New-York tribune., 1908-01-24
MARCHERS PUT TO ROUT
UNEMPLOYED IN CHICAGO.
Police Charge Pmaders, Crack Heads
and Arrest Leaders.


lists to bring about a march of the unem-
ployed' through the downtown streets to-day
resulted in two sharp fights with the ponce III
which the would-be marchers were routed after
a number of men had been dubbed DR.. Benja-
min L. Reitman. the originator of the plan to
march through the streets. and two of his fol-
lowers were arrested.
For several days Retman. who is a socialist.
had been making announcements of his fnten-
ton to hold parade of "hoboes' and "unem-
ployed" despite the warning given him by
Chief Of Police Shippy that march through
the streets would be permitted. Reitman, how
ever. continued to defy the authorities, and last
night thousands of circulars were distributed
through the downtown saloons and in the
lodging house district calling upon all men out
of work to assemble at ? o'clock the lake
front. The chief of police carly in the day
reiterated his statement that the march would
not be permitted. and directed that all the
police force be held IN reserve at the various
stations.
At few minutes before o'clock crowd
commenced to gather Michigan avenue in
front of the Art Institute. and in a few minutes
a column was formed and headed by Reitman,
they started west on Adams street. The march
ers proper did not number more than two
hundred at any time but many hundreds OF per-
sons followed them along the sidewalks and
added to the confusion.
After marching west block in Adams
street Reitman countermarched to Michigan
avenue passed north to Madison street and
then marched west two squares Madison
street. Here he encountered strong squad
of police under the command of Assistant Chief
of Police Schuetter who. after command to
disband had been dsregarded. ordered his men
to charge the marchers. The police came on at
the run, and the column instantly broken
o1ra6 md a
police not attempting to make any arrests
used their clubs freely in qutckening the loot
steps of the fleeing unemployed.
Followed closely by the officers. the marchers
darted into the crowd of shoppers along State
street. and several women were thrown to the
sidewalk in the confusion No arrests were
made and nobody seriously injured. al
though the police dealt vigorous thumps with
their clubs on the heads and backs OF the
marchers.
A number Of the marchers after getting away
from the police went south in State street, at
tempting to form another column as they went
At state street and Jackson Boulevard they
had formed the semblance of another parade
and taking the middle of the boulevard they
marched along, six abreast. Just before reach
ing Clark street they were met by another de-
tachment OF police under Lieutenants White
and Mooney. Another order to disperse met
wifi no
shoulder their way along. The police instantly
charged, swinging their clubs right and left.
The marchers fed wildly. some of them run
ming into the doorway of the Union League
C,rh while others sought safety in the pOstof-
ece building Reitman turned south in Clark
street but quickly caught ana placed un-
der arrest He showed some fight and was nan
died in vigorous style. His hat was smashed oy
a hIozy from policemans club: he was knocked
down and his clothing torn When he regalned
his feet he shouted Let me goI Let me CO..
know the chief OF police
He was at once taken to police headquarters,
followed by crowd OF two thousand persons.
After reaching the stallion Reitman said:
..r was arrested without cause and was treat
cd brutalIv Some policeman hit me over the
head with his club. There would have been no
disorder if the police had allowed us to march
through the streets we wished TO do All
we wanted was to go to the City Han and
demand that men out of work be given employ
ment by the city"
As soon as II was known that fighting had
taken place in the streets the chief or police
called in the reserves from the nearby stations,
and within few minutes the Central police
station was filled with officers. Their services,
however, were not needed
Later in the afternoon another crowd gath
cred on the lake front, but it was broken up
nv a few officers sent by the chief of police.
Nobody was seriously hurt during the excite
ment. although some of the marchers will have
sore heads and backs for q few days. Many
seemed to regard the whole thing as huge
,o.a until they came in contact with the police.
Reitman and two of his followers who were
arrested at the same time as he will he ar
raigned In court morrow on charges OF dis
orderly conduct and melting riot.