CONSTITUTION, 
 
 BY-LAWS, 
 
 Mtf of Bo$ine$ and Rulg0 of Order 
 
 United Labor League 
 
 PHILADELPHIA AND VICINITY. 
 
 PHILA DEIJ^WA : 
 
 D. ,T. Gallagher & Co., Printers. 
 1890. 
 
CONSTITUTION, 
 
 BY-LAWS, 
 
 Orton of Ba$ine$ and Rnleg of Orton 
 
 OP THE 
 
 United Labor League 
 
 PHILADELPHIA AND VICINITY 
 
 PHILADELPHIA .* 
 
 D. J. Gallagher & Co., Printers. 
 1890 . 
 
l^o 
 
CONSTITUTION 
 
 ARTICLE I. 
 
 Section i This organization shall be known as 
 the United Labor League of Philadelphia 
 and Vicinity. 
 
 Sec. 2. This organization shall be composed of 
 delegates from the various labor organizations of 
 Philadelphia and vicinity who shall adopt the Con¬ 
 stitution of this League and abide by its laws. 
 
 Sec. 3. The object of the League is to secure by 
 unity of action the reforms indicated in the follow¬ 
 ing declaration of principles and by the following 
 methods : 
 
 DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES. 
 
 Whereas, The necessity for unity of action 
 among wage-workers has been fully demonstrated, 
 and we believe such unity of action can be best 
 accomplished by an organization composed of 
 delegates chosen by the various trade and labor 
 organizations ; therefore, 
 
 Resolved , That we, representatives of the vari¬ 
 ous trade and labor organizations of Philadelphia 
 and vicinity, do adopt the following declaration of 
 principles : 
 
 1. The organization and unification of labor. 
 
 b a. ©> 
 
4 
 
 2. By using every means at our command for a 
 / reduction of the hours of labor in order that we 
 
 may all have employment. 
 
 3. The compulsory education of children up to 
 their fifteenth year. 
 
 4. Regulation of the employment of women 
 and children. 
 
 5. By assisting the various organizations herein 
 represented to the extent of our ability, whenever 
 in difficulty and enforce that assistance by with¬ 
 drawing and using our utmost influence to induce 
 others to withdraw all patronage from any em¬ 
 ployer who seeks to control unjustly the labor of 
 the workers. 
 
 6. By enforcing all existing beneficial labor laws> 
 and by agitating for the repeal of all laws hostile 
 to the interest of the working people of their 
 organizations. 
 
 7. By abolishing the truck system; by opposing 
 the system of letting out by contract all national, 
 State or municipal work; by opposing the letting 
 out by contract of work in penitentiaries, houses 
 of refuge and correctional institutions; by demand¬ 
 ing a mechanics’ and laborers’ lien law, sanitary 
 inspections of mines and work-shops, a separate 
 Bureau of Labor Statistics and the abolition of 
 conspiracy laws as relating to labor organizations. 
 
 8. The adoption of measures providing for the 
 health and safety of those engaged in mining, 
 manufacturing and building industries, and for 
 indemnification to those engaged therein for 
 injuries received through lack of necessary safe¬ 
 guards. Also, the appointment of factory and 
 
5 
 
 building inspectors chosen from among the labor 
 organizations of this State. 
 
 9. By using every means in our power to induce 
 the workers to form protective organizations, and 
 by providing them with the information, advice and 
 literature necessary for their education as to their 
 position of wealth-producers, and by providing 
 legal protection for them in the laws of the State. 
 
 10. To secure for both sexes equal pay for equal 
 work. 
 
 ARTICLE II. 
 
 Section 1. The officers of this organization shall 
 consist of a President, Vice-President, Recording 
 and Corresponding Secretary, a Financial Secre¬ 
 tary, Treasurer, and a Sergeant-at Arms. The 
 President and Vice-President to be elected for the 
 term of three months and the two Secretaries for 
 the term of one year. The election of yearly 
 officers to take place at the first meeting in Janu¬ 
 ary of each year, and the election for President 
 and Vice-President at the first meeting in January, 
 April, July and October. 
 
 Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the President to 
 preside at all meetings and preserve order at the 
 same, sign all orders on the Treasurer authorized 
 by the League, appoint all committees (unless 
 otherwise ordered), and execute such business as 
 instructed by the League. The duties of the 
 Vice-President shall be the same as the Presi¬ 
 dent’s, but only in his absence or other disability. 
 
 Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of the Recording and 
 Corresponding Secretary, to keep a correct record 
 
b 
 
 * 
 
 of the meetings, and to conduct all correspond¬ 
 ence of the League, and to perform such other 
 duties as may be required of him by the laws and 
 resolutions of the League. He shall receive for 
 his services the sum of $1.50 per meeting. 
 
 Sec. 4. The Financial Secretary-Treasurer shall 
 receive all moneys and deposit all sums above |ioo 
 in bank to the credit of the League, and shall have 
 bank-book at each meeting for the inspection of 
 the President and auditing committee, and shall 
 keep an accurate account of all the same ; make 
 quarterly statement at the first meeting in January, 
 April, July and October of all moneys received 
 and expended and notify all organizations of their 
 standing; he shall pay all orders When properly 
 signed by the President and Recording Secretary, 
 and at the expiration of his term of office, turn all 
 moneys, books, etc., over to his successor. He 
 shall read at the close of each meeting the amount 
 of moneys received. He shall give a bond in the 
 sum of $200 for the faithful performance of his du¬ 
 ties. He shall receive for his services the sum of 
 $1.50 per meeting. 
 
 Sec. 5. The Sergeant-at-Arms shall have charge 
 of the door, allow no one to enter or leave during 
 the reading of the minutes or while a vote is being 
 taken. During executive sessions he shall admit 
 none but delegates, except by consent of the 
 League. 
 
 ARTICLE III. 
 
