The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1895-12-18
AT THE MERCY OF R0ODiUMS
Philadelphia the Scene of Riot
and Confusion
Before the Traction Strike is Twenty.four
Hours old-Not Street Car OF the
Union Traction Company Is Runains,
and Nearly All the Other Limos stopped.
The Militia May be Called Ont.

PHILADELPHIA Pa, Dec. This etty
Is at the mercy OF Q gang of hoodlums
and the traction strike is only twenty.
four hours old. Tonight not q street
car OF the Union Traction Company is
running and this is true to every line in
the city, with the exception OF q few
short lines.
The police were absolutely inadequate
to control the mob violence from early
this morning until dusk. As zach
branch line made separate efforts 60
start, bowling mobs surrounded each
car, stoned and hooted tho motorman
and conductor, smashed the windows,
cut the trolley ropes and wreaked ali
possible destruction.
Then the attempt was abandoned.
The strikers took little, IL any, part in
the destruction. This was in the hands
OF the invarisble tough element. MANY
persons were injured by flying missles,
and there are fatalities and dollars
worth OF valuable property destroyed.
Com pared to the events OF the day the
streets to- night are quiet, although
hlled with surRing crowds. Five hun
dred extra policemen were sworn in to-
night and they will make an attemp. to
quell the rioters. Should they be unable
the governme emit will be appealed to and
asked to order out the militia
The aituation is the Rravest tho city
has ever been called upon to encounter.
10 night the staff officers of the Ma
tlonal Guards of Pennsylvania are in
their armories uniformed and armed in
case OF need. Three proolamations was
issued by Mayor Warwick this after.
noon Fret, he appealed to all good
oltlzens to assist the authorities In
maintaining order, and to that end to
refrain from gathering In crowds on the
streets. Secondly, he ordered the sum-
mary closing of all liquor saloons. and
snlroly' ne asked all women aud chill
dren to stay at home.
The war itself remains unchanged.
The Traction leaders refuse 10 listen 60.
any suggestion from the other side and
indeed no effort 10 being made in that
dlrec sion. Tho strikers are firm and
determined to fight 1t to the bister end.
Three mass meetings we're held TO- night
In various parts of the city. They have
almost universal sympathy not only
from conservative citizens, who, while
depre oiatinR violence, declare that the
+ strikers have right on their side, and
from LABOR unions through the country
| they have unbounded sympathy.
The offices of the mayor and direc tors
OF public safety we're besieged all day
by citizens seeking IN end to the batsle.
Among these were John Wanamsker,
Chief Justice Patton, P. a. r. Weidener,
VIM l. Elkins, A. j. Cassatt, Rufus
Schapley and Caleb b. Fox, all of whom
are moro or less connected with tho
traction interests.
President w. D Mahon, OF the Ma
tionsl Amalgam Association, OF street
railway employees. who Is controlling
the strike, made a statement to tho pub.
Tic tonight. He declared that the
strikers were In no way to blame fer
the days disturbance, that the disor-
dor and destruction to property was the
work OF persons not connected with
them. Tho committee decided also to
again caution tho men against violence
and to request them to use their best
endeavors to protect the company's
property.
The company. he adds, was alone
responsible for the trouble by refusing
to listen either to the employees or the
citizens. 1t ia impossible to learn to-
night whether or not an attempt to
start any cars will be made Tomorrow.
On the dozen divisions Of the company
TO- day an aggregate of about flfty-six
cars were started out. The total num-
her in the service of tho company is
$500.