The Irish standard., 1914-08-22
Social Service Bulletin

Social SeTVlce COulullSS1OAs <AHASA
lean Federation of Catholic Soci-
cites. Peter E. Dietz, Editor,
43-44 University Bldg. Milwau-
kee. Wis.,
Labor Day-By Samuel Gompers,
President of the American Feder-
alton of Labor.
Once more the workers are to OBJ
serve Labor day-a day which has
associations entwined in the most
sacred and most homely affairs of
life and work. 1t is those things
which deal with daily living and fell
lowship that kindle the deep, abid-
ing emotion-things more removed
from human immediate needs and
interests. The purely intellectual
becomes more attenuated in feeling
and emotion, and rarely inspires the
love and devotion given the things
called common. Yet it needs imagin-
alton and idealism so to order these
common things as to feel and rever-
ence the heart and soul in them, to
know what they really are and
mean. and to use them to the best ad-
vnatage. To one man piece of bread
is-just a piece of bread. To an
other man a piece of bread is some
marvellous thing, the product of Ia
Dor, nature and science; he sees in
it the life-essence of the wheat dis
titled from the dew and the sunshine
as the grain rippled under the prairie
wind, and the work of many hands
and minds that harvested and pre-
pared the grain so that it could
nourish his body, mind and soul.
This man is the idealist, he has the
artistic soul, he belongs to those who
understand. Upon such is laid the
duty of interpreting so that all may
learn to see and understand.
There are some in the labor move
ment to whom it is not merely an
Organization" who can see it as
part of human life and history. Upon
them is laid the obligation of shar-
ing this vision with all of the work
ers on Labor day and that the day
may be an occasion for strengthen
ing ties of devotion and for renew
ing enthusiasm and earnestness in
the cause. Such men see in the Ia
Dor movement innumerable people,
masses, and myriads of the common
people-the people that-burdened
and sore oppressed, had found them
selves individually helpless to COM
bat the forces of wealth, power and
uthority-the people that asked but
the chance to live and work and en-
joy the satisfaction of living worth
lily and we'll.
Down the ages file the crowds of
common people, so patiently, so un-
obtrusively. SO submissively, that
dumb pain catches the heart in re-
Spouse to the human tragedy and
pain of the dwarfed lives and sup
pressed powers. Though the march
of the worlds toilers hurts with it's
pain and it's pathos, yet it brings
cheer, gladness and encouragement.
Today, though the common people
dig and delve, go down itno dark and
dreary places, do the work necessary
to the intricate organizations that
supply social needs, yet many of
them are able, comfortable, and hap
py past the conception of former
ages. And how? The labor move.
ment
In some guise, with varying ideals,
the labor movement has existed
wherever there has been need and OPP
preston of the workers. 1t has led
them up from slavery to freedom,
through the gate of freedom upon the
infinite possibilities of free life that
stretch far, far away in the unfath-
omed future.
And what is this labor movement?
1t is a living thing with soul and
spirit, and personality all it's own.
Those that are weary and heavy-lad-
en- cast their burdens upon it.,
straighten the bent back and ease the
aching muscles. In new-found free
dom they look up and see the higher
levels and purer heights just beyond.
Meny and women that hunger and
thirst stretch out their hands and
receive that which satisfies the pres
ent physical needs. AS the pangs
of distress become less sore, mind
and heart are freed of the burden
of existence, ready for things of the
spirit. Those made restless and alert
by unsatisfied longing turn to this
great human movement and there
find a response to their craving for
something that is true and honest,
practical, yet idealistic.
To keep full and strong this tide
of energy, to rouse the purpose and
determination to strive for yet more
and more, is the great purpose OF
Labor Day. Let the workers meet
together, review the things done
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