Page:Ferdinand Lassalle - Lassalle's Open Letter to the National Labor Association of Germany - tr. John Ehmann and Fred Bader (1879).djvu/24

 ingclass. They would have to begin in such districts and localities where certain occupations center, where the density of the population and the known disposition for association would be likely to forward such.

As soon as a number of such associations would be formed, securing the aid of the State, their existence would make it easier to introduce them to other branches of industry, which, when combined, would form a chain of credit with relation to one another. Beside this credit association, an insurance association might embrace the different co-opertive associations, equalising all business losses and making them but scarcely felt. The State would be in no case forced to play dictator to these societies; its duties ceasing after supplying the stability needed through statutary enactments; all control being vested in the organizations themselves; thereby conducting the business exclusively by the members; so insuring safety.

The ordinary journeyman's wages would be paid weekly while the whole business profits of the association would be distributed in the form of dividends, The practicability and the lucrative productivity of such associations can be questioned only by those who are totally ignorant of the fact that Workingmen's associations already numerously exist in England and France; sprung into being it is true under advers-circumstances and solely by the isolated exertions of the working men, yet having attained a high degree of prosperity. Already, in the county, of Lancashire—passing by the co-called pioneers of Rochdale—there existed thirty-three such associations organized on the plan of the Factory method of production; and although but lately founded they have declared a dividend of thirty to forty per cent. on the capital invested: There are besides, associations of ouvrieres macons in Paris, who presented a business exhibit in 1856 to 1857, showing a profit of 56 per cent. on their capital; in 1858 the business profit was 130,000 francs; of which 30,000 francs were added to the reserve and the surplus 100,000 francs divided as a dividend; furthermore, sixty per cent. of this fell to the share of labor, and forty per cent, to the share of the capitalist, (this association has associes non travailleures who each invest at least 10,000 francs.) A like prosperity is exhibited by the ouvriers lampistes, also by the ouvriers en meubles and others. See history of workingmen's associations in the