The Wichita daily eagle., 1891-09-08
LABOR DAY
OBSERVED IN WICHITA IN A Be
FITTING MANNER.
Thousands in the City-wichita Again
Does Herself Proud and the Day
Is Recognized by Great Celebra-
ton - The Parade and Picnic.

Labor Day was yesterday duly observed
in Wichita. At an early hour people be-
gan coming in from the country to join
their city brethren of toll in celebrating
the day set aside by the last legislature as
a legal holiday. Labor Day has begun to
be almost universally commemorated. 1t
was first observed in 1850. The Pacific
coast was the first to advocate the idea
and in 1882 it was celebrated in a mild way
by the Central Labor union of New York
City. In first years May 1, September
and September Is were variously observed.
The Cigarmakers International union was
the first to bring such day to the public
mind, and then it was taken up by the
American Federation of Labor. This was
in 1884. Two years after Samuel Gompers
was elected president of the American
Federation, proclamation was issued de-
claring the First Monday in September
Labor Day, and all labor organizations
were notified. Since that time the first
Monday in September has remained fixed
as Labor Day. At first there were no
street parades and it was observed by
simply quitting labor, but of later years
since 1SS6-the day has been growing more
popular and has been more enthusiastically
observed with more pomp than formerly
and its celebration has become more
general.
Yesterday occurred the first general cell
bration of the day in Kansas. Several
years ago the day was observed
with great pomp, but the celebration of
the day was not general throughout the
state. A year ago Governor Humphrey is.
sued his proclamation designating Sep
tember lst as Labor Day. asking the peo-
pie of the state to recognize the day as a
legal holiday, and last winter bill was
introduced in the state senate making the
first Monday in September legal holiday.
The bill passed both houses and became a
law.
Special trains came in from the north
and the south yesterday bearing thousands
of persons from neighboring cities and
counties A special train of five coaches
and baggage car came in at II o'clock
yesterday forenoon from the north. This
brought the different bands, railroad
men and their families from distant cities,
coming from Hutchinson, Newton, Burr
ton, and from other points along the
road. The engine, No. 247, under Thomas
Costello was handsomely decorated and
bedecked with sunfOwers, emblems, etc.
band and the Typographical and Cigar
Makers unions and the Order of Railway
Telegraphers received these delegations at
the depots and conducted them to their
respective places assigned them in the
order of the procession.
- 1 IT.Dn . IL r.
set out from the Carey, going west on
Douglas avenue to Market, thence south
on Market to English, then west to Main,
and then north on Main to Pine street,
where the procession disbanded.
The procession was formed and paraded
as followsI
The first division, headed by the mar
shall, A. G. Walden and Chief Burrows,
followed by squad of mounted police.
These were followed by Browns military
band, Wichita Light infantry, city council
in carriages and the city officers and
speakers in carriages. The light infantry
in this division as usual made fine show
ing, and were under the command of Cap
tain Osborne and Lieutenant Runyan.
The second division was headed by the
Second regiment band of Hutchinson, and
were followed by the Newton division of
locomotive 1remen and other railway or
ganizations and the local division of the
Order of Railroad Telegraphers.
The Winfield band, "Caton's Dozen"
headed the third division, and in this
marched the Typographical and the Cigar
makers unions. The Wichita Typo
graphical Union carried at their head their
beautiful silken banner, on which is in
scribed, Typographical Union, No. 14S,
Wichita, Kan, with their emblem in the
center, and is said TO be the finest banner
of the kind in the state. Fifty-two mem
bers of the order marched in line and
made fine showing. The Cigarmakers'
Union of this city also carried their hand
some banner aloft and were out in good
numbers.
The fourth division was headed by Col
Cash Taylor's band of Sedgwick City. In
their wake followed the Wichita fire de-
partment with all their wagons and ma
chimes in line. This constituted the fourth
division and showed up very handsome,
the fire laddies as usual doing the city
honor.
The fifth and last division con-
sisted of the fire departments of Csld-
well and Newton and were followed by
in carriages.
At Riverside park everything had been
arranged tor every possible comfort for
the visitors. All kinds of amusements
were provided and nothing was spared in
making the stranger feel at home. Then
there was dancing, for which Shaw's
orchestra furnished excellent music. The
majority of the people took their dinners
on the ground, having either brought it
with them, or purchased the same at the
numerous stands on the grounds. After
dinner speech-making was in order.
Acting Mayor George W. Glaze spoke the
address of welcome in behalf of
the city, and acquitted himself in
a very becoming manner in the place of
Mayor Carey, who is at present in the
east. He was followed by B. E. Kies who
spoke at length upon the issues of the |
Peoples Party. After Mr.. Kies had con-
cluded, Mr. Howard, the grand chief of |
the order of Railroad Conductors OF the |
United States, addressed the people. He |
spoke at length upon the interests and |
conditions which confront the laborers of |
the country. His speech was little upon |
the political stump order, but was not
radical. After the speaking the different |
bands delighted the picknickers with Sc
lections. The second regiment band of \
Hutchison enlivened the festivities with |
some operatic selections, which were rem
dered in q most artistic manner.
Ii was estimated that during the after
noon at least 1e,0o0 people visited the /
grounds. The electric line gave excellent |
service and did good business. The |
festivities at the marx continued until the /