The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1894-09-19
OF LABOR TROUBLES.
Story Of the First Strike in the Unit
ed States.
The First Political Delegate on Platform
Demanding Industrial Reforms.

Demanding Industrial Reforms.
In America trades unions were origin
ally the outgrowth of a desire on the
part of the craftsmen for closer social
relations. Even in the infancy of the
government certain distinctions of class,
based upon wealth and family, grew up,
and the mechanics banded together for
the purpose of mutual benefit socially.
Later on these unions were formed for
mutual protection as well as pleasure.
From that time forward the strife grew
hotter and hotter resulting in the indus
trial contest of today. after many strikes,
many fearful riots, and the loss of life
and treasure. In the end, for the end
must soon come the policy of concilia-
tion and arbitration is the policy of toe
workman, and it is yearly being forced
upon the master
The first strike in America took place
in the city OF New York in 1903, when
SOME sailors struck for an increase of
wages. This first outbbreak-if it could
be SO ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ended by the
al lOou oHo COlAuCllCDU Vi Tue 1GdQGIa
Prior to 1925, while there were numer-
GUS organizations of minor nature, the
formative period of trades unions in
this country was of little Importance.
From that time until 1851 the develop
ment of the movement was important us
it was the creative period of the union,
based upon The demands of organized
labor today. During this period of
twenty-six years labor worked for short.
er hours of toll, higher wages and also
lost considerable time in cooperative ex,
periments. The most notable one of the
latter is that Of Robert Dale Owen and
his New Armony, Ind, company. With
plenty of money and land the little COM
pany lasted but two years failing to
carry out any of the pro jectors' ideas
and effectually damping the ardor of
those who wished to create such esta Bills
ments.
Financial depression near the begin
ming of the formative period caused an
amount of agitation and several strikes
OF more or less Importance. This agita-
ton and these stoppages of the wheels
of industry brought trades union into
politics for the first time, divorced from
the dominant parties Of the country.
Ebenezer Ford OF New York was elected
to the State assembly on platform de-
manding industrial reforms and protest.
ing against the continuance of the feudal
system" This was in 1889.
From this time Oh trades unionism
has been a factor of ever increasing i'm
portance in the affairs of government.
DATING from the success OF Mr.. Ford
trade papers began to appear and advo-
cate the cause Of the people, larger
unions were formed, 81 ate societies took
the place of merely local lodges. and the
work of pushing labor to the front was
commenced with greater degree Of
systematic effort than ever before in the
worlds history. From the same date the
merchants and manufacturers began
their opposition to organized labor.
New England led in his organization.
January s, 1884, a general trades union
of all the mechanics of Boston and
vicinity was formed July of the
same year the first public demonstration
OF organized labor was held in the New
England capital. Two thousand men
marched through the principal streets.
displaying banners and devices Indicative
of their principal political opinions and
wound up the celebration with speech
making on the Common. This was the
precursor Of Labor day, now the recog-
nlzed holiday of the mass of wage
earners and wealth producers of the
American nation
This demonstration and its succeeding
and somewhat exciting imitators else.
where nerved the employers to the first
attack upon organized labor in this
country. Suit was brought against the
Journeymen bootmakers of Boston. and
an effort was made to break up the
union by law. An indictment for con-
spiracy was found against seven of the
1efeDdants. The lower court found them
guilty but in the Supreme Court the
taken by defendants counsel
were sustained and the men set free.
Soon after this the shorter hour ques-
ton met with its FIRST success in New
by the voluntary returning of
the labor day to ten hours by some of
the more humane of the masters. The
agitation of the question was renewed
with greater vigor, and the fight carried
into the elections.
Win the formation of the New Eng
!and Worklngmens Association in Bos-
Ton, N March, Is, and it's first convention
MA! 20 OF that year, begins the history
)l organized labor in the United States
n more than local aspect. This was
'he first industrial Congress, and was of
vast Importance in the battle between
abor and capital. Out of this movement
grew all of the successive national or
carnations and the several peoples par.
les which have been striving to accom-
dish something at the polls Three
ears after this first meeting a Ia bor CON
yention was held in philadelphia. and
ierri6 Smith placed in nomination for
the presidency. Thence forward labor
United as 1t had never done before.
Unions were formed all over the conn
Try, the secret order succeeding the open
riga nlzation. This was due to the ostra-
ism of the leaders by the opposino
OrceS 1he unions ma Ia nm o,ds6:S