New-York tribune., 1919-09-17
Boston Unions
Vote Strike to
Aid Policemen
Nine-Tenths of Bodies AL
ready Have Approved
Support, Asserts the Or
ganizer of A. +. of l..
MetalW orkers Unanimous
Firemen, However, Issue a
Statement That They Will
Not Desert Their Posts

BOSTON. Sept. 16.-A step toward
general strike in aid of the striking
policemen WAS taken tonight, when
several unions voted to go out on call
Of the Central Labor Union.
Members Of the Sheet Metal Work
ers' Union and Ilousesmiths' and
Bridgomens Union voted unanimously
to strike at the order Of the central
body. Members OF the Typogra aphical
Union voted to support the police. I'm
der the laws OF the union q strike vote
must be by referendum ballot, and it
was voted 10 have each chapel vote on
The question beginning tomorrow. The
Pressmen's Union voted to take similar
action, and the Elcctrotypers' Union
voted unanimously to strike at the or
der of tho Central Labor Union.
A delegation from the United Gar
mcnt Workers. Union reported to the
Pollcemcn's Union that money had been
voted for the strikers and the members
had voted TO manufacture no clothing
for non-unon policemen.
Ninc-Tenths Will Support
Frank NJ. Mccarthy, Boston repre-
sentative of the American Federation Of
Labor, told members sof the Policemen S
Union tonight that the A. +. of l.. is
behind them from President Gompers
down. He said further that nine-tenths
Of the unions in Boston affiliated with
the Federation had already voted to
support the police to the limit.
An important development of the day,
was the declaration of the city's firemen
that, come what might, they would re-
main at their posts of duty.
Immediately upon learning of the
action Of the iiremens Union, Governor
Coolidge addressed a letter 20 Fire
Commissioner John r. Murphy, saying:
1T is with a great deal of salts
faction that | am informed that the
men in your department. have taken
precisely the stand which | was sure
they and an overwhe Inning preponder-
ance OF our citizens would take in
their decision to remain at their posts
and perform their duty of providing
tor the public safety
Action Will Benefit Firemcn
"The last session of the General
Court provided means of shortening
the hours Of members of the Fire De-
partment in this commonwealth. The
action of your department. Will matcri-
ally assist in giving the firemen the
support Of the public in Whatever re-
quests they make Tor increasing their
efare. wish to offer YOU my con-
thanks to the men of your department.
lhe government is perfectly secure in
the hands of the people,
Reinsurance Vas found also in the
TACT that the attitude Of the firemen
was in harmony with the wishes Of
the American Federation of Labor.
he decision WAS announced after a
conference between President Daniel j
! Loony, Secretary Frank B. Cook and
Directors Matthew McGonagle and p
j. Gallagher, Of the fremn's union
and Guy Oyster, Secretary to Presi-
/ dent Gompers OF the American Fedora
ton OF Labor. Mr. Oyster advised thc
mon to prove that mcM might be anil
ated With organized labor and faithful
TO q public trust.
Tie stateHent signed by thc officers
Of tie union sand thar the constitution
Of tho international Association OF
fire Fighters. to which they belong
declared it lnadvisable for tiremen tc
strike. as they were guardians OF life
and property. 1t was proposed tC
maintain that position.
At the same time the statement ex.
pressed strong sympathy for the for
meI policemen, asked public oonsidera-
tion for those who are now LETT
without employment and CONDEMNED
Police Commissioner Curtis for not
having Indicated his position unli
after the police had sought stiil.alio4
with The American Federa'ioH OF Labor
Cor ,he purpose Of bottoring ,hci,
conditions.
Mr. Oyster left for Washington to
night after expressing the opinion tina
a general strike here was not immi
| ncnt.
Policemen Get Other Jobs
The strike OF the police has beel
unusual in that they have avoided dem
onstrations. There have been no pa
rades or public meetings TO incite sym
pathy. There has been no attempt tC
show their strength and numbers. EX
cept for the few meetings. OF the po
licemens union the members have no
been assembled and at no time hav
they appeared as a body in public
Since their places were declare
vacant many have sought other en-
ploymcnt. Ten former policemen ar
now guarding a large lumber plant
J Several hundred are said to have re
turned to the trades which they aban
doned when they entered the depart
} ment. These include masons, brick
! layers, longshoremen and teamster>
Some of them had retained their orig
inal trade union cards. Not a few eX
: pressed confidence that they would b
J reinstated in the department.
Brigadier General Leroy Sweets