The suggestion that the poorer grades of workers should by co-operative production seek to relieve themselves from the stress of poverty and the tyranny of the “sweating system,” is a counsel of perfection far removed from the possibility of present attainment.  No one who has closely studied the growth of productive co-operation in England will regard it as a practicable remedy for poverty.  Productive co-operation is successful at present only in rare cases among skilled workmen of exceptional morale and education.  It is impossible that it should be practised by low-skilled, low-waged workers, under industrial conditions like those of to-day.  It is surprising to find that the Lords’ Committee in its final report should have given prominence to schemes of co-operation as a cure for the disease.  The following paragraph correctly sums up experience upon the subject—­

“Productive societies have been from time to time started in East London, but their career has been neither long nor brilliant.  They have often had a semi-philanthropic basis, and have been well-meant but hopeless attempts to supersede ‘sweating’ by co-operation.  None now working are of sufficient importance to be mentioned."[29]

The place which productive and distributive co-operation is destined to occupy in the history of the industrial freedom and elevation of the masses doubtless will be of the first importance.  To look forward to a time when the workers of the community may be grouped in co-operative bodies, either competing with one another, or related by some bond which shall minimize the friction of competition, while not impairing the freedom and integrity of each several group, is not perhaps a wild utopian vision.  To students of English industrial history the transition to such a state will not appear more marked than the transition through which industry passed under the Industrial Revolution to the present capitalist system.  But the recognition of this possible future does not justify us in suggesting productive co-operation as a present remedy for the poverty of low-skilled city workers.  These latter must rise several steps on the industrial and moral ladder before they are brought within the reach of the co-operative remedy.  It is with the cost and labour of these early steps that the students of the problem of present poverty must concern themselves.

Sec. 3.  Trade Unionism.  Ability of Workers to combine.  Trade Unionism is a more hopeful remedy.  Large bodies of workers have by this means helped to raise themselves from a condition of industrial weakness to one of industrial strength.  Why should not close combination among workers in low-paid and sweating industries be attended with like results?  Why should not the men and women working in “sweating” trades combine, and insist upon higher wages, shorter hours, more regular employment, and better sanitary conditions?  Well, it may be regarded as an axiom in practical economies, that any concerted action,