Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-09-05
SIMPLICITY MARKS
LABOR OBSERVANCE
MONDAY IN AUGUSTA
Labor Unions Parade
and Hear Speeches in
Market Square - Are
T OIL d of Organized
Labor's Accomplish
ments

| In an appropriate though unpretenta-
tious manner the Central Labor Union
! observed Labor day with a parade Of the
members of the various local orders and
with speeches in Market square by Or
ganized labor oficials and men prominent
| IN the cause. Symbolizing the loyalty Of
| organized labor to the nations welfare
in the present emergency the Stars and
stripes were conspicuously displayed aide
by side with the various union emblems
borne BY the marchers. Only two of the
organizations in the parade were uni
formed. these being the plumbers, whose
| neat costumes consisted of white hats
and trousers and shirts OF light blue, and
| the painters, who were attired in spick
and span white.
| The parade formed in Market square
marched across the bridge, included Ban
| gor and Willow street in its route and on
its return went up Bridge hill, down State
| street to Winthrop street. down Sewall
street and down Capitol street, and
| thence back to Market square. Riding
at the head of the parade was the mar
shall, John J. Fitzgerald. and his aides
Ernest Sawyer and William w Moody
The parade formation was as follows:
| Oficers of Central Labor Union
! Augusta Cadet Band
United Brotherhood Carpenters and
Jeiners
Federal Union
Paper Makers and Pulp Workers
Painters Union
Plumbers Union
Boot and Shoe Workers Union
Retail Clerks Union
| Stationary Firemen's Union
Machinists' Union
| Journeyman BARRIERS Uniop
Electricians Union
Hold Carriers Union
Loom Fixers' Union
Street Railway Workers Union
Patrick H. Fitzgerald introduced the
speakers in Market square. This is the
one day in the year that belongs par
| ticulafly to labor" he said. We are as
sembled here to pledge ourselves to keep
a solid front, shoulder to shoulder under
| our own banner of union and freedom.
and we shall always stand loyal to our
brothers across the water" He intro
duced as the first speaker Cortez P.
| Smith, president of the State branch of
the American Federation Of Labor Mr.
Smith spoke briefly. urging his hearers
to support only political candidates who
stand for legislation favorable to the
working man.
| Rev. c. II. B. Selger Of Fairfield traced
the process Of betterment in the condi-
| lions OF labor both as to hours and to
| pay. Labor" he said. has gradually
| worked itself up. Today if it has accom-
! plshed anything it has accomplished the
realization that you are not slaves, but
men. II you are slaves it is your own
fault. 1t Is within your power to be
| men with the spirit of men"
Il can't understand how it is, said MI
| Seliger. that a man can refuse to join
| the union because it isn't perfect. Capt.
| tai isn't perfect, unless in the perfect ex-
| ploitation of labor"
Wherever intelligent labor goest. it
stands for temperance said the speak
er, because when heads get befuddled
life is in danger
| Mr.. Seliger eulogized the 54-hour law
and advocated even greater restrictions
on the working hours of women on the
| grounds that woman cannot properly full
| fill her duties if under the burden of long
| hours of labor.
| y. B. Drawn of Pejepscot, secretary
of the state branch Of the American Fed
Grafton, Intentional as drawback to the
| cause OF organized labor the fact that
| the non-union man profits from the ef-
| fort Of the union and gives nothing in
return The country is under obligations
to unionism for the ideals that it has
esta blished, said Mr. Brown. The speak
er asserted that unionism has never been
given proper credit for its part in the es-
adjustment Of the public school system,