Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 4.djvu/813

 PROFIT-SHARISG AND COOPERA TION 793

3. That such portions of the profits may be used for the benefit of the workers, either (l) by way of increasing their remuneration ; (2) by enabling theni to become shareholders ; (3) by providing superannuation or pensions in old age, under such conditions as the society concerned may fix from time to time.

If these recommendations were adopted, w-e think there would be an elasticity about them which would enable most cooperators to agree, whilst at the same time it would promote the object we have in view, viz., that cooper- ative industry should be superior to private industry in its treatment of those who have to labor.

The minority, representing the English Wholesale Society, reported that the existing basis of working their society was the most equitable and just to the body of cooperators ; and having once tried (1874-6) the payment of bonus to employes, they had not found it to produce the advantages claimed for it. Even the majority report did not satisfy the profit-sharing party as an expression of principle, and the question is apparently no nearer solution than ever. It is only the second method proposed above that satisfies, namely, a copartnership, a sharing in cap- ital, control, and responsibility. The minority, in the minority only in the congress, but really the great majority in the move- ment, are termed the Federals, and represent the new movement, as opposed to the old idea fostered by the Christian Socialists. With the Federals, cooperation is carried on by consumers for the benefit of consumers. The entire body of consumers is grouped primarily into district societies. Each district society is to carry on for itself such production as it can, and the fed- eration of district societies, the wholesale societies, are to carry on production in the remaining industries. The actual workers in either case, as also those employed in the stores, are employed, as in any competitive business, for wages only ; and only as con- sumers do they become members of the society, or derive any benefit from it. The idea of the Federals is that, when the laborers are organized as consumers, the factor of profits is thus eliminated, and the laborers receive as consumers all the advan- tages desired for them under the profit-sharing plan.

Miss Potter gives the solution thus : " Is it possible for an association of consumers to realize profits ? Profits I imagine