New-York tribune., 1909-05-30
onlKER CITIZENS WALK
nJSORDERS M4Rk pHIL4-
DEIPHIA STRIKE.
Inrfase of Cafare Unpopular
Practically Erery Line Tied Up
Manor Closes Saloons.

co,nany spread rapidly to-day until early to-
-. -. ts-vreen one thousand and two thousand
mere out Every division in the company's
-l,,,sive system is crippled, some so badly that
= were practically of no use TO the riding
public. Wan,
,,,,io,. five miles from the centre of the city
- IN fbe section known as "BreWerytoWn.
:. ,s-s,-ns Junction a car was damaged by an
.v,iosjon. believed II have been Of dynamite
- on the track. There were no passengers
= Tho car when the explosion occurred and
n.ther the motorman nor the conductor was
injured
:, sBrewerytown' a policeman who tried to
.,:-..-ss 2 crowd that had attacked the crew Of
.ro1l.r. car. WAS badly beaten. When he was
=, - 2 hospital il was found that his skull
:. sIrbtlv fractured from having been hit
,f,b brick Several arrests were made.
The ,5ty MAS practically tied up at midnigh;
~, -ra~,ion officials at that hour announced
~ no effort was being made to maintain
r,,b+ schedule but that more cars would be
cperaied tomorrow
r5et-7-l,ances occurred IN several parts Of the
.,, This forenoon. but they were nipped 10y the
,,gee before they grew to the proportions OF
-. Several persons We're struck by missiles
,4-rVn BY strike sympathiZers, but none was
ss-iausy injured. About score OF arrests were
,,ase throughout the day, the most serious
charge against the prisoners being breach OF the
peace. -
This afternoon the situation became httle
more serious. and. fearing that disorder might
become Widespread and in order to minimize
,be danger Of outbreaks. Mayor Reyburn or
derad all saloons TO close at q p. m and 10 re-
main closed untiI : a on Monday. Ihere
v-ss r,7,cr gr1nabling among the three thousand
s1o7n men because OF the loss of the prohtaole
Saturday night business. but there Was nothlhs
10 do hut 10 obey the Mayors mandate as 'ile
Jaw in this regard is strict
This Is the second time Mayor Of Phllaoel-
rfa mas closed the saloons on account OF
Etreetcar strike. the last time being in 1873
The extent Of the strike is a great surprise to
tbe officials Of the company. They have steduli!
maintained that the efforts of the officers OF the
A.nalsanlated Association Of Street Railway
E1l,lcves 70 organize the trolley men OF IilIS
citv y any considerable number would falI' anu
erIressed confidence that II a strike oruer were
issued il would not meet with much success
When the strike went into effect at a m OIiS
q fsw hundred employees obeyed the oroer' 1he
carly morning. service in most parts Of the cltS
,sss fs5s,s,-,oo6 hut later in the day, with the
desertion oz crew after crew, the service oe'd'ie
more or less demoralized-
TRACTION MEN OPTIMISTIC
The traction officials admitted tonight that
nearly q thousand cars were out Of service but
expressed confidence that the strike would soon
be over. They asserted that enough men could
be obtained 10 fiji the places Of the strikers
Charles O. Kruger. second president and
general manager Of the company. issued an or
der early in the day that all men who failed TO
rerort before noon would be discharged This
afternoon II was announced that 1850 men had
failed 10 report and that their places would be
filed Immediately.
= O. Pratt. chairman of the streetcar mems
executive board said tonight that he was en-
tirely satisfied with the situation and believed
that the strike would become more extensive
He said he believed that the entire system would
eventually be tied up
ParadoxicaI as it may seem. the strike was
hastened through the action u the company IN
raising the wages Of the men one cent an hour'
from q TO - cents This was done about TWO
weeks ago the increase 10 60 into effect July L
The strikers are counting on public sympathy
because Of the agitation that has been going on
for month over the action Of the PhiadelpHha
Rapid Transit Company in abolishing the six
for quarter tickets and raising the rate OF fare
70 Ave cents straight. Numerous public meet
tngs have been held in protest. but the directors
of the company remained firm, and declared that
ne Increase was necessary 70 return proht 10
the company. The city is a partner in the cor
poratioa, and Mayor Reyburn. along with State
senator Clarence Wolf represents the city on
ue board Of directors. The Mayor and Senator
"of acquiesced in the fare increase. and both
nave been severely criticised for their action.
me City Councils approved the raise in fares,
which further increased the feeling against the
rs~
pshy operates all the streetcar lines in the city.
TOOK ADVANTAGE OF SITUATION.
1he leaders OF the streetcar men took ad-
@llage Of this situation. and began agitating
increase IN wages and better conditions
ne iocal leaders Of the union called upon John
= refsons president Of the company. but he re-
80 10 see them saying that he would treat
- Win employees Of the company The COM
Zee % wanted 20 lay before him demands which
4Hooed request for - cents hour. nine or
- Houfs straight work, instead Of splitting up
cay; privilege Of buying uniforms in the
snces
company having already increased the
- the union men met with no success. and
O. strengthening their organization. The
ppbs- only laughed at their efforts. and made
no., statements that the agitation was not
g among the men
tb, 1hoeht were the officials OF the company
r,,n e1orts OF the union men would prove
ri,t. '"a' they went TO Willow Grove Park last
faS- . attend a dinner which is an annual az
b1r .rt N'th the corporation. AT the same time
helSt- OF conductors and motorInen were
prensre-I meetings in various parts Of the city
nirb, - Tor suspension of work. During the
strike order went forth
fo Use .: the feeling against the conna,v |
frsines are Increase. thousands Of persons re-
sslk.5 rom riding in the cars to-day and
also ~. - and from their work Thousands
aek.., Aeo' fearing that the cars might be at