The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-09-05
TOWN TURNS OUT
Demonstrations in Honor of
Labor Day.
W. [. A. JOHNSON'S SPEECH
Days Exercises Closed With
an Elaborate Ball Last Night

| excellent speech OF the day, the hne musi'
and 10 watch the exciting sport.
The exercises opened with a program
| Of music by the colored jubilee singers
who occupied a large platform near the
| northwest corner of the park. The sing
ers were Clyde Rogers, Ed. Clay Fred An
drews, Will Southland Arthur Williams
Joe Bell and RUDE Johnson. They were
accompanied by the mandolin club ana
made excellent music.
At O'Clock the crowd was invited to thu
large pavilion, the use of which had beer
| kindly donated by the Adventists who are
holding a campmeeting in the park. The
! tent was arranged with numerous com
! Portable seats. On the platform with the
| speaker of the day were Fred Stuckey, A
]. Johnson, George Whitlock, Lewis Ward
Henry Hooker, W. II. Proctor, ]. w
Brown, Clarence Sousley, W. L. Moore
The speakers stand was draped with q
large American flag. After the rendition
OF song by the male quartet, Mr.. George
Whitlock addressed the audience on the
subject of organized labor in Wichita and
its splendid achievements within the past
year. and how. in uniting in the cause OF
labor each Of the unions in this city had
been strengthened. He then introduced
the speaker of the day, the Hon. w. L. A.
Johnson, of Topeka, state commissioner
of labor who spoke as follows:
MIR. JoHNsoNS SPEECH.
We have reached that annual festival
which stands out as a beacon light in the
history Of our industrial progress. In the
celebration of this, labor's national holi-
day. We are impressed with its signifi-
canoe, and our attention is directed to
the noble and splendid achievements OF
organized labor. In the observance OF this
day, we must not consider it entirely IN
the light of a days cessation from toll,
else its name of Labor Day" would be
misnomer. organized labor as its
founder. has caused the day to be set
apart for higher and more noble pur-
pose than the mere matter of rest. 1t Is
a day set apart that the masses may
meet and discuss all the vital conditions
pertaining to their welfare, among the
most important of which may be con-
sidered, government legislation. the
rights Of civil liberty and the freedom
of the people. To the Central Labor
union and organized labor in the city OF
Wichita is due congratula tons for this
evidence of manhood and independence
in conforming to the new universal Gus
tom of observing labor's national holi-
day. 1t is indeed appropriate today to
recite the wrongs and oppression under
which labor suffers. and TO declare in no
uncertain tones it's protest against that
thralldom and slavery by which its
enemies seek to Cypress 1t. and to point
to remedies that lead to a higher and bet
ter civilization. No theory or principle IS
worthy of consideration or existence I'M
less it can prove its right to exist BY
reason of the merits upon which 1t IS
based So 1t IS with organized labor
having proved the merits of the prlnci-
pies upon which 1t Is based, is a factor
worthy Of consideration in our present
civilization The accomplishments OF
labor thus far. have been commendable
though its undertakings have not always
been successful. Organized labor has
ever fought for better conditions and a
more equitable distribution of the pro-
ducts of its toll. Labor Day as a holi-
day. stands forth as the one day OF all
days that labor may celebrate with fit
ting propriety. NO one event or single
effort absorbs the gloriAcation OF the day.
It stands for the great monument Of the
achievement Of labor beginning far back
in the ages of time.
History informs US that organized labor
had its birth on the American continent
in the organization of the tourneymen
tailors in the city of Boston in 1906 Com
ing down through the century We find
the organization of the shiDwrlghts and
calkers making a crusade for the ten
hour movement in lSs2. This agitation for
shorter work day continued until 1870
or eight years later. when the government
established ten hours as 4 days work
in the navy yard. The benefits OF the
parent and as the masses became ,e,iu-
Gated and more thoroughly organized We
find them making an effort for a still
shorter work day. and in 1865 or twenty
eight years from the time he ten-hour
work day was established by the govern
ment We find congress enactiag an eight F.,
hour work day FOR al government en- .
ployes. Organized labor has not confined I
Itself to the legislation for shorter work |
day. other reforms have demanded and /
secured through legislation in proportion /!
II the advance OF education and organiza- /
zion. In conformity - the demands OF /
organized labor congress created a Ma
tional Bureau of Labor in lSS3 under the !
supervision Of the department; OF labor, /
thus being Instituted as a separate de- I
pa-tment. The American Federation Of
Labor and the organized labor movemen.
throughout the United States ieying /
in the benefits o. an annual holiday de- 1
voted entirely 20 labor interests and IN
der the auspices OF labor declared Tor al /
annual Labor Day Various states en-
acted such a law in conformity 20 this I
demand, and in 1884, congress in response
- the voice Of lsbo-. legal.z=d this IA
tional holiday a. Labor Day"
History records tina: the hosts OF labor
through organization ana education have
continued 10 improve their condition and /
have stood as a buiwark against re oo-
preston and tyranny - the r.onopolizts-
greed aud avarice of al ases. To the
EFFORTS OF organization ali ng the masses
Is due 4 major portion cf The reforms
that are enjoyed by our people :o,4ay.
In the way Of legislation Organized .abor
[