Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1893-01-05

1 EugIHnu, receurrJ maur a prUpouHUn 70
the officers Of the trades union controlling
the workers In the worsted and Woolen
mills Of that place which has attracted
wide attention and cOGsiderAble comment
IN England. His proposal was based on
statements made at the meetings Of the
trades union that, II the business Of manu-
facture was carried on upon what would be
termed socialistic principles, 1t would be
greatly for the benefit OF the working
classes. The manufacturer In question
made the proposition that be would allow,
for years time, the trades union TO have
the use OF one OF his mills, thoroughly
equipped for the business. without rHnt Of
any kind: that he would, furthermore, fur
nish them. under sufficient guarantees OF
! repayment, 81, 1000 ~ a working capital,
and II after year Of trial it was proved
{ that the men employed in this establish
m.nt earned by means OF this cooperative
employment lnrger returns than were paid
10 other operatives In Bradford mills EN-
ployed in manufacturing similar goods, he
| would ut the end Of the twelve months
agree to let the trades union have his mill
at a reasonable valuation and on terms
that would admit Of their easy and ready
payment, and would besides arrange TO
supply under favorable conditions the
funds needed for a permanent working
capital In making this offer be stated that
he was az desirous as any one OF demon
strating whether or not the socialistic plan
of production was or was not feasible, and
that he thought the best mode Of demon
stration would be by a practical trial.
After considering the matter for some
weeks the trades union Of Bradford decided
that it was expedient to decline 1t, and a
/ number Of the English newspapers OF con.
servative tendencies, in commenting upon
this declaration, made the point that the
English workingman has certainly great
| deal of discretion, and that when put to the
| test he has very little faith In the merit OF
these advanced theories Of social and indus
trial reform. Now, while we believe that
the socialistic reforms that have been advo
Gated as means of healing the ills Of soci
ETY. are much more attractive In theory
than they would prove in practice, 1t is only
fair to point out that the conditions under
which it was proposed to give them test
were not in this case the ones calculated to
demonstrate the value of the method.
If society were to be recognized on the SO
clallst1c plan the reorganization would need
to be made from the top to the bottom. It
would not apply alone to those who are now
wage earners, but also to those who are now
employers-that is, the captains Of industry
would need to be counted in as essential
! factors in the social reorganization. II the
Bradford manufacturer had proposed to
give his mill for one year to an h.. est dem
onstration of the value or defects Of the so
cialistic plan of work and had said, II will
myself take charge of the administration Of
work under conditions as to share in the
profits that would be considered equitable
under socialistic dispensation," an oppor
tunity would have been afforded of having
at least an interesting test made. But for
men who had spent their lives sorting wool
or tending spindles and looms, and who had
no practical knowledge of the wool markets
or the demands Of consumers, to undertake
for twelve months to run II large mill would
have been to invite failure, as the odds un-
der such conditions would have been alto
gether against successful outcome Of the
undertaking.-Boston Herald.