The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-05-01
CONTINENTAL LABOR DAY.
Observance Not General in Barre but
Several Hundred Quit Work.

To-day, May !, is Labor day in many
countries of continental Europe. Here
in Barre there has been no attempt made
to give it the rank among American hoi.
idays that it has attained in Italy and
other European countries, but all the
same there are a good many working
men. who by resting from their labors
observe the day quite as rigidly as the
national holiday in honor OF labor which
talls the first Monday in September.
Early in the spring tentative plans
were made for something OF an aus
pIcious observance OF the day in Barre.
In wears past large number OF ltailan
residents have annually celebrated the
occasion by quitting work for the day.
Never has the day been observed by
any semblance OF a celebration and not
until this year was it proposed that
both the Italian and English SOCIALIST
locals unite in marking the day IN an
manner To that end, COM
mittees were appointed from each local
and a conference was held. But the
plans never materialzed for the reason
that many of the men who would be
expected to participate in the eelebra-
tion preferred to remain at work. This
decision was reached on the part OF
many because OF the enforced suspension
in most Of the plants on account OF pow
er shortage.
In consequence of this condition, men
who under ordinary circumstances would
be willing and anxious that the day be
not passed without celebration, were
working as usual to-day. Notwithstand-
ing this. however there were few hun
dred. probably. who did not work and to
them was left the privilege of observing
the international Labor day.
At ll:20 this forenoon, seventy mem.
bers of the Italian Socialist, party OF
America and the English-speaking
branch OF the national Socialist party
left over the Central Vermont road for
Northfeld. where they are to be enter
tanned BY the Italian and English locals.
Nearly every member of the party wore
4 white OF red carnation, the official flow
er of the Socialist party and worn Gus
on the international Labor day.
At MONTPELIER the Barre delegation was
ioined bv twenty five members OF the
affiliated Italian and American Social
ists and at the Wells River station IT
was expected that the stoneeutters'
band. which furnished music for a dance
in Groton last night. would entrain and
accompany the delegation to Mortified.
The band will take prominent part IN
the days program.
A Parade Put On.
Just before noon in Barre a parade
Of some 100 men said to be in sympathy
with the syndicalist movement and not
IN affiliation with the Italian Socialist
marty of America. members OF whose
Barre local went TO Northiield, swung
ont of Granite street and marched up
North Main street as far as city sqnsre,
" here the line turned and marched down
the street again. The parade was head
"a bv small band and the members
three abreast A few tiers IN
the rear OF the musicians came the flag
bearer. who held aloft the red banner
Of the movement 1t was like the scar
let standards which figured in the /! W.
W. parades at Lawrence. Mass. Little
Falls. \. ". and latterly in Paterson.
y. ]. All of the adults in the parade
wore red bows in their coat lapels. There
we're a number of young children in
the parade.