The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-09-05
Nil}lIf Eagle
PROFITS FOR LABOR.
COOPERATIVE WORKERS WHO ARE
THEIR OWN EMPLOYERS.

bic interest In this pet scheme of labor re-
formers, and recalls the many attempts to
carry ii iRto practice, some Of which have
been successful, but most of which have
long been. forgotten.
One Of the Oldest and most prosperous Of
these enterprises IS the Solidarity Watch
Case company, Of Brooklyn. This COM
pany was Formed In the carly part Of 1885
by sixty members Of the United Watch
Case Makers, trades organization found
cd on the usual principles of labor union.
The scheme 60 organize cooperative COM
pany had been discussed by these men for
several months prior to July 1, and on that
day 10 was carried into practice as an ex-
pertinent.
It was resolved to form a stock COM
pany, and in order to gain a solid footing
among tho numerous other concerns en-
gagged Ia this trade, to FIX the nominal
capital stock at CSC, 900. To secure a char
ter from tho state 1t was necessary that
one-tenth of the capital should be paid in,
and to raise this amount shares at SIS each
were issued No person was allowed to
hold more than eighty shares, and each
was entitled to only one vote, no matter
how many shares he held. Nearly every
member of the union bought few shares
TO start with, and on July ! loft was
hired at 242 Plymouth street, Brooklyn, in
which to begin operations.
THR WATCH CASE FACTORY.
Work was begun with nine men. A
suitable plant had been purchased, and the
workshop was stocked with all the neces-
sary tools and enough gold to keep the
men busy for at least a week. The plan
was perfect success. Before the week
was out more menswere taken in, and the
facilities for turning out watch cases were
extended. An agent was sent to New York
to fix up an Office on Broadway and to dis
pose Of the products Of the shop. AT the
end of the month the company had orders
Cor more goods thAn the men then en-
ployed could possibly make, and accord
ingly new men were taken in. All those
who obtained employment with the Soil
darity company had the privilege Of buy
ing few shares Of the stock.
This privilege, however, was limited to
members of the Watch Case Makers
union, and many of them owned shares
without working in the company's shop.
The company has been established over
i've years, and every month Of its existence
OF least one new man has been employed.
But few have been discharged. The result
is that today there are ninety-hve happy
watch case makers, working for wages as
good as If not better than those of any others
who follow that trade, and holding an in
terest in the profits that accrue from their
labor. The factory has been removed to
IL Hope street. Williamsburg, where it oc-
cupies three floors of big brick building.
Most of the workmeD are American, al
though many of them are Swiss
Two women are among the active share
holders. The working hours are fifty-nine
a week. All who work receive good
weekly salary, and at the end Of the year
the profits are divided among the share
holders. The superintendent of the shop,
who conducted the reporter through the
factory, would not say whether or not
there had been any dividend as yet. He
said: sit is enough for those interested in
the scheme to know that 1t is a paying
business, and that we all are more than
satisfied with it. Our men are well paid,
not overworked and perfectly oontented in
every respect. In December, 1888, the men
formed mutual benefit association among
themselves TO relieve in case of sickness or
need the employees or shareholders Of the
This plan, too, has been sue
cessfuL
OTHER ESTABLISHMENTS.
Another cooperative scheme which has
survived the age Of experiment is the CO.
operative bakery at 500 Myrtle avenue,
Brooklyn. This was started just after the !.
big lockout of the bakers, and is organized |
practically on the same principles as the |
watch case makers shop The capital stock |
is s.. 500, for which shares at 81 each are is |
sued Only ten bakers are employed, and |
each is Il shareholder All the other shares |
ore owned by members of various trades |
SLnionS More men were formerly en-
plsyed, but owing 10 the expense incurred /
10y Gxing up the bakery the force had to |
he reduced. As it is, the bakery is getting |
along splendidly. 1t does only wholesale |
business, delivering goods TO grocery stores, /
restaurants, che, and keeps five wagons 4
going all the time. Al the end of the year |
OF the profits will constitute q
sinking fund for the improvement Of tho |
premises and the enlargement of the bust |
nsSs, and tho remaining one-tenth will be |
divided among the shareholders There 4
are 800 shareholders In all
Another cooperative establishment 1
which, although yerF snail, must not DO 1
omitted, IS tho Solidarity Cooperative /
Shirt Makers, who went into business I'M
der the auspices Of d, A ~ of the Knights |
of Labor three years ago Their hsadquar- /
tiers are on the first floor OF 77o Third ave-
nue., where three good looking young wo- 1
men sew cooperative h Of l. labels on CO
operative X. of L. shirts, These throe young 1
women compose the oompany and run the 1
entire business themselves. With money /
furnished by ID. A. ~ three years ago these 1
young women, with two morO who have /
Einoe Withdrawn from the company, bought /
the raw material out Of which shirts are
made and hired a man % cut il properly.
They then made = lot Of shirts, and in
duosd good union men 10 buy them. With /
the money they bought more raw material
and made moro shirts, and this they have |
been doing ever since, They manage to .
have a good time over their work, and .
have enough steady customers to insure a
fair income They say that If more people .
would buy cooperative shirts it would be- .
\ great help to hundreds Of poor girls who .
would like to make their living IN a more .
pleAsans way than by drUdging twelve 4
hours day for pittance Of a sal larry. This .
shop is unable 10 compete with large man I
ufacturers ia the mRrket because each girl .
receives nearly one-hGlt again as much as
Eny shirtmaker who works for manufac-
turer.-New York sun.
An Omoial Refinement
Tg,o ,,-o,,osal Of yba pOStohfpa nanarr-