The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1925-09-03
BLAINE ISSUES
APPROXIMATION
Governor Issues Annual
Labor Day Proclamation
for the State.
FOR ALL TOILERS

Madison, Wis. - Governor
Blaine issued proclamation today,
urging all citizens to observe Labor
Day, September 7, and "to join with
the members Of organized labor in the
consideration of the problems and
ideals of the workers, whether Of the
farm, the factory or Office"
Labor Day was established as a le-
gal holiday at the instance of the la
Dor organizations of the country, the
executive said, and while dedicated
to all toilers, whether they be their
own employers or the employees of 9TH
ers, is peculiarly the day of the labor
organizations. On this day organized
labor asks all citizens to join with it
in celebration, and in the considera-
ton of the problems of the wage
earners.
Labor unions are often misunder-
stood by the people not of the ranks
of labor. Interests hostile to organ
lied labor have for years conducted an
extensive propaganda to lead the gen.
eral public to believe that the labor
unions are responsible for the ex-
listing high cost of living and con-
stitute serious menace to society.
"The truth is that labor costs are
but a small part of the price of most
commodities and that the share of the
total product going to the wage-earn-
ers has diminished rather than in
creased in recent years. With all the
talk about the restriction of output,
moreover, every investigation has es-
tablished that the workmen of today
actually do more work, although their
hours Of labor are shorter, than the
workmen of former generations. 1t
is monopoly, not labor, which is re-
sponsible for high prices.
Ear from being menace to So
ciety, the labor unions constitute one
of its greatest bulwarks. In Europe
the labor day is the first day of May,
day associated in history with in
dustrial disturbance and unrest. In
this country, the labor unions DELHI
erately rejected the European labor
day policy. Here, organized labor has
ever builded upon the existing social
organization, and while ever alert to
advance the interests of it's members,
has never forgotten the general well
fare.
"The influence of organized labor
has undoubtedly advanced the wages
of its members, shortened their hours
of labor and improved their working
conditions; but these gains have not
been made at the expense of society.
The prosperous wage-earner has ever
been the best customer Of the farmer
and one of the main supports of all
trade and industry. Labor unions
have also become important agencies
in public affairs. They have served
as means by which the wage-earners
have become politically articulate and
have increased their effectiveness as
citizens. The things that organize
labor stands for are, namely, equality
of opportunity and government truly
responsive to the common people.
"Since the last Labor Day, organ
lied labor has suffered the loss of it's
two outstanding leaders - Samuel
Gompers and Warren S. Stone, and
the loss of its truest friend among
political leaders, Robert M. La Fol-
lette. These deaths have left gap
in the labor movement, that will not
soon be filled; but organized labor
will carry on and along the same lines
to which these leaders devoted their
lives"