USA > Ohio > Clark County > Springfield > The centennial celebration of Springfield, Ohio, held August 4th to 10th, 1901 > Part 18
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The practice of paying employes in orders for merchandise became so detrimental to the craft that a resolution abolishing it was passed October 6, 1890.
The first local constitution adopted contained a clause provid- ing for a death benefit of $25, to be paid from the local treasury. August 5, 1889, this was stricken out, the International having created a death benefit fund, now paying sixty-five dollars to a deceased member's heirs.
Two members have taken advantage of the opportunities for restoration to health afforded by the Childs-Drexel Home for Union Printers, at Colorado Springs, Colorado. F. L. Seward was admitted to the Home in September, 1893, and again in May,
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1895; C. E. Gulick, January 5, 1900. This Home is built on a grant of eighty acres of land within one mile of Colorado Springs, deeded by the Board of Trade of that city.
One of the greatest epochs in the history of the art preserva- tive of all arts was the introduction of a successful type-setting and type-casting machine, the latter proving the most satisfactory. The first put in were two type -- setting machines at the Hosterman Publishing Company, July, 1894. In April, 1896, a type-casting machine was put in the office of the Sun Publishing Company (another one has since been added). The Crowell & Kirkpatrick Company put in two in September, 1896. The Daily Democrat and Daily Gazette each have one, the New Era Company one, and the Springfield Publishing Company three-a total of ten Mer- genthaler type-casting machines. Many were fearful that the advent of the machine would compel a number to seek a liveli- hood in other fields of labor in a short time. Such was not the result. No. 117 met the problem in a business-like way. Con- trary to the views of the pessimists, the machine has not been a detriment to the craft in this city or elsewhere. It has proven a great stimulus to the printing business, and the amount of excel- lent printed matter that can be procured for little money is noth- ing short of wonderful to many people.
As early as August 17, 1882, a committee consisting of T .. M. Proctor, J. H. Bennett, B. F. Redd and Upton Elifritz was ap- pointed by the union to investigate the advisability of organizing a Trades Assembly in Springfield ; and again, December 3, 1885, the committee being Jacob Geiser, J. W. Osbon and T. J. Creager. From the date of the founding of the Trades and Labor Assembly in 1890, the delegates from Typographical Union have been among its most active workers. The first delegates were: J. F. Funk, Felix Seward, W. S. Mannington, Ralph Wetmore, R. W. Poling and T. J. Creager.
Those familiar with the conditions prevailing before the or- ganization of the craft in this city now appreciate the wisdom of the movement. Not only have the wages of the employe ad- vanced from time to time, but the condition of the printing busi- ness has as a matter of course continually improved: Before the union was formed men were receiving from five to ten dollars a
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week, they now command fifteen dollars and upward a week ; while poor prices for advertising and job work obtained, owing to the exasperating competition which existed, now prices rule higher and the opportunities for destructive competition are greatly reduced, as each competitor knows the cost of the most important item-labor. There are four daily newspapers and fourteen book and job offices in the city.
CIGAR MAKERS.
Cigar Makers' Union, No. 45, was instituted in this city De- cember 12, 1887. . The first officers were: John A. Ritzert, Presi- dent ; John J. Eisen, Vice-President ; Charles Euphrat, Jr., Recording Secretary; E. Gunckel, Corresponding Secretary ; J. H. Mclaughlin, Financial Secretary ; Alvin Gladfelter, Treasurer. Previous to the organization of the union, cigar manufacturing in Springfield had not been successfully carried on, due mainly to the fact that outside firms controlled the trade. The ceaseless agitation conducted by the union in the interest of union-made cigars gradually increased the demand for the home product, which were manuactured by Newell Brothers, Stelzer & Kloeb, and Charles Euphrat. Later the firm of Johnson & Son was es- tablished. This firm employed on an average, previous to 1896, about forty-five cigar makers, and on one occasion, when a large contract was being filled, a force of about one hundred and fifty was employed. This firm always employed members of the Cigar Makers' Union, and during this period mutually harmonious and profitable relations existed. This policy was changed February 13, 1897. All of the manufacturers in the city, except one, which has recently located here, employ only members of the union. During the thirteen years of the local union's existence wages have been increased without any trouble, and conditions generally improved, and the eight-hour day maintained.
No. 45 has always been a leader in labor affairs. Its mem- bers were the prime movers in the organization of the Trades and Labor Assembly and other local unions. Their practical and per- sistent efforts in pushing their blue label, which is placed upon all boxes containing cigars that are union made, has brought it to the attention of the entire public. Many of its members have held important and responsible positions in the Trades Assembly.
