Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1914-11-13
LABOR UNION HEAD
GREETS MEMBERS
OF BIG CONVENTION
Philadelphia, by Reason of
It's History, a Fitting Place
for Assembly of Fedora
ton.
BIZ GEORGE II. uLRIcH

President central Labor union Of Phnadei-
pha.
There could be no more hitting place foi
The American Federation of Labor TO hold
iis annual convention than in this par
tieular city, because It was in this city
that the American Federation Of Labor,
under that title. was arst permanently
started. II is true that in the early sos
the various craft unions we're having dis
putes with the knights of Labor, prln-
eipnlly on the question OF trade auton-
omy, and that they formed loose fed
GRAFTON known as the Federation OF Or
ganized Trades and Labor Unions but It
was not until after the convention OF
that body in Philadelphia on May u,
1855, which made certain demands on the
knights OF Labor which demands were
rejected by the Richmond convention OF
che knights Of Labor, that the American
Federation of Labor was permanently
end Solldly organized in the shape in
which It now is. Once since then the
city of Philadelphia has had the pleas
ure Of entertaining convention OF the
American Federation OF Labor. That
was In 1892. when the delegates, much
fewer in numbers than they now are. as
sembled in Independence Hall
Philadelphia is great industrial CEN
tire and has Initiated many great and
large movements. The American Fedora
ton of Labor got its real start in this
city IL was In this city that Uriah S.
stephens. Il tailor working at the trade
sitting in Falrmount Park. talking with
MS fellow workers, organized the knights
OF Labor. Although that organization
as history has shown, was laid down on
Impractical lines. in that Il sought TO
make many divergent unions and inter-
ests 1Oin into one single organization, still
there Is no doubt that II played Its part
IN the development Of the American labor
movement and now. in its place stands
the more practical organization, the
american Federation of Labor which Is
federation of independent trades alive
to the development of industry, ready to
adjust itself to changing and changed
conditions and ready. when necessary, to
form practical industrial groups of vaIi-
ious trades.
Philadelphia has been a great labor CEN
tire. 1t has had great labor leaders II
has had labor leaders who. though some
times mistaken in their views have hon
estly worked for the advancement OF
labor's cause. p. ]. Mcguire. OF the Car
penters Union, the father OF Labor Day |
which was first celebrated In 1882. had |
his headquarters in this city for many
years. George Chance. the printer, tho |
volunteer worker. who was largely instru- |
mental IN forming the international copy. |
right, law, which Is at present on the |
statute books came from this city.
This Is a large city, both In population |
and in area, and great many OF the |
delegates from the country districts may |
be lost in wandering around. 1. therefore. |
suggest that they make a note OF various |
labor centres in this city where they will |
receive such help as may be applicable
to their individual wants. The Building
Trades may be found at 1872 Tilbert
street. within one-half block of City Hall.
The miscellaneous trades. including the
Cigarmakers. of which l have the honor
TO be the secretary. may be found at 2S2
North Ninth street. where they occupy
building formerly the home of the Phi a
delphia Elks. The German trades may
be found at two places. as follows. at the
Labor Lyceum. 9Th and Brown streets,
which, by the way, was formerly Jew
Labor Lyceum, 18th and Tasker streets.
Building. at Broad and Cherry streets
The textile workers are at the Light
house, Iehgh avenue and Howard street
wish the American Federation OF
Labor a pleasant time here. and the trade
unionists OF Philadelphia will do their
best to sec that the delegates have
pleasant time. also hope that, as n re-
suit of its deliberations. the convention
viii still further advance the cause OF
labor under the banner of the American
EedeFa tion Of Labor