The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-03
abors thanksgiving (opes Tells What Fo
mary by President of American Fed
NY JOHN ELrRnrH yvArkINs

m JOHN ELFRETH WATKINS.
washington. D. c. September g.
Labor Day Is twenty-nine years ola.
according to data gathered for the
United States Bureau OF Labor. and
the man who christened It was one
RoeertsPrice. of Homecoming. Md
It's birth and IT'S christening fell
about in this way: On September 3.
1882. the Central Labor Union of New
York held a parade in that city and
the general assembly o: the Knights
OF Labor-then in session In the metro
polis-reviewed tho procession from
Rrandstand at Union Square
This is Labor Day in earnest" said
Price, member OF the general assem-
bly,. TO the general worthy foreman OF
Inc knights and the following year
"hen the New York organization again
held It's procession on the FIRST Mon.
day of September the event was called
fhe Labor Day Parade" That was
'S3, and in 1884 GEORGE r. Lloyd. a
KNIGHT OF Labor, offered resolution
which declared the frs. Monday in
september to he Labor Day, steps be-
Ing at once taken TO have the var
!ous State legislatures dea!gnate this
date as n legal holiday Oregon took
the lead passing the bill February 2l.
1887. and Colorado came second while
New Jersey was third and New York
fourth. All Of the other common
N'"'AHs OF the Union nave since fOl-
lowed suit, and since June %. 1894.
La Dor Day has been national holi-
day. for upcn tnat cate became law tho
blll to ;hlR effect offered In tho nat
ional House OF Representatives by
Amos j. Cummings. OF New York. and
IN the national Senate b. James II
Kyle. of South Dakota.
So on Monday next not merely our
1000, 600 of union workers. but our
total population o, 100000 will in
one way or another observe the holi-
day. which has been established TO ad-
vance tho interest Of thu working
classes.
For what events. occurring since
Labor Day became a national holiday
should the working classes be chiefly
thankful" / asked the other day of
samuel Gompers president OF the
American Federation of Labor which
Organization includes in ITS member
snip $1,000 local unions and 1000 o0
worhingmen and women
Taking UP the state laws enacted
since Labor Day was nationalized. Mr.
Gompers gave me the following outline
OF progress for which labor has most
10 be thankful:
"Twentyfour States require guards
on dangerous machinery: twenty-seven
states require satisfactory and sum
Client toilet rooms for the sexes thirty
y
enforce the Observance OF laws. seven
teen States make 1t mandatory for en-
ployers to report all accidents, so that
accurate vital records can be obtained
for Information and protective legis-
lation: thirty-siH States restrict night
work by children; forty-four states
have adopted the age limic for the en-
ployment of children. forty-two states
have set maximum hours for work
Ing week OF children: seventeen States
have made provision for protection
OF workmen In construction OF build
ings; forty-eight States have laws
making 1t possible to secure wages due
states have established bureaus OF
labor. and thrty-seven States have
enacted. IN some form. an employ ers'
liability bill.
The following States" Mr.. Gompers
went on 10 say. have abrogated the
defense OF fellow servant responsib!li-
-. either for general employment or
in some particular industry, usually
transportation: Arkansas Colorado
Florida, Georgia. Iowa. Kansas, Mime
Fota. Missouri Montana. Nebraska
Nevada North Carolina. North Dakota
Oklahoma (by Constitution. South
Dakota. Texas and Wisconsin
The Colorado law ia the most no
table example. 1t completely elim!-
mates the defense OF the fellow servant
rule in all employments. and upon
test case being made II was upheld
as being constitutional In California,
Mississippi, Ohio. Oregon. South Caro-
Ina, Utah and Virginia the fellow ser
want rule Is modified without being
abrogated."
For what in the line OF national
legislation within this period Is labor
most thankful" ! asked.
For many years" he replied. "the
American Federation of Labor endeav-
ored to have retormatory legislation
passed ny Congress, but with very lit
tie success. While the lower house
passed several measures In the inter
est of laber. they nearly all were de-
feated in the Senate Realizing that
the committees in Congress had been
packed against all measures affect.
ing labor. the American Federation of
La Dor began TO draw the attention Of
the trade unionsts throughout the
country to the negligent attitude of
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