The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-06-28

The members of local labor organiza-
lions have already begun preparations for
the celebration of Labor Day. the first
Monday in September The observance
of the day in this Jurisdiction viii be con-
fined 10 excursions arranged by the local
central labor bodies. instead OF by street
parades as is the custom in nearly all
the large cities in the country.
Not since the year after the first Mon
day in September was made legal holi-
day in the District, has Labor Day been
celebrated in Washington by street
parade by local organized labor The OBJ
servance of the day as d general Holt
day was inaugurated by the labor unions
in the State of New York in 1882 Soon
after. the day was made a legal holiday
by act Of the State Legislature The
influence of organized labor was brought
to bear on the legislative bodies in other
States. until now the first Monday in
September is recognized as legal holi-
day in more than forty States and Ter
ritories.
It was not until 1891. however, that Con-
eress took action on the petition Of local
labor leaders and an act was passed max
ing the day a legal holiday in the Dis
1rict Of Columbia At that time with the
exception Of few individual trades IN
ionist organizations, all the labor bodies
in the District were under the banner Of
the Knights Of Labor Even those organ
izations which, by reason OF their ma
tionaI affiliations, were not associated
with the central body of the Knights of
Labor. were on the friendliest terms with
the knights. and in 1884 Joined with them
in the first observance Of Labor Day as
a general holiday in the District. That
year the day which is recognized as the
workingmans national holiday was cele-
brated by a street parade in which the
combined forces of the Knights of Labor
and the trades unionists participated
About 700 members OF organized labor
were in line. tie members Of each Organi-
zation being dressed in a uniform adopt
ed for the occasion The parade was held
in the morning and afterwaTd several Of
the organizations @..--f the day enjoying
picnics at the pleasure resorts on the Po-
tomac or in the suburbs Of Washington.
IN the spring Of 1885 dissensions among
the local organizations resulted in the
Central Labor Union, q central body com
posed Of representatives Of the local IN
ions Upholding the trades unionist send-
ment Of the wage-eaTneTs in the District.
That year the Knights Of Labor did not
participate in the street parade as did
the trades unionists, but spent the day
with their families and friends at Mar
shall Hall. where a big picnic was held.
The year following neither the trades
unionjsts nor the Knights of Labor held
street parades. Since then parades, so
far as organized labor is concerned, are
things Of the past
Each year since 1856, the Knighst Of La
Dor have celebrated Labor DaV in an
outing to Marshall Hail. and the unions
affiliated with the Central labor Union
have spent the day at River View.
The trades urlonists however. viii not
go 10 River View this year, but have
decided to spend the day at Glen Echo
while the Knights Of Labor VIII again 20
to Marshall Hall
The Building Trades Council IS making
arrangements to observe Labor Day in
an appropriate manner. but has not as
yet chosen the place where its members
and friends VIII spend the day.