17-year-old Helena Muffly wrote exactly 100 years ago today:
Monday, September 2, 1912: Had to go to school, even if it is
labor day. We had this day off last year. Cold isn’t much
better. Have to blow my whistle almost all the time, which
constant usage make it rather sore and pink. Her middle-aged
granddaughter’s comments 100 years later: It’s interesting that
in 1911 the students didn’t have to go to school on Labor
Day—but that in 1912 they did. Was Labor Day an important
holiday in 1912? A quick scan of newspaper headlines from
September 2, 1912 shows that in 1912 the nation was engaged in a
debate over the role of labor and unions (as well as whether
woman should be paid the same as men). Representative Newspaper
Headlines Labor Day, September 2, 1912 Cathedral Packed for
Labor Service: Mgr. Lavelle Points Out Socialism’s Weakness to
Vast Throng of Union Men (New York Times) Labor Day Parade:
Large Squad of Police Detailed to Assist in Keeping Order-Line
of March (Los Angeles Times) Labor Will Parade To