.MTM3NQ.MTE3MTI2

Feb. 1986

To whom it may concern --

On May 1st, 1986, it will be 100 years since the "Haymarket Massacre" in Chicago, when the budding labor movement was struggling to make the 8-hr. day standard throughout the nation. One of their songs went,

"Eight hours we'd have for sleeping Eight hours we'd have for play Eight hours we'd have for working In Free Americay"

May 1st became an international labor holiday, but in recent decades, especially in the USA, each left-wing sect has held its separate observance, more of a memorial than a celebration, and established unions tended to ignore the date completely, or join the "Loyalty Parades" sponsored by the American Legion.

I think that musicians and song-leaders are needed now to take the initiative, and project a little unity into the situation. One week (or one month?) before May day, in each city and town of the country, we should invite one and all to an evening which could be advertised as "A May Day Centennial Rehearsal Warm-up." A number of different singers and song leaders could be invited, and a few basic rules agreed upon: 1. No speeches, except a 30-second introduction