Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1913-09-18
Labor,s Gains Within a Year

FROM tte 81. Joseph NeWS-INfeSS.
Since the last observance of Labor day
the American Federation of Labor which
includes the great mass of the organized
workers OF both the United States and
Canada, has accomplished many of the
reforms for which it stands. Public sen
timent is aroused never before against
such evils as child labor and the sweat
ing system. The protection of the work
crs In mines mills and shops against
citions that menace health, life and limb
has become IA public question. Human
life is not so cheap as 1t was a year ago.
The organized labor movement in Amer
through "A crisis The Mcnamara ex-
posurcs it was predicted by many people
To whom the wish was father to the
Thought, would result In the destruction
of the labor unions The prediction has
failed of ful6liment. and the American
federation and its affiliated unions. and
the great railroad organizations as well,
are apparently stronger today than ever
before.
workmen of the United States have
gs,iic. representation In the presidents
cabinet. The new, secretary of labor.
pcrience the needs and necessities of the
workers AT the age of 9 he became II
coal MINER and his whole youth was
spent toier In the PENNSYLVANIA
mines.
Americas Labor day ushers i'm month
of activity for the. workers all over the
world The British Trades Union congress
many matters of great moment will be
discussed. There will also be important
gatherings OF i'rench and German labor
interests during the month, and the Ger
man social democracy will hold it's con-
gress in Jena. The death of August Bebe
has been great blow to German social
ism following q year in which the party
has made little progress. The increase in
membership has been the smallest In
years. and most of the new members have
been women. The circulation OF the party
press has fallen off
In Europe Labor day is celebrated on
the first day of May. and that was the
Federation of Labor, but Il change was
soon made to the first Monday in Septem-
Der. The first celebration and parade of
this character in America was held on
September >. 1852, by the Central Labor
union of New York. Oregon was the first
state to make Labor day a legal holiday
and before the close of that year similar
acts had been adopted by Colorado. New
Jersey. New York and Massachusetts
immune to the disease, and who had to
be quarantincd to prevent her from
spreading typhoid wherever she went.
That's "a serious problem, too; and ii is
fortunate that such freaks are rare.
But there other distributors for
whom no quarantine is available. They
are distributors of the germs OF discon-
content which stirs up dissatisfaction with
that which is wrong and works to make
ii right. but the unleasoning discomfort
of those who do not know how to be
happy themselves. and who hate to see
others happy
You know the kind. Such people have
| a dash of cold water for every enthus-
| iasin, and word of pessmism to darken
| the brightest situation.
| They protrude their sour visages and
| dark dispositions wherever there is light
| and cheer: and their coming is like draw
| ing cloud over a clear sky.
| Unhappy themselves, whether for good
| reason no reason or just natural Gus
1 sedness. they resent the happiness OF
others and delight in disspat>.g it if they
] can.
There is no quarantine for such distribu
tors of the germs of discomfort, but there
/ ought to be.
The only defense is the cultivation of q
cheerful spirit that will turn the gloon
of the pessimist as readily as a duck,
I feathers turn weter.