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Bond, L. Montgomery (fl. 1864) [Printed circular number one from the Office of the Committee on Labor, Income, and Revenue]

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC04639 Author/Creator: Bond, L. Montgomery (fl. 1864) Place Written: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Type: Printed document Date: 3 May 1864 Pagination: 3 p. : envelope : free frank ; 28.1 x 21.5 cm. Order a Copy

The Committee for a Day's Labor requests a donation of one day's earnings from all classes of the community for benefit of the Great Central Fair. Printed on Office of the Committee on Labor, Income, and Revenue stationery. Accompanied by an illustrated Great Central Fair for the Sanitary Commission envelope signed and free franked by John W. Forney, Secretary of the Senate, addressed to Joseph A. Murphy. Lists members of the Committee for a Day's Labor, including Bond (Chairman), John W. Claghorn (Treasurer), Reverend E. W. Hutter (Corresponding Secretary), and McGregor J. Mitcheson (Secretary). Lists the names of honorary Committee members, including Andrew Gregg Curtin (Pennsylvania Governor), Joel Parker (New Jersey Governor), William Cannon (Delaware Governor), Alexander Henry (Philadelphia Mayor), Joseph Ingersoll (former Representative from Pennsylvania), Judge Thomas Preston Carpenter of New Jersey, Judge Samuel Maxwell Harrington of Delaware, and Major-General George G. Meade. Lists all other Committee members on page three.

The Great Central Fair for the United States Sanitary Commission opened in June 1864 in Logan Square, Philadelphia. The Fair was held to raise funds for Union soldiers in need of basic necessities and medical supplies.

CIRCULAR No. I.
COMMITTEE FOR A DAY'S LABOR

OFFICE OF THE. COMMITTEE ON LABOR, INCOMES AND REVENUES
No. 118 SOUTH- SEVENTH STREET
PHILADELPHIA MAY 3d 1864

Referring to the circular of the Executive Committee for the general objects of the
GREAT CENTRAL FAIR, the Committee on "LABOR, INCOMES and REVENUES," invite co-operation with them in the particular work for which they have been appointed. As no portion of the people are more patriotic than the working men and women of the country, it is but just and proper that they should alike have an opportunity to contribute to the objects of the Fair. The most equable plan for accomplishing this, and, at the same time the easiest one, is to ask for the contribution of a SINGLE DAY'S LABOR from all classes in the community. Many will contribute a day of their labor willingly, who would not subscribe their money. To reach every department of industry and art will be a work of great labor, but, if attained, will be productive of immense results.
The success of the plan will depend upon the hearty co-operation of every element of influence within our limits, and we invite all the guardians of the industrial interests, and all others, to take hold with us in furthering this great work of patriotism and humanity.
The Committee is charged with the following duty, to wit:
FIRST. - To obtain the contribution of "one day's labor," or earnings, from every artisan and laborer, foreman, operative and employee; president, cashier, teller and clerk of every incorporated and unincorporated company, railroad and express company, employing firm bank, manufactory, iron works, oil works, mill, mine and public office: from every private banker and broker, importer, auctioneer and merchant; clerk, agent and salesman; designer, finisher and artist; publisher; printer and mechanic; from every government officer, contractor and employee; grocer, butcher, baker and dealer; farmer, horticulturist and producer; from every mantua maker, milliner and female operative; every individual engaged in turning the every soil, tending the loom; or in any way earning a livelihood, or building a fortune within the States of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware.
SECOND. - To obtain the contribution of one day's "Revenue" from all the great employ-;Jig establishments, firms, corporations, companies, railroads and works..
THIRD. - To obtain the contribution of one day's income from every retired person, and person of fortune - male and female - living upon their means, and from all clergymen, lawyers, physicians, dentists, editors, authors and professors; and all other persons engaged in the learned or other professions.
[2]
Much of this work must be preformed by the personal influence and efforts of the ladies and gentlemen associated, or to be associated with the Committee in carrying out the plan.
The Committee feel responsibility of the work they have undertaken, which, to be successful, will require a very perfect ramification of their plan, and they therefore call upon all earnest people, to assemble" themselves together in every town, township, and county, and form organizations of ladies and gentlemen to, co-operate with them in this great work and labor of love. In the manufacturing counties, the coal and oil regions, and in the agricultural districts -especially let there be organizations in the larger towns, so that the young people may have an opportunity thus to render assistance to their relatives and friends fighting the battles of their country in the armies of the nation.
The work of this Committee may be prosecuted where no other effort can be made for the Fair, as in the mines of the coal regions. A day's earnings of the miners, and a day's product of the mines, can be obtained, where no portable article could be procured for transportation. Indeed, there is no part or section of these States where the day's -labor may not be obtained, if organizations can be formed to reach them.
The Committee cannot close without urging upon all PROPRIETORS OF ESTABLISHMENTS, the duty of taking prompt and energetic action to secure the benefit OF THE DAY OF LABOR from all within their control. In another circular, marked No. will be found suggestions as to the modes of procedure proper to be observed in approaching this work; and another marked No. 3, is an address for distribution in the work-shops, and at meetings.
The Committee deem it unnecessary to do more, than thus to present the subject to the people of the three States named. In the coming campaigns of our armies, the labors of the "SANITARY COMMISSION" will be greatly augmented. By the first of June 700,000 men - one of the largest armies of modern times - will be ' operating in the field. So large a force, scattered over regions to which the men are unacclimated, must necessarily carry along with it a large amount of sickness, suffering and death, to say nothing of the gathered horrors of the battle-field.
These sufferings, it is our bounden duty, as men and Christians, to relieve. A great and enlightened people, enjoying the blessings of a government of their own making, CANNOT REFUSE assistance to men suffering to maintain its authority, and we will not believe that the "Great Central Fair" drawing its products from the three States of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware, so affluent in all mineral, agricultural and industrial wealth, shall fall behind any similar effort which has yet been made for the relief of the Nation's children.
This Circular must go out with all the sub-Committee Circulars. They will be supplied upon application to the Secretary.
L. MONTGOMERY BOND, Chairman.
JOHN-W. CLAGHORN, Treasurer. -
REV: E. W. HUTTER, Corresponding Secretary.
McGREGOR J. MITCHESON, Secretary.
HONORARY . MEMBERS.
His Excellency, A. G. CURTIN, Hon. JOSEPH R. INGERSOLL,
Governor of Pennsylvania , _ Pennsylvania.
His Excellency, JOEL PARKER, Hon. JUDGE CARPENTER,
Governor of New Jersey. New Jersey.
His Excellency, WM CANNON, Hon. JUDGE HARRINGTON,
Governor of 'Delaware Delaware
Hon, ALEXANDER HENRY , Major-General, GEORGE G. MEADE,
Mayor of Philadelphia ARMY of the POTOMAC

[Following 3 pages include lists of names.]

Bond, L. Montgomery, fl. 1864
Claghorn, John W., fl. 1864
Hutter, E. W., fl. 1864
Mitcheson, McGregor J., fl. 1864
Carpenter, Thomas Preston, 1804-1876
Curtin, Andrew Gregg, 1815-1894
Forney, John W. (John Wien), 1817-1881
Harrington, Samuel M. (Samuel Maxwell), 1803-1865
Henry, Alexander, 1739-1824
Ingersoll, Joseph Reed, 1786-1868
Meade, George Gordon, 1815-1872
Parker, Joel, 1816-1888

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