The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1916-09-05

THE greatest demonstration of organ
lied labor ever held in the south" is the
way labor leaders and spectators de-
scribed the well organized and most orig
inal parade ever held on the streets of
Birmingham yesterday. The parade was
an entirely CLOSED shop and no float
not representing labor unions was al
lowed to participate. Several we'll gotten
up floats applied for admittance to the
lines, but were rejected because they
were not from card bearers.
Woodrow Wilson is our friend"
This sentence, together with the por-
trait of President Wilson adorned prac-
tically every float that appeared in the
greatest labor demonstration ever held in
the south yesterday, when the Labor Day
paraders, led by E. E. Spangenberg as
grand marshall, marched through the
crowded streets of Birmingham before
the eyes of more than $1,000 persons.
Birmingham great Labor Day celebra-
ton was a success in every sense of the
word, and organized labor in this district
had their banner day. Everything went
off without hitch, from the beginning
of the parade to the close of the cele-
bration at East Lake park late last
night. Marching to the martial airs OF
bands, the paraders were cheered by the
thousands of spectators who lined the
streets to see labor" in review.
The parade was slightly delayed or
account of the late arrival of the spe-
cial train from Admission, bringing 1Oot
members of the Admission Trades council
However, everything was in readiness
and the procession started within a few
minutes after the appointed time.
FORCE OF LABOR
Leaving Capitol pSrk, the procession
headed by Chief of Police Martin Eagar
and squad of mounted patrolmen
marched into the heart of the business
section to review before the spectators
the monster force of labor in the Biz
mingham district. More than 1900
men marched in the parade and the
procession covered more than Is blocks
OF space. while large number of at
tractive floats Of unique design as
sisted in making the parade an en-
1oyable event to the onlookers.
The specially designed float of the
Brotherhood of Railway Trainmen
representing a made-up train under
full crew and running on train or
der form No. 81. This float, made
more timely by the settlement of the
threa tened nation-wi railroad strike
was known as the eight-hour special
and received prolonged applause from
the crowds that lined the streets.
was headed by one of the miniature
steam locomotive engines from East
Lake park, which was in charge Of
Engineer Barnard and Fireman Matte
son The engine had up full steam
and the engineer blew the whistle fol
regular signals from time to time
while the fireman on his post shoveleC
coal and rang the bell.
Just back of this engine sat the -four
young women sponsors to the trair
crew: Miss Jennie Randard. represent
ing the engineers; Miss Thelma Lewis
representing the firemen; Miss Pear
Green, representing the brakemen
Miss Ida May Rives and Miss Fannie
May Kaminisky representing the con
| ductcrs and flagmen. Aside from the
engine, one box car and a caboost
made the train.
A number of other attractive floats
brought considerable praise from tn,
spectators, among which were the floa
carrying the special sponsors to tn,
Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen. tn,
ladies' auxiliary to the brotherhood
the sponsors to all divisions of organ
lied labor, the musicians local ant
many others.
Featured from the other division!
on account of their recent organization
the several hundred members of tn,
local division of the Amalgamated AS
ISOLATION of Street and Electric Rail
way Employees of America, wht
marched In a labor parade for the frs
time, probably received more attention
from the spectators than any Other
division Of the parade.
Following the disbanding Of the parad
thousands of persons flocked to Eas
/ Lake park, where the official Labor Da,
celebration was held. The park ground.
presented busy scene all afternoon ant
evening and a splendid athletic pro
gramme was carried out, including foo