Evening star., 1895-07-13
LABOR DAY PARADE
Committees to Confer About It Next
Monday.
MANY Fine FEATURES PROMISED
Something About the Origin Of the
>Workingman's Holiday.
TONED BY LAW


Dor day from the Federation of Labor and
District Assembly, No. 66. Knights of La
Dor, will hold their first meeting at Typo
graphical Temple Monday evening next.
The favorable responses received from the
societies which were invited to send dele
gates to the conference by the committee
having char ge of the matter gives the as
surance that there will be large attend
ance, while the interest felt in the ranks
Of organized labor generally renders it GER
tain that the utmost enthusiasm and har-
mony will prevail.
1t is under stood that already enough so
cieties have signified their intention to
have floats in the parade to make it GER
tain that there will be not less than one
hundred of these instructive examples of
progress in the line. Prominent among
those who have assured the committee of
willingness to cooperate in making the pa
rade success is Chief Claude NJ. Johnson
of the bureau of engraving and printing,
who, 1t is understood. will let the plate
printers have plate press to operate while
the line is in motion, and it is stated that
various other leading mer who are en-
ployers of organized labor will loan such
implements of their respective trades and
occupations as may be desired
The Origin of Labor Day.
The origin of Labor day IS interesting,
but it's actual birthplace is somewhat IN
doubt, as the members of organized labor
societies in both New York ard Balti-
more claim that the honor belongs to each.
Those who believe that the idea that the
laboring men of the United States ought
to have one day in the year as their own
peculiar holiday. in which they could feel
that there was one common interest among
them all, originated in the first named
city, say that the first parade of societies
composed exclusively of laboring men took
place in the great business metropolis,
back in the seventies. The day continued
to be kept by members Of organized labor
each year, the number constantly increas-
ing of those participating. and in a few
years 1t was determined by some of the
leaders there to make an attempt to legal
ize the day. But little trouble was found
in getting the legislature of the state of
New York to accede to the wishes of the
promoters of the enterprise. From this
the movement spread until Labor day be-
came legal holiday in nearly all the
any action in the matter. The latter. how
ever, in compliance with the united voice
of organized labor in this city, early last
year passed bill, which was approved
by the President and became law. max
ing the day legal holiday, and thus CIV
ing national character to Labor day.
The labor advocates who believe that
Baltimore mechanics are justly entitled to
the honor of inaugurating the movement,
which has grown to such great proper
tions say that the first parade of organ
lied labor societies took place in the monu-
mental city in 1881.
On that occasion there were but six So
cieties which participated The day not
being q legal holiday and most of those In
the ranks of workingmen were uncertain
as to what position their sustaining from
work on the occasion might give them with
their bosses, many of them continued at
their respective employments.
Suppressing the Red Flag.
When Labor day arrived the following
year 1t was found that the number Of So
cieties participating lad largely increased.
Unfortunately, however, several of the So
c.eties in which the foreign element pre-
dominated by big majority carried red
flags, indicating that they were believers in.
anarchism. The excitement occasioned by
this action was intense, and the news
papers of the city were emphatic in their
comments. and the citizens. generally. loud
| in their criticisms that the red flag of an
archism ought never to be allowed to float
| in Baltimore. 1t was generally understood.
however. that the managers of the parade
had no previous knowledge that the Of
fensive flags would be shown.
Months passed away before the strained
relations caused by these incidents were
adjusted, and when arrangements for the
Labor day parade of 1888 were made the
committee in charge especially stipulated
| that on the OCCASION of the parade the
American flag, and that only, should be
| displayed in the procession, nor was any
! society to be allowed to participate a ma
jority of whose members were known to
| believe in the doctrines of anarchsm
When Labor day arrived the parade was
| formed in the center of the city, and after
| being reviewed by the governor of the
state. mayor Of the city and other high
public officials, started for the general
| rendezvous, at the Eastern Schuetzen Park
where a great public meeting was to be
| held. With bands playing and American
| flags floating in the breeze, the procession
| wended its way to the park, and had ero-
ceeded nearly two-thirds of the distance
when by some means red flag was got
| ten into the parade.
The existerce of the flag was almost
| Immediately noticed by one of the aids to
| the chief marshal, who reported the fact
| to his chief The latter at once ordered
| the parade to be halted, and the bearer of
| the Objectionable flag was ordered, with all
who believed in the doctrines it symbolized,
to leave the ranks.
After little parleying about one hundred
men stated that they were adherents of
the red flag, but objected to leaving the
ranks, because they were also workingmen.
I'VE are" their spokesman continued,
"Erited together under tho red flag of
aIarchism, by liberty, equality and social
| ISM" Finding, however, that the chief
marshal was firm In requiring that his
orders be obeyed they reluctantly COM
| piled and returned to their headquarters.
| Stree then no attempts to carry an obnoX-
icus flag In parade In that city have
| been made.
| 4 Hc movement 10 nave the maryland leg
| islature constitute Labor day a legal holi-
day began soon after this, but the efforts
We're not successful for several years.
| Finally, however. the lawmakers became
| convinced that this request of the mem
bers of organized labor was a just one
and the bill was passed and subsequently
| signed by the governor.
In the District.
The parade of the District labor organiza-
tions last year YVES a great success. It
| was made notable by the attempt made
by President Dunlop of the Washington
and Georgetown Railroad Company to
force some of his trains through the pro-
cession at the corner of Pennsylvania ave-
nue and 7th street, resulting in Mr.. Dun
lop's arrest and his trial and conviction in
the Police Court.
Mrs. Stcvenson's Sudden Illness.
The wife Of Vice President Stevenson was
taken suddenly Ill at Bloomington,
ILL.,, Thursday night, and two ply
| sicians spent several hours with her. She
was much better last evening, but was rest
| ing under the influence of opiates The ex-
l No t11ro Of boro fo