The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1929-04-26
By ANTHONY BIMBA.


FORTY years ago (1889) the So
cialist Congress in Paris pro-
claimed the First of May an Inter
national Labor Day. The same con-
gress also founded the II Interna-
tional. Today the II International
is dripping wet with blood of the
revolutionary proletariat. It's lead
ers-the Sheidemanns, Noskes, Hen
dersons, Vanderveldes-are hang
men of the workers for the inter-
national bourgeoisie.
The celebration of the First of
May as an International Labor Day
goes on from year to year with ever
increasing revolutionary fervor and
inilitancy. AS a revolutionary ira
dition the celebration of the First
of May has been inherited by the
Communist international, founded
ten years ago at Moscow-the cap
.tol of the first fatherland of the
international proletariat, the center
of hope and inspiration for the OPP
pressed of the world.
The celebration of the First Of
May by the workers as their own
holiday, as the day of struggle and
class solidarity originated in Amer
lea in 1886, forty-three years ago.
In militancy the American labor
movement was at the head of the in
ternational proletariat at that time.
The eyes of the world were turned
toward America as the home of the
vanguard of the working class IN its
struggle against the international
bourgeoisie.
Today once more the eyes of the
world are turned toward America.
but no longer as the home of the
militant labor movement. Today
America is looked upon as the might
lest imperialist power in the world.
In 1886 the labor movement OF
America was showing the way to
the workers of the world. In 1929
our working class is far behind the
workers of other countries in its po-
litical and economical struggles.
The First of May as an Inter
national Labor Day was born as a
direct result of struggle on the
part of the workers for a shorter
working day. 1t is the day on which
the workers of America, forty-three
years ago, declared general strike
for the eight-hour day.
On October 7, 1884, the Federation
of Organized Trades and Labor
Unions of the United States and
Canada, the predecessor of the pres
ent American Federation of Labor,
at its convention in Chicago, adopt
ed the following historical decision:
Resolved, by the Federation of
Organized Trades and Labor
Unions of the United States and
Canada, that eight hours shall
constitute legal days labor from
and after May 1, 1886, and that
we recommend to labor organiza-
tions throughout this jurisdiction
that they so direct their laws as
to conform to this resolution by
the time named.
The convention also officially in
vited the Knights of Labor "to coop
crate in the general movement to
establish the eight-hou day."
But how was this great aim to be
achieved? The convention answered.:
TROUGH A GENERAL
STRIKE.
1t was daring move on the part
of the Federation, which at that
time had only about $4,000 mem
bers. 1t had correct perspective
and will to fight. The conditions
were ripe. The masses Of American
workers were ready for one of the
greatest battles fought on the class
struggle arena.
The, labor movement was on the
upward trend. The activities Of the
National Labor Union from 1857 to
1872; the formation of the Amer
lean Section Of the First Interna-