GODIN, go'diixf, JEAN BAPTISTE ANnst ( 1817 88). A French socialist, born at Esqueheries, in the Department of Aisne. He came from an artisan family, and received the meagre education which was given to boys of his class at that time. When seventeen years old he began a trip through France, in order to perfect his skill as an artisan. Three years afterwards he was a workman in Esqueheries. A small workshop which he established in 1840 prospered, and in 1846 employed about thirty men. Then he moved to Guise, in order to find a better market for his wares. He found time to pick up a very fair education, and became deeply interested in the writings of certain socialists, especially Fourier. He gave material financial assistance to Victor Considdrant, who attempted to put Fourier's sys tem into practice near San Antonio, in Texas, and when that plan failed he resolved to try cotipera tion himself. He gradually introduced reforms into his workshops, such as payment of laborers by the hour instead of by the day. In 1859 he
began the construction of the buildings for his co operative association, or familistere, and before 1886 had fully established profit-sharing. A part of the profits he laid aside as a common fund for education, sinking fund, and other similar purposes, and divided the remainder between labor and capital. Godin had some success in politics. He was elected president of the mu nicipal commission of Guise in 1870, and member of the National Assembly in 1875. He pub lished several books, the chief of which are: Solutions sociales (1871) ; La politigue du travail et la politique des privileges (1875) ; La souve rainctd et les droits du peuple; le gouvernement et le vrai socialisme en action (1883) ; La Hpub liaise du travail et la reforme parlementaire (1889). His establishment now bears the name of Dequereme et Cie. Consult Bernadot, Le familistere de Guise et son fondatcur (Paris, 1889). See FOURIEaIsM.