The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-08-27
.LABOR'S GALA DAY,
It Will Be Duly OBJ
served in Worces-
ter This Year,
HOW IT ORIGINATED.
Fine List Of Field Sports
Planned for the
Oval.
HOW IT ORIGINATED.

twenty thousand residents or w or
cester have been vested with the power
as wage earners, to extend greeting and
invite capitalist, employer and citizen
to enjoy the holiday which organized la
Dor has secured for the general public.
While dlstinctively of the working
mans creation, there are no restric-
tions on the observance of the day by
every one. Seventeen years ago the
labor organizations of New York city
paraded, and from the inspiring specta-
Gle, labor leaders saw the possibility of
a general observance of the day.
So far as is known, Maryland man,
Robert Price, was the first, to suggest
the name, Labor day. Standing in re-
| view of the pageant, the bone and snew
of the nation, he turned to the general
worthy foreman of the knights of La
| Dor, Richard Griffiths, and said: This
is Labor day in earnest" From the
parade on the 5th of September, 1882,
the day was observed by labor organi-
cations each year.
| In 1854, George K. Lloyd offered a res
olution in the meeting of the Central
Labor Union of New York city, declar-
ing the first Monday in September to be
Labor day. After adoption of the res
olution, committees were instructed to
nave the day made a holiday The
state legislature realized the strength
of union, and it's demands We're con-
ceded when the day was made a legal
holiday in the state.
The workingmen of the country fol-
lowed New York labor leaders and their
movements, and the appeals of organ
lied labor for national holiday were
heard by congress. Vermont, Louisi-
ana, Mississippi, Kentucky, Arkansas,
North Dakota, North Carolina, Arizona
and Nevada do not generally observe
the day, although in every state the
larger cities have labor organizations
who have local celebrations,
FIVE thousand Worcester men be-
IleYe that unity of purpose should mean
unity of action, and they are members
OF the body known as organized labor.
Organization of craft does not mean a
separate body of men, but an essential
branch OF the great mass of believers in
the principles of federation.
The celebration of Labor day among
worcester members of labor organiza-
lions has in past years been centered in
a parade. The same faces have been
seen each year as leaders in. the move
ment, and the ranks have been swelled
by hundreds yearly, but the novelty
mas worn into a state where complete
resurrection is necessary to bring II
INTO its former popularity among mem
bers of labor organizations, and this
year, by field day of sports with music,
an opportunity for all to be directly
concerned in the workingman's obsery-
ance of Labor day is afforded.
By the combined efforts Of earnest
workers in the Central Labor Union,
OF which Jefferson D. Pierce, president
of the Massachusetts Federation of La
Dor, is highest executive officer and
President Thomas F. Harvey of the
Building Trades Council, the field day
mas been made a surety. The public
interest in the holiday determined the
nature of the observance, and the
work of committees in charge of details
has been so thorough that the financial
success of the field day is already as
sured.
The list of sports, which will be pre-
ceded at the oval on the afternoon of
Labor day by concert by the CITY
Band, has scores of interesting features
for the public in general, and if the
crowd at the oval isn't typical hoU
day one the promoters of the field dav
will have the satisfaction of having
prepared and carried out a program of
events calculated to please seekers for
holiday recreation and amusement.
The star event on the card is the
match race at one mile between Tom
Holland and James J. Mclaughlin. The
labor organizations have guaranteed a
purse of $500 to the winner and a side
bet of $500, so that the winner will he
$500 richer by his observance of Labor
day, Holland has a long string of pro:
fessional performances and McI,aIIgh-
lin has amateur victories over many of
the New England crackajacks, and for
the chance to trim Holland has for
saken the amateur ranks. The men
have been getting into form at the oval
and the rivalry between them is 81
great that the articles had to be signed
by each man at his convenience. A
meeting of the two would mean not
necessarily unpleasantness, but bitter
outbursts of athletic talk, and has hear
avoided. Unless one man goes in with
the intention of running the other ofe
his feet early in the race, the mile viii
be hotly contested.
The base ball game between +ba
Journeyman Plumbers union and AZ
Moulders union for the labor organiz-
atlon championship of the city will be
good exhibition of the national oav,,a
In the plumbers ranks are many for.
mer stars OF mi-professonal learns
and the moulders will have an evenly
balanced team made up of hard hIttars
and willing workers in the field.
Inc other events have been arranged
with care. Every union member has an
opportunity presented by the insup,,,a
tlon OF held day, for the display of
annette proWess IN some branch The
list of events and prizes:
Base ball game between Journo,,,,,o,,
RUNNERS union and Iron Moulderse
union for a purse of $25 and the char
plonship of Worcester labor unions
Mile bicycle race, open to union Mo-,
only; LIST prize valued at $40 ana o.
prize valued at S. ~
rat men race for men Weigbipa ooo
pounds or over; list prize IS. ID n,,iSa 60
Hodearriers' race, 100 yards WITH 10
brick in each bod, for union men onlI,
LIST prize IS, I'd SO. oii'S
Match race for one mile between tJol-
land and Mclaughlin, purse 5000 win
ner to take all. W."
Two mile. bicycle race, open to union
men only; LIST prize So I'd SIS.
Two mile professional run. omen 70
all: LIST prize $40, I'd prize IS.
pig. - '~e =" LAT
Team race between labor unions four
men to team. the distance to he
mile and each relay to be one-quarter
mile; prize So.
Eug-of-war, six men on a side. omen
to union men only; prize S12
The oval will be open at noon. and
music by the City Band will be given
beginning at 1.30. Some Of the organiza-
lions may march to the oval, but there
VIII be no general parade preceding the
sports. Entries will close at the oval
Labor day, and can be made until then
with 7. F. Harvey, 80 Salem street or
G. L. Engdahl, 1856 Front street.