The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1914-10-09
BENEFACT0R OF
ALL THE PEOPLE
Good Work Of the Hon John
P. Green.
HIS CAREER AS STATESMAN.

INV WUul6hul nv VIM kOuosW
Originated and Introduced Bill In Ohio
Legislature Making First Monday In
September Annual Holiday In Honor
of Labor - Popular With Labor
Unions Throughout Nation.
adelphia.-Perhaps but very
few of the leaders and but small per-
centage Of the members Of the many
labor unions are aware of the fact that
the father Of this bill which made
the first Monday in September holi-
day In honor of labor was a colored
man, says G. Grant Williams in the
Philadelphia Tribune. The first Labor
day bill was written by John p. Green,
attorney -at-law, Cleveland, o.. In 1890.
He was then member of the Ohio
legislature and personally introduced
his bill before the Sixty-ninth general
assembly.
The bill was strenuously opposed In
the committee, but when 1t came be-
fore the main body for passage the
evidence. He made an eloquent plea
In defense of the bill and urged It's
passage because Of its unusual impor-
tance. He quoted the number Of labor
unions in the state Of Ohio and their
enormous membership and voting
strength The bill passed. and Mr..
Green was called the Daddy Of Labor
Day."
On several occasions Mr.. Green was
the guest Of honor Of the Amalgamated
Trades Of Cincinnati and on one oc-
casion rode with distinguished citizens
at the head Of the Labor day process
sion.
The bill was the first passed by a
state legislature legalizing Labor day
as holiday. With few changes 1t
was afterward presented In and passed
by congress. indorsed by the national
labor body. and since then the day Is
considered national holiday in all the
states and the District of Columbia and
Alaska.
For three years following the pas
sage Of the bill by the general assem-
bly, Mr.. Green was the honOred guest
Of national labor union bodies and was
toasted and feted as a leading advo
cate Of labor legislation. lndorsed by
the labor unions. he was subsequently
elected to the senate of Ohio. He was
the first and only colored man so far to
have that honor.
John p. Green Of Cleveland, o., was
born at Newbern. N. c.. on April 2.
lS45. of free and humble colored par
rents. His father died In 1850. leaving
his mother widow with three small
children. Mrs. Green sold her slender
belongings. the remnant Of fortune
which the elder Green had lost, and
took her three children to Cleveland
July 7. 1857. John r. was then twelve
years Of age. After attending the COM
mon schools of Cleveland young Green
set forth to buy home for his mother.
It was a long. hard struggle, but In
1865 the last dollar was paid.
In 1860 he was graduated from the
Central high school Of Cleveland, hav.
ing taken classical course. Subse-
quently he was graduated from the
Ohio Union Law college in Cleveland.
Senator Green's public record began
In 1870 when he was admitted to prac-
tice law. In 1873 he was elected JUS
tice Of the peace Of Cleveland. He
was three times elected and served
continuously for nine years. during
which time he commenced and dis
posed Of about 10000 cases. In 1882
Mr.. Green was elected to the general
assembly Of Ohio. In 1901 he was re-
elected to the legislature. and in 1902
he took his seat In the senate Of the
Seventieth general assembly Of Ohio,
being the only colored man ever elect
ed to that body.
During his service as senator he was
called upon to preside over the senate,
and It is worthy Of note that during
the time he presided over that body
he was de facto lieutenant governor Of
the state Of Ohio. During the period
from 1897 to 1906 nine years. Mr..
Green discharged the duties Of United
States postage stamp agent under both
Presidents Mckinley and Roosevelt.
During eighteen months of that time
he discharged the duties Of acting su-
perintendent of finance Of the postof-
nce department.