New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-10-26
THE CENTRAL LABOR UNION
ITS FORMATION AND GROWTH

IFS FORMATION AND GROWTH
HOW woRKINGMEN HAVE ORGANIZED AND Hov
THEY HAVE FOLLOWED POLITICS.
Tho history Of the Central Labor Union Of this ct,
Is an interesting showing as 1t does how the pas
sons Of few men and the interests OF others can
influence and change the history Of organization
formed In the first place a medium Of exchsnsa
of views and q keystone OF various unions on
workingmen, but later prosttuted to the spite OF
the boycott. The Central Labor Union has experienced
civil wars, has declared the alleged enemies
Of organized labor" and has In turn signed treaties
OF peace. But In spite Of many mistakes organized
labor in this city is greatly indebted TO that unon
which although representing SO many labor organiIa,
tIons practically autonomy and its influence has
In the main acted check rash strikes and boy.
colts at times.
In 1881 the wordngmen OF this city appointed five
delegates from each union 10 form general COMMITTEES
to arrange for q mass-meeting in Cooper Union TO
press sympathy with the people OF Ireland who
then attempting to carry out their :" Noent' nant.
festo Several meetings Of this committee were held.
and the idea occurred to OF Its members that tho
formation Of central organization To replace
the Old Trade Assembly would benefit all
local labor unions and facilitate the trans
action Of important business. After the mass meeting
In Cooper Union Of January 80. 1852, the idea Of
central union was favorably thought Of by the com,
mittee and on February meeting was held and
call issued to all labor organizations to send five dele
gates to meeting held In Science Hall, No las East
Eighth st. March 12, 1889.
The first meeting OF the Central Labor Union was
great success. Matthew Mcclure, Of the Advance
Labor Club, called to order the delegates OF nearly
twenty five labor unions, among them being the Ad'
vance Labor Club United Clothing Cutters Typograpa'
ical Unions Nos and Z. United P1anon!akers New
York Bakers Union. Brcklayers' Unions Nos Sd
IL, Excelsior Labor Club, Eureka Labor Club OF God
Beaters Brooklyn Progressive Labor Club, shoemaAe'
Protective Union, Enterprise Labor Club Of jewelers.
Atlas Labor Club Of Tin and Sheet Iron Workers, John
Brown Association OF Jersey City, Operative Painters
Union Cabinetmakers' Union No. :, LOngshOremen's
Unions Nos. 2 and 3, and the LaborerS' Union Ro0e7
Blissert of the United Clothing Cutters Union. was
elected chairman; Matthew Mcclure, Of the Advance
Labor Club, recording secretary; George Block,
OF the Bakers Union. financial secretary, and
Thomas Wertman, OF LOngshOremens Union No. 3,
treasurer. A constitution. drawn up by "pTelHl'
nary committee, then adopted. and tile name OF
the Central Labor Union OF New York aid Vicinity
was chosen.
The first business transacted by the new central
body was the appointment Of a committee "t h'e' a'S
a long discussion the subject OF PRISON ''htTo
labor to report at the next meeting a plan which
should abolish the competition Of prison Ab"r WIN
free labor And thus was launched what Is now ono
of the largest central unions in this or any otA1
country.
Several msss-meetngs were held under the auspices
OF the Central Labor Union In the first SIX months Oh
its existence to agttae for the abolition OF prison con-
tract labor and the repeal Of the Conspiracy law e
agitation being In part successful, and bills modlyns
both laws passed in the state Legislature
II is due 10 the efforts of the New-iork Central
Labor Union that the first Monday In september WAS
made a legal holiday, and 1t received ue hamo .,
Labor Day because It's existence is due TO orsamIea
labor The first celebration on what was sfter"s"
known as Labor Day held on september D. unAft
the auspices Of the Central Labor Union IN onoe
Of the General Assembly Of the Knights OF Labor Whch
met in this city In 1882 over $1,000 men turned ou'
in the parade and altogether the holiday and ceeo%
tons proved such success that the Ceh'ra Laoo' a
affiliated unions decided make II spccial honuSy
for workngnen. But since Labor Day has oeeh eye
lied 1t has become less the holiday OF ORGANIZED ao'i
and moro the recreation day OF all "orAeT'' VII" -
exception of the labor parade 49,.
BEFORE the Central Labor Union had been Organizes
six months II had decided to enter pohtlc' A. o'.
and from that moment intrigue has more or less MAJ
its history. In the fall OF lo72 the 'eH'"' -
Union Joined hands with tho rrmhahH VI nv
Greenback and Socialist parties and nominated 'aha'
dates for Congress and Assembly, but oW''s " '''''
dissensions and INSCRIPTIONS leader the "'o'ei"'D
uas not so great succtss it should have beh 80
the fight was made principally against Iaihhah!' Jus
Il turned out to be Of skirmiNh thah oa''''
In 1883 not only this city but the whole cou''i,
was startled by resolutions passed by the Ceh'r1
Iahor Union to blow up with dynamite the Ne"-i''n
end of the Brooklyn Bridge. which was to ne op'n'1
IN Nav "a 10 protect the Bridge a Gordon OF ponce
was stationed about 1t, and the central Lap" '"""
WAS talked about by everybody. Inc result "S.
potoriety and thousands OF men joined It's alAhi''
unions who otherwise would not have been SuH'ei'r
interested in these unions to organize
terward leaked out that thesa resolutions wen
majority after strong fight made by tho oppo''uoa
and that the men introduced and voted for uien
had done so part Of q scheme TO Oooh -
organization. 49,, ,ov
shortly after this incident the Central lnoh W.
co,-d Clarendon Hail. whore 1t had been In the hAo'
NJ meeting and moved 10 No. l22 East lhlTte'"''
Here 1t was resolved to exclude all reporters i'o"' -
mee,ros vet the day after the next meeuhs v"
naners all published verbatim report OF "I'a' '
becn said and done, much To TIE surprise anu '
Of the labor delegates. VINO al ue!r 'eA' "'eo 49,.
charges against another OF oeihs i"'So :" -.
n,sdges ~ secrecy. While these charges "err pf"s
mode and excitement beginning 10 run hisn
80. vros heard from one OF the low screened WIN
dou. and there were seen the reporters "i al Wv
nar.r. bar, AT work writing and much ahiu'eu ~
what was goinS OF. . ,o,r making
In 1888 the state Legislature passed ID" na"" ,a
Tho first Monday in May legal holiday 10 oe - ~.
1ahor nav hut the day passed unnotced ana .'s
oc, was amended making the holiday tie Ms. r%.
In september which has proved sIe as,aton on tho
subject SftH BY tie Central Labor TnoI Central Union
It was .n ea Work Of organizing the brewery en-,
1 pSyes who the time ,o ws'e as smpE nSS
the nn sn and ms e SE %%s
I psrmaDsnt good sGe%mp,aed in n WEI rnea
OF TINS Hsmands beinG confident In their eife5 nn
Sat the Pool inv was Sn nS" w iSrsa s
nicn %ssh the central Union was amoStui, II
aght led by James Allen against the ,,Lr.'t,as.M
ns p,rcr Hangers Union and James T. Nt ths
tne Sairman Of the Peoples Municipal Lcas,c su .b
nov nov, influential labor leader In the city M,s by
h haJ and the Paper Hangers mon were anih'
osiu G majority vote and Allen WAS eNIell@t an
When the municipal political campaign OF MAYOR
uoached and Henry George was nominated ioT .,w,i
~ mass.meeting held In Cooper Union th' se" and
Gnton was stirred to its depths with enthusiasm,
under It's ieaaersmp Gallant aSht for the election