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THE KNIGHTS OF LABOR.
"That is the most perfect Government in which an injury to one is the concern of all." .
Through the efforts of members of the Molders' and Typo- graphical Unions the Knights of Labor movement was inaugu- rated in Springfield by the organization of Mad River Assembly,' No. 2582, April 9, 1883. The charter list contained seventy-one names. The various labor papers at that time commented on the fact that this was the largest Knights of Labor Assembly ever in- stituted in the West. Among the charter members were: George W. Osborn, T. B. Manning, Charles F. Steck, Newton Steck, E. S. Ralph, Edward Crowley, Anthony Gallagher, Charles Mills, J. C. Routzahn. Keller Routzahn, R. W. Poling, T. J. Creager, Frank Printz, S. P. Behrends, T. G. Swickheimer, W. L. Girard, E. C. Shirey, James Kizer, Albert Hohl, A. Cretors, Charles Quigley, Jacob Geiser, Thomas Johnson, Peter Koefge.
The first officers were: Master Workman, Charles F. Steck; Worthy Foreman, William Troy; Venerable Sage, T. B. Man- ning ; Recording Secretary, Jacob Geiser; Financial Secretary, Charles Quigley ; Treasurer, George W. Osborn ; Worthy Inspec- tor, D. Reagan; Almoner, O. Smith; Statistician, F. J. Town ; Unknown Knight, E. C. Shirey ; Inside Esquire, Thomas Swick- heimer ; Outside Esquire, John Linkenhoker.
For nearly two years the Assembly prospered. Early in 1885 the membership, which had reached nearly two hundred, had de- creased to less than fifty, and it was a struggle for the small band to hold the body together. In the fall of 1885 the tide turned in favor of the organization, and for several years greater activity in organization work was experienced than ever known before or since.
Up to June, 1886, the following Assemblies had been insti- tuted : Journeymen Tailors', No. 3980; Champion City, No. 4351 ; Lagonda, No. 4894; Germania, INo. 4903; Phoenix, No. 4950; Excelsior, No. 5007; Iron Workers', No. 5815; Western, No. 5816; Cigar Makers', No. 7825-making a total of ten local As- semblies with a membership of more than two thousand.
The necessity for closer relations and concerted action led to
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the formation of a central body, and on September 5, 1886, a. number responded to a call which resulted in the organization of District Assembly, No. 178: I. F. McDonald, W. A. Hance, E. M. Crumley, R. W. Poling and T. J. Creager, Mad River Assembly ; Thomas Welsh, Tailors' Assembly ; James E. Carey, O. J. Paul and H. L. Hotchkiss, Champion City Assembly :Joseph Hruza and Marzell Hofer, Germania Assembly; S. G. Jones and -A. B. . Spielman, Phoenix Assembly ; John M. Hauer and J. M. Pence, Iron Workers' Assembly; Frank J. Buchanan, Western Assem- bly ; George J. Snell, Cigar Makers' Assembly.
By 1890 the Knights of Labor, which had become an inter- national movement, began to wane, and nearly all the local As- semblies in Springfield had lapsed. Mad River Assembly, No. 2582, was organized April, 1883, and continued in existence until the fall of 1896, a period of nearly fourteen years. Champion City Assembly, No. 4351, was the next oldest, and during its ex- istence was an active rival of old Mad River in initiating and carrying out plans for agitation and educational work and social features.
During the years 1886 and 1887, when the ten local assem- blies and the District Assembly were enjoying their greatest pros- perity, great interest was aroused in the study of industrial and economic questions. Many speakers of prominence and of Na- tional reputation were secured and addressed public meetings, and the circulation of literature was extensively conducted. No strikes or difficulties, except the unfortunate trouble in March, 1886, in which about 1,500 men were involved in a lockout, oc- curred. Relations between employer and employe were harmoni- ous. The Knights of Labor finally closed their existence in Springfield in 1896.
TRADES AND LABOR ASSEMBLY.
