The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1908-09-06
(By Glenn Guernsey

Nu''lS IN the luAlldi workshops and
factories Of the metropolis cease to
fovolve, the workers OF New York
viii begin a holiday season that will
cvtond through two days. And It is
their own holiday period conse.
Grated by the sons and daughters OF
Martha, alike to the slaves Of the
swcitshop aud the high-salaried me.
chanlcs.
II was from "a small beginning. Just
twcntysiX years ago today. that the
present national Observance of Labor
nay has grown. New York had the
honor Of originating the movement.
On September ., 1892. less than
hundred members Of the knights of
Labor gatchcrcd IN city Hall Park.
With william Mc"abe as their grand
marshal In its beginning II was
dismal procession. many tlmid work
ingmcn fearing ridicule and possible
/ trouble with the police IL they partic.
'patcd In the demonstration.
. From city Hail to Astor place but
few converts we're added to the ranks
Of marchcrs, but AT the latter point a
large number of organizations Joined
the parade. Fearing that the process.
sion might be- disrupted IN the early
stage of its journey up town. these
shrcwd laborcrs had awaited the sue
cess OF their brayer comrades before
r'skIng participation In the demonstrl.
lion Of the "prolctariat"
The few who started in the parade
were rewarded for their persistence.
liy the time Union Square was reach.
ed $500 men were in line. and that
afternoon over 10000 men. women
and children took part in the first
Labor Day picnic of the Central
Labor Union.
II was not until 1887 that the state
legislature passed an act making La.
bor Day legal holiday for working
men. In the same year similar laws
were passed in Oregon. New Jersey.
New Hampshire, Massachusetts and
Colorado. and the observation OF La
bor Day has since become general
all over the country.
Clarence Darrow.
Not the least important feature of
the Labor Day program I'm the me-
tropolis will be the address of Clar.
encc : barrow. the brilliant Chicago
attorney n modern Robin Hood Of the
legal profession, who accepts big fees
from corporations and gives his ser.
vices free In defense Of the downtrod.
den ana oppressed.
Among the little band Of socialist
"intellcctuals," which Includes Jack
London. Joseph Medu Patterson. Up.
ton Sinclair ami Robert Hunter. Oar.
row is easily the most commanding
figure. Il Is doubtful II even John
Mitchell. samuel Gompers or Eugene
Dchs can compare In popularity
among the worAingmen with this
original genius.
barrow is now in his fiftyfirst year
and Is native of Ohio Always a
friend of the labor organizations, the
great strike OF the American Rail.
way Union, of which Eugene V.
Dcbs was the leader. gave him his
opportunity During those troubled
/ times, Dlrrow worked night and day
To protect what he considered the
rights OF the strikers
with the anthracite coal strike
came another opportunity for display.
ing his legal genius in the cause of
the toiers, and next 10 Mitchell, Oar.
row was the most conspicuous figure
in the investigations of the arbitra-
ton board
Then came the alleged kidnapping
of Moycr Haywood and Pctubone,
leaders Of the Western Federation of
Miners An over the land the labor
unionists were reused To a white heat
IN defense Of their imprisoned com
rades" and again the call came for
barrow His brilliant conduct of the
case, resulting in the acquittal Of all
the accused men. is u matter of re-.
cent history With which all are ac.
Quaintcd.
All Of the influences which operat.
I'D to make barrow the peculiar gee
MUS that he is, perhaps none WAS
more potent than his association with
Governor Altgcld OF Illinois, After Ait
seld's retirement from the governor.
ship, ne formed a legal partnership
with Dlrrow which continued until
the death Of the former. over the