Labor on Parade in San Rafael on Holiday

Marching Units Seen by Thousands Along St. and at Picnic

Labor’s host paraded in San Rafael last Tuesday in observation of Labor Day, and they picnicked and entertained at Fairfax Park, at the close of the spectacular demonstration, on Fourth Street. It was the first time this city and its residents had an opportunity to see labor’s strength massed in a body of marching men and women.

For this demonstration Sonoma County labor units joined with Marin, in a district celebration. Next year this event will be held in Petaluma.

The parade was over a mile long, and fully 3000 participated. Several attractive floats placed along the line, added color and beauty to the spectacle, and hundreds of people thronged the street to see the long column pass in review.

Rev. Andrew Juvinall was at the reviewing stand in front of the court house and announced the units as they passed. Union officials and members of the committee on arrangements were also on the reviewing stand with judges of the parade.

Awards were:

Best marching unit (Labor) – Laundry Workers Local No. 96.

Best Decorated Float – Bartenders & Culinary Workers Local No. 770 of Santa Rosa; honorable mention, Painters Local No. 83 and Carpenters Local 35 both of Marin.

Best Drum and Bugle Corps – Mt. Tamalpais Parlor, N.S.G.W., San Rafael; second, Sea Point Parlor, Sausalito.

Best Marching Unit – Marinita Parlor, N.D.G.W. San Rafael; special award, Junior Native Daughters drill team.

Two bands, numerous other floats, notable of which were those of Marin and Petaluma Culinary Workers; the San Rafael Typographical Union, the Healdsburg Eagles and the Roofers were in the line of march. The largest marching unit was the Teamsters who had more than 400 men in the line followed by the Hodcarriers and Laborers with upward of 350 marchers. Many of the units wore the "uniforms" of their trade or craft.

The men and women responsible for the success of the celebration included:

General committee, W. Gray, Santa Rosa; A.G. Hinshaw, Petaluma; James Gleeson, San Rafael.

Automobile committee, Mabel Hinson, Petaluma; E.E. Campbell, Santa Rosa; O.E. McNally, San Rafael.

Publicity, M. Pozzi, Santa Rosa; Lena Mello, Petaluma; E.R. White, San Rafael; Warren Cornwell, at large.

Dance committee, E.R. White.

Adult games, T.J. Pechner, San Rafael.

Speakers committee, Al. Finan.

Prize committee, T.J. Pechner, Earl Beyers, Petaluma; P. Pozzi, Santa Rosa.

Ladies auxiliaries, Mrs. E.E. Campbell.

Public address committee, E.E. Campbell.

Judges, Mayor Richard Ellis, San Rafael; Mayor Robert Madison, Santa Rosa; Mayor Jasper C. Woodson, Petaluma; Colonel John F. Curry, Hamilton Field.

Refreshments, W.G. Turner.

Parade committee, Geo. Scott.

Mr. M. Pernechi, a rancher living near Petaluma won the automobile, which was given away at Fairfax Park during the afternoon. $50 [What cost $50 in 1940 would cost $665.35 in 2005. Also, if you were to buy exactly the same products in 2005 and 1940, they would cost you $50 and $3.76 respectively. See, Westegg Inflation Calculator.] in cash went to the winning float in the parade, and numerous merchandise prizes were also awarded.

[Marin Journal, September 5, 1940, page 1]

Labor Day Celebration

Last Wednesday evening a large number of the labor men and some of the citizens of the town met in the Petersen Hall to discuss the coming labor day celebration.

The committee who was chosen to visit the Building Trades of Sonoma county reported that it had visited the labor organizations there and that the carpenters from Petaluma were coming as also were a large number of other labor men and that the labor organizations from Santa Rosa intend to send a large delegation to help celebrate.

It is to be hoped that business houses will decorate their places of business. It was suggested that a prize be offered for the best decorated building. Upon motion it was lost as the majority thought that the money collected would not be enough to carry out more than they had planned.

The committee on games reported progress and think that they have arranged for enough amusement in that line to keep the people interested for the allotted time.

The committee chose to procure speakers for the day reported that they had been able to engage A.M. Thompson, president of the California State Federation of Labor, and also that they had been fortunate enough to have received the consent of Senator E.B. Martinelli, of this city, to address the people. This report of the committee was received with great satisfaction.

The matter of having a firemen’s race and invite outside companies to participate was suggested, but owing to Larkspur, who is going to celebrate on the same day, it was thought that different companies would not care to have two days of racing.

The matter of securing reduced rates from the railroad company to this city from as far north as Santa Rosa and point intervening was brought up and upon a motion it was decided to have Henry P. Wood communicate with the railroad office in San Francisco and report to the organization at the next meeting.

