New-York tribune., 1901-09-02
A RECORD CELEBRATION.
MORE GENERAL OBSERVANCE OF DAY
EXPECTED THAN HERETOFORE
POWDERLY'S ideas.
tBr TELEGRAPH TO TIE TRIBUNE. ]

fBT TELEGRAPH TO TRIBUNE
washington. Sept. I'm Washington the rep
..ssntatives OF the working classes look for a
-,o-e general observation Of the seventh annual
rabor Day tomorrow than has heretofore been
-.,orses Il is significant that they base this
.-nectsrion upon the fact that labor at the
rrssent tine is more generally and prohtably
.npoyed than II has been in any year since. by
sc, Of Congress. the first Monday OF September
vas designated as legal holiday 70 be known
.s rsbor Dav Il is also remarked as sig
,iscsnt that on the DAY that this act passed
congress one Of the greatest and most danger
nus strikes The country has ever known vas
.beu in progress Reference is had TO the big
railroad strike at Chicago. NJ. Cleveland was
then President for the second time. and the in
sustrisl energies OF the nation were at low
sbb due 70 fiscal policy which had almost
roupletely pa-alyzed the business strength that
had. been built up by the administration OF the
late BENJAMIN Harrison, after period OF un-
rreoede.ted depression that existed during the
ter, ~ the first Democratic President elected
since 1876.
Statistics carefully prepared by the National
Commissioner of Labor show that wages in all
departments of production are higher to-day.
On an average. than ever before in the history
OF the country Officials Of the various guilds Of
-rorlZrnen say that in point Of membership their
respee-ive organizations are stronger to-day
than AZ anv time since the modern spirit of
organization and cooperation was communi-
Gated 10 the wage earning masses Hence, IL is
confidently expected that al all the centres Of
industrial activity throughout the nation to-day
more men, ana better clothed and better fed
men will march in parade and otherwise par
tic;pa1e in the celebration than have done so
since Labor Day was Instituted.
ORIGIN OF THE HOLIDAY
The act Of Congress designating the day as a
legal holiday was signed by the President on
June IS. 1S94. The law has been embodied ii
the statutes of thirty xix Of the fortyhve States
Only thirty-four of the States followed the lead
Of Congress in this legislation. as two. New
York and Oregon. had enacted legislation on the
subject eleven years before Congress passed the
national law
Il is interesting 10 note that while the agita-
ton for legal holiday 10 be observed as Labor
Day was Initiated in New-York, the Oregon
Legislature acted before the New-York law
makers, and thus, in a sense, the honor OF the
movement belongs 10 the state OF Oregon. The
States which have not yet Iegalized The holiday
are Arkansas Delaware Kentucky. South
Dakota, Wyoming and the Territory Of New
Mexico. However. the day is observed 10 a
out the spur OF legislation
n matters Of this nature the Federal Govern
nent- under the restrictions Of the constitution,
caunot compel compliance on the part Of the
States with its legislative edicts. All acts OF
Congress Of this nature therefore, are. strictly
speaking. applicable only TO the District o.
Columbia and the Territories. The government
honors the day At Washington by closing the
departments and giving the thousands Of clerks
and olher employees holiday. AS the employees
Of The government in Porto Rico the Philip
pines, Hawaii, Guam and Tutuila will have
holiday tomorrow. the lesson Of the day will, in
measure, be impressed upon the millions Of
people lately brought under the Stars and
Stripes.
T. 7. POWDERLY ON THE DAY.
Terence Y Powderly, Commissioner General
Of Immigration. and formerly general master
workman Of the Knights OF Labor, to-day gave
The Tribune the following interview:
labor Day gives the workingman a chance &c
% PROFESSIONS teasts and free discussions, and
o the labor question should be analyZed by the
orators Of the day, no matter what viewpoints
ss @ circulating medium, OF the tariff, or some
iecs4 or state issue OF labor. but no matter what
Day. On that day the W-orkingmen throng the big
other places where 6y speeches and discussion,
NE cause OF ia Dor may be tried and every thought
taet Kill serve 10 shed any light or the condition
o Ihe toiler has warm welcome
me lst Of May being the Feast Of Flora In the
pirate % that day aside for labor celebrations
su( |Eile the holiday stil has feasts ano festivi
Saes rs its object. for several reasons the first
Monday in September was selected.
had is begiEuing with the Central Labor Union OF
tIS 49, ork = J. MCGUIRE. then general secretary
sne treasurer Of the Carpenters Union. and several
T.les T discussed The question OF having Labor
1ss ~ parade on the first Monday IN September At
hold red rp he en- frai Lab
nion were members Of the Knights OF Labor.
6st sc men worked secretly, and its name not
= sHetlghts of Labor met in New-York in September.
. J. vas IN session. That procession was. I believe.
tsu ny ne delegates and officers OF the General
rsssenhy of the knights of Labor from the
vas Passing heard Robert Price. of Lonaconing
Tri,-,s.y ,s.y 70 tie worthy general foreman OF the
Uncle Dick" Some further comDiirnentary re-
s-s Ks were made about the success OF the parade
& ne Central Labor Union for the courtesy Of per
ssI.,lng rs members TO witness such = glorious
LABOR DAY LEGISLATION.
orisl T'oqs parties claim credit for Labor Days
p y Mcc,I, S1e nonoT should rest equally between
f6s N securing the introd Iction OF bin IN
ast Monday ieeai boI;ssT naTlng Tbs m mseptsmoeTs rs
DssseS early II January. 1888. but was not
pSSte pS q Oregon passed bFi which was similarly
4 issssesa - January 9. 1883. Labor Day became
&c. sumner inner q ls2- From time 10 time other
- - toAoWen these acts, until now nearly an
On fSbss nave nave 80 shaped their laws that holiday
orvs-1oyTT Day Is Uniform. II was the work of
OfT--Il]eo labor, The trades unions and Knights
rsv oN which secured the passage OF a Labor
rres,siseas ~ IN the various States. Mr. oiompers
vas -snl ~ OF the American Federation OF Labor
lstor slIlng IN MS efforts 20 further this Iegis-
FeS.-- hno so were all the officers Of ho-h fba
one ssson - p OF Labor and the Knights Of Labor
.lor ~ tnes great advantages following the eSoD
hs- q Labor Day legislation Is that vyor-s, -.s-
lerss more thorough knowledge OF their rrfvt-
rnn9r ei.o nabtltles thar ever before srd 'fr.s
sDesk st s Employers OF labor are permitted 10
hette~-t L1Det Day meetings. Worklngrnen have
ftor - knowledge OF the other SIDE 81 .ha c,,es
70 brsia ~ labor. The holiday has done a great SsesI
enn-l...-s about a better urdersfa rdinr ho,r-..n