St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-01-06
enterprise. In conclusion. Mr.. Lamb

CHtSi pIIoCs LII CoiiCluSlOils MI. LdiHU
says:
GOOD INFLUENCES OF COOPERATION.
Enough has been said to make it evil
dent that the idea of cooperation is be-
ginning to have strong hold upon the
minds Of Minneapolis workingmen.
The workers in sash, door and blind
factories, the plasterers. and men en-
plOyed in some other crafts and lines of
manufacture have begun to frame more
or less definite plans for cooperative
seffeut. Not one of those honest and
manly attempts of wage-earners to be-
come their own employers, obtain
larger returns from their labor, and
achieve Industrial independence can be
wholly fruitless, whatever its apparent
j fate may be. Most of them, it is true,
are humble and obscure; but far from
being Insignificant because they have
their beginning among the common
people, and are not fostered or patron
lied by the missionaries of wealth or
culture, they are OH that very ac-
conlt the more deeply slgnifi
cant. What men win for them
selves is their own Workingmen.
cannot have cooperation, or any other
improved system of industrial organi-
zation, thrust upon them. Good in
: educational aids can be bestowed; but,
after all, it remains for men to help
themselves, asking no odds. Co-opera-
ton is the most admirable form of self
help, because each man is helping his
fellows to climb as rapidly as he climbs
himself. and the progress of all is facili-
tated. 1t develops and strengthens all
the wOrthieSt elements of manhood,
While its diSciplines and restraints are
Invaluable. When. therefore. in a given
community considerable numbers of
wOrkingmen are found to be success
fully practicing the cooperative system,
with various other groups preparing to
follow the example, there are thought
full men who will deem this social fact
quite as significant mark of true prog
ress in that community as the broad
and beautiful streets, the paIatial bust
ness structures or even the ample school
buildings ana costly churches.
The chapter devoted to striking is
principally given up to a brief history
OF such events of that nature as have
occurred since 1885, Commissioner
Lamb says that Minnesota has been ex-
ceptionally free from strikes. He is I'M
certain whether this IS due to better
conditions OF life among working peO-
pie, or the character and nationality of
the laboring population. The most inn
portant labor trouble referred to is the
carpenters and joIners' strike in st.
Paul. in 1887. After several months
partial concessions were granted the
strikers, but after the majority of them
had returned to work. An account of
the trouble between the Spectator, a
Minneapolis paper, and the Typograpn-
leal union, which was finally amicably
settled, is given. The strike of the
laborers at Duluth last summer is re-
ferred to as the most important during
1887 and 1888. The statistician says the
satisfactory settlement of the difficulty
was due to the prompt and intelligent
action OF the mayor and prominent eiti-
zens of that city.
Mr.. Lamb devotes the last four pages
OF his report to an argument for the
study of political economy and dis
cussion of the necessity for statistics.