Omaha daily bee., 1898-09-06
UNION LABOR TAKES 4 DAY
Omaha Wcrkirgmen Turn Out for Their
Annual Holiday,
PARADE IS UNUSUALLY IMPRESSIVE
streets Along the Route Are Jammed
and Police Make No Ehort to
Keep the Way Clear TOR
the Column,

Threatening clouds followed by a brief
shower Of rain were not sufficient to mar
the success Of the Joint parade of scores
Of gallant fire companies and thou
sands of representatives Of organized
labor which made up the splendid doubte
bill offered 10 Omaha and its guests on the
morning OF Labor day. The procession was
not only one Of the most unique att-aC-
lions displayed by the Gate City during
the exposition season, but proved one Of
the most pleasing pageants that has passed
through the streets Of Omaha in many a
day.
The parade was witnessed by a vast con-
course of people. Those who have had ex-
perience in estimating the numerical di-
mensicns of former crowds of spectators
estimated that at least 5000 saw the
iremen and the workngmen parade. Doug
las street from Tenth to Six
teenth street was densely packed
with citizens and strangers. The
windows of all the stores, office buildings
and other establishments were occupied by
thousands Of spectators, while as mary
more lined the curbstones on both sides Of
/ the streets. An immense crowd was gathered
at Fourteenth street and Capitol avenue, the
starting point Of the parade. and the avenue
as far east as Tenth street was very lively.
Sixteenth street from Douglas street north,
especially about the new government build
ing, whose broad steps accommodated great
throngs, was perhaps the most popular point
along the route Of the parade.
| Received with Enthusiasm.
No parade during the life Of the exposi-
| ton, nor any previous daylight procession
| in Omaha, has been more enthusiastically
| received by the pepole than the one which
! at once gave them an opportunity
| to see so many sturdy fire fighters and
! brawny sons of labor In the first part of
! the parade the representatives of the former
! class were cheered all along the line The
! splendid show of engines, trucks and hose
carts, with their every bit of brass and
nickel glistening as though brand new in
| honor Of the gala occasion, was only equalled
| by the magnificent display of horses that
drew the fire wagons and by the striking
| appearance of the men commanding them
! The volunteer companies from the rural dis
trcts were received equally as well as the
more modern displays made by the paid fire
departments Of the larger municipalities
| The marching of the former companies ant
their catchy drills caught the crowds quite
as much as the big steamers and hook ant
| ladders of the city companies or al
the companies in line none received more
of a popular ovation than the Omaha de-
partment. and Chief RedeIl was especially
we'll remembered wherever he was recog
nized, which was quite generally.
The labor organizations made the bes
showing they have ever made in an Omaha
parade. Both in numbers and in fine ap.
pearance their part of the parade was a dis
tinct success. Every branch of organized
! a1a 1v cd nd al
were equally well received. Two wagon!
that illustrated the difference between worl
performed by organized labor and that dont
by unOrganzed labor caught the popular
fancy, and the spirit of Labor day wal
abundantly reflected in the enthusiasm tha
greeted the two tableaux placed in juxtapo
sition.
Police Were Negligent.
The procession was marred by only one
feature, and that was the same old com.
plant. police negligence. Where the
crowds were most numerous there were NJ
policemen in sight and conflicts amonG
spectators, paraders, hackmen, teamsterI
and motormen resembIed confusion wors,
confounded. There was absolutely no at
tempt made to clear a space for the pro
cession while it was passing through tn,
busiest sections of the city On all Of tht
thoroughfares over which the parade passel
, the street cars and wagons were allowe,
to interrupt the procession whenever thos,
in charge of them deemed agreeable I,
themselves. The disposition Of the police
to let the parade take care o
itself was especially accented
, at sixteenth and Dodge streets A
this intersection and in front of the post
, office a large crowd of spectators thronge
/ - rtbi1 hp Ia yH-us 81.
The southbOund street cars were permitte
TO run at a hazardous rate Of speed through
the crowd, and the spectators naturalf
moved over to the east side of the street
The parade was thereby forced almost u
the gutter of the east side Of the street
Big furniture vans, heavy delivery wagon
! and carriages by the score drove througI
, the crowd and broke through the parade a
often as the drivers cared to and all tn
! while a patrol wagon in charge of
= policeman was stationed on Dodge stree
just west of Sixteenth. apparently waitin
: for any citizen who dared TO sit down o.
T the postottice steps,
r Brigade of Fire Fighters.
/ The first division was distinctiyely a fire
/ mans division, for it was made up almos
C exclusively of visiting fire companies VIII
- viii compete in the tournament of the Ma
{ tonal FIreman's association this week, an
Of local companies. The section was one
the most attractive in line, with its hur
dreds of fire laddies in spotless uniforms
n various hUes set off with brass and silvt
I buttons and its many pieces Of glisteniu
y ponderous or light apparatus. A squad
% bue-coated policemen cleared the way an
II then came Marshal B. S2hupp and Aids
n s Smiley and E. s Thompson. Then Il
?. blocks and blocks marched the fremen, c
II foot or in carriages or on apparatus.
3 The division was headed by a half doze
h carriages in which rode President Fred
n Wood OF Cedar Rapids, Secretary E. V
o Barkman Of Decatur, Ill. and HI
y Porter OF Missouri of the Nation
q Firemen's association, a number Of Il
h prominent fire officials who are now in n
? city, and Mayor Moores The first fiji
e brigade folowed-sthe department Of RI
= Oak, Ia. II was headed by its own bar
IS OF nine pieces. under the direcrorship
s W, II. Evans, and behind in ranks Of fol
II marched the CliDper Hose company, Il
"a Fisher Hose company and the Harris Ho,
is and Ladder company-seyenty men in a
,e The uniform OF the men was an agreeab
rs change from the regulation blue Costum
lie that pretOmnated in the division. II W
4. Of a grayish blue throughout, with blal
ly facings and gold braid. The foreman
n the entire contingent was ]. 5. Cook. B