Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1914-09-02
LABOR DAY.
Next Monday the Labor Organiza-
lions Of the Country Will Cele.
brate.

Labor Day Is a day set apart by
the executive or legislative bodies
OF most states of the Union at the
solicitation of the labor unions and
other Industrial bodies, to be devot-
ed to general celebrations honoring
the laboring man. The first Monday
in September has been agreed upon
by most of the states as the date
for an annual celebration.
Labor organizations are of two
classes-those organized within sep
arate trades for the purpose of OBJ
tanning benefits for the followers of
those trades, and those organized to
admit workmen of all trades and
classes for the purpose of improving
the condition Of laboring men as a
whole. The methods of the two
classes differ in accordance with
these purposes. The former rely
chiefly, upon such direct influences
as strikes or collective bargains,
while the latter depends upon more
indirect means, such as agitation and
political action. The former, or
trades unions, were first organized
in England about the middle of the
eighteenth century, and were the re-
suit of natural evolution from the
ancient guilds. They did not attain
great influence in the United States
until about 1880, but since that
time have constantly grown in num-
ber and in Importance. From 1880
to 1850 the tendency was toward the
formation of general labor organiza-
tions rather than trades unions, but
after the latter date almost every
line of trade organized separate To-
cal union. About 1855 a reaction
set in, marked by organization, in
1869, of the Knights of Labor, a
general society admitting members
of all classes of labor, and including,
when at its height, probably 20O,-
900 workmen. Its influence in poli-
tics was at times notable, but this
very activity Also brought 1t into
disrepute, and since about 1885 IL
has gradually lost influence. being
superseded more recently by the
American Federation of Labor. This
latter organization. founded about
1887, consists of the federation of
trades unions and now has more
than 100000 members. It's poll
cy was, at first, to keep out of poll
tics, but to maintain a continuous
agitation through the general and
special press and to obtain it's de-
mands by means of strikes and con-
ferences. Later, however, it entered
politics, devoting itself to securing
the nomination and election of can
didates favorable to the laboring
classes. 1t has sometimes worked
in and through the old parties, and
sometimes has had independent can
didates.
The prejuice which formerly ex-
listed against labor organizations is
rapidly dying out, as the public has
learned to know and respect their
leaders and has obtained a clearer
understanding of their aims and
principles. In the furtherance Of
their original purposes, namely, in
creasing the intelligence, skill and
efficiency of workmen, the elevation
Of character, the raising of wages
and the improvements of conditions
Of employment, the payment of in
surance and of benefits to the sick,
and the general protection of the
rights of laboring men, they have
accomplished and are still accomp-
! fishing great work.