The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1913-09-26
A Bit OF HISTORY
Sketch of First Union Labor
Member OF Congress.
A PRINTER FROM NEW YORK.

When About to Take His Seat a Move
meHt Was Started to Prevent His
Qualifying - Contumely and Scorn
Heaped Upon Him.
In the Sixtythird congress the trade
unions of America will be represented
10y seventeen members. This result
has been the outcome of the policy in
augurated by the American L Federation
of Labor during the past three con
Gressional campaigns. Prior to the
time mentioned men with paid up
union cards in their pockets in con
gress were conspicuous hy their alb
sence, although there were union
men members of congress prior to
1906. The election of the first union
man to congress, however, occurred a
great many years ago-in 1884, in fact.
Ely Moore, a journeyman printer, was
elected to the Twenty fourth congress
and reelected to the Twenty-fifth
from New York city. He was a mem
Der of what was then known as the
Typographical Association of New
ioi N. vi e5tibDNi ouiiC L., LOU. Nhooit
also was editor of a labor paper, but
data are not available as to its title.
The brief biography of this early con-
gresham contains the facts that he
was born in New Jersey and died il
Kansas and that during the active
years Of his life he was a labor agitator
and organizer of trade unions. Apropos
Of nh A oh IF
Arizona, while discussing the recall
of judges, wove into his address a ref
erence to Ely Moore, likewise paying
tribute to the valor and high charac-
ter of the men who laid the founda-
ton for collective action among work
men. That part of Senator AshhurStS
speech referred to is as follows:
when Ely Moore, the first member
of a labor union to be elected to the
congress of the United States was
about to take his seat in the Twenty
fourth congress there was a move
ment set on foot to try to prevent his
being seated. Contumely. scorn and
derision We're heaped upon him by the
reactionaries of that day, who believ-
ed that the liberties of the republic
were in danger because a member of a
labor union had been elected to con-
gresS. But the stubborn courage OF
Ely Moore. his superlative eloquence.
biting sarcasm and wonderfully pierre
ing analysis convinced the nation that
10 mistake had been made in sending
IL member of Il labor union to congress,
and 50 strikingly did this journeyman
printer this organizer of labor unions
This so called 'agitator' and 'dema-
gogue distinguish himself for patriot
ism. learning and ability that he be-
came confidential adviser of the adj
minietrati0n of President James X
Polk. | mention these circumstances
so that those who are supporting this
contest in behalf of a larger human
liberty will not become discouraged,
but will become encouraged when they
reflect how much more intensely heat
ed was the opposition to these reforms
in the days gone by. He is wasting
his time who believes he can stop or
stay these forward movements in their
progress. The movement, especially in
behalf of those who perform physical
labor, for a greater share of freedom
for the right to enjoy a part of the Gre
alton of their hands and of their own
toll will inevitably live, for it is broad
based as the world itself and as deep
as humanity. Garment Worker.