The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1908-09-10
LABOR DAY WAS
GREAT SUCCESS
LARGEST DEMONSTRATION EVER
HELD IN oskALooSA.
PRESIDENT LEWIS ORATOR
Head Of the National Organization OF
Miners Made Address of Day
Hundreds of Men
in Line.

perfect. The people came from al
sides. The day beionged to the labor
ing people, but somehow everyone
seemed to be laborers. The parade il
the morning, for a demonstration o
the kind, was far ahead of anything
previously attempted in the city. The
afternoons program was the Gilman
of the day and thousands of people
gathered in the public park to hear the
great labor leader. Hon. Thos. L. Lew
is, president of the United Mine Work
ers of America. Other entertainment
for the crowd was furnished in the
shape of a base ball game at thu
league grounds. The day closed witt
great crowd Of people in the city
park listening TO splendid concert
program played by the Iowa Brigade
band.
The Parade.
The parade was one of the days
surprises and successes. The trades
unions of the city made splendid
showing and the U. M. w. of A. were
number of locals.
The parade contained $50 men in
marching organizations, together with
floats and ladies' and officers in car.
riages. The line was formed on First
avenue west from the intersecting
streets west of the Iowa Central
tracks. John Wilson, president of the
Oskaloosa local NO. 81, U. M. w. OF
A., was chief marshal, and was ably
assisted by Charles Allender, first as
sistant, and number of others who
were pressed into service at the last
moment. The parade moved promptly
at 1890 o'clock, proceeding east to
ID street, north to High avenue, east
through the business heart of the city
to Seventh street, south to First ave
nue.. west to Market street, where the
bodies were disbanded.
Marshal Wilson rode at the head OF
the parade. A squadron of the city
police followed and then came the
Iowa Brigade band, also landeaus
and carriages containing the speakers
of the day, dignitaries and officers
of the local organization OF the dis
trict. Oskaloosa Local No. 81 of the
Mine Workers, under whose auspices
the Labor Day celebration was held,
was next in line with the position of
honor. The boys made fine show
ing, dressed in citizens clothes and
wearing neat special badge of blue
ribbon, upon which was printed the
name and number of the local and pen
dant therefrom was handsome metal
medallion of TON Lewis. Almost
one hundred of the local organization
were in line.
float upon which was placed huge
block of coal weighing two tons and
mined with special care for the oc-
casion. This block of coal was made
TO represent the face" of the coal in
the mine, and upon it were at work the
miners making cut and drilling a
hole for a shot" Nearby stood a
mule and driver ready to pull out the
fuel as mined by the men.
The U. NJ. w. A. state organization
had a suggestive float. 1t represented
Arbitration" A company of miners
and operators were gathered about a
table and were engaged IN discussing
some questions of difference, showing
the Iowa method of arriving at agree
ments and settling difficulties. Four
teen people were seated on this fiat.
Beacon Local U. M. ". OF A. was
next in line with ITO men. This local
made the largest showing in the pa.
rade. The men were in citizens
clothes and wore neat pink badge.
They made splendid appearance
and were cheered at several points in
the line. Bolton local followed with
a goodly representation. wearing neat
badges.
The ladies and members of the
United Garment Workers of America
Local Union No. 76 were next in line,
riding in conveyances, ,some of which
were decorated in handsome man
ner The ladies' made the strongest
showing of any of the trades unions,
having sixty-eight members in line.
The cigarmakers of Oskaloosa, Lo-
cal Union 277. made a splendid show
ing. This is the oldest trades union
in the city and one of the strongest.
Thirty men represented the craft. The
men wore a special uniform or apron
and marched in line
The showing made by the United
Brotherhood Carpenters and Joiners
of America. Local No. 1854. was pro-.
badly the most conspicuous in the pa
rade. A large float bearing a build
ing specially constructed for the oc-
casion and representing the trade.
was pulled by Don Mcclure by means
of an automobile Following this was
a neat mechanical contrivance work-
Ing couple of large hammers. Then
the men Of the union In line
special uniform, work clothes
and cap. They had thirty-three men
In line. The special float of j NJ
Dunshee was a feature of the carpen-
tiers showing.
The Bartenders' International Lea.
cue of mcrica was represented in line