The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1901-09-04
Labor Day.

A general holiday without carnival
OF fire and noise, like the Fourth of
July, and which is not great COM
memorative occasion, like Memorial
Day, is Labor Day, in the season when
an embargo on out of door life and en-
joyment is not laid by the Frost King.
Apart from its recognition of labor the
institution primarily embodles, it is q
day worthy of remembrance and cele-
bration. 1t IS a good day for all classes
and conditions of men and women, for
the great mass of all who live are la
borers and all have interest in the ra-
tional celebration of the day.
Nevertheless, Labor Day is an occa-
sion when the laborers in the various
trades, the artisans, have an opportu.
nifty to show what manner oil men
they are. The day is peculiarly their
own. They make the arrangements,
they frame the programmes. The arti-
san is on exhibition both individually
and in an organized capacity. And it
was creditable exhibition he made
in Montpelier, That was one of the
most notable professions, the parade
on Monday forenoon, that ever filed
through the streets of the city. In
numbers, in bearing, in physical de-
velopment, in skill in their respec-
tive trades and occupations the men
represented, they made splendid dem
onstration of the later industrial devel-
opment of the city.
Montpelier industry is matter OF
less than generation of inception and
growth. Prior TO the early sixties the
town had been more celebrated for ts
banking, insurance, and mercantile af-
fairs than its industrial productions.
Within this period the two large estab
lishments, the Lane Manufacturing
Company, and the Cotton Manufacture
ing Company, have grown up from
small beginnings, and the list of others
Of similar character is long and in
teresting one. The granite business,
however, is of later origin. and from
a single shed, employing helf dozen
men, within the past ten or fifteen
years it has become much the largest
industry of the city, and the men rel
resenting this industry properly led the
procession on Labor Day. 1t is con-
coded on all hands that they made an
extremely gratifying appearance and
that in their increasing ranks was the
promise of such further advancement
in this department of substantial pro-
duction as shall be limited only by the
enterprise of the men who have the
capital, or the power to organize capt.
tai, to provide for these hardy work
men the "plants" in which to put their
natural aptitude and inclination for this
particular branch of business into prac-
tical operation.
Build "sheds" for these men to work
in, and on some not far distant celebra-
ton of Labor Day Mondays long line
of granite workmen may be doubled
and with it will come the lengthing Of
the line of the Carpenters, the Masons'
and the Painters Unions, as the men
must have houses to live in; with it
will come an increasing trade in all
the necessities of life, and with it will
come new life and vigor in every
department of business or affairs.
The Labor Day parade on Monday
had it's practical, as well as its senti-
mental, point Of view. 1t was all right
in sentiment and morale. 1t was sug-
gestive and reassuring every way, and
prophetic of much greater things in
practical directions, if Montpelier men
-as they customarily do-know good
thing when they see it and reach out to
secure it.