The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-02-04
TO FORM GREAT
INDUSTRIAL union
English Labor Bodies Plan
Gigantic Move.
TO Be GREATEST IN WORLD

Serious Move on Foot to Unite All Co.
operative and Industrial Organiza-
tions Into One Huge Association of
100000 Souls, Welding $185,o00ooo
of Capital-WiIl Require Years.
A serious and determined movement
is on foot in Great Britain to form one
of the greatest industrial combinations
ever organized by the working classes
of any nation. 1t is purposed to com
bine the cooperative forces of the
country, representing 2,750,0O0 of peo-
pie. and organized labor, numbering
2,250,000, in working fusion.
Should this scheme come to fruition
millions of pounds sterling invested by
trade unions and other affiliated or
ganizations would be added to the
$1S5,OOO,O0O share capital of the CO.
operators and $90,000000 loan and re-
serve backed by ever increasing profits
on the turnover. If all the plans sug-
gested are successful the aims and
ideals of two great wings of the labor
movement will be co-ordinated and
united action will be taken Industrial
ly. socially and in legislative matters.
The leading bodies in this vast
scheme are the trades union congress,
the General Federation of Trade I'm
ions, the Labor party and its allied or
ganizations, women's trade unions, the
Independent Labor party and the CO.
operative societies of the United King
dom. In many respects the work Of
these bodies overlaps. Money which is
spent for educational and social objects
is often wasted.
To Begin at Once.
1t is recognized that this tremendous
venture on the part of united labor will
take years to organize before any def
mite, practical results can accrue. The
first step planned was to call joint
gathering of all other important organ
izations concerned.
The points which will come under
consideration embrace study of how
the organization Of each section can be
co-ordinated for educational, industrial
and parliamentary purposes, what prac
teal steps should be taken to secure
control of industry and commerce, en-
abling the working people to solve the
problem of labor unrest for themselves.
Cooperative association executives
are enthusiastic in their devotion to a
successful issue of the movement, be-
cause they believe fields untouched by
cooperative enterprise will be opened
and they could enter industries which
at the present moment are solely under
private control
Investme Mt viii Be Profitable.
When in working order the scheme
would not propose to purchase existing
undertakings, for the cooperative
movement is always founded on its
own mills and manufactures. This, It
is stated, would not only form profit
able investment for the funds of work
ing class organizations, but would at
the same time be a practical step to-
ward naturalization of industry and
the unrest which exists today would
cease.
The cooperative movement has been
practically untouched by any outside
labor agitation. 1t employs 100000
persons. One cooperative leader, dis
cussing the proposition, said it would
be selfish if this was merely an idea to
seek an accession of strength for the
cooperative movement. The success
of one would support the other, and
the strength of the whole would make
the movement one of self defense for
those in it.
I'VE want moral and economic unity
first" he said. "Other ideals will then
be on the way to be realized" He said
that in February the executives of the
parties concerned would meet to decide
on some course of action, the substance
of which would be referred to the sec
tiOnal local conferences for discussion.
On their acceptance and when the pro-
pOsals are agreed to at annual meet
ings the joint executive wheels would
begin TO work