The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1908-09-06
RICHMOND WAS
PIONEER CITY OF
LABOR UNION|SM
Carpenters and Joiners Es-
tabIished Union With Re-
strictive Rules and Bylaws
As Early as Year 1885.
HISTORIC PAMPHLET
AMONG DUSTY ARCHIVES.
Leading Educational Institu-
tions of Country Recognize
importance of Organization
And Its Ideals.

| The first labor union in Richmond
Whoever heard of 1t? Who remembers
it? When was It?
| Way back in the thirties there was
established Gin the borough OF Rich
mond" the House Carpenters and
The practical application of this SEN
is yellow, faded little pamphlet OF
twenty-seven pages, containing its con-
stitution, its scale Of prices and its
members. Gone is the first labor un-
ion-its modest beginning Is as faded
as the little pamphlet-the men who
composed it are dusty-but there the
| pamphlet is on the shelves of the Nor
risson- Reeves library. 1t is a docu-
ment-valuable for future historians
and students of the history of political
economy.
1 Already the University OF Michigan
has asked for permission of the libra
rian of the Morrison Reeves library,
| Mrs. Bernhardt, to make a transcript
of this document From the point of
view of the university man this Is
unique. The first trades union was
started In England In 1880. Although
the germs of the system he'd been la
tent and developing long before.
Therefore to find such a document In
the early thirties here is indeed q
find. Mention of II has already been
made in political economy papers and
such institutions as Chicago, Harvard.
Yale and the Johns Hopkins will prob
ably follow the examples set by Mich
igan.
Had Own Constitution.
But there 1t stands
Constitution
and
Bylaws
HOUSE CARPENTERS
and
Joiners' Society,".
OF the Borough Of Richmond
To which is attached
A BILL OF THEIR PRICE
Adopted Jan. 1st, 1885.
Published by the Society.
Finley and Holloway Printers,
Southwest Corner Main and Front st.
Richmord 4, Ind.
1885.
, This particular copy may have had
a peculiar and interesting history. It
was first the copy belonging to Enos
, III. Clark, whose name appears printed
on the inside of the cover. On the
outside appears the name of Charles A.
Roberts. The copy was obtained by
Mrs. Bernhard from a mass of much
less interesting material from his es-
tate. This one copy Is all that re-
e mains of the first trades union in
, Richmond.
:. The document in itself is highly In
i laws:
a Rule 1. Each member Of this society
: shall be entitled to a copy OF the bill OF
y prices so long as he remains member
!. and no longer, except by a vote OF the
resident members.
Rule 2. The price book of the,so-
4 ciety shall be or may be sold out Of
l. the society, for any sum not less than
d ten dollars a copy, which sale, how
r ever, shall first be made known to the
y society at some meeting OF the same.
and the consent of a majority present
y shall be obtained"
ii Thus we know that the society OF
e joiners and carpenters was secret In
e its operations
l. The preamble to the constitution
z sets forth the designs and the purpos-
IS es of the society. II reads:
n Among men of similar pursuits. So
is cial intercourse, mutually regulated. ia
Y productive Of many beneficial effects.
l. The practic al application of this sen-
timent is the design of the society of
House Carpenters and Joiners of the
borough of Richmond, In order to
u maintain a good understanding be-
e tween its employers anil employed
u prevent disputes and adjust disputes
make and establish equitable prices
&c for the various kinds of work done by
them-promote mechanical knowledge,
ami constantly endeavor to advance
the interest of all those concerned In
O. the above branch, and the better to
pit carry their intentions into effect, they
he have agreed and pledged themselves
K that this constitution shall be reguiat-
Sc ed by the following"
le The constitution is Just such doc
o. ument as one would expect Simple
ne and direct as regards the issues which
he must have confronted the carpenters
and joiners of 1895.
rs The Bill of Prices is still more inter
Id esting. Prices are quoted on framing,
shingling, sheathing, cutters, dormer
or windows. porches and portions. door
o. frames, window frames. westherboard-
III ing. oval sashes, floors, partitions