There
was no general cessation of trade, however, and most of the
retail firms kept open. Quite a number of the business houses
along Main and Spring streets closed in the morning while the
parade was passing, as a matter of policy, and reopened as soon
as the line had passed.
So cool and delightful was the weather that less than the ordinary
number of people took advantage of the holiday to visit the
beaches. All places of amusement in the city were crowded, especially
the Chutes, where a programme of sports was given by the unions
in the afternoon.
The
theaters gave special matinées which were well patronized. The
chief feature of the day’s celebration was the union labor parade,
which started from Sixth and Main streets promptly at 9:30 o’clock
a.m.
This
demonstration was given under the auspices of the Los Angeles
Council of Labor, which . . . asserts a membership of between
5,000 and 6,000 men. By actual count, verified at three points
along the line of march, there were 2,193 union men in the parade
yesterday.
Some
of the labor leaders placed the number as high as 4,000, but
the figures given will not vary ten men either way from the
actual number in line when the parade passed the reviewing stand
at the City Hall. The length of the parade was swollen by the
artifice of some of the organization dodging back through a
cross street after they had passed the reviewing stand and going
by the stand a second time.
The labor leaders had boasted that there would be 3,000 men
in line, but they fell 1,000 short of their mark. The men in
most of the unions marched either two or four abreast, and the
line was thereby strung out.
The parade was fifty-four minutes in passing the reviewing stand.
. . . Mayor Snyder stood uncovered near the front of the stand
while the parade was passing, acknowledging the salutes of the
union men.
He was presented by the brewers with a bottle of beer, and by
the horseshoers with a “good-luck” horseshoe. . . . Carpenters,
No. 426, had more men in line than any other union, marching
300 strong. To them was awarded the first prize for the most
characteristic display, which was a house constructed while
the parade was in progress. . . .
When
the start was made from Sixth and Main streets the float was
nothing but a big wagon lined with patriotic bunting and loaded
with lumber, pipe and building material. When the parade swung
again into Broadway, a small house, complete in every detail,
greeted the judges. It was boarded, shingled, plumbed and painted,
and bore on the outside this legend: “For Rent.”
A
float bearing exact models of the American and the Coöperative
Laundry buildings attracted general attention. On the float
were seated four laundry girls dressed in white and red. . .
.
The
machinists were in blue jumpers and overalls. On a float was
a small model engine and train of cars, seating little girls
dressed in white.
The blacksmiths, twenty-one men, came next, and then Broommakers,
No. 53, in tallyhos [a coach drawn by four horses] and on foot.
To this union was awarded the second prize for the best characteristic
display, a broom factory in operation, under a large canopy
of broom corn. . . .
Team Owners, No. 275, had forty-two men in line, each driving
his own wagon. The display occupied nearly two blocks, and was
characterized by the fine appearance of the horses that drew
the wagons. . . .
Lathers,
No. 43, had thirty-seven men in line. They wore white hats with
a black band, black pongee shirts and white trousers. Each man
carried a lath in his hand as a sword.
.
. . Journeymen Horseshoers, No. 134, won the third prize for
the best characteristic design. A horseshoeing shop with a live
horse, anvil, forge and other paraphernalia, formed a float
that attracted much attention. The men marching behind wore
leather aprons and carried Japanese parasols. The horse was
shod en route. . . .
The laborites concluded their holiday with a dance last night
in Turner Hall on South Main street. Stamm’s Orchestra furnished
the music for the 300 or more dancers, and the sport was kept
up until after midnight.
Afternoon
Sports A noisy crowd of 6,000 or 7,000 people pressed into Chutes
grounds in the afternoon to witness the sporting events given
in connection with the celebration.
They
were held on the baseball grounds and the management was very
poor, no provision having been made to keep the big mob of men
and boys from surging over the field.
There
were several fist fights among the “union” members and dozens
of self-appointed “officers” covered with highly-colored badges
of their “union” rushed around in the dust and heat trying to
show some sort of authority that no one recognized.
