Montana labor news., 1936-09-03
Bv A. F. of L. News Service.

Peter j. Mcclure, the Father OF
Labor Day, was born in New York
City on July 6, 1852 and died in
Philadelphia in 1906, at the age OF
54.
His early education was obtained
in the New York public schools,
which he attended until his twelfth
year, when economic conditions
growing out of the Civil War period
compelled him to go to work In a
drygoods store. A few years later
he served an apprenticeship in the
carpenters trade, and took advant-
age offered by Cooper Institute to
continue his schooling after his days
work was completed. He enrolled
in a trade union in 1872 and took an
active interest in the organized Ia
bor movement during the remainder
of his life.
Pounds Carpenters Brotherhood
In May, 1881, while working at his
trade in st. Louis, Missouri, Mr.. Nc
CURE started a movement designed
to achieve the national organization
of carpenters, who were then sepa-
rated in various scattered groups.
To promote this work he published
a four-page journal called "The
Carpenter"
This propaganda for unification
was SO effective that within a short
time he sent out call for confer
ence of organized carpenters to con-
vene in Chicago on August g..
Twelve local unions with a men,
bership of about 1000 sent thirty
six delegates to the conference,
which founded the United Brother
hood of Carpenters and Joiners of
America.
Mr.. Mcclure lived long enough to
see the Brotherhood become one of
the largest trade Unions in America.
For twenty years he was its general
secretary.
His election as delegate to the In
ternational Working Mems Congress
in Switzerland in 1881 gave him an
opportunity to thoroughly study the
economic conditions of European
workers.
Chosen A. F. of l.. Official
Mr.. Mcclure was connected with
the American Federation of Labor
from its beginning. With five trade
union officials he signed the call
for the first A. F. of L. convention in
1886. He was secretary of the Fed
Grafton up to 1888. He was elected
to the office Of second vice president
in 1889, first vice president in 1890,
and continued to serve as mem
Der of the A. F. of L. executive
council until 1900.
Samuel Gompers, then president
Of the American Federation of La
Dor, and Mr.. Mcclure were the Fed
eration's delegates to the British
Trades Union Congress in 1895.
Originates Labor Day
At a meeting of the New York
City Central Labor Union in the
spring Of 1882 Mr.. Mcclure spon-
sored the movement to set aside the
first Monday in September in each
year as a special holiday for the
workers. The Central Labor union
approved the plan and on the first
Monday in September of that year
held the first Labor Day parade and
celebration in the United States. He
lived to see Labor Day made le-
gal holiday by most of the state
legislatures and national holiday
by the Labor Day law of 1894.
Popular As Labor Speaker
Mr.. Mcclure was very popular as
a speaker on subjects connected
with the progress of the workers.
He addressed meetings in every state
in the Union and in most of the Ca
madam Provinces. The records Of
the Brotherhood of Carpenters show
that he spoke to over 2,100 audi
ences of laboring people.
Like so many other labor Of
ficials, Mr.. Mcclure looked forward
to ending his life while actively in
terested in the labor movement
This desire was realized Two
weeks before his death he helped
re-organize Local No. 277 of the
Carpenters Brotherhood in Phila-
delphia and was present when the
local was re-instated in the Brother
hood.
Annual Memorial Services.
On every Labor Day the Phila-
delphia District Council of Carpen.
ters make pilgrimage to Airing
ton cemetery, Camden, New Jersey
and hold memorial services at the
grave of Mr.. Mcclure. Representa-.
tives of the American Federation Of
Labor, Central Labor Unions anc
the Building Trades Unions Of
Camden and Philadelphia Away.
attend the exercises.
At last the truth is out. In every