Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1902-09-02
LABOR DAY WELL OBSERVED
Public and Private interests Suspend BuSi-
ness in General Recognition.
BIG PARADE OF ALL THE UNION MEN
G. J. KIenner and Others Speak at
the Big Picnic Given During
the Afternoon at Court
land Beach.

land Beach
Omaha greeted Labor day with a warm
ne this year and' accorded II a gen.
jognition. Public and private busi-
nesN souses Joined in the observance and
while no formal demonstrations by the city
were arranged. II was evident on all sides
at an early hour yesterday morning that this
was the day set apart for the celebration
Of labor's cause and rank in the great
procession OF national progress. Laboring
men generally are idle today and are
doing their utmost to make the festivities
and demonstrations successes.
The unions interested In the Union Pa
cihc strike, with a large number of their
friends, were celebrating Labor day at
Courtiand beach, while a number Of tho
unions were at Council Bluffs, joining the
Central Labor organization of that city
In demonstration, and one or two unions
sent representatives to Nebraska City,
where a large demonstration was In prog
ress.
Five Hundred I'm Line.
The local parade Of the unions formed at
Labor temple at $50 o'clock in the morning.
Headed by a band, about 500 representatives
Of organized labor marched through the
streets from Fifteenth and Dodge to Har-
ney street and then took cars to the beach
The first union in the line OF march was
the machinists. These men carried the
banners which were first displayed in the
parade they held weeks ago as a demon
stration against the Union Pacific's action
In introducing the piecework system. Fol-
lowing them we're the members Of the
Blacksmiths' union, the Boiler Makers
union, the Moulders' union, the Bridge and
Structural Iron Workers Union and the
Carpenters union. The rear was composed
Of members OF unions which had no organ
ization in the parade.
Although the parade OF the union workers
Of the city was small, as several unions
had representatives at South Omaha, Coun-
ell Bluffs and Nebraska City, the attendance
at Courtland beach in the afternoon was
large, about 1000 people being present. The
committee which had made arrangements
for a program Of games of strength and
skill at the last moment declared all con-
tests Off and the speeches were the only
addition to the regular program Of the
resort.
The crowd began to arrive by II o'clock.
at which time the marchers reached the
grounds. A large number brought baskets
|
patronized the cafe and restaurants. An
arrangement had been made with the man
ager Of the resort whereby one-half Of the
gate receipts were turned over to the Labor
day committee OF the Central Labor union
and by them will be placed at the disposal
Of the strike committee OF the unions at
loggerheada with the Union Pacific rail-
way.
Klenner Speaks First.
1t was O'Clock before the speakers be-
gan to talk. The first was George ]. Kleff-
ner, who had been appointed chairman of
| the meeting. Mr.. Kleffner opened his re-
marks with short history of Labor day
and then spoke OF strikes According to
the speaker so per cent OF the strikes in
augurated in the United States had been
won. 15 per cent had been compromised,
while So per cent had been lost, the lost
strikes involving the greater number OF
men. He then spoke Of the effect Of the
patent law upon monopoles and offered
for consideration the English law upon
the subject Of patents, which, after the
death Of the patentee. revokes the patent
| II 1t can be shown that its continuance
results in a monopoly of any line Of busi-
ness. The chief theme Of his address was
4
Direct legislation is the starting point
for all legislation which had for its pur-
pose the uplifting of the condition Of the
people generally and Of the labOring mar
in particular. When a voter delegates
his political power he loses II. We have
had an illustration of that in this state
Two years ago a man was a candidate fol
United States senator. The issue was well.
defined and the people endorsed his candl.
dacy He was successful with the people
He was known as the champion Of the policy
OF government ownership of the telegraph
systems OF the country and of the estab-
lishment Of postal savings banks. He val
defeated after winning the battle befor,
the people; defeated by delegated power Al
the present time we have the question II
another form. At the next legislature ther,
will be amendments offered TO the Omahi
city charter. For myself l will vote for nj
candidate who does not FIRST pledge himsel
for home rule for Omaha. Under the pres
ent condition It would be folly Cor ihe la
boring men of the city to put a ticket ii
the field. II they were to elect every cit,
officer they would find these men SO cur
tailed OF power that no honest man coul,
run the city properly.
Now is the time to have the luitiatiV
}
adopted. A committee Of fifteen men shauI
be authorized to draft a charter tor tn
city and that charter should be submitte
10 the people Of the city for adoption Thi
charter should provide for referring ques
tions OF great Importance to the people
The question OF internal improvements I
} one Of these. Today we have Improvement
districts for sewer and paving. It sho,I
} be arranged so that the people OF these dis
triets could vote on the improvements 10 b
, made and decide for themselves the ques
: tion OF their introduction. The plan coul
, be based upon that now in force In Switzer
. land. where It has been shown to oe effect
D i've and satisfactory Every man should as
; himself why he has the ballot and n
answer to this question should be made be
fore he votes at the next election. l d
! not believe in depriving and man Of hi
wealth. but / do believe In taking frol
4 him the power to create monopoly"
Address by Rev. John Williams.
Rev John williams Of ST. Barnabs
church also delivered an address. He sal
in part;
|, ''were l to be addressing Mr.. Hurt an