Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1891-09-10
LABOR'S DAY OF ENJOYMENT
The Exercises at RosendaIe
Park on Monday.
MUST FIGHT AGAINST MONOPOLY
For a Just Share of Our
Labor's Products.


Wilmineton's first observance of
Labor Day was a success. MONDAYS
demonstration was the first of the kind
In this State as well as in this CITY, Had
the celebration been agitated earlier it
might have been more elaborate and the
participants more numerous. The in
terest manifested was greater than was
expected, and in consequence those who
had the affair in charge are much elated.
The parade was creditable and the
marching organizations deservedly re-
ceived frequent applause. As previ-
ously stated there were about 500 men
in line. Some societies turned out in
full strength and almost every branch
of labor was represented. All Of the
participants were in citizens dress and
wore badges. Many wore white gloves
and carried canes, and some carried
tools used in their trades. Several
handsome banners and few national
flags were displayed. The Bakers
Union commanded attention by broad
sashes of blue silk which its members
wore. Wilmington Typographical Union
exhibited "case," at which compos-
itor was at work. Cigarmakers' Union
illustrated the manufacture of cigars.
by team heavily laden with granite
and had float on which members of
the craft were toiling. The procession
proceeded along French street from
Fourth to Front, thence to Market, to
Tenth, to Delaware avenue, to Clayton
street, to Rosendale Park, where it ar
rived about $3.50 o'clock.
A large gathering had assembled In
the grove, and when the parade arrived
many went over to platform which
had been erected on the hillside opposite
the park entrance. Upon the platform
were First Regiment Band and Henry
Weismann of New York, editor of the
Bakers Journal and Deutsch-Ameri-
edntschc Bdcher- Zeitnng, and the orator
If the occasion, while in IA group nearby
was Workingmcn's Sengerbund. After
music by the band and a selection by
the sengerbund, Mr.. Weismann was in
troduced. He talked fluently and elo-
quently for about half an hour, and said
in substance;
The people of this country are in the
habit OF celebrating great events by Just
such parades as you have witnessed to-day,
but hardly ever do we miss the sight of the
glstening bayonet, the sombre-looking
musket and all those attributes which give
the occasions those warlike expressions
which still shame our age. Labor Day in
this respect differs. Instead of the sword
and bayonet we see the hammer and chisel,
the weapons of peace, the means Of indus
try and agriculture, by which civilization
is being reared. This is day of peace,
worthy of the yearnings of the laboring
people, whose only object in struggling
Tor u better existence isto bring about a CON
dition of peace and harmony on earth. But
the road which we have to travel towards
this end is one of struggles and sacrifices,
owing to the antagonsm of the money
power which we find on the industrial and
political field alike. To fight for more
humane conditions of life means to fight
against monopoly for greater share in
the products Of our labor. We can
secure, such benefits only by organization
in trades and labor organizations. To as
sert our strength we have to combine and
observe the same law as capital has done
and through which it maintained its SUI
premacv. Combination of labor suggests
the principle of trade unionism, where an
injury to one is the concern of all. Capt.
tai being organized on an international
basis the workers will have to follow suit.
A united international party of labor,
when acting solidaric in all struggles,
economic as well as political, will be able
to check the further degradation of labor.
Let MS strive for reduction, of the
hours of toll. This will decrease the army
of the unemployed; il will thus decrease
the supply of labor, increase the demand
and in consequence raise wages. 1t will
furthermore grant the workers sufficient
leisure to educate themselves in the great
question of the day and once on higher
intellectual and moral plane they will no
longer fall victims to willy politicians.
This is one of the greatest questions now
under discussion by the American people
1t pushes to the front of public affairs and
demands a solution.
The attainment of Labor Day, which in
2S states of the union has been made a
legal holiday, subject TO the demands of
the toilers, is one grand step ahead. Della
ware has, as yet, failed to fall in line.
hope that one year hence you will also
placeyourselves on record as having wrung
from capital this victory Stand together
and you will reign supreme as becomes the
- prime factor in society labor
Subsequently there was music alter
nately by the band and the sengerbund
The former played its best and the
singing was delightful. The instrumental
programme was as follows:
Labor March,. ..........,.......T Thomas
Overture, despair de l. Alsace,"
Hermann
"Loin du Bali ......................G illet
Waltzes, "Nantasket'' ...... Farback
Overture, "From Dawn to Twilight"
Bennett
Cosmopolitan" ................ Prendiville
Medley, "Recollections of War" ...... Dyer
Hunt for Happiness" ............. Brande
Overture, "Welcome" ......... Il. N. Catlin
Meanwhile dancing in the park
pavilion had commenced, and many
brawny toilers, with wife, sister or
sweetheart, were keeping step to music
furnished by Luckman's orchestra.
During dance intermissions brief ad-
dresses were delivered by Gustave
Reinike and John G. Doyle, and selec-
tions were performed by du Pont Fife
and Drum Corps. After supper the at
tendance increased, and dancing con-
tinued several hours.
During the evening Mr.. Weismann
delivered an address at the labor head
quarters, on Jackson street between
: Lancaster avenue and Second street.
Fire in Dorchester County.