The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-09-03
WORKING FOLK HAD
GREAT CELEBRATION
Thousands Enjoy Day at
lakewood, jamestown
and Other Points.
LIVELY INTEREST
IN PRIZE EVENTS
Congressman Lamb, Mayor Nc
Carthy and Mr.. Ryall Make
Speeches-Fine Program
Carried Out-List
OF the Prize
Winners.


With hig celebration at lakewood
and with counter attractions elsewhere
the working people of Richmond and
their friends observed Labor Day yes
terday and made the event surpass
others held heretofore. The festivities
proper continued for more than twelve
hours, starting with a parade In the
morning and ending with final waltz
near midnight.
Except for the fact tina. the James
| town Exposition drew largely upon
the holiday population of the city. the
attendance at lakewood would have
been even greater than IT was, The
crowds moved back and forth. and in
the afternoon there was not ever
shade-room for the throng Tie speech
making was not long drawn out, and
4 at the close the prize contests be-
gan. The presence of Mr.. Hearst and
Mr.. Gompers at jamestown, with an
opportunity on the side of seeing the
Exposition. appealed strongly to the
Richmond folk. Morning and after
noon, too, they nocked to the baseball
park to see the local colors furlcG
after two exciting games. and at 9TH
er hours they filled every car leading
to the parks.
Thousands Sec Parade.
| The program, which had been ar
ranged by the committee with ntten-
tion TO every detail. was carried out
without a hitch. Five hundred men,
| representing every labor organization
here. formed in line shortly after g
O'Clock, and led by squad of mounted
| police, with members of the commit
tees and the speakers in carriages,
marched to lakewood, while thousands
Eof people cheered them on the way.
Il Each union %srried it's banner. Kess-@
nich's Band, trailing behind the car
riages. filed the air with melody,s,and
/ the uniformed delegations moved with
4 the precision OF soldiers.
4. Dusty and hot, the marching toilers
| halted at the white and skeletonftke
resort, and then scattered, to be brought
together again near the dancing pa
| vilion. where Master Of Ceremonies
/ IHirschberg waved his hand, and the
crowd waited respectfully for an hour
or more, while Congressman Lamb. Mr..
Ryall and Mayor Mccarthy spoke elo-
quently of the life, glory and mission
of the laboring man. Frequently the
words brought forth round after round
/ of applause. 1t was an intelligent au-
| dience. 1t did not fret as the sun beat
down. 1t had invited distinguished
A men to make addresses, and there was
silence until the last word had been
! uttered.
4 A lively air from the band was the
4 signal to celebrate. Men and women
scattered then. Thereafter 1t was more !
like picnic There was no disorder.
1 The attractions at the park sent spiel
ers' to the front. and the laboring peo-
pie went into their pocketbooks to pro-
duce that which would afford enjoy
ment. AT times the weather was too
| warm to be comfortable, but they re-
manned, going from place to place, and
finally rounded up in squads to watch
the physical efforts of the contestants.
anxious to win prizes There wera
/ baseball games, dancing eXhibltionA.
baby shows and beauty shows; there
were foot races and sack races and
jumping contests, and last, but not
least. there were raffles and auctions
"A of pigs in the poke that produced no
end of merriment The woman who
Z bought a sealed package containing
fresh young onions and the man who
unrolled a package containing a dimity
, shirtwaist, traded. without regard for
fondness of fruit or size of wearing
apparel.
Honors for Colonel Portch.
J, The one tragedy of the day came
!. when Colonel Joseph Portch, q hard-
!, working member of. the local commit
tee had his hopes crushed and his per-
sonal ideal shattered There was a
!. voting contest for the homeliest man.
Somebody gave Colonel Portch a run
[ ming start. 1t was not a case where
, the man was seeking the honor, but lit
came nevertheless. AT the psychologi-
cal moment, as 1t We're, the colonel Was
, sitting on the business end of an empty
!, heer leg, his chin resting In his hands.
In front the dancing hall was filled
), with n laughing throng.
With all eyes upon him the acting
master of ceremonies commanded him
to stand, and. amid bushes and con-
\ fusion, the colonel accepted the verdict
4 without appeal, and then accepted a
4 box of cigars to smooth his lacer-
ated feelings. The band played, "Hc
Goes to Church on Sunday" and a few
moments later, when there was q de-
mand for the perfectos. the musicians
switched the mir and ''Let 1t Alone"
started the shuffling feet on the floor.
Judges with nerve and keen eyes
lawarded the prizes In the baby cons
TESTS, tho same amount of care be-
/. ing exercised in picking the winners
!, as had been displayed In the dtstrir
z button of cigars, Prize-winning babies
were held up to be admired again, In
= the same way the best educated two
) steppers took the honors In the dane
tEins. match and Just here let 1t be
4 said that i people have the idea that
! Iworking FOLK cannot dance, they would
/ lnave had that fancy shattered had
I I'lthey been at lakewood yesterday. The
!, only trouble was that there We're not
a prizes enough to so around--and not
: enough men FOR the women. FOR the
q latter, In pairs. led and followed, too.
4 EThe FUN started at 8 o'clock, the band
/ playing that welt known ballad, Waltz
: Me Around Again, WILLIE" And that
is Just exactly what Wiliie did. until
r the perspiration came streaming from
!. .lhis sunourned face.
d Large Crowds at Night.
q Along In the hank or the affcr-