The Washington times., 1901-09-03
OUTING OF THE TOILERS.
Extensive Observance of the Day
by Organized Labor.
Excursions to Glen Echo, Marshall
Hall, and other RcsOrts-Workmen
Celebrate in Large Numbers
Sports and other Entertainments.

day 10 celebrate Labor Day, the work
ingman's national holiday. AT an early
hour every thcroughfare in the city was
crowded with workmen. freed for the day
from their labors. with the members of
their families and friends, vending their
ways to some one of the pleasure resorts
in the suburbs to spend the day in recre-
alton and amusement. Work in nearly
every branch of local industry was sus-
pended for the day.
Mammoth picnic outings were organized
by the three local central labor bodies.
The knights of Labor, under the auspices
of District Assembly No. 66, knights of
Labor, spent the day at historic Marshall
Hall in regular holiday fashion, and sell
dom has any outing been spent more
pleasantly. The trades unionists, under
the auspices of the Central Labor Union.
spent tie occasion at Glen Echo with
their friends. The members of the or
Eanizations affiliated with the Building
Trades Council also spent the day picnick-
ing down the Potomac, and the builders
and their guests had n delightful time
During the last three months commit
tees appointed by the. three central bodies
have been hard at work preparing for
the celebration of the day Nothing has
been left undone which would tend to
Tie CpIllpTl, anu
of the members of organized labor, their
! families and friends. The programmes
of amusements scheduled to take place at
the various outings were sufficient to guar
antee that those who participated in the
1 observance of Labor Day with the wage
earners of the District would enjoy the
occasion.
That the members of organized labor
| in Washington have the friendship of the
public was demonstrated by the great
/ outpouring of pleasure seekers yesterday
I to the different resorts where the central
I bodies celebrated the day. Every steam
/ er scheduled to make trips to the river
resorts where the knights of Labor and
the Building Trades Council held their
I outings was crowded to The gunwales.
Every street car which went to Glen
Echo was also flied to standing room.
( This has been the most successful cele-
braton of the workingmans national
holiday which was ever held in the Dis
/ trict. The toilers and their friends went
| to the outing places at early hours and
so agreeable were the various entertain
ments provided that the great majority
/ of the excursionists did not return to the
/ city until the last boat or car left the
! pleasure grounds. bstrr-
There was an immense crowd at Glen
Echo. A barbecued steer was served in
splendid style on the grounds. and when
the exercises were formally opened by
James L. Feeney, President of the Cen
tral Labor Union, with an address of
welcome in the amphitheatre the build
, ing was packed to standing room. The
address of Mr.. Feeney was received with
fiattering applause. He said in part:
Ladies ana gentlemen, and friends of
labor: | desire to express TO the large
audience present on behalf of the Cen
trail Later Union of the District of Co
lumbia. our cordial greeting and TO bid
you welcome to our Labor Day outing.
Labor Day in the District of Columbia
was declared legal holiday by act of
Congress and the bill was signed by the
President on June g, 1894. We celebrated
the event on the first Monday>in Septem-
Der OF that year by a large parade, and
since then we have looked forward to
the day as one of rest or recreation and
pleasure for the organized workers of our
city
Labor Day is now a legal holiday in
thirty-six States. and IN every State and
Territory of our Union it is celebrated
by organized labor in street parades. pic
nlcs, mass meetings or river excursions.
II is the day that We are called on to
celebrate. as it has been instituted In our
honor and it affords us an opportunity
to rekindle the enthusiasm in our broth
ers who are worn and weary in labor's |
struggles for right and justice. 1t is also |
the day for congratulation on the con-
tiiuouS growth OF new unions and the |
largely increased membership in all our |
locals; therefore we should all commem- |
crate the day in a worthy manner and to /
impress upon the organized as well as the |
unorganized workers the necessity of |
more extensive organization so that we |
can cope effectively with the combina |
tions, growth. ard solidarity of capital.
ii is my privilege today to sneak to |
you of our Central Labor Union of the |
District of Columbia. Up to 1895 the |
knights of Labor Assemblies predominant
ad In h.l Tf4. =
body existed. The local Federation of La
Dor was controlled by the knights, but
local trade unions were, admitted in to
membership. great deal of dissatisfac-
trade unionists, and especfafylamong the
trade unions that We're affiliated with the
American Federation of Labor which re
suited In the issuing of call for all |
trade unions to send delegates to form a
Central Labor Union. "A, preliminary |
Rseing weIHg oyas was held on Fesrpary 1897
and the Central Labor Union of the Dis
trict OF Columbia was organized by the
election Lection Of a full board Of officers,
The objects and principles were de-
clared to be to unite the various bona
fide labor organizations ofothe city. and
to assist In the formation of organiza-
examine all questions affecting the gen
erai interests of the workers: to give aid
TO all organizations affiliated with the |
Central Labor Union; to use all honora- |
bic means in our power to arbitrate diff
culties that may arise between workers
and their employers and to impress upon
the various branches of labor the. neceS-
sity OF organizing the toilers both men
and women of Washington and vicinity
into unions without discrimination as to
color or nationality.
up 10 the present time our Central
body has prospered and We have steadily
advanced. We cave now on our rolls fifty
three local unions, aggregating in men,
berShip over 10000 union men and women,
and we are today the largest Central La
Dor organization ever organized in the
District of Columbia. We meet every
Monday evening and transact our business
in business-like manner. we have no
cliques, factions or other disagreeable en-
that generally crop up in
labor unions and cause dissensions, we
are united for the sole purpose of aiding
and assisting each other and the griev- |
ance of one organization concerns us ALL
We endeavor to settle all grievances |
and difficulties that are brought to our at
tention amicably and to the entire salts
faction of both parties concerned. We de-
lest strikes and boycotts ard never resort
to them until every other means within |
our power have become exhausted and We |
are compelled to assert our rights and |
seek what is Justly due. We strive to Gre |
ate healthy public opinion for the great
cause for which we stand. and If at any
time an unjust strike Is called or n boycott |
levied We endeayor to amend and repair |
the loss that the error has caused
THE Central Labor Union never initi-
ates or places boycott on any firm or
employer We are not an organization of |
but an organization of un-
ions Each delegate represents In part |
his local union, and If any local union |
mas grievance which it finds unable to |
-.tt IL. ll.r a.. la.ss