 Section 1. The Standing Committees shall be: 
 ComfrHttee eft-Or^anization, Committee on Griev¬ 
 ances, Committx.^nn-r^>»-iii<>n and^ijUitt^PPf- 
 
7 
 
 mgs, Committee on Legislation, Committee on 
 Co-operative Industries a n^A^bd s, Committee on 
 Building Trades, and an Auditing Committee. 
 
 Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the Committee on 
 Organization td visit from time to time the various 
 organizations not attached to the United Labor 
 League for the purpose of inducing their affiliation. 
 
 Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of the Committee on 
 Grievances to take cognizance of all grievances 
 properly brought before the League, and recom¬ 
 mend such action as they may deem best to 
 remedy the troubles or right the grievances. They 
 shall have power to summon witnesses and take 
 testimony. All grievances must be presented in 
 writing and shall be referred without debate. 
 
 Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of the Committee on 
 Agitation and Public Meetings to attend to the 
 engaging of halls and speakers for public meetings 
 and entertainments and all printing and advertis¬ 
 ing pertaining thereto, and have charge of the pre¬ 
 paring and distribution of literature. 
 
 Sec. 5. It shall be the duty of the Committee 
 on Legislation to secure the enforcement of all 
 existing laws beneficial to labor, endeavor to secure 
 the repeal of laws antagonistic to organization, 
 endeavor to secure the appointment df Building 
 Inspectors from the ranks of organized labor, par¬ 
 ticularly for the following trades: bricklayers, stone¬ 
 masons, plumbers, carpenters and plasterers; the 
 abrogation of the contract system in all city work, 
 and the securing of proper school facilities for the 
 young. 
 
 Sec. 6. It shall be the duty of the Committee on 
 
8 
 
 Co-operative Industries and Labels to advance the 
 interests of all co-operative enterprises when 
 started, and aid in the advancement of co-opera- 
 tiOn whenever practicable, and assist in the ad¬ 
 vancement of all organizations that have adopted 
 a trade label. 
 
 Sec. 7. The Committee on Building Trades shall 
 have charge of all matters reported to the League 
 from the various trades necessary to the construc¬ 
 tion of a building, subject to the action of the 
 League. 
 
 Sec. 8. It shall be the duty of the Auditing Com¬ 
 mittee to examine the accounts of the Financial 
 Secretary-Treasurer quarterly, report their finding 
 to the League, and see that all sums over $100 are 
 deposited in bank to the credit of the League. 
 
 ARTICLE IV. 
 
 Section 1. Each organization shall be entitled to 
 two delegates and one additional delegate for each 
 hundred members or majority fraction thereof. 
 
 Sec. 2. Each organization having representation 
 in the United Labor League shall pay into the 
 treasury of the League the sum of 50 cents per 
 month for the first one hundred members or less; 
 organizations having more than one hundred 
 members shall pay an additional sum of not less 
 than one-eighth of one cent per month for each 
 member. 
 
 See. 3. Any organization owing three months’ 
 dues shall be considered in arrears and shall be 
 notified by the Financial Secretary-Treasurer, and 
 failing to pay its indebtedness at either of the 
 
9 
 
 two succeeding meetings shall be declared sus¬ 
 pended by the President, unless otherwise ordered 
 by the League. Any organization suspended shall 
 be notified by the Recording Secretary. 
 
 Sec. 4. Any organization suspended for non-pay¬ 
 ment of dues can be reinstated upon making appli¬ 
 cation, in writing, accompanied by the amount of 
 its indebtedness at time of suspension. 
 
 ARTICLE V. 
 
 This Constitution shall not be altered or amended 
 except at a regular meeting of the League with the 
 concurrence of two-thirds of the delegates present, 
 and notice of such amendment shall be given at 
 least two weeks previously. 
 
BY-LAWS. 
 
 ARTICLE I. 
 
 Section i. The regular meetings of this League 
 shall take place at 8 o’clock on the second and 
 fourth Tuesday evenings of each month, and shall 
 close at 30 minutes after 10 o’clock, after which 
 time no business shall be transacted, except a 
 motion shall have been passed prior to 10 o’clock 
 to extend the time of closing. A quorum shall 
 consist of one fourth of the organizations repre¬ 
 sented on the roll book of the League. 
 
 Sec 2. Election of Officers.—The election shall 
 be by ballot. It shall require a majority of all the 
 votes polled to elect. Should there be no election 
 on the first ballot, the candidate receiving the 
 lowest number of votes shall be dropped on the 
 second ballot, and so with each succeeding ballot, 
 until a choice shall be reached. The President 
 shall appoint two tellers to conduct the election, 
 who shall collect and count the votes. The Presi¬ 
 dent shall then declare the result. 
 
 Sec. 3. The President shall appoint all special 
 committees, and fill all vacancies when not other¬ 
 wise provided for. 
 
 Sec. 4. All special committees shall report in 
 writing at the next stated meeting unless other¬ 
 wise ordered, and all final reports of committees 
 
 (10) 
 
II 
 
 are to be made in writing, and no committee is to 
 be discharged until all its debts are paid. 
 
 Sec. 5. Any three organizations shall have the 
 right to demand a yea and nay vote on any reso¬ 
 lution pending. 
 
 Sec. 6. A compreher sive record of the proceed¬ 
 ings shall be printed for the use of the organiza¬ 
 tions. 
 
 ARTICLE II. 
 
 No delegate shall be admitted until he has de¬ 
 posited with the Recording Secretary his creden¬ 
 tials, bearing the signature of the officers of his 
 organization, with the seal thereon, and stating 
 the willingness of the organization to be bound by 
 the laws and regulations of the League while rep¬ 
 resented. 
 
 ARTICLE III. 
 
 These By-Laws can be amended by a vote of 
 two-thirds of the members present, provided the 
 same shall have been presented in writing at a 
 previous regular meeting. 
 
 ! 
 
 I 
 
 
ORDER OF BUSINESS. 
 
