Books

Dusting Off the Old Ones

Miles City's First Union

Labor union activities and their presence in our community are so commonplace today, that we wonder if there is any reader who can tell when the first union was organized in Miles City, and that trade or craft was instrumental in its organization. The first union was organized in Miles City in November, 1882, when the printers of Miles City got together and organized a branch of the Typographical Union of America. At that time the Typographical Union of America was composed of branch societies scattered throughout the cities of the United States and Canada, embracing within its membership the best printers in America. In reporting this organizational meeting, the local press stated that a poor workman could not be admitted to membership, and that the leading newspapers of the country are what is known as "union offices" in which no man could "hold down a case" who was not a member in good standing of the union. It was further stated that the charitable feature of the organization is worthy of special mention--should any printer holding a union card become sick or destitute in a strange city, the local union, as soon as notified, would properly care for the brother and furnish assistance until such time as he was able to manage for himself. The first officers of the union were: F. V. Somers, of the Journal, President; Arthur M. Jones, of the Journal, Vice President; Lyle Fisher, of the Press, Secretary; W. E. Trowbridge, of the Press, Treasurer, and J. W. Cobb, of the Journal, Sergeant at Arms. The union started out with seven members and two further applications for membership.