The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-08-10
NATIONAL LABOR DAY

PROCLAMATION Issued by Governor
Atkinson-Its o Observance This Year
Is Especially Fitting.
Governor Atkinson has issued ma
tlonal Labor Day proclamation. which
deslgnates Monday. September 4, as the
day, but in Wheeling. Saturday. Au-
gust 2s, will be observed more gener-
ally probably because OF this Ohio Val
ley Trades AssembIys celebration.
Governor Atklnson's proclamation fol-
lows:
Whereas, by enactment of the legis-
lature, at its last general session, the
first Monday of September OF each
year Is to be set apart as Labor Day,
which should be observed as general
holiday throughout the state.
Now, therefore, /, George w. Atkin-
son, governor of the state of West vir-
ginia, do hereby recommend and re-
quest that on Monday, September 4.
1899, all places where labor is employed
within the state of West Virginia, shall
be closed, and that every available
opportunity may be given to those who
earn their living by the sweat of their
brows, to celebrate and honor the day
which dur Lawmakers saw fit to dedi-
cate to them.
We have recently passed through q
war with Spain. which we believe was
a war destined by Almighty God for
the upbuIldlng and advancement Of the
human race. our arms and principles
were triumphant. We should. there
fore, be duly thankful. The victories
we won in our conflict with Spain were
the natural results OF our superiority as
a race OF educated artisans and me-
chanlcs, as well as a nation thoroughly
schooled in the arts OF war. A nation
that can supply all its people with
their needs, and at the same time fur
nish all of the munitions Of modern
warfare, Is necessarily an irrepressible
nation. Such nation is the United
States Of America. Our people are not
only an Independent people, but they
are self-rellant people. They have
learned the secret of how to care for
themselves. The nation, therefore,
that attempts to trample upon the
American flag or the American doctrine
of equal rights in the great theatre of
life for any and all, has assumed an
undertaking difficult to carry out.
Spain found 1t so. Other nations that
try the same thing will meet with like
results.
Labor omnl vincit" is as true to-day
as 1t was when the birds in the garden
OF Eden sang their songs at the birth
OF the human race. Labor is wealth,
and labor alone produces wealth. The
whole world knows this to be true.
Therefore, as n state. we should honor
the producers OF wealth; and this is the
reason our Legislature created n holiday
which shall be known and honored as
Labor Day"
1t is, in consequence OF all these
facts, especially fitting and proper,
that all men, employers and employees,
should lay aside for this day their
usual yocatIons. and by meeting in
public assemblies, and in practical and
fitting ways, seek to emphasize the dig
nifty and worth OF labor and to consider
WAYS and means for a marked elevn-
tIon and Improvement OF the condition
OF the honest. faithful, industrious
toIlers and wealth producers OF our
state.
In witness whereof, l have hereunto
set my band and caused the great seal
10 be hereunto affixed, at the capital. in
the city Of Charleston, this nth day OF
August, a. D.. 1893, in the thIrty-sev-
enth year OF the state.
G, w. ATKINSON.
Governor OF West virginia.