davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The evening times., 1895-09-02
GINEsIs. OF LABOR DlT
Matthew Mcclure, Of New Ylrl,
First Suggested Il.
HIS IDEA FOUND FAVOR
Robert Price, of Maryland, Gave 1t
Its Distinctive Nnme-Empire State
the First to Make 1t a Legal HOli-
day-COngress Fell Into Line Last
Year and Made 1t National.

'This is Labor Day il earnest, Uncle
Dick" was the exultant remark made by
Robert Price, of Homecoming, Nd, to Richard
Griffiths, general worthy foreman of the
knights of Labor, on the occasion of the
great parade of workingmen in New York
city September .. 1852.
The two men We're at the time, with nu-
merous others, occupying the grand stand
In Union Square and the long column of
workingmen was filing past. Whether
this was the first use made of the term is
not known. but the event was afterwards
referred 10 as the Labor Day" parade,
and without the claim can be successfully
controverted ii may be safely said that
Robert Price, in the contentious utter
ance quoted, hit upon designation that
Will live in ages TO come as the name by
which the now latest in the list of national
holidays will BE- known.
FIRST MONDAY IN SEPTEMBER.
In the year following the occasion when
the day was christened the labor organ
Kations of New York had a parade and
general demonstration on the first Monday
i'll September, and when, in 1884, the
Central Labor Union OF New York had the
question of further parade up for dis
sussion George X. Lloyd, Knight of Labor,
The evening times., 1895-09-02

classes on that day should be educators-
teachers of the gospel of humanity and its
needs mot otmammon and its greeds,a s,andshould
advocate the doctrine Of Independence
OF thought and action.
Labor Day is designed AMI should be
appreciated as a day of rest and recreation
in the true sense. It is TO be celebrated
not i'm honor OF any one man, living or dead.
but for the living masses. That which will
best serve the living man and woman of
to-day and the future should receive the
careful consideration of all who take part
in the observances.
Labor Day is as yet but an experiment.
The first celebration OF the occasion as a
national event occurred las year, and the
The evening times., 1895-09-02

K. OF L.: to the Endorsement of the Fedora
tfon OF Labor; to the management of NIL
ford F. Hobbs, chairman Of the legislative
committee of the Federation OF Labor,
and the assistance Of Hon. James II.
Kyle. senator from South Dakota"
IN OTHER STATES
Besides the States named as having
taken favorable action upon the propo-
sition for the creation of working
mans holiday, laws have been adopted
in the others here listed, all being in
advance of the adoption by Congress OF
the bill for national recognition of the
day:
In Connecticut the bill to make Labor
Day a legal holiday in The State was intro
duced In the House OF Representatives by
A. L. Hanie, January 22, 1889. II was
adopted before the close OF the session
The evening times., 1895-09-02
DOMINICK A. WALSH,
Marshal First Division

cradle legislation was secured there in ad-
rance of the action in the Empire State.
Colorado passed the law, introduced in the
legislature by Joseph F. HOVER, of Lead
rille, early in the year 1887, and 1t was
approved by Gov. Aben Adams un the 10th
lay of March.
In New Jersey the bill passed both houses
Of the legislature in MarcA, 1889. 1t was
introduced in January by william Harri-
gan, of Newark, and received tie governors
signature April g. Oregon adopted the
measure in 1887. 1t was introduced Janu-
ary II by j. j. Daley and February 1t re-
ceiyed the sanction of the governor. Mas
sachuFetts followed fast upon the heels Of
New York, and five days after the law be-
came operative in the latter State SIM
liar bill Introduced by Senator Alger was
approved by the Bay State governor.
About two-thirds of the States Of the
Union have adopted Labor Day legisla-
ton and in various other States there is
unmistakable evidence of the growth OF
favorable sentiment. The measure has been
The evening times., 1895-09-02

tember to the list OF legal holidays in 1893.
The bill for the purpose Eass introduced
by Senator Miles Crowley aid was ap-
proved by the governor February 10 OF
that year after Its adoption by ppth branches
OF the legislature.
Washington State has labor Day law,
passed by the legislature OF 1891. 1t was
framed and presented bysssnator john
The evening times., 1895-09-02

