The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1908-03-07
ORIGIN Of UN|Oh|sM
!. :. !. .. IN UNITED States
American Labor Movement Was
Born by the Journeymen
80. Printers Of Philadelphia.
Early as Well as Later History of
Organization Marked BY !
l. = Charity and Benevolence.

The birth of the labor movement in
this country took place in the closing
years of the seventeenth century
exact date we cannot giVe-and was
brought about through the banding
together Of a number of master and
journeymen Philadelphia printers for
mutual protection. Little is known Of
the history of this Organization ex-
cept that it's leading objects were to
relieve its distressed membership,
bury deceased brothers and settle any
disputes of a trade nature that might
arise between employer and employee.
The organization bore the title of the
Asylum company" and this body Of
men may be regarded as the pioneers
Of the labor union movement in Am
erica.
:. Oldest in The Country.
However, in 1902 another organiza-
ton was formed, composed Of Phila-
delphia printers. on lines somewhat
similar to those that guided the .oper-
| atoms of the Asylum company. This
new union of masters and Journey
men worked under their constitution
and laws until about the year 1910,
| when it obtained charter from the
authorities under the title, Of the
Philadelphia Typographical society,"
Having thus been made a legalized
body, it was necessary that it elm
mate its trade union feature and re-
>strict itself to works of benevolence
and charity. From January 1910, it
has carried on it's work along these
lines up to the present time period
Of more than los years. We think
! this society can justly claim to be the
/ oldest Of It's kind in the country. It's
| career up to date has been one of
credit and honor to itself and the
craft 1t represents.
The Printers' >Benevolence.
During it's long life the benevolent
spirit Of this organization was not
combined to its individual membership,
but was evidenced in other directions
When New York was suffering from
a yellow fever scourge in 1903 this
to their fellow craftsmen Of that city
to aid them in the noble struggle they
were making to stem the Athletic
that had fallen upon it's people.
/ On the breaking out of the war Of
1872 there came a call from the gov
eminent for a loan Of $1,000, 900.
Philadelphia Typographical society
was among the first to offer its Wild
1 ow's mite to the national government
in response to the call, even going so
| far as to sell it's stockholdings in the
Philadelphia bank.
/ When the civil war of 1851 occurred
and volunteers were called for by the
national government, the printer
ranks of Philadelphia were decimated
by-"a large number of the members
forsaking their labors in the printshop
in order to evidence their patriotism
by entering into the military service
in defense Of the Union. TO such of
those who were on its membership
roll that went Ito the 'front.' the So
ciety, by virtue of a resolution, kept
them in good standing and relieved
those dependent upon them from want
during their absence
Changes Of Time,
In 1881 the society by vote, owing
to changed conditions, decided to dis
band, but was Immediately reorganiz-
ed, and the year following QsS2) OBJ
tanned a. charter rom the state that
gave it increased powers and forbade
its disarmament so long as ten men,
bers were willing to continue it.
In 1912 the Franklin Typographical
association supplanted the trades un-
ion feature of the society, adopting
the scale of prices that up to this time
had been in operation by the latte,
body from the year Of it's adoption
1886. The Franklin Typographical as
ISOLATION merged into that of Phila-
, delphia Typographical union No..
in 1850.
The records Of the Typographical
; society show Acknowledgements Of do.
nations of money and land in aid o.
its praiseworthy objects, while upor
it's roll Of membership appear thu
} names of many Of the leading men ii
II business or social life who at one tim,
| or another were engaged in printing
, or it's allied crafts in Philadelphia.