The Butler County press. [volume] (Hamilton, Ohio) 1900-1946, 1913-08-08
A PRINTER FROM NEW YORK.
Whom About to Take His Seat a Move
nent Was Started to Prevent His
Qualifying - Contumeiy and Scern
heaped Upon Him.

heaped Upon Him.
In the Sixty-third congress the trade
unions of America will be represented
by seventeen members. This result
has been the outcome of the policy in
augurated by the American Federation
of Labor during the past three con-
gressional campaigns. Prior TO the
time mentioned men with paid up
nnion cards In their pockets in con-
gress were conspicuous by their abb
sence, although there were union
men members of congress prior to
1905. The election of the first union
man to congress, however, occurred a
great many years ago-in 1884, in fact
Ely Moore, journeyman printer, was
elected to the Twenty fourth congress
and reelected to the Twenty-ffth
from New York city, He was a mem
ber of what was then known as the
Typographical Association of New
York, organized June II, 1881 Moore
also was editor of labor paper, but
data are not available as to its title.
The brief biography of this early, con-
gressman contains the facts that he
was born in New Jersey and died in
Kansas and that during the active
years of his life he was a labor agitator
and organizer OF trade unions. Apropos
of this subject, Senator Ashhurst Of
Arizona, while discussing the recall
of judges, wove into his address ref
erence to Ely Moore, likewise paying
tribute to the yalor 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 move
ment set on foot to try to prevent bis
being seated Contumely, scorn and
derision were 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 q
labor union had been elected TO con
gress. But the stubborn courage OF
Ely Moore. his superlatiye eloquence
biting sarcasm and wonderfully pierc
ing analysis convinced the nation that
no mistake had been made In sending
a member of labor union to congress
and so strikingly did this 5ourneyma1
printer this organizer OF labor unions
this so called 'agitator and dema
gogue' distinguish himself for patriot
ism, learning and ability that be be
came confidential adviser of the ad
mlnistration OF President James K
Polk ! mention these circumstances
30 thet 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 o.
stay these forward movements in theil
progress. The movement especially II
behalf of those who perform physica
labor for a greater share of freedom
for the right to enjoy part of the ere
alton Of their hands and Of their Owl
toll, will inevitably live, for 1t Is broad
based as the world itself and as deer
as humanity Garment Worker