Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1915-09-30

Please tell me something about La
Dor day, the origin Of IL, etc.
Labor day is a day set apart as q
legal holiday in every state in the
Union. In 1882 the knights Of Labor
held their original assembly in New
York In the month of September, which
on the 9Th reviewed great parade or
ganized by the Central Labor union of
that city. The next year the parade
was held the first Monday in Septem-
Der, and. i'll 1884. on the resolution of
George Il. Lloyd. one Of the Knights
Of Labor. il was decided that all future
parades should be held on that day,
and that the day should be known as
labor day. Workingmen's organiza-
tons all over the country then began
an agitation to induce the state legis-
latures to declare the day legal holi-
day, and ON March Is, 1887, Colorado
led the way. to be quickly followed by
New Jersey, New York and Massachu-
setts The first Monday in September
Is now established as Labor day.
Please give an outline Of the govern
mont Of Canada and names Of the prov.
inces composing il.
The official title of Canada is the
Dominion of Canada. 1t embraces
eleven provinces-viz: Alberta, British
Columbia, Manitoba. New Brunswick,
Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward
Island, Quebec. Saskatchewan, North
west Territories and Yukon Territory.
The government is federal. conferred at
Ottawa, the capital Of the Dominion.
while each of the provinces, like our
states, has its local legislature and cap
ital. The head Of the federal govern
ment is a governor general, appointed
by the king Of Great Britain and hold
ing Office for FIVE years. Each prov
ince has a lieutenant governor, appoint
ed by the federal government for Z
term Of five years.
Which became an American pesses-
sion first, Hawaii or Porto Rioo7
Hawaii was annexed to the United
States by act of congress Of July Z,
1893, and was made a territory and
customs district by act Of April 80.
1900, which took effect June IA, 1900.
Porto Rico was taken possession Of by
the United States Oct. Is, 1893, and re-
ceived a civil government and was
made a customs district by act Of April
IL. 1900. to take effect May 1, 1900.
How did the custom originate Of the
president Of the United States dating
official documents from the year Of the
Declaration Of Independence?
There Is no law ON the subject. 1t
originated before the adoption Of the
constitution, during the days Of the
confederacy. SThe original articles of
confederation show they were signed
by the delegates lat Philadelphia, in
the state of Pennsylvania. the 9th day
Of July in the year of our Lord, ITS,
and in the third year Of the independ-
ence of America" The first proclama-
ton issued by Washington as presi-
dent was "Given under my hand and
the seal Of the United States, in the
city Of New York. the 14th day of Au-
gust, A. D. 100, and in the fifteenth
year of the sovereignty and independ-
ence of the United States"
Where can get information in re-
gard to vacant government lands which
are open to homesteaders7
There are public lands open to entry
in a dozen different states and from
one to three or four land offices in
each state. A land entry can only be
made in person at the Office. Perhaps
you might obtain further information
by writing the honorable commissioner
Of the land Office, Washington.
How did negroes come to be called
eontrabands during the civil war;
1t was a curious application Of
well established principle. Under the
laws of war belligerent may hold
as contraband and may seize and con-
denim anything calculated to aid the
enemy and prolong the war. Early In
the war, when General B. f. Butler
was in command at Fortress Monroe.
some fugitive slaves came into his
lines. and as he needed laborers in field
works he put them Mt work. When
their former owner demanded to know
what the general intended to do with
his negroes the general replied, II
shall detain them as contraband Of
war;" Butler held. that slaves might
be used against the United States gov
eminent by its enemies and were
therefore c0ntraband Of war. From
that time fugitive slaves were called
contrabands.