The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1925-09-05
LABOR BENEFITS ALL THE PEOPLE,
William Green
By WILLIAM GREEN
President, American Federation Of
Labor

LABOR DAY:
Lest we forget, it is well TO recall
that this is the fortyfourth ami
versary Of the origin Of Labor Day
A small band Of loyal, earnest trade
unionists, in their enthusiasm for
the benefits gained by organization
paraded in the city of New York on
the first Monday Of September, 1882
This was the beginning Of Labor
Day.
In 1884 the convention of the
American Federation of Labor called
upon all wage earners irrespective
of sex. calling or nationality, to OBJ
serve Labor Day until "it should be
as uncommon for man to work on
Labor Day as on Independence day. "
There is no need to tell how sue
cessful that appeal has been. None
will deny that that condition is
here.
The idea of Labor Day spread
throughout the nation. Although a
few of the states have not made it
legal holiday it is observed in
them just as loyalty as in the states
where Labor Day laws have been en-
acted.
From a small handful of men who
met in Pittsburg in 1881 and formed
what is now the American Fedora
tion Of Labor. it has grown to enor-
nous proportions, and it's influence
has revolutionized industry for the
benefit of both the wage earners and
employers. When it was organized
the eight-hour day was simply a
dream, for in those times ten hours
was universally worked. while many
were kept at their tasks twelve, four
teen, sixteen and more hours a day.
The opposition to the eight our
day was tremendous. In 1884 the
American Federation of Labor took
the preliminary steps for universal
demand for eight hours. and in less
than two years 100000 workers in
industry gained shorter workday.
By 1892 the eight-hour movement
had spread throughout the nation. At
the present time those who work
more than eight hours are the ex-
ception.
Organizers. who served without
compensation for two years, aided in
placing the American trade union
movement on firm basis.
Legislation was sought and not a
year has passed but some remedial
laws have been enacted. The first
great victory was the exclusion Of
the Chinese. While the law was en-
acted in 1882, it was many years lat
err before it was so changed that the
American people were fully protect
ed from that sort of immigration.
Then came the federal eight-hour
law and the seamen's act. which freed
the last slaves in the United States.
Many people do not know that the
trade move lent was the earliest ad-
vocate of Compulsory education. At
the same time it demanded that chill
dren should not be permitted to
work for wages, but should be sent
to school and given every opportun-
ity for recreation. The years have
elapsed since then but the struggle
to educate the masses and to bring
freedom from gainful occupations to
the children has actively continued.
While two laws enacted by congress
prohibited children at a tender age
from working at gainful occupations
they were declared unconstitutional.
Now we have a proposed amend
ment to the constitution which if
adopted will confer upon congress
authority to pass statutory legisla-
tion making child life free. Bitter
and malignant opposition is being
made to this worthy cause. Bat tas