In 1878, he was elected as the union's first president, working on a part-time basis.
[1] Kell was also interested in politics, seeing himself as part of the Radical tradition in the Liberal Party.
[1][2][3] By the late 1880s, Kell was unhappy with the rise of socialism in the union.
He gave a speech early in 1890, denouncing militancy among its members.
Later in the year, the union refused to increase his salary, so he resigned and began running a business.