The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1942-09-05
Detroit Wins Award For Largest Delegation At Business Conat
Brief History Of Labor Day Origin
All Men are Born Alike ant

York by meat and well-dreseed
men, In the first Labor Day pa-
rade. on the afternoon OF Sept.
8. 1882.
The banners voiced the phiIoso-
ply OF p. ]. Mcguire, one OF the
famous dreamers and doors of
the American labor movement, and
they express today the sentiment
and feeling OF American labor un-
ionists. who have built the first
Monday in Sept. into this coun-
try's' symbol Of labor freedom.
A direct line OF thought and ac-
ton may be traced between p. J.
McGuire's original proposal for
Labor Day, made on May s. 1882
TO the infant Central Labor Union
of New York City. and the slogan
which labor has selected TO SYM
bolize It's fight in this crucial
war year:
FREE LABOR WILL WIN"
MCGUIRE himself, in an inter
probation OF his Labor Day pro-
posal, said in 1897:
Pagan feasts and Christian OBJ
servances have come down TO us
through the long ages. But Il was
reserved for this century. and
for the Ameri an people. TO give
birth TO Labor Day. In this they
honor the toilers of the earth. and
pay homage 10 those who from
rude nature have delved and carv-
ed all the grandeur We behold"
Mcclure. then an official OF the
Brotherhood OF Carpenters and
Joiners, and later TO become
vice-president OF the American
Federation OF ] abor. sold his idea
TO the Central Labor Union. which
proceeded. without the sanction OF
government officials or the COM
munity at large, 10 celebrte La
Dor Day"
McGuire's proposals, as outlined
on that day In May. was strikingly
prophetic Of what has become la
bors great day" in practically
all Of the free countries OF the
world.
The day. Mcclure said. should
etart with street parade (which
would publicly show the strength
and esprit de corps OF the trade
and labor organizations"
The parade should be followed
BY "a picnic or festival in some
grove" the proceeds OF which
should be divided on a semi-co-
operative basis. each local union
keeping the money for the tickets
il sold and contributing to the
expenses in proportion to its MEM
bership.
The New York Herald wrote OF
that first parade that It was col
orful and "the most orderly pa
rade ever seen" or the picnic, II
said that Americans and English,
Irish and Germans. they all hob
nobbed and seemed on friendly
footing. as though the common
cause had established sense OF
closer brotherhood"
The Tribune editorilly comment
ed "the gathering had none OF
the aspects OF a bread riot, nut
every semblance Of picnic or a
political barbecue"
The next year 1883 the city
Central Labor union again spon-
sored a Labor Day parade and the
Tribune sawlht TO report II much
more fully. This time the trades
unions began to assemble at $3.50
in the morning at historic Cooper
Union symbol OF liberty and re-
miniscent OF one OF Lincolns
greatest speeches on freedom. Az
10. when the profession got under
wav there were 10000 workers In
line. and they marched past re-
viewing stand In Union Square on
which were Louis +. Post, Justus
Schwab. Robert Biissert. =. j. NC
CURE. and other well-known labor
leaders.
After the parade the celebra-
ton moved to Wendel's Elm Park
where fully 10000 persons us
tened 10 speeches and watched
athletic games.
In 1884 there were 10000 men
IN the parade and "ten times tnat
lined the streets ana
cheered."
Unions We'd with each other In
original and colorIui
floats and other stunts. Inc
printers had truck bearing one
OF BENJAMIN Franklin's printing
presses. The oldest bricklayer IN
New York rode on another truck.
surrounded by little girls. the
cigar-makers had truck bearing
their members at work. and the
cigars they made we're distributed
among the crowd. Twelve hundred
members of the Eastern Butchers
union. "ali stalwart men" march
cd in uniform garb OF cheek
jumpers, black caps. and dark
trousers" walking down the ave-
nue. ~ abreast,
The second division Of the pa
rade was headed nv $50 members
OF the Wendell Phillips labor
club. an organization OF Negro
workers.
Tones Wood and washington
park we're hired for the "nicnic
and sumner nights festival
and there were 10000 present TO
listen TO the band concerts and
watch the athletics. Platforms
we're set up for dancing at night.
The Tribune noted that 1T was
proposed 10 have speaking In the