Evening star., 1919-11-02
POLITICAL BATTLE
MASSACHUSETTS
IS SENSATIONAL
Gov. Coolidge Favored Slight
" Over Mr.. Long; Police
y Strike Main Issue.
BY r. p. HULL.
BY r. p. HULL.
to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
BOSTON, November 1.-Time is fast
drawing to a close on the most sensa- :
tional state campaign in the history OF
Massachusetts. Next Tuesday the
voters will decide whether they want
Gov. Calvin Coolidge to continue in OF
fice for another year or whether ne
should be supplanted by the democratic
nominee, Richard H. Long, wealthy shoe
manufacturer of birmingham. Mass.
who did 900 worth of contract
work for the government during the
war II is neck and neck battle. The
last twenty four hours, however nave
given decided encouragement q 49, .e-
publican campaign managers ana ois-
interested opinion. If there be any AT
this time, inclines to the belief that
Coolidge is in the ascendency.
Police Strike Leading Issue.
The campaign has attracted national
attention because it's leading issue is
that of the police strike. More than
I1OO policemen of the total of 1900 In
Boston went out on strike because they
were not permitted to join the American
Federation of Labor. Gov Coolidge
took over the control of the departn1ent
from the hands of Mayor Peters, called
out the entire state guard and brought
about law and order after one night OF
rioting. In the days that followed the
governor assembled local and visiting
newspapermen at his office and an
neunced that the police were not strik-
ers, but "deserters." and could not be
taken back, no matter what the cir
cumstances From that hour it was
realized that he would rise or fall on
that issue.
N S~t> ts<, r1 or .
opponent last rear and came within
1900 ballots OF winning the election.
chose to take the side of tho striking
policemen, advocating their reinState-
for his course of action during the
strike and in upholding Police Com
missioner Curtis. More than 100 of
the striking policemen took the
stump for Long and went all over the
state to explain how badly they had
been treated in the matter of hours of
duty. accommodations in station
houses and czar-hke control by su-
periors. Sympathy soon developed
Mr. Long had no difficulty in realizing
that the issue would be popular. but
as the days went by the leading ques-
tion of the campaign resolved itself
into a slogan. on the republican side,
Of Law and order or riot and an
arehy.''
OF course. Mr.. Long never advocated
dfeobedience of law or condoned the
poiicemen for striking. He believes
that they have been taught a lesson
ii. He would see them taken back
individually and the book closed on
most disgraceful affair.
Candidates Manage Campaigns.
Both Mr.. Long and Gov. Coolidge
have managed their campaigns to a
great extent outside the state COM
-mittee organisations. The democratic
state committee was accused by Mr..
Long in his first campaign with Gov.
Coolidge of inactivity. If not hostility.
To a great extent the charge was
true 1t is well known that the demo-
cratic state committee did not take
kindly TO the" second Long campaign
this year. but accepted the inevitable
Long is a wealthy man and there are
evidences that he has spent much
money in his contest. He has been on
the stump day and night, and theree
fore has had a decided advantage
over Gov. Coolidge, who was i'll in
bed Tor more than a week, and has
since been too weak to speak many
times.
Boston and the large textile cities
are the pivotal points in the fight, If
they maintain their strength for Long
from last year and make gains in
proportion to the increases in popula-
and sailors from war and the attrac-
tion OF general employment, the Long
people believe the fight is .easily
theirs. But Gov. Coolidge has had
before him. in the last few hours, con-
Iaenaal reports which reveal defec-
11ons In the former Long strength
and favorable attitude on the part of
the newcomers
For example. Fall River. New Red.
iofd, lawrence. Haverhill. Brock
ton, Iaunton and Worcester do not
look so black to the republicans as
Ihey did a week ago. Lynn is still
sore spot, 1t is true, but union labor
in the other large centers is not bv
any means unit for Long. as the
republicans see it. Boston gave Long
a majority of 10000 over Coolidge q
year ago. No such margin is pre-
dicted today. Some of the strongest
democratic leaders of the city would
not be surprised if the 20. 900 margin
vanished to 5000 or 10000. The an.
tire state has been placarded. cir
cuiarized and speechified as never he
Iore- Though the democrats have
introduced but few outside speakers
the republicans have called four gov,
ernors to the hustings-Spro,ll Of
PennsylVania. Bartlett of New Hamn-
Shire. Milliken of Maine and Allen Of
Kansas, and in addition have had
former President Taft and Senators
Lodge and Poindexter
Hundreds of Autos Used.
Several hundred automobiles have
been used by the speakers in motor
q