Evening star., 1898-09-01
The ORIGIN OF LABOR DAY
List of the States Which Have Le-
gaIized It
TIL Z LOCAL PROG r A M

lures never heretofore presented on such
occasions.
1t is Il matter of history that Labor day
originated with the Central Labor Union of
New York city. 1t was in 1882, the year Of
the formation of that body, that P. ]. Nc
CURE, now secretary of the National Broth
erhood of Carpenters and Joiners and first
vice president of the American Federation
or Labor, then member of the New York
central body. suggested that one day In the
year be designated as Labor day." and
that 1t should be observed as a general hol-
iday by the wage workers of that city.
1t was also proposed that the various or
ganizations allied with the Central Labor
Union should parade and thus publicly
show their strength and numbers. 1T was
further proposed that at the conclusion of
the parade the members of the organiza-
tions participating, with their families and
friends. should repair to some suitable
grove and hold a festival or picnic.
During the consideration of these PROPOSE
lions 1t was maintained that Labor day
should be observed the one holiday in
the year in ho1or of American genius and
industry. Other holidays, commemorative
CT important religious, civil and martial
events, We're generally observed, but none
representative of the great Industrial forces
or the country. The first Monday in Sep
tembeT OF every year was suggested as the
proper time for such holiday, coming at
time between the Fourth of July and
Thanksgiving day.
Suggestion Accepted.
The suggestion was favorably considered
and accepted by the organizations interest
ed, and committees were appointed to ar
range for the observance of the day which
is now recognized throughout the country
as labors national holiday. Thus the first
Labor day parade and festival were had
by the Central Labor Union of New York
on September 3. 1882.
The parade was an imposing affair, and
the day was permanently placed in the
calendar as holiday, which is now OBJ
served throughout the United States Two
years after the parade of the New York
unions the observance of the day by the
organized labor of the country was in
dorsed by the fourth annual convention of
the Federation of Organized Trades and
Labor Unions of the United States and
Canada, now known the American Fed
GRAFTON of Labor, which was held at Chi
cago, October Z, 1854 by the adoption of a
resolution that the first Monday in Sep
tember of each year be set apart as a
laborers national holiday, and that we
recommend its observance by all wage
workers, irrespective of sex, calling or
AT the General Assembly of the Knights
of Labor, held in the following year, a sim
liar resolution was adopted After this the
observance Of the day became so general
that city councils and state legislatures
made 1t legal holiday.
LeSaIized by States.
Since January, 1887 at different periods
the following states have legalized Labor
day: Alabama, December II, 1882; Cali
fornia. March %, 1898; Colorado, March Is,
1887; Connecticut, March 90 1899; Della
ware, February IA, 1898; Florida, April %,
1893; Georgia, October 16. 1891; Illinois, |
June II, 1891; Indiana. March O. 1891; Iowa,
April 3, 1890; Kansas March 4 1891:
TO- 1891; Massachusetts, May H. 1887; Min
nesota, April, 1898; Missouri April 8 1895:
Montana, March 4, 1891; Nebraska, March |
2g 1850; New Hampshire. March 81, 1891;
New Jersey, April s, 1887; New York. Nav |
&, 1887; Ohio, April IS, 1890; Oregon Feb
ruary q. 1887; Pennsylvania. April 25, 1889;
Rhode Island, May 26, 1898; South Caro-
lima, December %, 1891; Tennessee, March
II, 1891; Texas, February H. 1893; Utan,
February %. 1892: Virginia, February :
1872; Washington, February "a 1891; Wis
consin, April 49, 1893. June 2S. 1894 Labor
day was legalized in the District of Column |
national holiday. Previous to this time the
day had not been generally observed by |
local organized labor
Bricklayers Distinguished.
Bricklayers' Union No. 1 has the distinc- |
ton OF being the first and only labor or
ganization in this city that observed the
day as a holiday prior to 1894 In 1889.
this union adopted a resolution recognizing |
the holiday, and 1t was made OBLIGATORY
upon the members to refrain from work !
ard participate in parade. September 5, |
In the year stated, was their first parade |
In observance of the day. In 1891 the Brick |
layers Union of Baltimore in response TO |
an invitation from their fellow craftsmen |
OF this city, Joined the local bricklayers in |
do. nd IT.,
the year following, by invitation of th. |
8diumore Union, the local brickiayers vts- |
ited that city, and participated in a parade |
ana picnic. In 1898 the union of Washing |
ton gave an outing to Bay Ridge, which |
was attended almost exclusively by them |
and their friends
After the passage of the act Of Congress |
legalizlng the holiday N the District of |
more interested in the day and in lSo5 |
the various organizations of the CITY.
through appointed committees, arranged |
FOR a parade in Observance of the day This |
labor organizations of this city; every |
trades Cnion and Knights of Labor assemh- |
bly, participated, the number IN line being
nearly 900
In the year following a proposition to |
parade was submitted to the various Or |
ganizatiOns, but because Of the large per
cent of the Workmen being idle and the |
depleted treasures of the various bodies
a
number of the organizations were unable 10 |
bear the expense incident to a parade. |
There was, however, a very creditable
showing made, participated in by Brick
layers Union, Brotherhood of Electrical
Workers. Journeyrnen BARRIERS Union.
Amalgamated Society of Carpenters,
brotherhood Of Carpenters, and a division
of miscellaneous trades
Program of Last Year.
Last year exclusions were given to River
View and Marshall Hall by the trades
unionists and Knights of Labor, respec-
lively. This year the day will be observed
in similar manner. The trades unionists.
under the auspices of the Central Labor
Union and Building Trades Council have
as already stated in The Star, arranged
for mammoth excursion to River View.
and have prepared an extensive program
of amusements. The knights of labor and
their friends will enjoy the day at Mar
snail Hail. where attractive program
will be carried out.
Mr.. p. ]. MCGUIRE, who may be termed
the father of Labor day" in a recently
published article upon the significance of
the holiday, said: 1T is dedicated to peace.
civilization and the triumphs of industry
it is a demonstration of fraternity and .he
harbinger of a better age, a more chival-