New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-09-05
Several Hundred Girls, Gayly
Dressed, Lend Dash of Color
to Procession.
FLAG AS CONTRIBUTION HAT
Crowds Swell Mcnamara Fund
Unions Seek to Emphasize
Peaceful Relations Now
Existing Here.

the largest aggregauons oi VI oieoiii~o'
labor that has marched in the annual
Labor Day parade in this city for several
Years The demonstrate was particu-
isr,y impressive this year as a straight
forward orderly display Of the strength
~ the unions in time of peace. No
strikes Of consequence or other excitaoie
conditions prevailed here 70 turn genu-
,ro enthusiasm into "A semblance Of hys-
terra.
Matthew A. McConville the grand
marshal. sounded the keynote Of the
feeling which apparently existed on
every hand when he said after tho
nsrade that the occasion had been used
% emphasize the present harmonious re-
Istions between employers and workers
throughout the city.
Every organization affiliated with the
Central Federated Union was represented
IN the line Of march. Several hundred
women and girls marched with the men.
Most of them were dressed in brilliant
,oIors-red. yellow and bue-which con
trssted pleasantly with the prevailing
.or7bre gray Of the mems shirts and hats
There was a large delegation of girls
from the Shirtwaist Makers Union. They
carried a banner recalling the disastrous
Washington street fire. II read:
..Tf Won forget. we shall always remem-
be~ the Triangle Waist Company's fire.
From 5000 to $4,000 in Line.
Chief Inspector Schmittberger who
was in charge Of the five hundred police
men detailed TO look after the parade
estimated the number in line as between
rfteen and eighteen thousand. The
labor leaders were inclined to estimate
the number mucn higher. Inspector
Schmittberger has had a good deal OF
experience with former labor parades.
He based his estimate on a military COM
pa-ison. II took the union marchers
three and a quarters hours 10 pass a
given point. In close military formation,
he said, il takes six thousand men an
hour TO pass given point.
While there were thousands in the pro-
cession. tens Of thousands lined Fifth
avenue on either side TO watch the par
ade. A good part of those along the
curb were the wives and sweethearts Of
the men in line. The mothers. as rule.
had ali the children of the family with
them. Individual members Of the unions
were singled out for recognition and a
cheer as they passed their friends or
loved ones.
The parade started as usual from the
plaza. ar 59th street and Fifth avenue.
and the line Of march was 10 Washing
ton Square. along Fifth avenue. The
start was made almost on scheduled
tine. al 10 o'clock. II was about 1880
.. n. when the vanguard of police filed
under the Washington Arch and an
other Labor Day parade was at an end.
OF course. there were some indications
Of socialistic tendencies in the process
sion. and q red flag now and then even
suggested a more radical element. But
any reference 10 anarchism was prompt
y frovned upon and denounced by the
labor leaders There was no sam
Parks on & white horse, as he once led
the Labor Day parade before he went
10 states prison 70 die there. His old
union Of housesmiths and bridgemen.
which he dominated with undisputed
power during the tumultuous times OF
the big building strike few years ago
were well up toward the front Of the
line Their faring red flannel shirts
were reminiscent Of the spirit Of former
so-caIed entertainment committees
Defence Fund for McNamaras.
The absence Of a local labor hero or
MARTYR was supplied in a quiet way by
a sympathetic demonstration all through
the ranks for the incarcerated Mcnamara
brothers. who are under indictment III
Los Angeles as alleged dynamiters. There
were numerous printed banners demand
Ing Justice for J. j. Mcnamara. A dlVi-
sion lcd hy julius Gerber was known as
the Mcnamara division. il was com
posed of men who nave organized to col
lect funds for the defence Of the NC
Namara brothers. it was said. The or
ganizatiou appealed 10 the labor unions
r. make an imposing showing III the
division as protest against the kid
uappi0g" ~ the Mcnamara brothers
Hundreds ~ Mcnamara buttons were
sold bv voaders before the parade
started
The American fag was appropriated
~ several different points IN the Inc oi
march as a catch-aH for money con
trihu,ions for the defence Of the NC
Namsras At each flag so used TWO ne
Ing near the Washington Arch Al WASH
iHgton square. stood two men Win rec
fags in their hands, who Kept oaiiihl
cut.
Drop your Mcnamara defence coh'fl'
buttons into the flag" Don't forget ui'
Mcnamara defence"
There were many who respo""eu =
the call for the flags received heapS ~
coins. bur there was one man VINO wa
far more generous than the others VI"
The change that ne contributed 10 oie
he flags was a diamond ring II
soor apparent. however. that ne hau 80
Intended being so magnanimous' ior VIZ
he discovered his loss he began Irai'
ucsliy % explain that the ring hau
thrown on his finger by the motlo" y
his arm when ne contributed inc coi''9
he stood confusedly for a minute s"A'''
Al the heap Of coins under WIZ"
buried his piece Of jewelry ana "i''s.
was. being carried up the street men -
oashed 70 the flag bearers. After n" III,
confusion and cheers from the crowd u