Omaha daily bee., 1910-02-22
Director of Traction Strike Accused
of "Ineiting to Riot"
WALK IN THE RAIN
Heavy DOwnpOur Adds to Discomfort
Caused by Heup.
RE ACTS OF VIOLENCE
Car Blown Up with Dynamite on
Lehigh Avenue aud Motorman IL
Badly Beaten Up I'm Min
District.

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 21.-The advisa-
bility OF calling out state troops was dis
cussed at the mayors office late this aft
ernoon. II is understood that II further
serious disorder occurs the MALTA will
be called upon TO assist the local police.
The commanders of Philadelphia regi-
ments met tonight to discuss the situa-
tion.
PHILADELPHIA. Feb, 21.-C. o. Pratt,
chairman of the Amalgamated Association
of Street and Electric Railway Employees.
was arrested here tonight charged with
"inciting TO riot" Pratt has had charge
of the street car mems strike in this city.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb f1.-Although
street cars were running on all
lines today, the system is pretty wen tied
up With the exception OF a few passen-
gers most people preferred to walk rather
than take the chances OF heing made tar.
gets for bricks or other missiles thrown at
the cars While there were minor disorders
early in the day, they we're OF 20 conse-
quence and few arrests were made.
The Philadelphia Rapid Transit company,
owner Of the entire street railway system
of the city issued statement that It had
only COO cars running today, but had
enough men to run 1900 more II there were
policemen available Tho police are worn
out by the disorders OF yesterday and not
enough men could be assigned to place two
on each car.
There will be no service after s p. m.
today except on the subway and elevated
lines The company says 1t has imported
no men and is operating cars with its own
employees.
The strikers claim 6,5O0 men out OF about
1900 are on strike and that the company
is running cars with strike breakers and
power house employees
OF about 100 rioters arrested yesterday
most of those locked vi, were under o.
There was a serio,s riot at Fifth street
and Lehigh avenue III the mn district this
afternoon Dynamite was exploded under
car and it was broken in half There
were no passengers and. previous to the
dynamlting. the mob ordered the crew off
the car. Police arrived quickly, and with
drawn revovers, cowed the mob and sew
era arrests were made
Other acts OF violence were reported.
Cars we're attacked in various parts of
the city during the morning. The most
serious outbreak occurred in the mill dis
trlct in the northwestern section. when a
crowd, after beating the motorman and
conductor of car, wrecked 1t. The two
men were injured so badly that they were
taken to hospitals.
The motorman's skull Is believed to be
fractured.
To Work ON Roller skates.
1t was a bad morning for the tens OF
thousands OF persons who were compelled
to walk to their places of employment, as
rain fell heavily Every teamster who was
willing to carry passengers" found people
eager to pay high rates of fare" tc
carry them to work
One Of the amusing sights of the strike
was to see men and not few young womeI
going to work on roller skates
Conspicuous on the lapels OF the work
ing motormen and conductors was tn,
insignia of the keystone union the riva
Amalgamated association, Of which th'
strikers are members.
One thousand men on the eligible lis
for policemen and firemen were sworn IN
yesterday and the city hall this morning
was the scene of great activity among the
police officials who were preparing to swear
in 1000 additional men, at the first sigI
Of further lawlessness.
1t is estimated that 100 persons were In
jured yesterday, chiefly by stones or other
missiles. Few, however, were seriously
hurt.
Under the proclamation issued by the
mayor yesterday people are not permitted
to congregate on the streets.
The director of public safety is ordered
ito use all necessary force and means
whatever to disperse unlawful assem-
blages"
Rioters Burn Cars.
Rioting In every section OF this city fol-
lowed the attempt of the company to
operate it's lines here yesterday. Pas
sengers and crews were driven from
the cars by infuriated mobs OF strike sym
pathzers and in nearly a score of In
stances the abandoned cars we're burned
or otherwise destroyed At nightfall every
car was withdrawn from service.
stern measures were adopted by the po-
lice to quell the disorders and riot. Five
persons were arrested charged with in
citing to riot. Two women were shot by
stray bullets and many injured persons
were taken to the hospitals.
Mayor Reyburn last night ordered Director
OF Police Clay to swear in 5000 additional
police and issued a proclamation enforcing
the riot act.
Ine executive committee OF the Centfhl
Labor union at a meeting this afternoon
pledged both moral and financial support
TO the striking carmen. They also decided
to call a sympathetic strike OF every union
man in the city In case the authorities
put In effect their threat to operate the
cars with policemen and flremen.
During the morning hours cars were
run on every line with little difficulty ex-
cept In the mill district OF Kenslngton,
where cars were stoned by disorderly
mobs. Al II o'clock the transit company
officials announced that cars were run
ming on their regular Sunday schedule.
Shortly afterwards riots were reported
from scores OF widely-separate localities.
Women Are shot.
In the southern section OF the city a mob
Of boys drove the conductor and motormau
OF a car from their posts. and after the four
women passengers had left the car set Il
on fire with waste taken from a nearhs