The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-25
THE LOCAL TRADES-UNIONS.
Information About the Various Labor
Organizations Of Indianapolis.
The First Union rcrn,,u II; !. This City-The
Trade Organizations Now in Existence
and Their Membership-Labor Notes.

The Oldest trades-union organization in Indi-
ana, and one Of the Oldest in the United States,
Is that OF the printe.s-Indianapoli Typograph-
zeal, No. /. This was organized in the spring OF
1852, and Theodore Bosworth was sent from 1t to
the first meeting of the international body which
was held at Buffalo, N. 7. There were only i've
or six unions, and tho Indianapolis union drew
No. l. 1t was two years later before the craft
here received charter. Joseph s. Watson was
the first financial secretary, and held that posi-
ton a number of terms He is now one of the
oldest compositors in Indiana bright and act
i've man, considering his years, and still does
fair days work at the case, being employed at
the Hasselman Printing Company. Frank Po-
sey, employed in the same establishment, was
the first corresponding secretary. This trades
union preceded any other in indianapolis nearly
Quarter of century. 1t now numbers 2l8
members, practically including all the type-set-
tiers in the city.
There are eleven trades unions here now, the
name of the organization each instance indi-
Dating the trade craft represented. They are
Typographical Union No. l, Brotherhood of Lo-
connective Engineers, Brotherhood of locomotive
Firemen, German Typographical Union. No. IA,
ture-makers, Iron-molders Stationary Kngin
GERS, and the Plumbers and Gas-ftters. The
strongest of these are the printers, cigar makers,
engineers, iremen and molders.
A number of trades unions form assemblies in
she Knights of Labor. These are the BARRIERS
furniture workers. stonecutters. blacksmiths.
eoopers, railroaders and bakers There are now
twenty eight assemblies of knights OF Labor In
this city, including the assemblies at the sub
urban villages of Belmont and North Indianapo
He 10 Nv ar oh An
there is fourishing one at Broad Ripple. That
workingmen generally are going into the order is
significantly shown by the fact that in January last
there were only thirteen assemblies IN this city.
1t Is estimated that the membership here now
numbers about $500 Few of the male members
are under twenty one years old. These few
are those eighteen years old or over who are
received under certain rules and restrictions.
The oldest and strongest assembly is alpha.
which has about five hundred members. The
membership of three of the assemblies
y-"Anna Darling Lady Kim" and Ladies'
Merdian'-are composed wholly of the fair sex.
'"Troutman" is composed exclusively of colored
members while 'Brisbin" is made up of white
and colored Germania Assembly is composed
entirely Of Germans, and all the proceedings OF
the assembly are conducted in that language.
Fourteen of the assemblies are, in their member
ship, made up of mixed trades, callings and ma
tionalities.
Indianapolis was not among the first Of the
cities in which the order of the Knights took
hold with startling increase, but after it once
got started here the growth of the order was
surprisingly rapid, nor has it been checked at
any time. To-day new members are being add
ed as rapidly as the regulations will admit If
these regulations were less strict the additions to
the membership would be much greater In the
surrounding towns belonging to this district, it
is said the membership is growing steadily
many of the applicants for membership being
farmers This district assembly is known as
No. LOG. w. B. Lewis is master workman.