The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-08-17

iegalizing the holiday. Such bill wa
first introduced, however. In the legis
lature of New York state.
In several other states legislation has
been set ON foot for the establishment OF
Labor day, but has failed so far Of no.
complishment for one reason and an
other Whether it will now be thought
necessary to secure such legislation in
the remaining states is not decided. 50
far as the writer's knowledge goes
- s-pt 9, 1898. Hon. Amos J. Cum
mings introduced bill in the house Of
representatives at Washington making
the day national holiday. This bill
was identical in wording with one in
troduced on Aug. 2S, 1898, by the Hon.
Mr.. Kyle Of South Dakota in the senate.
The bill was finally passed by congress
June 26, 1894. and two days later re-
ceived the presidents signature and be-
carns law. The pen with which Mr..
Clevelarl affixed his signature was sent
to Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation, and is carefully
preserved by him. This bill reads as
follows:
"A bill making Labor day legal
holiday:
BE il enacted by the senate and
house of representatives of the United
States Of America, in congress assem-
bled, That the first Monday Of Septem-
ber in esch year, being the day cele-
brated and known as labor's holiday,
is hereby made legal holiday, TO all in.
tents and purposes in the same manner
as Christmas, the lst day of January,
the 22d day Of February, the 30th day Of
May and the 4th day of July are now by
law made public holidays"
The Significance OF the Day.
The American Labor day has no ex-
act counterpart In Europe. There. it is
true, demonstrations Of workingmen ar,
often made on May /, the object being.
OF course, to produce an impression OF
strength in numbers and directness oi
purpose, and so make it easier to win
proposed demands as to wages, hours,
etc. The leay day demonstration is moi
altogether unknown on this side tn,
ocean, but in many essentials il differ,
from Labor day. The real distinction OF
the American holiday lies In the fact
that on that day no legal question O,
contention or dispute is supposed to be
intended or allowed to interfere with
the days observance. The workers foi
one day lay aside their implements OF
toil and meet to parade and to listen te
addresses made by thinkers who have
long pondered the labor problem, by all
odds the most important one of this day
and generation. This was what its
founders had in mind at the beginning.
and this idea has been pretty generally
maintained Games and other festiy.
ities are permissible, of course, and
have, in fact, in some localities become
important features, but the discussion
OF the great question that interests those
who Observe most the day remains and
should remain the chief feature.
The assemblies of workingmen on
Labor day have been lilSened to "open
before which all sides talk up-
on the problem Of production. This char.
acserization of the day has been truer of
late years than in the past. particularly
In some localities, where not only think
era from the ranks Of organized labor,
but employers as well, have been inyit.
ed to address the assembled multitudes.
The educational value of the day cannot,
therefore. be overestimated, and one
near whose heart the day has been ever
since its first celebration in 1882 has
spoken or 1t as "a day Of education, rost |
md recreation.
beginnings of the Labor Movement.
Labor day is of course child OF the
abor organizations of America The
irst society formed for mutual benefit
~ workingmen In this country was or
yanized by the tailors in 1903. Prior to
hat time tailors coming to America re- i
aimed membership in the journeynian
ailors' unions of the old country. The
latters OF America organised in 1919.
he Columbia Charitable Association of
and Callsers was formed
ONE time between 1925 and 1880 Tho
rinters' first organization, so far as
uthentic records show. was In 1881.
he true formative period Of Americas
abor organizations extends over the 26
ears from 1926 TO 1851. The chief
novement was for higher wages and
horter hours OF work, and there were
lso many experiments in cooperation.
lew Harmony. Ind. was the scene OF
ne first experiment of this sort 1t was
acked by Mr. Owen with $1,000, 900
AfNn /