The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1930-09-02

c,,,c.c Formerly new g; E0s YoR usSne 70 sosroN
Labor Day
Having enjoyed the holiday dedicated especlahy 70 w.
American labor today returns to its task OF assisting IN
the progress Of the nation.
There Is something peculiar about Labor day ana Ns
observance which does not appear at first glance nut
which q little thought demonstrates clearly. 1t prob
ably is the most distinctively American holiday We nave.
No other nation has one like 1t.
Christmas and New Years are universal, although not
al nations observe them on the same dates and not all
nations call them by the same names. Even neatnen
nations have holidays which correspond to them. how
ever.
THANKSGIVING has something OF the same quality. Here
In America we have the tradition Of the Pilgrims land
Ing on the grim shores of New England as a historical
background, but other nations. and those Tar removed
-fsom American influence. have had similar holidays
celebrated at the same season Of the year, from time
immendEaal.
Fourth OF July would seem to be unique. 1t IS the
nations birthday and always the occasion for widespread
observance. But other nations have similar holidays.
France has Bastile day and Canada has Dominion Gay.
There are others for other nations, each commemorating
an important event in the history Of the nation celeorat-
ing it.
Columbus day. which is now Discovery day in North
Dakota, has something Of the same quality. 1t commer1-
crates q deed of the dim and distant past.
But Labor day is q holiday set aside for the people at
barge. More significant, 1t is set aside In recognition OF
thA part which the labor of its citizens has played IN
the development of America. 1t is dedicated. not only
to the living but to those most active among the living.
the men whose work causes the wheels Of progress to
turn always forward.
In some nations the natal day Of the king or ruler
may be a holiday. In America the presidents birthday
= hardly more noteworthy than the birthday OF any
,ther citizen, but Labor day Is different. 1t Is Labors
avn holiday, the tribute Of the nation to the mass OF
producers which has made it great. The foundation OF
this nations greatness is the will to work and achieve
In proportion to the opportunities which . young land
has presented. In pioneer days capital and the splendid
mechanical resources Of today were missing, but there
was progress just the same.
When the Garden of Eden was closed to mankind for
ever and the edict was given that thereafter man must
earn his bread In the sweat Of hs brow. It doubtless was
. penalty of major proportions. but America has made
that edict a blessing. The most successful men IN Amer
lea today hardly would be happy II they had no work to
do. The plane upon which honest labor has been placed
in this country Is such that the really worthwhile per-
sons Of the nation respect and admire the work which
. man does. In addition. they respect the man who does
good work.
Historically. Of course. Labor day is a product Of the
Labor union movement. Other nations have had guilds
and crafts but It remained for this young nation to take
the germ Of the idea and make Of 1t an instrument
9eOeucl6l 10 the WuOIc eCOuOAuC IN VC1a 0vuSWuAS.
Labor unions have had their troubles, Of course, and
In some instances the power which they have acquired
has been abused. but 1t ID difficult to call to mind any
other single thing which has contributed to the advances
ment Of the average American in the same degree as
the labor union movement.
It has been like . cake Of yeast working in the eco
nomic system to improve conditions for non-union ~
a4 Union workers. The Idea Of IN honest days pay
Tor an honest day'sework has obtained almost unanimous
adoption. The theory Of a workingman's right to or
ganise for the purposel Of bargaining with his employer
no longer Is challenged 1t Is IN accepted part Of the
economic system.
These things come to mind - one thinks Of the i'm.
proved status Of labor within the memory Of compare
lively young persons. Labor started out with the inten-
ton Of obtaining for itself the things to which 1t con-
sidered itself entitled. The result. and the most i'm
portaut, II that It has conferred q distinct blessing upon
the entire nation By bringing to the front . new Geo.
nonic idea which has contributed 70 social. artistic and
cultural advancement as well as to economic, CONNER
cial and industrial development.
It y . good thing for America that the old days Of
labor-baitins on one side and . too.sealistic class con.
~sciclsness' On the other have vanishsd.