Not a terribly significant day in Medford history, but I did find a couple of very nice pictures . . .

    With fully 2500 visitors in the city, Medford is today holding the greatest celebration of Labor Day ever held in southern Oregon. Early this morning the visitors began to arrive, each train from the north and south being crowded with people who, for the most part, were members of some labor union. The streets downtown were crowded by 10 o'clock, when the day's festivities opened with a large street parade in which the various unions of the city figured conspicuously. Later speaking and field sports were indulged in. This afternoon baseball and racing is under way, while the celebration will close this evening at the Natatorium with a grand ball, for which hundreds of tickets have been sold.
    Most of the business houses remained open during the morning hours, closing at noon. The stores were crowded early, but as the program for the day opened they were gradually deserted.
    Every event was run off on record time following the start of the parade, which was started late. The streets along with line of march were crowded with townspeople and visitors.
    The weather was cool and, although showers threatened, none fell. The merrymakers were in a high good humor, and perfect order was kept. One runaway in the vicinity of the Rogue River Valley Railroad threatened trouble at one time, but the team was stopped before it had reached the crowded sidewalks for which it headed. Otherwise nothing occurred to mar the pleasure of the occasion.
    The parade was in the charge of Jack Renz, as marshal of the day. Following him came the Medford band and then the carpenter's union. Here was seen the only banner of the day, reading: "Justice or jail for labor? How do you vote? Remember the McNamaras." Following the carpenters came the teamsters, all on horseback. Then, clad in overalls, followed the plumbers and following them the paperhangers. The electrical workers had a float showing a telephone exchange in operation, while the cooks, waiters and waitresses had a float showing a scene in a restaurant. Following the cooks came the plasterers, all in white overalls, and then came the cement workers. Ed Root, with the delivery wagon of the Mail Tribune, attracted attention, and the parade wound up with a float prepared by the Medford Business College.
    As the orator of the day did not show up, Agnes Thecia Fair delivered the Labor Day oration. She said, in part:
    "As all thinkers admit, there can be no such thing as real education unless as a result human beings discover their function in this evolving world--unless, in a word, they find full and free expression of their own personality. As Gustave Herve [wrote] in his 'My Country Right or Wrong,' so we'll say, no state can be entrusted to give education to the child that is even historically true. Modern education teaches the child responsibility rather than obedience to authority.
    "The modern school develops originality and cultivates the creative qualities of the child mind.
    "The modern school teaches the child its relation to its fellow man.
    "Also, how the animals cooperate for their own protection.
    "All who are interested in the modern school should address Harriet Churchill, Beck Building, Portland, Or. All children are admitted free."

Last revised May 19, 2011