The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1894-08-31

culties of 1877 the cause of the labor
unions received a considerable inn
petus. There was a demand for a
general gala occasion, and in the labor
assembly of New York the matter of
adopting special day for this purpose
was discussed. No particular result
was attained beside adopting the first
Monday in September as day for
workngmen's relaxation.
With the recurrence of the season the
idea spread, and labor unions of all
kinds came to select day in the first
week of September for their celebra-
tons of this kind, the custom spread
ing from the cities and manufacturing
towns to the country districts until it
was well nigh national in its extent
Up to 1890, however, no state observ-
ence of the day had taken plack. In
August of that year Gov. L. U. Hum
phrey, of Kansas, by request of the
Topeka trades assembly, issued proc
1amation setting aside the first day of
September for labor holiday and ask
ing the people of the commonwealth to
devote the occasion to the interest of
the toilers. The proclamation was an
innovation, and Gov. Humphrey was
criticized by many for his action.
Time, however, demonstrated his good
Judgment. for several other governors
speedily followed his example and
state legislatures took action on the
subject until, before congress had ma
tionalized the day, more than half the
states already had labor days of their
own.
The bill adopted June % was advo-
Gated by Congressman Cummings, who
Immediately after its passage by house
and senate took it himself to President
Cleveland and witnessed its signature.
The bill was long time on the cal
endar, but required only a short time
for reading or discussion, for it is ex-
ceedingly brief. 1t is as follows:
pc it enacted. etc, That the first Monday
in September il each year, being the day cele-
orated and known IS Lcbors holiday, is here
by made legal public holiday. to all intents
and purposes. in the same manner as Christ
mas. the LIST Gay OF January, the 22d day of
February, tho 3cth day of May and the 4th
day Of July are now made By law public holi-
days"
IL OAlS ASopSCb luC INV IL d curious
one, for it is unusual for congress to
1egislate on the subject of holidays ex-
cept for the District of Columbia.
There are exceptions, bat they are of
a special character. April 80. 1889, the
centennial anniversary of the Inaugural
ton of the first president was made a
national public holiday throughout
the United States by the act of March
2, 1882 The last congress also passed
JOINT resolution authorizing the pres
ident to recommend October l, 1892,
the four hundredth anniversary of the
discovery of America, as "ona to be
observed by the people by public dem
onstrations, and suitable exercises in
the schools and other places These
are the only national holidays pro-
vided for by congress outside of this
latest addition to the list. 1t is OBJ
jected by some that the putting of
the day ca the plane of the others
mentioned in the act is misleading
since none of them is 4 national holt
dav IN technical sense. They are
made holidays by state law or by ma
tional enactment limited in its appli-
caticn to the District Of Colninoia-
Even Thanksgiving day, though desig-