[Newspaper]
Publication: The Muncie Morning Star
Muncie, IN, United States
vol. 3, no. 98, p. 5, col. 2-5
LABOR DAY WAS WIDELY OBSERVED
Labor Day in Muncie was a success from every standpoint. The parade was large, although hardly what expected. Many members of the different unions stood on the walks to view the procession, more than 1,000 trades unionists in line and their neat attire attracted much favorable comment.
The parade stalled before 10 o'clock, moving through the principal streets of the city. The walks and gutters were lined by thousands, who viewed the toilers as they moved in time to music by the Indiana and Watson bands. There was not a hitch in the whole affair and much credit is due Grand Marshal Fred Wilder and his aides, B. J. Grant, James English, Simeon Wright and William McClung, for their perfect arrangement.
The procession was headed by the grand marshal and Chief of Police Cashmore, mounted, followed by a platoon of 12 police. The Indiana Band and Chief John Casey, with the fire department and five pieces of fire-fighting apparatus. The Labor Day committee, Casper Orebaugh, Benjamin Horton, H. E. Hathaway, W. H. McFadden and Robert Cordle, and the orators of the day folowed [sic] followed in order in open cariages [sic] carriages.
The first unions in line were the iron and steel workers. Old Hoosier Lodge, No. 4, the pioneer Amalgamated Association lodge of Muncie, was the first in line with 102 men, under the captaincy of G. H. Wilson; Muncie, No. 20, with 89 men, and Ned Herron in command: Midland. No. 23, with 143 men in line, under Harty Hiner; White Star, No. 20, represented by 23 men, under John Fenslow; Unity. No. 7, in charge of Thomas Williams, 69 men; Industry, No. 28, with 39 men; Iron Molders' Union, Local No. 177, under Charles Bodenmiller, with 30 men; American Flint Glass Workers Union, Local No. 23, of Hemingrays, under Harry Neuerman, 50 men; Branch 12, Glass Bottle Blowers Association 50 men, under William Getz; Watson's Band; Journeymen Barbers' International Union, William Grooms commanding, 30 men; Journeymen Tailors' Union, No. 234, Robert Lane commanding; Sheet Metal Workers, No. 115, L. W. Pank commanding, 25 men; Lathers' Union, Joseph E. Cupp captain, 20 men; Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, Local No. 592, Frank Myers captain, 84 men; Plasterers' Union, No. 83, 19 men, under J. A. Webb; Building Laborers' Union, Local No. 3, 18 men, Lew Kinsley commanding; International Typographical Union, No. 332, 46 men, Charles Blackburn captain; Cigar Makers' International Union, No. 308, 16 men, Bakers and Confectioners, No. 130, 21 men, Oke Wilson commanding; Woman's International Union Label League, No. 1, about 25. seated in a decorated wagon; 30 children of the free kindergarten seated in a wagon decorated for the purpose, and other vehicles representing business concerns.
AT THE GROUNDS.
From the line of march after the parade many went to the fair grounds direct. Others went to dinner, but when the program at the fair grounds was begun several thousand people had assembled. The admission at the gate was placed at 10 cents and to the grandstand 15 cents was charged. That structure was comfortably filled and many were in the track and the inside enclosure. At 2:15 Casper Orebaugh, as master of ceremonies, arose and read a letter from Governor Durbin, expressing regret that he could not be present to address the Labor Day crowd, owing to official duties at Indianapolis that demanded his attention.
Mayor Tuhey was then introduced to welcome the strangers within our gates. In part he said:
I wish to congratulate the committee on the great success which has been brought about by the Muncie Trades Council. The parade was highly successful and serves to show people the sentiment in favor of the cause of labor. Labor needs no defense from me. The sentiment is growing in the minds of the people in favor of the man who labors. The time will come when Labor Day will be secondary only in the estimation of the people to the Fourth of July."
He then welcomed all to Muncie and wished them a good time and success to the cause.
