Max Morris was born in Mobile, Alabama on June 9, 1866, and moved to Breckenridge, Colorado in 1880.

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.

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.