New-York tribune., 1874-06-22
CO-OPERATIVE ENTERPRISES.

1t Is unfortunately TOO true tnat "Hoh "oih
men are best able to promote cooperative en-
terprises they are least disposed to do so. Ii
is only when trade is dull and wages are low
that they are willing to appreciate the advan-
tage of being their own "bosses," and OF pro-
yding against the strife and uncertainty
which attend the system of hired labor. The
rapid progress of the cooperative stores III
England is traceable to the necessities OF the
people, which made them willing to heed any
scheme calculated to better their condition.
The attempts to organize Labor on CO.
Operative basis have not yet attained signal
success. Enough, however, has been done In
England and France to demonstrate that 1t Is
the interests of employers and wOrk-peope to
combine upon basis insuring the laborer
share in the profits realized. The progress
attained bears some analogy to that which
marked the development of steam navigation.
Although Fulton's first voyage up the hudson
proved the superiority of the steamboat, 1t
was eleven years before one crossed the Allan
tic, and it is only in our own
day that his great invention has been
universally utilized. Industrial cooperation is
undoubtedly good, but it has to contend,
among other things, with that Derverslty
shown in the bricklayers' strike, and so its
progress is impeded both at home and abroad.
Suppose the brichlayers, instead OF joining an
oyergrown Union, which is managed by the
idle of their number, and whose general effect is
to cause such waste of time and money as they
are now suffering. should form similar union,
composed of men who have been accustomed
to work together and are willing to stand
together when working as loyalty as when on
strike. Suppose that these men, instead OF
combining against the bosses, should become
bosses themselves, entering into competition
with Others and getting contracts where they
can, with the certainty that any contract
which they took would surely be carried out,
since it would be free from any possible
danger of strikes, and would be well done,
since future success would depend on the
good reputation there established. There is
really no more organizing power required IN
such scheme of cooperative production than
there is in the present labor union system of
cooperative destructiOn-nO more intelligence
required to stand together and work for
themselves than there is required to stand
together in strike and force others to quit
work.
1t seems probable that the form of co0pera-
ton in which wOrkmen combine their capital
and labor will be best developed under .the
favorable conditions which exist in this cOun-
try. Abroad the rates of wages do not allow
workmen to accumulate large savings still
less are they able to undertake any enterprise
of a speculative character. The account given
of the New-York enterprises in THE TRIBUNE
the other day shows that fair progress has been
made here already, and that if there have
been failures they are not traceable to any
inherent defects in the system. The success
attained in the cigar and shoe trades clearly
demonstrates that great triumphs may yet be
accomplished, and that Mr.. Greeley was only q
short time in advance of the popular judgment
when he expressed his conviction that "Co-
operation is the true goal Of our industrial
"progress, the application Of the republican
"principle to Labor, and the appointed means
"of rescuing the Labofing Class from depend
"ence dissipation, prodigality, and need, and
establishing it on basis Of forecast, calcu-
"lation, sobriety, and thrift, conducive at
"once to its material comfort, its intellectual
"culture and moral elevation The present
season of dull trade will not be without its
advantages if it causes employers and work.
men to examine system 50 forcibly COM
,,op1ad