The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1891-09-11
Labor Day Celebration.

Labor Day Celebration.
Owosso always makes a success of every
enterprise her citizens take hold of in earn
est. The celebration planned by the labor
associations for Labor Day was no excep-
ton. For months the event had been
talked of and doomed by every one. The
labor organizations met weekly to perfect
arrangements, the members worked hard
and earnestly to make their first celebration
in OwOssO fitting One
Early Monday the business men of the
city had their stores gaily decorated, giving
the city the appearance of a 4th of July.
At the crossing of Main and Washington
streets an arch, trimmed with evergreen,
was erected, under which teams from all
directions could pass. The regular trains
| and the specials soon filled the city with
strangers, while from every direction came
the farmers with their families. BY the
time for the procession to start the streets
were jammed with people. At IL o'clock
the procession formed on Washington
street at the crossing of Comstock and
passed up Washington and thence to the
| fair grounds. The procession was led by a
squad Of firemen acting as mounted police,
| followed by the Owosso X. p. band, car
riages Containing Gov Winans, and city
officials; Company G., Michigan state
| troops, of IOnia, Capt Curtis in command,
| with 81 men in line; GovernOrs's Guards
| Lansing, with 20 men; Flint Blues, Lieut..
+. w. Brennan in command, with 80 men
| Co. F, of Mason, % men in charge Of Capt.
Shook. The Knight Pythias came next
| with eleven divisions in line, viz: Pontiac
Flint, Ithaca, Clare, Bay City, Saginaw,
| Lansing, Ionia, two from Detroit and
| Owosso. The Shiawassee Co. Battalion
| G. A. r. came next followed by the Car
penters' Union, the Arbeiter Verien, p. OF
| l., X. of L., and other labor organizations
Following this came the industrial and bus
| mess exhibit, the firms represented being
Wilson q Son, Murray & Terbush, A. W.
| Prindle 81 Co., OwossO Broom factory, j.
q IL. Frieseke. +. III. Banister, OwOssC
Laundry, j. M. Tobn & Co., G. r. Black
Il Son, ROlln Pond, Todd & Roper, Mich
| S. M. & Organ Co., M. l.. Parker, Owosst
Boiler Co., Osburn Il Sons, HartshOm, SOr
& Grove, K. M. Johnson, Andy Geek, L.
| +. Steadman, Corey Bros, Wicking q
fair grounds ranks were broken for dinner
| The people enmasse met on the fail
grounds at p. m. to listen to the OratOrical
feast that had been promised. The pro
ceedings on the grand stand were opened by
some favOrite selections, well rendered, by
the OwOssO band. Following this the
Divine blessing OH Labor Day and American
labor was invoked In an impressive manner
| by Rev. K. b. Bancroft of the Nj. K. church
Bert G. Hall, the president of the day, ther
introduced his honor Mayor Stearns F
Smith, who in few well chosen words
welcomed to the Inequalities of the city the
assembled thousands representing the in
| dustrial interests of this magnificent state
and congratulated them on the fact tina
| they had such beautiful day for theil
wonderful display. His speech was en-
Enthusiastically cheered and listened to will
marked attention.
His excellency Gov. Winans was intro
duced and delivered a brief address devotet
principally to impressng on his audience
the importance of we'll directed labor organ
| izations in promoting the material prosperit!
of the country. He expressed his opinion
that these organizations were for the promo
ton of the social and educational Interest,"
of the laboring classes, and that they should
not be partisan nor allow themselves Il
be used for partisan purposes, but shoult
be centre where the people associated In
them could meet on common level anC
unitedly labor for the advancement of TIN
higher interests of the laboring men OF tn
country, and when untedly they coult
stand together and successfully combat an!
unwarranted attempt on the part of capita
or capitalists to deprive the working classe:
either of their just earnings or of thei
rights as the strong arm of American
society. His speech was listened to witt
close attention, was practically nOn-partisal
and did honor to him as the chief executive
of this prosperous and industrious state.
Hon. Henry A. Robinson, the Commits
sioner of Labor, who was announced a
orator of the day, was then introduced b.
the president. Much was expected of thi
speaker. He has the reputation of being
leader of the industrial thousands in Wayn
county, and was selected for very import
ant position by Gov. Winans, In the interes
of the industrial classes. He plead sickness
as an apology for not being prepared with
speech suitable for the occasion, and Will
his looks attested the truth of his apolOg
so far rs sickness was concerned, his speed
effectually proved beyond all misconceptiO
that he was totally unprepared to enlighten
lead or direct the work Of the intslligen
thousands who were listening, and 1t |
enough to say that his "thank you" as he sa
down was the only sentiment he uttere
that the majority approved.
NOTES.
The crowd was very orderly.
The display of fireworks in the evening
drew big crowd.
Fle-deur-Lis Division X. p, of Detroit
won the drill prize, $75.
The Bancroft ball club defeated tn
Owosso by score of 8 to 4.
The X. p. made an excellent showing
Their drills pleased the crowd wonderfully
In the bicycle race Edward Finch wo
the first prize, and Don Robinson second
Both silver medals.
Pontiac Division X. p. had drum corp
of boys. The youngsters were applaude
as they marched In the parade.
The industrial display was very credits
BILE indeed. M. l.. Parker's brick yard sho,
was conceded by all to have been the bes
thing In line.
The attendance was disappointment
This was largely owing to the fact this
that farmers were too busy with fall wor
to leave home.
Hartshorn, Son & Grove made splendi
splay In the parade, exhibiting larp
line of agricultural implements sold by then
They also had plow made in 1912.