The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-09-04
HISTORY OF LABOR DAY
Facts in the Case Compiled by
Hugh Cavanaugh.
NEW YORK CITY FIRST
Monster Parade in 1882-OreRon the
First State to Make September
Legal Holiday-The Cos
pei OF Humanity.


interest in Montana at this time. Hugh
Cavanaugh in his publication, the
Butte Labor Day Souvenir" has made
the following compilation on the sub
ject:
Labor day may be said to have been
first celebrated in New York city, the
occasion being in honor of the sixth an
nual convention of the knights of La
Dor, which convened in that city Sept.
5, 1882. The celebration consisted of a
monster parade of the labor organiza-
tons, followed by picnic at which ad-
dresses We're delivered by several of the
delegates in attendance.
When the general assembly con-
Vened on the above date, a communica-
ton was read from the secretary of the
New York Central Labor union inviting
the members of the body to review the
great parade from the grand stand at
Union square. While the parade was
passing, one of the delegates turned to
his associates and said: This is Labor
day in earnest
Whether this was the first time the
term had been used is not known, but
the event was afterwards referred to as
the Labor day parade
1.-TWO years later, when the labor or
ganizati lions had the question of parad-
Knight of Labor, offered a resolution
declaring the first Monday in Septem-
Der to be Labor day. The resolution
was adopted and steps We're at once
taken to have the legislature enact a
law to make the day legal holiday to
be known as Labor day. Although New
York was the first state to introduce
the measure before the legislature, Ore
gon was the first to pass the bill into
law. Prior to the act of congress four
years ago making the day national
holiday nearly 30 of the states had
adopted Labor day legislation, a list of
which we append and, as near as posi-
BILE, the names of those who introduced
the bills and the dates on which the
measures became laws.
TT was the intention of those who in
troduced the first Labor day resolution
to make the day stand apart from all
other holidays in the nature of it's OBJ
servance; the principal feature of the
exercises of the day was to consist of
lectures and discourses upon topics re-
latng to the welfare of the industrial
masses. Every question of political, So
cial and economic Importance should be
discussed at the meetings on Labor day.
Those who address such meetings are
burdened with a Weighty responsibility.
1t is their duty to teach doctrine of
independence of thought and action to
the INDUSTRIOUS, tle TlBll VI man " al
that his labor creates, and the duty of
the industrious as a self-reliant citizen
should all occupy the thought of the
speaker and be the theme of his dis
course.
THAT which will best serve the living
men and women of to-day and the flu
ture should receive the careful atten-
ton of all who take part in honoring
that greatest of all factors in minister
ing to the good of the world, labor If
Labor day is observed as 1t ought to be,
the gospel of humanity will be under
stood by all men and women, there will
be no slaves to employer, party, boss or
creed.
THE following is the list, in alpha
betical order of the states that adopted
Labor day legislation prior to the ma
tional law:
"Alabama-Hon. Oscar r. Hundley,
member of the senate from Huntsville.
introduced the bill making the first
Monday in September holiday, to be
known as Labor day. The same was
enacted into law and received the sig
nature of Governor Thomas G. Jones on
Dec. H. 1892.
"California-Senator N. c. Maher of
San Francisco introduced the measure
during the last session. 1t passed both
houses and received the approval of
Governor H. H. Markham on March. %,
1893. Labor day in California is held on
the first Monday of October.
"Colorado--On Jan. 20, 1887, Hon. Jo-
seph f. Hooper of Leadville introduced
a bill in the legislature, and on March
Is of that year Governor Ava Adams
affixed his signature to the act after its
passage through both houses of the Col
orado legislature.
'Connecticut-Hon A. p. Hume, on
Jan. o. 1889, introduced the bill in the
a hpr1ml "A
law and was approved by the governor
on March 20, 1899.
"Delaware-Senator John Pyle of
Wilmington introduced the Labor day
law in the legislature of Delaware. 1t
passed both houses and was approved
on Feb. IA, 1888 In Delaware the gov
ernor is not required to sign or ap-
prove of laws passed by the Legislature,
and the Labor day law bears the sigma
ture of Charles B. Houston, speaker of
the senate. and Harvey Whiteman,
speaker of the house Of representatives
of Delaware.
'Georgia-The legislature of 1891
passed into law the bill introduced by
Hon. E. w. Martin, and on Oct. 16, of
that year Governor w. ]. Northen
signed the bill.
"Illinois-The Thirty-seventh general
assembly of Illinois passed the law
making the first Monday in September
legal monday. Inc Dill was introduced
in the senate by Hon. Albert w. Wells
and approved by Governor Joseph w.
Fifer on June II, 1891.
"Indiana-By an act of the legisla-
ture. approved March 9, 1891, the first
Monday in September was made legal
holiday, to be known as Labor day.
'Iowa-On Feb. rs, 1890, Hon. w. w.
Dodge introduced the original bill MAX
ing Labor day a legal holiday to the
Iowa senate. A substitute was offered,
and on March 10 all members of the
senate voted for the measure. 1t went
to the lower house and was adopted
there on March 26, all present voting
for it, and on April 5, 1890, was signed
by Governor Boies.
"Kansas-The custom of recognizing
the first Monday in September as Labor
day was established in Kansas in 1890,
and the governor of the state made it
legal by proclamation. At the session
of 1891 Governor Lyman L. Humphrey,
in his biennial message, recommended
that the legislature enact the measure
into law. Senator Elliston introduced
the bill in the senate. 1t became a law