Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-09-04
LABOR DAY PARADE
BLOCKED BY RAIN;
HOLD CELEBRATION
ENTHUSIASM or CELEBRANTS
NOT DAMPENED BY DOWNPOUR
OCCASION WAS A SUCCESS IN
SPITE OF lNCLEMENT WEATH
Err.

Ot'awa's Labor 'Day celebration wa
a success in spite Of elements tina
entered into the occasion to do al
ihey could To dampen the ardor O
hundreds upon hundreds of visitor.
"ho came here TO share with the
/ city's thousands in paying tribute tC
labor.
a drizzling rain that began fallinp
/ Just as the parade was about to start
put camper upon the major portion
of the street demonstration but fail.
ed To stop all the marchers from form
ns procession and covering the down
town streets, The drizzle was ONLY
4 Few minutes, setting into a real Old
fashioned doWnpour that give eyi
dence of lasting thruout the remand
er OF the day. At O'Clock however
old Jupiter pluvius decided he had
dohe enough damage. After reaching
that decision the sun came out and
ne afternoon and evening made M
'or what was lacking in the morning
The skies clearing themselves of
threatening clouds was the signal for
Vass crowds 10 cme out of their shel
iers to make business good for the
concession men. Athletic events, de.
layed by the rain. were then staged
while all the free shows slated for
dlierent sections Of the business dis,
trict attracted hordes of people who
loudly appauded the different acts in
lull enjoyment Of the performances
Dissolution of the parade was nor
maps the soreSt grievance the commit
tee suffered during the day. Union
Workmen a thousand strong. lodges
and school children numbering close
to the Thousand mark. ana scores of
automobiles were ready 10 participato
IN the demonstration. The procession
had hardly moved from its starting
point when the rain began. When the |
band and first tier of mafchers
reached Main and La Sale streets
on the first circuit of the loon II be
came necessary for he leaders TO dis
band the school children and send
them to shelter. while other bodies |
moved from the line of march dis
perSing IN all directions Few if any |
Of the marchers were provided with |
The band, hieh school ca.
delS ana a half dozen Of the union or. |
carnations grittcd their teeth how.
ever and dolied the rainfall by GOV |
erinG the whole line of march and
were rewarded with the admiration of |
The crowds that watched them from
dootWays and other places of protcc
ton. While the wctting they received
was GOOD one, all were certain that
The effort was worth the while.
The dance last might at the armory
attracted happy crowd of young peo
pie who immense enjoyed the music
PLAYED by IIenirich's orchestra.
The high school meeting in which
Governor l.owden was the PRINCIPAL
speakers, was attended by an audi
1ncc placed at two thousand.
concession men report that in spite
Of The serious setback given them
by the weather, they closed the day
With "A snug margin showing on the
profit side Of their ledeers Resiaur
an'#--and bultets-report having done
a large BUSINESS, the rain materially
helping in driving people into thej,
places of business.
The city was overrun by stransers
from all parts Of the county Strca-
tor La Sale, Peru, Marseiles. Seneca
and Morris, all sent large delegations
to participate in the celebration with
the wet sky overhead and the worst
mess of streets under.
meath, the visitors We're not we'll i'm.
pressed with the down town portion
Of Ottawa, but when the sun came
Continued on page g.