 Roll-call of Officers. 
 
 Roll-call of Delegates. 
 
 Reading of Minutes. 
 
 Admission of Delegates. 
 
 Reports of Special Committees. 
 Reports of Standing Committees. 
 Report of Officers. 
 
 Reports of Organizations. 
 Nomination of Officers. 
 
 Election of Officers. 
 
 Installation of Officers. 
 Communications and Bills. 
 Unfinished Business. 
 
 New Business. 
 
 Welfare of the League. 
 
 Receipts. 
 
 Adjournment. 
 
 RULES OF ORDER. 
 
 No delegate shall speak more than once, or 
 longer than 5 minutes, on any question. 
 
 (12) 
 
* 
 
o m 
 
 KJC. 
 
 X 
 
 
 3?3?3*!s3?3;3s3s3s3s3s3s3s3s3s3s 
 
 % 
 
 CONSTITUTION 
 
 m tV* 
 i 2 
 
 ?rl S5 HO 
 
 
 BY-LA WS 
 
 3 ? 
 3s 
 
 \ 
 
 w 
 
 3s 
 
 * 
 
 3s 
 
 3s 
 
 3s 
 
 m 
 
 United Labor League 
 
 3* 
 
 3s 
 
 HENRY J. NEU 
 
 UniversityoFDormitori- 
 
 Station “B” - Philad.ej; 
 
 PHILADELPHIA AND VICINITY 
 
 1NJ 
 
 IN, 
 
 3s 
 
 3s 
 
 3s 
 
 Rules of Order and Order of Business. g 
 
CONSTITUTION 
 
 AND 
 
 BY-LA WS 
 
 OF THE 
 
 United Labor League 
 
 PHILADELPHIA AND VICINITY. 
 
 Rules of Order and Order of Business. 
 
K 
 
 < 0 . TRADES 
 
 GEORGE CHANCE, 15 N. THIRTEENTH STREET. 
 
HENRY JOHN NELSON, 
 Attorney at Law, 
 
 E. COR. BROAD & ARCH STS., 
 
 PHlLADtLr’rtlA, HA. 
 
 PREAMBLE 
 
 AND 
 
 DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES. 
 
 We declare as our belief, 
 
 First. That the cause of industrial slavery is due 
 to the fact of the individual ownership of all the 
 essential means necessary to the employment of 
 labor, viz: land, machinery, tools transportation, 
 etc. 
 
 Second. Those who have no means to employ 
 their own labor are forced to sell their labor in the 
 general market for wages, and in competition with 
 their fellows similarly situated, to the individual 
 in possession of the instruments of labor. This 
 fact constitutes the chief factor in the present indi¬ 
 vidualistic competitive system of society, and 
 enables the individual to exploit the labor of the 
 masses by taking advantage of their necessities. 
 Thus wealth, the result of toil, is constantly accu¬ 
 mulating in the hands of the few, while the greater 
 number are merely eking out an animal existence 
 by hard, unrequited toil from day to day. 
 
 o 
 
4 
 
 Third. We therefore denounce this system and 
 express the hope of its ultimate extinction, and the 
 substitution of the system of universal co-operation 
 as more reasonable, orderly and just to all man¬ 
 kind. 
 
 Fourth. By universal co-operation we mean 
 the collective self-employment of all workers by 
 means of placing the control and ownership of the 
 instruments of production and distribution in the 
 hands of associated labor, as distinct and free from 
 individual domination or selfish greed. 
 
 Fifth. We hold the interests, rights and liberties 
 of the individual are best conserved by an asso¬ 
 ciation of forces; even now what individuality there 
 is enjoyed in general society is but the result of 
 the collective will and power of the many combined 
 in one, through the state, municipality and gov¬ 
 ernment; and we point in further proof to the 
 tremendous progress of the principles of organiza¬ 
 tion in all the numerous ramifications of society, 
 showing plainly the evolution of mankind to be in 
 the direction of collectivism rather than individ¬ 
 ualism. Keeping in view, then, the above decla¬ 
 ration of principles, we urge our fellow-toilers to 
 associate themselves in unions, in order to keep 
 alive the spirit of solidarity and to strengthen 
 themselves in every way in their struggles for 
 
5 
 
 emancipation, leading them on step by step until 
 the toiler receives the full results of his labor—no 
 more, no less. As a means to the furtherance of 
 our ultimate object, outlined in the above preamble, 
 and ameliorative of present necessities we urge 
 the following palliative measures: 
 
 First. To encourage all efforts looking toward 
 higher wages, and by using every means at our 
 command for a reduction of the hours of labor in 
 order that we may all have employment. 
 
 Second. The compulsory education of children 
 up to their fifteenth year. 
 
 Third. By assisting the various organizations 
 herein represented to the extent of our ability, 
 whenever in difficulty, and enforce that assistance 
 by withdrawing and using our utmost influence to 
 induce others to withdraw all patronage from any 
 employer who seeks to control unjustly the labor 
 of the workers. 
 
 Fourth. By enforcing all existing beneficial 
 labor laws and by agitating for the repeal of all 
 laws hostile to the interest of the working people 
 or their organizations, and by opposing the system 
 of letting out by contract all national, state or 
 municipal work; by opposing the letting out bv 
 con tract of work in penitentiaries, houses of refuge 
 and correctional institutions; by demanding a 
 
6 
 
 mechanics’ and laborers’ lien law, sanitary inspec¬ 
 tion of mines and workshops, a separate bureau of 
 labor statistics. 
 
 Fifth. The adoption of measures providing 
 for the health and safety of those engaged in 
 mining, manufacturing and building industries, 
 and for indemnification to those engaged therein 
 for injuries received through the lack of necessary 
 safeguards. Also, appointment of factory and 
 building inspectors chosen from among the labor 
 organizations of this State. 
 
