Labor Day in Cortland.
As was announced in the DEMOCRAT last week,
Labor Day was celebrated in this place, and was quite generally observed by the
inhabitants of this place. Most of the factories did not start up on Monday in
order that their employes [sic] might have the day to themselves, and enjoy it
as best they could. Some took occasion to go out of town, for the day, but the
majority of the laboring class remained at home and in the afternoon joined with
the Cortland Wagon Co. Mutual Aid and the City Band, in their celebration,
parade and picnic at Floral Trout Park.
These two organizations had planned for an afternoon's outing that could be enjoyed by all and everything augered well for the completion of the plans, until just before noon when dark clouds began to hover over Cortland, and their appearance threatened rain. At the noon hour, rain began to come down and for a few moments prospects for the entertainment at the park were somewhat dampened, but the rain cloud passed over and promptly at one o'clock, the hour appointed for the parade to start, the City Band of 21 pieces, left its quarters in Railroad street and proceeded to the soldiers' monument where the line was then forming. Soon the Mutual Aid Association, about 100 strong, came up from the Cortland Wagon Co.'s works, and marched up to the place of rendezvous bearing at their head the national colors, and in the center of the column a beautiful banner was lifted high, bearing in its folds the name of the organization.
At the monument were already assembled the Cigar Makers' Union, No. 116, 40 strong, large representations from the Stove Moulders', and various other Unions, representatives from the many factories in this place. The line was formed and within a few minutes of the appointed time, the long column representing a large number of Cortland's honest toilers, was given the order to march under the command of Marshal C. H. Drake.
The column proceeded to Port Watson street, to Main to Clinton avenue, to Greenbush, to Port Watson, thence to the Park, where the speaking and various amusements were to take place.
Soon after arriving at the park the assembly was called to order by Mr. A. E. Hitchcock, who nominated J. C. Barry, Esq., as chairman. Mr. Barry was duly elected and upon taking the chair made some very interesting remarks, relative to the history and object of the C. W. Co. Mutual Aid Association, of which he was one of the charter members. He spoke of the substantial aid that the association had rendered to its members, who suffered from sickness and accident, and of the various channels through which it had done good, and been an honor to the community. Mr. N. C. Dean of Syracuse was then introduced, who gave some very interesting remarks, which were listened to very attentively. Then followed remarks by Hon. J. E. Eggleston, Mr. McGuire and Hon. A. P. Smith, which closed the exercises at the park for the afternoon.
These two organizations had planned for an afternoon's outing that could be enjoyed by all and everything augered well for the completion of the plans, until just before noon when dark clouds began to hover over Cortland, and their appearance threatened rain. At the noon hour, rain began to come down and for a few moments prospects for the entertainment at the park were somewhat dampened, but the rain cloud passed over and promptly at one o'clock, the hour appointed for the parade to start, the City Band of 21 pieces, left its quarters in Railroad street and proceeded to the soldiers' monument where the line was then forming. Soon the Mutual Aid Association, about 100 strong, came up from the Cortland Wagon Co.'s works, and marched up to the place of rendezvous bearing at their head the national colors, and in the center of the column a beautiful banner was lifted high, bearing in its folds the name of the organization.
At the monument were already assembled the Cigar Makers' Union, No. 116, 40 strong, large representations from the Stove Moulders', and various other Unions, representatives from the many factories in this place. The line was formed and within a few minutes of the appointed time, the long column representing a large number of Cortland's honest toilers, was given the order to march under the command of Marshal C. H. Drake.
The column proceeded to Port Watson street, to Main to Clinton avenue, to Greenbush, to Port Watson, thence to the Park, where the speaking and various amusements were to take place.
Soon after arriving at the park the assembly was called to order by Mr. A. E. Hitchcock, who nominated J. C. Barry, Esq., as chairman. Mr. Barry was duly elected and upon taking the chair made some very interesting remarks, relative to the history and object of the C. W. Co. Mutual Aid Association, of which he was one of the charter members. He spoke of the substantial aid that the association had rendered to its members, who suffered from sickness and accident, and of the various channels through which it had done good, and been an honor to the community. Mr. N. C. Dean of Syracuse was then introduced, who gave some very interesting remarks, which were listened to very attentively. Then followed remarks by Hon. J. E. Eggleston, Mr. McGuire and Hon. A. P. Smith, which closed the exercises at the park for the afternoon.
On account of the rain the various races
that were advertised to take place, had to be omitted, but those who desired
could and did enjoy dancing in the hall. The new City Band gave a fine concert
in the afternoon and in the evening, which was listened to with marked
interest.
Although the crowd was not as large as it
would have been had it not been for the inclement weather, yet the observance
of labor day in Cortland was a genuine success. Business men in general showed
their good will by closing their various places of business from one until three
o'clock, while many closed at noon for the rest of the day.
Tioughnioga
Club Election.
