Everett’s 1911 Labor Day Parade: A Display of Union Power
Thousands turned out for a massive parade and a fiercely contested baseball game at Robbins' park, reflecting the growing strength of the city's labor movement.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
Labor Day in Everett was a triumph of organization, marked by a massive parade that showcased the craft skill and unity of the city's workers. The Shingle Weavers led the largest contingent with 225 men, while the Label League and Laundry Workers made a striking impression with their floats and white-and-blue uniforms. A highlight for the crowd was a Machinists' float featuring a man dressed as 'the trusts' leading a mule labeled 'Non-Union.' The afternoon festivities at Robbins' park culminated in a thrilling eleven-inning baseball game where the Moose defeated the Knights of Columbus. The day concluded with a grand ball at the Coliseum Rink, with the entire event underscoring the deep influence of organized labor in the city's civic life.
“The whole story of organized labor's efforts to improve conditions of the toilers was plainly shown in the comparison between union and non-union working conditions.”
Everett has long been a labor-defined city, and the 1911 Labor Day celebration highlights the era when the 'Labor Journal' was a major pulse-point for the community. The call for a central public amusement park in this report foreshadows the ongoing civic debates about the purpose and accessibility of public spaces in Everett today.
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