ABSTRACT
We have several times in the preceding pages had to refer to the fact that the co-operative is a working-class movement. By this we do not mean that Co-operation is a class movement in the same way that Trade Unionism or Syndicalism is a class movement. In the triumph of Syndicalism the world would see a victory of one class over another class; but the triumph of Co-operation would have nothing to do with class antagonisms or class victories ; it would, in fact, as this book is endeavouring to explain, imply merely a reconciliation of class interests. It is, however, a working-class movement to-day in the sense that it was born and has grown up in that class, and that it still principally exists among and appeals to the wage-earners. Co-operation, as we have seen, takes the community and organizes it for industrial purposes as a democracy of consumers. But one of the most pressing problems of modern industry is to reconcile the conflict of the interests of Labour with those of employer and consumer, and therefore it is of the first importance to see what Labour’s position is and might become under the co-operative system.