The annual meeting for the election of officers
and directors of the Tioughnioga club was held in the club rooms, on Wednesday
evening. The following directors were chosen: J. E. Eggleston, Fitz Boynton,
Chas. F. Brown, F. B. Nourse, G. L. Warren. The officers elected were
President—Albert Allen.
Vice President—F. Cy. Straat.
Secretary—S. M. Ballard.
Treasurer—Calvin P. Walrad.
The retiring president, Mr. Wesley Hooker,
read a statement of the financial affairs of the organization, which showed
that the club was in excellent condition as far as means is concerned. He also
thanked the members and directors for the uniform courtesy and respect that he
had received from them during his term of office. According to the by-laws of
the club, the president and directors are ineligible for reelection. There are
152 resident members of the dub, 10 from other towns of the county, and 28
non-resident members, making, all told, 190 members.
The
Labor Question.
EDITOR DEMOCRAT:— The right of labor to
organize never has been disputed in this country. Every individual is free to
join any labor union that will accept him. But freedom to join a labor union,
implies equal freedom in refusing to join one.
The law knows no distinction between
organized and unorganized labor. One is entitled to precisely as mush
protection as the other.
When a body of men strike, it is usually charged,
that it is a war on capital against labor, but much oftener the fact is, that
those belonging to unions strike because non-union labor has also been employed.
It
seems unjust and un-American for an individual or a corporation to refuse employment
to a man because he belongs to a labor union. It would seem equally unjust, and
un-American, for an individual or a corporation to refuse employment to a man,
simply because he did not belong to a union.
Nevertheless, it is an undeniable fact, that
many, if not most, of the strikes occur because non-union labor has been
employed.
If employers are wrong when they attempt to
exclude union labor, it follows that the exclusion of non-union labor is
equally illogical, and vicious, and it does not lessen the wrong if such exclusion
is procured at the [insistence] of organized labor. Whenever and wherever a
strike is ordered, public sympathy, in almost every instance, is with the
striking workmen at the outset. If the striking workmen have a substantial
grievance, and seek redress by peaceful means, public sympathy remains with
them, and while such sympathy remains, they may reasonably hope for success. If
the grievance is not of a substantial character, an intelligent public will
soon discover it, and the result is public sympathy is at once withdrawn. But
whether the grievance is substantial or otherwise, if the striking workmen
interfere with, injure or destroy the property of the individual or corporation
whose employ they have left, or use physical violence toward other workmen who
have taken their places, public sympathy is no longer with them, and the strike
is doomed to be a failure, whatever may have been its merit originally.
Force and violence never yet won strike in
this state, and never has benefited a single workman. Such has been the history
of strikes heretofore where violence was used, and such will doubtless be the
history in all future strikes, where other than peaceful means are attempted.
The moment violence is used, it becomes the duty of both the civil and military
authorities of the state, to maintain order, uphold the law and protect life
and property.
When it became known that property was being
destroyed in the city of Buffalo, persons were being assaulted, and that the civil
authorities were unable to quell such riotous and disorderly conduct, it became
the duty of Governor Flower to furnish whatever assistance might be necessary
to quell such riotous and disorderly conduct. Such assistance was due to the
city of Buffalo, in order that person and property should be protected.
The Governor acted promptly, and all necessary
assistance was at once furnished. He met the emergency, as the executive of a
great state should, manfully, unhesitatingly, and by so doing has won the
confidence and esteem of all good citizens. The National Guard in responding so
promptly to the call of the constituted authorities, have shown the people of
this state, that they have a citizens soldiery of which they may well be proud.
Grand Master Sweeney says, the striking switchmen at Buffalo did not use force,
and did not commit any acts of violence, either to person or property; but
Sweeney's statement, when he called the strike off, that "425 switchmen
could not fight 8,000 militia, and twelve railroad companies," is somewhat
at war with the statement first made, but probably somewhat nearer the truth.
If the striking switchmen were peaceable and
did not resort to violence, it is difficult to see where their fight with the
militia came in.
It is possible that the striking switchmen
remained quietly at home, while their friends were destroying railroad
property, assaulting railroad employes, and stoning the militia, but it does
not seem quite probable, and no sane man will be credulous enough to believe it.
At all events it is a significant fact, that when the strike was declared off,
violence almost immediately ceased to exist, and the militia returned to their
homes. If the strikers were not using violence, they had no reason to fear the
militia, and have no grievance with them. If there is any one that blames
Governor Flower, and our citizen soldiery for maintaining the law, let him
consult his mirror, and while he may not see Herr Most, or Swab, he will if his
mirror is correct, be pretty sure to see reflected the face of an anarchist,
and not the face of an intelligent law-abiding citizen.
The power of the state never has been and
never will be used to put down a strike, but always has been used and always
will be used firmly, and effectively to uphold the law, and maintain order. Good
government demands that this should be so. Honest labor demands it quite as much
as capital. The good sense of the American people will see that the majesty of
the law is respected, and that all forcible opposition to it, is put down.
JUSTICE. [pen name]
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