The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1928-08-24

Monday in September should be set
apart as "a laborers' national holt
day" and recommended its observance
'by all wage workers, irrespective of
sex, calling or nationality" Although
popular response to this resolution
was spontaneous, 1t took untiring
work on the part of organized labor
to secure legal sanction for such a
holiday. Although congress and
state legislatures received constant
requests for the enactment of fed
eral and state laws recognizing the
day as national holiday, it was ten
years before the passage of an act
by congress, establishing the first
Monday In September as q legal holt
day for the District of Columbia and
the territories. Oregon was the first
state to act upon the matter and it
legaiized Labor day as holiday in
1893. Other states eventually fol-
lowed Oregon's lead until it is now a
legal holiday throughout the United
States and extends to Hawaii, Porto
Rico and the Virgin islands. In most
states it is established by statutory
provision, but In Wisconsin and wy
oming Labor day is established by the
governors proclamation.
From a strictly American holiday
to one of worldwide observance has
been the history of Labor day since
it's establishment forty years ago. In
continental Europe, however, it is OBJ
served on the first of May instead of
the first Monday in September, but
this adoption of the American idea
came about in connection with the
eight-hour movement, inaugurated by
the American Federation of Labor in
1889. In that year meeting of the
international Labor congress was held
in Paris and Samuel G0mpers, presi-
dent of the American Federation of
Labor, sent message to the congress
urging the international body to CO.
operate in the move for the eight-hour
day and appealing for demonstrations
in all European countries on May i
of the following year.
Gomper's suggestion found favor
with the International organization
and plans were made for such a
demonstration the following year. So
the start, made in 1890, caught the
fancy of European workers and May
/ became the recognized Labor day
in Europe. However, European coun-
tries have been slower than this one
in granting legal status TO the day,
probably because the May day demon
strations were at first made the occa-
sion for radical activities and disturb
ances which brought the workers into
conflict with the authorities. In late
years, however, the scenes OF violence
have largely disappeared and now five
| European countries Austria, CzechO-
| slovakia, Esthonia, Finland and Ma
| deira recognize May l as legal holt
| day. In South America the same thing
is true in Colombia, Ecuador and
Uruguay and in Latin America May
| day is legal holiday in Haiti and
| Panama. Incidentally, one of the pos
sessions of the United States, the
Philippines, follows the European
custom in celebrating Labor day in
May instead of in September.
The labor holiday is celebrated
variousiy in the British possessions
| throughout the world. Canada joins
with her sister on the south by cele-
brating it on the first Monday in Sep
| TENDER and Newfoundland observes it
on September g Queensland and
Western Australia follow the European
custom by observing May /, but Vic
| toria, Australia, observes "Eight-
Hour day" on April 81. New South
| Wales on October 6 and South Aus
tralia on October IA. All of these
celebrations in foreign countries, how
ever, go back to the basic idea which
was presented to the Central Labor
union in New York city In 1882, so
that is why it can be said that Labor
day, whatever the date Of 1t may be,
is the one American national holiday
| which has become an international
holiday and it is one important con-
| tribution which America has made to
the social history of the world.