Mr.. Wells was born in the city Of London.
Eng, and is sixty years old: came to this
country at an early age, learned the arts
and mysteries of copper-plate printing, and
the Ma iority of that time being employed
in the Bureau of Eugraving and Printing.
He is member of the Plate Printers
Assembly, H OF L. He has represented
that assembly in the District Assembly and
Federation of Labor for u number of years.
Is n member OF the District executive COM
mittee and of the Federation legislative
conlittee He is also the chairman of the
Labor Day conference committee. Mr..
Wells, previous to his appointment in the
Bureau of Engraving and Printing, repre-
The evening times., 1895-09-02

a
Financial Seoretary-Treasurer Federation
of Labor.
I'm that body in 1891 which passed both
houses and received the governors sigma
ture before the close Of the session.
Ohio put herself on record in 1890 John
P. Green, a member of the State House of
Representatives., was sponsor for the BILL
which passed both branches OF the legisla-
ture, and was signed by the Speaker of the
House and the resident of the Senate April
20, of the year named
Gov. Beaver. Of Pennsylvania, approved
an act for the establishment of Labor Day
in the Keystone State on the 25th day OF
April, 1889. The bill was presented by
Senator Lines January IT, preceding, and
it was adopted by both branches OF the Iegis-
lature with but little opposition.
IN THE SOUTH.
The Tennessee legislature passed a bill
introduced In the House Of Representatives
by Mr. Altman, and It went to Gov Buci-
anan, and was signed by him March IL,
1891. The measure provided that Labor
Day should be made legal holiday.
Texas added the first Monday in Sep
The evening times., 1895-09-02

JAMES F. McHUGH,
Thief Marshal OF the Labor Day Parade.
offered resolution declaring the first
Monday in September to be Labor Day.
The resolution W as adopted and steps were
at once taken for petitinning the Legislature
to enact law making that day legal
holiday, to BE- known as Labor Day. Other
days were specifically designated, as I'm
dependence Day, and decoration Da Y, ''and
the advocates of the measure, inspired by
thehappy thought enunciated by the Lonacon-
Ing Knight, adopted his nomenclature, and
sought co nave ii perpetuated. They could
think of no better term, and it is doubt
full if a better could be chosen.
The agitation thus begun was ma intained
n New York without interruption, until, I'm
The evening times., 1895-09-02
A. HARGREAVE.

A. HARGREAVE,
President Amaigamated Society OF Car
penters.
K. kinnear. passed the senate January %,
the house February 8, and was approved
by the governor. February "a
Wisconsin's Labor Day enactment dates
from its official publicat on, as required
by law. May 2, 1s93. The measure was
in,roduccdby yAssernblyman A Harmon passtd
the legislature April II, and was signed
by Gov. Peck two days later.
The real significance of Labor Day, from
labor standpoint. lies In the fact that on
that day no question of local Importance,
no strike, no controversy or dispute shall
The evening times., 1895-09-02

MATTHEW ]. FOLEY
President Horscshoers' Union M. II.
day OF March Of that year. In The pre-,
cedlns year, however, the first Monday
in September was recognized as Labor
Day, the governor having made it legal
by proclamation.
Gov. NJ. ]. Foster, of Louisiana. ap-
proved Till legalizng November 20 as
Labor Day holiday, the act having been
approved in 1892 and signed July of
that year.
MAINE IN LINE.
The bill making the first Monday in
September a legal holiday in Maine and
designating it as Labor Day, the same
as Thanksgiving Day, Decoration Day.
Christmas Day and the Fourth of July,
was introduced by Edward J. Irvine,
The evening times., 1895-09-02

j. B. FENTON
President Theatrical Alliance of Stage
Employees.
and was sighed by the governor March
20, 1889.
Illinois passed similar measure, in
troduccd in the Senate by Albert W Walls
in 1891, and ii was signed by Gov. Fifer
June II, 1891.
On February 20, 1890, W. W. Dodge in
troduced In the Iowa Senate bill 20 make
the day legal holiday in that State 1t
was amended and adopted, and received
the signature OF Gov. Boies April 8, fol
lowing its Introduction.
Kansas adopted the bill in 1891 The
measure was proposed by Senator ElIiston.
and the governor approved it on the fourth
The evening times., 1895-09-02

Achylka, in Siberia, has remarkable
temperance society. Its members meet in
church on the first day of September and
swear before the altar that they will
drink no wine or liquor from tomorrow
morning." They then 60 nut and drink
hard all day till no man or woman is left
sober. For the rest of the year they are
total abstainers.
The evening times., 1895-09-02

