The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-09-08
AN IMPOSING PARADE
Participated by Local and Visiting Unions,
City Officials and Prominent Citizens.
ADDRESSES TO WORglEGMEa DELIVERED
BY Prominent Speakers 70 II Great
Concoursc at ocean Vicw-Ques.
lions OF Interest in the world OF
Labor Discussed Politics brought
An Once by One OF the Speakers.

Labor was on dress parade yesterday.
Overalls and working jacket gave place
TO the best Sunday gu-to-meeting attire.
Boiled shirts ana stiff collars We're reg
nant; patent feathers We're SO fiequent
as not to excite special attention; silk
hats Were not uncommon.
1t was Labor-Day-not a day on which
the millions of Amcrica's woylingmen
We're TO put forth especial efforts 20 ac-
complish the tasks assigned them. as
might be implied by the term. but
day upon which the weary workers of
the land. the toilers in Eastern mines
and factories. in the smiling fields OF the
South. on the broad plains of the West,
in the mines that disembowel the Rock
les and Sierras, were to cease from toll
and In repoSe of mind and body, seek 10
regain portion of the fire and energy
that had made possible tWelve-month
of constant cXertion. Il was a Nation
al breathing spell. a day designated by
the American Congress rs one upon
which nation of WORKERS was to throw
down the implements of labor and allow
tired hands and feet to rest.
And the workers We're not loath 10
avail themselves of the opportunity. All
over the country the day was observed
with very marked cclat. /; was a ma
tional holiday. and whether or not a
man was wogkingman, he embraced
the opportunity TO cease from the active
for the rest of the yclr-hc rested.
II must not be supposed that all who
observed and enjoyed Labor Day were
seen in professions and pa"adCs. il was
celebrated Very generally throughout
the country, and thousands, perhaps
hundreds of thousands. engaged in pub
lie demons tration in honor of the day
and the cause Of labor. but thousands
there Were everywhere who enjoyed 10
the full the rest which the day brought
N .s..g,
public exercises. At rest from work
and III the bosoms of the. families, they
had leisure TO coatemplGt" ana apprc-
ciate and enjoy one OF The great benefits
OF organized laboy-National Labor
Day.
Labor Day was observed in Norfolk
by very general suspension of busi-
ness during the hours of parade. a pa
rade of local Labor organizations and
Visiting unions from different points in
the state. and in the afternoon by ap-
proprate exercises M Ocean View.
Central Labor Union. composed OF
trade ORGANIZATIONS OF Norfolk. Ports
mouth. and Rerlley. has for some time
been engaged upon an attcmp; to have
the day properly observed in this city
and the unmixcd success of Yesterdays
demonstration proved that iheir efforts
were not misdirec,eG. Delegation from
Richmond, Newport News. Portsmouth.
and other cities throughout the STATE
came in by the early trains. and boa..,
and by the hour of II O'Clock the strcrt,.
were crowded with visitors and local
workingmen and the public generally.
The decorations were not very brilliant
nor were they universal. but on the Drin-
cipai business streets of the city the
national colors were generously display
ed. The banks, the post-Oflice the cot
ton exchange, and u large number of
the business houses Were closed which
with the floating bunting and crowded
sidewalks gave the city decidedly holi-
day appearance.
Excursion trains and boats began 70
pour crowds into the city early yester-
DAY and The eXcursionsts mingling with
me Ncrfoikians. gave. the streets every
appearance of holiday. Many build
lhEs were decorated win gay bunting
Hnd everywhere the chatter and swish
oi the moving crowd impressed ono with
me fact that the city was bent on maxi
'hG the most of the holiday.
Inc approach of the time when the
parade was expected to move, was mark
ed by the gathering OF crowds Of spec
latorS az every point of vantage. The
WStom House steps were crowded with
llnre than 800 spectators and the side
walks all along Main street were almost
impassable
lhe procession began to form as early
a ~ o'clock on City Hall avenue All
me space in that vicinity was crowded
~ vas generally remarked that the dele
T. ~ ~ WIRE remarkably flne look
lhS body OF men. The uniforms of the
printers and brlcklayels' unions were
especially noticea Bile. The former wore
linen suits and caps, whla the printers
More ilnen busters and Greedy hats.
iHese uniforms We're furnished by
NJ .'ssrs Burk & Co.
me parade started at 11:50 O'Clock in
the following formation:
FIRST DIVISION.
Blues band of Jgichuond
NJ Marshals-W. ii. Mayo and j. b Doher
Richmond Typographical Union No. 90.
E!chmond Cisarmalers' Union.
Richmond Iron Moulde!s' Union
Richmond Timers Union
Rtchmond Plumbers and Cashiers
AZ Union
RlchmoRd Tobacco Warkers' Union.
Richmond Machinlsts' Lodge.