Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1909-06-03
STRIKERS
SET FIRE
TO CARS
Women and Children Aid
MOb'S Attack
Philadelphia Is Scene of Wild
Nocturnal Conflicts
OVER 100 PERSONS ARE INJURED
IN FEARFUL MELEE
Furious Crowds Pull strkebreakers
from Coaches and Beat Them
UnmercifulIy-PoIce
Are Powerless
OVER 100 PERSONS ARE INJURED
IN FEARFUL MELEE
[By Associated Press.I

n PHILADELPHIA, June 2.-The attempt
- of the philadelphia Rapid Transit
company to its cars with nom
union men resulted tonight In a num-
ber OF serious riots.
1t the first effort to operate the lines
at night and after several futile efforts to
get the through the mObs they were
sent back to the barns.
At least hundred men were more or
less seriously injured in the riOting.
In the Kensington district, where many
mills are located feeling ran high. DIobs
of men, women and children pulled the mo-
tormen and conductors from their ears and
beat them severely. In many instances
were set on fire.
The police were pOwerless to control the
strike sympathizers. When they charged
mob it separated only to form again in
tho vicinity of another car. Several police
men were injured.
In West Philadelphia dynamite caps
were placed on the tracks and crowds
stoned the non-union workmen when
they attempted to bring out cars. fore
ing them to return to the barn.
In the downtown section conductors
and motormen were pulled from their
cars and their clothing was torn off by
mobs of strike sympathizers. In some
cases the terrified men had to be taken
" private IOuSCS 1llu aclAOCu bJ POAANC
to save them from harm.
In Kensington there were five big
riots, and all evening Kensington ave-
nue., the main thoroughfare of the dis
trict, was filed with a bowling mob.
The imported crews proved a disap-
pointment to the company, many of
them deserting their cars at the first
sign of trouble and leaving them stand-
ing In the street at the mercy of the
mob.
Apply for Aid
Several applied to the strikers for aid
to return to New York, saying that
they had been brought here under mis-
representation. During the Kensing-
ton riots Policeman Levy was shot in
the head and is said to be dying. In
the same section five cars were piled
in the street after being partially de-
molished with paving stones, and We're
then set on fire.
During the day the company claimed
to have operated a few more cars
than on previous days OF the strike.
Chairman Pratt of the union car men
admitted that some additional cars had
been run, but insisted that strikers
had won over more of the old men.
None of the men who had gone on
strike were weakening, he said.
The central labor union has deter
mined to take advantage of the politi-
cal features involved and tonight de-
cided to issue a call upon all its mem-
bers and sympathizers to celebrate
next Saturday, which is primary cleo
ton day here, as white ribbon day."
Pull of TroIIeys
The white ribbon is the emblem
chosen by the striking carmen. Their
sympathiZers are asked by the central
labor union to wear this emblem on
election day and to vote for d. Clar-
ence Gobbony for district attorney and
President Murphy of the union for city
treasurer in opposition to the slated
Republican nominees.
An attorney for the strikers today
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
arrested.
In West Philadelphia some strike
sympathizers pulled the trolleys from
the wire and cut the rope
Several arrests were made, but in
many instances the policemen were un-
able to get their prisoners to the sta
ton houses on account of the crowds.
The saloons were allowed to remain
open but they were not patronized to
any great extent by the striking trolley
men, they having been cautioned by
their leaders to remain away.