 Sixth. By using every means in our power to 
 induce the workers to form protective organiza¬ 
 tions, and by providing them with the information, 
 advice and literature necessary for their education 
 to their position as wealth-producers, and by pro¬ 
 viding legal protection for them in the laws of the 
 State. 
 

 lAj/- 
 
 qJL&LU 1/vV ' 
 fb (rA/' f 0Ap>^ ^ 
 
 CONSTITUTION. 
 
 <r cl> cp 
 
 
 fj 
 
 
 RT^ICLK I. 
 
 Section I. This organization shall be known 
 is the United Labor League of Philadelphia 
 and Vicinity, and shall be composed of delegates 
 from the various trade and labor unions. 
 
 Sec. 2. The officers of this organization shall 
 consist of a President, Vice President, Recording- 
 Corresponding Secretary, a Financial Secretary- 
 Treasurer, a Sergeant-at-Arrns and two Trustees. 
 The President and Vice President to be elected for 
 the term of six months, and also the Trustees. 
 The two Secretaries for the term of one year. The 
 
 election of yearly officers to take place at the first 
 meeting in January of each year, and the election 
 for President and Vice President at the first meet¬ 
 ing in January and July. 
 
 Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of the President to 
 preside at all meetings and preserve order at the 
 same, sign all orders on the Treasurer authorized 
 by the League, appoint all committees (unless 
 otherwise ordered), and execute such other business 
 as instiucted by the League. The duties of the 
 ( 7 ) 
 
8 
 
 Vice President shall be the same as the President, 
 but only in his absence or disability. 
 
 Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of the Recording- 
 Corresponding Secretary to keep a correct record 
 of the meetings, and to conduct all correspondence 
 of the League, and to perform such other duties as 
 may be required by the League. The compensa¬ 
 tion shall be $ 1.50 per meeting. 
 
 Sec. 5. The Financial Secretary-Treasurer shall 
 receive all moneys, keep accurate account of the 
 same, deposit in bank all sums above $100, make 
 quarterly statements of moneys received and ex¬ 
 pended and present bank book for inspection of 
 officers at the first meeting in January, April, July 
 and October. He shall pay all orders properly 
 signed by the President and Recording Secretary, 
 and at the expiration of his term of office turn all 
 moneys, books, etc., over to his successor; he shal] 
 read at the close of each meeting the amount of 
 money received, and give bond in the amount of 
 $500 for the faithful performance of his duties. 
 The expense for procuring bond shall be defrayed 
 by the League. He shall receive for his services 
 the sum of $1.50 per meeting. 
 
 Sec. 6. The Sergeant-at-Arms shall have charge 
 of the door, allow no one to leave during the read¬ 
 ing of the minutes or while a vote is being taken. 
 
6 
 
 During executive sessions he shall admit none but 
 lelegates, except by consent of the League. His 
 :erm of office shall be for one year. 
 
 See. 7. The President and Recording Secretary 
 -shall act as the Trustees. 
 
 ARTICLE II. 
 
 Section 1. The standing Committees shall be 
 Committees on Organization, Agitation and Public 
 Meetings, Committee on Grievance, Committee on 
 Legislation and Labels, Committee on Building 
 Trades and an Auditing Committee. 
 
 Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the Committee 
 on Organization, etc., to visit from time to time 
 the various organizations attached or not attached 
 to the League for the purpose of inducing their 
 affiliation or to strengthen them if already attached. 
 To attend to the engaging of halls and speakers 
 for public meetings and all printing and advertising 
 pertaining thereto. 
 
 Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of the Committee 
 on Grievances to take cognizance of all grievances 
 properly brought before the League, and recom¬ 
 mend such action as they may deem best to remedy 
 the troubles or right the grievance; they shall have 
 power to summon witnesses and take testimony. 
 All grievances must be presented in writing and 
 shall be referred without debate. In case of any 
 
IO 
 
 trade or calling presenting a grievance and trade 
 or calling having no representative on the Griev¬ 
 ance Committee, the President of the League shall 
 appoint one delegate from said trade or calling to 
 act in conjunction with the regular Committee. 
 
 Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of the Committee 
 on Legislation and Labels to secure the enforce¬ 
 ment of all existing laws beneficial to labor, en¬ 
 deavor to secure the repeal of laws antagonistic to 
 labor, and endeavor to secure the appointment of 
 Building Inspectors from the ranks of organized 
 labor, to secure the abrogation of the contract 
 system in all city work, secure proper school facil¬ 
 ities for the young, and assist in the advancement 
 of all labels that have been adopted by the various 
 trades. 
 
 Sec. 5. The Committee on Building Trades 
 shall have charge of all matters reported to the 
 League from the various trades necessary to the 
 construction of a building, subject to the action of 
 the League. 
 
 Sec. 6. It shall be the duty of the Auditing 
 Committee to examine the accounts of the Finan¬ 
 cial Secretary-Treasurer quarterly, report their 
 finding to the League, and see that all sums over 
 $100 are deposited in bank to the credit of the 
 League. 
 
article III. 
 
 Section i. Each organization shall be entitled 
 ;o two delegates and one additional delegate for 
 -ach hundred members or majority fraction 
 hereof. 
 
 Section 2. Each organization having represent 
 tation in the United Labor League shall pay into 
 the treasury of the League the sum of 75 cents 
 per month for the first one hundred members or 
 less ; organizations having more than one hundred 
 members shall pay an additional sum of not less 
 than one-fourth of one cent per month for each 
 member. 
 
 Section 3. Any organization owing three 
 months’ dues shall be considered in arrears and 
 shall be notified by the Financial Secretary-Treas¬ 
 urer, and failing to pay its indebtedness at either 
 of the two succeeding meetings shall be declared 
 suspended by the President. Any organization 
 suspended shall be notified by the Recording Sec¬ 
 retary. 
 
 Section 4. Any organization suspended for 
 non-pavment of dues can be reinstated upon mak¬ 
 ing application in writing accompanied by the 
 amount of its indebtedness at the time of sus¬ 
 pension. 
 
