Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-06-05
RIOTINC IN
CARMEN'S STRIKE
Mob In Philadelphia Batter Cars
TO Pieces and Burn Them.
SCORES OF PEOPLE INJURED

t"es HeectUPs W ntU Sate - tNs8H
Leads to Violence and eIoodshed
etrike-Hreakers Deserted Cars ans
Fled For Their Lives-Mobs Defiss
the Police.
Philadelphia. June 3.-One police
man shot and probably fatally injured
nearly q hundred persons bruised anC
battered. either by policemen or b,
strike sympathizers. and Ave car!
wrecked and then burned. Is the re
suit Of an attempt on the part of tn,
Philadelphia Rapid Transit compan,
to operate their cars at night by i'm
ported strike.breakers.
The point at which the most serious
rioting occurred Is known as the Ken
sington mill district. In this sectior
Of the city there live nearly every ma
tionality. the foreign element predomi
mating. When the Traction company
announced that cars would be run al
night nearly all the storekeepers II
the Kensington district. knowing the
temper Of the residents there. CLOSED
their stores promptly at six o'clock
AS one car after another left the cal
barn crowds stood on the street cor
ners In sullen silence.
Boy Starts the Trouble.
Finally boy cried 'scab." and i'm
mediately he was pursued by a police
man who was riding on q car. As the
officer started for the youth the Grove
closed in upon him. and SO quickl,
was this done that he was unable t
draw his revolver. This weapon wa!
taken from him and Is believed tt
have been the same revolver will
which Policeman Levy was shot few
minutes later.
The fire which had been smoulderinf
now burst into a fame OF fury. The
objective point was Allegheny ave
nue.. and In less than an hour sever
cars were wrecked. FIVE being demol
ished and burned. The police officials
were powerless at the moment to com
bat the mob. but riot call brought
half a hundred bluecoats to the scene
and the crowd was driven back. But
the damage had been done. and there
was little need of the preservers of the
peace so long as no attempt was made
to run cars from the barn. This the
company abandoned.
To Move q csr .:esas 5:s..
While this serious disturbance was
In progress In the northeastern sec
tion OF the city there were incipien,
riots at the car barns at Sixteenth
and Jackson streets In the down town
district. and at Forty-ninth street and
Woodland avenue and Forty-first street
and Haverford avenue In the West
Philadelphia district. The crowd grew
menacing when an attempt was made
to run cars from the down town barns
and q policeman who endeavored tC
Quell the disturbance was ducked In a
water trough. Twenty-Five plain
clothes men and policemen were rush
ed to the scene on u special trolley
the barn there was no further trouble
The rioting In West Philadelphia was
caused by the attempt to take out
cars. Some strike sympathizers pulled
the trolleys from the wire and cut the
rope. Several arrests were made. but
in many instances the policemen were
unable to get their prisoners to the
station houses on account OF the bois
ferrous and fighting crowds.
To attempt to move q car meant q
riot. and II was decided to close all
barns for the night. The saloons were
allowed to remain open. but they were
not patronized to any great extent BY
the trolleymen. they having been eau
toned by their leaders earlier In the
day to remain away from saloons.
Politics In the Strike.
The Central Labor union has deter
mined to take advantage of the po
litical features involved In the strike
and at q meeting OF its conference
committee decided to issue call upon
all It's members aud sympathizers to
celebrate next Saturday. which Is the
primary election day here. as white
ribbon day. The white ribbon is the
emblem chosen by the striking car
men. Their sympathizers are asked
by the Central Labor union to wear
this emblem on election day and to
vote for d. Clarence Gibboney for dis
trict attorney. and President Murphy
OF the union. for city treasurer In op
position to the slated Republican nom
iuees.
An attorney for the strikers caused
warrants to be issued for the arrest
Of two policemen who are alleged to
have struck one OF the strikers with
out SUFFICIENT provocation. Writs OF
habeas corpus have also been issued
for the release OF strikers who have
been committed to prison.