should receive individually
in proportion to their earnings, already
fixed according to the present scale. For
example, the skilled laborer, paid three
dollars per day as wages, would get three
times as much profit as ruder laborer,
receiving one dollar per day. This would
keep hierarchy long established and not
to be disregarded in any social change
If the result of the business were the
same as before, the condition of the labor
ers would be changed but slightly; they
would receive $13,500, made up of one
;rI IF tho old rrnGt I'd &c
discount, and their due third of the
wages withheld.
But would the result be the same?
From our observation it is safe to as
sumo that the product of the factory
would be increased by the change at
least 10 per cent. AS this increase is all
profit beyond the extra material used, it
would add one-third of its net value TO
the final dividend. The saving of ma
terials, in consequence of more assiduity,
better economy, more perfect work and
mutual watchtulness among the opera
tives would be at least per cent. on the
amount consumed These additional
gains would distribute, say, about $4,000
in profits; giving the laborer about 10
per cent. more than his old rate of wages
at the end of the year. Or he would
have had his support and have capital
lied at the end of the year an amount
equal to 80 percent of his old earnings.
There would be few tickle or unfaith
full laborers discharged before the divi-
dend accrued Their share in the profits
should be funded and administered by a
committee of laborers for the sick or
needy among themselves.
The capitalist would have gained in the
better care of his property and the great
diminution of risk through this mutual
interest in the fruit of it. The capitalizer
would have gained in the ready co-opera-
ton Of bis laborers, which would greatly
lessen the wear and tear of his own
strength and mental resources; then he
would gain largely by the immediate
sympathy Of capital, which, being so har-
messed in, could not leave the load al will.
The native timidity Of capital is one
direct cause of panics and the commo-
tons which so derange the world Of COM
merce. This fear first destroys the CAPT
talizer and ends in the self destruction of
capital.-From Labor and It's Organtza-
tto,l," an March Old md Ne,o.