The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-02-19
ORIGIN or UN|ON|SM,
American Labor Movement Born
In Philadelphia.
PRINTERS THE PIONEERS.

Masters and Journeymen Banded To-
sether For Mutual Professionalism
tory Of the Organization Marked by
Charity and 5snevoiencs.
The birth Of the labor movement In
this country took place in the closing
years Of the seventeenth century-ex-
act date we cannot give--and was
brought about through the banding
together of number OF master and
journeymen Philadelphia printers for
mutual protection. Little is known of
the history of this organization except
that its leading objects we're to relieve
its distressed membership, bury de-
ceased brothers and settle any disputes
Of a trade nature that might arise be-
tween employer and employee. The
organization bore the title OF the "Asy-
lum company" and this body Of men
may be regarded as the pioneers Of the
labor union movement In America.
However, in 1902 another organiza-
ton was formed, composed Of Phila-
deIphia printers, on lines somewhat
similar to those that guided the opera
tions Of the Asylum company. This
new union Of masters and journeymen
worked under their constitution and
laws until about the year 1910, when
1t obtained charter from the author
tiles under the title OF the Philadelphia
Typographical society Having thus
been made a legalized body, 1t was
necessary that 1t eliminate its trade
union feature and restrict itself to
works Of beneyolence and charity.
From January, 1910, 1t has carried on
its work along these lines up to the
present time, a period Of more than
los years. We think this society can
justly claim to be the Oldest OF its
kind In the country. Its career up to
date has been one Of credit and honor
TO itself and the craft it represents.
During its long life the benevolent
spirit OF this organization was not con-
fined to its individual membership, but
was evidenced in other directions.
When New York was suffering from
yellow fever scourge in 1903 this So
ciety donated something like 500 TO
their fellow craftsmen OF that city to
aid them In the noble struggle they
were making to stem the affllcti0n that
had fallen upon its people.
on the breaking out Of the war of
1912 there came a call from the gov
eminent for a loan Of S11,o00O00 Phil
adelphia Typographical society was
among the first to offer its widows
mite TO the national government in re-
sponse to the call, even going so far
as to sell It's stockh0ldings In the Phil
adelphia bank.
When the civil war OF 1861 occurred
and volunteers were called for by the
national government. the printer ranks
Of Philadelphia were decimated BY q
large number Of the members forsak-
ing their labors in the printshop In or
der to evidence their patriotism by en-
tering into the military service In de. I
Tense OF the Union. To such of those
who were on its membership roll that
went TO the front the society. by ylr-
tue Of d resolution, kept them in good
standing and relieved those dependent I
upon them from want during their alb
genee.
In 1881 the society by vote, owing to /
changed conditions, decided to disband,
but was Immediately recognized. and (
the year following Gs32l obtained a
charter from the state chat gave it in
creased powers and forbade its dis
bandment so long as ten members
were willing to continue IT,
In 1912 the Franklin Typographical
association suppanted the trades I'M
ion features OF the society, adopting 4
the scale of prices that Up to this time
had been In operation by the latter
body from the year OF It's adoption.
1896. The Franklin Typographical as
ISOLATION merged into that Of Phiiadei
phia Typographical union No. . In 1850
The records Of the Typographical So
ciety show Acknowledgements Of dona
tons Of money and land in aid OF its
objects, while upon its
roll Of membership appear the names
of many Of the leading men in bust.
ness or social life who at one time OF
another we're engaged in printing Of
It's allied crafts ID our city Williafn
f. Knott III Typographical Journal.