The Washington times., 1919-08-27
SHOW DOWN
CERTAIN ON
POLICE UNION
Finish Fight Over Order to
Drop A. F. of 1. AffiIiatiOn
Predicted to Begin Tomorrow
By BILL PRICE.

washington policemen will consider
tomorrow their reply to the District
Commissioners request that the po-
lice union withdraw from member
ship in the American Federation OF
Labor.
Indications today were shat il any
definite action is taken at tomorrow's
meeting, the men will stand pat and
await advice from the federation.
The federation is expected 70 make
a strenuous hght 70 preserve its rela-
tions with the many police and nre-
mems unions in its membership
throughout the country
The policemen viii meet in MI
sicians' Hail, 1O06 z street northwest
at 8 p. m.
ComniIsElOnerB Determined.
The District Commissioners are de-
termined in their stand that the
washington police shall not be affiii-
ated with organized labor. It appear
ed certain today that in case the po-
lice union refused to comply with
their request, they would dismiss all
members Of the union, and apply 70
the War Department for military
forces to preserve law and order In
the District
The Commissioners will proceed
slowly and deliberately about the mat
ter but will act quickly when 1t be-
comes OF unquestioned record that
the union IS TO put itself in position
Of defiance Of their orders.
It may not be possible the union
wiz reach a definite decision about
the matter tomorrow night. Final
action may be deferred. While the
union has been given definite notice
that Il win be supported BY the Cen
traI Labor Union and the Federation,
there has not been opportunity Tor
thorough conferences with the higher
Federation officials as to what line
of action win follow wholesale dis
missals BY TIE Commissioners
81 =. Heads to Meet.
The executiVe council Of the Ameri-
can Federation OF Labor begins a
long. session IN this city tomorrow,
and the general status OF city police
mems unions win be taken up before
the sessions are concluded. Opposi-
ton to these unions being affiliated
with the federation has developed in
many cities, and showdown" is
inevitable.
In spite OF the opposition. the fed
Grafton Is issuing from one to threee
u
day. The totale number now organ
lied is between thirty and forty, it
was stated today BY Frank Morri-
son, secretary OF the federation.
Samuel Gompers, president Of the
federation. is expected to attend the
sessions OF the executive council.
A statement Of the local situation
viii be laid before the council by the
Central Labor Union or the police
mems union
.. After Dismissals, Then What? =.
The members Of the local Police
mems Union are reticent about their /
probable action at the meeting to- |
morrow night They understand the |
seriousness OF the whole matter, and |
viii proceed carefully they say. Sen |
timent Is reported to be favorable to |
standing by the federation and ac-
cepting the consequences, now pretty |
generally believed to be mismissal /
from the force.
No definite plan has been decided l
upon as TO the course to follow in /
event the Commissioners take the /
drastic steps forecast, but there are /
intimations Of application to the local /
courts for an Injunction against the /
Commissioners, restraining them from /
making an order Of dismissal effec-
tive. II such an Injunction could be /
obtained. the officers belonging 70 the /
union could not be displaced from
the force until the highest courts Of
the land had passed upon the legal
ity Of the action Of the Commissioners.
May Invoke Antitrust Act.
Court action against the Commits
sioners would be under one Of sew
erGl Federal laws, preferably the
CLAYTON antitrust act, which gives
wide recognition to labor orEaniza-
tions. The federation is anxious TO
test the full meaning Of that act and
Is disposed to believe there Is no bet
ter opportunity to do 50 than in the
poIicemen's union case.
''The same opposition that is shown
by the Commissioners is now mani
tested elsewhere toward policemen's
unions7" said Mr.. Morrison today.
Everywhere the oponents say there
Is no objection to their having an
OF their own-that is an l.
that will do as certain
interests want"
white Houses Position.
II was regarded in many directions
today as significant that President
Wilson has not interfered with the
program Of the Commissioners, or eX-
pressed any dissatisfaction with the
position taken by them. It Is deemed
beyond doubt he has become acquRnt-
ed with the matter through the news
papers, IL not officially. The position
OF the Commissioners Is a vital one
in many respects, and the Presidents
failure TO interfere in any way Is con-
strued a. meaning he probably feels
the issue might as well be settled now
as at any other time.
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