The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1877-01-20
COOPERATION VERSUS STRIKES.

immediately following the absorption Of
the specie basis Of our monetary circula-
ton in 1873, and the consequent paralysis
Of business and enforced idleness of pro-
ducers, large demand ensued for more
equitable conditions for the distribution ii
the products Of industry, and better OPP
portunities for the polytechnic education
Of the masses, which found form and ex-
preston in the Brook Farm, and other
SECRETARY combinations, which subsequent
ly dissolved, and the members thereof
we're scattered
The Brook Farm Association was distin-
gnished above all others by the aesthetic
culture Of its members and the thorough
character Of its educational department.
and the detached individual particles have
been, perhaps, as influential in moulding
popular sentiment az the same proportion
ate numbers ever known, if We except the
original disseminators Of Christianity and
a rev of the schools of the Greek philoso-
phers-such charactera as Margaret Full
Ter afterwards the countess OssalO. Ma
thaniel Hawthorn, George Ripley, Charles
A. Dana, and the graduates from these
schools, have not been without their in
tiuence on our American civilization.
Horace Greeley and Parker Goodwin.
though not resident members were active
sympathizers, and if We mistake not stock
holders, and ably sustained the movement
by pen and personal influence.
Perhaps the great mistake Of the Brook
Farm associates was that it started to CON
struct the SECRETARY edihce at the top
story, and paid too little attention to the
Industrial basis
Now forty years later there are indica-
tions of reflux Of the tidal wave, which
is indicated by the aspirations Of the
"Grangers. the organization of the
''Soverigns of Industry" and last, but
far from the least Of all, by the prospects Of
the Cooperative Industrial Association of
Virginia, among whose officers and direc-
tors we note the names Of Thomas j.
Durant and Col. Edward Daniels of Wash
ington, d. c., and Samuel Leavitt, Of
New York city.
The circular says.
The following is a brief outline Of the aims
and purposes of the Association:
l. To make industry more honorable at
tractive and profitable and to secure to the
industrious an equitable distribution of the
products and profits Of their labor
2. To combine and organize capital and
labor in harmonious union as cooperative
factors of a common product, and thus secure
orderly, and economic activity Of productive
power instead Of the prevalent confused,
wasteful and Ineffective eff rts.
3. To secure thorough practical education
to every child, tender care to the sick and
disabled, and a guarantee Of competence in
old age.
To accomplish these purposes the Company
propose to unite capital with large number
of workers skilled in all the industrial pur-
suits essential to comfortable living.
The location is on the old George Mason
estate, known as Gunston Hall; is oppo-
site the old home of Loid Fairfax, and
within range Of the Mount Vernon estate
SO well known as the residence Of Wash
ington. The ihcorporators describe it
thus
A tract Of land sufficient for present pur-
poses has already been secured bv the Com
pany 1t is beautifully situated mon the
River, about twenty miles belce !
" ashington, which city is conveniently ac- |
cessible daily by steamboat, and there i also |
a railroad within a short distance, making
frequent connections North and south The |
land is Of good quality, varying from a sandy |
loan TO a clayey soil. having a rolling surface |
and excellent drainage. A portion q it i in |
timber, and the remainder under cultivation.
having extensive fruit orchards Of Young
trees. just commencing TO bear abundantlv.
the soil and climate being admirably adapted
to fruit growing. The climate is mild.
healthy and salubrious, being especially ad.
vantageous for those predispOsed to or af
fected by diseases Of the throat and lungs.
There are already sufficient buildings on
the place for the accommodation of a large
corps of pioneer operatives, and the pro-
gramme Of operations has been so far matur-
sd that the Company are now ready to re-
ceive subscriptions to the capital stock, aud
applications for membership as resident
workers of the Association
The circular concludes with a spirit Of
which speaks well for the con-
idencs of the projectors in the enterprise.
:hus:
Our first need il of Farmers, Builders.