12 
 
 ARTICLE IV. 
 
 This Constitution shall not be altered c 
 amended except at a regular meeting of the Leagu 
 with the concurrence of a 'majority of the delegate 
 present, and notice of such amendment shall b 
 given at least four weeks previously. The Leagu 
 shall then immediately notify all represented 
 bodies of such amendment. 
 
 HENRY J. NELSON, 
 University Dormitories, 
 
 Station “ B,” - Philadelphia. 
 
BY-LAWS. 
 
 m 
 
 ARTICLE I. 
 
 Section i The regular meetings of the League 
 1 hall take place at thirty minutes past two o’clock 
 n the second and fourth Sunday of each month* 
 nd shall close at thirty minutes after five o’clock, 
 fter which time no business shall be transacted, 
 xcept a motion shall have been passed prior to 
 ive o’clock to extend the time of closing. A quo- 
 um shall consist of twelve delegates representing 
 ive organizations on the roll book of the League. 
 
 Section 2. Election of officers.—The election 
 hall be by ballot, It shall require a majority of 
 .11 votes polled to elect. Should there by no elec- 
 ion on the first ballot, the candidate receiving the 
 owest number of votes shall be dropped on the 
 econd ballot, and so with each succeeding ballot 
 intil a choice shall be reached. The League shall 
 lect a judge and twp tellers to conduct the elec- 
 ion. The President shall then declare the result. 
 
 Section 3. The President shall appoint all 
 
 (13) 
 
special committees, and fill all vacancies when not 
 otherwise provided for. 
 
 Section 4. All special committees shall report 
 at the next stated meeting', unless otherwise 
 ordered, and no committee is to be discharged 
 until all its debts paid. 
 
 Section 5. Any organization shall have the right 
 to demand a yea and nay vote on any resolution 
 pending. 
 
 ARTICLE II. 
 
 No delegate shall be admitted as such until he 
 has deposited with the Recording Secretary his 
 credentials, bearing the signature of the officers of 
 his organization, with the seal thereon, and stating 
 the willingness of the organization to be bound 
 by the laws and regulations of the League while 
 represented. 
 
 ARTICLE III. 
 
 These By-Laws can be amended or abolished 
 by a majority vote of the members present, pro¬ 
 vided the same shall have been presented in writing 
 at least four weeks previous. 
 
15 
 
 ORDER OF BUSINESS. 
 
 1. Roll Call of Officers. 
 
 2. Roll Call of Delegates. 
 
 3. Reading of Minutes. 
 
 4. Admission of Delegates. 
 
 5. Communications and Bills. 
 
 6. Reports of Special Committees. 
 
 7. Reports of Standing Committees. 
 
 8. Reports of Officers. 
 
 9. Reports of Organizations. 
 
 10. Nomination of Officers. 
 
 11. Election of Officers. 
 
 12. Installation of Officers. 
 
 13. Unfinished Business. 
 
 14. New Business. 
 
 15. Welfare of the Eeague. 
 
 16. Receipts. 
 
 17. Adjournment. 
 
Rules of order. 
 
 No delegate shall speak more than once of 
 longer than ten minutes on any question except 
 by consent of the League, provided no other dele- 
 gate desires to speak. 
 
 This Constitution and By-Laws shall go into 
 effect the first meeting in July, 189.3. 
 
United 
 
 Labor 
 
 , < t ' 1 
 
 League 
 
CONSTITUTION, 
 
 BY-LAWS, 
 
 RULES OF ORDER 
 
 AND 
 
 Order of Business 
 
 OF THE 
 
 United Labor League 
 
 Philadelphia and Vicinity. 
 
 APRIL , 1901. 
 
A vfp 
 
 13 M 
 
 f r- 
 
HENRY JOHN NELSON, 
 
 Attorney a* La '"’ TS 
 
 E COR. BROAD & ARCH STS., 
 
 preamble 
 
 AND 
 
 declaration of principles. 
 
 \a/p declare as our belief, 
 
 p: rst _That the cause of industrial slavery 
 
 is due to the fact of the individual owner¬ 
 ship of all the essential means necessary^ 
 the employment of labor, viz.. 
 
 competition with their fellows similarly s - 
 
 «£»•*" i: sis 2 ££ 
 
 competitive system ot socie y, 
 the individual to exploit the “or oi te 
 masse, b, taking advantage oi ttor nece^ 
 ties. Thus wealth, the result of to , 
 
 
4 
 
 stantly accumulating in the hands of the few, 
 while the greater number are merely eking 
 out an animal existence by hard, unrequited 
 toil from day to Uay. 
 
 Third—We therefore denounce this system 
 and express the hope of its ultimate extinc¬ 
 tion, and the substitution of the system of 
 universal co-operation as more reasonable, 
 orderly, and just to all mankind. 
 
 Fourth—By universal co-operation we 
 mean the collective self-employment of all 
 workers by means of placing the control and 
 ownership of the instruments of production 
 and distribution in the hands of associated 
 labor, as distinct and free from individual 
 domination or selfish greed. 
 
 Fifth—We hold the interests, rights and 
 liberties of the individual are best conserved 
 by an association of forces; even now what 
 individuality there is enjoyed in general so¬ 
 ciety is but the result of the collective will 
 and power of many combined in one, through 
 the state, municipality and government; and 
 we point in further proof to the tremendous 
 progress of the principles of organization 
 in all the numerous ramifications of society, 
 showing plainly the evolution of mankind to 
 be in the direction of collectivism rather than 
 
5 
 
 individualism. Keeping in view, then, the 
 above declaration of principles, we urge our 
 fellow-toilers to associate themselves in un¬ 
 ions, in order to keep alive the spirit of solid¬ 
 arity and to strengthen themselves in every 
 way in their struggles for emancipation, lead¬ 
 ing them on step by step until the toiler re¬ 
 ceives the full results of this labor—no more, 
 no less. As a means to the furtherance of our 
 ultimate object, outlined in the above pre¬ 
 amble, and ameliorative of present necessities 
 we urge the following palliative measures: 
 
 First—To encourage all efforts looking 
 toward higher wages, and by using every 
 means at our command for a reduction of the 
 hours of labor in order that we may all have 
 employment. 
 
