The wageworker. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1904-????, 1907-08-30
THE MEANING OF LABOR DAN

Labor Day is now a holiday by
legislative enactment in nearly every
state in the Union. 1t was instituted
by the American Federation of Labor
on the motion of a union carpenter,
and met with a ready response from
all sections of the country. Christ
mas is holiday peculiar to all Chris
tendon; Fourth of July is a holiday
peculiar to the United States and is
celebrated by all patriotic citizsns.
But Labor Day is peculiar not only
to the United States, but is day set
apart to emphasize what labor has ac
compIished in the upbuilding of the
republic and in elevating the working
classes from practical serfdom. For it
must be remembered that labor has
shorter work day, the better wages,
the increased sanitary conditions, and
ali that today goes to make the life
of the toiler more endurable, were Sc
struggles and sacrifices, and were not
conferred as a blessing upon the en-
ploying classes. All that labor enjoys
today is the direct result of labor's
efforts towards it's own betterment.
Labor Day means, therefore, that
labor is celebrating victories won in
industrial warfare, just as the Fourth
of July means that we as nation
are celebrating victories won upon the
field of battle. The Fourth of July
would mean little or nothing to the
toiler at forge or bench or lathe if
trades unionism had not added to the
blessings of political independence the
further blessings of industrial indie
pendence. What labor enjoys today
has been won only by earnest work,
untold sacrifices of money and tears
and answering loyalty to the princi-
pie that the injury of one is the con-
Germ of ALL
Men may work and women may
pray, but unless the workers join
hands and concentrate their efforts
along the lines of industrial freedom,
but little. There are those who hold
to the theory that blessings are some
thing that must be granted by the
few and allowed to filter through and
down upon the many. This is the
DRY that was held by some of the
founders of the republic. Happily,
however, this view did not obtain.
The theory that ''all men are created
equal" and are endowed with certain
inalienable rights, among which are
life liberty and the pursuit of hap
piness," found favor, and upon that
rock the republic has been builded.
fore, the best workers have been
| found among those who toll for daily
| wage, just as in the hour of it's dead
| Hest peril the republic found its
the workingmen.
| 1t is fitting, in view of all these
| things, that labor-the labor of hand
and of brain-should be dignified by
having one day set apart for a cele
bration in it's honor And it is de
cidedly fitting that labor, organized
and unorganized, should see to it thai
the day is so observed that no dis
credit be attached to the cause cele
brated.
Labor day means something more
than a day of parading and shouting
and friendly contests. 1t means {
day of introspection-self-i
| ton. Are we doing our part as in
dividuals in the battle for equa
rights and good government? Are we
concerned in other things than three
square meals day and good bed
Are we doing the part of men in the
great task of uplifting and dignity
ing labor? Are we measuring up tt
the standard set for us by the Crafts
men of Galilee, that Master Unionis
who first gave dignity to honest tot
and made the calloused hand the
badge of honor instead of the badge
of serfdOm?