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Rh to be a very successful organization. He also edited its local paper, "The Picket," during that time. He was president of the New York State Federation of Labor, and he was the founder of the American Federation of Labor in 1881, serving as its president for five years without salary or other compensation, after which he was its president on salary, being elected each successive year, the only interlude being 1894 when John McBride, representing the coal miners, defeated him in the election. He was nominated by both the Democratic and Republican party in his district for state senator; the Republican party offered him the nomination as representative in congress; Governor Hill tendered him a place on the State Board of Arbitration, and President McKinley on the Industrial Commission, all of which honors he declined. He was closely associated with the effort to obtain a treaty between the United States and Great Britain, for international arbitration of all disputes. He was a delegate to the National conference held at Saratoga in 1898 to discuss and devise a policy which should be pursued by the United States in view of the new conditions brought about by the war with Spain, and he addressed the conference and was a member of the committee that presented to President McKinley a memorial containing the views of the congress. He also took part in a number of congresses and conventions having for their object the promotion of social service. He was vice-president of the National Civic Federation formed to establish better relations between workmen and their employers. His membership in associations, clubs and fraternities includes the American Federation of Labor; Cigar Makers' International Union of America; Free and Accepted Masons; Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Benevolent and Protective Elks; and the Home club. He was president of the American Federation of Labor from the year of its foundation, 1881, with the exception of two years; and he still held the office in 1905; first vice-president of the Cigar Makers' International Union of America for ten years, and author of the beneficial and protective features of the financial system of that organization as well as of the initiative and referendum in the legislation and in the nomination and election of officers of that organization. He served as noble grand master of his Odd Fellow lodge, 1873, and as deputy grand master of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of his district in 1876.

In order to be of more service to his fellow workmen in the cause