Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-12-02
CHICAGO LABOR WAR
RIOT AND DISORDER FEATURES
OF THE STREGT-CAR TIE.uP.
Great Dennuciatory Mass Meeting of
Unisnists Held-Attempt to Open
state Street Cable Line Meets with
Violent Resistance by Mob.

Chicago Dispatch Hang the Alder
men, On to the City Hall.' were
the slogans of the 5000 Chicago
street car strikers and sympathiz-
ing trade unionists who filled the
great auditorium at Tattersalfs Sunday
afternoon. Threats, denunciations and
violence were in the air. Aldermen
were called "grafters' and thieves" the
Mayors name was Kissed and the police
department denounced; obloquy, prison
and death were urged for all concerned
in the granting of franchises.
The resolutions adopted demanded the
immediate ceasing of negotiations with
the traction companies, the remoy al OF
the police from the cars, the opening of
proceedings for municipal ownership of
car lines and the removal of the City
Railway Company from the streets II
better service was not given at once.
A riot. in which several hundred men.
women and children took part, occurred
on Archer avenue Saturday. The mob,
which gathered TO intercept a number
of wagons under escort. conveying food
to the barns, charged the police and con-
stables, shouting and throwing stones. \
constable was struck on the head and
badly cut. The police drew their revolv-
ers and made a stand about the wagons,
but refrained from shooting The rioters
were finally driven back and consoled
! themselves by burning wagon preyi-
ously wrecked in the vicinity of the
barns.
Sensational rumors that an attempt
had been made to blow up ears on the
Wentworth avenue line by means of dy-
Mantle caps proved groundless. Three
railroad signal torpedoes fastened TO the
rail were at first believed 10 contain dy-
Mantle.
Police Use Revolvers.
On Monday shots were fired by the
police, flying sticks and stones shattered
windows, many persons were clubbed and
a number were arrested in clashes be-
tween crowd of strike sympathizers
and a strong force Of patrolmen when
the Chicago City Railway Company
started ears under heavy police guard
on it's State street cable line
The first serious outbreak of disorder
came at Forty-frst street as the first
State street car passed, the police draw
ing revolvers and firing dozen shots in
the air as they charged the throng,
pounding with their clubs to right and
left.
few minutes later and the police at
tackled a number of strikers who were
endeavoring to get off the street and into
the strike headquarters at 1886 State
street. The men We're dubbed into the
hallway and up the stairs, number
falling bruised ami bleeding
While this disorder prevailed lnterna-
! tional President Mahon of the union, the
executive committee Of the striking EN-
ployes and Attorne. Darrow and Prem
tiss waited to receive the company S
reply to the peace propositions advanced
by the men.
Mr.. Mahon I'D Mr.. barrow asserted
that the stuati was not wholly cloud
ed. They hazarded an opinion that
agreement might come soon.
shoot Two of "a Mob.
Two non-union workmen, brought TO
bay by a hundred strikers near the
American Hide and Leather tannery,
Front and Sangamon streets, fred into
the crowd, wounding two men. The non
union men had applied for work, when
the strikers and their sympathizers at
tackled them, throwing stones and sticks.
The two Ii on fled at first, but afterward
turned faced their pursuers and fired
desperately into the crowd. Two men
fell at the first shots, seriously injured.
Emboldened by their success, the non
union men advanced toward the crowd.
firing rapidly. The rioters oke and
ran.