Wharton was born in Kansas, near Topeka. When he was six years old, his father died in a blizzard. Arthur began working at the age of thirteen, undertaking an apprenticeship as a machinist with the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railway. He rose to become a foreman in Osawatomie, Kansas, then moved to St. Louis.[1][2]
During World War I, Wharton served on the Committee on Labor of the Advisory Commission of the Council of National Defense. From 1918, he stepped back from his AFL post, while retaining the title. He instead served on the Railroad Administration Board of Railroad Wages and Working Conditions, and from 1920 instead on the Railroad Labor Board.[1]
In 1922, Wharton officially left his AFL post, but he remained active in the Machinists, and in 1926 was elected as the union's president, serving until 1939. Under his leadership, the union's membership increased from 45,000 to 180,000. From 1928 to 1940, he was also a vice president of the AFL.[1][2]
He died in Tucson, Arizona on December 21, 1944.[3]
Referencesedit
^ abcdThe Samuel Gompers Papers. University of Illinois Press. 1986. ISBN9780252033896.
arthur, wharton, arthur, orlando, wharton, november, 1873, december, 1944, american, labor, union, leader, bornarthur, orlando, wharton, 1873, november, 1873topeka, kansasdieddecember, 1944, 1944, aged, tucson, arizonaoccupationlabor, leaderspouseceleste, ayer. Arthur Orlando Wharton November 9 1873 December 21 1944 was an American labor union leader Arthur O WhartonBornArthur Orlando Wharton 1873 11 09 November 9 1873Topeka KansasDiedDecember 21 1944 1944 12 21 aged 71 Tucson ArizonaOccupationLabor leaderSpouseCeleste Ayers WhartonBiography editWharton was born in Kansas near Topeka When he was six years old his father died in a blizzard Arthur began working at the age of thirteen undertaking an apprenticeship as a machinist with the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railway He rose to become a foreman in Osawatomie Kansas then moved to St Louis 1 2 Wharton was active in the International Association of Machinists and became a business agent of his local in 1903 From 1908 he also served as secretary treasurer of the union s Southwestern Consolidated Railway District In 1915 he was elected as president of the American Federation of Labor s AFL Railway Employes Department 1 During World War I Wharton served on the Committee on Labor of the Advisory Commission of the Council of National Defense From 1918 he stepped back from his AFL post while retaining the title He instead served on the Railroad Administration Board of Railroad Wages and Working Conditions and from 1920 instead on the Railroad Labor Board 1 In 1922 Wharton officially left his AFL post but he remained active in the Machinists and in 1926 was elected as the union s president serving until 1939 Under his leadership the union s membership increased from 45 000 to 180 000 From 1928 to 1940 he was also a vice president of the AFL 1 2 He died in Tucson Arizona on December 21 1944 3 References edit a b c d The Samuel Gompers Papers University of Illinois Press 1986 ISBN 9780252033896 a b National Affairs TIME October 4 1937 Ex AFL Leader Dies in Tucson Arizona Daily Star December 22 1944 p 13 Retrieved May 10 2023 via Newspapers com Trade union officesPreceded byHenry B Perham President of the Railway Employes Department1915 1922 Succeeded byBert M JewellPreceded byWilliam Hugh Johnston President of the International Association of Machinists1926 1939 Succeeded byHarvey W BrownPreceded byJohn Coefield Sixth Vice President of the American Federation of Labor1931 1934 Succeeded byJoseph N WeberPreceded byJohn Coefield Fifth Vice President of the American Federation of Labor1934 1940 Succeeded byGustave M Bugniazet Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Arthur O Wharton amp oldid 1165775281, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
