The Washington herald., 1916-07-05
Opens
new LABOR Home
Building Dedicated Before
Notable Gathering Follow
ing Large Union Parade.

Following a demonstration by 1900
men. women and children. with the
President of the United States and the
Secretary Of the Department of Labor
participating, the new home of the
American Federation of Labor, at Ninth
street and Massachusetts avenue north
west, was formally dedicated yesterday
at noon.
The dedication ceremonies were brief,
but impressive. After half dozen
bands, combined into one monster or
sanization. had played the national an
them, President Samuel Gompers. OF the
american Federation of Labor, stood on
the flag g-draped reviewing stand and for
mally accepted the building on behalf Of
the executive council and the trustees.
President Wilson and Mrs. Wilson
reached the reviewing stand a few min
utes before II O'Clock, that they might
witness the parade of 1900 workers.
They found Vice President and Mrs.
Marshall already there. A few minutes
later they were Joined by Secretary
Lane, of the Interior Department: Secre-
tary Redfield. OF the Department of Com
merce and Secretary William B. Wilson.
of the Department of Labor. who also
NotabIes In Stand.
Other notables in the reviewing stand
included Commissioner Of Immigra ton
Caminetti Senator Fletcher Terence V.
Powderly, Commissioner Louis Brown
low, members OF the Lbacr Committee OF
tho House OF Representatives. and
number OF other statesmen and high gov
ernment officials.
Mrs. Wilson. smiling radantly. seated
herself beside the President, and pre-
pared to pass the ten-minute walt before
the first division OF the parade appeared.
in studying the program. Her plans were
upset when a white-Clad usher reached
over her shoulder and dropped n large
package tied with a bewldering mass of
pink ribbon in her lap She united the
ribbons. and found ten pounds OF candy.
She immediae eely sampled it, and found
1t good. Then she passed It around" :"
and everybody in the stand took a piece
or two.
About this time President Gompers
came down the main aisle toward the
Presidents seat, carrying two small
furry objects, which, on closer inspec-
tion, turned out to be two black kittens.
These were proudly displayed to the
President and Mrs. Wilson as the mas
cots Of the new home. They strolled into
the building a few days ago, apparently
from nowhere and were promptly
adopted
Black Cats Lucky.
According to an old superstition. the
entrance OF a black cat into new build
Ing signifies good luck. This being the
case, President Wilson declared to Presi-
dent Gompers that the new home Of the
Federation of Labor should have a double
portion. The kittens have been christen-
81
bert is looking after their welfare, and
they are waxing fat on milk and fish. not
counting the sparrows they catch.
1t was exactly IL o'clock when the first
division of the parade swung into view.
From then on, for an hour, the Presi-
dent. the labor leaders. and the other in
vited guests sat and watched the columns
pass. Both the President and Mrs. Viii
son commented on the splendid showing
made by the marchers.
President Wilson was introduced briefly
by Secretary Of Labor Wilson and be
gan TO speak at 1870 o'clock. His ad-
dress. which was brief. dealt with the
necessity Of patience, and a "get-to-
Eether" spirit. These two qualities, he
declared, offered the solution OF every
difficulty.
Wants Common Under.tanding.
THE easiest way he said, "and the
way we generally strive for, is getting
our fighting spirit up.
Nov, If you come at me with fist up.
venture to say mine will double as
quickly as yours. But II we could hold
common council together-have patience
and candor, and a desire for co-opera-
ton. we can get together.
I'm a position such as I occupy at this
time, I am not at liberty to think OF
any one class, or classes of people. to the
exclusion of the other classes. Hence l
am going TO take the liberty OF dediCat-
Ing this building to common council, and
common understanding"
President Gompers, in a brief address
made the only reference to the Mexican
situation OF the day.
1T is UP to the President OF the United
states TO see to It that we are kept out
Of actual wars" he declared. but he will
require the loyal and intelligent support
Of the masses in order for him to carry
such an achievement into effect.
IF the time should come when the
labor men would be needed, I am sure
that they can be counted on to give
good account of themselves"