The Socialism of to-day

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Monograph

Identifikator:: 835096955

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-28834

Document type:: Monograph

Author:: Laveleye, Émile de

Title:: The Socialism of to-day

Place of publication:: London

Publisher:: Field & Tuer

Year of publication:: 1884

Scope:: 1 Online-Ressource (XLIV, 331 S.)

Collection:: Economics Books

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FERDINAND LASSALLE. 69 instrument of the social renovation, dreamed of by Lassalle and Louis Blanc, viz. the co-operative society of production, really practicable, and can it be hoped that, even if generously and, if needful, gratuitously aided by the State, it could com pete successfully with private enterprises so as to supplant them ? This is the essential point on which everything depends. In a small article, entitled “ The Delusions of Co-operative Societies” (1866), M. Cemuschi, who, in order to study this question better, had worked three butchers’ shops, points out, with that clearness which characterizes all his writings, the grave difficulties in the way of the application of the system. These are, firstly, the great complexity of the accounts ; and secondly, the difficulty of looking after the managers and ensuring their honesty and activity. M. Cemuschi quotes the following extract from an English pamphlet, “ Checks on Co operative Storekeepers:”—“ Among the difficulties encountered by the co-operative movement, none has had more disastrous consequences than that of finding an efficacious means of superintending the accounts of the co-operative stores.” The selection of managers, however, is really the great difficulty. The head of a private business is directly interested in the good administration of his affairs, but the manager is only in directly interested. The former, in that he receives the profits, will be far more active than the latter, who has a fixed salary. There is one essential truth which reformers should never forget, namely, that the incentive to production has always been, and will always be, personal interest and responsibility. Self-devotion has its own place, and a very large one, in life ; charity, duty, and patriotism have their heroes and their n^artyrs; but, in the factory and in the sphere of material interests, these virtues would soon get wearied at seeing idle ness and selfishness taking advantage of them. The monk, it IS true, works for and enriches his monastery; and communism, —See the admirable work of George Howell, “ Conflict of Capital and pn» ,1"^' 1878. [See also a little book, full of information on the subject, nuued Working Men Co-operators," by Arthur H. Dyke Acland and Lond!^'" members of the Central Co-operative Board),

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