Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-09-07

Pleasant Time at Sheilpot Park.
Labor Day was generally observed
throughout the city Monday, and the
banking institutions and public offices
were closed. A few places of business
were closed, but the majority of the indus
trial establishments remained open and in
active operation. Owing to the financial
stringency and the present depression in
business circles there was no street demon
stration by the local unions and represen-
tatives of organized labor, and the day
was quietly celebrated by picnic i'll Shell
pot Park, consisting Of music and speech
making.
There was large crowd at the park
during the afternoon and the number OF
attendance is estimated in the neighbour
hood Of 5000 The day was very pleas
antly spent and the sons of labor were
well-pleased with the result of the obser-
vance. Music was furnished by the band
from Union Park, and a suitable pro-
gramme was rendered.
The exercises during the afternoon were
enlivened by the appearance on the scene
OF William Vino, WHO, under the guise OF
Willie Taylor, played the jay from Yer
mont so successfully that the police were
completely taken in during. the morning;
Vino appeared In his rustic apparel. and
his antics almost depopulated the attend
ance at the labor meeting, until he was
requested to take his departure by the
police, and willingly did so. Later he
was observed endeavoring to scale to the
top Of an electric car.
The principal speaker was George
Chance, precedent OF Philadelphia Typo
graphical Union, and lifelong friend of
organized labor. He began by reviewing
the present condition of affairs from q
financial basis and said the existing de-
preston was not due to lack of wealth, for
the country is richer to-day than II ever
was. He said the social condition Of the
state and nation has had tendency to
place the control of the vast wealth OF the
country in the hands of the few. All in.
telligent men will admit, in general
sense, that the conditions which surround
us are due to legislation. The accumu-
lations Of vast fortunes in this country is
not the result of natural conditions, but is
traaeable TO the protection thrown about
money by legislative enactment. The
domination of money in legislation has
brought people face TO face with starva
ton, and Congress has been called upon tc
relieve this present condition of affairs.
The statesman and politician promise,
social revolution through the medium OF
the party platform, but like dead sea apples
they turn to sand on the palate. Tit
country is powerful, and wealthy beyont
conception. Its resources are as limitles
as the boundless ocean. We have mex
haus.ble mines of gold, silver, copper
nickel, lead, coal and iron, and teemint
fields of luxurious products. There ar
orchards overhung with golden fruit AM
everywhere. With all these resource
there is no reason why the people of thi
country should not be satisfied and con
tented.
Labor is source of Joy, the speake
said. To work for wife and child, to tot
for those you love, is happiness, provide
you make them happy: But to work lik
rags; to live without leisure. without resi-
is q slow, lingering crucifixion. With tn
vast, wonderful resources of the nineteent
century there should not only be the nece
saries Of life for those who toll, but con
fort and luxuries as we'll. 1t is well sal
that ''the Lord helps him who helps hin
self" So can only say to you that SUI
cess will only come to people when the
have cared for their own interests. Tn
can be accomplished by thorough organ
cation. If the mechanics and the labore
of the whole land were thoroughly orgai
lied this panic could be allayed in
hours; in fact, it never would have o
Cured. Lttsg.
In England organization in labor has a
complished wonders for the people and
this country the same thing is true. Du
ing the struggle OF the ,serf and artisan
national calamity turned tina scale in q
formers favor. and in 1919 the plag
swept over the land. One third of d
people died and the harvest lay rottin
Thelaborer seeing the advantage demand
three times the wages he had receiv
formerly, Then commenced the strUgg
and rebellion followed. England W
drenched in blood, but the cause was VIC
Organized labor has brought about
duction in the hours of toll and a M
standard of wages Is the result; IN APP
1866, in response to organized labor t
Pennsylvania Legislature declared I'll
eight hours of labor between the risi
and the setting of the sun shall be ht
and deemed to be legal days work"
December of the same year tie Nation
Congress enacted the eight-hour law, q
there is no department of the governme
in which the law has not been enfore
ever since. This rule is last becomi
universal and organized labor is triu
plant.
While lam opposed to strikes until eve
other means has failed, still they are
only weapon left when reasonable
mands and forcible arguments do not p
vail. No great reforms in government
trades have ever been accomplished
cept through revolution or strikes. But
most weighty argument against strike
the discomfort and probable suffering Il
may entail II unsuccessful. Strikes
not new lnNeutlOn Dy any means. i
recent strikes III this country have been
many and such varied character. as
lead one to believe that unless there i
change in our social condition revolut
may be the only logical conclusion Il
can be drawn.
Eight hours for days work me
first, better quality Of labor, more int
gence among workmen, and will brin
higher ambition and enthusiasm to
worker. 1t means better citizens. !.
labor union will not bring the millenil
but if carried to its logical conclusion
better the condition of the nations toll
1t will enable the mechanic 10 bring up
family better than he otherwise wol
and will ensure the young man :
haven in profitable employment. 1t VIC
mean happy and contented firesides
united and prosperous country.
Mr.. Chance was followed in his remi
by j. g. Doyle of this city, who mac
brief address upon the merits of organ
labor.
Election of Officers.
AT a meeting of Shields Library