Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-11-01
Explanation Of q
Union Label Grove
BIZ Frederic J. Hnskin.

In the town Of Bruceville, Tex, Is
| q cemetery which contains what is be-
! lieved to be the only grave-marker in
| the United States that bears a union
| label. Certainly the monument. carved.
| from Vermont marble, came from the
only union quarry in this country.
Back of these two things lies the story
of perhaps hundreds Of pioneers OF the
great Southwest who were making his.
tory unconsciously, but who were not
recognized until years after their pass,
ing. The name OF Martin Irons is typical.
and the monument on which is CHS
eled the union label is a fitting trlb-
ute to his conception OF the working
mans position. Furthermore. it gives
evidence that proper estimate cannot
| be placed on a mans work While ne Is
| in the midst OF It.
| To the University of Texas goes the
credit for gathering material from SUM-
dry sources and recently publishing the
history of the life and activities OF Irons.
His was one of the most dominant per-
sonalities to participate in movement
to improve the conditions of tens OF
thousands who often were denied the
possibility of land ownership, and whose
services frequently were exploited by
individuals and corporations IN the
money making days of the West and
Southwest. The publication is an UNI
biased appraisal of possibly the most
| ~, In lie IF prponiznH
labor.
| Martin Irons was born in Dundee.
Scotland. March /, 1888. He came to
the United States at the age of IA, land
ing in New York City, and became a
machinist's apprentice. His sympathy
for the lowest paid workers was deep.
ened by experiences in his new surround
ings. In his brief yet graphic auto
biography written for Lippincotts
Magazine, he recorded some OF these
experiences Among other things, Irons
saw and noted how needlewomen OF
New York begged from store to store
for the privilege of making shirts at
S cents each. He learned that after
plying their needles all day the employer
often would find fault with a few
stitches and discount the pay Seeing
this and other instances of unfairness
to the working classes, Irons set out to
help improve their working conditions.
Irons did not delay in carrying out his
determination. Still an apprentice, he
went among workers of all classes and
learned of their difficulties by listening
to their stories and personally investi-
eating complaints. Upon obtaining proof
that an Injustice had been done a
worker Irons would employ an attorney
and enter suit in behalf of the employe.
This had widespread effects and resulted
in one of the first steps not only in New
York City, but in the entire Empire
State, to give the working classes an
adequate compensation for their services.
The rights of workers in New York State
are closely guarded by numerous State
statutes, but few persons, if any, realize
that the foundation for this was laid
by Scotch lad.
After Irons served his apprenticeship,
he migrated South, arriving first in New
Orleans, to begin his career as full
fledged machinist. After working few
years there he moved to Lexington, KY.
and married a native Of his own land.
Meantime Irons had become natural
lied citizen and was gaining recognition
as one of the best machinists of his time.
Railroads were being built across the
trackless plains of Missouri and Kansas,
and his trade soon carried him to
Sedalia, Mo. as needed worker in the
railroad shops. While there. the strike
of 1885 against pay cuts on the Gould
lines was called and Irons rocketed to
a career as national figure becoming
the greatest leader among railroad work.
ers of the Southwest. Although untried
at first, he proved his ability in organ
ization effort, demonstrated his knowl-
edge Of the social order that was in the
making, and applied methods of pro-
cedure which startled his followers and
dumbfounded his enemies.
A strike against general working con-
ditions on the Gould railroad system.
principally on the Missouri Pacific and
Texas Pacific, had also long been threat
ening, and this finally resulted in a
Congressional investigation in 1886. In
this dispute Martin Irons was made
chairman of the powerful Executive Com
mittee of the Knights of Labor, the or
ganization which brought about one Of
the greatest railroad strikes Of the coun-
try. The order no longer exists but its
history is an inseparable part of the
life of Irons, whose gravestone is as
unique as his career.
Martin Irons was not demagoguee
He believed in the right of investor and
management, but held unequivocally to
the doctrine that in the final analysis
labor produces all values, and that labor
should be so regarded and treated. Yet
with this clearcut philosophy a philoso--
ply which is now part OF the social,
order which Irons endeavored to make,
the great railroad strikes in which he
played such a prominent part were
lost, but not before there was an esti--
mated loss of 5000 900 to local business, q
loss of 100000 in wages to employees
; and an estimated property damage of
$2.8O0,000. Meantime Harper's Weekly
made the incidents a national affair by,
supporting the strikers, and Thomas
Mast, the great American caricaturist,
then employed by Harper's. and whose
drawings of the money-bag head Of
} Tweed and the Tammany tiger made
him famous. profusely cartooned various