In January, 1890, the Cigar Makers' Union appointed a com- mittee to visit all the labor organizations and request each to ap- point a committee of three to represent them at a meeting to be held in their hall, on the corner of Center and Main streets. Janu- ary 26, 1890. The request was complied with, and on that date the following were present : Cigar Makers' Union, No. 45. John
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Roth, E. J. Mattox, W. W. Abell ; Typographical Union, No. 117, Frank Funk, J. C. Heckman, Felix Seward ; Iron Molders' Union, No. 72, P. G. Griffin, J. C. Routzahn, David Myers; Carpenter and Joiners' Brotherhood, No. 284, J. D. Reeder, B: F. Conklyn, M. V. B. Miller ; Bricklayers' and Masons' Union, No. 25, Joseph Griffin, George Kershner; Mad River Assembly, K. of L., No. 2582, W. A. Hance, Frank S. Eagle, T. J. Creager ; Champion City Assembly, K. of L., No. 4351, P. J. Mulhearn, James R. Kelly. The following officers were selected: W. A. Hance, Chairman ; T. J. Creager, Recording Secretary and Treasurer ; John Roth, Sergeant-at-Arms. The purpose of the meeting was to effect a delegate body to study and discuss subjects of interest to the working people, and to procure public speakers from time to time. This meeting marked the beginning of the Trades and Labor Assembly. On March 2, 1890, Springfield Trades and Labor Assembly, with seven bodies represented, formed a perma- nent organization by electing the following officers: President, David L. Myers, Molders ; Vice-President, John Patton, Carpen- ters ; Recording Secretary, T. J. Creager, Mad River Assembly ; Corresponding Secretary. J. C. Heckman, Typographical Union ; Financial Secretary. Felix Seward, Typographical Union ; Treas- urer, W. A. Hance, Mad River Assembly.
T. V. Powderly, Grand Master Workman of the Knights of Labor, was secured, and addressed a public meeting at the City Hall, March 18, 1890. Mayor Burnett presided at the meeting.
The Constitution and By-Laws were adopted March 30. The following is the preamble :
Whereas, The necessity for unity of action among the work- ing classes of this city has been fully demonstrated, and believing such unity of action can be best accomplished by an organization composed of delegates selected by the various Trade and Labor Organizations ; and,
Whereas,, Unity, guided by intelligence, is a source of strength, and enables us to concentrate and direct our efforts toward the desired end, and acquire the patience which enables us to wait for results :
Therefore, For the purpose of promoting unity of sentiment and action, and that spirit of fraternity that should exist among
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all organizations, The Trades and Labor Assembly of Springfield and Vicinity has been organized, and consists of delegates from such regular Trade and Labor Organizations of Springfield and Vicinity as shall endorse the Constitution and By-Laws contained herein, and pledge themselves to use their utmost-efforts to secure, by every legitimate means within their power, the benefits that will accrue through intelligent co-operation with each other on all matters affecting the interest of Labor.
Samuel Gompers, President of the American Federation of Labor, and W. H. Kliver, First Vice-President of the Carpenters' and Joiners' Brotherhood, addressed the second public meeting at the City Hall. C. M. Nichols presided.
Some of the speakers since have been : Hon. Ralph Beau- mont, Rev. M. C. Lockwood,, J. G. Galloway, Mrs. Mary L. Geffs, Hon. John McBride, Miss Eva Valesh, M. W. Wilkins, Mrs. Luther, P. J. McGuire, Father McGlynn, W. D. Mahon, Rev. Herbert N. Casson, Eugene V. Debs (twice), Mayor Jones of Toledo, Father McGrady, and others, from abroad. Many times local speakers have favored the Assembly, among whom have been : Rev. S. P. Dunlap, R. S. Thompson, Rev. C. W. Barnes, Hon. James Johnson, Jr., Dr. R. B. House, Professor Carey Bog- gess, W. A. Martin, Dr. Seys, and others. During the seasons of 1900 and 1901, Professor Charles Zueblin, of the Chicago Univer- sity, was secured and delivered two courses of six lectures each. The subject of the first course was "Phases of British Municipal Life," and of the second, "American Municipal Progress." Pro- fessor Zueblin's lectures were illustrated with stereopticon views. All of these lectures were free to the public, which has shown its appreciation of this popular method of education by large attend- ance. In providing public lectures from time to time the Assem- bly has remained steadfast to its original purpose. Among other things, the Assembly has taken an active interest in civic affairs.
In 1890 and 1891, the Assembly, by every means in its power, agitated in favor of the Australian system of voting, and in Janu- ary and April, 1891, petitioned the Legislature to enact the Mallon Ballot Reform Bill. also for the bill creating the State Board of Arbitration, and the law preventing the employment of hired Pin- kertons or armed bodies of men. It rejoices in the recognition
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the State has given to the requests of organized labor in creating the departments of Inspection of Workshops, Factories and Pub- · lic Buildings and the Bureau of Labor Statistics. When the street railway corporations of the State sought to secure the pas- sage by the Legislature of the ninety-nine-year franchise bill, the Assembly co-operated with organized labor throughout the State to prevent the passage of this measure. It was defeated. The. present Cigarette License Law was advocated by it and secured by the untiring work of State Senator Plummer.
