The Minneapolis journal., 1905-09-04
LABOR ENJOYS A
DAY OUTDOORS
ATTENDANCE SMALL AT SPRING
PARK PICNIC.
Holiday Enjoyed In Various Ways, But
Several Train Loads Found Their
Way to Lake Minnetonka- Speeches
and Program of Sports Help to Make
Day Eventful.

For the first time in their history the
labor hosts of Minneapolis celebrated
Labor Day according to one harmonious
plan. The customary parade was done
away with, and the toilers and their
families enjoyed days outing at
Spring Park, with the weather as aus
picious as could be desired.
While those who went to Spring Park
found the program there all that they
had anticipated, the attendance was
far below the expected number Twen-
ty-eight special trains both ways, in
addition to the regular trains, were to
be run, but only three made their way
out to Spring Park. The first special
due to leave at 8:O5 a.na.,, did not pull
out until after 10 o'clocl1, and the next
special did not leave until 1. -.
Instead of the expected crowds about
the Union station, there were only the
state fair excursionists in evidence, and
there was little for the ticket sellers to
do. ,r-,... -5
"well, they've all gone to the fair
that IS all there is to it, said one
prominent labor official. "This wealth.
er, Dan Patch and the opening Of the
fair form too strong counter attrac'
tion.'
There were great numbers, also, who
sually hard. The first day Of the state
fair, with it's enormous influx of out
of-town visitors, meant additional labor
for men in all sorts of occupations, ano
to them Labor day was almost a mock
cry. Streetcar motormen and conduct
ors, transfer men, workers in hotels anC
restaurants, were on the jump from
early morning.
While the banks were closed, thus
putting a check on many business op
| 4Lo a. 10ro
downtown stores were open all day ant
did heavy business. Nearly all the
grocery stores and meat markets were
open at least part of the day, anc
the icemen and the milkmen made
their usual rounds, altho the former
confined their labors principally to ear
ly morning, making fewer trips thar
usual The Chamber of Commerce wa!
closed and the public library did not
issue any books for circulation.
Seldom has more beautiful weather
been granted on Labor day.
Some of the visitors re
enjoying to the full the program Of
exercises there. Others disappeared
from the scene as soon as they hat
arrived, making excursions into tht
neighboring woods or spending the day
on the water.
"On Labor day man is supposed tx
do as he wants to and have a goot
time in whatever way he thinks is best,
said union official. 'sThey don It hav,
to stay here on the picnic grounds ant
hear the addresses if they don't wan
to-. There will be- plenty of men tt
make an audience.'
And there were. The exercises a
the picnic grounds were under the aus
pices Of the Trades and Labor Assem-
r bly,, the Building Trades council, th'
Allied Printing Trades council and tn
Metal Trades council. Rossiter s Firs
Regiment band was on duty all day
the crowds ass S' rhe MSs addresses Of the da
were delivered by William Templeman
president Of the State Federation O.
Labor; Albert H. Hall and Mrs. F. W
Hines, member of the Ladies' Auxiliar,
} of the typographical union. !