PRACTICAL PAPERS. 
279 
us something extra because the printers of the larger cities have 
formed an association to dictate the price of their labor. Every 
pair of shoes we buy, and the art of tanning bad leather and 
making bad shoes in bad styles, have compelled us to buy so many 
that we almost look upon hoofs with envy ; cost us something ex¬ 
tra because the Knights of Saint Crispin have leagued together 
to resist the dictation of trade in the matter of their wages. The 
increase in the wages of operatives and artizans is in great degree 
due to co-operative effort, in demanding it, and so, too, is the ten 
hour system so soon to be supplanted by the eight-hour system, 
whereby the laborer hopes to make earth a paradise by doing hss 
work for more Ray. Indeed the present is an age of co-operation. 
The merchants have tacitly ceased their competition, which they 
find to be the death of profit, even though it be the life of trade. 
The great corporations which aspire to the dominion of the conti¬ 
nent, are but co-operative societies. Co-operation crops out every¬ 
where, as well among the rogues who form political rings, and get 
up corners in stocks and produce, as among those more modest 
and less mischievous knaves who rob clothes-lines and break open 
safes. With this tendency to unite for mutual strength and pro¬ 
tection so rife among the other occupations, it is hardly safe for 
the farmer to remain a commercial Ishmaelite, “ his hand against 
every man, and every man’s hand against him.” The hand he 
holds is altogether to poor for him to play it alone. In his pres¬ 
ent unorganized condition, he is a mere bushwhacker, confronting 
organized and well-equipped armies. 
The better to convey my idea of the co-operation practicable 
among farmers, let us suppose it to be in actual operation thus: 
In each of the towns of a county there are formed, according 
to the covenience of neighborhood, farmer’s clubs. The regula¬ 
tions are few, and every member who wishes can at any time 
withdraw, forfeiting only his dues paid in and his interest in the 
small amount of joint property. It is necessary to leave a large 
cat hole for the farmer to crawl out, for if you cork him up too 
closely, he will burst the institution to make space for exit. None 
but reliable, thrifty men are admitted into the clubs. No scala¬ 
wags need apply. Men who use their exemptions as a covert from 
which to make forays upon creditors; who put their property into 
