New-York tribune., 1908-09-08
sun SMILES ON LABOR
PARADE II BIG SUCCESS.
Thirty Thousand Men IN Line tc
Celebrate the Dan.

Weather conditions so perfect that even the
chronic kicker could find fault with them con-
trfbuted toward making a holiday yesterday
Die In Labor Day annals Two huge labor union
parades, in which about thirty thousand men
marched from the Plaza at Central Park to Wash
ington Square. gave character to the holiday cele
brafion: Besides this there athletic events
Of every description in the city and nearby parks.
while thousands thousands of persons spent
the day/at pleasure resorts.
The parade of the Central Federated Union, the
first and larger of the labor demonstrations was
the largest and most successful affair OF its sort
In years, officials of the union said Thousands
Of cheering spectators who lined Fifth from
the Plaza clear down to Washington Square. where
the parade dfsbanded. sustained this verdict. Yet
the throngs were equally enthusiastic In their ap-
plause for the ten thousand members of the United
Ieamsters of America who swung down the
nue. an hour later, and they cheered loudest for
the striking drivers of the Sheffield Farms-Saw
son-Decker Company
Owing to the thunderstorm Sunday night
many of the labor organiza tons had neglected to
complete arrangements for places in the parade.
Consequently, early yesterday morning there were
squads of men standing around waiting while Ar
mold B. MacStay, formerly president OF the Cen
trail Federated Union, grand marshal, and his aids
hustled around finding places for the unexpected
recruits All this delayed the parade. that IN
stead of starting at $50, it after 10 a. m
when the head of the column began the march
down the avenue
The scene at the Plaza while the two parades
forming was animated and picturesque
Nothing of the recent business depression was re-
fected In the OF the men or in tis details
OF either procession. There just as many
bands, and good, in former years; the ban
ners were as fresh and bright and the uniforms
of the marchers The union men, their
wives. sweethearts and children out for q
holiday, and showed it.
At one time it looked as If there would De some
clash between the Central Federated Unionists and
the teamsters. since the latter had obtained a
permit TO parade last January and felt inclined
to insist on precedence. But since the Central
Federated Unions parade the larger and an
established institution. Inspector Schrnittberger
gave it the right Of way and caused the team
sters to form into line ten blocks further up Fifth
avenue.
The inspector had two thousand policemen at
hand to patrol the line of march, including twenty
two bicycle policemen and hundred mounted
men. When the procession finally got into mo-
ton perfect order was maintained. and the only
interruption came when pickets of the teamsters
threw some non-union drivers of the parade
Members of the Housesmiths and Bridgemen's
Union who were riding in the carriages driven by
these men. completed their Journey on foot
There were eight divisions IN the parade Secre-
tary Herman Robinson of the Central Federated
Union estimated that twenty-five thousand men
were in line. The men presented fine appear
ance and marched well for men unframed in even
simple military evolutions. Most of the marchers
carried small American flags. Many of the mar
shals of divisions and captains of companies car
ried bouquets of flowers. The red shirts of the
members Of the Housesmiths and Bridgemens
Union made blaze of color which rendered them
almost the conspicuous feature of the occa-
sion.
Representatives of big Six" the various news
paper chapels and allied printing trades, formed a
big division of the procession A company Of
printers carried umbrellas Of red, white and blue,
r,Ic od xrjt he
which the members said they would not read.
Ahead of this company marched a solemn little
donkey, nearly covered with banner bearing the
words:
MY name is Jasper. and I born and raised
at the Printers Home. Colorado Springs" His at
tendant vas a devil" dressed in red from top to
toe.
The International Brotherhood of Teamsters
marched with the Central Federated Union. Their
wagons and carriages were gayy decorated with
flags and bunting and brought out much applause.
Pckets of this order turned out Of the big parade
eighteen carriages driven by non-union men or
drivers belonging to the American Teamsters As
sociation, a rival organization
Ten thousand teamsters cabmen. expressmen.
chaufreurs and longshoremen belonging TO the
Tinted Teamsters of America Formed the second
parade Grand Marshal Valentine Hoffman, fifth
vice-president of the national organization, and
his aids headed the procession
Immediately following the first band was little
5os leading diminutive kid by rope. The animal
and his keeper divided applause with the paraders
all along the line Terry wore shirt of blue drill
of military cut as did the men in line with few
exceptions.
The coal teamsters made excellent showing
with a long procession of coal wagons draped IN
rod white and blue bunting. The marched
in companies keeping good alignment Many of
the members of Union No bO6 carried big red.
white and yellow chrysanthemums. Their silk
hammer of green and gold was fanked on the right
nv q stand of the national colors. and onookers
along the line doffed their hats as they passed.
Tho milk wagon teamsters who are
otrle were On hand TO do their share OF the
cheering and TO be cheered In return They We're
-ecoynized by fellow workers all along tho line
and were frequently applauded
xs,r Hardie labor unionist and member OF Par
uament reviewed the parades at Washington
SQUARE as they marched up to disband.
while the teamsters' parade was forming a big
truck belc nging to Park Tilford was wheeling
into line at 53d street band burst forth sud-
sar,v and loudly. scared the horses. and they