Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-09-05

the long ages. But it was reserved for
this country, and for the American
people. to give birth to Labor day. In
this they honor the toilers of the earth,
and pay homage to those who from
rude nature have delved and carved all
the comfort and grandeur we behold.
More than all. the thought, the con-
ception, yes, the very inspiration OF this
holiday came from men in the ranks OF
the working people, men active In up
lifting their fellows and leading them
to better conditions 1t came from
little group in New York city, the Cen
trail La Dor Union, which had just been
formed, and which in later years at
tanned widespread influence.
Ion May s, 1882. the writer made
the proposition. He urged the proprlety
of setting aside one day in the year 70
be designated as Labor day" and to be
esta blished as a general holiday for
the laboring classes. He advised the
day should first be celebrated by a
street parade, which would publicly
show the strength and esprit de corps
of the trade and labor organizations.
Next the parade should be followed by
a picnic or festival in some grove,
the proceeds of the same to be divided
on this semi-co-operative plan.
Observed as Festal Day.
ut was further argued Labor day
should be observed as one festal day in
the year for public tribute to the genius
of the American industry. There were
other worthy holidays representative
of the religious, civil and military
spirit. But none representative of the
industrial spirit, the great vital force
of every nation He suggested the nrst
Monday in September of every year Tor
such a holiday, as it would come at the
most pleasant season of the year. near
" midway between the Fourth OF July
and Thanksgiving and would fill the wide
gap in the chronology of legal mondays.
Many We're the cogent reasons he ad-
vanced, and at once the idea was en-
Enthusiastically embraced.
The first Labor day parade and fes-
tival of the Central Labor Union OF
New York city, September 5, 1882, was
simply an imposing success. From that
day on it became a fixed institution In
the United States, observed today IN
every city of the land. The plan was
next Endorsed by the annual convention
of the American Federation of Labor.
and the general assembly of the
knights of Labor. 1t spread rapidly
from city to city and from town to
town. City councils and state legisla,
lures took it up and made 1t legal
holiday, until finally. June %, 1884, 1t
became a national holiday by act OF
Congress.
The initial action taken setting apart
one day in the year on which to review
the activities and beneficial influence OF
organized labor occurred at the AFTER
noon meeting of the third day OF the
fourth annual session of the federation,
October 9.~1S84, the convention being
held in Schloesser's Hall, Chicago the
resolution creating Labor day was In
troduced in the convention by A. T.
Cameron, a delegate from the Cnlcago
Trades and Labor Assembly, anu was
"'Resolved, That the first Monday
in September of each year be set apart
as laborers' national holiday. and
nd 70
all wage-workers, irrespective OF sex,
calling or nationality.
wv j. Hammond, representing the
International Typographical Union.
from New Orleans, La, was president
of this convention. The accredited del
egates to this convention numbered
only twenty-six.
Report to A. F. Of L.
THE federation held its annual con-
yention at Columbus, Ohio, December
SIP, 1886. At this session the officers
reported the following:
".At the fourth session of the fed
Grafton a resolution was adopted max.
ing the first Monday in September OF
each year labor's national holiday and
recommending it's observance by wage
workers generally throughout the
exceeded the most sanguine eXpecta-
lions. In our great manufacturing and
distributing centers thousands of
workingmen marched in procession
and participated in the festivities OF
the picnic grounds, where the most
skilled mechanics and workers in pro-
fessions and laborers united in a COM
mon celebration. exchanging friendly
fraternal greetings while they listened
to the champions of labor discussing
the economic and political questions of
the day. The good effects of this are
go well understood that we recommend
II shall be uncommon for man to
work on that day as on Independence
day
standing with reference to the action
of Congress in enacting legislation
upon this subject II is well to state
that the law passed by Congress June
IS, 1894. described above, as making
Labor day national holiday only pro-
vided that Labor day should be OBJ
served in the District of Columbia, as
we'll as the then territories.
Nearly all Of the states in the Union
now have statutes making the first
Monday in September a legal holiday,
thus observing Labor day.
abor day was established in the
various states and IN the order and on
the dates named below: 1887. February
II. Oregon: 1887. March Is. Colorado,
1887, April s, New Jersey: 1887. May 6.
sets: 1888. March 90, Connecticut; 1889.
March 20, Nebraska; 1889, April rs,
Pennsylvania; 1890. April %. Ohio; 1891,
February 10. Maine: 1891. February "a,
Washington: 1891. March 4, Montana:
1891. March 4. Kansas; 1891. March 9,
Indiana: 1891, March II, Tennessee
1891. March 81. New Hampshire; 1891,
June II, Illinois; 1891. October 1s, Geor-
gia; 1891. December 90 South Carolina
1892, February 5. Virginia: 1892, Feb
ruary %. Utah 1892. July I. Louisiana;
1892. December IL, Alabama; 1888
February IL. Texas; 1898. Hebru-
airy II. Delaware: 1893. March 20. Cali
fornia: 1893. April IS. Minnesota; 1893.
April 10. Wisconsin; 1893, April 90,
Florida: 1888 May IS. Rhode Island
1894. June 2s, District of Columbia and
territories: 1895. April 8. Missouri
Mr.. Gompers will speak at Marion
i'll, tomorrow. The invitation to speak
there was extended to him over a year
ago. and one of the chief reasons that
determined him to accept that invita-
ton was that Marion is in a mining
center and afforded him an opportunity
ospeak TO large number of miners
an opportunity that President Gompers
has had only once before in several
years
About half dozen of the neighbor.
ing cities will join with Marion in the
Labor day celebration, and will also
participate in the parade. The ad
dresses by labor speakers other than
Mr.. Gompers viii be made by Miss
Agnes Nestor. national president of the
glove workers; Miss Agnes Burns, rep.
resentattve of the Women's Union La.
bel League of New York. and Frank
harrington, state president of the