One of the most bitterly contested measures that came before the Legislature was the bill requiring street car companies to ves- tibule the front platforms of their cars, primarily for the protec- tion of the motormen. The railway companies did everything in their power to prevent the passage of this measure, known as Senate Bill No. 186. Trades and Labor Assembly, representing organized labor of Springfield, united with organized labor of the State in a movement to secure its passage. Public interest was awakened ; press and pulpit discussed the merits of the bill, and their influence and power was largely responsible for its passage by the Seventieth General Assembly in 1893.
In 1890 the Trades and Labor Assembly began to observe Labor Day, and has continued the custom to the satisfaction of all. It is attended with parades, in which all classes and employments join ; it presents entertaining and instructive speakers for the day, and furnishes various amusements for the entertainment of those present. Its purpose is to emphasize the place of labor, and to make the laborers feel that there is a place for them in the econ- omy of social life which neither they nor society at large should forget. The observance of the day has become a fixed fact in Springfield, and has done much to bind together the various unions in the general brotherhood.
The success that various unions have won in securing shorter hours of labor in many factories and employments should not re- main unnoticed. By fair but earnest agitation the workday has been shortened without loss to production. This has added to the comfort and satisfaction of those affected. All advances that have been made for the better condition of wage-earners have come from the united stand they have taken. not for destructive conten-
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tion, but for improvement to all concerned. Labor will always do the best for the employer when it does the best for itself. We believe the harmony that has generally been characteristic of the relation between labor and capital in Springfield will continue, and both will prosper in the century on which we have now en- tered.
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IX WOMAN'S DAY AND EDUCATIONAL INTERESTS.
Saturday, the 10th, was a day of much interest. Subjects had been left for it that were of most vital importance to the en- tire community-Woman's Work, and Education. The real his- tory of the progress of our city could not be written without tak- ing notice of what woman has done in the home, in society, in church, in moral training and culture, in temperance, in benevo- lence, and in works of charity. Her life has been woven into the fabric of society, and a morning given for her to relate some of the things which she has done to fashion the life of our city was due the importance of the place she has occupied. The only re- gret is that more time could not be given to present other phases of her work. Mrs. F. M. Hagan presided at the meeting and happily introduced those who had part in the program, after mak- ing the following address :
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MRS. F. M. HAGAN.
MRS. F. M. HAGAN'S ADDRESS.
Fellow-Women of Springfield :
" Our city is one hundred years old. This would be quite a venerable age for a woman, but our city is just in the prime of life. She is robust in health, handsome in appearance, kind and generous of heart, brilliant mentally, and prosperous financially. Is she faultless? Ah, well, it would not be very kind to talk of her shortcomings on her one hundredth birthday. If she is not quite as temperate, not as neat, as she ought to be, let us not put our criticism into words, but inwardly resolve that during the early years of her second century we will do everything in our power to correct whatever faults she may have.
We, the women of Springfield, are proud of her, and of our part in making her what she is, and it is of this that we have come together to talk this morning.
Taking a backward look, we see that the women of the first quarter of the century were a brave, courageous group, who en- dured hardship with fortitude, a noble band who made possible all that we women of today enjoy. The pioneer woman was a brave martyr. To her we may well look back with reverent awe.
During the first two quarters of the century woman's influ- ence radiated from two centers, the church and the home; and we, the women of the last two quarters of the century, take pride in still claiming these as our chief spheres of action.
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The ruddy glow that shone from the windows of the first log cabins was the only thing that kept many a man in those early days from giving up in discouragement and despair, the struggle to wrest from the wilderness a home. From the home of Simon Kenton came the name of Springfield, given to the little settle- ment by Mrs. Kenton. To a pioneer woman, Mrs. Smallwood, belongs the honor of establishing by her influence the first place of public worship in Springfield.
As the years have rolled by, one by one, an increasing popu- lation has required of us a broader philanthropy than that cen- tered in home and church. Times there have been when our city made demands upon our devotion, our patriotism; when great questions have inspired us to larger sacrifices of time and energy ; when growing intellectual activity spurred us into a broader field of literary attainment. The papers to be read in our hearing this morning will tell us how the women of Springfield have re- sponded to these calls of our city.
MRS. C. M. NICHOLS.
WORK OF THE WOMEN OF SPRINGFIELD IN THE CIVIL WAR.
BY MRS. C. M. NICHOLS.
