Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1909-07-15

= man who makes q business of
hg strikes. who does so with only
Is gain to himself, six dollars. .
Tar less than his ability would
him in dozen other callings,
force has been gained the cause
tganized labor.
arence o. Pratt Is this new chief
and in his latest fight he has just
efeated the combined power Of
reat railway company and an all
owerful political machine. and won a
'iumph for the striking car conduc-
,ru and motormen of Philadelphia.
In making a battle for 5000 men,
ratt skillfully secured the support of
ubIlc opinion. That was all he had
So on, but by matchless diplomacy,
storming the weak places instead
the strong, by inspiring loyalty in
le men, and organizing his forces
ito military efficiency, instead of hav-
lg them go along in the old chaotic
hammer, Pratt won an astonishing VIC
Dry.
COnditions in Philadelphia at the
inc the strike of the trolley employees
eg4n were different from what would
q found in any other city in the coun-
~.
In most cities the leaders of the
Olit1cal organization in power hest
ates to affront the laboring people.
But in Philadelphia the machine,
confident in it's apparently irresistible
)ower, made common cause with the
Rapid Transit Company when long
standing differences between itself
and the men reached an acute stage.
Condemned by Mayor.
The Mayor of the city, tool Of the
Machine company, sharply condemned
the strikers. He announced that he
would take ten thousand
men,, and run the cars against the
Wishes of the strikers or any other
poNer that might strike to interfere.
xho Director of Public Safety, a heavy
holder of Transit stock, swore in hun
1xeds of special policemen, and was
epnatantly In conference with the Off
Gals of the company as a partisan
propared to render any aid possible
~ assure the defeat of the men. The
altitude Of the administration was not
simply aimed at the preservation Of
order. 1t put itself on record as be-
ing determined to help the company
- the uttermost. With the immense
power that the machine has in Phila-
delphia. this looked like defeat to a
Gertainty.
And it probably would have been
but for the introduction into the prob
Inn of Clarence 0. Pratt.
With him came leadership, some
thing that only occasionally, as in the
personality of men like John Mitchell,
comes to the aid of strikers.
He came to Philadelphia with the
prestige of success on his side. He
has had part in the leadership of the
strikes of street car employees in six
teen cities, and he never emerged
from one without having won sub
stantial gains for his followers.
He himself admitted the difficulties
Of the position when he assumed con-
troI of the Philadelphia fight.
~ the time he got into the saddle
the strike had reached the rioting
stage.
Sympathizers with the strikers were
burning street cars, rioting was under
Wy, bricks were hurled through the
windows of cars and passengers in
1ured, strike breakers imported from
other cities, who were running the
cars, were dragged from them, and
beaten. Anarchy almost had con-
quered the peace of the Quaker City.
No Disorder Among Strikers.
traits first act was to make sure
that strikers had no part in these dis
turbances. The records of the men
must be kept clean, he vehemently ex-
plnined at the meetings he addressed,
or else they lose public support, the
best asset they had. And so great
4sss%3:;a b 1853 f. sSs3s