The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-03-30
IN LABoR's REALM.
The Third Anniversary of the Cen
tr.l Union.

The trades unionists of the district
celebrated the third anniversary of the or
ganization of the Central Labor Union last
night with appropriate exercises In fact,
the occasion was in way made an inter-
national event, in the exchange of greet
ings between the trades unionists of
America and England the latter being
represented by Richard Bell, of London,
and the former by Samuel Gompers. Presi-
dent of the American Federation of Labor.
The exercises were held in the main hall
of Typographical Temple, which was
crowded to suffocation by the members of
the trades unions of the city and their
friends. President II. W. Szegedy, of the
Central Labor Union, presided, and de-
livered the address of welcome, extending
to all most cordial greeting
J. l.. Feeney, the master of ceremonies,
introduced President Gompers as the
greatest champion of the wage-earners'
rights in America as the first speaker
MI Gompers said that he was glad to
be able TO bring words of cheer to his
fellow workmen for he could say to them
that the labor movement is in a better
condition today than ever before. Organ
lied labor, he said. is simply protest
against modern society for the wrongs ana
many injustices done in the laboring
classes. 1t is protest against the children
of the workmen being in workshops and
factories instead OF in the public schools
and Fairgrounds. However, he said. the
light was dawning as the result of the
workmen the world over organizing man
TO man and shoulder 10 shoulder.
Mr.. Bell, who is in America to obtain
data in reference TO the number of deaths
on the railroads of the United States. to
be used in England for the purpose of hav-
ing Parliament pass an act requiring all
railroad companies to use safety couplerS,
was the next speaker. He addressed the
audience as MY dear American friends"
and briefly told of the troubles which or
ganized labor has to contend with in Eng
land. His remarks were received with en-
thusiastic applause.
Brief addresses were made by ]. P.
Healy, President of the Building Trades
Council, and Frank Morrison, Secretary of
the American Federation of Labor
pleasant feature of the occasion was
the presentation of handsome gold medal
to Mr.. ]. ID. Mckay, the treasurer Of the
joint committee on Labor Day excursion.
The presentation was made by Mr.. Mil
ford Spohn, who stated that the medal
was a token of the appreciation of the
Central Labor Union for the services rem
dered by Mr.. Mckay on the occasion of
the last Labor Day excursion.
After the speeches a lengthy and varied
programme was rendered. including songs,
dancing. instrumental music, and comedy
sketches.
The programme consisted Of the follow
ing numbers: Sidewalk cOnversationalists,
E. Handiboe and H. Manders; trick and
wing dancing, Fenton C. Crown and J. Nc
Cabe; comedy sketches, George and Frank
Hagen: sentimental songs, John Fahy and
Charles Miller; character sketches, Carl
Metz; banjo duet, s. ]. Gompers and
Charles Stutzman comedy sketch, "A Dead
Game Sport" Carl Metz and George Ha
gen; comic songs, Fred Schultz, Harry s.
Sandgrave, William Clark, ]. 7. Williams,
T. S. Graves, and w. B. Hyde; song and
dance, Findley Hayes.
The following members of the Bijou
Stock Company rendered the selections
named; Linwood b. Taylor Somewhere
Heart is Breaking" w. l.. Thornton, AN
Old Sweetheart of Mine" and Billy" Wat
son, I'm Sorry, Mr.. johnson, but I've Got
10 Throw You Down."
At the conclusion of the literary and
musical numbers of the programme re-
freshments were served.
The entertainment was in charge of the
following committee: Milford Spohn. ]. L.
Feeney A. S Nolan, J. NJ. Heisley, and
J. ID. Mckay.