CHARLES J. WELLS,
Marshal of Fifth Division and Chairman Of
Labor Day Conference.
began In the States was taken up by the
labor bodies OF the District. Repeated
efforts were made to induce Congress to
pass a bill lin the interest of the movement, land
the first Monday in September was named,
in each hill introduced, as the Labor Day.
MADE A NATIONAL HOLIDAY.
The efforts were finally successful, and
the first Monday in September, 1894,
received its baptism OF patriotic fire
as national holiday. The bill, as adopted,
by Congress, was prepared by the legisla-
tive committee Of the Federation of La bOr
OF the Dis strict. and was indorsed by Dis
trict Assembly &c, of the Knights of Labor.
Not single change was made IN the bill
The evening times., 1895-09-02

j c. WILSON.
Master Workman Carpenters Assembly
No 1T4s. K. of L.
from the time it LETT the Federation, Con-
gress enacting it and the President signing
it just as it was framed. 1t was presented
in both Houses Of Congress simultaneously,
in the Sena tie by Mr.. Kyle, and in the House
by Mr.. Amos Cummings. 1t was referred
to the Labor Committee in each House,
and by constantly keeping it in view, the
District Committees succeeded in securing
its adoption.
In order that a correct record might be
Kept of the event, the Federation of Labor
ordered, by resolution, that credit for
the success of the bill be given to the legis
lative committee of that body. To this
the Dis trict Assembly OF the Knights of
Labor added resolution to the effect that
"for the sake of historical accuracy, it
The evening times., 1895-09-02
WILLIAM II. WILDER,
G. W. BROWN,
President Bar hers Assembly.

1890, which position he still holds. He
has represented the Brickiayers' Union as u
delegate in the national convention, held
in Indianapolis in 1892, and Omaha in
1894. At the Omaha convention he was
elected vice president o { the National Brick
layers and Stone Masons' Unions of Amer
lea Upon retiring from that office last
January, the convention in session al New
Orleans presented him with handsome
gold badge.
The evening times., 1895-09-02

originating in the house of representatives.
1t received the Governors approval Feb
ruary 10, 1895.
Montana adopted law creating the
holiday and designating the first Monday
in September as Labor Day, during the
session of 1S9O-91. 1t was introduced
by L. d. Mats, member of the senate.
Nebraska fell into line in 1889. Sena-
tor Frank Ransom introduced the bill
January 8 of that year, and 1t passed
the senate by uuanimous vote on the
18th of the month. Subsequently the
house adopted the measure, and it be-
came a law upon the Governor adding
his signature.
Andrew Killoren, a member of the New
Hampshire legislature, introduced a bill
The evening times., 1895-09-02

J. j. BREEN,
Master Workman, Engineers Assembly.
labor to take part in the demonstrations
and address the meetings from their stand
point, or upon any other subject that may
be preferred by the speaker.
SPIRIT OF THE DAY.
Properly uDderstood, Labor Day is a day
on which all that is ambitious, noble, lofty
patriotic and grand in the nature OF the
workingnan should be appealed to. Those
who discuss issues before the industrial
The evening times., 1895-09-02
MATTHEW INQUIRIES IDEA.

There are many ella ina nts, !" said writer
upon the subject, ''for the honor OF having
first conceived the idea of having holiday
for laboring men separate and distinct
from other holidays. CaDdor compels me to
place the credit where 1t properly belongs.
In 1882, Matthew Mcguire, secretary nd
The evening times., 1895-09-02

sented the constituency of the Third Assem-
bly, district of Rensselaer, county, N T..
In the New York legislature: also served
as police Justice for three successive terms
of three years each.
The evening times., 1895-09-02

r. X. RHODES,
President OF Carpenters Council
be permitted to interfere with the proper
observance. The workers meet together
and either parade or hold festivities of an
other character, at which time speakers
address the assembled muititudes
FEATURES OF THE DAY.
1t was the intention of thuse who intro
duced the first Labor Day resolution at the
general assembly of the h OF L. order, heId in
New York, TO make the day distinct from
The evening times., 1895-09-02

W. H. G. SIMMONS,
Master Workman District Assembly No.
&C. K. of L.
1887, a bill that W introduced in the State
senate by Edward F. Reilly, passed both
houses of the leg islature and was signed by
GOV. Hill on the 9Th day of May OF that
Tear.
THE IDEA SPREAD.
But the idea was cat ching, a nd soon it was
being advanced and argued for in other
States, where it had previously had no ad.
vocates. Begun in New York, as stated, its
strength developed so rapidly in some Of
the neghboring CONFERENCE.-The, that fav-
The evening times., 1895-09-02
tion, a position that he was not even q
candidate for.

