The Labor enquirer., 1888-02-04
A Plan 70 Unite the Toilers
So IS 10 Gel The Whole
Product.
LABOR ALONBCREAYESYALR
Why Thsn Shssld Not the Worker
Have All He Prolaeesi IL
the Question.

Dor question, that pulsates and vi
brates stronger and stronger from
year to year throughout the civil
lied world. rests in cooperation
The ways and means the work
ingmen have resorted to for many
years to make their employers
yield to their modest and reasona'
BILE demands, have in effect
proven to be materially more q
loss than a benefit to either side
but the good lessons the experi-
ences have taught the laboring
classes-that they have to find out
a better way for the relief of theil
grievances-as we'll as the capital.
lists, must have shown them theil
own interest and the welfare ol
the whole people and country, re.
quires of them to divide fairly
and justly with the laborers the
profits they are producing; that
otherwise a bloody revolution will
inevitably be the consequence
sooner or later. Such a dreadful
outcome, under our democratic
government, would be an everlast
ing disgrace to this country ano
prove democracy a failure.
While pondering what ought te
be done to bring about a harmo'
nious state Of things. l received q
communication from a friend ir
which is an excellent idea pre-
sented that will completely solve
the problem ofpAixersal cooper.
alton, 1t is as follows:
Employees must have an inter
est in the business in proportion
to the amount of work he or she
is capable Of doing. Certain wages
must be paid for each days work
and at the expiration of time cor.
responding to three or six months
an account of stock is taken and
the profits of the business ascer-
tanned; then dividends declared
the laborer's dollar contributed in
work receives the same amount as
the dollar of the capitalist which
he has invested in the business.
ITO explain: at the expiration
of three months, the skilled me-
chanic has contributed 5000 in
work and drawn it out for the sup
port of his family; yet if a divi-
dend of 20 per cent is declared he
will have to his credit as cash cap
ital invested in the business, Sc
as an equal share of the dividend
on his S3oo) or, if he prefers he
can draw the money out and use
it as he sees fit. So also with the
boy and girl who earn but $50 a
month or $50 to the term; they re-
ceive SI2 as their proportional
share of the dividend on $50, OF
have it invested in the business as
cash capital, as they choose"
This is evidently magnificent
method, the practicability oI
which cannot be disputed. 1t:
principle is as just as it is rational
through and through. 1t will rad
ically root out monopoly in all it:
branches without doing harm ir
any way.
If congress had the power te
make this method a law,-l think
it has.-or the capitalists, compa.
nies, ETC., had the virtue and wis
dom to adopt it voluntarily they
would in doing SO eradicate a,
once revolutionary conspiracies
against our government-if there
are any in existence, as the late
scare about anarchists and the
barbarous executions at Chicago
seems to have created a belief ir
it-and thus establish peace and
prosperity to our, by nature, SC
abundantly favored country, anc
make it a new civilization for thu
entire world.
Thus cooperation means truly
and rightly that money is q dka1
capital. IS are the hidden treas
lures Of the earth, asd ayt osl
lstn1t tnadkshipe b I16or. Cunse