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Show ! Great Is American Labor By JOHN L. LEWIS President, United Mine Workers of America. Labor day is purely an American Institution, born of an American idea, founded upon the rock of American liberty and celebrated by American citizens. That is what makes Labor day an occasion of the utmost importance in the yearly cycle of American history. Out of it all has come a deeper realization of the rights of those who toll, a broader recognition by everyone of what labor has done and is doing for this great country of ours. Labor Is and must be constructive. It must build, not destroy. Labor makes all the things that ar conducive to greater prosperity and happiness I for all the people. j The .American worker is the best In the world. He is more productive and more efficient. His daily or yearly output is larger than that of any other worker in any other country. This fact is proved by statistics from everywhere. The American worker is more progressive than any other. He takes pride In advancement, in skill and knowledge, his aim and hope being to reach the pinnacle of achievement in his particular line of endeavor. The American worker may well boast his high degree of Intelligence . and education, which fits him for the realities of life. America affords him opportunities in that direction that are not found In any other country. Here, In this beloved land of ours, there are schools for everyone, where man, woman or child may enjoy the benefits of development develop-ment and opportunity. More sons and daughters of workingmen are in colleges and universities here In America than In any other country ' on earth. When we lay down our tools to celebrate Labor day each year we should recall all of these advantages that we enjoy as American workingmen. work-ingmen. We should allow our minds to wander over the vast domain of labor in America and visualize the wonderful blessings of American citizenship and American opportunity. Such thoughts will cause us to hold our heads a little more erect and it will make our step firmer and steadier when we march in the ranks with our fellow workjers. Labor day Is Labor's day. |