The Oskaloosa herald., 1900-09-06
LABOR DAY.
Afternoon Program of Speeches
and Sports.

1t was a great crowd that assem-
bled at the Oskaloosa College cam
pus for the afternoon program of the
Labor Day Celebration held in this
city Monday. There was quite a fol-
lowing to the parade that ended at
the campus in the morning and there
was a good old fashioned basket din
ner for many of the people. 1t was
a sort of a picnic and the social fea-
lures of the morning were reluctant
ly given over as the crowd began as
sembling for the afternoon.
There had been a stand erected for
the occasion and from this the exer-
cises of the afternoon were heard.
The program was commenced al
most at the hour appointed by music
by the K. of P. band. This was fol-
lowed by an invocation of the Divine
blessingion the program of the day
by Rev. Johnson. There:was a labor
day song by Prof. Roberts and his
picked choir of 40 voices.
Mayor Wray, of the city of Oska-
loosa, addressed the people of labor
day inl a brief speech of welcome
that was made in a happy vein and
calculated to put the crowd at ease.
The gentleman limited that should
any trouble occur during the course
of the program that a call for the
telephone number of the city admin
~istration would bring all difficulty to
a speedyEend.
There was a solo by Jenkin D.
Rees, with the chorus by the Roberts
choir, and the audience was ready
for an address by Hon. W. s. Ken
worthy, of this city.
The gentleman stated that he had
left his politics at home but would
beg that an intelligent vote be cast,
no matter who was voted for. With
papers at a penny apiece there is no
excuse for ignorance. What kind of
a world would we have if we didn't
work? The most important thing
for you to do is to choose a good
leader and then stand by him through
thick and thin. Those who have
lived during the last so years have
seen the 9th wonder of the world
the improvements made by labor.
The last half century has see you
come out of the old ruts and think
for yourselves. The discourse was
replete with illustrations of the good
done by the laboring people. "There
is only n a~ristocracy one need care
for and that is the aristocracy of in
t~elligence."
The gentleman, all in all, made
quite a stirring speech and n that
will be long remembered by all who
were fortunate enough to be within
reach of the speakers voice, and
this included almost the entire audi
ence present. He was quite fire.
quently applauded and the wisdom
of the committee on arrangements
in electing the gentleman for the
program was heartily sanctioned by
the people.
"Stick to your Union, Lad" was a
solo by Ben Bosley, of Givin, that
caught the crowd in the right place.
Ben is a good singer and he was
never heard to better advantage than
Monday afternoon. Prof. Roberts,
choir assisted in the chorus.
Miss Floy McCreedy, of Oskaloosa,
next gave a variation to the program
in the way of a recitation. The lady
made a hit with the crowd and was
applauded to the echo. Her number
was another happy choice of the pro-
gram committee.
There was now another number,
Comrades in Arms" by Prof. Rob-
erts and his male party ,'and then G..
F. Rhinehart, of Newton, was intro
duced to the audience. The speak
err, as was the case with the first
gentleman who addressed the crowd,
made no direct allusion to politics,
but he gave a pretty thorough re-
view of the occurrences Of the past
four years. His remarks had a di.
rectness that was at times quite ap-
parent. The speaker was applauded
at times.
This address was followed by the
singing of "My Country, tits of
Thee" and then came music by the
band.