Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-02-22
$500 Police, 5000 Specials and State Constabu-
larry on Duty--Three Regiments National Guard
Read y.-Generd Organizer Pratt Arrested
Other Warrants Expected More Rioting.

Philadelphia. Feb. 21-Polce Off
Gals took the initiative tonight in the
struggle going on between the strik-
ing carmen and the officials of the
Philadelphia Rapid Transit Co., when
they arrested Clarence o. Pratt, the
national organizer of the Amalgamated
Association Of Street and Electric
Railway EMPLOYEES on warrant
charging him with 'conspiring to in
cite riot The warrant was issued by
Ma gistrate Beaton, the committing
magistrate at the central station on an
affidavit sworn to by Detective Frank
OCOnnor. 1t was served on Pratt as
he was leaving an automobile in which
he had attended today's mass meeting
of the union car men. He was locked
up in City hall and held to await a
hearing tomorrow morning. 1t is ru-
mored that warrants have been issued
for other labor leaders as a result of
conference held late today between
District Attorney Rotan, Director of
Public Safety Clay and Magistrate
| BeatOn.
| The police force was augmented to-
night by swearing in, for riot duty,
of the state constables, an INDEPENDENT
military organization of about 200
members who are not affiliated with
the National Guard, but served dur
ing the Spanish American War. Under
the agreement with the city-under
which they hold their armory-thev
are obliged to perform police duty
when called upon. They will do duty
in their regular uniforms, armed with
rifles and bayonets.
Plans are also being discussed to-
night by the commanders of the three
regiments in the Philadelphia Nation
al Guards in this city to mobilize their
troops at a moments notice. The may
| or is entitled to call upon these troops
under a special act of Assembly. Gov
crnor Stuart and Adjutant General
| Thomas ]. Stewart are in this city
| tonight and if necessary call for out
side troops can he made at any time,
but this is not contemplated at pres
| cnt
The regular force of $500 police and
| 2OOG specials was also enlarged today
| by the swearing in of 66 park guards
and 500 city employees of other depart
| ments. These men will begin duty to-
morrow and assist the wornout police
men who have been on constant duty
| on every street car.
Five carloads of strikebreakcrs
reached here late tonight and were
loaded on trolley cars at the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad station in West Phil
adelphia and taken to car lines in that
! section. large squad of mounted
police escorted the cars and prevented
a threatened demonstration by q mob
of several thousand which had as
sembled. Trouble is expected following
| the use of these men on the cars tomor-
row.
| Reports vary as to the number of
cars in service today. The company
claimed that 700 cars We're in operation
but the pickets watching all the car
barns reported at the headquarters
of the striking trolley men that only
ia cars were in operation on all lines.
They also reported that nine crews of
strikebreakers which left the Frank
fort barns this morning, deserted their
cars.
The company also asserted it's abil-
ity to operate even more cars provided
|
item. All cars were withdrawn from
the surface lines at 6 o'clock tonight.
The company explained that it did not
want to endanger the lives of it's loyal
employees.
Rioting in the very heart of the bus
mess section of the city the attempted
burning of another car and many pet
ty attacks by strike sympathizers led
the police officials to enlarge their
force by every expedient and to ar
range for calling out the militia, and
renewed rumors of q general sympa-
thetic strike of all the 100000 union
men in this city.
The day opened favorably for the
J pour which began shortly after mid
night deferred those who were the
ringleaders in yesterdays lawlessness
from beginning their depredat1ons
early today, and at the same time
dampened the ardor of those whose in
| tenticns were TO boycott the cars. But
as the day wore on and the sun APP
peared the spark. which had been
smoudering again broke into flame.
The first serious disturbance of the day
occurred in the center OF the city in
front of the Reading terminal station
at 18th and Market streets and with
| in a stones throw of the central po-
lice station. AS car was proceeding
out Market street, small boy jerked
the trolley pole from the wire, causing
a block Of cars. A pile of building ma
terial on the street provided ammuni-
ton for the lawless element and soon
the standing cars were showered with
bricks and other missiles.
An attempt was made to arrest the
ringleader of the boys and this was the