Tag Archives: Labor Day

Labor Day

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This is a holiday with one shaky past. Pullman_strikers_outside_Arcade_Building

In 1894 the country was in a recession. The owner of the Pullman Palace Car Co. decided to up his bottom line by cutting wages without cutting hours or  cutting prices he charged workers for rent and goods.

The 3000 workers in Pullman, Illinois said enough was enough and started a wildcat strike. That pulled in the American Railway Union. They began a nation-wide boycott; union members refused to run trains with Pullman cars. There were 250,000 railroad workers in 7 states, in days, half of them quit rather than handle Pullman cars.

The workers’ solidarity forced factory shutdowns and lockouts well beyond Pullman.

Management hired replacement workers and conflicts escalated. President Cleveland  ordered federal officials to intervene citing strikers for anti-trust violations. When it was over, 13 workers were dead, 57 wounded and damages totaled over 8 million in today’s dollars.

So what did Congress do? Hugely concerned of a backlash, they scurried around and in 6 days came up with Labor Day, a national holiday to honor workers.  “Communities will host street parades to show the strength and esprit de corps of labor followed by a festival for workers and their families.”

Hmmm, is it just me? Or do you think Debt Ceiling Day will be next?

Source: Wikipedia including image of striking workers, 1894

Labor Day Sunday

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Labor Day Sunday is when you knock yourself out cooking so that you can rest and relax on Labor Day Monday. So here’s a thought. Try my mother’s potato salad, it’s best if you make it the day before you plan to eat it, anyway.

potato-recipesI know, I know — you like the potato salad your mother makes, just like you like the custard pumpkin pie she makes for Thanksgiving rather than the more solid version, which is far superior. Or the meatloaf. Or the spaghetti sauce.

As I was starting to say, this is the world’s best potato salad in case that’s important.

My Mother’s Potato Salad
(Serves 6 so double it if you need more.)

6 potatoes, 1 medium onion chopped, 3 TB oil, 3 TB vinegar, ½ tsp salt, 1 tsp celery seed, mayonnaise, (Start with a cup and add as you like.) 4 hard-cooked eggs, 4 sweet pickles

Cook potatoes. Mix oil, vinegar, salt and celery seed with chopped onion. Drain potatoes and when cool enough to touch, peel and cut in points. (It is hard to explain cut in points but if you are cubing, slicing or mashing — you are probably not cutting in points.)

Pour oil/vinegar/onion mixture over potatoes and marinate overnight in the refrigerator. Chop eggs except for one. Cut up pickle. Add both to potatoes. Mix in mayonnaise. Slice reserved egg and put on top, sprinkle with paprika.

Check in next year for a recipe for strawberry shortcake from my mother in law. I know, I know — you like the strawberry short-cake your mother makes…