The amount of money already collected is in the neighborhood of $1,000 [What cost $1000 in 1909 would cost $20,530.39 in 2005. Also, if you were to buy exactly the same products in 2005 and 1909, they would cost you $1000 and $48.71 respectively. Id.] which, with what is collected from now on will be ample to insure two days of fun and sports.

[Marin Journal, August 26, 1909]

Labor Day Celebration: Amusements of all Kinds – Auto Parades and Vaqueros

Preparations for the monstrous Labor Day celebration have been going steadily on and as the time draws near the committee and the citizens of San Rafael can see clearly what a great day it will be. Both Monday and Tuesday will be filled with amusements of all kinds. The San Rafael band will furnish music both days and the Eagle Drum Corps will march in the parade. The parade promises to be a great attraction. All the different unions will march headed by the band. The drum corps will fill its allotted place and be a great addition. The auto parade will be a great feature. The machines will be beautifully decorated and a prize will be awarded to the most artistic machine. The wild west rider will furnish lots of fun and promises to be very exciting. It is understood that the wildest horses that can be found in the county will be ridden and tamed by these daring vaqueros. Races of all kinds for young and old, fat and slim, fast and slow promises to interest many.

The masquerade ball following the horribles will be one of the main attractions and will be well attended. Everybody is talking of the different funny costumes they are going to wear and of the surprises that are in store for their friends. [A "Horribles Parade" is typically children dressed in outlandish, outrageous, unusual, exotic and amusing costumes. Some adults also show up in equally weird getups. Participants wearing costumes pay no fees and go through no formalities to march. Awards are often given to children judged the most horrible.]

Much money has been set aside for the vaqueros, racers, auto parade and other attractions. The committee chosen to see about transportation reports that the railroad has promised a rate of one half the regular fare. Mr. H.C. Gieske reported that John Boyd had placed the park at the disposal of the Labor Day Committee. A vote of thanks was extended to Mr. Boyd for his generous offer.

The program for the two days was arranged at the meeting of the labor men last night. It is expected that a large delegation from Petaluma and Santa Rosa will be on hand to help celebrate the occasion.

[Marin Journal, September 2, 1909]

Labor Observes Two Days In San Rafael

Labor Day was celebrated in San Rafael on Monday and Tuesday. On Monday the day started with a parade in which several hundred persons participated – all the local unions being represented. The San Rafael band marched in the parade and following them at some distance was the Eagle Drum Corps. The line of march started at the ball grounds near the Union depot and marched up Fourth Street, down B to Second thence to A, and up to Fourth and then out Fourth to H, and back to B and up to the Park.

The line of march consisted of the following organizations:

First Division – Sonoma Building Trades and Labor Council.

Second Division – (Marin County Building Trades Council) – Carpenters’ Local No. 35, Carpente4rs Local No. 1710, Teamsters Local No. 694, Hod Carriers and Building Laborers Local No. 291, Plasterer’s Local No. 355, Plumbers’ Local No. 323, Electrical Workers’ Local No. 614, Cement Workers Local No. 55.

Third Division – Marin County Labor Council.

The Races:

In the afternoon at two o’clock there were races for boys, girls, young men, married ladies, three-legged races, etc.

The tug-of-war broke up in a row and the contest was declared off.

Tuesday morning another parade was held, the fraternal orders and fire department joining in. The Redmen turned out in full force riding on "wild" horses in Indian costumes [Photograph of Redmen at 1909 Labor Day Parade]. They were well painted up and cut quite a dash as they came riding up the street.

After the parade Monday, all adjourned to Boyd Park where the band played and speeches were made. Assemblyman E.I. Butler addressed the large assemblage, keeping their undivided attention. William Cole also gave an address along labor lines which was listened to with interest.

During part of the afternoon the band played in front of Begley’s corner on Third Street.

Horse Races

At two o’clock the horse races started. This part of the celebration created much interest and a large crowd was on hand to witness the fun. The first race was for saddle horses with a prize of $10 [What cost $10 in 1909 would cost $205.30 in 2005. Also, if you were to buy exactly the same products in 2005 and 1909, they would cost you $10 and $0.49 respectively. Id.] for the first and $5 [What cost $5 in 1909 would cost $102.65 in 2005. Also, if you were to buy exactly the same products in 2005 and 1909, they would cost you $5 and $0.24 respectively. Id.] for the second horse. E.H. Murray’s horse of Larkspur, won first money, and Leech of San Anselmo captured second place.

