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Labor Day
09 09 Monday
was Labor Day, and it was celebrated here on a larger scale than ever
before. The weather was pleasant and all
who possibly could turned out to join in celebrating
the event at Tivoli island, where a fine program
was arranged by the Central Labor Union.
All the unions of the city turned out and the parade started to the
island at 1 o'clock from Union hall west to Fountain Street and back again to
West Main and Main Street. It was an
interesting sight to witness. The
streets were crowded with people to witness the parade, and those taking part
in it were highly complimented all sides.
Each union wore a distinguishing mark of their trade. It was made up of one of the finest bodies of
men that has ever taken part in a parade here . . .
Labor day, 1904 will pass into
history as one of the most enjoyable that Watertown people have ever enjoyed.
___ 1906 __________________
08 31 There will be two legal holidays in
succession in the beginning of September, the 3rd which will be Labor Day, and
the 4th day for holding the primary election.
It is probably the first time in the experience of the people that two
legal holidays have followed Sunday and is quite probable that the banks in
this city will be closed on both of the holidays and possibly other places of
business, at least a part of the time, that all may be given the opportunity to
observe Labor Day, and the day following cast their ballot at the primary
election, a duty which every voter should perform — and failing, should forever
hold his peace.
09 08 The national and state
government in recognition of the dignity of American labor, having set apart
the first Monday in September of each year as a holiday in honor of those whose
honest toil is the foundation of national happiness and prosperity . . . and it
being appropriate that all join in paying homage to those who earn their bread
by the sweat of their face, our factories, the banks and business places in and
about the city close on Monday and everybody united in the exercises becoming
the occasion. One of the events of Labor
Day was the grand picnic and celebration of the various labor societies of
Watertown at Tivoli
island . . . Everybody was
invited and hundreds took advantage of the affair and enjoyed every minute. One
of the principal features and first event of the Labor Day celebration was a
parade which took place shortly after 1 o'clock, p.m., marching on Main street
to Tivoli island via Cady Street . . . The exercises at Tivoli island opened
with a couple of selections by Thacker's band after which the literary part of
the afternoon's program took place . . . The literary portion of the afternoon
program was followed with some sports that brought forth considerable
enthusiasm among the spectators and kept them in the best of humor. The first event was a tug-of-war between the
plumbers and tinsmith for a purse of $1. The victory was to the first
mentioned.
The next event was of the same
character, a tug-of-war between painters and cigar makers. The honors and the
prize of $1 went to the cigar makers. The watermelon eating contest was a
laughable affair indeed. In the first contest Alvin Conrad demonstrated the
fact that he has a great face on him for melons by capturing first prize, a
catcher's mitt, while Arthur Justman won second prize, a baseball bat.
As a fitting close for the day's
festivities, a dance was given at the island Wednesday evening, which was
participated in by a large crowd. Every moment was enjoyed till along in the
small hours of the morning. Throughout the evening the island was a scene of
merriment, many partaking of lunch under the shade of the trees and remaining
until the dance was on.
___ 1908 __________________
09 04 OBSERVANCE OF LABOR
DAY
Labor Day was appropriately observed in this city on Monday. All the factories and banks were closed for
the day, and in the afternoon all business houses suspended business. At 2 o’clock the labor unions in the city,
accompanied by the Watertown and Independent bands, paraded our principal
streets and made a very creditable showing.
The parade being concluded, the various unions passed the balance of the
day in visiting and entertainment of a private character, the usual Labor Day
picnic having been abandoned. The parade
was made up as follows: Committee, Color
Bearer, Band, Barbers, Painters, Carpenters, Bricklayers and Masons, Band,
Sheet Metal Workers, Plumbers, Tailors, Printers, Brewers, Cigarmakers. In the evening a grand ball was held at
Turner opera house, and a right royal time was enjoyed by the large number
present.
___ 1917 __________________
09 03 CITY
CELEBRATES DAY DEVOTED TO CAUSE
Today is Labor Day and
it was generally observed in Watertown.
During the afternoon business about town was suspended and the factories
were closed for the day. A monster picnic
given at the instance of the Central Labor Union was one of the big
features. This included a parade in
which all the local unions took part, marching from Union hall through Main and
West Main streets to Tivoli Island where a
picnic is being held afternoon and evening.
