The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1901-06-22

Aside - One of Recreation, Free
Discussion of Questions and the
Cultivation of Mutual Acauaint.
ance-A Strong Document.
Through the courtesy of w. d. Ryan.
we are able to present Governor Tan
ner's proclamation setting aside Labor
Day as legal holiday, says the Mine
Workers Journal. 1t ought to be
framed and placed in the archieves Of
every local in America. It shows more
truly the character Of our late friend
than volumes written by another. =
State Of Illinois, =
= Executive Department.
The statutes of Illinois designate the
first Monday in September of each year
to be observed as a. legal holiday and
known as Labor Day.
Now, therefore, I, John r. Tanner,
Governor Of Illinois, de hereby issue
this, my proclamation, declaring Mon
day, the 9th day Of September, one
thousand eight hundred and ninety
seven. a legal holiday, to be observed
| as such by all citizens of this state
In order that full and complete oppor-
| tunity may be afforded for the free
discussion Of all questions affecting
the relations Of employers to their en-
ployes, and the rights and obligations
of both labor and capital In their mu-
| tual relations, and also for the cult
walton Of mutual acquaintance and
kindly feeling by all who are disposed
| to devote the day to recreation and So.
cia1 intercourse
| Labor Is not, properly speaking, O.
commodity, but its price is neverthe-
less determined by the universal law
of supply and demand, which no hui
man will can set aside or nullify. The
price of every mans individual labor
Is settled by agreement between him.
self and his employer. In order. that
fair and equal bargain may be
made between the two parties to this
contract both must be placed upon an
exactly equal footing, and there must
be no outside interference with their
perfect freedom of contract, which
the laws are supposed to guarantee
and ought to insure. Whatever rights
are conceded by law or usage to either
party to the transaction must In
equity be granted to the other. If
capitalists and employers are permit
ted to form combinations, the right Of
combination for self-protection equal
~ inheres in the workingman, to have
| the same right. to form unions for the
upholding Of the price Of labor that
| their employers have to resort to SIM
| liar methods In order to uphold the
price Of manufactured goods in the
markets of the world, and vice versa.
Both are responsible to the law for
their actions and neither the one nor
the other can undertake to set him
self above the law without subjecting
himself to. the penalties, which it is
the duties Of the court to enforce, ais
| It is the duty Of the executive to pre-
serve order ana the public peace,
pending the settlement OF any ques-
lions which may be in dispute. The
executive can not, and in this state
will not, deny to dissatisfied employees
the right of peaceable assembly for
the discussion of real or fancied griev-
ances or the right to make proper use
of the public highways for the pur-
pose of going to and returning from
such meetings, rights which the law
secures to their employers. Laboring
men have a natural right to use any
and all means of persuasion to induce
their fellows to- act with them in any
effort which they may make to ad-
vance their interests as workingmen
short Of violence or threats. Violence
and intimidation are held to be GRIM
inal in their character, and If resorted
IN hxyn Al CT IN rrv{1N !, -.
Of the executive to assist the local au-
thorities. II necessary, in their sup
preston. If in any particular the
laws which in this state govern the
relations of employers and employed
are unequal, unjust or impolitic, the
remedy lies with the General Assem-
bly,, which has the power to amend
the statutes in response to public opin-
ion and sentiment, and the ballot has
been given to all citizens alike for
their protection. Any resort to force
for any purpose but self-protection in
the face of imminent peril to property
or life Is contrary to the spirit of our
republican institutions, and will be
condemned by all patriotic men and
women, neither will it be tolerated.
It is the interest of us all, that the
highest wages should be paid to labor
which the state of the markets and
the condition of trade will justify,
since the ability Of workingmen to
purchase the products Of labor is es-
sential to their sale, and, where labor
has no artificial wants. there manu-
facturers and trade necessarily lam
guish. But this desirable increase in
the rate of wages is of. course possible
only within the limitations Of economic
law, which lis ;, therefore most i'm
portant that employees and their, en-
ployers should diligently and faithfully
observe. ,...-. $50 : -
I, therefore, enjoin upon the citizens
OF this great commonwealth to OBJ
serve Labor Day this year Of all years
in the spirit and for the purposes for
which it is instituted, and, laying
aside all other business, to, devote the
day to patriotic discussion Of ques-
tiors than which none of greater mo-
ment and more pregnant with posi-
bilities of future veal or woe have