Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-12-16
JOHN BAILEY
On New Years Parades

tUTNHIS will be the greatest New Years
i parade ever" said former Councilman
John Bailey. who, with Bart McHugh,
shares the distinction of being patron saint
of the "shOoters.'
John Baizley's iron works are on Delaware
avenue just north of South street. The
window of the veterans office overlooks the
shipping on the river and the floor OF the
little Office is ankle deep with correspondence
brushed there when John Bailey gets tired
OF bothering with it.
Its been many year now since the boys
first started parading," Mr.. Bailey said.
1T all began with the boys going from door
to door on New Year,. Day. just as they do
the folks give them apples and nuts ad and
candies. 1t is an old Scotch custom. The
kids do it yet on Halloween.
"Well the boys were all dressed up and
nowhere to go, so to speak, so some one sug-
gested a parade. That was back in 1900.
Five hundred men in line. Now this parade
this year.
"I'll tell you how they manage it. It's
pretty expensive you know. so the boys have
to, start preparing year ahead. They all
southern section of the city. They arc all
good. hard working men.
well this year. for instance. The mo-
ment New Year is past they begin putting
aside little each week into the club treas
from Now Years to New Years, preparing
for just this one day. Most Of them are poor
men and they have TO get their money to.
gcther this way.
sweethearts help, too. The women begin ut
once working on parts Of the costume to be
worn the next year. Some of them sew oil
year long. getting things ready for their men
folks to parade in.
Rivalry Is Keen
You don't know what real rivalry is until
YOU see how they work. The big clubs com
pete for the cash prizes given by the city and
the business men, and they keep their plans
for the costumes for the next years parade
deep secret. Seldom If ever does the se.
cret of the color scheme and the design leak
out, although so many persons work at the
costumes for so long.
There are professional costumcrs too,
you know, who have the contracts for the big
pieces, and they start working on them also
the moment the New Year celebration is over.
As the kings suits run into hundreds of
dollars, thes" costumcrs are paid piecemeal
that is to say, AS soon as they have finished
a certain amount Of the work they get paid
for that much. Then they have the funds to
go ahead and purchase material and do some
more Of the work.
1T takes IA lot Of money TO put one of the
big clubs on the street. The bands of music
cost each Of the big clubs in the npighbor
/
is worth from $500 to $4,000. That is
$4,000 In addition to that s the cost of
| the suits worn by several hundred individual
marchers in the clubs turnout.
II remember well the cape worn nv
! Samuel W. Morris, now tipstaff in Judre
| Ferguson's court Sam wore II cane costing
| S25OO when he was captain Of the Clements
| Club. The good old Clements Club is still
| in existence. but it does not march any more
| remember we'll, in years gone by. how
| Senator Ed Ware and Congressman Bli Ware
| used to parade with the Clements Club
| Each of them. in his day. has worn the cap .
tain's cape designed for their year.
among the other old timers WAS the late
George W. Dasch lie was one Of the first
chief marshals. Then came Charley Camp
| bell. who is tipstafr in Judge Rogers court
| Then came the big club Of Mike Brudrr
Mike is ii paint merchant now at Fifteenth
! street and Snyder avenue. There was thc
| Bugrl New Years Shooters, too, Grcat
! day, those New Years; great DAYS. And
! don't forget the big balls given by the clubs
on New Years Eve They last almost all
night They ar" fine affuirS.
Expects ~ 900 In Line
"This year will be the greatest ever,
| Think Of it. Twelve thousand men Ia line,
| And there will be $l2 900 in prizes Look
! at the list Of clubs. There will be the Jack
Uiucs the Federal New Years Association,
the Golden Slipper. the d. X. Oswald, the
/ Suplower, the Charles Klein. the IIbertv
| - ab,ta.s tho Stlyas Is..,.,..' Y,'eN'NS'