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

VI 1dDOFs udy dnu It's
advent recalls the little group of
workers in New York city who on
May 8, 1882, heard the suggestion
which eventually resulted in the adj
dition of this holiday to our national
calendar.
The man to whom the idea of
Labor day is usually credited was
P. J. Mcclure. for many years secre-
tary of the United Brotherhood of
Carpenters and Joiners of America, a
vice president of the American Fed
Grafton Of Labor and one of the best
known labor leaders of his day.
McGuire's thought was that one day
in the year should be set aside as a
general holiday for the men and wom-
en- who toll. In its initial form he
contemplates festival day for only
those who work with hands and mus
Gle, day to be devoted to parades,
picnics and speeches.
McGnire presented his idea at a
session of the newly formed Central
Labor union in New York city in May,
1882. His choice for such a holiday
was the first Monday in September as
a strategic date midway between the
Fourth of July and Thanksgiving. He
felt that this was the most suitable
day Of the entire year for new holt
day and especially for the workers,
for it offered respite in their labors
after the, hot weather of July and
August. The choice Of the day of the
week was a happy one, too, for 1t
really meant two-day respite. from
work Sunday and Monday. How
wise his choice was is shown by the
fact that in recent years there has
been tendency toward triple holt
day, the laborer laying down his tools
Friday evening and not taking them
up again until Tuesday morning. In
fact, no other holiday of the year,
year in and year out. offers a similar
advantage to that of Labor day.
McGuire's suggestion was readily
accepted by the members of the Cen
trail Labor union and the first celebra-
ton took place in New York on Sep
TENDER 5. 1882. Although, as previ-
ously stated, Mcclure is usually cred
tied with having originated this holt
day, there is another man who had
some part in 1t. That man is Theo-
dore r. Cuno and his part in the
origin Of Labor day Is told in the fol-
lowing story which appeared in the
Kansas City Star under the headline
of "The Aristocrat Who Planned the
First Labor Day.:
From his Utopian colony shack in
| the stump-dotted uplands of Vernon
| parish, Louisiana, Theodore F. Cuno,
| international Socialist who set Amer
| lean labor to marching thirty-five
| years ago. will mark with satisfaction
Mondays parade of labor all over the
| United States.
Cuno, an aristocrat by birth, breed
| ing and Inclination, despite his long
! life of socialism and "eo-operativism "
| will do no marching Monday. Every
day Is labor's day in the colony that
| the late Job Hartman, Los Angeles
| lawyer, established first in the Mojave
| desert and later two miles south of
| this parish seat. Every day of the SOS
is demonstration of the theories that
| Theodore +. Cuno was beginning to
glimpse in 1882. when. during the
| Powderly fight in the Knights OF
| Labor day proclamation.
|, Uriah Stevens secret society Of 1868
| had evolved greatly from its original
form when Cuno then editor of the
/ Brewers journal in New York, wrote
the simple call to labor. which he still