Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 11.djvu/722

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LABOR COLONIES.
656
LABORDE.

vised ed., Jena, 1901); Buäl-Bernberg, Die Holländischen Arbeiterkolonien (Vienna, 1853); Evert, Entwickelung der Arbeiterkolonien in Preussen (Berlin, 1885); Hobson, Coöperative Labor Upon the Land (London, 1895); Report on the German Workmen's Colonies, presented to Parliament March, 1880; Booth-Tucker, The Salvation Army in the United States (New York, 1899); Booth, In Darkest England, and the Way Out (New York, 1890); Gore, The Poor Colonies of Holland, Bulletin Department of Labor No. 2 (Washington, 1896).

LABOR CONGRESSES. Assemblages of the representatives of organized labor. They owe their origin to the association of laborers in trades unions. The congresses have been both international and national. The first International Labor Congress was called by the International Association of Laborers at Geneva, Switzerland, in 1866. About sixty delegates from England, France, Germany, and Switzerland were present, representing many kinds of labor. This congress urged the necessity for a firm alliance of laborers in order to maintain wages. Strikes, while a temporary necessity, were alleged to be due to transitory and abnormal conditions. The crux of the social question was declared to be the question of equal exchange. The congress favored the supplanting of interest by means of mutual credit organizations; condemned the industrial employment of women; and advocated technical education. The second International Labor Congress was held at Lausanne, Switzerland, in 1867, with delegates from the countries represented at Geneva, and from Italy and Belgium. Attention was called to the close connection existing between political liberty and social reform. Coöperative associations were opposed on the ground that they were selfish in character, while social reform could only be brought about by an agency acting upon the whole of society. In 1869 a third international labor congress was held at Basel, Switzerland. At this Russia, Austria, Germany, Spain, England, Italy, France, and Switzerland were represented. This congress by a vote of 54 to 4 declared: "Landed property should be abolished, the soil belongs to society, and is inalienable." It went further and demanded "the destruction of all States, national and territorial, and on their ruins the founding of the International State of Laborers." Other international labor congresses of less importance were held at Dresden (1871); The Hague (1872), the latter marked by a violent schism between the followers of Marx and those of Bakunin; Paris (1886); Berlin (1891); Zurich (1897).

The first international socialist labor congress was held at Paris in 1889, when it was decided that May 1, 1890, should be celebrated as a fête-day by socialistic laborers all over the world. A second avowedly socialistic labor congress met at Brussels in 1891. Nearly 400 delegates were present, representing America and every European country except Russia and Portugal. The topics discussed were: legislative protection of labor; the eight-hour day; the laws regulating strikes and boycotts; the duty of workmen with respect to militarism and universal suffrage. Eighteen countries were represented by 385 delegates at Zurich, Switzerland (1893). This congress refused to admit avowed anarchists. A fourth congress, attended by 800 delegates representing Australia and Argentina in addition to Europe and the United States, convened at London in 1896. Seats were again refused to the anarchist delegates. Resolutions were adopted opposing standing armies, favoring the abolition of the capitalistic class, and advocating the nationalization of the land and the socialization of industry.

Since 1890 international congresses of miners have been held annually in various European cities. Of late years the radical socialists have dominated these meetings, and have passed resolutions for the establishment of a fixed minimum wage and the nationalization of the mines.

National labor congresses have been held at irregular intervals in some countries, annually in others. In Great Britain there have been annual congresses since 1868, 34 delegates attending the first in Manchester. Those in attendance now are numbered by hundreds. These congresses, working through their Parliamentary committees, have secured considerable remedial legislation. Many of the national labor congresses have been anarchistic, as for example those at Lyons (1878), Havre (1880), Barcelona (1881), Chiasso (1883). In the congress at Wahren (1879) it was decided to organize the German Socialistic party. See Socialism; Trade Unions.

LABOR DAY. A day set apart as a legal holiday in nearly all of the States and Territories of the United States. In 1882 the Knights of Labor held their general assembly in New York City during the month of September, which on the 5th reviewed a great parade organized by the Central Labor Union of that city. The next year a parade was held on the first Monday in September, and in 1884, on the resolution of George R. Lloyd, one of the Knights of Labor, it was decided that all future parades should be held on that day, and that the day should be known as Labor Day. Workingmen's organizations all over the country then began an agitation to induce the State legislatures to declare the day a legal holiday, and on March 15, 1887, Colorado led the way, to be quickly followed by New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts. The great majority of the States have selected the first Monday in September as Labor Day. In 1903 the only States in which Labor Day was not a legal holiday were Mississippi, Nevada, North Dakota, and Louisiana.

LABORDE, bôrd′, Alexandre Louis Joseph, Count de (1774-1842). A French scholar and politician, born in Paris. At the outbreak of the French Revolution he joined the Austrian army, and until 1797 fought against the Republic. He returned to France after the Peace of Campo Formio, and went to Spain in 1800 as military attaché to Lucien Bonaparte. His Voyage pittoresque et historique en Espagne (1807-18) and Itinéraire descriptif de l'Espagne (1807-27) show his close study of the country and its people. He was elected to the Chamber of Deputies in 1822, where he consistently supported the liberal side. During the Revolution of 1830 his vigorous protests against the ordinances of Charles X. won for him the regard of Louis Philippe, who subsequently made him his aide, and sub-prefect of the Seine. His other works include: Les monuments de la France classés chronologiquement (1816-26); Voyage pittoresque en Autriche (1821-23); and Description