 Second—The compulsory education of 
 children up to their fifteenth year. 
 
 Third—By assisting the various organiza¬ 
 tions herein represented to the extent of our 
 ability whenever in difficulty; and enforce 
 that assistance by withdrawing and using our 
 utmost influence to induce others to with¬ 
 draw all patronage from any employer who 
 seeks to control unjustly the labor of the 
 workers. 
 
 Fourth—By enforcing all existing bene- 
 
6 
 
 ficial labor laws and by agitating for the re¬ 
 peal of all laws hostile to the interest of the 
 working people or their organizations; by 
 opposing the system of letting out by con¬ 
 tract all national, state or municipal work; 
 by opposing the letting out by contract of 
 work in penitentiaries, houses of refuge and 
 correctional institutions; by demanding a me¬ 
 chanics’ and laborers’ lien law, sanitary in¬ 
 spection of mines and workshops, and a sep¬ 
 arate bureau of labor statistics. 
 
 Fifth—The adoption of measures provid¬ 
 ing for the health and safety of those en¬ 
 gaged in mining, manufacturing and building 
 industries, and for indemnification to those 
 engaged therein for injuries received through 
 the lack of necessary safeguards. Also, the 
 appointment of factory and building inspect¬ 
 ors chosen from among the labor organiza¬ 
 tions of this State. 
 
 Sixth—By using every means in our power 
 to induce the workers to form protective 
 organizations, and by providing them with 
 the information, advice and literature nec¬ 
 essary for their education to their position 
 as wealth-producers, and by providing legal 
 protection for them in the laws of the State. 
 
CONSTITUTION 
 
 ARTICLE I. 
 
 TlTEE AND OFFICERS. 
 
 Section i. This organization shall be 
 known as the “United Labor League of Phil¬ 
 adelphia and Vicinity,” and shall be com¬ 
 posed of delegates from the various trade 
 and labor unions. 
 
 Sec. 2. The officers of this organization 
 shall consist of a President, Vice-President, 
 Corresponding-Recording Secretary, Finan¬ 
 cial Secretary, Treasurer, Sergeant-at-Arms, 
 three Trustees and an Advisory Board, of 
 seven members, of official paper. The Presi¬ 
 dent and Vice-President to be elected for a 
 term of six months. All the other officers 
 for a term of one year, or until their suc¬ 
 cessors are elected. The election of yearly 
 officers to take place at the first meeting in 
 January of each year and the election for Pres¬ 
 ident and Vice-President at the first meet- 
 
8 
 
 ings in January and July. Nominations for 
 all officers to be declared open two meetings 
 preceding election. 
 
 Sec. 3. It shall be the duty of the Presi¬ 
 dent to preside at all meetings and preserve 
 order at the same, sign all orders on the 
 Treasurer authorized by the League, appoint 
 all committees (unless otherwise ordered), 
 and execute such other business as instructed 
 by the League. The duties of the Vice-Pres¬ 
 ident shall be the same as the President, but 
 only in his absence or disability. 
 
 Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of the Cor¬ 
 responding-Recording Secretary to keep a 
 correct record of the proceedings of each 
 meeting, and to perform such other duties 
 as may be required by tne League. The 
 compensation shall be $2.50 per meeting. 
 
 Sec. 5. The Financial Secretary-Treasurer 
 shall receive all moneys, keep accurate account 
 of the same, deposit in bank all sums above 
 $100, make quarterly statements of moneys 
 received and expended and present bank 
 book for inspetion of officers at the first 
 meetings in January, April, July and October. 
 He shall pay all orders properly signed by 
 the President and Recording Secretary, and 
 at the expiration of his term of office turn 
 
9 
 
 all moneys, books, etc., over to his suc¬ 
 cessor; he shall read at the close of each 
 meeting the amount of money received, and 
 give bond in the amount of $1000 for the 
 faithful performance of his duties. The ex¬ 
 pense for procuring bond shall be defrayed 
 by the League. He shall receive for his 
 services the sum of $2.50 per meeting. 
 
 Sec. 6. The Sergeant-at-Arms shall have 
 charge of the door, allow no one to leave 
 during the reading of the minutes or while 
 a vote is being taken. During executive ses¬ 
 sions he shall admit none but delegates, ex¬ 
 cept by consent of the League. His term of 
 office shall be for one year. 
 
 Sec. 7. It shall be the duty of the Trus¬ 
 tees to exercise a general supervision over 
 the property of the League. They shall have 
 prepared for and receive from the Financial 
 Secretary-Treasurer a bond in such sum as 
 this Constitution or the League may require, 
 which shall be within one month from the 
 date of his election. They shall have charge 
 of all legal instruments and papers of value 
 to the League, and shall perform such other 
 duties as this League may require. 
 
 Sec. 8. It shall be the duty of the Ad¬ 
 visory Board of the official paper of this 
 
I o 
 
 League to have control over the same as per 
 contract with the publisher. 
 
 ARTICLE II 
 
 COMMITTEES. 
 
 Section I. The standing Committees shall 
 be—Committee on Organization, Agitation 
 and Public Meetings; Committee on Griev¬ 
 ance; Committee on Legislation; Committee 
 on Labels; Committee on Building Trades' 
 Committee on Entertainment and Celebra¬ 
 tion, each to consist of five members, and an 
 Auditing Committee, to consist of three 
 members. 
 
 Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the Com¬ 
 mittee on Organization, etc., to visit from 
 time to time the various organizations at¬ 
 tached or not attached to the League, for 
 the purpose of inducing their affiliation or to 
 strengthen them if already attached; to at¬ 
 tend to the engaging of halls and speakers 
 for public meetings, and all printing and ad¬ 
 vertising pertaining thereto. 
 
 Sec. 3.. If shall be the duty of the Com¬ 
 mittee on Grievance to take cognizance of 
 all grievances properly brought before the 
 League, and recommend such action as they 
 
II 
 
 may deem best to remedy the troubles or 
 right the grievance; they shall have power 
 to summon witnesses and take testimony. 
 All grievances must be presented in writing 
 and shall be referred without debate. In case 
 of any trade or calling presenting a grievance 
 and such trade or calling having no repre¬ 
 sentative on the Grievance Committee, the 
 President of the League shall appoint one 
 delegate from said trade or calling to act in 
 conjunction with the regular committee. 
 
 Sec. 4. It shall be the duty of the Com¬ 
 mittee on Legislation to secure the enforce¬ 
 ment of all existing laws beneficial to labor 
 and the repeal of those antagonistic; the ap- 
 oointment of Building and Factory Inspect¬ 
 ors from the ranks of organized labor; the 
 abrogation of the contract system in all city 
 work* to secure the proper school facilities 
 for the young, and to have sanitary laws pro¬ 
 tecting the health of the people enacted and 
 enforced. 
 
 Sec. 5. It shall be the duty of the Com¬ 
 mittee on Labels to attend to all matters re¬ 
 ferred to it in connection with legislation or 
 advertising in the interest of labels, or label 
 grievances, and from time to time to visit all 
 organizations for the purpose of advancing 
 
12 
 
 the interest of all labels among the general 
 membership. 
 
 Sec. 6. The Committee on Building 
 Trades shall have charge of all matters re¬ 
 ported to the League from the various trades 
 connected with the construction of a building 
 subject to the action of the League. 
 
 Sec. 7. It shall be the duty of the Com-^ 
 mittee on Entertainment and Celebration to 
 have charge of all arrangements for the 
 proper celebration of May Day and Labor 
 Day, and such other entertainment or cele¬ 
 bration as the League may decide upon. In 
 the carrying out of their plans the committee 
 shall have power to temporarily add to their 
 membership. 
 
 Sec. 8. It shall be the duty of the Audit¬ 
 ing Committee to audit the accounts of the 
 Financial Secretary-Treasurer quarterly and 
 the financial reports of all committees and 
 report their finding to the League, and see 
 that all sums over $100 are deposited in bank 
 to the credit of the League. 
 
 Sec. 9. There shall be an Executive Board 
 which shall consist of the Chairmen of the 
 League's standing committees. It shall be 
 the duty of said Board to ascertain how the 
 League can benefit the unions affiliated with 
 
13 
 
 it, and it shall assign to the proper commit¬ 
 tees the work of carrying out this policy. It 
 shall also recommend to the League plans to 
 promote the general welfare of the labor 
 movement in Philadelphia. Weekly meetings 
 shall be held by the Executive Board. 
 
 ARTICLE III. 
 
 DELEGATES. 
 
 Section I. Each organization shall be en¬ 
 titled to two delegates and one additional 
 delegate for each hundred members or ma¬ 
 jority fraction thereof. 
 
 PER CAPITA. 
 
 Sec. 2. Each organization having repre¬ 
 sentation in the United Labor League shall 
 pay into the treasury of the League the sum 
 of 75 cents per month for the first one hun¬ 
 dred members or less; organizations having 
 more than one hundred members shall pay 
 an additional sum of one-fourth of one cent 
 per month for each member. Organizations 
 affiliating shall pay the first month’s per cap¬ 
 ita tax in advance. 
 
14 
 
 ARREARS—SUSPENSIONS. 
 
 Sec. 3. Any organization owing three 
 'months’ dues shall be considered in arrears 
 and shall be notified by the Financial Sec¬ 
 retary-Treasurer, and failing to pay its indebt¬ 
 edness at either of the two succeeding meet¬ 
 ings shall be declared suspended by the Pres¬ 
 ident. Any organization suspended shall be 
 notified by the Recording Secretary. 
 
 reinstatement. 
 
 Sec. 4. Any organization suspended for 
 non-payment of dues can be reinstated upon 
 making application in writing accompanied 
 by the amount of its indebtedness at the time 
 of suspension. 
 
 ARTICLE IV. 
 amendments. 
 
 This Constitution shall not be altered or 
 amended except at a regular meeting of the 
 League with the concurrence of a majority of 
 the delegates present, and notice of such 
 amendment shall be given at least four weeks 
 previously. The League shall then immedi¬ 
 ately notify all represented bodies of such 
 amendment. 
 
BY-LAWS 
 
 ARTICLE I. 
 
 MEETING—QUORUM. 
 
 Section i. The regular meetings of the 
 League shall take place at two o’clock p. m, 
 on the second and fourth Sundays of each 
 month. 
 
 Sec. 2 . At the hour of meeting, if a quo¬ 
 rum be present, the meeting shall be called 
 to order. A quorum shall consist of twelve 
 delegates, representing five organizations on 
 the roll book of the League. 
 
 ARTICLE II. 
 
 NOMINATION AND ERECTION. 
 
 Section i. Nominations for yearly offices* 
 shall be declared open at the first meeting 
 in December and closed at the second meeL 
 my. Nominations 1 for President arid Vice- 
 15 
 
i6 
 
 President shall be made in the same manner 
 •—two meetings election. 
 
 Sec. 2. Election of all officers shall be by 
 ballot. The name of each candidate shall be 
 written on similar slips of paper, furnished 
 blank to the delegates by the Secretary, and 
 all the slips shall be placed in a hat or ballot 
 box, from which they shall be drawn one at 
 a time. It shall require a majority of all votes 
 polled to elect. Should there be no election 
 on the first ballot, the candidates receiving 
 the lowest numbr of votes shall be dropped 
 on the second ballot, and so with each suc¬ 
 ceeding ballot until a choice shall be reached. 
 