A history of what the women of Springfield did for their friends, their husbands, sons, and, in many cases, fathers, at the front, and for their country, would be a long one. Their work corresponded, in spirit and devotion, to that done by the soldiers
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in active service. First and chiefly, was the giving up of their men to the cause, and their generous and long-continued work in behalf of sick and wounded soldiers in field and in hospitals. Our Soldiers' Aid Society, organized December 3, 1863, was all that the title implies. It would be impossible to name all who deserve praise and grateful remembrance from present and future genera- tions. They numbered by hundreds. There were efficient leaders and workers among them: Mrs. Richard Rodgers, Sr., Mrs. Jo- seph Cathcart, Mrs. Major William Hunt and her daughters- Mrs. Edwin B. Cassily, Mrs. Mary Tiers and Mrs. Chandler Rob- bins-Mrs. Richard D. Harrison, Mrs. James S. Goode, Mrs. S. A. Bowman, Mrs. John Foos, Mrs. John H. Rodgers, Mrs. N. Kinsman, Mrs. Alfred Williams, Mrs. Nimrod Myers, Miss Fran- ces Rodgers, Miss Mary J. Clokey (now Mrs. Porter), Miss Jen- nie King, Mrs. Peter A. Schindler, Mrs. Oscar Bancroft, Mrs. William Wright, Mrs. Colonel Sanderson, Miss Belle Montjoy, Miss Emma Torbert, Mrs. J. A. R. S. Guy, and many others who were associated with the writer in the work of administering to the needs of the sick soldiers, working for years in collecting vegetables for their use. One elderly lady, nearly 90 years of age, recently told me that she emptied her front hall and used it for a storeroom for boxes to be filled with garments to be sent to the soldiers, she herself sitting up until midnight nearly every night to make the buttonholes for all those garments, making thousands of them during the war.
The ladies of the city, both young ladies and the older ones, met in bands at the homes, after collecting material, and sewed for the families of soldiers who were at the front. The elderly ladies who could do nothing else, stayed at home and knit socks to be sent to them. I have a long list of articles, numbering hun- dreds, donated by the Springfield Aid Society to the Great West- ern Sanitary Fair at Cincinnati, on December 19, 1863, the money value of which was $1,076.46.
With the co-operation of these ladies the Clark County Aux- iliary to the Great Western Sanitary Fair contributed $5,580 of the $234,000 raised for the general fund. The Clark County Auxiliary was awarded a beautiful silken banner for the largest donation. The banner is now on the south wall of the court room.
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A room in the old Willis Hotel, now "The Miller," was devoted to the work, where men and women, young and old, chopped cab- bage and packed pickles and other food supplies in barrels and boxes and forwarded them to the proper persons at the front. A prominent figure in the rooms was the stalwart form of the vet- eran Alfred Williams, now, with a large number of his fellow- workers, in the better land.
Very early in the war our people, largely our women, pro- vided our Clark County boys with blankets and provisions. There was a Young Ladies' Sewing Society, of which Mrs. Judge J. S. Goode was President, and Miss Jennie King was Secretary, the managers being Mrs. S. A. Bowman, Mrs. G. W. Benns, Mrs. John Foos, Miss Sarah Baker and Miss Emma Torbert. Miss Anna Cummings was Treasurer. The work of all our women was arduous, but was gladly done. The members of their families accepted cold lunches at home, so that their noble representatives could render efficient services in the aid rooms. There were many women who could not be at the aid rooms, but went to the homes of those who could go, and cared for their children while they were at the rooms at work.
No history, however long, could do justice to this great topic. It might be said that the representative women of our city were, with few exceptions, engaged heartily in this work, and rendered a service to which no writer's pen can do justice. In connection with this, it should be borne in mind that with the women of all portions of the county the story is the same, continued indefinitely. : It is a proud one, only second in importance to that of heroism and patriotic devotion in the field.
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el, VÀ
MRS. AMAZIAH WINGER.
WOMAN'S WORK FOR LOVE.
BY MRS. AMAZIAH WINGER.
Madam Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen :
My subject on the program, as you have seen, is "Woman's Work for Charity." With your permission, I will change the word charity to love. I believe we will all find, before I am through, that it suits my subjects better, as I have a variety of them. To give an account of woman's Christian and benevolent work done in our city during the last century would carry us back long before any of us had a beginning, and before our beautiful city was filled with homes. We had in those early days of small beginnings, large-hearted Christian women, unselfish and true, and, as I recall the pleasure it gave me to listen to the story of their lives, I was satisfied they were their brothers' keepers, as we are commanded to be, not only in words, but in deeds. We have been told to cast our bread upon the waters, and we shall have it returned to us ; after the patient waiting, the golden harvest. Our mothers taught us the best lessons of our lives, when they said live for others and forget self. By so doing, we are made women in heart. When our mothers were young in years, it seems now they were old in wisdom. When sickness or sorrow came into our homes, the trained nurse could not be had as in these days. but our large-hearted neighbor was ready to minister to the suf-
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