Los Angeles herald., 1910-02-27
STRIKERS RFNFW
- OBuAgnAGnAO HAGIVG
RIOTS; NON-UNION
CARMEN BEATEN
PASSENGERS ATTACKED BY
PHILADELPHIA M0BS
MoToRMAN DRAGGED FROM CAR
AND ROUGHLY HANDLED
General Strike Menacss Quaker City
Arrest of President of Central
Labor Council Adds to
Gravity of Situation
Associated pressl


PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 2S.-After
day Of almost unbroken tranquility
several small riots broke out in Ken
sington late today when young men
attacked cars run by non-union men.
In one of the affrays passengers
were attacked by strike sympathizers.
A motorman was dragged from his
car and badly beaten, and several po-
licemen were roughly handled, but
no one was seriously injured.
The most serious affair occurred at
o'clock at Front street and Susque-
hanna avenue. The crowd got beyond
the control Of the police force. and
stopped car at the intersection of the
streets. The crowd tried to reach the
non-union crew, and though the lone
policeman who was protecting the
crew fought bravely, several men
dragged him into the street. His re-
volver was taken from him and he
was given a severe beating. The con-
ducter managed to get away, but the
motorman was not so fortunate. He
fired several shots, but all went Wild
and he was pulled from the car and
beaten.
Other policemen waded into the mob
but were reluctant to use their re-
volvers because of the women and
children caught in the crowd and
fought with their clubs
Mounted Police Charges
Here come the state cops!" some
one yelled, and there was a movement
to break away.
A half dozen mounted police gal
loped up and charged into the crowds
rlanr~ do I, i
right and left with their hickory sticks
and finally forced the mob back.
Men, women and children were
treated alike No revolvers were
drawn by the troopers, but they made
good use of their riot sticks, and the
rioters, realizing the troopers were
not to be trifled with, soon were on
the run
IN the fight woman passenger, Mrs.
j. Z. Ehler, was struck with a brick
ana rendered unconscious Walter
Graham, another passenger who tried
TO carry her from the car, was at
tackled by the mob and roughly ham
died, but managed to carry the woman
into drug store.
The first trouble in the negro Sec
ton occurred today when a crowd
threw missiles at cars Policemen
quickly scattered the crowd.
The arrest and arraignment of John
j. Murphy, president of the Central
Labor union, on a charge of melting
to riot, and the disorders noted, mark
ed the eighth day of the strike.
Whether strike of all organized la
Dor in Philadelphia will be called next
week probably will be decided at to-
morrow's meeting of the Central Labor
union.
The arrest Of Murphy has added to
the uneasiness in labor circles. The
warrant for Murphy's arrest was is
sued by the direction of Director of
Public Safety Clay, following the pub
lication in the afternoon papers of the
following statement, said to have been
made by the head of the Central La
Dor union:
Statement Causes Arrest
you can depend on it that by Sun
days meeting a general strike will be
called. If one man is shot in Kensing-
ton there will follow a carnival of
riot and bloodshed which will startle
the entire country.
II should not care to be responsible
for such an outbreak. The state DO
lice would be helpless. l want it un-
derstood that there are men in the
northeast who can shoot as straight as
any trooper who ever drew breath
Just wait a little while for develop
ments and you will see something
WHICH VIII open your eyes"
Murphy denied that he had made
such a statement for publication. He
says he merely expressed an opinion
as to what might develop If the strike
continued.
Unlike Pratt, who was denied bail
when arrested on a similar charge
few days ago, Murphy was permitted
to enter bail before a magistrate for
his hearing today.
Compared with yesterday there is a
noticeable change in the early hours
of the day in the matter of street car
facilities. Cars were operated under
police protection on nearly all lines.
Two or three lines, the company
claims, are being run with nearly the
full number of cars.
The menace of general sympa-
thetic strike still hangs over the city.
AS was expected by the police and
the car company, Saturday night saw
more or less violence in all part Of the
city where the company maintained
service. Comparatively few persons
ventured in the cars. The disturb
ances were of a minor character. and
police reports late tonight show no one
seriously injured. nor any great dam
age to the transit company's property.