It opens a training school for labor in the science and art of association.
Labor once effectively united could win its dues, whatever they may be.

The difficulties of such association have lain in the undeveloped mental and moral condition of the rank and file of the hosts of labor.

* * * Now, of this effort at co-operation I find scarcely any trace in the trade organizations of our workingmen.
Trades-unions have until very lately passed the whole subject by in utter silence.

What has been done by workingmen in this country in the line of co-operation has been done outside of the great trade associations, which form the natural instrumentalities for organizing such combination.

They offer the mechanism, the mutual knowledge, the preliminary training in habits of combination, which together should form the proper conditions for the development of co-operation.