The Washington times., 1919-09-21
QUIT UNION
OR LOSE PAY.
COPS CHOICE
Fight Comes TO Climax This
Week With Testimony Of
Samuel Gompers.

Congress virtually has given the
washington police force the alterna.
tive OF severing relations with the
American Federation Of Labor or tax.
ing the risk Of losing their hght for
increased pay.
The gist Of the question which the
Washington police must decide Is
whether they can get better results
from Congress through the tFemen-
dous influence Of the American FEEDER.
alton Of Labor or through ofhcfal1
channels employed In the past.
With the appearance Of Samuel
Gompers, laboF's chief, before the
Senate District Of Columbia Commit
tee next wednesday. the hght be-
tween Congress and the Warrington
poljcemen'G union, already becomes q
national issue, Is to be brought TO q
climax. Upon the results Of Mr.
Gompers' grill before the Senate
Committee depends largely the de-
cisicn Of the City Policemen's Union
in Withdrawing from the ranks Of
organized labor.
There is little mistaking the atti-
tude Of the district Committee as
one OF emphatic antagOnism to the
unionization Of the police. So long
as the Washington police remain af-
hIiated with the American Fedora
tion Of Labor, II is believed, 50 long
viii the bill for increased pay for
members Of the force remain In .
committee pigson-hoie.
BiH prohibits Appropriation.
Should the washington police
union defy Congress at its meeting
next Wednesday when q vote 80 to
be taken on q motion to withdraw
from the American Federation Of La
Dor. Il is expected the District Com
mittee will Immediately report IA
vOrably upon Senator Myers resolu-
ton which would prohibit Congress
from appropriating any money to be
used in paying salaries TO union po-
licemen Of Washington.
Nationwide interest attaches itself
to the coming testimony Of Samuel
Gompers. The President of organ
lied labor will be quizzed at length, !
particularly in reference to the po-
lice strike in Boston. He is eX-
pected to make q cIean-cut statement |
Of labor's position with regard to |
union police. Mr.. GomperB already !
has been quoted as placing the sup |
port Of the American Federation Of /
Labor behind the striking policemen |
In Boston. Senator Sherman, chair /
man OF the District Committee, whose /
antipathy to organized labor Is we'll |
known, will cFoss-eEamine Mr. |
Gompers with regard to the police /
situation IN Washington.
Realizing that they have put them /
selves in an exceedingly embarrass- /
ing situation with Congress, the i
Washington police union officials who /
-
are vigorous in their denials Of any \
intention to fOment trouble in the |
event that they are given "ordeFs" |
by the A. F. OF L. They have all tes- |
tined that II Il comes to q showdown /
between allegiance TO the union and /
allegiance to their oaths as officers Of /
the law, they would not hesitate to /
stand by the Superintendent Of Police |
and the District Commissioners.
Against Striking.
L. Z. Draeger and others Of the |
union also have given their word 20 1
the District Committee that they |
would not cOuntenance q strike OF /
policemen in Washington. The Bos- |
ton police strike has even been de- /
nOunced by them as q "crime" which /
never would be permitted to occur In /
Washington.
The police are looking forward |
very anXiously to the effect tIfat /
Samuel Gompers will have upon the 1
District Committee. They realize /
that their union cause virtually is At /
stake. More than that, they have /
been given TO understand by the COM
mittee that their salary increases /
also are at stake.
Should the union vote to remain az /
filtated with the American Fedora
tion Of Labor in defiance Of the po-
sitton taken by Congress, they will /
stake their all upon a fight on the /
floors Of both houses. Then they
will seek the influence and support /
Of the federation in the effort to /
compel Congress. not only to Fecog-
nize union policemen, but also to pay /
them the living wage which they 4
think is due them. There is no deny /
ing the strength Of organized labor /
in both houses.
Await DeeIsE0n.
What Senator Sherman has been /
trying 20 do is to reason patiently /
with the various police witnesses who 4
have appeared before the committee. |
He has questioned them closely to /
md that they profess ignorance Of /
some Of the methods employed by /
the American Federation OF Labor in /
coercing Congress. Senator Sherman /
has told them Of soma Of his own ex-
pertences with the federation, which 4
has boycotted him three times for
refusing to take orders"
BY indicating to the union officials
in unmistakabie language that Con-
gFess questions their loyalty as Off
GERS sworn to preserve peace, 90 long
as they remain with a dual allegiance,
members Of the committee have en-
deaVored by moral persuasion to con-
vince the Washington police that their
interests before Congress can be
served best outside OF the federation
No action IS expected to be taken |
on Senator Myers resolution until the
committee knows, by Thursdays meet
ing OF the policemen's union, lust