Wichita eagle., 1886-09-07
THE NATIONAL HOLIDAY
Fittingly Observed in the City
Yesterday.
The Trades Unions Make an ImpOs-
ing Parade Through the Streets.
They Repair to Riverside Park and
Listen to Logic and Eloquence.


Yesterday was certainly a gala day IL
Wichita, and surely nothing had a greater
tendency to make it so than the dernonstra
ton of laboring men. Elaborate prepare
ticns had been made by the different com
naittees with the intention of making the
affair one. the success OF which would not be
questioned by any, and it was the universe
opinion that success hal crowned thel!
efforts In fact many of the members OF the
committees themselves were heard to say
that their efforts had been rewarded with q
far greater success than they ia their most
sanguine moments had anticipated. Every
thing went off smoothly and in order, with
not word or action that indicated anything
but the most kindly feeling between all, and
the hope was often expressed that such a
state of affairs would exist on the next ma
tional holiday.
The procession was formed near 10 O'Clock
on First street in front of the Grand Army
hall The speakers. Col Alfred Taylor CT
Lawrence and Col. Samuel Croker of Cald-
well. seated in a covered carriage, were as
signed first place. They were followed by
the knights of Pythias band. The knights
of Labor came next and were followed by
the trades unions in the following order:
Stone cutters, cigar makers, carpenters,
tailors, plastererS and bakers. The entire
line was about five blacks in length.
The band started uo lively air and the
procession commenced from Memorial hall.
The march was continued up First street to
Fourth avenue, south GU Fourth to Douglas
avenue west on Douglas to Main. north on
Main to Central avenue and west on Central
to Riverside park.
The assembly was organized by electing
Mr.. j. G. Mccoy chairman. After few
very appropriate remarks he introduced Col.
TAYLOR who sproke for over an hour on the
issues that Immediately concern the laboring
men, His speech was considered by all as
worthy of the occasion and despite its length
was listened to with intense interest. The
close of his remarks was the signal for
noon recess and then came in all the pleasure
many baskets were ightened with amazing
rapidity and the sound of merriment rang
the magnificent grove.
In a short time the band commenced to dish
out that sort of music for which it is noted
which in addition to the surroundings was
more then sufficient to make the most stupid
pessimist feel, and exclaim with tone of
positiveness that life was worth living.
Near . O'Clock an immense crowd had
1t was then the chairman, Mr.
Mccoy, announced from the grand stand that
orators for the afternoon would speak from
a platform arranged especially for them at
the east end of the grove, and those who de-
sired to engage in the pleasures of the dance
were at liberty to repair to the dancing plat
form. This was the signal for the crowd to
separate.
Master Workman c. Sherwin, OF the
knights of Labor assembly No. $3.50,
addressed the crowd. He said, Il address
you as citizens of Sedgwick county, but notas
unions This meeting is under the auspices
of the trades unions This is no one mans
or idea, but is by the united eff
fort of the people who live by the sweat of
their brow"
The K. of L. was introduced in the inter
est of humanity. Inasmuch it has gained
a foot-hold opon this land we must make it
appear we are not here to cause trouble or
strife Weonly ask fora fair compensation
for fair days work. We ask nothing that
God does not intend we shall have.
Wehayeinaugurated this as the working
mans holiday. The laboring people claim
that they who made the country should have
one day as such.
Whow will deny that working people have
suffered greatly! We want monied men to
understand that laborers created
all they have and without them they would
be running in the streets as Migrants, pilfer-
ing who they could. Cheers.l We only ask
from our government fair show. We claim
only the money weearn and what is our own
Col. Croker was then introduced. All ]
regret is, he commenced, that our friend did
not coneinue. see he is well prepared to dis
cuss the live issues.
My friends, the power of labor and capital
can daily be seen. The former demands
are certain abuses that should be reformed.
As natural result of this all over the world
there is an uprising of the laboring classes.
There is a division between labor and
capital The war has commenced Let it
come Labor has all to win and nothing to
solution of the labor problem Labor is,
truly speaking, the basis of all wealth To
enforce this the ballot will have to be en-
ployed.
''Since labor brought everything into ex-
istence why is it that all who have done SO
much have SO little to show for it. This
question demands the attention of both the
great political parties. Should not our offices
be flied with laboring men and not mag
hates. Who is it that fill our national con-
ventious. 1t is the railroad men, the repre-
sentatives of the great telegraph companies
and the cattle kings The day has come for
us to cast our ballots.
am non partizsn, and he who is not is
not good citizen. 1t behooves all to let
party politics go and not support platforms
whose only merit is a multiplicity of words
adroitly put together to deceive the honest
man"
The speaker then launched out upon half
hours talk upon the national banking system.
He gave its history in scathing terms and
was emphatically Of the opinion that the
pr.Sent system was not only deserving of