The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-22
Strikers Have Been Unable to
Release Him on Bond.
Citizens Of Ph ladelphia Face a
Critical Situation.
CARS ARE RUNNING.
Guarded by Policeman, But Few
People Are Riding.
Hospitals Have Cared for 800
Strike Victims Already.

Philadelphia, Pa. Feb. 22.-As a re-
taliatory measure for the arrest of Ma
tlonal Organizer c. o. Pratt of the
Carmen's union. President John j.
| Murphy of the Central Labor union,
winch claims membership of 100000
persons, has communicated with the
presidents of all local trades unions
affiliated with the central body, ask
ing them the advisabi of calling a
| general strike in sympathy with the
street car men. Murphy then stated a
general strike had been ordered but
modified this later.
President Murphy, who had been up
all night in connection with the strike.
said a general strike might be called
! by the presidents. Thirty thousand
men and women. he said, had already
expressed a Willingness to quit work
to help the street car men and he felt
confident that all organized labor in
| the city would agree to strike.
Ihe Central Labor union las: Sun
day gave the executive COMMITTEES
power to call 2 general strike and
whether such shall be- called. .Murphy
says, rests with the individual unions.
This thing has been forced upon
US, continued Murphy. "The police
have deprived. Pratt of his liberty on
trumped UP charges and labor will not
stand by and see its leaders treated in
! such manner"
ol.ihe Ledoer Pratt was given a
| hearing and held in $4,000 hail.
charged with melting to riot. .consuir-
acy and disorderly conduct Bail will
be furnished.
Warrant for Murphy.
Mr.. Murphy could hardly contain
city officials in taking Pratt into cus-
i tody. The rumor that a warrant Is
4 ready to be served on Murphy is still
i current. Police officials have nothing
| to say regarding this.
1 Murphy says he had heard the r,,n,or
| OF the issuance of a warrant for him
and declared he was ready for it at any
| time. ~-'
They can serve it whenever they
want to- he said land the resnonse
OF the union workmen will be swift and
/ sure ----0
Efforts OF some of Pratt's friends to
| see MIN during the morning were made
! impossible by the police. The Central
| station and police court are on the sixtf,
floor OF the big city hall but no one is
permitted above the fifth floor.
the orders were rigid and hundreds
OF men and boys arrested yesterday and
| last night for participating in the dis
| order were given hearings without the
| presence of friends
During the morning hours there was
| the usual stoning of cars in several
| parts of the city in which no one was
seriously hurt. The most serious trou-
| BILE occurred in the northeast section
| when two boys were shot by a police
man. 1t is claimed One of the youths
| was struck in the chest by bullet and
| was seriously wounded.
No Move Toward Peace.
No hand has yet been raised in an
effort to bring about peaceful settle
| ment of the strike. The Philadelphia
Rapid Transit company says it is A
night to the end This is also the de-
claration of the union. The company
is running cars on the principal lines,
| but the service is not regular and but
| few people venture to ride.
The political situation in Philadelphia
| must not be forgotten. The president
of the Central Labor union, Murphy was
last fall candidate for city treasurer
on the ticket Of the William Penn party.
| the reform organization that has made
| bitter war on the dominant political or
ganization in Philadelphia Murphy was
| badly defeated at the polls. Politics has
also played part IN the management
Of the street railway system, the local
| leaders taking active interest in it,
Brigadier General Wendell P. Bow
man, commander of the first brigade,
National Guard of Pennsylvania, and
Henry Clay. director of the department.
of public safety. went into conference
at IL o'clock. AS they discussed yes
terday the advisability of having the
troops ready for instant call, 1t is pre-
sumed their conference today had to do
with the same subject.
Tough ON the Theaters.
All the theaters keenly feel the effect
of the stoppage of street railway traffic.
With no street cars at night, the people
remain at home and the theaters are
consequently not half filed.
The transit company has issued this
statement:
I'VE are operating more cars than ut
the same time yesterday. We have not
lost a man but have 2400 loyal en-
ployes. We are not employing any
strike breakers and have not done so.
1t is very probable the elevated line is
the only one that will be operated after
6 O'Clock this evening"
Mutiny, which broke out among the
nearly 300 nonunion men kept by the
transit company in the trolley barn at
Forty-third street and Lancaster ave
nue., early today, resulted in pitched
battle with a squad of so Paramount
park guards doing police duty. The dis
| turbance was caused, it is said, because
| most of the men wanted positions as
| conductors and were dissatisfied when
ordered to do duty as motormen-
In order to deprive mobs of effective
| ammunition, Mayor Reyburn has order
i. ed the inspectors in the bureau Of
| buildings to notify every builder in the
city to remove all building materials
| from the highways.