New-York tribune., 1919-09-18
Boston Police
Out for Good.
Asserts Curtis
Denies New Rules Of De-
partment Will Result in
the Reinstatement of
Any of the Strikers
Many Beg for Old Jobs
General Strike Depends OH
Action of the Central La
bor Union Next Sunday

BOSTON. Sept. 17.-Striking police
men will not be rcinstated under any
conditions. This was reiterated to- day
by Police Commissioner Edwin u. Cur
tis when his attention was directed to
the construction placed in some quar-
tcrs on an amendment to the depart
ment rules announced last night. 1t
had been pointed ont that the change,
Whlch would permit suspension as a
penalty for violation of regulations,
might be construed as leaving a loop
OF the department, who previous to the
strike had served the city long and
faithfully, might regain their positions.
Commissioner Curtis declared, how
ever, that the change was made TO meet
new conditions and had no bearing
whatever on the present situation. lie
insisted that the men who had walked
out were dcserters, and that their
places were vacant.
No Chance for Policemen
In support of the Commiss oners
attitude James II. Devln, jr.. his sec
retary and counsel, said There is
no chance for those who abandoned
their posts to return to the department
at any time. They are through The
force will be rebuilt from new men,"
The list Of strikers who have applied
for reinstatement is constantly grow
ing, according to Superintendent Of
Police Michael II. Crowley. One or
two applications are received daily, it
is said.
Before leaving for Washington early
tonight, Guy Oyster, secretary to
President Gompers, of the American
Federation of Labor, issued a state
ment in which he condemned the au-
thorities for working conditions in the
Police Department and declared that
the striking patrolmen were not TO
blame for the disorder in the first few
days of the strike. He said that the
men were being called "deserters" be-
cause they had the manhood and the
courage to strike, after two weeks
notice, for their human rights and
constitutional guarantees"
Policemen Had Assurances
He asserted that the policemen were
"assured by statements Of the Police
Commissioner that any situation
caused by the form of protest they
adopted would be taken care Of" and
that mot one of the men had the
faintest idea that the regrettablc con-
ditions caused by the Commissioners
ncgl igencc could occur"
"Thc policemen" he said, "were
forced to organize in aifiliation with
the American federation Of Labor to be
heard, and they We're forced to strike
to defend the life OF rheir organiza-
ton
Local labor leaders and their attor-
neyS were in conference with Mr..
Oyster to-day, but declined to give any
information as to what was discussed
The attorneys said that no move had
been made toward court action and
would not admit that this had been
considered.
Talk uf Court Action
Among labor union members man
damus proceedings have been sugEest-
ed rs u possible means Of obtaining re-
instatcment Of the strikers whose posi-
tions Commissioner Curtis has declared
vacant. If such proceedings We're sue
cesstul q court order might issue corN-
pelling the Commissioner to take the
men back pending court determination
whether he WAS legally justified in dis
charging them.
Possibility of general strike by
other labor unions awaits Il meeting Of
the Central Labor Union next Sunday
At that time it is expected that the
committee that has been counting the
ballots cast by the different unions on