The labor world., 1921-09-03
History of Labor DAY..

Labor Day. 1921, is the twenty seventh an
nual celebration Of Labor Day as legal ma
tional holiday.
The history of Labor Day is significant Of
the increasing strength and progress or organ
lied labor.
Labor Day evolved from the aspiration Of
the labor movement; it was not handed down
as present. It's recognition as legal holiday
was won by labor; it was not given to labor.
The united voluntary efforts of the workers
themselves established Labor Day as a ma
tional holiday long before any state legislature
or the national legislature enacted the custom
into statute law.
- But the history Of the statute law is in itself
significant; it Indicates the ever-increasing in
fluence of the economic organizations Of labor
over the deliberations Of lawmakers.
The Labor Day idea was originated by P. j.
Mcclure, for many years first vice-president
of the American Federation of Labor.
At a meeting Of the New York City central
urged the propriety Of setting aside one day in
the year as general holiday for the laboring
people. He suggested that it be called 'Labor
Day. ~t
The idea was adopted by the central labor
union, and it staged Labor Day parade and
festival on the first Monday in September, 1882
The A. F. Of L. endorsed the national Labor
Day holiday at it's 1884 convention, held at Chi
cago. The convention unanimously adopted
the following resolution, introduced by A. G.
Cameron, delegate from the Chicago trades
and labor allianace:
"Resolved, That the first Monday in Sep
tember Of each year be set apart as laborers'
national holiday, and that we recommend it's
observance by all wage workers, irrespective Of
sex, calling, or nationality''
ThrOnp oh the activitV IF the state fedaratio,,s
Of labor and the central labor bodies the Labor
Day demand spread from city to city and state
to state.
Many municipal councils and state legisla-
lures made it a legal holiday.
Oregon was the first state to accede to Ia
boris demand that Labor Day be made state
holiday. The Oregon Labor Day law was
signed by the governor on February 21, 1887
The legislatures of Colorado, Massachusetts
New Jersey and New York also made Labor
Day state holiday in 1887. Connecticut, Ne
braska and Pennsylvania followed in 1889;
Iowa and Ohio in 1890; Georgia, Illinois, In
diana, Kansas Maine Montana, New Hamp.
shire, South Carolina Tennessee and Washing
ton in 1891; Alabama, Louisiana Utah and Vir-
ginia, in 1892, and California, Delaware, Flor
ida, Minnesota, Rhode Isand Texas and Wis
consin in 1893.
In the meantime A. f. Of L. officials sought
congressional legislation to make Labor Day
a legal holiday, in conformity with the resolu-
ton of the 1884 convention. The bill became
law ten years later. It passed congress on
June %, 1884,
On June 29, 1898, President Cleveland signed
the Labor Day law in the presence of Amos J.
Cummings, representtive in congerss from
New York city. Mr.. Cummings presented the
pen and penholder used by President Cleveland
to President Gompers.
convention President Gompers said:
''National La Dor Day-It affords me pleas
ure to be able to report that the demand by the
A. F. of L. for making the first Monday in Sep
temper of each year legal holiday passed con-
gress and was made law on June 49, 1884,"