Mr. Walsh Is a stone ca rver by trade and
has been connected with the Stonecutters'
Union for over ten years. He filled the
The evening times., 1895-09-02
SKETCHES OF MARSHALs.

Divisions To-day.
Chief Marshal McHugh was born in La
Crosse, Wis, and is thirty-nine years OF
age He is, as is well-known, a stone
cutter by trade, and is the general secretary
of the Stonecutters' National Union, hav-
ing been elected to that position fer five
The evening times., 1895-09-02

introduced in the law-making bodies. but
resulted in nothing more positive than
agitation.
The evening times., 1895-09-02

A. B. MANUEL,
President of Carpenters Union, No. !.
other holidays in the nature fits observance.
While amusemcnts were among the per-
missible features of the programme, the
principal order of exercises was tn con-
sist oflectures and discourses, and the theme
was to be solely of topics relating to the
The evening times., 1895-09-02

one term as delegate, he was elected to
the highest position in the gift of the
Federation, that of president Having
and to the satisfaction of all. he was, at
the expiration of the term, unanimously
reelected for another term, which he now
The evening times., 1895-09-02

THOMAS ]. LAWRENCE,
President Protective Street Railway Union
welfare of the industrial masses Every
question and economic Importance should
bediscussed. Theidea was thatthegrounds
on which the eindustrialmasses smayassemble
ON Labor Day should resemble an ''open
court" in which all phases of thought
should have equal privilege ofexpressiun.
During the past few years a new feature
has been added, by inviting employers of
The evening times., 1895-09-02

observance OF its first anniversary is at
hand. Whether it shall continae as
day on which the duties OF citizenship shall
he taught. the needs OF living. humanity dis
cussed and the duties we owe to the millions
who will come upon the stage of actionlater,
to make OF mar the couDtry's prosperity
observed, remains to he seen.
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1895-11-20

land, appraised by our most competent
valuer as worth 1926, 900, against sufficient
capital for its cultivation as winter
garden and tobacco for summer crop,
but so far without takers, tho very
experienced Cuban tobacco grower pro-
nounces the soil the best quality for the
purpose.
don't mean to tell you that there is
no capital in Tampa, the contrary is
plainly shown by immense number of
large cigar factories, But that useful
person, capital, is timid and turns up
his nose at country property. One
would think that the cigar manufact-
urers would be eager to help in the pro
duction of tobacco leaf, but no, they
all profess to use only clear Cuban to-
bacco and some of them have been fore
handed enough to lay in large supplies.
But when the Cuban supply fails this
town may have cause to regretits neglect
of interest in the field and some day in
the near future expect to hear in the
markets Of the country and the world,
the call for our cigar tobacco that we
used to hear (and shall again) for our Or
anges. f. j. LAPENOTIERE.
Tampa, Fla.
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1895-11-20
Florida For Young Men.
Tampa, Fla.

Florida's greatest need Is settlers.
The kind Of settlers most needed are
young men and women with limited
means, but with plenty of industry and
muscle.
The great West was reclaimed by
young men whose capital was their
willing hands, stout hearts and habits of
industry. 1t was frequently said of
them that they were the restless and
dissatisfied members of their respective
families. 1t is rule, everywhere that
the slower and more conservative boys
and girls are prone to settle within sight
of the smoke of the old homestead; the
moreenterprising ones get away. They
are not contented with the slow pace of
the communities where their fathers and
mothers were pioneers, and of which it
may be said they are finished, so far as
development is concerned. These rest
less spirits are seeking new worlds to
conquer, new fields where their spirit of
enterprise can find more attractive ma
terial to work upon, than the developed
farming regions and finished towns of
their early homes. They must carve
out their own destinies, make their own
fortunes, and they feel a consciousness
of their power within them to surpass
the achievements of their fathers and
win bigger fortune.
Until recently the West has offered
the most inviting fields for these wide
awake spirits. Diversified agriculture
and unnumbered possibilities in the way
of business enterprises to be evolved
from the brain of restless man, and the
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1895-11-20
Some New Figs.

