Mike Gracia

Sir Elton Hercules John (Reginald Kenneth Dwight) is 66 today

Artists Rendition of the Haymarket Affair

The Haymarket affair (also known as the Haymarket massacre or Haymarket riot)
was the aftermath of a bombing that took place at what began as a peaceful labor
rally on Tuesday May 4, 1886, at Haymarket Square in Chicago. Workers were
striking for an eight-hour work day when an unknown person threw a dynamite
bomb at police as they tried to disperse the demonstration. The bomb and
resulting gunfire left seven police officers and at least four civilians dead,
and many others wounded. The confrontation is generally considered
significant as the origin of international May Day labor observances.

Haymarket Martyrs Monument in Forest Home Cemetery, Forest
Park, ILL.

The first Labor Day observance happened on September 5, 1882, on a Tuesday
at that time, when thousands of workers of the Central Labor Union of New York
marched from Fifth Avenue to Union Square (above), where picnics, fireworks,
and rallies were held, all in support of an 8-hour workday.

It became a national holiday in 1894, following the deaths of a number of striking
Railway Union workers as they were confronted by troops of the Illinois National
Guard during the Pullman Strike. After reaching an agreement with the labor
movement, President Grover Cleveland rushed legislation through Congress
designating the first Monday of September as “National Labor Day”. This was
six days after the end of the strike.

Striking  Railway Union members confront National Guard troops in Chicago
during the Pullman Strike  

MDA Chairman of the Board R. Rodney Howell issued a statement on
August 3, saying that Jerry Lewis “will not be appearing on the telethon”
and “we will not be replacing him as MDA national chairman.” The 85 
year old Lewis had announced in May that he was retiring as host of
the show, which he has done since 1966. Lewis also had said  that he
planned to make his final appearance on this year’s telethon which is 
scheduled for this evening. The nonprofit agency made no explanation
for the moves.