| Show r FEDERATION r KA A I-i I HE AD A D Tl EXTOLS 1 UL o Q T L LABOR JL A DAT T DA DAY A V Y W ASHINGTON D D. C. C Sept 4 1 Samuel Samu l Gom Gompers rs founder and pres president of the American Federation of Labor gave ga out for publication today today to to- day some interesting historical matter matter mat mat- ter on the observance mM of Labor day II Undoubtedly the first suggestion of setting apart a n day in each year to be observed as Labor day said Mr DIr Gompers II was conceived by the late Inte P. P J. J McGuire who was as at nt that time secretary of the United Brotherhood Brotherhood Brotherhood Brother Brother- hood of Carpenters The suggestion occurred during the period when the Knights of Labor was in existence P. P J. J McGuire being a n member of that organization Hon II for the American Federa- Federa in 1902 P. P J. J McGuire had this to say nay sa Pagan feasts and Christian observances observances ob ob- ob have come down to us through the long ages But it was reserved for this country and for the American people to give birth to Labor Labor La La- bor day ai I In this they ther honor the toilers toilers toil toil- ers rs of the earth an and pa pay homage to those who from rude nature have ha delved and carved all tho comfort and grandeur we vo behold II More than ull all the thought the the of or orthis conception yes Jes very cry inspiration this his holiday came from men in the ranks of the working people men active ac nc ac- ac tive tivo in uplifting their fellows and let din leading them to better conditions It came camB from a l little HUla group in New York C City t the Central labor union which had dust been formed and anel which in later years ears attained widespread ence if II On Mn May 8 1882 the writer write made I the proposition He urged urged tho the propriety propriety pro pro- of or setting asi aside o one dl day in the L 1 I C AMUEL L GOMPERS GOl founder and president mt of the American Federation of Labor who discusses origin and importance of Labor day day- t 1 r r rye a 2 s year rear to bo be desin designated as Labor day and mid to bo lie established shell as itS a n general holiday for th the ilia laboring classes He Tie advised the da day should first be he e celebrated cele cele- le- le by hj n a street parade which wInch i would publicly show the strength and du corps of the trade and labor organizations Next the parade should be followed b by a picnic or a n. festival al in in some grove e the proceeds of the same samo to bo divided on this emico operative e plan Tribute Tributo t to Industry II It It was further argued Labor day should be observed us one festal day in the year for public tribute to the genius enius of the tho American industry There were other worthy holidays s 's representative representative rep rep- rep rep- of the religious civil chit and military spirit But none representative of the industrial spirit the great vital ital force of every nation lie suggested the first Monday in September September Sep Sep- of every er year for such a n holiday holi holi- holiday day as it would come at It the tho most i I pleasant season semon of the year nearly midway between the Fourth of Tul July S and Thanksgiving iving ill r and would fill a aido wide wido gap in the tho chronology of legal holidays Man Many were the cogent reasons reasons reasons rea rea- sons he advanced and at once the tho i idea ea was WIS enthusiastically embraced The first Labor day tiny parade and festival al of tho the Central labor Jabor union of New York Cit City on September 5 1882 was simply nn an imposing imposing- success From that day on it became a fixed institution institution institution i tion in in the United States observed today today to to- day in every cit city of the land Th The plan was next indorsed by the annual convention of the tire American Federation Federation Federa lieder tion of Labor and aud the tho general assem- assem I I hI of or the Kni Knights n of f Labor It spread rapidly from city to city and amI from town to town City councils and md andante state ante legislatures took it up and made mado it a n. l legal al holi holiday n until finally June 28 1891 it became a national holiday holi boil clay day by act lct of Congress i The rhe initial action taken setting apart one day in the year ear on which to review the activities ties and bene beneficial cial in influence influence in- in fluence of organized labor occurred at atthe atthe atthe the afternoon of the third day of tho tiro fourth annual sc session sion of L LI tho federation October 9 J 1884 1 the I convention being held in hall haIl Chicago Ill III Tho The resolution creating creating cre cre- Labor da day was introduced in the convention by A. A C C. Cameron a n delegate delegate dele dole gate ate from the tho Chicago trades and Inor la labor In- In bor or assembly and was as as follows Day Is Selected II Resolved ed that the first Monday in September of or each year cU be set apart as a laborers laborers' national holiday and that we recommend its observance byall by byall byall all workers wage irrespective of s sex x callin calling or of nationality W V. J. J Hammond representing the International Typographical union from New Orleans La Ln was president of this convention The accredited delegates to this convention con numbered only onh twenty Ii The The fe- fe federation held its ifs annual convention nt t Columbus 0 December December December Decem Decem- ber 8 12 1886 1880 At this session the thc officers reported the following H I At tho the fourth se session sion o of the tho federation federation fed fed- a ns adopted mak mak- making ing lug the tho first Monday in Sept September mb r of each cach year labors labor's national holiday and recommending its observance b by wage wage- 3 e- e workers generally c throughout the countr country This met with response that exceeded the most sanguine e In our great grent manufacturing and distributing centers thousands of working men marched in procession and participated in the festivities of the picnic grounds where the tho most skilled mechanics and workers in professions pro pro- pro pro- I and laborers united in a n. common common common com com- mon celebration e exchanging friendly fraternal greetings 5 while the they listened to the champions of or labor Jabal di discussing t the economic and political t st questions ons of the thc day clay The good od er effects of this nrc are so well wen understood that wo we recommend recommend recommend rec rec- its more general observance still until it shall hall be as uncommon for |
