The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1906-09-07
FINE PARADE AND A PICNIC
Several Speeches and a Swell Din
ner; Sports and Pastimes; Ball
Game and Tug Of War.
From Mondays Daily.

was the case today. After day full of
threats to rain yesterday, the wind got
around into the northwest along toward
evening, and the sky cleared up and this
morning broke full of radiance and sun
shine and warmth. 1t was a glorious
day, and the labor leaders could not have
had better weather if they had been per-
mitted to have what they chose.
The day was observed as a holiday in
Mankato to a very large extent. Many
of the large stores were closed, and Of
fees were locked, and the populace turned
out TO witness the great parade of or
ganized labor. The sidewalks were crowd
ed with thousands of people during the
early morning hours.
The different labor organizations met
at the appointed places, and the various
marshals and aides got their forces mar
shaded according to the prearranged
plans without difficulty. The music of
bands filled the air with harmony, and
everywhere were happy faces. The wives
and children of the labOring men swarmed
OH the streets with baskets filled with
good things to eat, and proudly gazed
on their heads of households as the lat
ter marched with upright bodies and
easy swing to the blare of trumpets and
roll of the drums.
The parade was one worth going a long
ways to see. The first division WAS in
charge of j. ii. Williams, marshal. Emil
Hildebrand was marshal of the day and
had his hands full. A platoon of mount
ed police extended the width of the
street, and was followed by the fire de-
partments of Mankato and North Man
kato, resples dent with brilliant trappings
and attractive uniforms. 1t was splen.
did sight to see the great fire teams
drawing their nicely painted apparatus.
and the firemen, whose bravery and eff
ticiency have been demonstrated OH many
occasions.
Mayor Taylor and city officials and
came next, and gracefully lifted their
hats i'll recognition of salutes along the
line of march.
The second division was under Andrew
Lundeen, marshal, and was headed by
that excellent organization, the Concor-
dia band. The engineers union was fol-
lowed hy tan mamhorc of tbo E,rlo ol,o
Millers' union, and then came the local
millers' union, the carpenters and the
cigarmakers' unions.
Then came the North Mankato band, in
their natty new uniforms, playing airs
like veterans. The brewery workers and
masters, the brick layers, quarry work
ers, maintenance of way employers and
car workers union marched in turn.
The third division was in charge of
John Schultz, marshal, and was headed
by the Second Regiment band of New
Clm, and this band arrived in the city
this morning and attracted great atten-
ton. 1t is fine band. The stonecutters'
union, the timers, the BARRIERS and the
laborers' protective union next came in
turn, marching in the wide open order
that followed by all of the marching
bodies. After the quarry workers came
the Moonshiners' band, called the Wooga.
dadoodle band, which attracted much at
tention and closed the parade. Many
followed in carriages and automobiles.
The lien of march was north on Broad
street to Plum, down Plum to Front, up
Front to Sibley park.
AS soon as the parade and the crowd
had arrived at Sibley park and gotten in
position around the speakers stand, an
interesting program was carried out, with
Alderman Joseph Hampl as master of
ceremonies. He made few Introductory
remarks, and then in turn introduced
Judge w. L. Comstock, Congressman
McCleary and Rev. Bruce, who gave short
addresses appropriate to the occasion.
The Second Regiment and COncordia
bands rendered selections between the
speeches.
During the noon hour basket picnic
dinner was served at the park, which all
participated in. In the afternoon a pro-
gram of sports, was carried out, including
tug of war, foot races, and other SIM
liar events. A game of ball between
the Mankato and Leather teams was one
of the principal features of the program
This evening band concerts will be
given by the bands and the day will be
tittingly closed with grand ball at
Schiller hail.
Those Who saw the parades of this
and previous years say that the one to.
day eclipsed any other that organized
labor has held in Mankato. Everything
went off smoothly, and all had good
time. The appearance of the men was
excellent. All day long crowds visited
the park, and the various conveyances
were well patronized.
The band concert this morning from
eight to nine o'clock was greatly appre
ciated The different bands participant