Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-09-02

were quick to perceive the evils the lack |
OF proper schooling was INJECTING upon the
working classes and determined that the
opportunity for a common school educa-
ton should be open to all. They also recog-
nized the public schools as the bulwark of
the republic. The following extracts are
taken from an appeal by the K. of L. to
Congress under date Of February "A, 1881:
There are more than 81 900 children OF
school age here. Only $1,000 are enrolied
in the public schools. Only 10000 actually
attend. More than 80 per cent of those who
enter drop out before the fifth grace Is
reached. before they ever see a grammar,
and when they can barely write their
course and reach the High School, and
among them are practically none OF Inc
children of mechanics and laborers. More
than one-half Of the colored children cease
about SO per cent of all who begin END Win
less than four years schooling.
The free textbook system will put 5,"o
more children in school; 1t Will enaoie men
to begin promptly when school opens II
will carry the children up into the mgher
grades; it will avoid the distinction between
rich and poor that goes with the present
system of lending books to self-proFeo
paupers; it will relieve a great number OF
poor families of a heavy annual CHARGE II
will effect great economy to the com
munity; 1t will make the schools reany
free; and 1t will place US In line with other
progressive cities in the matter OF eouca-
ton. .
1--WE present this appeal to you by the d.
rection of twenty-one labor organizatio1s,
embracing 600 members. They have long
agitated for the free textbook system mere,
for they find the greatest difficulty IN Sc,
curing an education for their children, ana
they profoundly realize that upon educauon
rest all their hopes for the Improvement OF
the condition Of the laboring masses
They had the pleasure of seeing their
efforts crowned with success by Congress
HInf0
establish the system of free text books IN
the first four grades of the schools. But
not content with this, they have kept up
the agitation until at present the system
has been extended to include all the grades
The delegate from District Assemly 20 TO
the General Assembly of knights of Labor
held at Toledo, Ohio. in October, 1881, hao
the honor, as we'll as the pleasure, OF nav
ing the demand for free text books In the
public schools made part of the platform
of that body. Thus the twelfth declara-
ton of the platform reads: The pronlpi-
ton by law Of the employment OF chiidfeh
under fifteen years; the compulsory at
tendance at school for at least ten months
in the year of all children between the
ages of seven and fifteen years, and the
furnishing at the expense OF the state Oh
free text books
SIums of Large Cities.
There has been for years more or less
agitation on the condition Of the slums of
chiefly from the organized industrial forces
the general public concluded the picture
was largely overdrawn. The members of
the representative body, District Assembly
&C. K of L., determined, If possible, TO
have an official investigation OF the sums
and instructed their delegate to the Cen
eral Assembly to have that BODY pass
resolution asking Congress to order an in
vestigation to that effect by the latl onai
department of labor The general body
passed the resolution unanimously ana
placed 1t in the hands of District Assembly
Gti to push the matter before Congress.
The legislative committee took hold with
their usual vim, and it was not long before
the pulpit of this and other cities was
preaching against the evils born OF Inc
Sums OF course, Congress ordered the
! Investigation, which was completed by The
department last fall. The good work thus
started has spread all over, and now we
have an investigation in progress by the
| legislature of New York. from which 1t Is
| hoped some good results will follow
Eight-HOur Law.
| After the eight-hour law Of 1868 was
| declared defective by the Supreme Court
| the local labor organizations applied them
! selves to remedy the defect. While the
| national labor bodies passed resolutions
| asking for an effective cight-honr law,
| they seemed 10th to incur the expense OF
/ having committee press the matter upon
| Congress. AS USUAL tue representative
bodies of the District of Columbia took the
! bill in charge. and after the labors OF
several years of agitation the earnest
| efforts Of their committees were crowned
| gust /, 1892, of the present effective eight
! hour law.
| Labor Day a Legal Holiday.
The agitation for Labor day was begun
| in New York in 1884. Although a bill to
| make Labor day legal holiday was first
presented in the New York legislature, yet
| to Oregon belongs the honor Of first en-
| acting it into law, February II. 1887, fol-
| lowed by New York May G. 1887, since
| which time about thirty states and the
United States have made Labor day a
| legal holiday. TIL agitation began IN the
| District of Columbia in 1887. and several
| bills were introduced in the succeeding
Congresses. but failed of passage. In 1881
| 1t was determined to renew the effort, and
| in December of that year bill was pre-
pared by the chairman of the Legislative
| committee of the District Federation OF
Labor, which was introduced In both
| houses of Congress simultaneously, and
| became law by approval of the President
| on June %, 1894. In the following Sep
TENDER the day was first celebrated in the
| District Of Columbia and the several states
| as national holiday.
| cost of iegfsia ton to the working people
| but that does not hold good in respect tc
! the District. Mr.. NJ. F. Hobbs, who has
| had the supervision of most of the above
| mentioned legislation, informs me as to the
following facts: The mechanics lien Law
cost the District Assembly about $50. The
! free text books cost the District Assembly
| SIS and the other representative labor body
the Federation of Labor. $40, making tbs
| total SIT. 1t Ia to be remembered that the
free text books were appropriated for In
| three different sessions of Congress. The
| investigation of slums cost the District
! Assembly s12. Tho making of Labor day
| a legal holiday cost the Federation of La
Dor s.. and this covers the full amount Of
| expenditures. All the funds went to print
ing memorials and postage, and. as is evil
! dent, unusual economy was displayed.
| MEMBER EXCELSIOR ASSEMBLY, 2G72
| CLEAR THE SLEEPING ROOM.
Keep 1t Free From Heavy Draperic.
| and Many Ornaments.
| From the Giobe-DemOcrat.