The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-10-28
MAKES WORKERS Of DtRS
A SOCIOLOGICAL EXPERIMENT EN-
TENDING ALL THROUGH THE
UNITED STATES.
ITS ORIGINATOR Tells The STORY
Although Retaining Community
Principles, Those Interested Live
Wherever They Wish-It Is
Purely Cooperative.

One of the most interesting sociologi-
cal experiments ever attempted in the
United States is now in operation in
thirty-one states and territories. In
der the control of the men interested are
twentythree manufactures. all on the
cooperative plan. In this newspaper
u. Il. De Barnard, the originator of the
idea and the central figure in the move
ment, in an article practically prepar-
ed and written by him, tells the story
of the enterprise.
The labor exchange, as the idea is de-
nominated, is primarily for the purpose
of solving the great problem of how to
best give all men employment. The orig
inal plan was calculated to embrace the
best features of the community expert
ments which have heretofore been at
tempted, and, at the same time to avoid
the errors which the promoters of these
experiments had fallen into. 1t was be-
lieyed that the community idea, so far
as forcing all persons in sympathy there
with to dwell in the same locality was
an error. 1t is really something of Il
curtailment of personal liberty to say to
an individual, there shalt thou dwell or
thou canst not be of us.
With the belief that the results aimed
at by the community idea could be gain
ed without burdensOme restriction. and
that it could be demonstrated to the
world that there was reasonable solu-
ton of the problem of a comfortable eX-
istence for all. with misery for none, the
experiment which is represented by the
| labor exchange was inaugurated
The exchange was duly incorporated
in the state of Missouri the headquarters
being at Independence. n town located
near Kansas City on the northwestern
border of the state. From here the work
| of extension was carried on. The mem
bers of the exchange believed that mas
much in the course of higher development
there would be less call in ordinary man
| ufacturing pursuits for workers some
plan should he adopted by which thu
workers should he given the opportunity
for a comfortable and happy existence
which to a certain extent seemed les
open to them than in the past.
1t was also believed that where oppOr
tunity existed for men with capital t.
establish and succeed that there also wa
the opportunity of those who, placing
their aggregate funds in one operation
should esta blish. manufacture and sell thu
very articles which the capitalist woulc
produce. and thus themselves benefit by
lllt Sulllt 'duSCN W Hl'I Nht'lN' h'i
with necessary amount of funds t(
greatly increase the same. There is NJ
time when there is not opportunity fol
the success of labor upon the cooper
ative plan provided the business. what
ever it may he. is operated with the
same degree of care and fOrcthOugh
which a business man will bcstow upon
his own affairs.
The exchange. as it is called. is MOI
conducted on the principle share ano
share alike. The returns from labor arc
divided pro rata among those who con
tribute material and others who con
tribute. labor. An accurate record oil
this il kept in every place where the OK
change has a branch and each of thes.
branches acts only for itself. the returns
from its onerations going 10 the members
thereof There il no contribution to =
parent organization. beyond that necessi
ry to keep up the general organization
Headquarters which enables branches al
over the country to benefit one by the
other.
When n member deposits products,
material or labor in the care of the
branch of the exchange TO which he bo-
longs he receives what is practically a
statement of accounts since it performs
that function hut which has been called
n certificate of deposit since II is the
n associations testimony that such mate
rial labor is in its charge. When,
however such deposits are withdrawn,
the certificate is recalled and cancelled.
else it would otherwise testify to false
hood. and misstate the account When
cnlv portion of the amount Of tho de-
post il withdrawn Mt n time srlch partial
are accounted for by a state
mcnt of the balance vet dne-which
statement has been called, in view of its
function. n balance check.
With these two simple documents. the
labor exchange records the whole range
of it's relations with its members and by
them it may. at any time. come at NOT
only their true standing with the same.
hut also the sum total which said men,
bers have contributed toward the COM
mon end. 1t is self balancing. easily
system of accounts. and
no better has so far been presented. Such
then. is the labor exchange. its aims and,
it, working plan.
That it is growing in favor. branches in
Colorado, California. Oregon. Washing
+onz. Montana. South Dakota. Nebra ska,
Kansas. Oklahoma: Texas. Louisiana,
Arkansas. Missouri, Iowa. Minnesota
Wisconsin. Illinois. Kentucky. Ten
,esee. Mississippi: Alabama. Georgia.
North Carolina Indiana. Ohio. Virginia.
Florida. PENNSYLVANIA, New York. New
Jersey. Massachusetts. and even Canada
re ample proof. That it can accomplish
rs most enthusiastic aims it expects the
lcar future TO nrovc.
The area of the manufacturing field of
is very wide. Its members NAV
year for instance. shoes which are made
" a branch of the exchange at Lynn.
lass. The men get, their, hats from
orange. \. J.. where a large factory is in |
o,oton+ nnarotinn Awov 1nuu in |