Labor Day was born in New York in 1892 when the Central Labor Union of NYC declared "a holiday for the working man" and the Knights of Labor organized a parade. They held their next parade in September 1896, though organized labor in Chicago had their own event in May of that year, when the Haymarket Riots broke out around Randolph Street and Des Plaines Avenue, near the central business district.
An estimated 300,000 workers around the country were striking in support of the 8 hour workday. There was a peaceful rally taking place at Haymarket Square when, around 10:30 p.m., officials decided that it was time to disperse the crowd. The crowd resisted the police line and a bomb was thrown, killing a police officer. All hell broke loose. When the melee ended, seven policemen were dead, sixty officers were wounded, 4 civilians had been killed and an unknown number wounded, as many were afraid to seek medical attention, fearing arrest.
Eight men were convicted of the murder of the Chicago policeman who was killed by the bomb blast. One of the convicts received 15 years, two others eventually received life in prison, four were executed by hanging and the last one committed suicide the day before the executions. Three, five, seven, yep, that adds up to eight.
President Grover Cleveland, concerned that celebrating Labor Day on May 1 (the date of Labor Day in most of the rest of the world) would commemorate the Haymarket Riots and strengthen the socialist movement, threw his support to the September date in 1897. Congress made Labor Day a federal holiday in 1894.
Eight men were convicted of the murder of the Chicago policeman who was killed by the bomb blast. One of the convicts received 15 years, two others eventually received life in prison, four were executed by hanging and the last one committed suicide the day before the executions. Three, five, seven, yep, that adds up to eight.
President Grover Cleveland, concerned that celebrating Labor Day on May 1 (the date of Labor Day in most of the rest of the world) would commemorate the Haymarket Riots and strengthen the socialist movement, threw his support to the September date in 1897. Congress made Labor Day a federal holiday in 1894.
By the way, ol' Pres Grover had been wed in the White House in 1886, when he married his former ward, Frances, the 21 year old daughter of his late former law partner, Oscar Folsom. Grover was 49 at the time. This tidbit has nothing to do Labor Day, it was just too weird to leave out, 'cause how often can you dish about Grover Cleveland, so you have to take advantage of these opportunities when you find them.
The picture at the top right is not Grover Cleveland, it is the Cleveland Indian, Chief Wahoo, which (also) has nothing to do with either Grover Cleveland or Labor Day, but it's a very cool mascot, even though is it extremely not PC.
Back to Labor Day, when there's nothing else on TV and you tune in Jerry Lewis (now in his 32nd year of the telethon and off steroids and percadin) or you head for Taste of Polonia for some stout food and robust music (or robust food and stout music, in either case, the Polish Cultural Center is at Lawrence and Milwaukee), your weekend par-tay has roots that are more than 125 years old.
Oh, and count yourself notified, Labor Day is the official end of white shoe season, too.
