The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-11-02
co OPERATION.

a special from Pittsburg says that
Unity Lodge, No. SIS, of the Amalsa-
mated Association of 1ron,, Steel anu
Tin Workers, composed Of men en-
ployed in the plant of the National
Steel Company. of New Castle, mas
surrendered its charter and will lnves-
its money in the treasury OF the lodge
in preferred stock Of the United States
Steel Corporation.
This is a remarkable statement. a
little while ago the members OF this
Association went on strike ana
there was a fierce contest for months
between them and the United States
Steel Corporation. The corporation
was denounced by the strikers and
their friends and by many outsiders
as being the enemy of laborlng men
and all that was, near and dear to
them, vet this lodge now voluntarily
surrenders its charter and invests It's
money in the stock of the Steel Cor
poration.
We cannot but think that such cor
porations and their men are gradually
coming to better understanding with
each other and that they will get along
better in the future than they have
done in the past. They recognize the
fact that their interests are mutual
and that they can accomplish more Gy
working together for their mutual
good than by fighting. The trusts are
organized on that principle. A num-
bar of factories in the same branch Of
industry which have been fighting
each other decide to pool interests
and work together in peace and har-
mony rather than in cut-throat compe-
tition. BY the same token these COR
p0rations should find it to their in
aerest to make terms With their en-
ployes, and by the same token the en-
ployes should find it to their interest
10 make terms with their employers.
This is an age Of cooperation, and as
the principle has been recognized the
details will be worked out by and by.
The question of protit-sharing by
employees has received much attention.,
but the organization Of such concerns
rs the United Statcs Steel Corporation
has made it a very simple thing. The
stock Of these corporations can always
be bought on the open market at the
ruin. price. and each and every cm-
ploye may become a stakeholder in
the concern for which lie works if he
so desires. He may buy one share of
stock or ten shares Of stock or one
hundred shares of stock. according us
he is able, and in this way become 4
partner in the concern and share in
the profits.
II has been said that The trusts Of
the country are destroying the small
proprietors and greatly increasing The
number cf hirelings. In point Of fact
these corporations have greatly eli
larged the number Of prcprietors and
have given opportunities for invest
meEt such as. the world never before
knew. One argument against the cor
porations is that they make enormous
profits. II they do it is quite certain
that the opportunity is open to every
body with a little money TO purchase
stock and SO share in the big profits
that are made. We have no statistics
ut hand, but from what we know we
feel sure that the number Of stockhold-
ers in this country has doubled an,!
trebled and quadrupled within the past
ten years.
I'Of fO11r ar five wears 11 ST IN off
has been made by the Democrats and
of tha- (ll.a GllL.a-R