Biography Thomas J. Morgan

1 biography

1.1 years
1.2 american years
1.3 after haymarket
1.4 death , legacy

biography
early years

thomas john morgan, known friends tommy, born in birmingham, england on october 27, 1847. 1 of 9 children born thomas john , hannah simcox morgan. thomas senior, former member of chartist movement, maker of nails, working long hours in oftentimes futile effort eke out modest living.

as boy tommy morgan attended so-called pauper s school until age of 9, @ time left school take job. morgan worked nail maker, printer, iron molder, , machinist, among other jobs, never managing escape poverty.

morgan married former elizabeth chambers in january 1868. next year pair decided depart new life in united states, settling in chicago, illinois.

american years

in america morgan went work illinois central railroad. remained 20 years company, working in railroad car repair shops. in occupational context morgan joined international machinists , blacksmiths of north america in 1871, in served president of local in 1874.

the economic depression of 1873 hit morgan hard, resulting in 15 months of unemployment. systemic economic failure made particular impact upon morgan, causing him turn ideas of socialism in effort understand crisis. morgan joined social democratic workingmen s party of north america in 1876 , continued membership in successor organization, workingmen s party of united states, had changed name socialist labor party of america before decade out.

in 1877 morgan instrumental in launching chicago council of trades , labor unions, citywide union federation. in capacity union official, morgan guided special committee of illinois state legislature around various chicago factories in 1879 , helped draft city ordinances based on english factory laws of day. in same year morgan joined knights of labor, labor union making use of structure , methods of secret society.

morgan made 2 runs chicago alderman, standing election in 1879 , 1881.

morgan left council of trades , labor unions in 1884 form more radical organization called chicago central labor union.

after haymarket

a large part of chicago organization turned anarchism in subsequent years, culminating in 1886 haymarket bombing. never adherent of anarchist methods himself, task fell upon morgan , handful of co-thinkers reestablish chicago socialist organization in aftermath of haymarket affair.

in august 1886, morgan , others chicago labor movement called conference of area labor activists view establishing new electoral organization. 250 delegates attended conference, elected morgan executive committee of 21 members. committee charged calling convention in september nominate citywide slate of candidates fall elections under banner of united labor party.

some 560 delegates, dominated members of knights of labor organization, attended united labor party nominating convention in september. meeting not harmonious , following spate of factional shenanigans group of 26 conservative trade unionists excluded gathering on basis of professed support candidates of republican , democratic parties.

although not himself candidate, morgan played key role behind scenes of united labor party, chairing important committee on platform , resolutions @ nominating convention, , helping shape final program of organization.

the fledgling united labor party surprisingly successful in november 1886 elections, garnering 25,000 out of 92,000 votes cast , electing 7 of members illinois legislative assembly , 1 other illinois state senate.

a similar nominating convention held united labor party in february 1887, attended more 600 delegates. morgan once again power behind throne head of platform convention , chief among movers , shakers of organization, prompting chicago tribune opine tommy morgan...bossed convention first last. party s candidate mayor of chicago defeated political fusion of so-called old parties when democrats withdrew candidate support republican nominee save city government capture reds.

morgan himself later candidate chicago mayor in 1891, when tapped slp nominee position.

the year 1891 saw morgan organize international association of machinists, successful union survives 21st century. served general secretary of organization in 1894 , 1895.

in 1893, while still occupied union affairs, morgan left work on railroad study law, graduating chicago law college. passed exam of illinois state bar in 1895.

morgan tapped editor of socialist alliance, official organ of socialist trade , labor alliance, trade union arm of socialist labor party, in 1896. came develop philosophical differences slp leaders on trade union policy, however, exited join social democratic party of america in 1900. in summer of 1901 organization, headed eugene v. debs , victor l. berger, merged rival political group establish socialist party of america (spa). morgan delegate founding convention of organization in indianapolis, indiana.

morgan frequent candidate of spa, running chicago city attorney in 1903, cook county superior court judge in 1903 , 1907, , u.s. senate in 1909. attended 3 of party s conventions elected delegate: chicago conventions of 1904, 1908, , so-called congress of 1910.

morgan turned journalism in 1909, editing , publishing socialist newspaper called provoker until shortly before time of death in 1912.

in 1910 morgan enlisted veteran trade union activist mother mary harris jones collect 5-year old $250 debt socialist party s national secretary, j. mahlon barnes. tangled dispute on whether barnes did or did not repay led charges of dishonesty being preferred against barnes before socialist party, dismissed frivolous governing national executive committee. morgan , jones persisted, however, , special investigating committee established hear charges. in february 1911 committee affirmed charge indeed frivolous one, action have no other motive except desire embarrass, harass, , annoy national secretary.

the investigating committee weighed in on morgan s newspaper, calling provoker, publication largely dissemination of malice, slander, falsification, , misinformation. committee sought turn results of inquiry on morgan s party branch possible disciplinary action.

death , legacy

while headed retirement in california, morgan killed in train wreck @ williams, arizona on december 10, 1912. 65 years old @ time of death.

morgan s papers held illinois historical survey library of university of illinois in urbana. additional material, including 26 issues of morgan s provoker, held in special collections department of library @ university of chicago.