The Birmingham age-herald., 1910-02-22
Cit Authorities Take Decisive Action Relative to th9
 Street far Strike
OTHER LABOR LEADERS
 MAY ALSO BE ARRESTED
surrinr Crowds Gather the Streets and in Addition to Attacks Upon Surface Lines the Elevated
 Road Is Attacked.

Philadelphia February 21.-Police of- fcials took the initiative tonight in the war being waged between the striking carmen and the officials of the Philadcl- phia Rapid Transit company when they arrested Clarence O. Pratt, the national organizer of the Amalgamated Associa- ton of Street and Electric Railway Elm 'ployes, on a warrant charging him with "conspring to incite to riot
 The warrant was served on Pratt as he was leaving an automobile in which he had attended today's mass meeting of the union carmen. He was locked up In the city hall and held to await hear ing tomorrow morning.
 It is reported that warrants have been issued for other labor leaders as result of conference held late today between District Attorney Rotan, Director of Pub lie Safety Clay and Magistrate Beaton.
 The police force was augmented tonight by swearing in for riot duty the State Fencibles, an independent military or ganization of about 200 members, who are not affiliated with the National Guard, but which organization performed service during the Spansh-American war. Under the agreement they are obliged to per- form police duty when called upon. They will appear in their regular uniforms armed with rifle and bayonet.
 Plans are also discussed tonight by the commanders of the three regiments of thtA Pennsylvania National Guard in this city to mobilize their troops at mo- Rent's notice. The mayor Is entitled to call upon these troops under special Tact of the assembly.
 Governor Stuart and Adjutant General Thomas J. Stewart are here tonight and if necessary call for outside troops can be made at any time. but this is not con- templated at present.
 Rioting Is Serious.
 The regular force of $500 and 5000 "spe- cials" was also augmented today by the swearing in of 66 park guards and 800 city employees of other departments. These men will begin service tomorrow and assist the worn-out policemen.
 Five carloads of strikebreakers reached here late tonight, and were loaded onto trolley cars at the Pennsylvania railroad station in West Philadelphia and taken to the car barns In that section.
  corted the cars and prevented a threat ened demonstration by mob of several thousand which had assembled. Trouble Is expected following the use of these men on the cars tomorrow.
 Reports vary as to the number of cars in service today. The company claimed that 700 were in operation, but the pick cts watching all the car barns reported at the headquarters of the striking trolley men that only 124 cars were running on all lines.
 They also reported that nine crews of strikebreakers who left the Frankford barns this morning had deserted their ears.
 face lines at o'clock tonight, the com- pany stating they did not desire to en- danger the lives of their loyal employees.
 Crowds in the Streets.
 Rioting in the very heart of the busi- ness section of the city. the attempted burning of another car and many petty attacks by strike sympathizers led the po- lice officials to enlarge their force by every expedient and to consider the call ing out of the state militia. The arrest of Leader Pratt caused sensation and resulted in renewed rumors of a general sympathetic strike of all the 100000 union men in this city.
 The day opened favorably for the Rapid Transit company. The heavy downpour of rain which began shortly after mid night deterred the ringleadeIg in yester- days lawlessness from beginning their depredations early today, and at the same time dampened the ardor of those whose intentions were to boycott the cars.
 As the day wore on and the sun ap- peared the spark which had been smoul- dering again broke into flame.
 The first serious disturbance of the A.. in front of the Reading terminal sta tion at Twelfth and Market streets and within stones throw of the Central police station. As car was proceed Mg out Market street small boy 5erked the trolley pole from the feed wire, causing blockade of cars.
 A pile of building material on the street provided ammunition for the lawless element and soon the stand ing cars were showered with brick bats and other missiles.
 An attempt was made to arrest the ringleaders of the boys, and this was the signal for a violet outbreak by many of the thousands of idlers who had gathered in the vicinity.
 The street was filled with a surgng crowd, many individuals of whom were curiosity seekers. When the three cleo tric patrol wagons filled with police men from the city hall reached the scene wagon of the Philadelphia Electric company had been raided and many incandescent lamp globes taken, and these were used as missiles which exploded with pistol-like reports.
 Workmen on the roofs of nearby buildings joined in the general bom- oardment
 The exploding lamps startled the \ more timid and there was a mad rush Co seek safety as the cry went up that dynamite was being used to tear up the tracks of the company. After battle of nearly an hour the police finally succeeded in driving the rioters back and the cars proceeded on til cir way with scarcely whole pane of glass in the long line.
 One of the most serious outbreaks sp>--------~-----~~->
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