The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-08
union LABOR DAY
CELEBRATION OF UNUSUAL IMPOR-
TANCE IN THIS CITY.
Thousand. OF workingmen and Their
Families Assemble at the Fair
Grounds.
SAMUEL GoMPERS'S ADDRESS
FIVE THOUSAND HEAR PRESIDENT
OF FEDERATION OF LABOR.
He Traces the History OF the Labor
Movement and Pay. His Respects
to David N. Parry.
BIG PARADE IN THE MORNING
NEARLY SIX THOUSAND MEN TAKE
PART IN DEMONSTRATION.
Mayor BookwaIter Marches with Ty-
biographical Unlon-Amusements
at Fair Grounds.
He Traces the History OF the Labor
Movement and Pays His Respects
to David VI. Parry.
BIG PARADE IN THE MORNING
NEARLY SIX THOUSAND MEN TAKE
PART IN DEMONSTRATION.
Mayor BookwaIter Marches with Ty-
biographical Un1on-Amusements
at Fair Grounds.

There was only one complaint made
against Labor day. and that was that it
was trife too warm. But even the
scorching heat OF the sun did not mar the
events of the day or cut down the attend
ance to any great degree. Those who took
part IN the parade in the morning suffered
most from the heat, as they were brought
under the direct rays as they fell upon
the pavements. At the fair grounds the
breeze blew I'm the wrong direction TO fan
the faces of those who filled the grand
stand. President Gompers himself probably
felt the heat more than any one else. since
speaking in the open air as he did, before
a large amphitheater OF people, he was
forced to make an extraordinary effort TO
be heard. For the events that followed
Mr. Gomperss address. IL was not so hot,
as the sun had sunk low in the west before
they were called Off
The address of Samuel Gompers. presi-
dent OF the American Federation of Labor,
was the feature OF the days events. The
address was heard by about five thousand
people. who almost filed the large grand
stand. Mr.. Gompers spoke under trying
circumstances. because of the impatience
of his auditors to witness the races. Time
and again he was interrupted by cheers
brought forth by some of the horses which
were being tried out, passing in front Of
the grand stand However. President
Gompers spoke for two hours. during which
time his voice did not falter or weaken.
aud has closing sentences were as distinct
and as forcible as any he emphasized
during his whole discourse. The address
was an exposition of organized labor, and
carried force by its power OF argument and
e L. -
the address was devoted TO Mr.. Parry and
the remainder TO the progress of organized
labor.
SPOKE TWO HOURS.
When Mr.. Gompers arrived at 2:20 the
grand stand was well filled and after he
began to speak il filled up quickly. L. p.
Barry, president OF the Central Labor
Union. introduced President Gompers at
half-past 2. from which time he spoke until
half-past 4. He said I'm part:
1t Is no mean and easy task under any
circumstances to deliver lengthy address
intended 40 be thoughtful on a day usually
given over TO pleasure and festivity. In
view of the fact that there are circum-
stances peculiar to this Labor day / ask
your attention and ind9lgence and will try
TO bear i'm mind that of all days i'm par
ticuiar. Labor day is secured by the work
ingmen. granted by no one. conceded by
NO one. growing out of the accumulated
Dtruggle against trouble and suffering. out
of the darkness and misery OF toll into the
open Held. where to-day the laborer of the
world stands erect before the world
To-day we saw the masses of labor in
the streets or your beautiful city. marching
hind the banners of their unions. IL was
the tread Of the toilers OF INDIANAPOLIS the
tread of peace-loviHg. earnest people, the
{eomen OF the city. who are working out
the mission laid upon the shoulders of the
toilers of this country and observed this
country over. Throughout the broad do
main OF the country, sturdy. wealth-pro-
ducing people kept step with you Although
we may not have seen their banners Xre
know that they are the toilers of America
organized for peace. practicing the uplift-
ing of the masses and that they will go on
practicing 1t for years to come
MIR. Gompers then reviewed the progress
pa o, iapoT, Deglnnng I NV WITH the very earliest
went about working as individuals or were
slaves In bondage; The first progress. he
said. witnessed the introduction Of new
tools which put the men more i'm the chains
OF slavery. Inc first instruments which
men used were weapons of war. and then
came the tools of industry, which made
men captives. He traced the advances of
Ia bor To tue time when the struggle of the
masses made an impression upon humanity
rejected In the Magma Charta which gave
60 the rights OF men a new meaning and
which declared for the equalization Of the
rights OF man before the world Continu
Ing. he said:
CHANGED CONDITIONS.
n
Dor and are antagonists to it fail to under
stand the changed conditions that have
come about in industry. They say every
man Is the equal of every other man. No
one wishes II more than does organized
labor. We must bear in mind that hand
labor is a thing OF the past. In those olden
times men owned the tools with which they
worked and IL they were not satisfied they
could enter another emnlovment or On to
other lands Our land is gone owned by
the great corporation and the wealth
possessors and labo no longer owns its own
tooisi THESE great machines are going on
and labor Is little thing in the beehive
OF Industry. How can the workman act on
his own initiative, his own yolitiou as an
tection againsf tba .ran, eInpioSment o and pro.
operate plants as we now find them? There
are some who say the man loses his indi-
viduality when he joins the union He loses
his individuality as soon as he enters one of
these great working plants He Is but AN
atom In the great industrial system We
mo oS icason or the great concentration of
Industry that the individuality of a man Is
gone He counts for nothing So that the
dustry Is but little believed. To-day the
attempts at competition have been the
death OF the trades The workingman OF
to-day loses his individuality as long as he
works TO sustain himself and those denend-
ent upon him. His only hope TO regain mis-
social and economic individuality is by unit
Ing labor so that II Is better able to make
workingmen unite they gain an indfviduaI-
fly and become real factor in the econo-
mic. social and political world. As from
ebsolutism people have gained the right TO
have a voice In the government so do work
ing people demand to have voice as indi-
vfduals In the Industrial situation OF to-day
DISPOSITION OF LABOR.
.The employers sometimes look upon the
smployes as slaves and speak OF themselves