The professional world. (Columbia, Mo.) 1901-192?, 1902-09-05
LABOR DAYS HISTORY
ITS OBSERVANCE DATES BACK
JUST TWENTY YEARS.
The United States the Only Country
in the World Which Has Set Aside
a Legal Holiday Devoted to Cele-
brations by the Wage Farmers
Something About the Origin of the
Day.

Washington. d. c., Sept. 1.-The cele-
bration of Labor day this year pos
sesses more than ordinary significance
to the ranks of the organized toilers as
it is just 20 years ago since the OBJ
servance was begun. The United States
is the only country in the world which
has set aside a legal holiday devoted to
celebrations by the wage earners. La
Dor day is now almost a national holt
day, the laws of nearly every state and
territory of the union recognizing it.
The origin of Labor day is found in
an agitation begun in the city of New
York in 1882. All the great labor or
CARNATIONS of the country participated
in the effort to secure this recognition
of labor's cause. the initiative in the
movement being taken by p. J. Ma
guire, then NATIONAL secretary of the
iourneymen carpenters. But it was not
until five years later that the efforts
bore fruits in legislation. Then it was
that the far Western state of Oregon,
which passed a law setting aside the
first Saturday in June for this obser-
vance. This law was passed February
81. 1887. Six years later to the day this
law was amended, and the present date,
the first Monday in September, was Sc
lected. New Jersey was the second
state to legalize this holiday, an act be-
ing passed in the Legislature of that
state April 8, 1887. New York followed
in May of the same year.. Colorado and
Massachusetts followed in line the same
year, but it was not until after 1890
that the other states took similar ac-
ton. Ohio passed a Labor day law
April 2S, 1890. Illinois passed its law
June II. 1891; Indiana March 9, 1891,
and Minnesota April IS, 1893. West
Virginia and North Carolina did not
legaliZe Labor day until 1899.
Recognition of the rights and dignity
of labor-thiS is the spirit which moves
in the event. 1t began in a parade. and
is usually so celebrated. In 1882 a great
labor demonstration was held in New
York. The Central Labor union of that
city, consisting of numerous affiliated
labor organizations, arranged a great
parade. Thousands of men were in line
with floats, banners, transparencies,
badges and carriages. 1t CHANGED that
the Knights of Labor were holding their
convention in that city at the same
time, and they were invited to witness
the turnout from Union Square. This
was September 3, 1882. The invitation
was accepted and the occasion was a
great success. The parade from that
time was referred to as the Labor day
parade"
Remembering the success of the pre-
vious year the New York labor organ
izations turned out again in 1883, only
the date was changed to the first Mon
day in September. In 1884, when the
Central Labor union met to discuss a
third observance, George B. Lloyd, a
Lninht nf I ehnr orncn onH nffarnl n
resolution that the first Monday in
September be declared Labor day. This
was adopted and steps were at once
taken to secure enactment by the state
legislature making it a legal holiday.
A bill was introduced in the legislature
the first one for this purpose-but it
did not receive favorable consideration
until 1887, by which time two other
states had passed such a law.
Labor organizations in other states
made common cause with the Central
Labor union and the movement became
general among unionists to get state
legislatures to take action. In less than
five years a majority of the states had
fallen into line, and by 1900 nearly all
the states had declared the first Monday
in September a legal holiday. In ad-
dition to making a display of numbers
by its annua parade, union labor in
tends this day for discussion and pub
lie meetings. Its purpose is said to be
largely educational.
In its call for this years observance
the executive council of tie American
Federation of Labor recommends to all
organized workers in national, state,
central and local unions that they con-
centrate their attention to a discussion
~ tho nl@1;t;~, 80 49,, l.. l.-.
disputes and the passage of resolutions
demanding at the hands of congress and
the legislatures of their respective
states the enactment of laws conform
ing to that purpose"