The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-09-23
FIRST PARADE
Of LOCAL UNIONS
IS BIC SUCCESS
Long Line of March Over Prin-
cipal Streets
MANY POINTED NOTICES
Weather DisagreeabIe But Moisture
Failed to Dampen Enthusiasm
of Workers

Close to, thousand people Monday
evening took part in the union labor
parade, the first demonstration of its
kind held in Bennington and the en-
ployes in the different lines of indus
try have every reason to he proud of
the manner in which the affair was
carried out
The parade was arranged upon
short notice and the facilities avail
able were limited but there was mark
ed enthusiasm during the hour that
the marchers we're passing over the
streets and the crowd that lined the
sidewalks was one of the largest
gathered in months for a purely local
occasion
Weather conditions were anything
but favorable for a parade. During
the forenoon rain fell at intervals
and the streets we're in bad condition
/ because of the steady downpour of
the previous night At o'clock the
rain that had let up for a few hours
T tt~rlH bllAt IilBIt anu NOuLllAtu uiHt-
ing the remainder of the evening
The moisture however, failed to
dampen the enthusiasm of the march
ers Even the women remained in
line until after The long circuit had
been completed and the parade was
disbanded the textile headquarters
at the corner of River and North
streets.
Many of the marchers We're proyid
ed with red fire flares and the illumi-
nation was sufficient to light the way
even on the side streets.
There we're a number of features
that added appreciably to the general
success Of the parade There was the
escort to the American flag composed
of young men who had seen service
during The great war and who wore
the uniform of the army and navy.
Then there were the banners Some
of the notices were decidedly witty,
touching upon incidents connected
with the strike at the Black Cat Tex
tiles company underwear mill. Some
of the most pointed in this respect
were we do not worship western
gods, Don't 90 North" we like
Bennington police Go Light All"
Does noise penetrate concrete and
"A fine view from the school yard
Other banners carried inscriptions of
la more general nature such as Bread
for all before cake for any" ITS al
ways darkest just before dawn Life
is short. why worry" "Win now, win
forever Just be reasonable" Pat
riotism is bread and butter" Trucks
for the dead ones" Live and let
live"
The parade was led by the Benning
ton city band and the Foresters drum
corps also helped furnish the musical
inspiration Following the band there
were a number OF automobiles either
dccnra ed or equipped with banners.
The line of march began at the
headquarters of the textile locals and
covered the principal thoroughGares
of the village. Main street was Gov
cred twice.
There probably would have been
more women in line but for the dis
agreeable weather In spite of the
discoUragiRe conditions, howeyez it
was evident that The workers were
out to show their faith in their
cause Auto horns. open outs and tin
horns together with the shouting of
the marChers created something OF
racket but the parade was in every
respect orderly, just as the commit
tees intended it should be.
Considering the short time for prep
aration, the parade was a remarkable
success and was highly creditabe in
every respect il brought out long
Ii,, ,r ,,,arpborg mud II broupbf put