The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-09-08
LABOR'S GREAT DAY
THOUSANDS OF VISITORS ATTEND
THE STATE CELEBRATION.
Anderson's Streets Crowded with Peo-
pie, Who Watched n Parade an
Hour in Passing.
MKlNLEY LODGE BANNER
SILLY ATTEMPT TO KEEP TIN-PLATE
MEN FROM CARRYING 1T.
President Gompers's Able Speech
The indianapolis Parade-CeIebra-
tion i'm Other Cities.
M'KINLEY LODGE BANNER !
SILLY ATTEMPT TO KEEP TIN-PLATF,
MEN FROM CARRYING 1T.

Aside from two or three unpleasant Incl
dents of rather sensational nature. the cell
ebration of Labor day at Anderson yester-
day was great success. From this city
about 1,500 people attended the celebration,
and other cities and towns sent large dele
cations. Anderson has perhaps never had
larger crowd, although it is said that
the Fourth of July celebration a year ago
drew a crowd nearly as large. All the
streets of the central part of that city were
as busy and crowded as a bee hive on
swarming day, and people estimated that
5000 or 10000 strangers were in town.
The street parade was delayed an hour
by cheap effort to make political capital
out of one of the EIwood tn-plate work.
ers unions. A rule that is insisted upon
in all labor organizations is the one which
forbids a union from taking sides in polit-
ical questions an organiza ton. About
four years ago, after the Elwood tin-plate
factory was opened, the men organized a
union. At that time the Democratic press
throughout the country was ridiculing the
assertion that tin plate could be made in
this country, although William Mckinley
maintained that it could be done under the
influence of protective tariff. Recognizing
in Mckinley the champion of the tin-plate
industry, the Elwood operatives named
their organizat ton the Mckinley Lodge, No.
l21, of Elwood Tinworkers, and have main
tanned it ever since. Yesterday the union
appeared on the streets of Anderson with
an immense tin banner, behind which they
proposed to march. 1t had printed on
it in big letters the words, Mckinley Lodge
Tinworkers of Elwood." Thomas Gruelle
member of the typographical union, and
Nick Dugan of the bricklayers, said to
be self-constituted aid to the grand mar
shall of the parade, raised a howl against
the banner and declared that they would
not march with it in the parade, they
were strictly opposed to allowing any par
tisanship manifested in the celebration. 1t
was suggested to the Elwood men that
they could march behind their other ban
ner, one showing their connection with the
amalgamated associations. To this they
strenuously and persstently objected. They
declared that If they were not allowed to
--srrr-y -afTd march behind their colors that
they would not participate at ALL They
were backed by other organizations from
Alexandria and Anderson, who also de-
clared that they would walk out of the
parade if Elwood did not remain. Samu-
ell Gompers, president of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor was at Anderson as the
orator of the day. The controversy was
laid before him for adjustment and he de-
cded in favor of the E1wood club. He
held that the banner was not a political
device and that the union entitled to
use it. The victorious Elwood union
marched behind it's significant standard
and was loudly applauded all along the line
of march, as the news of the trouble had
scattered around Thomas Gruelle's latest
attempt to play the demagogue recalls an
incident when he invited w. D. Bynum to
speak at q Labor-day celebration while the
latter was a candidate for reelection to
Congress. Mick Dugan was formerly as
sistant custodian of the Postoffice building
here by grace of a Democratic administra-
ton and was also in Office under Mayor
Sullivan.
Owing to the long delay in getting start
ed many men who would have marched
grew tired and fell out of the ranks. New
ertheless. the parade was one of the most
imposing that has ever been made in this
State by organized labor. 1t over half
hour in passing the Doxey Hotel, and
labor leaders claim that 5000 men were in
line, although that figure is probably lit
tie exaggerated. AS a comparative esti-
mate, it is probably safe to say that there
were 5000 men marching. Much disappoint-
ment was expressed at the arrangements
for the speaking at Riverside Park, a small
neck of land between the river and the
Pennsylvania railroad, about three blocks
from the courthouse. Before IL permanent
band stand board seats were arranged for
but five hundred people. Unfortunately,
the spot was the worst that could have
been chosen, as it exposed to the after
noon sun and the speakers stood with the
sun beating down into their faces.
PARADE IN DETAIL.
All Anderson and the country side for
miles around assembled to do honor to or
carriages and buggies from the farm dis
tricts all along the line of march and citi-
zens of the city sought advantageous points
to view the parade. The steps and yard of
the courthouse were black with people. and
scarcely an inch of standing room could be
found at the public square, where the peo-
pie patiently waited several hours for the
sound of the first drum. Not much had
been done in the way of decorating the
city; here and there bright bits of bunt-
ing and occasional flags emphasized the
general baroness. Much surprise was ex-
pressed by Indianapolis union men, who
have been accustomed to see something
in that line done on the holiday of the wage
earners and toilers of the world.
1t was not until Il 80 o clock that the head
of the procession passed the Doxey House.
First came platoon of police. followed
by the grand marshal and his staff, escort
ed by a company of indianapolis Zouaves.
Major c. T. DoXey was called away from
the city by tfse illness or his mother. He
was to have been the guest of honor He
rendered his carriage to President Gompers.
who rode with Mrs. Belle Pierson Springer,
of the speakers. Indianapolis Typo
graphical Union No. led the van of the
Indianapolis delegations, TO whom were ac-
corded the place of honor at the head of
the parade. Back of them came the gar
ment workers, an organization that but
lately came into existence. Many of the
members are women. a large deleea ton of
them rode in carriages. The painters wore
natty white duck uniforms and made a
very creditable display.
When the Elwood tinworkers appeared
behind their novel tin banner, they were re-
ceived with loud cheering and thousands
of voices were heard shouting ''Hurrah for
Mckinley The Mckinley Lodge is a very
large organization and was well represent
ed. The Anderson tinworkers also carried
a huge tin banner The men in the differ
ent delegations of tinworkers carried canes
of American tin, with foxhorn attachments
The music made by them was hideous and
ear-spntting, but they seemed to get a
good deal of satisfaction from that means
Of venting their enthusiasm. Many of
them wore fantastic ornaments all CT tin.
Nan enterprising business man had a couple
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