Show SHORT HISTO HISTORY y OF LABOR DAY labor L a corjay go rjay day which has haa become 1 labors greatest holi holiday jay W was s first kt suggested in the new york city central labor union in may 1882 it wa Was decided to observe the first monday jn n september mithat of ahat jar year as a festal day with a tl parade rade speech speechmaking making and picnics ionic there were other holidays representing the religious civil and military tary spirit it was contended but none the indus trial the celebration was held and was a big success in 1884 the first monday in september was declared labor day by the american federation of labor all wage earners irrespective of sex calling or nationality were urged to observe it until it should be a as uncommon for a man to work labor day as on the fourth of july state legisla legislatures fures were ur urged ged to make the day a legal holiday and 32 enacted laws to that effect Con congress gresi made it a legal holiday in 1894 for the district of columbia and the territories and while a number of states have no labor day law the federal act has been accepted by all 11 of them |