The Washington times., 1902-09-01
Labor Day wi

Labor Day wi 1age-
earners the worIu &c. -..---.>yrei there
is an organization of workmen, no mat
ter what their trade or calling. There
will be a general cessation from labor
and with the exception of the few whom
necessity compels to toll for the benefit
and convenience of the many, the mas
ter mechanic, as well as the hod carrier,
will lay down his tools and, dressed in
their best, will seek rest and recreation.
Labor Day is the workman's national
holiday-it is the one day of the 365
which Congress, for the District of Co
lumbia, and nearly all of the State Leg
day in honor and recognition of the ef-
forts Of the honest toiler.
Except in cases Of emergency today
the sound Of the rattle of the hammer
will be missed. and the buzz OF the saw
will not be heard. The artisans laid
aside their tools on Saturday and will
not look for them again until tomorrow
morning.
Il is not alone those who make their
living by manual labor to whom Labor
Day comes as general holiday. The
law which conferred this honor on labor
by making it general day of rest, ex-
tends its good to persons in all callings
30 that the bank president, his clerk
the employees in the department stores,
and other private enterprises, as well
as the Government and District en-
ployes, all benefit by the success of the
wage-earners to establish a genera
holiday.
As Observed Locally.
While the occasion may be celebrated
on a more extensive scale by the wage
earners in other parts of the country
it is safe to say that nowhere is it par.
ticirated in with more enthusiasm thar
In Washington. This is true not only
because of the sincerity of the toilers
of the District to the cause of labor
but because here in the National Capi.
tai was enacted the law which makes
the day general public holiday.
The headquarters of the two grea
labor organizations, the American Fed
Grafton of Labor and the knights o
Labor, have been established in thf.
city.
The idea of setting aside one day il
the year as a day of rest and recreation
was conceived about seventeen years
ago by organized labor in New Yorl
city, and in 1854 the first Monday il
la1i
day by the members of organized labo
in that Jurisdiction. The celebration
was a success, and the idea expanded
and the year following the New Yorl
State legislature made the day a gen
eral holiday. -ste
The example of the Empire State leg
islature was followed by several othe
States during the next year or two. Tn
force and influence of organized labo
expanded, so that now there are bu
one or two States in the Union whicl
have not enacted legislation making tn
first Monday in September a genera
holiday.
National Law in 1892.
it was not until 1892, however, tha
the matter was taken into the halls o
Congress for consideration. The idei
had become so popular that there wa
no doubt in the minds of the friends o
labor as to the result. They were no
disappointed, for Congress enacte
legislation making the first Monday il
September, in each year following,
general holiday. In this connection |
may be stated that honor done organ
tied labor is made most significant b.
the fact that Labor Day is the only gen
eral holiday provided for by nationa
legislation.
The first Labor Day created by Con
gress was a great occasion for tn
members OF organized labor in the Dis
trict. 1t was celebrated by a grea
street parade, in which all the mem
bers affiliated with both the Knight
Of Labor and the American Federation
OF Labor participated.
Nearly 10000 of the wage-earners Q
the District turned out in parade TO EN-
phasize by their presence the victor
they had won and acknowledge thei
appreciation of what had been done 70
them.
Before another year had passed, how
ever. internal dissensions divided tn
ranks of local labor. and the knight
parade demonstration on the secon
anniversary of Labor Day in the Dis
trict. Instead, District Assembly 6s or
ganized great excursion picnic I
Marshall Hall, and each year since ha
observed the occasion in the same wal
The trades unionists, represented b
the Central Labor Union, also aban
doned the street parade feature of tn
celebration of Labor Day and with fb
exception of last year. spent the da
with their friends and the members {
their families picnicking at River View
Last year the members of the Centrs
Labor Union celebrated the day at Gle
Echo.
September BRINGS JOY
TO LOVERS OF OYSTER