The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-12-21
STRIKERS send FOR DfBS
He Will Act as Adviser to Philadel-
phia Street Car Men.
M'BRlDE IS ALSO INVITED
Trouble Still Confines Prominent Dusi-
ness Men Attempt 10 MIKE Peace.
President Welsh stubborn Scenes
Of Disorder Cars Attacked.

Philadelphia. Dec, 2O-Eugene V.
Debs Is coming to Philadelphia to take
part in the strike OF the employees OF
the Union Traction company. The lead
ers of the strike today decided to call
upon the famous leader of the Ameri-
can Railway Union and John xicBride.
president of the American Federation
of Labor, to aid them with their advice
and presence. Accordinly, telegram
was sent to Mr.. Debs. at Terre Haute.
and to Mr.. Mcbride, asking them n they
would come here Replies We're re-
ceived from both that they would come
to Philadelphia at once and it is eX-
pected that both these labor leaders W..
be here some time tomorrow afternoon.
1t is not the intention of the local lead
ers OF the strike and Of President Ma
hon, of the Amalgamated association,
to ask Mr.. Debs to take charge of the
strike, but :he purpose now is to have
the president of the American Railway
Union and Mr.. Mcbride to aauress
meetings and enthuse the men with their
speeches and presence. After Mr. Nc
Bride comes here, however. matters may
so shape themselves that e will as
sumo the direction of the strike.
1t is the intention now of the strike
leaders to meet Mr.. Debs at the rail-
road station and welcome him with a
big parade of the strikers. 1t is hardly
probable, however, that this programme
will be permitted by the city author
tiles. Mayor Warwick has already is
sued an order forbiddlg parades and it
is unlikely that he will grant a permit
to the strikers to have one. as such n
demonstration would lead to the con-
gregatiOn of immense crowds of peO-
pie and to possible trouble. After the
arrival of Mr.. Debs an all-night mass
meeting of the strikers will be held at
their headquarters at Eighth and Cal
lowhill.
Efforts Towards Peace.
Citizens of all classes had hoped to-
day that some settlement of the strike
would be effected through the efforts
Of some prominent business men. EX-
Governor Robert F.. Pattison, Thomas
Martindale and eX-Postmaster General
John Wanamaker have been bending
their efforts in this direction. Presi-
dent Welsh, of the Union Traction COM
pany. has steadfastly declined all pro-
posals at arbitration. The strike lead
ers' proposition is that Mr.. Welsh take
back the men pending arbitration, and
that they remain at wor. while the ar
bitration board or committee should
listen to both sides and render its de-
cision. There Is slight probability Of
Mr.. Welsh acceding to any request for
a compromise.
The Christian league, through its sec
retary, George Griffiths, has openly
stated that, if Mr.. Welsh refuses to ar
bitrate, they will go into court and ask
that he be compelled to do so under the
act Of 1898, which makes arbitration
between employer and employees COM
pusory. The strikers also will prob
ably do this and their attorney. Max
well Stevenson. Is preparing the papers
tonight for this purpose. If any one
should go into court, the judge might
direct Mr. Welsh to arbitrate and he
would be compelled to appear before the
arbitration board and state his side of
the case, but it seems there Is one fatal
flaw in the act that renders it inopera-
tive. When the lawmakers framed it
compelling an employer or an employe
to abide by the decision of the arbitra-
ton board
The Situation Improved.
The situation today as far as the
running of cars was concerned, was
measureably improved. On those lines
that the Traction company is operating
to any extent cars were run on nearly
schedule time. Much of the excitement
has died out on the streets, and crowds
did not cOngregate today as when the
strike first started. Nevertheless. two
particularly vicious assaults were made
on cars on the Thirteenth and Fifteenth
street line. These cars on portion of
their route run through district in
which large Industrial establishments
are located. and since the strike began
the employees of these places have con-
gregated on the streets at the noon
hour and offered considerable obstruc-
ton to the passenge of the car. While
@ car of the Fifteenth street line was
passing Baldwin's Locomotive works it
was compelled to run the gauntlet OF
the jeers and howls of a throng of the
brawny workers of the establishment
At Fifteenth and Pennsylvania ave-
nue. the car was compelled to slow up
for freight train passing out the lat
ter street. The car was crowded with
men and women, and there was but
one policeman on the platform. The
halt proved too much for
the patience Of the crowd. and. without
warning, a storm of iron bolts, coal,
Stag and bricks were hurled at the car.
At the first assault the terrified pas
sengers threw themselves upon the
floor of the car, and during a lull in
the fusilade, made their escape to the
streets. One lady had her jaw broken
by an iron nut a man was severely cut
by flying glass, and the conductor was
injured in the same way. The con-
ductOr and motormen deserted the car
and fled. The solitary policeman aboard
the car rushed to the nearest patrol
box and rank in a call and a patrol
wagon full Of policemen was soon on
the spot. The officers charged the
crowd, clubbed 1t vigorously and dis
persed 1t, making four or five arrests.
the same sort of an occurrence
happened on Thirteenth street, above
Willow. Here, strangely enough. the
Jaw of another woman was broken by
The stone throwers, and several other
people were cut by flying glass. On
street eight cars in all were
wrecked before the police assumed con-
trpl Of the situation.
City Fircmen IN Service.
The police have been greatly over
worked since the strike began. and to-
lay many of them were given a rest
Ind city firemen were pressed into SER
vice to do duty In their place. The
rairmount Park guards were also given
,rders to hold themselves in readiness
% answer the call In 2 moment. With
I've deputy United States marshals On