New Britain herald., 1919-09-12
Terms Policemen Who Quit ''DeserterS" and Expresses Opinion They Would Not be Taken Back
SEVERAL COPS ASK
 FOR JOBS AGAIN
City More Calm Today, But 1S,000 Regular Army Men Are Within 12 Hours Dis tance at All Times.

Boston, Sept. 12.-The goVernm mt and laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts cannot be arbitrated. This declaration from the State House today was in response to an incessant public demand to know the attitude of the state toward the striking policemen and suggestions of compromise.
 'The men are deserters," said Governor Coolidge. This is not a strike. These men were public off, cials. We cannot think of arbitrating g the government or the form of law. There can be no opportunity for any 'compromise in respect to either. My personal opinion is that they would not be taken back if they yielded to my View.'
 - The governor added however, that his only authority in this matter was over the police commissioner who administered the department.
 No Indecent Assaults. Mayor Peters was indignant today because of some reports which he had N received from out of town. He said: N In three days of the strike I have x not heard of a single case of inde- cency committed upon women. l de- plore a tendency in some quarters to distort the facts"
 The dice games which flourishcd for d time had been pretty much broken up today.
 es Ask Jobs Back Again. : Applications for reinstatement have been made by number of striking policemen, Superintendent of Police Crowley said today.
 Officers of the Policemens union asserted that instead of losing strength they were gaining members. The union roll now shows 1885 mem bers, it was said.
 No General Strike Yet.
 With the threat of sympa thetic S general strike held off by the action of the Central Labor union last night in ordering all local unions to act on the proposal at once, thus giving fuller expression of opinion, the situ- ation resulting from the strike as stunned a calmer aspect today. Tho scarcity during the night of the dis turbances which marked the first two nights of the strike was a reassurin g feature.
 But Little Trouble Today.
 Soldiers of the State Guard con- tinued in charge of the streets aided by the force of volunteer policemen and such members of the regular force as had refused to desert their posts, Little difficulty was expert enced in breaking up the crowds ex- Cept in one or two sections.
 Further confidence in the ability of the authorities to maintain an upper hand was inspired from reports from the harbor forts, Camp Devens and Army posts in New York and New Jersey of active preparations to send Regular Army troops here if an emer- gency call should be made. Militaty leaders estimated that 1S,00O regulars could reach the city within 12 hours.
 Death List Now Sevcn
 The death list as a direct result of the strike, now in it's third day, stood at seven. Several of the fatalities were due to firing by guardsmen into mObs found breaking windows and footing stores, while two resulted from efforts of soldiers to break up dice games which, during the first two days, were played openly in the streets and on Boston Common. An other death was that of a striking policeman, shot down by store keeper who feared his place of busi- ness was about to be sacked.
 The action of the constituent bodies of the Central Labor union on the question of going out in support ot the policemen is being awaited with some uncertainty.