and in some cases the local interest was conserved by a closed shop rule. A much more important cause for strikes was hostility to contractors or "sweaters. 31 Their effect upon wages has already been discussed and we will now confine ourselves to the Crispin attempts to drive them from the industry. The attack was especially vigorous in New York state where strikes against "contractors or middlemen" were continuous32 during 1870. In that year a law was placed in the State constitution, forbidding a Crispin to "make any percentage on the labor of another." 33 In 1876 the New York city Crispins, who retained a strong local organization after the national order had gone to pieces, were still enforcing this rule. Lodge No. 20, Rochester, New York, six hundred members, after three successful strikes against wage reductions, struck against and completely abolished the contract system. Similar strikes were conducted in other places. Action was taken by the international grand lodge in 1872. It added to the preamble of the international constitution the following report of one of its committees. "Your committee censure the system of a Crispin making a profit on the labor of a Brother Crispin, as contrary to the Spirit of Crispinism, but consider it impracticable for this I. G. L. to frame a law governing the case, we therefore recommend this I. G. L. to instruct subordinate Lodges to insert an article in their bye-laws suitable to their different localities. 34 I used to manufacture. One branch of the business I thought I would take from Worcester as they were paying more than at Milford, [because their men were out on a strike] consequently I went there and took out some work, and got 20 cases to close." This work he gave out to women to close (1. e. bind) in their homes. "I don't work myself at making boots. I took the work from the manufacturers and agreed to do it for a certain price and then give it out to persons in Milford at a certain price. The difference was my profit." American Workman, Apr. 2, 1870. "Proceedings, 1870, p. 16. 32 Workingmen's Advocate. April 8, 1876, p. 1, c. 2. 33 Constitution, Art. XV, p. 20. 34 Constitution, 1872, p. 5. CHAPTER VI COOPERATION The preceding chapters have shown that the Knights of St. Crispin tried to regulate wages by controlling the supply of labor and by strikes. But to many Crispins these measures were but temporary expedients. They looked to cooperation for the permanent solution of the wage problem. Their point of view was exactly expressed by Samuel Cummings: "The present demand of the Crispin is steady employment at fair wages, but his future purpose is self-employment." From the very inception of the order this idea was embodied in its principles," provided for in its constitutions, included in its discussions, and carried out, when practicable, by its members. The preamble of the international constitution declared: "We believe also in cooperation as a proper and efficient remedy for many of the evils. of the present iniquitous system of wages that concedes to the laborer only so much of his own productions as shall make comfortable living a bare possibility, and places education and social position beyond his reach." Each Grand Lodge had a special committee on cooperation and in 18702 this committee recommended that grievance funds be invested in cooperative manufacture, under the supervision of committees appointed by the Grand Lodge, and that "the future management of any shop or factory thus organized shall be committed to a board of five managers, elected by a committee appointed by the Grand Lodge from among the most competent and qualified Crispins in the local lodge. All profits to be disposed of as follows: 10 per cent to a reserve contingent 1 American Workman, July 10, 1869. ⚫ Proceedings, 1870, p. 34. fund, 15 per cent of balance to the international grand lodge, and the balance to be divided among the cooperators." This was not adopted, the grand lodge feeling that it was not expedient to take the control of cooperation out of the hands of the locals. In the same year the New York state lodge passed a resolution "That as a remedy against the necessity of strikes, and against the evils of casual employment, of underpay for our labor and as the means of a permanent release from being placed at the mercy of those capitalists who seek to enrich themselves by taking advantage of our necessities, that this Grand Lodge recommend that the members of all subordinate lodges within its jurisdiction give the subject of cooperation their earnest attention as a preparatory means of establishing a system of cooperation in the boot and shoe business among the K. O. S. C. throughout this State." a At the fourth Grand Lodge, April, 1871, a lengthy report upon cooperation was presented which I will briefly summarize. I. Reasons for cooperation. 1. There exists an open and apparently irreconcilable conflict between Labor and Capital. 2. Labor loses forever every day's labor which is lost in striking for its rights. II. Committee's Presentation of Plans used in Europe to Solve Wage Problems. 1. Industrial Partnerships. Capital invested to get a certain interest, and the balance of profit divided proportionately among laborers. 2. Cooperation, i. e. labor employing itself. a. Labor unions are only a means to resist the en. croachment of capital. They are in themselves but an incomplete solution of the industrial problem. b. Cooperation in trade and manufacture is necessary for the establishment of right industrial conditions. • Proceedings, 1870, p. 13. III. Schemes of Cooperation. 1. In general trade. a. Club System. No corporation, each member pays $5.00 or $10.00 which constitutes the capital and is used to make the first purchases. Sells to members at cost. Expenses have been found to average about 4 per cent and savings about 18 per cent. b. Corporate cooperation. Company organized with share capital. Open a store. Requires a larger capital but is superior to club. Safer and surer. 2. In Manufacture. Capital of at least $200 per man required. Two thousand copies of this report were sent out to local lodges. Many new stores and shops were formed and Samuel Cummings said in 1872 that most of them were doing well. In the ritual for initiation to one of the degrees of the order we read: "Brothers, in order to strengthen the Order of which we are true and loyal members, and hasten the fulfillment of its final purpose, we have established these Degree Temples in order to more speedily and effectually restore the proper and natural relations between labor and capital. Experience has shown us, that while great practical good may be obtained through organizations to control the labor market, both as to supply and compensation, yet we believe the end and aim of all Labor organizations should be self-employment. With this view these Temples are formed, and all loyal and true Crispins are welcome to our ranks." In February, 1869, cooperative manufacture was started by fifteen Crispins of St. John's, New Brunswick. By July they had one hundred and fifty members, had hired a building, put in machinery, and were planning a still greater expansion. The stock was issued at $50.00 a share and was purchasable by all Crispins, wherever located. A correspondent said, "In St. Johns, New Brunswick, the Crispins raised $20,000 and just set in motion the best shoe factory ever started there. The most improved machinery has been put into it. Offers were made in Boston by large dealers to purchase all the goods that they can manufacture, but they were not accepted, the cooperators aiming to enter the market themselves." + The New York Crispins entered cooperative manufacture in the early part of 1870. Said a correspondent to the American Workman: "For the past year the Crispins of this city have talked a great deal about cooperation. The dull season, through which we are passing, has had its effect upon them; and while some were waiting for the opening of trade, others have boldly struck out to make employment for themselves, by starting cooperative manufactories. An establishment of this kind will be opened. in a few days at No. 86 Warren St. with a capital of $15,000, consisting of shares at $25 each. They now have their machinery in and expect to commence work by the 10th of February. Judging from those who have charge of it, there is every reason to believe that it will be a success. A short time since, one was organized by the Germans in Brooklyn, and the members of it are now at work. The Newark Crispins started two cooperative factories during strikes, the one in January, 1873, and the other in August. The first one employed forty hands, besides its twenty members, and the second twenty in addition to its twelve members." The Pennsylvania state grand lodge passed a resolution in November, 1870, "to open a manufactory that shall belong to the journeymen of Philadelphia," and appropriated for the purpose the grievance taxes raised for the support of the dispute. In January and February, 1871, the raising of funds by sale of stock was begun. The capitalization was placed at $20,000 and the shares sold at $5.00 apiece. Over $5,000 worth of stock was sold before the end of February. The shop was soon set in operation, but the season was dull and the cooperators had to appeal to outside Crispins for aid to carry them through until the goods already produced could be sold. How long this association persisted is uncertain but it was still in business and claiming to be a "grand success" in June, 1870.7 American Workman, July 24, 1869. Same, Feb. 19, 1870. Aug. 20, 1870. |