Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1891-09-10
LABOR IN LINE.
The Best Labor Day Demonstration
Ever Seen in Topeka.
FARMERS PARADE IN FULL STRENGTH.
The ProprietIes Not Offended by Offensive
FIoats-LabOr Day HonOred in WIch-
Ita, Leavenworth and Kan
sas City.

| viewing StanQ before OrdWIOIQ 5 opera
house, the state officials, conspicuous
by reason of their huge sunfowers, yes
terday witnessed the best labor dem
onstration ever seen in this city. II
was the first attempt since the legisla-
ture made labor day a legal holiday.
L. L Polk, national president of the
farmers alliance, and Gov. James R
Weaver, the man most prominently
mentioned in connection with the peo-
ple's party nomination for the presi-
dency, led the procession which the re-
| publican officials witnessed. After the
thousand men who formed the labor
unions had passed, and the sixteen hum
dred men who are employed in
| the Atchison, Topeka & Santa
Fe shops had gone, the various sub
alliances come to the front They had
houses of wheat and corn and oats.
| They carried spades and rakes They
rode bony horses and wore patches on
their trousers and sunflowers in their
hats and it seemed as if the procession
would never pass. When at last the
end came, Gen. Weaver and Col Polk
were seen to turn half mile away. 1t
was the signal for a countermarch, and
back past the state reviewing stand
came the entire procession of farmers
and third party enthusiasts Nobody
could tell just how many men there
were in line, for the farmers have a
way of cutting corners and doubling
up for demonstration that is marvel
GUS
IN-o,,, - fo-,- ,,in,,tae oftar IN until 10
o'clock the procession was winding
about. But the end of the alliance pro-
cession was never seen. There were
women and boys and girls in it, but
there were enough voters to make the
politicians scratch their heads and
think. Gov. Humphrey is in Massillon,
O., and conse quently did not witness
the display of Kansas grain and fruit
and farmers He was the first gov
ernor who ever issued a proclamation
suggesting that labor day be observed
as a state holiday. In compliance with
the proclamation all the business
houses in the city closed last year.
Last winter the legislature made labor
day legal holiday and in many parts
of Kansas the sunfower was seen
in the parades-
The farmers did not offend the pro-
prieties with offensive floats. A silk
banner on which was inscribed, "a
government of the people, by the peo-
pie and for the people shall not perish
A Lincoln" and a banner and wagon
humorously picturing the retired
farmer" were all the floats carried
The business houses contributed their
share to the demonstration with the
handsomest trades display wagons the
city has ever seen.
President Polk and Gen. Weaver
spoke to the industrial army at the fair
grounds in the afternoon. The pro-
gramme was an extensive one and pro-
vided for all kinds of athletic contests
LABOR DAY AT WICHITA.
WICHITA, Kan, Sept S.-Labor day
was observed here by a demonstra-
ton under the auspices of the Brother
hood of Locomotive Firemen. The
parade was an imposing one and in
cluded bands from six neigh boring
towns and bodies from the several rail-
way brotherhoods. The alliance was
expected to make formidable dis
play, but was wholly unrepre-
sented. The members of the peo-
pies party are sore on account
of the warfare waged on them by
the railroaders in the legislature last
winter, when legislation adverse to
the railroads was contemplated. About
Is, 900 visitors were here and the park
where the festivities were given was
alive with people. Grand Master Work
man 7. V. Powderly was expected, but
he failed to appear, and in his absence
the railroad brotherhood was repre-
sented by George w. Howard, of Tole-
do, O., chief of the Brotherhood of
Railway Conductors, who responded to
the address of welcome by the mayor
Music, speech-making and sports of all
kinds filled up the day and evening.
AT LEAvENwoRTH.
LEAvENwoRTH, Kan, Sep. S-With
one exception the arrangements for Ia
Dor day here and the demonstration
itself was characterized by order and
harmony. The exception was at a re-
cent meeting of the committees, when
several members came to blows over a
statement of the Leavenworth Times
that the demonstration was in the in
terest of the democratic party because
the speakers were more or less identi-
fed with that party. The Farmers AL
lance made no overtures for recogni-
tiOn and was not represented in the pa
rade. There were sixteen floats in line,
indicative of as many industries, and
the streets were thronged with peo-
pie along the line of march. w. A.
Dodd, recording secretary of the paint
ers' and decorators union, led the pro-
cession as grand marshal The police
commissioners rode in a patrol wagon,
and the city workmen were in the line
with the street sweeper. The mem
bers of the unions wore badges, and the
color bearer of each organization dis
played a union banner.
AT KANSAS CITY.
KANSAS CITY, Mo, Sept S-Seven
thousand of Kansas City's best citizens
marched through the streets yester-
day in orderly array, while yet other
thousands looked on and applauded.
Large numbers of workingmen from
Kansas City, Kan, participated in the
parade The recent fight among home
and outside brewers led to a notable
display of beer wagons
The Gaulois proposes that France.
with the other powers interested, send |
an ultimatum to China in regard to the
outrages upon foreigners.