tin, _con_, together, and
_operor_, to work). About thirty-five years ago some workmen of
Rochdale, noticing the great profits made by shopkeepers in retail
trade, resolved to work together by buying their own supplies wholesale,
and distributing them amongst the members of the society which they
established. They called this #a co-operative society#, and a great
number of so-called co-operative stores have since been established.
Most of these are nothing but shops belonging to a society of
purchasers, who agree to buy at the store and divide the profits. They
have on the whole done a great deal of good by leading many men to save
money and to take an interest in the management of affairs. The stores
are also useful, because they compete with shopkeepers, and induce them
to lower their prices and to treat their customers better. We
frequently hear now of shops selling goods at #co-operative prices#.

But such co-operative societies have little or nothing to do with the
subject of capital and labour. Commonly these stores are conducted less
upon the true co-operative principle than ordinary shops. A shop is
usually managed by the owner or by a man who has a large interest in its
success, and has the best reasons for taking trouble. Co-operative
stores, on the contrary, are often managed by men who are paid by salary
or wages only, and have nothing to do with the profits and the capital
of the concern.

#Real co-operation consists in making all those who work share in the
profits.# At present a workman sells his labour for the best price he
can get, and has nothing further to do with the results. If he does his
work well, his master gets the benefit, and if he works badly his master
is injured. It is true that he must not be very lazy or negligent for
fear of being discharged; but if he takes care to be moderately careful
and active, it is all that he need do for his own interests. No doubt it
would be a good thing to reward the more active workmen with higher
wages, and a wise employer endeavours to do this when he can, and to put
the best workmen into the best places. But the trades-unions usually
prevent it as far as they can, by insisting that men doing the same kind
of work in the same place shall be paid alike. Moreover, as we have
seen, many men are under the mistaken belief that if they work hard they
decrease the demand for employment, and tend to take away the bread from
their fellow-men. Thus it is not uncomm