The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-04-11


Industrial Congress Of the United States,
and First President Of the Cooper's
International Union, whose likeness we
herewith present, was born in the city Of
Osterburg, province Of Saxony, Prussia,
on the 18th Of October, 1843. Three years
after his father emigrated to the United
States, intending to settle in Texas, but
being unacquainted with the laws, Ian
guage and customs of the country, shortly
after landing, through the instrumentality
of a relative, he was defrauded Of nearly
his entire means Enough remained, how
ever. to enable him to buy out small
hotel in New Orleans, where he remained
eleven months, and then removed to ST.
Louis, Mo Here, Robert, the subject Of
this sketch received his education, but
having lost his father at an early age, he
could attend school only for a short term
Of years, in fact, he has never received
any but common school education. Yet
he was always an inveterate reader-and
not having the means of purchasing books
at his command, he would pick up all
kinds Of printed scraps, and eagerly de-
vonr them, for which he was frequently
derided by his less studious companions
so strong in fact did this thirst for knowl-
edge become, that even when he was learn
ing his trade he was often chided for
neglecting his work on that account
At the breaking out of the war he en-
listed in the three months service but his
only brother and sister being married, the
duty of supporting his mother devolved
on him, and he did not re-enlist after his
term expired Although raised in slave
State, he was always an unhinching advo-
cate of equal rights, and bitterly opposed
to slavery.
Previous to enlisting, while his trade
(coopering) was very dull, he had worked
as hod carrier, and some time afterwards
he worked with shovel and pick, at throw
ing up the forts, which we're built by
Gen. Fremonts order at that time. In
1868 the jOurneymen Coopers of St. Louis
formed a union, which he joined immedi-
ately Oh his return from FreeLurg, ILL.,,
where he had been at work several months.
Soon after, and before he was Of age, he
was elected its secretary, and subsequently
president, which position ne held till the
union disbanded, although he did all he
could to prevent this occurrence. At
nearly every meeting of Coopers held
afterwards in that city, he has been called
upon to preside and when the Coopers'
International Union was formed, he was
elected deputy president for No. l Of Mis-
souri,. He was subsequently appointed
Chief Deputy for the Mississippi Valley,
and in the performance of his duties gave
general satisfaction.
In 1871 he was elected almost unani-
mously to represent, with two other mem
bers No. l, in the Convention held in
New York city. Here he was elected
against his expressed desire, First Vice
President of the Coopers' international
Union, which position he holds to-day,
having been reelected without opposition
at the Convention held at st. Louis in Oc-
tober, 1873. The acceptance of this posi-
ton necessitated his removal to Cleveland,
Ohio, that city being the headquarters of
the international organization.
In July last, at the session of the Indus
trial Congress, he was elected President Of
that body, although he declined serving
on account of his multifarlous duties. He
accepted it, however, as none of the many
candidates proposed would serve, and has
since devoted the greater part of his spare
time to the business Of the organization.
In October, 1873, he was, in conjunction
with another workingman, nominated by
the Democratic and Liberal Republican
Convention OF Cleveland, for the leglsla-
ture. A mechanic (Mr. Fehrenbatch) had
also been squarely nominated by the Re
publican Convention, but this success Of
the workingmsn so frightened the capital
serving press of the city, that all their
attacks we're leveled against these men,
and bolt was organized by both prrties;
and by this means nineteen candidates
were placed in the field, of whom only five
could he elected. Although Mr.. Schilling
did not solicit single vote, and was absent
attending the Cooper's Convention the
week Just before the election, only return
ing about an hour before the closing of the
polls, and but one paper-the PIaindeGIsr--
supported him, he lacked only 800 votes
of being elected, being the seventh highest
of the nineteen candidates. This in the
face of the fact that he declined the
nomination in the Convention, and pub
lcly stated that ''the Republican as well
as shs Democratic party had outlived the
days Of their usefulness" certainly argued