The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1874-03-07

| Inc chamberlain family Is large one.
Representatives Of 1t are found in all parts
Of the United States, especially in New
from England were several Of that name
Most school boys will remember the story
Of John Chanberlin, who in colonial times,
killed the Indian warrior Pangus, in what
is now the State Of Maine. The first colo
nial secretary Of New Hampshire was a
certain Richard Chamberlain, who was vio-
lently superseded in his office, and his
books and papers seized by Captain John
Pickering, during the New Hampshire rev.
olution.
A descendant Of his, one Dudley Cham
berlin settled in Wolfborough, in the latter
State He was a clcse-hsted farmer, with
dozen children, one of whom, Daniel,
left home at nineteen, with his pack on his
shoulder, and walked first t. Portsmouth,
and then to Boston, in search Of work.
He agreed to pay, and did afterwards pay
to his father, one hundred dollars for his
time. He was industrious, keen and saw
ing and from first being a boy Of all work
about hotel managed in time to become
a tavern keeper himself, and eventually a
rich man. He is stIll-a sixty three years
Of age in active business. It would be
strange, indeed, it youth, brought up as
he had been, and who had successfully
struggled in his manhood to become rich,
should not at all times Of life display those
same qualities that had enabled him to
achieve success in his chosen pursuits
In considering Of these things an Of the
effect thereof upon the welfare and happi-
ness of others, and upon himself, his son,
the subject Of this sketch, was early led to
avow those principles and ideas that are
held in common by all labor reformers.
EDWIN NJ CHAMBERLIN was born in Cam
bridge, Massachusetts, November 7th, 1885.
The middle name, Martin, he derived from
his mother, descendant OF Solomon Mar
tin, carpenter, who came over in the ship
James, from London, in 1886. She was
most excellent woman, and distinguished
for many good works. She died many
years ago, lamented by a large circle of
friends.
Edwin NJ. Chamberlin was brought up
in hotel, in which, commencing at an
early age, he has worked in various capac-
tiles. In youth he was much devoted to
athletic exercises, and filed, at different
times, the offices Of President, Captain,
etc, Of the Union Boat Club, Boston, one
of the oldest and best known organizations
Of the kind in the United States. He pull
ed in the successful six-oar i'll the Boston
City's regatta, July 4th, 1860 or 1861. He
enlisted in the army raised q battery Of
Artillery, in which he received commits
sion, and served three years, and until the
end Of the war. Was an aid upon the staff
Of Gen. John Mcneil, of Missouri. Was
in the Signal Corps, and for a while served
under Farragut ON board his flagship, the
Hartford. After the war, was commander
Of Post Z, g. A. R., Boston. In 1869 the
first Labor Reform political convention
was called III Massachusetts. About four
hundred delegates assembled. The Girls
pins were the principal movers in the mat
ter. Mr.. Chamberlin attended as q dele
gate, took part in the preliminary commit
tee meetings, and was nominated for Gov
ernor of the State of Massachusetts.
He received nearly 15,OOO votes at the
polls. The next Legislature Of Massachu-
setts had over thirty straight labor reform
ers in it. The Grand Lodge Of the Knights
of St Crispin obtained q charter which
year before had been refused them A
Ten Hour Law, for factories, passed the
Lower House, but failed in the Senate.
During this first labor reform campaign,
Mr. Chamberlin made about thirty speeches
in various parts of the State. The next
year, 1870, Mr.. Wendell Phillips was the
labor reform candidate for governor, and
in 1871 Mr.. Chamberlin was nominated .
second time. In both Of these campaigns
he spoke great many times in nany
cities and towns of the commonwealth,
upon the money question, reduction Of the
hour of labor, factory legislation, and
other topics suggested by his platform.
The two years last past-1872 anG 1873
it was voted by the labor reform conven-
tions to make no party nominations but TO
lend their efforts in making choice Of SEN
ators and Representatives who would sup
port Ten Hour Law. During this period
Mr. Chamberlin has been chairman Of the
Labor Reform State Central Committee,
which position he holds now. This last
year, 1873, both the Republican and Dem
ocratic parties in Massachusetts put the
Ten Hour Law plank liz their platform.
But. as Mr.. Phillips has said, they we're
kicked into it.
During the campaign Mr.. Chamberlhl
issued an address to the voters Of the State
in regard to the ten hour Law. Giving the
text Of the Law, which was demanded, TIE
names Of those Legislators who had, in
the previous year, voted against the law
a proper persons to be defeated for Office,
whloh address the readers of tho ABv0sAxz