The potters herald. [volume] (East Liverpool, Ohio) 1899-1982, 1939-09-21
O'Hdnlon's S Deuth
Big Loss ToLubor
New York Federation Sec
returY Treasurer For IL
Years Dies at II

(By A. F. of l.. Weekly News Service)
Organized labor and its friends
throughout the United States suffered
deep loss in the death Of John M.
O'Hanlon, who passed away in Troy
hospital, at Troy, N. Y, September l.
He was II years old.
Mr.. O'Hanlon was elected secre-
tary-treasurer and legislative chair
man Of the New York State Fedora
tion of Labor in 1923 and served in
that capacity until his death. He was
widely known as spokesman for
labor.
Mr.. O'Hanlon was born in Dublin,
Ireland, the son of manufacturer,
and received his early education in
the public schools there.
Became Labor Journalist
Brought to the United States at the
age of ID, he learned the printing
trade and became a compositor on a
Brooklyn, N. Y, newspaper. Later he
moved to Troy, N. Y, where he joined
Local So Of the International Typo
graphical Union. In 1893 he was it's
delegate to the Central Labor Council
Of Troy. Shortly thereafter he be-
came city editor and legislative cor
respondent for The Troy Observer,
and in 1896 founded The Troy Advo-
cate. This paper was soon merged
with Mr.. O'Hanlon remaining. as edi-
tor and publisher. At this time he
was elected as the first president Of
the Labor Press Association of New
York state.
During the next Is years Mr..
O'Hanlon concentrated on publishing
labor news and chronicling the con-
vention and legislative activities Of
the State Federation. His Labor Leg
islative Press Service supplied news
papers throughout the state with
periodical news Of labor.
Held Many Public Offices
In 1897 he was delegate to the
convention of the State Working
mems Assembly, and the following
year he was active in the joint con-
vention that merged this group with
the state branch of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor to form the present
| 4NSW OIdtC L CO0IdIlOlI VI A0UOA.
He was director of the State Fed
eration's educational bureau, and in
1912 was elected by the Board Of
Regents of the University of the State
of New York as a member Of its ad-
visory council on industrial relations.
He was reelected for many terms.
In 1917 John Mitchell, State Food
and Industrial commissioner, made
him confidential agent for the state
in the administration of Federal and
State wartime food regulations.
Was Spokesman For Labor Legislation
With his election as secretary treas
urer of the Federation in 1928, he be-
came the spokesman of the Federation
on current matters affecting labor in
New York State. As chairman Of the
Federation's committee on legislation,
he was familiar figure in executive
and legislative circles in Albany.
He was considered one of the best
informed men in the capital on the
functioning of the legislature. Gov
ernos Smith, Roosevelt and Lehman
often praised Mr.. O'Hanlon's efforts
on behalf of labor, and he was fire.
quently appointed to represent the
state at national conferences dealing
with factory, inspection. industrial
safety, vocational education, labor,
legislation and like matters. In 1925
he represented the Federation at the
State Constitutional convention.
Governor Smith appointed Mr..
O'Hanlon member of the State In
dustrial Council in 1924, and he
served until 1923. In 1926 Governor
Smith also appointed him to the State
Industrial Board, which administers
the Workmen's Compensation law, but
he declined to accept the position al
though it carried a six-year tenure
and a salary of $500. In 1926 he
represented the New York State Fed
Grafton of Labor at the American
Federation of Labor convention in
Detroit.
He is survived by brother, son,
daughter and sister.
1