Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-15
TRIBUTE TO LABOR
One Day Set Apart for General OBJ
SerVance,
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE OCCASION
Arrangements for the Celebration
Throughout the United States.
LEGISLATION BY THE STATES


parades or picnics. and where open-ar
meetings are to be held speakers of ma
tional reputation have been invited to adj
dress the assembled multitudes. In many
cities, 1t is stated, there will be an entire
suspension of business. The trades union
lists OF Atlanta, Ga, sent a pressing invita-
ton to Mr.. Samuel Gompers president OF
the American Federation of Labor to make
a speech to them on that day. but his ac-
ceptance Of a previous invitation to make
an address in Illinois the same date pre-
vented his attendance at Atlanta.
1t is now agreed among the members of
organized labor that the proposition to cele-
brate one day in the year Labor day
May 8, 1882, when a delegate from the
United Brotherhood of Carpenters and
Joiners to the Central Labor Union of New
York city, made the suggestion which was
approved. and the proposal in later years
attained widespread acceptance.
Mr.. Mcclure urged the proprety of set
ting aside one day in the year to be desig-
mated as Labor day" and to be established
as a general holiday for the laboring classes.
He advised the day should first be cele-
brated by street parade, which would
pubilcIy show the strength and esprit de
corps of the trade and labor organizations.
Division of Proceecds
Next, the parade should be followed by
proceeds of the same be divided on this
semf-c cooperative plan:
Each union or organization should get as
many tickets it desired to sell; the more
sold the greater would be the profits to the
society selling them. Each society should
be allowed to keep all the money realized
by sale OF tickets through its members In
the end each of the bodies participating
should contribute to the expenses in pro-
portion to its membership.
1t was further argued that. Labor day
should be observed as festal day for pub
Tic tribute to the genius of American in
dustry. There were other worthy holidays
representative of the religious, civil and
military spirit. But none representative of
the industrial spirit-the great vital force
of every nation. He suggested the first
Monday in September of every year for
SUCH a holiday, as it would come at the
most pleasant season of the year. nearly
midway between the Fourth of July and
Thanksgiving and would fill a wide gap
in the chronology of legal holidays. Many
were the cogent reasons he advanced and
at once the idea was enthusiastically en-
braced.
The first Labor day parade and festival
of the Central Labor Union of New York
city, September s. 1882, was an imposing
success. From that day on it became a
fixed institution in the United States, OBJ
served today in every city of the land. The
plan was next Endorsed by the annual con-
vention of the American Federation of La
Dor and the General Assembly of the
Knights of Labor. 1t spread rapidly from
city to city and from town to town. city
councils and state legislatures took it up
and made 1t legal holiday. until finally
June 2S, 1S94-it became national holiday
by act of Congress
Significance of the Day.
The real significance of the day is thus
set forth by Mr.. T. V. Powderly, ex-grand
master workman of the knights OF Labor.
now commissioner of immigration:
THE real significance of the American
Labor day lies in the fact that on that day
no controversy dispute shall interfere
with the observance of the day. On that
day the workers meet, and either parade
or hold festivals of another character, dur
Ing which time speakers address the
Sembled multitudeS. 1t the intention
of those who introduced the first Labor day
resolution to make the day stand apart
from all other holidays in the nature of its
observance. While parades. picnics, festi-
walls and games were permissible, the prin-
cipal features of the exercises were to con-
sist of lectures and discourses upon topics
relating to the welfare of the industrial
masses. Every question of political. social
and economic importance should be dis
cussed at the meetings on Labor day. On
other days the intellectual in man is not
appealed to as on Labor day. The grounds
on which the industrialists assemble on the
first Monday in September should resemble
an open court in which both sides-all
sides-to the great question of production
should be discussed. A new feature has
been introduced by inviting employers of
labor to take part in the demonstrat tons
and address the meetings from the stand
point of the employer, any other that
might appear appropriate to the speaker
Chance for Educators.
Properly understood. Labor day is day
on which all that is ambitious. noble, lofty
and grand in the nature of the workman
should be appealed to- Those who discuss
the questions of the hour before meetings
of workers on that day should be edu-
cators-they should be teachers of the gos-
pei of humanity and its needs, not NAM
mon and its greed. Those who address such
meetings are burdened with a weighty re-
sponsibility. 1t is their duty to teach doc
trine of independence of thought and action
to the industrial workers. The rights of
nan to the earth and its products, the
rights of man to all that his labor creates
and the duty of the individual as a seIfre
liant citizen should all occupy the thought
of the speaker and be the theme of his
discourse.
Labor day is a day of rest, of recreation
and education. The physical in man is to
rest, while the mental is to be improved.
The day Is to be celebrated, not in honor
of any man, living or dead but in
humanity, the needs of which stand high
er than respect for the memory of the
dead or regard for their wishes Today.
tomorrow, the future are all before us, and
LOT THESE we WOTh. nat winch Will best
serve the living men and women of TODAY
and the future should receive the careful
attention Of all who take part in honoring
that greatest of all factors in ministering
to the good of the world-labor.
Future VIII Decide.
whether Labor day shall continue as a
day on which the duties of citizenship shall
be taught the needs of living humanity
discussed and the duties we owe to the mil
lions about US shall be considered re-
mains to be seen. From a position of
mental servitude the most degrading and
humliating the workman has advanced to
high attitudes in mental and physical free
dom. From a servitude in which he could.
without question be killed for the amuse-
ment of his master the workman has
emerged, and he stands free of creed.
of craft. of politics and race. If Labor day
is observed as 1t ought to be the gospel of
humanity will be understood by ali men
and women. There will be no slaves to en-
ployer party, boss creed. Love thy
neighbor as myself. though he bow not be-
fore the same altar, and DO unto your neigh
Dor as you would have your nefghbor do
unto you will have meaning not now
understood they should be this side of
the portals where eternity begins and God