Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-11-24
.PHILA. MEN SEIZED
IN READING AS REDS
James n. Maurer Also Vanishes
When 500 Men Warn Against
Defiance of Law
MINISTER AND MAURER FLEE

Three Philadelphia men are held in
Reading, following a fareup of anti
radical feeling yesterday that threat
ems to free that city from the red
menace" aud break the strength of the
Socialist party there.
The men gave their names as Daniel,
Morris and Thomas Deluco, brothers,
but refused to give their address in
this city. All were heavily armed.
The specific charge against them is with
held by the Reading police, but they
are said TO have planned to take part
in radical rally yesterday.
The Rev. Irwin St John Tucker,
radical minister, scheduled to speak at
yesterdays rally, which the Socialists
threatened to have after Mayor Filbert
revoked the permit, was threatened with
being tarred and feathered and run
out of town unless he left Reading.
Minister Got Out
He got out OF town some time during
the night, Sergeant DeIIart, of the
Reading police. headquarters. reported
this morning. John H. Maurer. Social
the State Federation of Labor. was
threatened with the same treatment.
Maurer disappeared yesterday afternoon
and no record has been had of him
since, Sergeant DeHart said.
Five thousand men, many OF them
former service men, gathered before the
Socialist headquarters last night and
grimly waited any effort to hold the
advertised meeting. Mayor Filbert asked
them to disperse. They cheered him.
Then they formed in ordered ranks:
marched around the block and returned
to take up their station.
The men had gathered following an
advertisement in the Reading papers
yesterday morning asking them to re-
port at the headquarters Of the various
organizations to which they belonged.
The orders uniting in the advertisement
included the American Legion, the Elks,
Young Mems Hebrew Association,
Reading Naval Association, the G. A.
r., Sons of Veterans. Veterans of For
eign Wars, T. o. S. of A and the Penn
Wheelmen.
Attend Mass Meeting
After they gathered yesterday after
noon the men marched to a mass meet
ing called by the American Legion. Fol
lowing addresses by the Rev. Robert NJ.
b. Blackburn, pastor of the First Pres
byterian Church; Wilbur Wright, a
member of the Legion; the Rev. A. V.
Casselman, of Calvary Regormed
Church. and the Rev. Scott r. Wagner,
of the Second Reformed Church, both
former army chaplains, and Mayor
elect John X. Stauffer, it was an
nounced that the Socialist gathering
would not be permitted.
Mon ottnn1inp tho nntipp
raded to the Socialist headquarters and
delivered their edict. They demanded
that the American flag be hung from
the windows of the headquarters. The
demand was acceded to. upon advice
from Maurer This was the last public
appearance of Maurer. He was then
told that he had to leave town.
At night the band of 5000 who gath
cred outside the headquarters was grim
and determined. The word was quickly
spread that a pot of pitch was boiling
for the Rev. Mr.. Tucker and that he
would be tarred and feathered if he
appeared to make his address in favor
Of the release of all so called "political
prisoners" particularly Eugene V.
Dehs, Socialist leader in the United
States.
Flees in TaXicab
Tucker did approach the meeting
place, but fled in a taxicab when the
crowd saw and pursued him. The 1924
train last night was the one on which
he was ordered to leave town. Legion
officials searched the train before it left
Reading, but could not find him. 1t is
not known exactly by what means he
left Reading
Today conditions are normal. Ser
geant DeHart said, and no more diff
culties are expected unless there is an
other threatened red or Socialist
demonstration.
The rallying of the patriotic organi-
cations yesterday was the climax of n
fight being waged against the radicals.
The time for Showdown" was con-
sidered ripe when the Socialists pro
posed to hold their meeting regardless
Of an order issued against it by the
mayor.
Members of the organization that won
the skirmish yesterday say they are
ready at any time again to rally the
strength of Reading lies in its Amer
icanism and to prove to the entire
country that the impression spread by
loud mouthed Socialists and radicals is
not good criterion on which to base
an opinion of that, city.
The three philadelphians arrested
will be arraigned for a hearing today.
In a huge advertisement today, the
American Legion thanks the patriotic
citizens for answering Yesterdays call
to make Reading 100 per cent Ameri-
can. The advertisement terminates with
this signicant sentence 1--WE may need
you again soon.