Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1915-07-10
Labor's Holiday in Ottumwa
to Be Biggest in the
History Of City
FOUR CITIES WILL
JOIN IN OBSERVANCE
Oskaloosa, Centerville and
Abba Take Part; Plans
Are Well Under Way

1ne trend OF local events point q
1919 ~ the banner year Of public 90.
tivites IN Ottumwa and among the biz,
ger Things planned to attract the a.
tention of the outside world to this
community Is the contemplated Labor
LAY celebration which 10 expected 70
excel anything Of like character ever
attempted here or in southern Iowa,
Inc committee In charge of arranao.
ments for the laboring organizations
mas been meeting at intervals for some
Time past and progress Is being made
toward providing an elaborate enter
tainment and fitting celebration foJ
the day. Tho labor element is ably SEQ
onded and heartily cooperated with n
the plans for the September holiday b
the business mems organizations II
Ottumwa. There has never in the past
been such united effort on the part
OF the people of Ottumwa as a whole u
celebrate the holiday of the worksn
The Commercial and Retail Msr
chants associations have entered inte
the plans of the laboring bodies with
9 zeal that spells a big success foa
Ottumwa observance of the day.
Harding To Be Speaker.
The last meeting Of the COMMITTEES
from the Trades and Labor ASSEMBLY
which Is in direct charge of the planA
for Labor Day was featured by the re-
port Of considerable progress toward
the completion of an elaborate pro
gram for the day. A majority OF the
sub committees of the general body
made reports of what has been 40
complished or started and among thu
things thus far done is the selection
Of the speaker of the day. This viii
be Lieut.. Governor w. L. Harding. MI.
Harding is no stranger in Ottumwa OF
this vicinity and his selection Is look.
ed upon with, favor by the committee.
The Fifty-fourth Regiment band has
been employed for the day and this as.
sures the best in band music for the
thousands who will participate in ths
festivities of the day. The prize com.
mittee was instructed to offer prizes
for tlNo best demonstration of a group
of men or team giving first aid to the
injured. One of the attractions being
considered and which may be arranged
for by the committee is an air ship in
which anyone desiring to may take
trip into the clouds, and enjoy the lat
est mode of travel, may do SO.
Caldwell park has been decided upon
as the place of holding the exercises
of the day and all that is necessary to
provide for the carrying out of the
program in fitting manner will be
placed in the park. 1t was In this
place that the big celebration few
years ago was held at which John
Mitchell, the noted former official Of
the Mine Workers was the honOre6
guest.
Business Men Interested.
The report Of the committee selected
by the two business mems organiza
tions is expected to be made at ths
next meeting of the general arrange
ments committee and further progress
will then be made and plans for even
more elaborate attractions may be
discussed. 1t is known that the COM
mittees from both the Commercial and
Retail Merchants associations are
working among their members to raise
funds to aid the successful carrying
out of the plans 1t Is not in finance
alone that the business men will aid,
however, for there Is talk of floats and
other attractions that will show the
active participation of the business
houses and manufacturers In the
events of the day. The plan is to
have Ottumwa celebrate Labor day as
it has never been observed and with
the participation of Abba, Centeryille
and Oskaloosa, four communities will
Join in the observance of the day and
it promises to be a celebration that
will be long remembered