The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-09-05
(By T. ". POWderly.)

He who reviews the gathered bat j.,
talions Of the grand army of labor
today will look into the faces of men
and women who, by large majority,
have not passed the thirtieth mile
stone in the march of years.
Scan the forms and faces closely
and you will be. gratified to note a
wonderful Improvement over 80 years
ago. Speak to them and you will as
certain that they understand why
they are organized. Alive to the reali-
ties of the present, aware Of the pos
sibilities Of the future, and strong in
their determination to persevere unto
the end, they impress you as being
competent to grapple with the most
perplexing problems in social or politi-
cal:econOmy. s.;
On some things they should, how
eyer, be better Informed. The history
Of the labor movement is thrilling
one; it. is most instructive, and the
pity is: that more, attention is .notupaid
to the present preservation of .recordsJ
and documents bearing on the yshtfting
sands which slip so <noisely and QUICK
ly from beneath our feet as we keep
steep with the march of progress
Duri ing the present year the congress
of the United States enacted a law
creating department of commerce
and labor. In 1884 congress created
bureau of labor. which after a few
years became a department. and as
such continued until merged into the
recently established department of
Commerce and Labor. I have always
felt that workingmen did not take suf-
ficient interest in that braneh- Of the
government service. True, officers and
prominent members of labor organiza-
tions have studied the reports Of the
department of labor. Sometimes they
have criticized, sometimes censured,
and sometimes questioned, but never
have workingmen, as a whole, taken
that deep interest in the institution
which it's Importance deserved.
We are apt to attach great deal
of Importance to:-what we do our
selves and overlook something much
better that was done by someone else.
Not long since an; item went the
rounds of the press which purported
to give, in brief, the history of the de-
artment Of labor. Various men, now
living. were credited with the pater-
nifty of the movement which resulted
! ment, and remarkable as it may ap-
pear, not one of those singled out for
especial mention was entitled to the
honor of having fathered the project
Thirty-four years ago, July 80, 1869,
there was laid to rest in Laurel Hill
cemetery, Philadelphia, Pa, the NOR
tai part Of William H. Sylvis, the man
| who first advocated and recommended
1k~1o s,l.
| labor.
Being. dead, we. can safely. give to
! Sylvis the credit to which he is en-
| titled It will arousee no jealousy to
speek well of him now, for no one en-
vies him the place he occupies in the
cemetery. In 1866 Mr.. ~Sylvis was presi-
dent of the Iron Moulders' Internation-
al Union; he resided in Philadelphia
| and during the month of February of
that year he met William Harding. of
measures of concern to the trade I'M
ions of that day. Before separating
they sent out call for a. preliminary
meeting Of the friends Of progress in
| the labor movement.
| That preliminary meeting was held
in New York on March rs, 1866, and
from it went forth call for a conven-
| ton of those connected with the
movement who believed in taking steps
| toward the unification of the forces
of labor. The call was signed by Will
liam Harding, John Reid, and John H
/ Fay, The convention met in Baltimore
Md, August 20, 1866, but unfortunate
ly Mr.. Sylvis was sick and unable to
attend. William Gathers, then presi-
dent of the Baltimore Trades assem-
bly,, called the convention to order and
John Hinchcliffe; of Illinois, was e.
ected temporary chairman.
At that convention was organized
the National Labor Union, which be-
came the father of the knights of La
Dor: and the American Federation Of
! Labor: No matter how many differ
i ences existed Or still ntinue between
these two .s* organizations, they owe
their existence .toa the same parent :.s
st $t {. conYen Ion sos plat:
Il. form of sprinei plesS was adopt fa=
,,I.Voring eights oursS work,