The second race was the one the crowd most wanted to see, This race was for thoroughbreds. George Martin, from San Anselmo, was on hand with his runner and also with a jockey. E. Helms had his horse entered and also Henry Lucas and a thoroughbred at the starting line. When the signal was given for a start all of the horses got off in a bunch. They ran in this form for about one hundred yards, when a dog ran out and frightened the horse Henry Lucas was riding with the result that that horse took to a ditch and the saddle turned. Mr. Lucas was thrown into the ditch and the horse went over him. Mr. Lucas was very fortunate to escape serious injury as the horse was going at a lively clip. With Lucas’ horse out of the race it left Helm’s horse ridden by Harry Agnew and Martins’ horse., ridden by a jockey named Nutting. Agnew did not have much trouble winning.

The fourth race resulted in a victory for E.R. Murray with Beech second.

George Martin who lost the thoroughbred race was not satisfied and asked permission to run his horse again with that of Helm’s. It was agreed to and soon the race was on. Helm’s horse got an even start but after a little running, Nutting, who was riding Martin’s horse, cut in front of Agnew and forced him to the ditch. After this the race was Nutting’s, although his horse was not as fast as that of Helm’s. While many say that the race was a good one and perfectly fair, there are many, and men who know a horse race when they see it, say that Nutting cut Agnew out by running him into the ditch. Whether this is fair or not it was for the judges to decide.

Jamie Coin, who went in the second race, had a bad tumble, a dog being the cause. The horse scared at the dog and in trying to get away fell on its head and knees. Quite a cut was made in the horse’s head, and its knees were also bleeding.

Owing to the non-appearance of P.H. McCarthy, of the State Building Trades Council, who was to deliver an address on Tuesday, Wm. Marshall, chairman of the day, mounted the platform and delivered an address to organized labor.

Tuesday evening the parade of the "Horribles" took up the attention and was an amusing incident of the two days’ celebration. After the "Horribles" parade, all adjourned to Armory Hall [now 1010 Lootens Place] where the all-night masquerade ball was to be held. The costumes were a decided hit and fooled many persons. Confetti was much I evidence along the streets and no one escaped getting his full share.

The masquerade ball was a befitting finish for the two days’ celebration.

There were but few floats, but the one that headed the Carpenters’ Union is worthy of special mention. It was a very neat little cottage about six feet square, completely finished – weather boarded, shingle roof, doors, windows, etc. and was occupied by several small girls.

[Marin Journal, September 9, 1909, page 1]

"Winning" Leisure at a Cost

As discussed with regard to fraternities, the decline in the number and activity of the unions in Marin also correlates to changes in leisure. Historian Robert E. Weir thus stated this change:

What happened to the KOL is indicative of what was happening to working-class culture across North America. Organic expression increasingly gave way to a commercialized, sanitized, and homogenized national culture that was quite different from that envisioned by working-class propagandists and elite moralists alike. Leisure was transformed from a largely participatory to a mostly passive, consumptive activity. In amusement parts [sic], nickelodeons, dance halls, and movie palaces leisure became another product to be purchased in the national marketplace. Rather than send messages, leisure became something to be consumed for the sheer joy of experiencing it. Any meaning beyond the desire of promoters to turn a profit was implicit, not explicit. [¶] It is important to remember that the ideology of commercial leisure is profit-driven, not value-laden. Leisure did not obliterate social values, and to survive it forged compromises between warring Victorian and plebian cultures. …. [¶]Nonetheless, there are essential differences between the late nineteenth-century and early twentieth-century leisure. Working-class cultural resistance was robbed of its active nature, and took the form of consumption decisions rather than the formation of oppositional culture. In terms of control, attending a theater is not the same thing as writing, producing, and acting in one’s own play. New York City laborers of the early twentieth century decided which of Coney Island’s three amusement parks to attend; Knights of Labor in the 1880’s sponsored their own picnics, baseball games, and entertainments. Twentieth century workers cheered parades; nineteenth-century Knights marched in them. [¶]Whatever leisure has become, there was a time when it was more than fun and diversion. For the KOL in the mid-1880’s, leisure was part of a total packet of ideas and actions that threatened to assemble many of America’s social and class divisions on a common playing field where bonds might be forged. Because of external oppression, financial insolvency, and internal conflict, the KOL only rhetorically bridged the gulfs and never realized the power within its grasp. It was not fully cognizant of the usefulness of leisure forms such as parades until it had no power left to wield. As leisure separated itself from the KOL, the Order was left with comedic incongruities such as poor Alexander Wright trying to lecture on land reform from the same stage upon which "The Great Brophy" whistled a different tune.

Beyond Labor’s Veil: The Culture of the Knights of Labor, Robert E Weir, 318-319 (Penn State University Press, University Park PA, 1996).

Unions - Mutual Aid Through Collective Bargaining

Railways and Railroad Fraternities

Other Marin County Labor Unions

Examples of Public Activities and Festivities of Organized Labor in Marin

Labor Day - Origins and Early History of the Peoples’ Holiday

Labor Day Activities in Marin County