The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-07-08
THE WORKERS SHARE.
Injustice Of the Existing Indus
trial System.
TOLL AT MERCY OF CAPITAL.
Cooperation Advanced as a Possible
Solution Of the Labor Probem--sue-
cess Of the Plan In Great BRITANNIA
Fair Division Of Profits.

cess Of the Plan In Great BRITANNIA
Fair Division Of Profits.
While going back over the past CEN
turtles II Ia forced upon us what a
wonderful difference there is from the
more recent period in our Industrial
system. For century industry has
been going through process OF evolu-
ton which has by no means reached
its limit and the continuance OF which
no man can safely predict. The
changes of industry during the medl-
aeyal and subsequent centuries were
few, and consequently stable condl-
ton existed. Manufacture was to a
great extent individual. Such thing
as a factory did not exist, The work
shops were small. and every compe-
tent mechanic conducted business as a
master. Those who were employees
were chiefly apprentices who expected
some day TO be masters. and In case
Of their choosing TO work for master
they did so with an independence that
no longer exists. The workshop in
those days was usually a portion OF
the dwelling. and the master worked
with his apprentices, teaching them
knowledge OF complete trade, not of
a portion of one, as is done In our day,
aud sometimes not portion.
The guild preceded the trades union,
but it was not an organization OF labor
for protection against capital. It's aim
was to protect the master workmen of
whom It was composed from invasion
from without In fact, when we go
back into the past centuries we find
ourselves in another world of labor
radically different from that which ex-
lists at the present day.
The steam engine rendered possible
labor saving machinery, and in place
of working directly upon the material
men began TO work indirectly through
the machines. The old household In
dustries disappeared. 1t required large
sums Of money aud larger buildings to
carry on industry.
The nineteenth century saw the fac
tory system in fun swing and the sep
aration Of capital and labor made Inn
minent.
Industry Is now in the hands Of in
dividuals or companies, and the work
men are in workshops and factories.
Labor saving machines are being de-
yeloped rapidly. In the fight for short
err hours and better wages labor is in
revolt against the tyranny OF capital.
Woman is now in the Geld as COM
petitor against man, and in many 9TH
err ways the industrial world today has
no resemblance to that OF the past.
TO be brief. 1t Is condition Of injus-
tice that does not seem likely to adj
vance the interests of mankind.
The making of articles cheaply re-
CURES costly. plants, far beyond the
grasp Of the ordinary workman, and
consequently we find that the old indi-
has gone. Employers are
fewer, employees more numerous.
When this new condition Of indus
trial affairs had come the Industrial
class were not prepared for it and
we're at the mercy sof the employer.
rhe old guilds disappeared. having no
power to cope with the new conditions.
At later date the idea Of mutual aid
n industry was revived, and the trades
lniOn took its place as successor to the
Did association.
The trade union was not received |
with favor by the employers, who
Ieemed to feel danger ahead They at
.acked it in the press and had hostile
legislation enacted against it--in fact, |
used every means at their command to |
rush it--but it had come to stay, know |
ng that there Is hardly anything good |
hat does not have enemies. 1t is now, I
Is we know, one of the powerful forces /
n modern industry.
Many experiments have been tried /
~ which the worker may improve his |
condition, but cooperation seems to
rave the most favorable solution. This
s system hy which NIL the workers
become both employer and employee, /
he profits being equitably divided.
While some cooperative concerns have
allied through bad business manage
nent, the principle Is sound. The sue
essful associations pay good dividends
nd are noted for the honesty and ac-
ivity Of their members, each feeling
hat he is working for himself while
working for the good Of the associa-
ion.
The Rochdale pioneers are the most
Iourishing of cooperative societies.
at Rochdale, England, in 1874
y twenty-eight poor weavers, with a
apital of S140, at first as distribu-
i've enterprise, 1t now adds manufac-
uring to its other interests.
They limited interest on shares to 5
er cent and divided profits among
nembers in proportion TO their pur-
bases, a system which proved highly
In 1857 it had 1850 mem
ers, capital of 100000 and annual
ales of 100000. Since that time it
as increased enormously. There are
ow about 1900 Of these associations
D Great Britain.
In the face of these facts it is likely
hat cooperation viii be a great factor
a the solution of the labor problem in
be future.-C. w. Nelson in Typo
raphical Journal.
Describing the decrease Of child labor