Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-09-01

4
Represented-Att the Park
This is Labor day; legalized holiday
10 many OF the states. including Illinoi.
and Iowa. as it properly should be in al
states. Indeed it ought to be as in reality
1t will be event ually, national holiday
The tri-cities have observed it properly
In Rock Island all industrial institutions
with the exception of the Rock Island
Lun Der company have shut down to per-
NIT their employees to enjoy the day.
There was no demonstration in Rock Isl.
and this year. the labor organizations
uniting in grand industrial celebration
at Davenport. where this morning oc-
CURED the greatest street display ever
seen in the three cities, with ten bands of
music. column composed of four hun
dred variously decorated floats rep.
resenting nearly all the industrial
and mercantile pursuits of Davenport,
and organizations in the three cities, 800
horses and 1000 men moved through the
principal streers. consuming an hour and
half IN passing a given point. Rock
Island did itself proud in the manner in
which its brawny>handed sons of toll re-
presented it. though disappointed at
the last moment in the matter of BiehPs
band with which arrangements had been
made to head The Rock Island organic a :
tions. but which deserted the bows when
1t Was too late to make other provisions,
and hired out 70 Davenport society for
few dollars more, 1t was rather a
small piece of business for the band to
do. and great disappointment to the
labor societies of Rock Island which
have always done nicely by Mr. Biehl
| However, the Rock Island societies, as
before stated. made splendid showing.
especially the typos with their slken
banner, and the stone cutters with their
| white aprons, and bearing the beautiful
| flag of the Industrial Home association.
The Rock Island labor organizations ap-
pearing in the column under the marshal
ship of T. A. Fender. president of the
Industrial Home association, were as fol-
lows:
Tri-city branch Stone Cutters associa-
ton of North America, John McConochie.
president. forty men.
Iron Moulders' Union. $50, Hamliu
Hull, president, thirty men.
Carpenters and Joiners' Union, 1866,
Gustave klorZ, president, seventy five
| men.
Cigarmakers' Union, col. VIM Bleuer,
president, twenty men.
Tri-City Stone Mssons' Union No. 9.
John Stroehle. president, forty men.
Painters Union 1871; Peter Schemmer,
president. flfty-five men
Twin City Typographical Union 1O7;
T. F. Wheelan, president. thirty men.
Tailors Union "a; Louis Englin, presi.
[dent. forty men.
There was also large turnout of &
of l.. assemblies of Rock Island. and two
very attractive floats from this city
those of E. q. Frazer hard coal, and
Larkin & Stephens, contractors.
After the parade there were interesting
exercises at Schuetzen park, where the
principal attraction was an address bv
Governor Horace Boies. of Iowa. Among
| the other spe takers. were Harry Bostock,
of South Rock Island.
WHAT Is LABOR DAYY
1t was in 1888 that Mr.. P. J. Mcclure,
of New York. originated the idea of an
annual cele bration in all the union by
members of the various trades and labor
organizations. Further, the time to be
| fixed for this should be the first Monday
in September. Messrs. P. j. Mcclure,
Samuel Gompers and Robert Blissert
we're the principal trainers of the plan
adopted, and these gentlemen. prominent
workers in the labor cause, first gave it
publicity.
The day was to be a grand holiday,
like the Fourth of July or Christmas. 1t
was to be celebrated by music, festivals.
speaking and great professions of the
labor organizations. The parades were
to be leading feature. Members of all
the industrial parsdes. formed in bsttal>
ions and divisions, we're TO march through
the streets with music playing and ban
ners flying. Upon the banners were
to be inscribed terse words, show
ing the notices and aims of the great
labor unions. Among such were the fols
lowing: Compulsory Education" mo
Child Labor" Sanitary Inspection of
Factories" Eight Hours Day"
The idea caught the public favor at
once That first year and every year
since Labor day has been celebrated. 1t
grows in favor and its observance be-
comes annually more imposing. No more
instructive or interesting sight is wit
messed than these long battalions of faiths
full workers.
Labor day is now legal holiday in New
York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Msssa-
lchusetts, Wisconsin. Illinois. Ohio, Iowa,
Michigan, California and several other
states. Il should be set apart in all the
states as the day belonging to those who
make the nations wealth.
The first tri-city Labor day demon
stration was held year ago today In
Rock Island, Davenport and Moline join.
ling with the same spirit that Rock Island
and Moline have entered into the festiv-
tiles at Davenport today. Next year j,