Max Morris (unionist)

Max Morris
Member of the Colorado House of Representatives
In office
1899–1904
3rd International President of the Retail Clerks International Union
In office
1895–1909
Preceded byEd Mallory
Succeeded byH. J. Conway
Personal details
Born(1866-06-09)June 9, 1866
Mobile, Alabama
DiedJune 6, 1909(1909-06-06) (aged 42)
Denver, Colorado
Political party
OccupationTrade unionist, politician

Max Morris (June 9, 1866 – June 6, 1909) was an American labor union leader and politician.

Biography

Max Morris was born in Mobile, Alabama on June 9, 1866, and moved to Breckenridge, Colorado in 1880.[1] In 1884, he became a retail clerk, and he organized a union of clerks based in Cripple Creek. In about 1890, he moved to Denver, where he founded the Denver Retail Clerks' Union, and he soon affiliated this to the new Retail Clerks' National Protective Association of America.[2][3]

In 1896, Morris was elected as secretary-treasurer of the Retail Clerks, and from 1899, he also edited its journal, the Retail Clerks' National Advocate. That year, he was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives, representing the People's Party. He was elected again in 1901, this time representing the Democratic Party, serving until 1904.[2][3]

Morris served as a vice-president of the American Federation of Labor from 1898. He died in Denver on June 6, 1909, still holding his trade union offices.[2][3][4]

References

  1. ^ "Max Morris, One of Labor's Great Leaders, Has Passed Away". Retail Clerks International Advocate. 16 (7): 13. July 1909. Retrieved May 10, 2023 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ a b c The Samuel Gompers Papers. University of Illinois Press. 1986. ISBN 9780252033896.
  3. ^ a b c Bliss, William (1909). The New Encyclopedia of Social Reform. Funk & Wagnalls. p. 784. Retrieved May 10, 2023 – via Internet Archive.
  4. ^ "Death of Max Morris, Fourth Vice-President of the A. F. of L." Official Journal of the Travelers' Goods and Leather Novelty Workers' International Union of America. VI (7). Oshkosh, Wisconsin: 7. July 1909. Retrieved May 10, 2023 – via Google Books.
Trade union offices
Preceded by
Ed Mallory
 Secretary-Treasurer of the Retail Clerks' National Protective Association
1896–1909 		Succeeded by
H. J. Conway
Preceded by
New position
 Fifth Vice-President of the American Federation of Labor
1898–1900 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Fourth Vice-President of the American Federation of Labor
1900–1909 		Succeeded by