Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1920-09-08
LABOR DAY IN
CITY OF WlLLMAR
Mondays Celebration Wa. A Huge
Success. Ideal Weather.
Big Crowd

Mondays Celebration Wa. A Hug,
Success. Ideal Weather.
Big Crowd
Organized labor put on a great cele
bration last Monday. This was the frs
time that Labor Day has been observed
by public exercises at Willmar. Beau
tiful weather graced the day and the
muddy streets dried up in time to per.
NIT the parade to take place. Every.
thing moved along without hitch.
short speaking program was put
On at the court house grounds while
the clans were gathering for the par.
ade.' Gale Plagman of Minneapolis and
Tom Sullivan Of St. Paul spoke briefly
Promptly at $3.50 the bugle blew and
the parade started. under the direction
or Alderman G. J. Freeberg, who wore
MS spanish-American War Veteran
uniform.
Ihe hrst division was under com.
mand Of Harry Anderson. and was
composed of the following units: The
! National colors carried by Frank d.
Holmoerg, in his Spanish-American War
veteran uniform, and an escort of
Worlo War veterans. The Willmar
! concert Band with thirty-three pieces.
playing under the direction of Prof
Hobb1e. The speakers of the day. The
Great Northern Engineers, Firemen and
Ira1nmens' float, very cleverly repre-
| senthng an engine and caboose built
over tractor that pulled it. The pas
| sengers were members of the Ladies
| society or the B. of L. F. and E. A
NUMBER of men in appropriate garb
were in line following.
The second section commanded nv
Harry strandberg consisted Of f7ost
| OF the Great Northern Blacksmitbs
"nlcn contained an anvil and other
portable equipment with men busv at
"ork' Followed by members of the uni
on IN line. The Painters and Decora-
tors union had two floats. one represent
ing room neatly decorated and an
other OF huge paint pail borne by a
painter within who also carried a large
paint oruch. The Masons, Bricklav-
ers and Plasterers Union came next
clad In white uniforms and carving a
banner with their emblem and name.
The Willmar Fire Department truck
with Chief Severt Benson and a SQUAD
OF nremen in uniform riding. and a
hook and ladder truck attached, made a
handsome appearance. The Great Nor
thern Mach1nists and Helpers float
came next, with several machinists
working on tank hose and two bras
ses. A good number of the Union fol-
| lowed in line.
| The Third Division was sunerin+and-
| ed by Paul Borgan It was headed bv
the Great Northern Boilermakers uni
on. %Their float had hand-operated
forge, with quartet hammering and
tinkering around it. The Great Nor
thern Maintenance of Ways had a float
consisting of trestle worked out yery
cleverly, with many men in line. A
miniature house with four gables on
wheels, constituted the float of the
Carpenters and Joiners Union, in which
four men were working at their trade
A good delegation were in line The
BARRIERS Union with walking represent
atives and the Cigar Makers with float
and cigar rollers carrying inscribed
| banners.
The Fourth Section was in charge OF
William Thunstedt. The Car Repairers
Union was out in force. A model der.
rick and a damaged box car made il
exact duplication were propelled by
two automobiles and made a very strik
ing float The Railway Clerks Unio1
had very neatly arranged float.
feature was large pen. with the quo
tation, "The Pen is Mightier Than tn,
Sword"
Gust Newberger directed the Fiftl
and last division of the long procession
Palace Grocery Company and the Leon
ard Johnson Model Clothing House ha,
floats. The Willmar Street Depart
ment was represented by the sprinklin.
wagons and teams all decorated. Grigg
o Smith, grading contractors, had il
line a large number of their horses an
wagons neatly groomed and proud
sporting plumes and decorations.
Behind this stream Of vehicles, mar
chers and colors drove a long strip
of motor cars, the occupants bound fo
the park to attend the picnic. The en-
, tire line of march was lined with spec
! tators.
AS the parade passed over the rail
! road bridge it was welcomed to Home
wood Park by a number of cannon sa
, utes. The whole line of march ha
, been decorated with flags and appre
pirate quotations and huge welcom
e sign hung over the bridge.
l Conditions at Homewood Park wer
8 ideal for a picnic. and the afternoo
l and evening were much enjoyed by tn
participants.
Addresses were made in the afte,
noon by Homer Cook and Atty. Thoma
e Sullivan, and were listened to after
l. lively by large crowd.
e From 4:30 to 700 o'clock sports fl
l. the children were put on and the fo
lowing winners were recorded:
Boys plum race+Sjequist 1st, RI
Johnson End, Morris Nordgren 3rd.
e First girls plum race-Inga Peterso
= Agnes Haired. Olive Felt
Second girls plum race-Dagmar Or