The Washington times., 1909-05-29
Passengers and Crews Flee
for Lives-Riot Call
Sent to Police.
|WALK-OUT ORDERED
EARLY THIS MORNING
Men Say Fact That City Is Partner
IN Company Means Stiff
Fight on Them.

PHILADELPHIA. May z9.-Tha union
employees of the Philadelphia Rapid
Transit system quit work early this
morning. and. although cars are being
operated on many of the central lines
Of the system, the service is irregular.
and has practically come TO a standstill
in North Philadelphia and other subur-
ban sections.
Disorder was one OF the early features
Of the situation
A big crowd OF strike sympathizers
mobbed car at Fifty-first street and
Girard avenue. driving out the passen-
gers and demoIishing the car. One
arrest was made. At Sixtieth street and
Market street a crowd Of thirty strike
supporters attacked a car and drove on
the crew. They then boarded the car
and ran IL out Market street No police
were at hand TO protect the crew.
| There was a more serious demonstra-
ton at F1fty-dfth street and Glrard
avenue, where a crowd Of 5000 sur
rounded a car and attacked the crew.
/ Stones were thrown and attempts were
made TO wreck the car. A detail or Do
| lice dispersed the mob before any dam
age was done.
The symptoms OF disorder in various
sections are causing the police to con
slider closing the saloons throughout the
city.
| Assistant Superintendent OLeary, fol-
lowing the Girard avenue trouble. said
If there was any more evidence Of a
riotous spirit the saloons would be
closed this afternoon.
The entire police and are lighting
force Is mobiiized for action and police
| protection has been given ir al car
barns Elaborate precautions have been
taken to keep the subway and elevated
lines in operation. Policemen are on
guard at all the stations and ekess
lnes seem TO be running as usual
Center Unaffected.
In the central part Of the town 81 II
O'Clock this morning it would be evi-
depced only to a Philadelphian that
there was any considerable number Of
cars out OF commission On Chestnut
street there was at least a car 70
block, and they were well filed.
At guess It appears thas half OF the
service was out of commission.
| The F7rankford lines we're tied up be-
fore noon. and everyone who bad been
between Frankford and Kensington
walked It was apparent that the con-
ditions were becoming more general. and
that many cars were being abandoned
BY their crews. The Chester avenue line.
however. which cid not operate early
this morning, was running cars AT II
O'Clock. Squads OF police massed at
Forty-ninth street and Chester avenue.
and on Baltimore and woodland ave-
nues, kept the crowds moving.
William Roehner. secretary OF the
Garments Union. says ali the men ex-
cept Loo are out At the OFFICES OF ths
company IT Is declared that less than
one-half Of the lines are affected.
/ Director Clay. in statement issued
this morning, claims to have absolute
control Of the situation.
Meet Near Barns.
Last night largely attended meetings
were held near the car barns IN every
! section of the city, and the men evil
IDENTIFY were all IN favor OF going out.
There was a remarkable absence of dis
order, and Ia spite OF the thousands OF
/ policemen stationed at every meeting
hall. not single arrest was made.
The lines running into the Ridge ave-
nue. and the Twenty-seventh street and
Girard avenue barns were the first to be
notified, and then the one at Sixteenth
and Jackson streets followed
| At the Girard avenue barns no night
cars started, the men as they reported
being told Of the orders and refusing 70
take their cars out On most Of the
other lines the owls were not af-
/ fected, but the men al stated Shat no
day cars would go out today.
! At 5 O'Clock this morning IL was esLt-
mated that at least tWO-thirSs OF the
surface lines of the city were tied up.
I In the downtown section few Sars are
/ running on Chestnut. Market. and also
on the Tenth and Eleventh street cross
I town lines.
Trains In Subway.
Trains are running on the subway
/ line, but are expected to be tied up be-
! fore the end OF the day.
/ on some of the long runs the men
| have not yet received the strike notice.
The leaders say all viii not be notified
before noon. and when the order is gen
/ orally understood complete ue-up OF
/ the surface lines viii have been accom-
There are AS00 trolley employees, Of
/ whom $3.50 are claimed as members or
4 the union The men have been recetv-
In 21 cents an hour and the demand IS
/ for . cents and the privilege oI pur-
/ chasing uniforms in the open market.
Recently the company ofIered the men
an Increase of 1 cent per hour. which
! Politics is said to play a large part
/ In the strike. The Philadelphia Rapid
| Transit Company is holding concern,
| having taken over the many street car
/ lines of the city. and guaranteeing diYi-
| dends, in some eases. as high as Is per
cent
! Dartpership with the company, by which
i the former is 10 reap certain dividends
/ after payment OF a certain percentage
on the regular stock. The city govern
/ ment has two Representatives on the
/ board Of directors, one Of whom Is the
! mayor
| This feature. the trolley men claim.
/ increases the efforts Of the government
| in breaking the strike.