Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-03
What Famous Labor Leaders Say Of
the Holiday.
SUGGESTIONS FROM P0VDERLY
President Gompers Makes a Re-
view of the Year.
THE INDUSTRIAL SITUATION

MI. M1liard +. Hobbs, chairman OF the
legislative committee Of the District FEEDER
alton Of Labor and d. A. 90, X. Of L., and
who was made marshal Of today's parade
as recognition OF the fact that to his eff
forts Is largely due the enactment Of the
law making this day a holiday, has receiy-
ed letter from Mr.. Powderiy. dated at
Scranton. Pa, August 80. 1894. as follows:
Dear Sir and BrotherI wish to con-
graduate you. and through you the bodies
you 50 ably represent. upon the valuable
services which you have rendered the cause
Of labor in your efforts to secure the pas
sage Of the national Labor day law.
1t Is not necessary that further argument
should be made as to the needs for such
legal recognition Of the claims of labor to
a breathing spell. and to one who has SO
assiduously struggled for the enactment of
the measure as yourself nothing further
need be said. 1t now rests with the labor
Ing people OF the nation to make this day of
great Importance and benefit by the discus
sion Of such measures as will rebound to
the good Of humanity. When each recur-
ring anniversary of the day shall roll
around. 1t Is to be hoped that all great
questions of social and moral reform will
be presented to the thoughtful consideration
OF thu masses by those who will speak from
public platforms. The rights Of labor are
many. the claims of labor are deserving Of
consideration. but above all other things,
the rights Of man should be considered
hrst, last and all the time. Machinery at
once destroyer and a builder, Is destroying
the old methods of hand labor and building
up a community of interests between men.
There are those who see in machinery some
thing to dread, but 1t need not be feared,
and a people intelligent enough to demand
recognition which will give one day In the
year. free from consideration Of all other
subjects, to a discussion OF the labor ques-
ton can be depended upon to eventually
control machinery so that through its man
agement the greatest good will be conferred
upon the greatest number, instead OF con-
ferring profits upon the few, as at present.
The most powerful machines in use at
the present time are the locomotive and the
electric motor. These agencies unite in
transporting the product of toll from the
ton; they are essential to the life Of this
nation, as the arteries are to human ex-
istence. II labor Is wise she will discuss
the complete and absolute ownership Of
portation on every national Labor day, I'M
til the people are educated to know that
these powerful factors In latter day civiliza-
ton are Of right the property Of all the peo-
II the national Labor day Is utilized the
question of this nation will be
discussed during its hours, until we viii
learn the lesson that a peoples currency,
private interests, Is absolutely necessary as
q medium OF exchange between those who
produce and consume what our avenues Of
carry from point to point.
Side by side with these two great questions
Of currency and transportation should go
that of taxation of land to its full value for
uFe, and the abolition of monopoly in the
earth. that a wise Creator intended should
men.
These great questions should receive our
on Labor day to the exclu-
sion Of everything else until such time as
they are established facts. for with the in
auguration of these three great reforms will
fall every vestige Of power that a few men
can exert to the detriment Of the many.
I extend to you my hearty congratulation
for your noble service In bringing about
such opportunity for practical education on
practical lines, and expressing the hope
that you may live long to witness the great
good which will follow your work, I re-
main,
Sincerely and fraternally yours,
(Signed) T. v. POWDERLY.
GOmpers ON Labor Day.
Samuel Gompers, the president Of the Fed
Grafton Of Labor. says in THE Federation
ist:''
In the cycle Of time we are again on the
dawn Of our most important national holi-
day-Labor day. Most important, since 1t
for the first time In the history Of the
world devotes a day to the recognition Of
the fact that the wage earners must here
after be regarded as the important factor
in the economy Of life In this day, when
50 many look upon the dark side Of the
progress Of the labor movement and pre-
dict worse things In store for the laborer, 1t
Is not amiss to call attention to the fact
that the life Of the human family Is one
vast struggle, and that though the progress
Is not as swift as we, as well as our impa-
tient brothers and sisters Of labor. would
like 1t to be, yet the fact Is that In our de-
cade we can see the rights of labor moro
clearly defined. the vantage ground OBJ
existing wrongs, the more intelligent per-
ception and determination to achieve labor's
rights.
The past year has witnessed several con-
tests, some Of them defeats, but though de-