The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-12-18
Thousands of Policemen Sworn
In at Philadelphia.
The Philadelphia Car Strike is
Not Over With Yet.
RIOT!NG HAS CEASED.
A Few Cars Are Moving Slowly
Under Police Escort.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. but
Are Safe from Harm.

PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 1S.-1no eeconO
day of the big strike of employees of the
Union Traction company opened with the
situation practically unchanged as far as
the running of cars is concerned All
the branches are in effect tied up. al
though cars with formidable escorts of
police have made the circuit of
nearly every one of them with
out molestation. While this en-
ables the officials to declare that the
lines are 'open" it does not help the
situation much as far as the convenience
of the riding public is concerned there
have perhaps been more cars on Chestnut
street than any other thoroughfare IN the
city. At irregular intervals this morning
the immense concourse of pedestrians
which the strike has forced on to
that always crowded street has
been treated to the extraordinary spec
tacle of a trolley car moving slowly
down the street preceded and followed
by four mounted policemen and carry
ing on the front and rear platforms an
aggregate of five policemen. Each OH
Ger is armed with heavy oak stick and
the chances are that the motorman or
conductor is u deputy marshal Fortut
nately for the pedestrians the weather Is
beautiful.
Reports from all sections of the city are
to the effect that everything is quiet to-
day.
This condition is without doubt due
in large extent to the determined
stand taken by the mayor last night
when he served notice that it was no
longer a fight between the Traction
company and the strikers, but a
battle between the city and mob
violence and that the city wouldwin.
To this end nearly thousand extra
police were sworn in, the men being
picked from the applicants for appoint
ment who had passed the necessary phys
ical examination. These, with the reg
ulars, constituted an army of over 1900
men and everyone of them is on duty to-
day. The big car sheds and power houses
in various parts of the city were vigilantly
guarded all night. and there was appar-
entity no necessity for the presence OF the
police as no attempt at violence was
made The strikers headquarters at
Eighth and Callowhill streets, some dis
lance from the various depots of the
branches of the Union Traction company
was deserted soon after midnight, and
none of the leaders made their appear
ancc up to noon today.
In the neigh borhood of the big car
sheds are rows upon rows OF small dwell
lings, occupied mainly by the employees
of the company, and the streets are filled
at all times with the families of the
strikers and their sympathizers, who dis
cuss the situation and abuse the men at
work.
On Market street the authorities have
stationed two mounted policemen at each
corner in addition to two or more men on
foot This street and Chestnut street
which were the scenes of most of yester-
days rioting are the most carefully
guarded today but the disorderly ele-
ment seem to be either cowed or in
different for there has so far been no
sign of distur bance on these streets, or
in any other locality. Every other man
wears card bearing the WORDS" / will
walk" stuck in his hat band. or pinned
to his coat and many women are wearing
them too.
The officials of the company declare
they have plenty of men to run the cars
if they can get protection for them. On
the other hand the strikers declare that
enough skilled men to take their places
can not be obtained.
The strike has proved windfall of
considerable magnitude to the single in
dependent line in the city which resisted
the pressure when the big consolidation
of all the other lines was recently effect
ed. All its cars are crowded.