The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1901-08-26
CELEBRATION OF LABOR DAY.
The Plans of the Several District Or
sanizations CompIcted.

Organized labor in the District has COM
pleted its plans for the celebration of
Labor Day on Monday next. Committees
representing the three central bodies have
been actively engaged in the work of
preparation for three months or more.
The task was by no means small one,
but nothing was left undone which will
contribute to the comfort and pleasure of
those who participate with the hosts of
labor in celebrating the occasion. Differ
ences among the members of the three
local central bodies. on matters of prin-
ciple, preclude the possibility of their cele-
brating Labor Day together. so it is that
the wage earners of the District will OBJ
serve the occasion in separate parties,
each of which will be n great assembiage
in itself
There is however, one point upon which
all factions agree. and which is acted
upon to the fullest degree of cooperation.
1t is that on Labor Day, the one day set
aside as a general holiday for all working
men, every member of organized labor
ceases TO labor, in so far as it is practi-
cable without interfering with the prog
ress of traffic or causing Inconvenience to
the general public. On Labor Day
throughout the United States and Canada
and Great Britain and other countries, in
fact wherever there is Il union OF work
men, all labor ceases, and the wage earn
ers don their best clothes. and, acccmpa-
MED by their families and friends, are off
to spend the day in rest and pleasure.
Nowhere perhaps is the occasion more
religiously observed by the members OF
organized labor than in Washington. Here
no member OF organized labor will con-
inn in af lire
emergency, where their labor is neces-
sary for the protection and preservation
of life or property, or in the interest of
the public good.
Labor Day was first celebrated in Wash
ington as a general holiday in 1895. At
that time there was but little dissension
between the different factions, and the
occasion was observed by street parade
in which both the knights of Labor
and trades unionists participated. Fully
seven thousand Of the members of local
organized labor We're in line, each union
or assembly forming a separate and dis
tinct component part. That was the last
occasion. however, In which all factions of
local labor combined to celebrate the
workingmans national holiday Before
the return of Labor Day in 1896, local dlf-
ferences resulted in an irreparable divis-
ion in the ranks of organized labor in
the District. and since that time the
trades unionists and the Knights of Labor
have planned separately for the observ-
ance of the occasion.
After the street parade In 1895 1t was gen.
orally agreed by both factions that this
method OF celebrating Labor Day in
CURED too great hardship and occupied
too much of the day which might be bet
ter spent in rest and amusement. For
this reason, since then, instead of organ
iZing street parades, II was decided by both
factions that the day could be more en-
ioyably spent in outings at different
pleasure resorts in the vicinity of Wash
ington. So it was that in 1886 Labor Day
was spent by the trades unionists at River
View and at Marshall Hall by the Knights
of Labor.
In the preparations for the celebration
of the day next Monday the Knights of
Labor have, as in the past few years. ar
ranged for a great outing at Marshall
Hail. The trades unionists, however, who
since 1896 have each year gone to River
View, will on Monday next celebrate the
day at Glen Echo. AT both these places
the committees in charge Of the celebra-
tions have made ample provision for the
entertainment and amusement of the
members of the different organizations.
and their friends.
The unions and assemblies affiliated
with the Building Trades Council have
arranged TO spend Labor Day at River
View p!cnicking. The committe in charge
of the arrangements at this place has also
perfected plans for the entertainment and
amusement of the members of the affih-
ated organizations and their friends.