The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-09-04

known as Labor Day, has become one OIL
the great festival days of the year. Thlr
tv-siX States OF the Union and the Dis
trict of Columbia make Labor Day a
legal holiday and this wide observance
gives the celebration National chardc.
ter. No other country sets apart by Law
similar holiday, In England and other
parts Of Europe the FIRST day OF May i.
generally observed as Labor Day, but il
has no legal standing
The sanction of such holiday by thir-
ty-six legislatures and by congress tor
the District oil Columbia shows the great
value and Importance OF the ldet tol
wnIcn he holiday stdnds-reeognItion o.
tue ri1hts ana dignity OF labor This
open and lega recognition u one OF TAI
many resuits OF the evolution oil the
~olklng man from condition o, serl-
dom into a higner clyll and industrial
grade.
LABOR Day was first observed in this
country in 1882. In September OF tna'
year me knights OF Laoor convened in
National Assembly in New lork Guy.
The Central Labor Union OF New lotk
as tribute 10 the visiting uelegations
or workingmen. gave It's annual parade
on Monday, September .. The memner:
OF the assembly reviewed the parade
from grand stand at Union Square. A.
the various unions passed the sand,
Robert Price, deiegate from Maryland
said TO the general worthy foreman OF
the Knights of Labor. This is Labor
Day in earnest Uncle Dick" The event
Was afterwards referred to as the Labor
Day parade.
In 1883 labor organizations OF New
A..Vla .g.. A. I..
IN September. In 1854, when the date of
holding the parade was discussed IN the
New York Central Labor Union Dele
gate George r. Lloyd 0flVred resolution
declaring the frst Monday In September
TO be Labor Day. The resolution VAS
adopted and steps taken TO secure tho
enactment Of measure making this d
legal holiday known as Labor Day. Ii
WIS not until May g. 1851. however, that
the law was passed in New York.
In other States the leading labor or
CARNATIONS and the knights OF LAbor
made common cause with the New York
Central Labor Union to secure general
observance of The day as a legal HOLIDAY
Oregon was the first State to enact the
law. February 81, 1887 New York was
the first State to introduce bill to that
effect. and the third to enact the law
New Jersey being he second.
The following States have laws makinl
the Labor Day legal holiday.
First Monday in September Alabama
California. Colorado. Connecticut De,a-
ware District OF Columbia, Florida.
Georgia. Illinois, Indiana. Iowa, Kansas
Maine. Massachusetts, Michigan, Min
nesota, Missouri Montana. Nebraska
New Hampshire, New Jersey. New York
Ohio. Oregon Rhode Island, South Car
olina, Tennessee. Texas, Utah. Vermont
Virginia, Washington. West Virginia
Wisconsin.
Louisiana sets apart the 25th OF No
vember as Labor Day.
North Carolina observes the FIRST
Thursday in September
In the few states where no date has
yet been set apart for this celebration
the legislatures win doubtless soon fan
In line. for no serious opposition to the
measure has been displayed even by leg
islatures which refused To enact other
laws in the interest OF labor-clear evil
dence that the significance OF the fete
appeals to the POPULAR mind.
Labor Dav could never have existed
but for the moral force OF universal sui
TRACE under democratic institutions. aid