The Proud History of Labor Day
Despite being one of the United States’ longest standing national holidays, Labor Day is viewed today as little more than another three-day weekend. However, this federal holiday is about more than road trips and barbecues. In 1882, a machinist named Matthew Maguire proposed a national Labor Day holiday after witnessing a successful public demonstration organized by New York City’s Central Labor Union. But the idea of a federal holiday recognizing workers wouldn’t gain traction for another decade, after one of the most violent strike breakups in United States history.
to meet with organizers or even acknowledge the strike until the ARU organized a boycott of all trains that included Pullman cars. Soon, the workers and Pullman community members stopped the trains from running, including trains carrying U.S. mail. At this point, President Grover Cleveland sent in soldiers to break up the strike. The violence that erupted with the soldiers was devastating. Thirty people lost their lives and around $80 million in damages was caused throughout the town. President Cleveland’s pro- labor constituents were furious at how poorly the president handled the incident, which became known as the Pullman Strike. In an effort to quell tension and reclaim labor support, President Cleveland and Congress declared Labor Day a federal holiday just six days after the Pullman Strike ended. For 125 years, Labor Day has served to celebrate the hardworking men and women who helped the United States become one of the most prosperous nations on the planet. At The Champion Firm, we are proud to represent blue-collar workers. While we don’t handle workers’ comp cases, we have had the privilege of helping working-class citizens faced with other legal hardships. It’s regular people who make our country what it is, and we are proud to fight for them every day.
Back when rail travel was all the rage, workers for luxury train car manufacturer, the Pullman Company, lived in a company-
owned town. The town operated smoothly until the economic depression of the 1890s. Eager to cut costs, company owner George Pullman slashed worker wages by almost 30% but refused to lower the rent on the company- owned buildings. Thousands of workers who lived in town struggled to pay rent and take care of their families. On May 11, 1894, the workers began to strike, eventually gaining the support from the American Railway Union (ARU). Pullman refused
THE CHAMPION POP QUIZ
CLASSIC APPLE CRISP
Congratulations to our July pop quiz champion, William C. , who won tickets to a Braves baseball game. This month, we’re showing our support for the Atlanta Falcons with two tickets to the Falcons home game on Sunday, Sept. 29. Do you want to cheer the Falcons on in person? Answer this question for your chance to win: What year did the Atlanta Falcons join the NFL? Email your answer to tamsie@ thechampionfirm.com for a chance to win. Submissions must be received by Sunday, Sept. 22, 2019, to qualify.
Ingredients
Filling: • 5 lbs Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored, and chopped • 1/4 cup pecans, finely chopped • 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
Topping: • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour • 1/3 cup brown sugar • 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon • 1/4 tsp salt
• 2 tbsp maple syrup • 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 6 tbsp chilled butter, cut into pieces • 1/4 cup pecans, coarsely chopped
Directions
1. Heat oven to 350 F. 2. In a mixing bowl, mix all filling ingredients together. Transfer to individual serving ramekins. 3. In a different mixing bowl, combine flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt for the topping. Mix in
butter until it forms lumps roughly the size of a pea, then stir in pecans. Sprinkle topping over filling. 4. Bake for 35–40 minutes, let stand for 10 minutes, and serve.
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