The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-09-27

MARTIN AMBROSE FORAN, the subject of
the following sketch, whose portrait is here
with presented, and whose name is known
throughout the length and breadth of the
country, wherever Trades Union has been
established, or the principles Of Labor Re-
lage of Choconut, Susquehanna County.
Pa, on the llth Of November, l843, and
is the second oldest of a family of eight
children. He is of Irish parentage, his
father, James Foran, having left the EN-
erald Isle nearly forty years ago.
Settling in Pennsylvania became
Farmer and Cooper combined keeping
country customer Cooper Shop, and from
him Martin learned the trade After gain
ing a rudimental education, he secured
teachers certificate, wheu ei-'tern years
Of age. The money earLvA ..Iis manner
was carefully husbanded, and was after
wards turned to good account in securing
his admission to Susquehanna College, in
which Institution he studied two terms.
Early in the spring of 1864 young Foran
responded TO his country's call, and enlist
ed in the Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry,
remained ir .ths service eighteen. msatk4f
and participated in forty engagements.
Shortly after the war he returned to his
native town, and again taught school in its
immediate neighborhood. Leaving the
quiet precincts Of Choconut, he resolved to
act on Horace Greeley's advice-given
some years afterwards $50 ,oest. :"
Meadville was his first stopping place, and
failing to get employment there, either as
cooper or book keeper, in which profes-
sion he had perfected himself, he carried
out his ideas Of independence by accepting
position as day laborer in a coal oil re-
finery. Through economy and industry he
saved fifty dollars of his earnings, with
which he purchased set Of Cooper's tools,
when he went to work at his old trade. In
the spring of 1868 he moved to Cleveland,
Ohio, where he soon after obtained EN-
ployment as a journeyman Cooper, in
which city he has resided ever since.
1t was shortly after this that the neces-
sity for the organized effort of his craft be-
came apparent, and an opportunity was
presented for him to develop the qualihca-
tions for organization, which, in an eminent
degree, he possesses At the period re-
ferred to the Coopers Of Cleteland were
demoralized- strike and an inevitable fail
ure forming the sequel-to all their ac-
tions
In the spring Of 1869 he succeeded in
forming local organization, and was elect
ed, by acclamation, It's President. But
this was only a beginning. Mainly through
his instrumentality a State Union was
formed in 1870, which was supplemented
the same year by call written by Mr..
Foran) for an International Convention of
Coopers. The effort was crowned with
success.
The Convention assembled in Cleveland
in May, and after all interesting session
and interchange of opinion, the Inter
nationa. was organized, and Mr.. Foran
elected its President. At the second ses-
sion. held in Baltimore in the fall Of 1871.
he was reelected by vote which proved
that his efforts had been appreciated; while
at the New York Convention, held the fol-
lowing year, (when the sessions were made
biennial, he was retained as the chief ex-
ecutive, and cOmplimented by an increase
Of salary.
The success Of the Industrial Congress,
which assembled in Cleveland on the 18th
Of July last-and whose object was to bind
in a common bond of brotherhood, the
toiling masses Of America-was in a great
measure due to his exertions. He was one
Of the projectors Of the scheme, and in
company with Messrs. Walls, Fehrenbatch
aud Satin, gave it the aid Of his voice and
pen, and ceased in the good work only
when success crowned his efforts.
In addition to hisduties OF international
President, which, considering the extent
and numbers of the organization, must be
Of laborious and fatlguiug character, call
ing for the continual exercise of prudence,
energy and good judgment he is also edi-
tor Of the official organ of the craft" Thu
! Coopers' International Journal" 70 which
he has contributed, from time to time, some
of the ablest and most practical arguments
which have ever appeared on the labol
question.
In April, 1873, the workingmen Of Cleve
land, irrespective of party predictions
elected him delegate to the Ohio Consti
tutional Convention, by majority which
must have been as gratifying to his prida
as it was creditable to their Judgment, ant
it certainly is no iattery to say that no mem
Der Of that body has reflected more credi
ON his constituents than Martin Ambros'
Foran. The fearless, boldness Of his ut
terances, and the ability Of his arguments
while pleading the cause of the working
men, have commanded the respect alike o
friend and foe, thrown o bombshell in
to the camp Of the ants-diluvians, and, b
q great measure, answered their question
"WRat do thsss spOrkingmsn ssa,stl"
] And this, 10 far, ID tho story Of his life