People's Pilot, Volume 3, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 September 1893 — TOILERS TRAMP. [ARTICLE]

TOILERS TRAMP.

Monster Parades at Various Points Mark the Celebration of Labor Day. Chicago, Sept 5. —Fifteen thousand labor veterans skilled in handicraft formed the grand army of toil which marched the streets of Chicago Monday. Banners waved, bands played stirring airs and great crowds of sympathizer* thronged the sidewalks. It was a model exhibition of organized labor’* peaceful forces. Rigid discipline prevailed and the proceedings went forward evenly and quietly. After the parade the crowds of toiler* divided, a portion of them going to Kuhn’s park where an enjoyable picnic/ was held. The rest went to Ogden’s grove where the day and evening were spent in listening to addresses, ip dancing and witnessing displays of fireworks at night At Kuhn’s park Govz Altgeld delivered the principal address. Mayor Harrison and Samuel Gompers, president of the Federation of Labor, and Gov. Altgeld spoke at Ogden’s grove. New York, Sept s.—Perfect weather characterized Labor day in New York. At 11 o’clock the big manufactories were shut down. All wholesale establishments, business exchanges, down-town offices and most of the retail shops were closed. Up-town the holiday was not so generally observed. The state and surrogate courts were not opened. The United States courts and court of general sessions were opened for a few minutes only. The labor parade moved from Cooper Union to the Battery. The labor leaders calculated that 15,000 men were in line. The colors carried were the stars and stripes and flags of the different unions, together with a large portrait of Washington by the Journeymen Plasterers’ union. The men in line were joined at the Battery by their wives and children and went to Staten Island to enjoy themselves. The wage-workers of Brooklyn turned out 14,000 strong to take part in tho two principal labor processions. Besides these probably a dozen trade unions paraded in numbers proportionate to their importance. The demonstration of the central labor union was the big one —9,000 men were said to be in line.

Dispatches from the various citie* and towns throughout the state and New Jersey indicate that the day was given over to recreation and out-of-door sports by all classes. Milwaukee, Sept. s.—There were little more than 2,000 men in the Labor day parade here, which is considerably smaller than the usual turnout. Many of the union men who are out of work refused to march for the i reason that they were not employed, • while many others refused to lay off ; for a day owing te a desire to get in as ‘ much work as possible before snow ■ flies. As it was, however, a large proportion of the men who matched are out of work. The affects of the busieess depression were noticeable by the absence of a large number of industrial floats usually furnished; by business firms. St. Paul, Minn., Sept. The various workingmen’s unions paraded the streets in three great divisions, and in the afternoon several; thousand of them went to Wildwood for a picnic. During the afternoon an address was delivered by W. W. Erwin, the attorney who acquired a national reputation by securing the acquittal of the Homestead rioters. Davenport, la., Sept s.—Labor day, a legal holiday in lowa, was celebrated by rhe cities of Davenport, Rock Island and. Moline and surrounding towns. Business was suspended and the public schools closed. Public buildings- and many private houses were decorated. The line of maroh for the parade was nearly 3 miles in length. About 2,000 men were tin line, divided into, their distinctive unions, and societies. In the afternoon at Schultzen park; addresses were made by the mayors of Davenport and Rock Island. The principal speech of the day was made by Gen. James B. Weaver, populist.candidate for president last fait The burden of his effort was that the country needs a greater volume of money. The day was appropriately observed at Dubuque, Ottumwa-and other points in this state. Dispatches indicate an appropriate observance of Labor day. in the following places: Illinois—Streator, Lincoln, Quincy,, Champaign, Elgin, Jacksonville, Gales--burg, Rockford, Danville, Springfield,. Peoria, Ottawa and Bloomington. Indiana —Terre Haute and Logans,port. Michigan—Detroit and Battle CreelL. Also at Boston, Mass., Cincinnati, Baltimore, Md., Louisville, Ky., Chafetonooga, Tenn., Kan., Kansas City, Mo., Cleveland, Ok, Denver, CoL, -and Omaha, Neb.