The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1908-09-10
Labor Day Observance

Never in the history of the labor
organizations of the city of Charles
ton haa.there been a more repre-
sentative gathering of those de-
pendent upon the fruits of their
toll for livlihood than gathered
in the capital city of the state on
Monday to celebrate the day set
apart as Labor's own, and never
in the history of the labor move
ment in this state has there been a
more decorous and at the same
time enthusiastic celebration of the
day in the Kanawha Valley than
WIS that of last Monday.
The celebration really com
menced on Sunday afternoon,
when the speaker Of the day, Hon.
Samuel p. Donnelly, former pre-
sldent of the international Typo
graphical Union, and now score
tary of the board of arbitration Of
the building trades of New York
and member of the board of edu-
cation of that city, arrived here at
noon, being met at the depot by
committee from the Typographi.
cal Union and the Citizens Concert
Band, who escorted him to his
hotel.
At three O'Clock a social session
OF the Typographical Union was
held at their hall in the Odd
Fellows building, and which was
attended not only by the members
OF the Union, but by number of
the wives and other relatives of
the membership, and other invited
guests, including Representatives of
the editorial departments of the
city papers and the EMPLOYING
printers, between whcm and the
organization the most cordial re-
latlons have existed for years.
After a brief introduction by
President Foster, Mr.. Donnally
gave a resume of the history of the
organization and it's achievements
IN the matter of shortening of the
hours of labor, the grad ual increase
IN the wage scale, the securing of
equal pay for both sexes where
engaged in the same line of work,
and its provisions for the main.
tenance of its disabled members
and its more recent establishment
OF pension fund for the support
of those whom age has incapaci.
tated FROM following the avocation
to which the best years of their
lives have been devoted.
Following the address of Mr..
Donnally. the company repaired
to the banquet hall, where tie
ladies had prepared an appetizine
Inv hi al, NT
IIeizer presided as POSTMASTER,
the toasts being responded to by
Messrs. r. II. Kuntz Oh behalf
Of the Trades Assembly, r. II.
Martin on behalf of the press, and
John w. Jarrett on behalf of the
Typographical Union. Mr..
Jarrett, as one of the charter
members Of the local union, gave
an interesting account of the for.
nation Of the organization in this
city quarter OF century ago,
its experience from that time
down to the present, and con
trasted conditions which existed
then as compared with those of
today, showing the incalculable
benefits which had accrued to its
membership during those years
through the medium of the organi
zation, and also calling attention
to the fact that in all those wears
the relations between the members
Of the Union and their employers
had been of the most amicable
nature.
After the luncheon, the members
and guests again repaired to the
hall, where a couple of hours were
spent in social commingling, and
in enjoying number of choice
selections rendered by the orchestra
of the Citizens Concert Band.
After the reception. d number of
the members of the Union, ac-
companied by Mr.. Donnally,
visited several points of interest
about the city, which occupied
them until it was time to retire.
Monday was an ideal day-clea1
and sunny, yet cool, with refresh
ing breezes constantly at play, and
every incoming train and boat
brought its quota Of visitors to the
city to help swell the crowd of
home people who had taken ad-
vantage of the day to show their
! aDDreciatlOn of tho haDafits do