The fruit second in importance after
Oriental plums, to the fruit growers Of
the Gulf States, is the fig. My expe-
rience with them is somewhat limited,
as it has only been recently that the
best foreign varieties of figs could be
obtained. Credit is due to Prof. @. III.
Shinn, inspector of the Agricultural
Station of California, for importing and
testing many varieties. Ihave obtained
eleven varieties, the hardest and best
out of sixty varieties tested and known
in California as the Farrer collection in
Tulose county, the finest collection in
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1895-11-20
81 per Annum, in advance

their "vim, vinegar and vitriol," with
7estinies to carve out for themselves,
and fortunes to make, it would not be a
year until we would begin to forge
ahead. With the incentive of such an
example, the native citizens would jump
into the race. The average Florida
"cracker" has no notion of getting left.
Put him on his mettie and he Is pretty
apt to lead the procession. He develops
speed and staying qualities that no one
ever before suspected him of.
/ Enterprise, like Incidence, is conta-
gious. We need new BLOOD, young blood
and the best blood of the states, infused
into the industrial veins of our Florida
to wake us up.
The writer is an old man who has
spent his best years in the West. He
knows the capabilities and the attrac-
tions of that region Fifteen years.
residence in this State has enabled him
to gain much knowledge of the posi-
bilities and capabilities of Florida. 1t
| is better field for young men of limited
means than the West ever was. The
conditions are different but young peo-
pie readily adapt themselves to condi-
tions. 1t IS more difficult for old people
to do this.
This is the more pleasant country to
live in, the easier to make money in.
The same activity and industry essential
to gaming livelihood there will secure
competence here, as elsewhere, intelli-
gent labor is the royal road to wealth.
I the boys and girls Of the North could
only know the exact situation here, we
would soon have ten thousand of them
among us and if pious they would re-
vently thank God for having directed
their footsteps in such pleasant places.
The social conditions which prevail
here are not greatly different from those
in existence in the West. Labor is
counted as honorable, and industry and
close application to the work in hand is
held in high esteem. True merit need
not seek recognition-it commands it;
industry is esteemed above idleness;
hundred avenues are open to young reo-
pie. Let them come!-Florida Home,
arm and Field.
The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1895-11-20
DeLand, Fla, Wednesday, November 20, 1895.
resources of the country offered strong

resources of the country offered strong
inducements.
The conditions of the South prior to,
and few years succeeding the war, did
not invite them; they must work with
their hands. In the South the working
man as rule, was black; there was
little love for, and no affinity with the
black man In their natures The fact
that they must do manual labor would,
as they will knew, be bar to 80 ial life
among the white people. N matter
how refined or we'll educated, their
slender purses would not permit them
to disport in the social swim and they
had too much spirit and were too indie
pendent to be willing to take second
place. In the West were hundreds and
thousands who were situated like them
selves. There were the opportunities
for business and there the soil conditions
were lust forming. 1t was possible to
ride to the top of the wave in business
and social life.
To these people Florida was the most
remote part of the country. 1t was
known to be not manufacturing or
mining State. Until recently 1t was
supposed to hold in reserve no mining
or manufacturing possibilities; the i'm
preston had gone abroad and gained a
firm foothold, that 1t was section of
swamps, reptiles and malaria. 1t was
not an agricultural region as agriculture
was understood in the North. The early
settlers were few; they knew the pro-
ductive possibilities of the land; their
wants were easily supplied, they labored
moderately and yet supplied themselves
plentifullv with life's requlrem ents.
There were no busy manufactures or
mills to stimulate them. Later on set
tiers from other States began to arrive,
the resources and climate of Florida
were becoming known to the world.
Fruit-growing became popular and
probable, and 1t drew new comers; but
the new corners are not the young and
pushing men who flocked to the West,
taking their energies with them. Our
new settlers are white-headed. They
have already spent their best energies;
they come here to take life easy or to
prolong an already waning life. They
are wise in council but deficient in ac-
tion. Florida welcomes them as ivalu-
able citizens; but to develop her re-
sources, she wants such men as they
were thirty years ago. The men who
own most of the Florida homes to-day,
who fill the railroad trains, who throng
the steam boats and hotels, are on the
home run; ninteen out of twenty have
turned fifty-the twentieth man is an
invalid.
If we could turn FIVE thousand of such
tireless and indomitable young men as
those who reclaimed the new portions of
the West, into Orange county, with