 Sec. 3. The President shall appoint a judge 
 and two tellers to conduct the election, unless 
 otherwise ordered. The election officers hav¬ 
 ing reported, the President shall then declare 
 the result. 
 
 ARTICLE III. 
 
 COMMITTEES. 
 
 Section I. The President shall appoint all 
 special committees, and fill all vacancies, un¬ 
 less otherwise provided for. 
 
 Sec. 2. All special committees shall report 
 at the next stated meeting, unless otherwise 
 
i7 
 
 ordered, and no committee shall be dis¬ 
 charged until all debts it may have contracted 
 are paid. 
 
 Sec. 3. No member shall be appointed on 
 a special committee unless present at the time 
 of appointment; nor shall any member be 
 compelled to serve two successive terms on 
 any one committee. 
 
 ARTICLE IV. 
 
 ADMISSION OF DELEGATES. 
 
 Delegates to the League shall only be ad¬ 
 mitted upon depositing with the Recording 
 Secretary their credentials, bearing the sig¬ 
 natures of the President and Secretary of 
 their organization, with the seal thereon, and 
 stating the willingness of the organization to 
 be bound by the laws and regulations of the 
 League while represented. 
 
 ARTICLE V. 
 
 AMENDMENTS. 
 
 These By-Laws shall not be altered or 
 amended except by a majority vote of the 
 members present at a regular meeting. Notice 
 of an intended alteration or amendment must 
 be given in writing at least four weeks prev¬ 
 ious. 
 
RULES OF ORDER . 
 
 1. No motion shall be received, or laid 
 before the League, unless moved by two 
 members; nor open for discussion until stated 
 by the President; and when a question is be¬ 
 fore the League no other motion shall be 
 in order except—i. To lay on the table. 2. 
 The previous question. 3. To postpone. 4. 
 To refer. 5. To commit. 6. To amend— 
 which shall have precedence in the order ar¬ 
 ranged; the first two shall be decided with¬ 
 out debate. The motion to adjourn shall al¬ 
 ways be in order after the regular order of 
 business has been disposed of. 
 
 2 . When a member speaks he shall rise and 
 address the presiding officer, confining him¬ 
 self strictly to the merits of the question under 
 consideration. He shall not be interrupted 
 while speaking, unless by the presiding of¬ 
 ficer, who may call him to order or admonish 
 him to a closer adherence to the subject. Nor 
 
19 
 
 shall a member be allowed to speak more 
 than once on the same subject nor longer 
 than ten minutes, except to explain, without 
 permission from the League. When two or 
 more members rise at once the presiding of¬ 
 ficer shall decide who is to speak first. 
 
 3. All resolutions and amendments shall 
 be presented in writing. 
 
 4. Questions of order shall be decided by 
 the President; but in case of an appeal from 
 his decision, the League shall determine by 
 vote without debate. 
 
 5. A motion to reconsider any former res¬ 
 olution or vote can only be made by a mem¬ 
 ber who voted in the majority, and shall not 
 be in order unless another question shall have 
 intervened; but a motion to reconsider hav¬ 
 ing been put and lost, it shall not be again re¬ 
 newed at the same meeting. 
 
 6. No business shall be taken up except in 
 the order prescribed, unless, upon motion, 
 such irregularity shall be sanctioned by two- 
 thirds of the members present and shall be 
 decided without debate. 
 
 7. On the call of six members for the 
 previous question the President shall put it 
 in this form: “Shall the main question now 
 be put?” and until that is decided it shall pre- 
 
20 
 
 elude all further amendments to, and debate 
 on, the main question. When there shall be 
 pending amendments the question shall first 
 be taken upon the amendments in their order, 
 and without debate. 
 
 8. Any member may call for a division of 
 the question when the same will admit there¬ 
 of. 
 
 9. No motion to amend the minutes by 
 striking out or inserting words or sentences 
 shall be admissible unless they contain some 
 error of fact. 
 
 10. To impugn the motives of members, 
 or committees, or the League, or to use re¬ 
 viling or degrading language toward them, 
 shall be considered a breach of order. 
 
 11. A motion to table an amendment or 
 a substitute to a question, decided in the af¬ 
 firmative, does not carry the whole question 
 with it. When a resolution or motion to 
 amend, or alter in anywise, either the Con¬ 
 stitution, the By-Laws, or the Rules of Order, 
 has been laid upon the table, it shall not be 
 reconsidered or taken from the table with¬ 
 out a month’s previous notice being given. 
 
 12. A motion to temporarily suspend the 
 Constitution, or any article or section thereof, 
 can only be entertained at a stated meeting 
 
21 
 
 of the League after notice of the same has 
 been given at a previous regular meeting; and 
 a majority vote of the members present, 
 which shall be taken by ball ballot, is nec¬ 
 essary to its adoption. No motion to tem¬ 
 porarily suspend any portion of the By-Laws 
 shall be entertained except by unanimous con¬ 
 sent of the members present at a regular 
 stated meeting. 
 
 13. Smoking shall be prohibited at all 
 meetings of the League. 
 
 14. In the absence of a standing rule, ref¬ 
 erence shall be had to “Cushing’s Manual” 
 as a guide. 
 
ORDER OF BUSINESS 
 
 Roll-call of Officers. 
 
 Roll-call of Delegates 
 Reading of Minutes. 
 
 Admission of Delegates. 
 Communications and Bills. 
 Reports of Officers. 
 
 Reports of Special Committees. 
 Reports of Standing Committees. 
 Reports of Organizations. 
 Nomination of Officers. 
 
 Election of Officers 
 Installation of Officers. 
 Unfinished Business. 
 
 New Business. 
 
 Welfare of the League. 
 
 Receipts. 
 
 Adjournment.