Shortly after the
arrival of the parade at Tivoli island Mayor Charles Mulberger delivered a
short address and introduced County Judge
William H. Woodard, whose address will be found printed below.
The arrangements committee
had planned a large number of amusements for the visitors and this was carried
out this afternoon and a dance will follow this evening. The City Band and Carnival Band took part in
the afternoon parade.
The News herewith prints the
Labor Day address delivered on Tivoli island by County Judge William H. Woodard
this afternoon at the picnic given by the Watertown Central Labor body:
Judge Woodard’s Address
The people of our
country have set aside seven great days of each year, seven legal holidays on
each of which every American is expected to show in some measure gratitude for
his being able to live in a free country.
Our democratic
principles demanded that we not only celebrate a day in honor of the “Father”
of our country, that our children might learn to cherish the name of Washington
in their hearts, but those same principles also demanded that we show
appreciation for the backbone, the life preserver of our nation, the laboring
man. And we are, therefore, assembled
today to show all the world that America is no despiser of the laborer, but
that with us the toiler is “king,” the grand conqueror, who has enriched and
built our nation.
Labor Day has an
especial significance to each and everyone of us today, in this first year of
great affliction, —the international war.
It means that today has seen the passing of the idler, that every
citizen has found a niche in this vast workshop of ours, that our government
has tasks for each one of us and that every individual is expected to perform
his duties to the extent of personal ability.
Today there is no excuse for any able-bodied person to be without an
occupation, as even in our own community, the demand for help is greater than
the supply. Henceforth this holiday will
have a greater universal import; a new note will be predominant. It will be heralded as the day when every
loyal citizen, every true patriot, became a laborer for a great cause and a
staunch supporter of his government in the hour of need. Labor has responded nobly to the call of the
hour and has received its just recognition.
With such aid the ultimate outcome can only be “victory.”
The purpose of any
organization is to further its own aims and it is perfectly legitimate for
organized labor to work for its own welfare.
But no man lives or works alone.
The modern world is a vast workshop in which men and women are thrown
into the closest relations and every man is related not only to his own work,
but to the work of others. This demands
a thorough cooperation between capital and labor, so that both may derive the
greatest benefit from their efforts. The
greatest harmony is necessarily a prerequisite, as labor without capital is
dead, while capital without labor must remain idle and idleness, we know, never
builds up, but always tears down. As
Daniel Webster said a century ago, “Labor in this country is independent and
proud. It has not to ask the patronage
or capital, but capital solicits the aid of labor.” Perhaps we may never know a general
dissatisfaction locally, as it has occurred at large centers, because with us
capital and labor live closer together and are more fraternal. We know each others needs and respect
them. But both parties should attempt to
blend into a perfect union, so that no disrupting influences may tend to break
the harmony in the constructive work for mankind, especially during the present
crisis.
That the government is
heartily in sympathy with this attitude was emphasized by the recent agreement
into which the government and labor entered.
The provisions of this treaty require that three adjusters representing
the public, the federal government, and labor shall settle all industrial
differences and shall have authority to handle any controversy which may
arise. This will mean that the nation
will be protected from a stoppage of work and that laboring men will be assured
a just consideration of their demands.
Capital is a power
which quickly senses and responds to the needs of labor. There was a time when the working man and the
working woman —yes, and the child—were looked on as so much material out of
which profit was coined. But this
condition is passed. The employer has
realized that in order to derive the greatest amount of good from the capital
invested, he must have a satisfied employee.
Sanitary working conditions have made a big stride during the last
decade. New safety appliances are
continually appearing in order that the laborer may be further protected. Our legislature has enacted the Workmen’s
Compensation Act and new revisions and new laws are continually being made for
the benefit of labor.
The most recent of
these revisions of the statutes is a change in what is commonly called the
“Child Labor Law.” Many of you may feel
that, it is unjust to demand that no child under seventeen (17) years of age
may work without a permit. But have you
stopped to consider that if the law restricts child labor, it then gives the
workingman of today, yes, and of the future—a better chance and a larger field
to work in? That children up to
seventeen (17) years of age may not voluntarily work, does not necessarily mean
that they are to be reared in idleness.
