The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1918-09-04
LABOR DAY CELEBRA-
T|OM WAS A BIG
EVENT IN BELD|MG
SRGT. M. J. MYERS TOLD CROWD
OF LIFE IN TRENCHES OF
FRANCE AND BELGIUM

Absolutely the best one ever Twas
the usual comment heard about the
celebration which the people of this
city and vicinity enjoyed on Monday,
September 2, Labor day, when thou
sands of people from this city and the
country for Is miles surrounding,
came to the big celebration which had
been planned and carried out by the
laboring people of the city in honor
of the greatest power and the most
potent factor in the development of
the resources of the world-Labor.
Everything was pulled off just ex-
actly according to scheduled time and
there were no disappointing waits be-
tween. acts, something doing all the
time, just as the big bills said there
would be and the things that were
doing were high class and right up to
the minute all the time. Everyone
thoroughly enjoyed themselves and
we heard not single evidence of any
ON starting to quarrel or fight and
with the exception of the customary
~rag chewing" at the baseball game
and baseball game would not be a
success were it not for some dissatis-
faction with the umpire's decisions,
the day passed off as one of the big
gest and most pleasant gatherings ev-
er had in Belding.
The parade started promptly on
time from the west end of Main street
and as it passed along Main street,
going east it was greeted with ap-
plause. 1t was headed by Stanton's
famous marine band and some band
It was, too. We failed to count the
- - -. h.. h., k.xk n
creditable thing is that the band had
not forgotten those of their members
who had offered their all for their
country and they bore proudly with
them, service flag which contained
II stars.
Following the Stanton band came
~ members of the Michigan Mounted
Constabulary, who had reached the
city the evening before and who had
been invited by the labor day commit
tee to take part in the parade. The
constabulary also gave a rather dig
nified patriotic military touch to the
parade and their appearance greatly
pleased the throng who lined both
sides OF the street to view the parade.
Next came the good ladies who sac
rifice time and pleasure to meet at
regular intervals of time to work for
some one else, without pay and in one
of the most laudable and patriotic
movements of the world--the grand
ladies of the Belding Rod, Cross oh~P-
ter. They came along half q hum
dred or more strong and tt1e forward
ladies carried large American flag
and using this as tray, they caught
money that was thrown into it by peo-
pie as they stepped out into the street
to contribute. Following the Red
Cross ladies came the best decorated
automobile in the parade, driven by
Mrs. Lee Cusser. The auto was dec,
Grated in white bearing large Red
Crosses on front, rear and sides. Mrs
Cusser was dressed in Red Cross CO.'S
tune and in the auto with her she
had the biggest bunch of cute little
diminutive Red Cross ladies one ever
beheld.
Following this auto came the A. j
Moore truck carrying Wild Howe anc
his band dispensing martial music anc
after them came the big Beldine
Bros. truck, driven by Ollie Taft anC
carrying a Red Cross hospital scene
with the actors, small children of thu
north side taking the parts of patients
surgeons, nurses and Uncle San
watching operations. Following then
came an auto truck owned by Mclean
Bros. which carried a cage containing
the kaiser under guard of numbel
of soldiers, who came from Caml
Custer for the day to take part in th'
celebration.
Next came a big float in the shap'
of an army tank, driven by John An
drews of the Citizens Light Co., an'
which meved along the street at abou
the rate which tank ordinarily trav
els in action. 1t made an imposing
sight. Following this came a For
service display car. carried For
car in pieces and parts and after then
came the Ford repair department
with a demonstration of how the For
service helps when you let then
know you are in need of either part
or help. Next came truck owne
by w. Coney, decorated up for priz
winner.
Labor as it goes to make up tn
bort force over in Factory B turne
out nearly 100 per cent strong, an
carried away the large flag which tn
committee offered as a prize for tn
largest body of people from any on
factory or mill. The bort boys ar
a good bunch and they showed up ]
fine style in their place in the parad
Monday and deserve lot Of credit fo
the interest which they took in gettin
out as near 100 per cent strong Q
they did. The forward men in tn
line of marchers carried huge bar
ner which bore the wording "Dol
Motor Car Co.. and in addition I
this each man carried a regulatio
size bort pennant. The men pre-
sented fine sight as they passed an
elected comment and praise frol
many people who saw them as the
passed.
Following the bort boys came de,
grated autos driven by M. j. Warns
and Carroll Ring. The came tn
boys of Factory A Of the Belding- -Ha
Go. and while they were fewer in nun
Der than were the men of the Dol
people, they made up for it in pa
riotism by carrying a large sig
which said right out in plain Englis'
"To Hell With the Kaiser"
Orlie Hammond, as horrible, can
~rI ho xuo1LaI o1nncx ho xu<