The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1913-09-02
Day Crowd Enjoyed
Delightful Outing at Oak Grove

Continued From Page One.
ing was between the painters and the
carpenters which resulted in a score
of Is to 6 in favor of the painters. In
the afternoon the. printing trade de-
feated the building trade by a score
Of IL to 8.
There were other athletic features
on the programme including running
races, sack races, broad and nigh
jumps and similar feats.
Dance a Success. r.
To the music of Cliffs orchestra,
over 100 couples enjoyed themselves
immensely at the ball given by the
Assembly halls in the evening, the
dance beginning about 9 and lasting
until 1 a. m. this morning. The floor
was in fine condition, the music ex-
cellent and every one seemed to huge
ly enjoy the evening. Rag dances
were conspicuous for their absence.
The Fargo Trades and Labor As
senbly state that the social and finan-
cial results were very satisfactory
ed for helping to make the evening
o'connor's Speech
Mr.. O'Connor, in his address in
the afternoon, spoke-as follows: Mr..
Chairman, ladies and gentlemen: The
legislature of our state designated this
day, Labor day, and has made it a
legal holiday. It is therefore, a day
of special significance. This act is in
conformity with that of nearly every
state in the union. A day set apart
and distinguished from other days, in
this should be especially OBJ
served. A holiday is a day for recrea-
ton, but it is more, it is generally a
day when men recall some important
event in history. Therefore, the two
phases Of this day should be cmphas-
lied; it should be a day OF fun and
freedom from care, a day of games
and races and sports of all kinds but
cas- for making the day a legal
holiday, should also be emphasized.
Labor day, the mention of the name
brings before the mind the history of
industrial workers with the aims,
ideals, accomplishments and disap-
pointment, covering 200 years. 1t is
an interesting, as we'll as, a sad his
tory. 1t is interviewer with the
political history and commercial adj
yancement7 of the world. It COM
mences in the twilight of factory life,
two centuries ago, and comes down TO
the present day.
A speaker could not expect to hold
your attention and enlist your
sy1npathies and support in a great
struggle, building his argument OF
false premises. Misrepresentation
and abuse have done more to ALLEVIATE
support and destroy worthy social
movements than all the shafts of the
opposition, Good meaning and honest
men have too often allowed the heat
of their enthusiasm to warp their
Judgment and carry them away from
the light of truth into the shadows OF
falsehood.
To understand industrial organiza-
tons known as labor unions, we must
familiarize ourselves with the condi-
tions which. called them into existence.
There was no labor problem in the
pastoral age. The men hunted and
ffshed and tended the iocks while the
women spun at home. Neither were
there labor unions in the agricultural
era. But with the rise OF the factory
system in England, at the beginning
of the 18th century, the whole order
changed and a new era was ushered
in with. its promises, it's advantages,
it's perils and its disappointments. The
spider wove its web on the wheel
which nee turned at the gentle
mothers touch, the thin hands and
Magdalene smile, the twilight dying in
the fast grey turning hair. and the
hum of the spinning wheel, passed into
but a memory. The large facterY
chimney emitting a great volume Of
black smoke, the rattle of the wheels.
the smooth flow of the water inter
rupted and harnessed for power ptT-
,9cses,-it was al so new, 50 fasciMat-
ing, that the new conditions attract
ed the girls and boys from the quiet
shades Of farm life to the city with
its pleasures and its sIares. From
every farm house came these clear,
bright eyed, ros checked children.
Can you not picture the army moving
towards the factory centers lured by
the siren hum of the power driven
wheels; that army, comprising the
best blood of the nation, the peasan-
try.--foest because nearest the soil.
There was not work enough and all
the cities became over crowded. Those
who could work the longest and would
accept the least pay, received employ
I1ent. In cellars, under stairs, and in
garrets they huddled together at night,
waiting for dawn to signal the begin
ming of work. III those suffocatine
dens, there was no rest, their bodies
became mere human machines as they
toiled in the factory; toiled until they
tainted and were carried out, the suf-
fering forgotten in unconsciousness
only to suffer more when on awaken
ing, they saw others In their place,
The WORKING day was measured by
human endurance. ten, twelve. or
fourteen hours it ended when the
human machine could work no more,
In a few years, the clear, bright eyed
rosy checked smiling boys and girls