Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-09-03

The first celebration of Labor Day. as a
national holiday. comes In a year that has
been an eventful one in the Industrial
world II Is year that has taught many
lessons That the questions called indus
trial problems are receiving more earnest
attention than ever before Is evidenced by
the pages Of the magazines and reviews as
well as by the discussions In the press and
pulpit and other public forums. 1t Is fortu-
nate. perhaps. that this first celebration
comes at this time. for by attracting at
tention In a marked manner to labor ques-
tons. 1t increases the hope inspired by re-
cent events and discussions. that the day
Is rapidly approaching when labor troubles
will be adjusted by peaceful and quiet
means. when Justice will prevail in the re-
lations between employer and employed.
when the sore grievances still suffered by
the most helpless classes of labor in many
regions will have been remedied by the
force of humane and Christian sentiment
and when all reasonable ground for the das-
content that has in recent years had so
many manifestations will have disappeared.
1t may be too much to hope that all this
VIII be accomplished in the very near fu-
ture. but the signs of the times are promis-
Ing. Throughout the land today orators will
tritely tell listening throngs that the work
ingmen Of the country are its bone and
sinew and strength. There Is no doubt of
this. nor Of the fact that the prosperity of
the merchant. the manufacturer and even
OF the trust. which Is the most obnoxious
fo-m assumed by capital, depends upon the
prosperity and the thrift of the workingmen
as a class. Capital. taken as a whole. Is
interested in having the labor of the coun-
try enjoy good and constant wages, and
ftrr10 fnr
hand. labor. as a whole, is no less interested
In the prosperity of capital.
1t Is reasonable to hope that when the
fact that the general welfare of the whole
community Is involved in so-called indus
trial wars is clearly recognized. principles
will be established by common consent.
which will be enforced by public opinion,
despite the selfish interests of grasping in
cividual employers on the one hand, or
unreasonable claims of deluded working
men on the other. Many Of these matters
cannot be reached by legislation, but still
there Is q field for wise craftsmanship in
the solution Of pending problems. The
hour calls for men of broad views, With
the courage to lead and not to follow, their
constituencies. 1t is believed the report
to be made by the strike commission ap-
pointed by President Cleveland will have a
most important influence not only in shap-
ing legislation, but in the education of the
public as we'll Taken altogether, and leav-
Ing out of consideration as a mere tenn
porary matter the distress due to the finan-
cial depression, the Industrial outlook never
seemed brighter. The future holds out
much hope. The seemingly inexhaustible
resources Of this great land are such as to
make 1t before many years the worlds
greatest source of supply, both of natural
products and Of manufactured goods, and
1t is most inspiring thought that as the
ration advances to that place 1t will be-
come more and more worthy of the glorious
star-spangled banner borne in the labor
parade today. the flag that symbolizes as
no other flag In the world does. liberty and
equality.