Evening journal., 1896-10-22
COOPERATION FOR FARMING.

0O-OINiNh llON HOiA AiAMllNOs
In a recent article upon the dream of
cooperation we called attention TO the
causes which have proved insurmount-
able to manufacturers in the various
attempts which they have made to
share profits with their employees. It
will be remembered that only about
one-tenth of those who undertook TO
do this four years ago found 1t suffi
ciently feasible to continue it. This
was largely owing to the fact that the
workmen were no better pleased with
the plans for cooperation than their
employers.
Evidently the proper scheme has not
yet been formulated for profit-sharing
in mechanical industries, and we turn
from that subject TO one which has
lately been suggested by Charles j.
Wade, of Washington, ID. c., and pub
lished in New York paper Of a recent
date. Mr.. Wade claims that his system
of farming eliminates all expense and
abolishes the wage system. Evidently
this writer does not understand farm
ing throughout the length and breadth
of the country, or he would see that
such plan as his would not work with
the vast majority of farmers in the
country. II cannot be made available
on small farms, however well It might
succeed with the large farmers and
planters of the South.
Mr.. Wade admits that his system can
be applied with the most ease in the
Southern states. where the farmers al
have an abundance of land, and where
labor can be easily obtained. In this
we agree with him, but we do not il
the belief that his plan can be success
fully carried out in any section of tn,
country, simply because in order tC
make the scheme a success, the farmer
must be a capitalist. He need not have
money, but he must possess land. Now
the farmers in this country do not b.
any means all possess land. A larg
number of them have no capital out
side OF that supplied by their abilit.
to labor with their hands. and in orde
to live they must have the wage
which this writer proposes to elimi
nate from the business of farming.
The scheme proposed is briefly this
illustrated by large farm in Georgis
which can very likely be successful
farmed on the system proposed: TAX
a farm OF three hundred acres, cleare
and ready for cultivation, and divide
into thirty acre fields This will max
ten thirty acre parcels. Place on eac
of these parcels a negro family,
whom must be furnished mules, plow
etc. Agree with these negroes ths
they shall have one-third of the crol
but receive no wages. The crop raise
must be such that the negro and h
family can do every bit of labor col
nected with cultivating and harvestin
it. II this is done. the owner of II
land will not be put TO any expense Il
wages, and when the crop is harves
ed he will receive his two-thirds witt
out having paid one cent towards pr
ducing it.
This is the scheme. though its auth'
takes over a column to explain it in j
qualifications. all of which goes
show that the capitalist who owns Il
land is to be considered the farm'
while the real farmers, who work
are not much short of being his slave
Politically considered, such an esta
as this would be entitled to elev
votes, one would be given by the cal
talist (misnamed farmer) and ten
the negro farmers. Now it may
that the ten farmers would be Will
to work upon this plan which elm
mates wages, but we doubt very mu
if they would. or If the scheme wor
be looked upon by the working farme
of this country as much Of a blessiT
Archbishop Ireland opposes the CT
cago confession of political faith, a
denies that the pope is displeased