The Sunday telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1914-1927, 1915-09-05
Founder Of the American Fed
GRAFTON Writes an Interesting
Sketch on a Timely Subject.
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Sketch on a Timely Subject.
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WASHINGTON. D. C.. Sept. A.
Samuel Gompers, founder and presi-
dent of the American Federation of
Labor, gave out for publication to-
day some interesting historical mat
ter on the observance Of Labor Day.
Undoubtedly the first suggestion
Of setting apart day In each year
to be observed as Labor Day." said
Mr.. Gompers, was conceived by the
late P. ]. MCGUIRE, who was at that
time secretary OF the United Brother
hood of Carpenters. The suggestion
occurred during the period when the
Knights Of Labor was in existence,
p. J. MCGUIRE being member of that
organization.
Writing for the. American Fed
erationist In 1902 p. J. Mcclure had
this to say:
Pagan feasts and Christian OBJ
servance have come down to US
through the long ages. But 1t 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
conception, yes, the very inspiration
OF this holiday came from men in
the ranks of the working people, men
active in uplifting their fellows and
leading them to better conditions. It
came from little group in New York
City. the Central Labor Union, which
had just been formed, and which in
later years attained widespread in
fiuence.
General Holiday.
II On May 8; 1882, the writer
made the proposition. He urged
the propriety of setting aside one
lay in the year to be designated
as Labor Day. and to be established
as general holiday for the laboring
classes. He advised the day should
first be celebrated by street parade.
which would publicly show the
strength and esprit du corps Of the
trade and labor organizations. Next
the parade should be followed by a
picnic of a festival in some grove,
the proceeds Of the same to be d.
vided on this semi-cooperatiye plan.'
1T Is was further argued Labor
Day should be observed as one fes-
tai day in the year for public tribute
to the genius of the American indus
try. There were other worthy holt
days representative Of the religious,
civil and military spirit. But none
representative Of the Industrial spir-
1t. the great vital force of every ma
ton. He suggested the first Mon
day In September of every year for
such holiday. as It would come at
the most pleasant season of the year
nearly midway between the Fourth
of July and Thanksgiving and would
z fill a wide gap In the chronology Of
legal holidays. Many were the CO.
gent reasons he advanced and at once
the idea was enthusiastically em-
+ braced.
First Labor Day Parade.
THE first Labor Day parade and
festival Of the Central Labor Union
OF New York City on September S,
1882, was simply an imposing sue
cess. From that day on, 1t 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. It spread rapidly from
city to city and from town to town.
City councils and state legislatures
took 1t up and made It legal holt
day, unit. finally. June 90, 1894, It
became national holiday by act Of
Congress.
''The initial action taken setting
apart one day in the year on which
to revie wthe activities and benefl-
ctal influence Of organized labor oc.
CURED at the afternoon meeting OF
the third day Of the four annual ses-
sion. Of the federation, October 8.
1884, the convention being held in
Schloesser's hall, Chicago, Ill. The
resolution creating Labor Day was
introduced in the convention by A..
g. Cameron. a delegate from the
Chicago Trades and Labor Assent bly,.
and was as follows:
Printer President.
Resolved. that the first Monday
IN September Of each yea be set apart
as laborers' national holiday. and
that we recommend its observance
by all wage workers. irrespective Of
sex. calling. or nationality
w. j. Hammond, representing
the International Typographical
Union, from New Orleans, La, was
president of this convention. The
accredited delegates to this conven-
ton numbered only twenty-six.
"The federation held Its annual
convention at Columbus. o., Decem-
Der S-12y 1896. At this session the
officers reproted the following:
AT the fourth session Of the
federation resolution was adopted
making the first Monday in Septem-
her Of each year labor's national hol-
4 iday, and recommending It's obsery-
ance by wage workers generally
throughout the country. This met
!. with response that exceeded the most
sanguine expectations In our great
/ manufacturing and distributing CEN