The Oskaloosa herald., 1904-09-08
LABOR CELEBRATION.
Greatest Demonst ration of the Kind
in Oskaloosa. q

ment incident TO the closing or the
base balllseason, the Labor Day eel
ebration was by all odds the greatest
AFFAIR of tne kind ever held in oska-
loosa. After the big parade of the
morning rest was taken until after
noon, when tho, sands of people were
massed into the public square to hear
the program OF the day. The exer-
cises opened al cut 1870 with music
by the celebrated 55th Iowa band of
Centerville, folk we'd by the famous
Iowa Brigade band of Oskaloosa. The
Invocation was pronounced by Rev.
Zendt, of the Christian church.
Pres. Whites Address.
Hon. John P. White, of Oskaloosa,
president Of District Is Of the y. M
w. of A.. was introduced and deliver
ed an able address.
Mr.. White, after paying neat com.
pliment to his home city, apologized
for being somewhat handicapped on
account of the great circus in the city.
He touched on the organization OF
labor unions and told their benefits to
the toiling masses. He pleaded fol-
the eight-hour work day for the labor.
err, and said that one-half of the
states in the Union recognized, by
proclamation, today as a day on which
laborers, mechanics and artisans
should rest from their labor. He drew
nice picture Of the changes in the
condition of the laborer during the
past decade. He said had it not been
for the trades unions there would not
have been the splendid display of the
working masses as seen here yester.
day. Mr.. White said his education
was that of miner From the driver
and trapper he sprang to the presi
dency of district No. 49, He eulo
gized the unions and said their
strength numerically is great, and
they are made up Of class of intelli
gent, Woodworking, honest people
Mr.. White made an earnest plea in
behalf of the laborer. He thought
that theSmine and mill owners receiv
ed higher favors at the hands of oul
law makers and executives than the
wage workers; this should not be. He
reviewed the Colorado mine workers
trouble in sympathetic and feeling
manner. He was called to that stats
to help adjust, if possible, some Of the
grievances. The eight hour law hac
been voted by the people, but the su
preme court decided in favor of the
mine owners and reign. of terror ha!
existed for the past twelve months
the military called out and men de
ported from the state by the score
Nr. White said that when he was call
ed to Colorado he expected to NEE
anarchists and lawless. people, but OF
the contrary he met men who, whel
boys, were school and classmates o
his, and men in whom he had conf
de &c. He saw sc miners deportet
at the point of the bayonet. He pail
q nice compliment to John Mitchell
r and said that men who sprang up t,
i champion the cause of labor are cru
I, cited upon crucible. He was cas-
on labor matters and saw thousand
Of children carrying the dinner pail
who should have been in school o
upon the playground. The little S
or 81 week they earned was neces
sary for them to keep body and sou
together, but they grow up to mar
hood or womanhood, education, socia
and nome training neglected, an
when they reach their majority ar
cast upon cold and cheerless worl
with nothing more promising tina
work. Mr.. White thinks that we ca
not point our finger at other nation
and say they are behind civilization
Mr.. Whites address was roundly al
plauded.