The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-06-05
RIOTS IN PHILADELPHIA.
VIOLENCE ATTENDS ATTEMPT
TO OPERATE STREET CARS.
of'cers Unable to Disperse Mobs
Which Terrorizc Strikebreakers and
Destroy Cars-Several Policemen
Injured--Strike-Br Breakers Flee.

Injured--Strike- Breakers Flee.
Philadelphia, June 2,-The at
tempt OF the Philadelphia Transit
Company to operate It's cars tonight
with strike-breakers imported from
other cities resulted in the first seri-
Gus rioting which had occurred since
the strike of the street car men be-
gun on May 20.
In the Kensington district where
many mills are located the feeling
ran high. Mobs Of men. women and
children pulled the motormen and
conductors from their cars and beat
them severely. In many Instances cars
were set on fire and in other cases
thrown across the tracks. The police
were powerless to control the angry
strike sympathizers. When they
charged the mob 1t separated only to
form again In the vicinity of another
car. The officials Of the company an
nounced today that cars would be
run tonight for the first time since
the beginning of the strike. When
the rioting started after nightfall,
however, every car that could be got
into the barns OF the company was
taken OF the street. Several police
men were injured during the riot
ing.
While the most serious rioting oc-
CURED In the mill district in Kensing.
ton, cars were attacked in many 9TH
er parts Of the city In West Phla-
delphia dynamite caps were placed on
the tracks and crowds stoned the
strike-breakers when they attempted
TO bring out cars. forcing them to re-
trrn to the barn. In tho downtown
section conductors and notormen
were pulled from their cars and their
clothes torn from their backs by
mobs of strike sympathizers. In some
cases the terrified strike breakers had
to be taken to private houses and
guarded by police to save them from
'bcdily harm. - 49, - <-''-sr
In Kensington there were five big
riots aud all evening Remington ave.
nue., the main thoroughfare of the
district. was filed with "A bowling
mob. So far as can be learned, the
striking street car men themselves
did not take any part in the rioting.
They were kept confined By their
leaders in their Various meeting
places.
The imported strike-breakers
proved to be disappointment to the
company, many of them deserting
their cars at the first sign of trouble
ana leaving them standing in the
street at the mercy of the mob. Sew
eral of them applied to the strikers
for aid to return to New York, say
ing that they had been brought here
under Misrepresentation.
During the course of the Kensing-
ton riots. Policeman Levy was shot in
the back Of the head and Is said to be
I'm a dying condition. In the same
section one block Of FIVE cars were
piled in the street after being par
TALLY demolished with paving stones
and were then set on fire. At least
100 persons have been seriously in
Jured.
During the day the company claim
ed to have operated few more cars
than on the previous day. Chairman
Pratt OF the union carmen admitted
that some additional cars had been
run with the strike-breakers but said
the strikers had won over more Of
the old men. and none of the men
who had gone on strike were weak
ening.
The central labor union has deter
mined to take advantage of the poll
tical features involved in the strike
and a meeting of its conference COM
mittee tonight decided to issue a call
Oh all members and sympathizers to
celebrate next Saturday. which Is pri-
mary election day here. as white rib
bon day. The white ribbon Is the
emblem chosen by the striking car
men. Their sympathzers are asked
by the central labor union to wear
this emblem on election day and L
vote for Clarence Gibbony for distric,
attorney and President Murphy Of the
union for city treasurer i'm opposition