Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-09-01
LABOR AND LABOR DAY


Amy achievement worth while
means toll somewhere along the line.
Carlyle expressed this truth: with
out labor there were no ease, no rest,
so much as conceivable" And 1t
is equally true that:
Not all the labor of the earth
as done by hardened hands"
A large majority of the American
people have long recognized the
dignity of labor, whether it be of the
hands or of the head. Such recog-
milton went long way in nerving
the country to the task of cleaning
up, slavery. Many will subscribe to
the .dictum that labor is holy. They
find their assurance in the history
Of the world, of the peoples who ac-
complished because they toiled and
who failed when they refused to toll.
What more fitting than the
emphasis laid on this recognition
by setting apart day each year in
observance of it? The day is
not set apart to celebrate the labor
union or to exalt the walking dele
gate, but in recognition Of labor
itself, which sometimes is noticeably
different. Indeed the occasion may
be profitably employed both for con-
sidering the good the unions have
accomplished, likewise the bad which
no. faI xryitJo
them, not forgetting, however, to de-
vote generous share of our Labor
Day consideration to other than
union labor and to conditions under
which labor is employed, its share in
the products and it's claim upon us
and our claim upon labor itself
toward capital which is the stored
product of the labor of head and
hand, both. We might with profit
consider why it is that in the trades
the youth are not seeking to be ap-
prentices, that the. craftsmanship
which in the past appealed to gener-
alton after generation appears now
not to be held in high regard by
our youth.
1t might be said that dislike Of
toll has been an inducement to many
a toiler to save up from the fruits of
his labor against the day when he
may cease to toll and have the
fruits to live upon. How otherwise
crown "a youth of labor with an age
of ease?" Fortunately this is not the
only inducement by which the
fruits Of labor are stored in the
form of capital. Not all dislike work
unless it may be served up to them
in the form Of sport. Some there
are. who yet are proud of their
craftsmanship. But they are not of
those who simply, push levers while
machines toll, who follow day in and
out this deadly routine, a veritable
cog in the vast industrial machine.
These latter must not be overlooked.
We must not forget that this variety
of toll neither expands the intellect
inspires initiative nor offers induce
ments and opportunities which may
be had from skilled craftsmanship.
The methods which may apply to the
one may not apply to the other.
Organized labor clamors for a
voice in affairs. This is but natural
and is right and proper. But it is
neither to labor's or the country's
advantage when it demands the solo,
Or when it refuses or neglects to
consider the labor, the toll of hand
and wits, Of those not organized.
That is as much lack of recognition
of the dignity of labor as would be
the tilted nose of the snob at the
workman in the ditch.
OF course there should be a de-
mocracy of labor if we are to per-
petuate democracy of government.
This can only come with better
understanding of what labor really
is of how absolutely essential it is in
some form to the well-being Of any
people, also with a disposition to
apply the Golden Rule In making
our measurements.
The spirit of Labor Day should
be the spirit of fellow-w workers. The
bond between those who work to-
getheris of nature to endure much
and accomplish much, it is a
leaven of human endeavor.