New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-02
Discomfort Demonstrated
in Most Peaceful Way by
Strikers in Line.
COLUMNS BROKEN
BY TRAFFIC JAM
Speeches in Union Square Aimed
More Against War than Cap
ital-Only 3 Arrests.

Eest May Uay ldDoT pdTdut ever HN4'
there. But a true picture Of the day
would not be painted in the farine
slashes of impressionistic color that
usually symbolic working class dem
onstrations.
The picture will be rather quietel
tones. for every one, except the three
anarchists, seemed 10 be intent or
being the most harmless kind of 8
peaceful citizen. Even the anarchists
two Of them at least, got off with sus'
pended sentences when they explained
that they really did not intend 10 be
bad
Keen Publics sympathy.
As for the rest, the huge labor pro-
eession went through the streets minus
its usual "To he'll with capital" signs;
and as the various kinds Of strikes
were called the chief word on the lips
of .he union leaders TO the strikers
was 10 keep the peace. observe the law
and thereby retain the sympathy of the
general public.
The marchers looked well fed and
happy. parading through the streets
laughing and singing the "Marseillaise'
in the CHEEKY voices Of serenaders, in
stead Of in the hoarse tones Of an
enraced proletariat which has given an
ominous cast 10 previous May Day pa
rades. 1t was because Of the piping
season OF work that has just closed
with plenty Of employment for every
one. due to the shortage Of labor
caused by the return of reservists TO
Furope and tht boom in munition plant
work
When the masses flowed into Union
SQUARE with faunticng banners and
blaring bands until the stood RIB TO
rib. the oratory their leaders hurled
at them was hardly labor speeches at
all. It was directed chiefly against war
and preparedness, rather than the SUI
ferings Of the workers and the sins
Of the employers.
The Socialist Labor party's parade
started in three places. At Rutgers
Square the United Hebrew Trades
formed in a line that went crawling
like a great, winding snake through
the congested East Side streets until
it reached Washington Square. Here
the C0,O00 cloak, suit aud skirt work
ers. half Of whom were locked out by
their employers Friday and Saturday
and the other half Of whom will 60
out this morning, we're waiting.
Traffic Impedes Marchers.
The combined columns went up Fifth
Avenue. Their first objective was For
tieth Street. where a swing over &c
Madison Avenue was made. Here The
Socialist section of the parade, coming
downtown from Eighty-fourth Street
was TO be picked up.
But by the time the downtown sec
ton reached Fortieth Street all sem
blance Of a parade was lost. 10 hac
been ground 10 pieces by the jam Of
motor traffic that filled the avenue from
curb 20 curb, and which the police die
not force TO give way for the TWO
hours the 'marchers were passing
Crosstown traffic chopped the column
I'D into short pieces and vehicles on the
avenue slit il lengthwise. The parade
came struggling out Of the ordeal look
inc as If IN had been through a sausage
Th. 'oef liqcha tho soil
daritv Of labor's march were dealt by
the cushioned motors of plutorcracy
particularly IN the region above Thirty
fourth Street
Frequently half dozen Fifth Avenue
buses and a score of touring cars anC
taxicabs could be counted stalled IN one
block waiting for the traffic policeman
signal. with a remnant of the parade
struggling TO find foot room IN the
midst Of the jam.
But even this disrupting Of theiI
great pageant failed TO rouse the
marchers 70 rage. There have beer
years when there would have beer
clonching Of fists, throaty cries anC
hreats. and even smashed windows fol
he motor cars.
Open Streets Mend Columns.
The workers made the good-natureC
best OF the situation. struggled through
somehow, and bit by bit the line swung
over 20 Madison Avenue, and there
turned downtown again, mended anc
made whole by the more open streets
and the additions from uptown.
The most radical signs in the line
were quotations from representative,
OF great capital constituted authority
Oscar Straus, Jacob II. Schiff anC
Mayor Mitchell. Dozens Of the sign.
carried by the ocked-out garment work
ers bore this quotation from Mr.. SchiT
"Such manufacturers who refuse to dis
cuss peace are not ft heads for such
an industry; from Mr. Straus: "Th'
manufacturers. IN refusing Cancellation
have assumed a mighty responsibility,
and this from Mayor Mitchell: "NC
group or element has the right to jeop
ardize the peace of the city"
Instead Of various changes on the ole
parade slogan, Down with capital,
every shop section carried a sign or
this model: Long live the Pants-Mak
ers' Union" Another favorite from Mr.
Schif was: THE interests behind the
lockout have no sense of social jus