The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-04
RIVER BULLETIN.
.all. *RiSe.
1,Te,rrpDAv,s 1EMPERAT1rREs
washington time q D. m. St. PauD.
LABOR DAY.

The institution Of Labor day as
state holiday Is a characteristic deveaop-
ment of modern American social and
rrltticaI life. It is not easy to define
with accuracy just what principle Animal
ed our lawmakers in setting the day
apart. By common consent, however, it
has come to be recognized as being in
recognition Of the dignity and benet-
cancA of human toll. It's observance is
becoming more and more general among
o1r people, and it is reasonable to be-
lfeve that before many years it's celebra-
tion will no longer be confined to any one
class or locality, but will become general
among this people.
In his proclamation urging the general
Observance of the day throughout the
state Gov. Lind took occasion to refer
to the day as being an appropriate one
for reflection by the people upon the
great social and economic problems Of
our time In his specification of the uses
and purposes of the day it is probable
that the governor came as near a correct
understanding Of the true scope of to-
DAYS celebrations Of the institution OF
Labor day as has yet been put forward
In the wonderful material progress of
the century which is drawing to close
the gravest attendant problem has been
that of labor. The problems of politics
are no longer of paramount Importance.
Indeed, except in their relation to the
social and economic welfare Of the
masses, they may be said to have but
slight Importance of themselves. The
men through whose toll we have mostly
built up the wonderful fabric of our ma
tional greatness recognize this truth, and
the trend of popular thought is accord
ingly wholly toward concerns of social
and economic interest.
These problems have been intensified
and made vastly more important by the
great movement now in progress toward
consolidation in our industrial affairs 1t
Is not al exaggeration to say that more
thought is being bestowed in our time
on the social and economic questions that
are largely the product of this tendency
toward consolidation than on all other
subjects.
Whatever Encouragement time may
bring with it of the relations Of labor
and capital toward the great enterprises
Of the industrial world, Labor day may
be accepted as indicating the determine
ton of the toiling masses to reach what
they regard as a more equitable adjust
ment and a more even distribution of the
substantial proceeds of human industry.
The tendency Of government everywhere
to concern itself more closely with the
Immediate personal interests of the labor
ing classes is but reflection of this de-
termination The more humane and 1fb-
eral is the basis on which the relations
of employer and employee can be placed.
the more advantageous will it be to labor
ana capital alike.
One Of the most hopeful signs of our
times in this behalf is the disposition of
employers and employees to come together
and. by conference and mutual agreement
and concession, to adjust their reIa alive
rights and obligations. The institution
OF Labor day, properly observed, can but
advance this disposition and make It more
general 1t can but put an end to the
barbarism of force as a means of sucb
adjustment. Treated on the broader
plane OF day set apart in recognition
of cur common manhood, and of the spirit
of human love and brotherhood, it must
In time present itself as an occasion
when all men can unite in concedinp
the equal rights and equal privileges Of
all industrious and law-abiding nerohors
Of society.