Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-02-22
All Unions Called Out to
Aid Philadelphia
Car Men.
MAY INVOLVE 100000
Arrest of National Organizer on
Charge of Inciting Riot
Brings Crisis

Philadelphia, Feb. q. President
Murphy Of the Central Labor union
has called general strike of organ.
lied labor In Philadelphia In sympathy
with the striking street railway en-
ployes. Ii Ts claimed $4,000 to 100, 900
men will respond.
RESULT OF ARREST.
The~immediate cause of the general
strike ordered was the arrest last
night Of National Organizer Pratt of
the Garments union. He was this
morning given a hearing anG released
on 5000 ball. Some Of the unions
are against sympathetic strikes and
others are opposed to breaking trade
agreements, but notwithstanding these
conditions the radical labor leaders say
the order will be generally obeyed.
NOT IN EFFECT AT ONCE.
Philadelphia, Dec. 22.-PresIdent
Murphy Of the Central Labor union
declares the general strike order will
not go into effect until 1t gets the ap-
provaI of the presidents of the various
trade unions.
SAYS 10000 ARE READY.
President Murphy now says 10000
men and women have already express
ed willingness to quit work to help
the street car men, and he felt con-
fident, he added, all organized labor in
the city would agree to strike.
Dark Outlook for Day.
Philada1phia--Feb- 22.-W rs hfngten;s
birthday opened in Philadelphia with
its citizens facing a most critical situa-
ton. With the public mind inflamed,
the people taking sides in the conflict
between the strikers and street car
company, and with the police deter
mined to put down lawlessness, it will
be remarkable if a clash more serious
than those of either Sunday or yes
terday does not occur between the un-
ruly element and the authorities.
Answer stones with Shots.
Early in the morning in the mill
district a crowd of boys showered
passing car with stones. Policemen
on the car fired into the crowd. wound
ing two who were taken to a hospital.
The Incarceration of the strike lead
ers has created an ugly feeling be-
tween the opposing elements and early
this morning a general strike of all
union men in the city was ordered by
President Murphy of the Central Labor
union.
May Call Out All Militia.
It is believed almost a hundred
thousand men will quit work. To
meet possible contingencies 1t is stated
the full force of the state militia, TO-
600 men, is likely to be called to rein
force the 1000 police and deputies on
duty.
Strike Breakers Come.
Five carloads of strikebreakers
reached here last night and were load
ed on trolley cars at the Pennsylvania
railroad station In West Philadelphia
and taken to car barns in that section.
A large squad Of mounted police es-
corted the cars and prevented a threat
ened demonstration by a mob of sew
eral thousand Trouble is expected
following the use of these men on the
cars today.
VIII Affect Other Cities.
If the order for general industrial
war is carried out to the letter it will
mean serious consequences for the
city, which probably will be felt in
other places than Philadelphia.
President John j. Murphy, head of
the Central Labor union, who made
the announcement of a general sym
pathetic strike at 10 a. m. and was
laboring under excitement. said he had /
no doubt labor will rush to the sup
port of the carmen.
Warrant for Murphy, Too.
Murphy could hardly contain him |
self in his indignation against the Of |
ficials for taking National Organizer |
Pratt into custody. The rumor that |
a warrant is ready to be served on |
Murphy is still current Police Off |
cials have nothing to say regarding |
this phase of the situation. Murphy |
said he had heard a rumor of the is
suance of a warrant for him and de-
clared he was ready for it at any time.
They can serve it whenever they
want to-" he said, land the response
of union workmen will be swift and
sure
Police Keep Friends Away.
Efforts of some of Pratt's friends
to see him during the morning were
made impossible by the police.
The hundreds of men and boys ar
rested yesterday and last night for
participating in the disorder were to-
day given hearings without the pres
ence of friends. Compared with the
sSsnta Of the 6gst Two aszs of tAs,L