On the contrary the government desires that they should be entered into
a more necessary field of work, the work of education. Modern conditions demand an intelligent
laborer and education has been found to be the best medium towards this end.
It is proper that any
body of men should organize for legitimate purposes; but every organization
should realize that it is not only responsible to itself and to its country,
but especially to its own community.
Civic pride demands that the welfare of a community always remain
uppermost in the minds of any local organization, even to the extent of curbing
personal aims. It should be a matter of
pride that each member has at all times endeavored to give his community the
best public officers, the best public representatives, the best public
facilities. This is not a question of
morals or ethics, but every just code of laws demands that every man should
share in the protection of all, and in the protection of the rights of all, as
well as his own. No citizen is exempt
from a summons to the national defense.
He is equally required to contribute to the common good through the
equally important ordinary relations with which every day labor is allied. It is the duty of an organization to
stimulate a more intelligent and active interest in public affairs. We not only need the capitalist, but also the
intelligent laboring man as a good representative in the common council and on
the board of education.
Labor can use its
influence particularly in one direction and that is towards the education of
the children and young people of our city.
Direct your attention to the future happiness of your children. Give them a better chance than you yourself
had, by giving them education necessary to cope with present day problems. As Lowell has said: “It was in making
education not only common to all, but in some sense compulsory on all, that the
destiny of the free republics of America was practically settled.” Encourage the younger members of your
organizations to work towards that end, where they may some day not only
represent labor, but also capital.
One often hears the
remark that many intelligent young men and women must work of necessity. This is true, but for them our state has
instituted the continuation school, of which our night school is a part, so
that they may receive the education necessary to conquer new fields. It is a deplorable fact that so few of the
younger generation make use of this fine opportunity. Too many feel that they have not the
necessary gifts, but they should remember the words of Edison that “Genius is
one percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration.” Hard work and consistency always win out.
Others again lack the necessary ambition, for there are no disinteresting
things, only disinterested persons.
Too many feel that they
would be losing time which might be expended in the pursuit of pleasure, if
they were to make use of this wonderful opportunity, but here a few encouraging
words often have the right effect.
Remember;
“The heights by great
men reached and kept
Were not attained by
sudden flight,
But they, while their
companions slept,
Were toiling upward in
the night.”
Organized labor can
exert a great power and a great Influence, but let it be for the common
good. The present crisis demands a
united effort, for in unity there is strength.
Let us feel that we are all a part of ONE great organization, a part of
that great organization called “our government.” Let us, therefore, make “Loyalty and
Cooperation” our motto. Loyalty and
cooperation not only to the country that protects us and guarantees our
freedom, but loyalty to the community that holds our interests, and above all, loyalty and cooperation with capital, with the employer who
furnishes a means for a livelihood. The Watertown News, September 03, 1917
___ 1940 __________________
09 02 LABOR
DAY PARADE
___ 1953 __________________
09 08 LABOR
DAY PARADE
___ 1956 __________________
Labor Day has been a national
holiday in America for 87 years. The purpose is to honor the working people of
our land. In 1956 a commemorative Labor
Day stamp was issued with a picture of a strong man holding a sledge hammer, a
pick, a hoe, and an ax over his shoulder. His wife was seated by his side with
a book in her lap showing a small child how to read. In the lower left-hand corner was a large
block with words of Carlyle carved into it: "Labor Is Life."
The meaning was clear and I think
it is true: without industrious labor there will be no life—no means to feed,
clothe, house, and educate a family or oneself.
___ 1965 __________________
09 10 One of the features of Watertown’s three day
weekend Labor Day celebration at Riverside Park will be the appearance Saturday
night of Watertown’s popular rock ‘n roll band which now is augmented by a girl
vocalist — Marta Brennan. The other
members of the group are Pat Vandenberg, bass guitar; Don Bast, rhythm guitar;
Tom Schumacher, lead guitar; Jack Gutzdorf, lead singer; Jim Owen, drums.
History of Watertown,
Wisconsin