Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1901-09-03

on the streets. Their voices Joined
in the chorus already presen& until
the time for the great parade to form
had arrived when all. the principal
streets of the city were jammed with
happy and contented people, out TO
enjoy one of the great days of the
year. which is sacred to all who labor
for their daily bread.
ottumwa Alays Interested.
Ottumwa has always taken an active
part in labor world, but this years its
celebration eclipsed anything that has
ever taken place in this vicinity
Heretofore it has held successful labor
celebrations. There have beer few
years passed since the labor idea wac
started that it has not celebrated
Never before have its citizens all poin
ed together and worked with the one
idea of making the day a success.
While a great many of the stores We're
open up until noon, since that time
business has been practically, ,sus-
pended, and the majority of all bust
ness houses have closed their doors and
given their employees an opportunity
to spend the day as they please.
A Big Parade.
The great a.arade witch started at
10 o'clock was the big event of the
day. Labor has paraded the streets
of Ottumwa before, but never; in such
force and with such an excellent ap-
pearance as it did today. The, various
local unions ebganarriving, at their sta
tions early in the morning, and when
the time came for the parade to form
1t is estimated that there was nearly
1000 men in line The line of march
was nearly mile in length, and took
about 20 minutes to pass a given
point.
The Marshals.
Chief Marshal F. p. gser, and his
assistant narshals H. |. McCarroll, NJ
l.. Toland and John Allen, began
foIming the line about 8 o'clock. First
came a platoon of police under com
mand of Captain Gallagher, with the
following men in line: Sergeant Mich
ael Morrissey, w. H. Maloney, W. Fl.
Black,L Noah, Frank Harris, Thom-
AS o'Brien. Elmer Pack and Peter
Hess. Captain Gallagher formed his
platoon across Second street at the
junction of Court and Second streets,
facing west. The Wapello Chief
hand then formed behind the police.
and as the different labor unions We're
given their position in the line they
fell in behind the band the head Of
the parade moved on west and stopped
until another union was located.
Formed at Cjty Park,
The different unions were formed
places were called out by the Chief
Marshal they quickly fell in and got
under way.
A Concert.
While the the happy throng of lab
oring men waited around the. park for
their positions III the pared, the
Schwabkey Union band occupied the
band stand in the park and discoursed
patriotic and popular music. This
was a happy inspiration on the part
of those who originated the idea.
It kept the people in good humor and
as they listened to the excellent mus
ic of the band they forgot about the
long march which was before them
Sets Under Way.
Finally the big parade was all ar
ranged aud to a popular air by The
Wapello Chief band the march to tie
picnic grounds began. 1t moved Off
without a hitch, and al no time was
there the least confusion. Many of
the unions were in uniform. They
made a very pretty spectacle as they
moved Oh the principal streets.
Good Showing.
The coopers, moulders, bakers and
stone cutters were especially noticed
by their natty uniorms, and they all
made an excellent appearance. The
stone cutters who organized but last
week had about fifteen men in line,
besides float representing the craft
at work. The iron moulders also had
a big float in the parade and made a
very creditable appearance, A nun,
ber of the cities Industries were also
represented in the line of march with
big floats declaring for union labor
and union prices.
Pehaps the most beautiful float III
the line was that of the electrical
workers. Two wagons were fully
equipped with all kinds of electricdl
goods. and with adynamo attached
numerous bells. We're kept ringing,
The r aiIhre ifts.