D. H. McAbee, State Factory Inspector, and formerly a Muncie man, was introduced and responded to the words of the Mayor. He stated that labor earns money by the sweat of the brow and also earns millions for many who imagine that the man who toils has few rights that must be respected. He eulogized Muncie. saying that all roads leads to Muncie, and, next to Indianapolis, was the best city in the State. Another comparison drawn by him was from the old saying, credited to Solomon, that "there is nothing new under the sun." He had disagreed with him on this question until a few days ago. He had imagined that walking delegates and strikes were productions of the 19th century. This he found to be untrue, as Moses and Aaron, in Biblical times, were walking delegates and conducted the greatest strike the world has ever known. When there was a dispute with Pharoah they called upon all their kinsman and left their native country rather than submit to the hardships under a ruler.
Mr. McAbee then scored the press which has been taking sides against laboring men in their struggle, saying that they did not know of the inner facts in the case and their constant advice to the strikers to settle immediately meant only that they should submit to the terms dictated by the money kings and be thankful that they were permitted to work under any circumstances wound up his remarks with the wish that Muncie should continue to grow and prosper as was her due.
William J. Croke, of Marion, a flint glass worker and a Councilman of that city, was introduced as the principal speaker of the day. His oration dealt with the labor question from the standpoint of a man who knows from actual experience of what he speaks. The attitude of a number of newspapers in attacking the Amalgamated Association for not settling the labor trouble with the United States Steel Corporation and counciling peace at any price was roundly scored by him. He slid that it was the same trouble met in Pullman, Homestead, and in the great strike which the American Flints waged against the United States Glass Company for three years, the history of all strikes, the general public knowing but few details, owing to the intricacies of the average profession. He closed his talk by advising the laboring men to cut themselves adrift from the old parties and forming themselves into a political party of their own favoring government ownership of all great enterprises and also co-operation in the great manufacturing world.
The Harmonic Mannechor then sang, the music being fine and appreciated by those who heard it.
THE TRACK EVENTS.
The track events were then pulled off. The judges and timers decided to rush matters, and allowed no delays, The absorbing bicycle event was the mile open. There were three starters, but Robert Murray so badly outclassed the field that he won by nearly a quarter of a mile. The time was 2:27 1/2.
The high wheel race between Herbert Dwyer and Otto Wright went to Dwyer. It was at a half mile distance and the time was given at 2:14 1/4.
The mile race for union men had Gwillam Jones, Frank Snell, Henry Stockhausen, Sam Stuckey and R. Freeman as starters. Stuckey was easily the best and finished first, with Freeman, Stockhausen, Snell and Jones in the order named. The time was 2:57 3/4.
The half mile race for boys under 16 years of age was taken by Dick Hadley, William McDowell second, Everett McFadden third and Dale Hathaway fourth. Time, 1:14 3/4.
The automobile race between Armstead Klein, George E. Scott and Cary Crozier was a draw, Klein winning the last heat and Crozier the first. In the first the steam box of the Klein machine went wrong and he finished last. It was agreed that another race should be run and this was taken by Klein, the fire having blown out under the Crozier machine. Scott finished second in both events. The Klein and Crozier carriages are what is known as locomobiles and the Scott a mobile. The time in the first was 3:05 and in the second 2:43 1/4.
The 220-yard foot race developed a surprise. In a field of seven starters, Frank Barber, of Daleville. won with ridiculous ease. He was yards ahead of the next man. the time being caught at 24 1/2 seconds, which is very fast. The affair was for amateurs only.
An interesting feature was the pony novelty race between Bob White, owned by B. M. Reed; Cap, by Dwyre; Fly, by Bunch, and Snyder, by Hadley. Five dollars went each to the pony finishing first at the eighth, quarter, three-eighths and half mile. Bob White was first to the eighth and home. Cap and Fly being first at the other two posts. It was a genuine horse race and caused considerable excitement. The time was 1:25.
Pet, Gypsie, Bessie and Belle Hunt were the horses brought to the scratch for the half mile run, two best heats in three. Belle Hunt had an easy time of it, and won two straights in the time of 54 seconds each. Pet got second money, Bessie third and Gypsie fourth.
Gallant, owned by Claypool; Ola R. M., owned by Caldwell; Billy H., owned by Palmer, and Pearl Patchen, owned by Moody, finished in the order named in the free-for all trot. The Claypool horse won easily in three straight heats, the time being 2:43 1/2, 2:39 1/4; and 2:42 1/2. Second money went to Caldwell, third to Palmer and fourth to Moody.
The events were finished by 5 o'clock, and the crowd went away well pleased with the day's sport.