Background
James Mathew Lynch was born on January 11, 1867 at Manlius, New York, United States, the son of James and Sarah (Caulfield) Lynch.
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James Mathew Lynch
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Education
Lynch attended the Manlius public school until his seventeenth year, when he became a "printer's devil" in the office of the Syracuse Evening Herald.
Career
In 1887 Lynch joined the Syracuse Typographical Union, of which he soon afterward became secretary, later vice-president, and in 1889 he was elected to the presidency, an office in which he served for two terms. He also served for seven terms as president of the Syracuse Central Trades and Labor Assembly. In November 1898, on his election as first vice-president of the International Typographical Union, he moved to Indianapolis.
In 1900 he was elected to the presidency of the I. T. U. and was reelected for each of the six following biennial terms. His administration was marked by great energy and exceptional executive ability. In 1913 Lynch was appointed by Governor Sulzer commissioner of labor of New York, but the Senate rejected the nomination. A few months later he was reappointed, this time by Governor Glynn, and the nomination was confirmed. On January 8, 1914, he resigned the presidency of the I. T. U. He then returned to Syracuse, where he established his home, though his official duties for the next seven years kept him for the greater part of his time in Albany.
In 1915, when the Department of Labor was merged in the Industrial Commission, he was appointed by Governor Whitman one of the five members of the new body, and in 1919 he was reappointed by Governor Smith. In 1916 he was an unsuccessful candidate, on the Democratic ticket, for the place of delegate at large to the state constitutional convention. At the opening of Governor Miller's administration, in 1921, the commission was reorganized and he was legislated out of office. During this period he exerted himself actively in behalf of a rigorous enforcement of the labor laws and gave particular attention to the condition of women wage-earners and to the movements for health insurance and old-age pensions.
On leaving office he became president of the American Life Society, a mutual insurance company, but after a year's service became dissatisfied and resigned. In 1924 he was again elected president of the I. T. U. , but was defeated in 1926. In June 1929 he was appointed by Governor Roosevelt a member of the Old Age Security Commission, which drew up the old-age pension bill later enacted. He wrote as well many articles for the press, and during his last year edited a Syracuse labor paper, the Advocate. From some time in 1927 he had been ill, and in the fall of 1928 suffered an attack of heart disease. He continued at work, however, until toward the end of June 1930, when he was taken to St. Joseph's Hospital, in Syracuse, where three weeks later he died.
Achievements
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Lynch was recognized as one of the ablest of the labor executives and of the public officials intrusted with the care of the wage-earners' interests. Under his leadership the International Typographical Union won for its members the eight-hour day (1906 - 1908), established an old-age pension system, enlarged and improved the Union Printers' Home at Colorado Springs, provided for the better education of apprentices, virtually doubled its membership, and greatly strengthened its financial position.
Works
Politics
Lynch was active in forwarding social legislation, though he was not interested in general schemes of social reconstruction or in projects for independent political action.
Views
Lynch's social philosophy was that of a conservative trade-unionist.
Membership
Lynch was a member of many fraternities.
Personality
Lynch was a large man, and his bulky figure, with his round, bald head and jovial, bespectacled face, was a familiar sight at many labor and social-reform gatherings. He traveled extensively and was widely known. Though genial and expansive in manner, he had a good share of pugnacity and when defending a cause which he had at heart was a doughty antagonist. His services as a public speaker were eagerly sought, for though not an orator he talked with clearness and force and with a thorough understanding of his subject.
Connections
On June 28 1899 Lynch married Letitia C. McVey, of Syracuse. He had six sons, and three daughters.
