Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1904-11-17
FATHER OF MODERN LAbON
DAY.
How Rugged Miner Created Il
National Holiday.

Among the tens of thousands OF "o'h-
men who, on Septemb 5, 1904. parad-
ed the streets in celebration of Labor
Day, it is afe to assume that of all that
vast throng t one in a thons nd can
name him ho is, by tight father OF
Labor Day."
For the man who made and named
Labor Day is dead. He passed away
IN hi umble home in the outskirts OF
He ena, Mont., only few days ago
The funeral was plain and nnceremon-
ious, and strange to say, but poorly at
tended
Robert Price, or "Shouting Bob.' as
many of his Homecoming friends nick
name him, because he sometimes said
"Amen" while the pastor was diecours-
ing in the large Methodist Episcopal
church, on Church hill, was born near
Aberystwith. Wales, July Is, 1888
His parents being poor, Robert was
compelled to leave school at the ear y
age of eight wears and work with his
father in the coal mines. When he at
tanned his 31st birthday, Robert came
to the United States and worked in the
Pennsylvania coal fields for eight years
after which he became an "underboss"
in the old Jackson mine, near Iona
coming, Md, where he served faithfully
for Is years. Leaving the Georges
creek coal fields, he wended his way to
Idaho, and later to Kansas In his Goth
year he moved to Montana, where he
lived until his recent death.
One of the many interesting as we
as singular things pertaining to his life
and work was the fact that for time he
was sympathetic with the capitalist
From the age of 16 to "a he was Iecid
edly cooperative with the superintend
ents and bosses, and often avefted ser
ious trouble at the mines by showing
the men the unreasonableness of their
demands.
twenty-five years ago Price was
deliver in the bowels of the earth, slav
ing in darkness and gloom, surrounded
by conditions which in these latter days
are practically unknown, and bringing
forth by the sweat of his brow and the
brawn of his strong arms the treasures
of Mother Earth, who had fore-ordain-
ed tha, ali who received from her
bounty must give in return those things
which Price so freely gave. He was
strong, healthy man, de!ightit in work
and action and rejoicing in his strength |
and power.
At that time the Knights OF Lat or
was strong in men and power. Grand
Master Workman Powderly, with that
skill and cunning which later served as
his undoing had built up, step by step,
an order which was feared by many and
honored by others. TIE strongest
worker for the order at that time was
Price. Early and late he had labored
for the cause and local assembly No.
S48. of Homecoming. had no worthier
ch ampion than he. Things were on the
boom with the knights then, and tho
local was up in the front
ranks. Nearly all of the miners were
members of the order when the annu-
was called.
A special meeting of L. S4S was
/; ,lled for the purpose of selecting II
delegate 10 attend the convention. ,
Price worked in the mine that night, {
Tor had he left the heading in which he
vas employed it would have forced
other men to suspend work. Down in f.,
he valley at the mouth OF the mine !
lope could be g. en- the lights of the '
lall wherein the meeting was being
leld, as Price, lighting his lamp enter
d the mine.
He had been at work for some time
vhen delegation of his fellow work
nen appeared in the "room" in which