The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-05-30
BIG STREET CAR
 STRIKE IS BEGUN
Two Thousand Men Quit Work
 In PhiIadeIphi
HIGHER WAGES DEMANDED
Saloons Are Closed In the City By Police Chief and People Have to Go to Camden to Quench
 Their Thirsts.

Philadelphia. May 2e.-(Special.)-A 10 o'clock tonight only four lines of the Philadelphia Rapid Transit company were running on anything like approximating a schedule. They were the Tenth and Eleventh street cars the Willow Grove, the Nicetown and the Erie street divis- ions.
 The strikers claim great gains and the company officials concede that at least 2000 men are out.
 Rioting broke out in West Philadelphia and in the northwestern sections. In one instance the rioters stoned car and two women were so badly bruised that it was necessary to take them to a hos pistal. As a result of the police order closing all drinking bars from o'clock tonight until o'clock Monday morning there has been rush to Camden and the Pennsylvania railroad has put on extra ferryboats to accommodate the thirsty ones.
 Throughout the day riots occurred in various parts of the city, but in every instance the appearance of the police quickly put an end to the disturbance.
 Up to 6 o'clock tonight 2A arrests for disorderly conduct had been made.
 Every fireman in Philadelphia has had orders to be in readiness for police duty. Two hundred uniformed private watch men have been pressed into service for police duty and will receive policemen's wages from the city.
 O. D. Pratt, chairman of the interna- tional board of the Carmen's union, at whose order the strike began at 3:45 o'clock this morning. declared tonight that only 500 of the 6600 regular men are working. All others working, he said, are private detectives or spies employed by the company.
 For two hours after the strike was ordered there was little Interruption in the regular service. All cars running at this time were of night lines and many night crews who intended to strike finished their runs.
 The difficulty began when it was time for the day cars to begin. Great diff flculty was experienced by the company, particularly in outlying sections Dis order which was one of the early fea- lures of the strike was said to be due to union sympathizers.
 Undeterred by about 15 policemen who stood quietly by, a mob of about 5000 persons attacked a crowded car at Fiftfeth street and Girard avenue, hurling bricks through the windows ana plllnB them on the IFdCks. A young girl on the car was struck be- low the eye and slightly cut.
 No effort was made by the policemen to clear the tracks and as fast as the crew removed the bricks the crowd re- placed them. Finally the track was partly cleared and the car started. The trolley pole was then pulled from the wire and the rope cut.
 That there will be no compromise was manifested by the following state ment of an official:
 There is no use denying that tn i strike is serious and embarrassing. It would be unfair to the public to deny it. Just where the company stands, however. cannot be determined until after the general order has been posted requiring all men to report for duty at noon.
 When we ascertain our status we will at once proceed to cope with the situation.
 This morning there has been some thing less than half the cars running. These will be increased tomorrow.
 There will be no overtures or com promises. The company feels that the 1-cent an hour increase promised July Is all it can afford"