Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1892-09-08
Kansas labor Dav.

Last Monday was Labor Day. and
was observed IN the large cities by
monster parades. The following from
the Atchison Champion may prove
interesting in this connection:
sThe law declaring the first Mon
day IN September legal holiday is
an adoption of the act creating Mem
orial Day and is very brief, as fol-
lows:
SECTION 1. That the first Monday
of September of each year shall be
known as Labor Day and the same is
hereby declared to be a legal holiday.
SEC. 2. This act shall take effect
and be IN force from and after its
publication IN the statute book.
Approved March 4, 1891.
The bill was prepared by the leg
islative committee of the Federation
of Labor and was introduced in the
upper house of the Kansas General
assembly by Senator Henry Elliston.
In accordance with the desire of the
Legislative committee It was referred
by Lieutenant Governor Felt, the
presiding officer, to the committee on
manufacturers and industrial pur-
suits-a committee consisting of Sen
ators Carroll, Osborne, Gillette, Mar
tin and Kirkpatrick. The bill was
promptly reported with a favorable
recommendation, passed both houses,
and was approved by Governor
Humphrey.
1T Is not quite true that Labor
Day had its beginning in Pennsyl-
vania. 1t comes from the mellow
sunset of the west. It was first OBJ
served in 1880, and labor journals on
the Pacific coast first urged that
there should be one day designated
for recreation. The idea gradually
spread to the east, and, for some time
September 1 and September Is were
set aside for the occasion, some cele-
brating one and others the other day
1T was originally intended to de-
vote the day to pleasure. But with il
came broader and grander view
Christmas is a season of song and
praise and it is welcomed by the
Christian nations of the earth with
infinite gladness. It is the Chris
tian's day On the fourth of July we
celebrate the anniversary of Ameri
can independence. 1t is the patriots
day. The 30th of May is devoted Il
the commemoration of those who sac
rifced their lives for their country
A season was selected when the wood!
are garland with flowers and tn,
banks of the streams are fringed witt
blossoms. It is a beautiful custom
and may be designated as the sol
diers' day. The first Monday in Sep
TENDER is observed as Labor Day. 1
is true on that day the laborer rest
from his toll, but he rests that he ma,
contemplate the blessings. necessItie
and rights of labor and educate him
self; and the fact that this day ha
been set apart in Kansas for his pleas
ure and benefit is proof of anothe
: fact that the workman does receiv
some of the increment that come
: through the application of his ski
- and strength to the raw material
q provided by the Creator and owne
: by the EN- ployer. In Kansas an
many of the other states he has b
: holiday.
In this connection another fat
may be stated that the acts of Kansi
during the past few years show til
Il tendency of the times is to prote
IS the interest of labor by all practici
is BILE laws. During Governor Martin
r administration something was dor
E in the way of arbitration, the labt
bureau established and other reform
s instituted. Since the several progre
r. sive measures have been adopte
n notably the eight hour law, the la
in relation to miners screens and Il
act protecting trade marks and label
In effecting this legislation, as stranl
as it may seem to many, the reco
70 shows that no citizens of the commo
of wealth were more energetic and ell
quent than the lawyers who we
. members of the legislature.
W Labor demonstrations convey a Il
III son and an example. They clothe ]
Dor with the dignity and respect
.lr to which 1t is justly entitled
ne A WORKMAN.