Year: 1878

we regret to note the fact that the


danger of labor troubles east and


west seems to be on the increase.


This is all wrong. Violence will only


be followed by repression; and turbu-
lence will be an excuse for greater in


justice. The ballot box is the true
remedy.


We give the following interesting


extract as to the condition Of affairs


in Philadelphia:


The fears of another outbreak of
the labor riots in this vicinity are not
altogether groundless. The mayor


and the chief of police of this city, in


common with the authorities of other


municipalities in this and neighbor-


ing western states, have thought


proper to deny that they have any


fear from the violence of communis-


tic mob. They have probably been
| induced to do this so as to allay the
growing public apprehension. But at


the same time, while they have been


thus publicly announcing that there


was no danger, the authorities of
Philadelphia have hastily taken so


many precautions that one who knows


the truth would suppose these to be
induced by the very greatest danger
of repetition Of the scenes of riot


and bloodshed at Pittsburg last year.
The police force of this city. which
did such splendid work in the railroad
! riots last July, has been divided into


three battaliOns and is being drilled


every few days. They are to be sup.
piled with breech-loading repeaters


and will be taught how to use them.


The police drills are conducted very


qnietly, not in tho parks and squares,
! but in the station houses. At the


same time all the state militia regi-


ments in this city. the First, Second,


Third and Sixth, have been recruited
| up to their full standard, and a gen.


eral reorganization of the National


Guard is being made by the governor


so as to displace some Of tho cowardly


and inefficient officers who disgraced
themselves and their regiments last


July. The Keystone Battery. very


useful organization, which saw SER


vice during the rebellion, and which


has heretofore possessed the usual six


field pieces and gatling gun, has also


been recruited up to full compile
ment and has added to its armament
adother gatling and a mitrailleuse.
When mayor StOkely was asked If
he feared any trouble he declared that
he has "had the disorderly and COM


munistic classes closely watched, and
found that there are perhaps half


dozen communistic meetings held a


week. and all told their attendance
will not exceed 500. / am certain


that the public need have no anxiety
on the score Of q possible outbreak BY
these people, but"-and his honor
became trifle more serious-"bnt


while think there is no prospect Of
disturbance of the peace l am tax.
ing every precaution TO guard against
possibility, and feel amply prepared


to meet any emergency for weeks.
The police force HAS been drilling in
the manual of arms and is now in
6ne military condition. Probably the
reports you speak Of grew out OF the
fact that had sent letter to Sscre-
tary of War McCrary asking for the
loan of 400 breech-loading rifles for
the use Of the police department.
He answered that the request must


be transmitted through the governor,
and governor Hartranft therefore
officially made it, and l expect that
these arms will b here within short
time and will b distributed among
the di9trietn. When thn fnren -