The Labor enquirer., 1886-03-13
Corporation.

Editor Labor Enquirer.
Following is a paper read before Interna-
tional assembly sa17, Knights of Labor:
This isa large subject. l cannot even
glance at it in the time allotted me. This is
one or the problems of our time, but how
shallit be solved? The workers are awaking
to the fact that they are like the man that
went down from Jerusalem to Jericho and
fell among thieves. j"
Wealth never increased so fast as in our
day and it has constant tendency to get
into fewer hands. The big fish are eating up
the small enes in all waters-men are living
upon one another and not for one another,
and man feels his one weakness. The order
of God has been reversed. We have been
taught and learned the lesson, every man for
himself and God for us all. But the nations
are waking and men everywhere are cropping
in darkness and asking for light, and the
great teacher of Socialism proclaims: Love
thy neighbor as thyself." "Do ye unto all
men as ye would they should do unto you" d"
And this will find solvent in cooperation
in some form or other, for this is the univer-
sal tendency of the age in which we live.
1t is Nihilism in Russia, Communism in
France and Italy, Cooperation in England,
State Socialism in Germany; what shall it be
in America?
While the laborer has been busy at work in
his isolation capital has been busy at work
pursuing cooperation on large scale, but
leaving the laborers out. This looks like
cooperative selfishness. We do not deny
that there is large amount Of organized
selfshness among ourselves, but bad as it is
it is step in the right direction, we cannot
stand alone. 1t is only by cooperation that
the worker shall obtain his share of the
profits.
The ability of the laborer is his capital
invested upon which as yet he has received
no profit, but having food and raiment he
has hitherto been content; but as these are
now failing he is slowly waking up to his
condition and asking for his rights.
What is cooperation contributing to the
same end d? How shall it be put in force with
no law on the statute book? Can it be done
by individual effort? No, because the benefit
could only be partial and the worker has
already been exploited of his all. How then
shall it be done? By law, giving to the
weakest worker in the mill, mine, manufac
tory, farm or railroad, an equal partnership
in the profits by percentage upon his pay,
which shall be accounted to him as his share
of the capital invested in the concern: Or
shall the state or national government be
called upon to procure and hold in trust for
the people all land and all industries, with
all the means of distribution, and run them
as great cooperative society at cost, for the
benefit of the people at large. No other
system of cooperation can be of any perma-
nent benefit to the people. 1t is good
thing only so far as it will benefit the CO.
operator. But the benefit it confers upon
John it will take from James. 1t may raise
John into capitalist and if it does It will
reduce James to a laborer. The benefit
it confers upon one it will take from the
other.
The causes of poverty are not seen upon
the surface and are not wholly produced by
grocer, butcher or baker, nor yet by the idle
ness, intemperance or improvidence of the
worker. Industrial governmental co-opera-
ton is the only effectual cure for this dread
disease of poverty. A UNIoNIsT.