[1] In 1880, the Chicago Trade and Labor Council was re-founded, following a recent split, and McLogan was appointed as its vice president.
The following year, McLogan and Ed Irwin founded the Progressive Age, a labor movement newspaper.
In its columns, McLogan argued for workers to co-ordinate their votes between the major party candidates, in order to show their strength.
[1] In 1882, he testified before the US Senate Committee on Education, advocating for an employers' liability act, and for the school leaving age to be raised to 18.
[2] In 1883, McLogan was elected as president of the Federation of Organized Trades and Labor Unions, serving a single term.