The Washington times., 1894-09-03
LABOR DAY.

The dawn this morning ushers in the first
day in which the government OF the United
States officially recognizes the existence Of
the workingmen OF the District Of Columbia.
The fourth day Of July was the last legal
holiday which the citizens Of the District eel
ebrated. The festivities Of that day were in
honor Of the signing Of the Declaration OF In
dependence. To-day we celebrate the men
who have labored Increasingly to give that
Independence the sure support Of indus
trial prosperity.
The parades which will to-day pass up and
down the streets Of the great cities Of this re-
public viii emphasize the existence Of the
great body Of organized labor-the bone and
sinew OF our national life. Il is in no AFRO
giant spirit that this display of labor is under
taken, but the spectacle is nevertheless
fraught with lessons OF mighty import to on
lockers.
The business man viii see passing in re-
view before him the workngmen on whose
labor he is so absolutely dependent. Kindly
feelings should fiji his heart as he watches
them. for they are willing to admit the neces-
sity Of the men who project and organize in
dustry, and who righttully earn the higher
wages that are reckoned in the form of
profits. In return, they only ask fair pay for
fair days work.
Then there is the capitalist. If he has ac-
cummulated his money by upright busi-
ness methods, by contributing some useful
invention for the comfort Of his fellow-man,
by long and hard study in some special line
cf industry. in fact, 10y any method except the
dishonest control Of the bounties OF nature
he need have nothing to fear from the organ
ization Of labor.
But the average American politician and
his clients, the officials of trusts, these
should get under cover or their feelings
viii be hurt. Nearly every soldier of toll
who marches to-day is possessed Of a free
ballot, and the whole army is rapidly learning
how to use the privilege The day viii come.
and viii come quickly, when the laboring
men Of America will find legislators who
will serve the desire of their constituents
rather than the money of the lobbyist. When
such men get into Congress, they will flnd a
way, and find it very suddenly, TO dispense
with the trusts that flourish under the laws
OF this country. A few years hence, for eI-
ample, the cup of coffee that the laboring
man puts to his lips on the morning Of Labor
Day will not be sweetened with sugar which
costs q cent more pound than it did the
week before, just because the corporation at
torneys in the Senate could not 80 back on
their clients.
Let the lawyer politician and the blood
sucking trusts look out for these men who
are marching up and down the streets Of the
country on Labor Day. These manual workers
have In their ranks men of an economic and
political intelligence quick TO detect labor
rights and siillful TO obtain justice. The dal
Is not far distant when the laboring man vii
bsstow political power on a very different
class Of men than are now high in the coun,
ellis Of the nation.
Aside from these considerations. there is
beautiful social side to the day. The trowel
the plane, the composing stick, and th'
various insignia of toll are laid aside and tht
worker is free to participate in the family ant
friendly enioyments for which he car
on other days spare so few hours. Ii
the heart Of every true American to-day
throbs continually the sentiment, ''God bles:
the American workingman."