Southwest Washington labor press. [volume] (Hoquiam, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1925-09-04

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broader life for both you and those
dependent upon you.
The idea of Labor Day spread
through out the nation. Although a
few Of the states have not made It .
legal holiday it is observed just as
loyalty as in the states where Labor
Day laws have been enacted.
AS we look back over the past
Labor Days shine along the pathway
of Labor's progress like beacon lights.
No matter how difficult the struggle
or great the sacrifices of each year
there was always the satisfaction Of
the gains made and recounted on
Labor Day. And the gains were al
ways greater than the losses.
From small handful Of men in
Pittsburgh who met in Pittsburgh in
1881 and formed what is now the
American Federation of Labor Il has
grown to enormous proportions, and
its influence has revolutionized in
dustry for the benefit of both wage
earners and employers.
When it was organized the eight
hour day was simply dream, for in
those times ten hours was universally
worked while many were kept at their
tasks twelve, fourteen and sixteen
and more hours day.
The opposition to the eight-hour
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 a shorter workday.
By 1852 the eight-hour movement
had spread throughout the nation. At
the present time those who work more
than eight hours are the exception.
The appeal which the American
Federation of Labor issued in 1890
has been answered. 1t was:
ITO those who love liberty and are
loyal to the principles of free govern
ment; to all who look forward to an
increased wealth more widely distrib-
uted; to all lovers of the human race
everywhere; to union men and those
not now under the banner of organized
labor, we appeal in the name Of JUS
tice and humanity, of increased wealth
and diminished poverty, to concen-
trate their energies upon the single
issue of reduction in the hours of
labor"
Organizers, who served without
compensation for years, aided in plac-
ing the American trade union move
ment on firm basis.
Legislation was sought and not a
year was passed but some remedial
laws have been enacted. The first
great victory was the exclusion of the
Chinese. While the law was enacted
in 1882 it was many years before
it was changed so that the American
people were fully protected 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 union movement was the ear
lest advocate of compulsory educa-
ton. At the same time it demanded
that children should not be permitted
to work for wages but should be sent
to school and given every opportunity
for recreation. The years have elaps-
ed since then but the struggle to ed
ucate the masses and to bring free
dom from gainful occupations to the
children has actively continued. While
two laws enacted by congress prohib-
tied children at a tender age from
working at gainful occupations they
were declared unconstitutional. Now
we have proposed amendment to the
constitution which if adopted will con-