The San Francisco call., 1903-09-08
Organized Labor Turns Out in Force and
Makes Splendid Shouting in a Pa
rade Through the Streets of Oakland

- AKLAND. Sept. 7.-Organized Ia
~ S Dor marshaled its forces to-day
and made a brave showing in
celebration of Labor day. Thou
sands of men marched in a pic
turesque and emphatically distinctive par
ade through the city's streets. Thou
sands more of men, women and children
enjoyed the big entertainments that were
held at Idora Park and at Shell Mound
Park. st. Anthonys parish of East Oak
land held forth at the former resort for
recreation and the united Building Trades
councils of San Francisco and Alameda
County, with their scores of affiliated
unions, celebrated the day at Shell
Mound.
Business was at stop for the day in
Oakland. Every merchant closed his
doors and made 1t a holiday in fact as
well as in name. All of the public build
inss, city. county and Federal. were
locked and official seal was placed upon
Labor day.
The public schools closed and will NOT
reopen until after Admission day.
Sixty unions were represented In the
long line of men and women that formed
the procession this morning In the line
were more than 5000 representatives of
every branch of Industrial and conrner
cial activity in the county Each union
We'd with its brothers to make an attrac-
tive and large numerical showing The
result was large and an Impressive ex-
hibition of the strength of united labor
on the eastern shores of San Francisco
Bay.
Philip M. Walsh, Arthur Arlett and
Judge Mortimer Smith, the Judges of the
parade, and j. B. Reboh. secretary of the
general reception committee occupied a
carriage, following the grand marshal and
his aids.
MARCHING HOSTS.
Grand Marshal ]. B. Bowen, business
agent for the Building Trades Council
had no reason to feel anything but a
thrill of pIeasurable emotion as ho cat FOR
two hours on his steed and watched the
marching hosts pass before him in re-
view. He had well organized his demon
stration and sent 1t through without halt
or hitch. And it was variety OF color and
feature that made the display the ver1,
pest that the labor organizations of the
city have ever produced. There were
varied touches of color, numerous floats
of interesting and typical design. catchy
uniforms and stirring music.
Enthusiasm was a-plenty There ,yara
cheers along the line the bulk of tho
noise, however, being caused bv tha re-
ception given two big floats laden with
pretty laundry workers clad in summerv
gowns of purest white. The onIv dis
cordant note of the day was the der,s;,,a
yells and howls that came from a deIeqa-
tion of striking telephone linemen whose
raucous cries of "Scab. scab," spoiled at
spots an otherwise perfect exhibition
The men of the mechanical trades
made a particularly excellent fmnression
Each union man wore a distinctive mi
form that identified him with his trade
In the building trades there was much of
feature. The iron workers carried their
hammers and the crash and din of anvil
and the sparks from forges, with the
clang of riveters at work. lent practical
side to the scene. The steel rolling mills
men hauled a miniature steel bridge.
tribute TO their skill and to the industries