The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-04
LABOR DAY CELEBRATED.
Grand TuTnOutS Of the TOilerS Every.
where in Its Honor.

where IN It's Honor.
The Goddess of Liberty at the Top
most Pinnacle of the Dome of the
National Capital Crowned With a
Gigantic Wreath-A Realistic Spec
tacle.
Washington, Sept, 3,-The first cele-
bration of Labor day as a national holi-
day was behttingly observed in the ma
tional capital. Also for the first time in
their history all the local labor organiza-
tions united for common purpose with
out squabbles or jealousies and did honor
TO the occasion. This was only BETTING,
inasmuch as Washington organizations
were instrumental in establishing the
holiday as a national institution Plas-
terers' assembly No. 1644, Excelsior as
sembly No. 1872, of the Knights of Labor,
in this city, claim the credit of initiating
the movement to pass bill through con
gress declaring the first Monday in Sep
tember national holiday under the name
of Labor Day" Many states had pre-
viously authorized a similar celebrat alton
but this was the first attempt at national
recognition. The bill was Championed
by Senator Kyle of South Dakota and
was passed without difficulty, becoming a
law by the Presidents signature June 2S
last.
Local labor organizations paraded to-
day in four great divisions, each averag-
ing about 1000 men in line They as
sembled in the vicinity of the city hall
shortly after 10 o'clock a. M. Nearly
every organization was headed by its own
band, and the din of conflicting strains Of
music was deafening.
Weather conditions were most favor
able The haze which softened the suns
rays was welcome in itself, though its
presence was painfully suggestive of the
calamitous fires devastating the north
west. In the line of the procession were
numerous floats representing the various
industrial processes of the lab Dor organi-
cations in different stages of progress.
Old style Columbian hand printing presses
were contrasted with modern printing
machinery. Horseshoers, brickmakers
bookbinders, bakers, cigar makers. plate
printers and numerous other mechanics
exhibited their handiwork in motion, va
rious grotesque features were added for
the amusement of the crowds, which
were very large, as all the public depart
ments were closed.
ON THE PINNACLE OF THE DOME.
The most novel feature of the day oc-
CURED at the top of the capitol building
The chief participants We're Albert Ports
and James Grace, riggers employed by
the architect of the capitol. Last week
Ports distinguished himself by climbing
up the gigantic figure of the Goddess of
Liberty surmounting the dome, and
placing there a circle of electric lights,
which were used for illuminating the
/ dome during the encampment of the
knights of Pythias.
, 1t was the first time man had stood
there since the Goddess was put in posi-
tion. This morning Ports started in to
remove the lights and connecting wires
with the assistance of Grace They
mounted the Goddess by means Of lad
der held by capitol employees from the
topmost window of the dome 1t was 5
o'clock a. m. when they began and the
risky work was completed three hours
later BY that time a big crowd had col
lected in the capitol grounds watching
the two riggers, VINO looked like flies
crawling aoout the great bronze figure.
LAURELs FOR LIBERTY.
At s: 80 o'clock Grace sat astride the
broad shoulders Of the goddess and with
the help of Ports placed gigantic
, wreath on her brow. The wreath was
nearly four feet in diameter and was com
posed of palm leaves, florists asparagus,
roses ana carnations. Then Grace read
an invocation TO freedom, written by a
Washington woman. Mrs Louise Bailey
The people, nearly 800 feet below. could
not hear him, of course, but they under
stood what he was doing. They saw him
fold the manuscript and then, TO the
horror of man y, Ports began
cap. When he reached the pinnacle.
he hesitated a moment and then slowly
and carefully raised himself to an erect
position. For minute he stood there in
the presence Of the crowd below with
Grace still astraddle of liberty's neck.
Ports made the descent as slowly and
4 carefully as he had made the ascent, and
both he and Grace reached the landing in
safety. The wreath was allowed TO re-
main about the brow of the goddess until
just before 10 o'clock when Ports and
Grace repeated their dangerous Journey
and removed II.
AREALIsrIC SPECTACLE
Another quite notable feature of the
day was the first production of lines new
cantata, War and Peace a spectacular
musical production at the National Base
Ball park, in the hearing OF an appreci-
ative audience of nearly 10000 persons.
The catchy use made of the war songs of
north and south and the realistic effect
of artillery and military movements
under the direction Of Capt. Domer, who
commanded the crack prize drill company
| IN bAl0 DlbbLlCb VI AOluulDld national
Guard, supplemented by Innes' great
band and drum corps, made the presenta-
tion marked success.
OUT IN FULL FORCE.
New York, Sept. 3.-Labor's great
army made grand triumphant march
through our city streets to-day. The
workingmen were out in full force
Every preparation had been made TO
make tO-day's celebration one of the larg-
est and finest ever seen in this CITY. The
Central Labor Union had .he matter I'm
charge, and IL turned out grand
success. over $4,000 men were in
line when Grand Marshal William j,
O'Brien gave the order Of march. The
phalanxes formed In Astor place and in
Ninth, Tenth, Eleventh, Twelfth and
Thirteenth streets and on both sides of
Fourth avenue. The march began little
after 10 o'clock The streets through
which the procession passed were lined
with people, who greeted the moving col
umn with enthusiastic cheers and waving
Of handkerchiefs. IL was a triumphai
march from the beginning TO the end.
The day was a general holiday through
out the city. All the exchanges were
closed, as we're the banks and other
places Of business. The custom house
and DOgtOfficp yyqrp nnapad a abNnt