The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1908-01-31
USED ON
ARMY OF IDLE
Pol &c aud unemployed" Paraders
Have Clash in Chicago.
BROKEN HEADS RESULT
Crowd Was Only Routed when Leader
Was Knocked, Down and Placed
Under Arrest.

OAAVA 11AAV0Ss
An attempt Of the socialists to bring
about march OF the unemployed
through the downtown streets Of Chi
cago Thursday, resulted in two sharp
fights with the police, in which the
would,be marchers were routed after a
number Of men had been dubbed. DR..
Benjamin L. Reitman, the originator
Of the plan to march through the
streets, and two Of his followers were
arrested.
For several days Reitman. who Is a
socialist, had been making announce
ments Of his intention to hold pa
rade of "hoboes" and unemployed"
despite the warning given him By,
Chief Of Police Ship that no march
through the streets would be permit
ted. Reitman, however, continued to
defy the authorities and wednesday
night thousands Of circulars were dis
tributed through the downtown saloons
and lodging house district calling on
all the men out Of work to assemble
at 2 O'Clock Thursday afternoon on
the lake front. The chief Of police
early in the day reiterated his state
ment 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 2 O'Clock a
crowd commenced to gather on Mfchi-
gan avenue in front Of the Art Insti.
tute and in a few minutes a column
which was really q series of punches
Of four and five, and, headed by Reit-
man, they started west on Adams
street The marchers proper did not
number more than 200 at any time,
but many hundreds Of people followed
them along the sidewalks and added
to the confusion.
After marching a block west on
Adams street, Reitman countermarch-
ed to Michigan avenue, passed north
to Madison street and then marched
west two squares on Madison street.
Here he encountered a strong squad
Of police, who, after a command to
disband had been disregarded, ordered
his men to charge the marchers. The
police came on run and the column
was Instantly broken up. Several men
were knocked down and the police, not
attempting to make arrests, used their
clubs freely in quickening the foot
steps Of the fleeing unemployed"
Followed closely by the officers, the
marchers darted into the crowd Of
shoppers along State street and seve-
raj women were pushed to the side
walk during the confusion No ar
rests were made and nobody was Sc
riously injured, although the police
dealt, vigorous thumps with their clubs
on the backs of the marchers.
A number Of the marchers, after get
ting away from the police, went south
on State street, aiming to form an
other column as they went. At State
street and Jackson boulevard they had
formed the semblance OF another pa,
rade and, taking the middle of the
street, they marched along, six abreast.
Just before reaching Clark street they
were met by another detachment Of
police. Another order to dispense met
with no response, the marchers at
tempting to shoulder their way along.
The police instantly charged. swing
ing their clubs rigst-and left. =
f6e marchers fled Wildly. some run
ming in the doorway Of the Union
League Club, while others sought safe
ty in the postofice building. Others
turned south into Clark street but
were quickly captured and placed UNI
der arrest.