The Washington times., 1919-09-09
SYME TOLEAD
FIGHT AGAINST
POLICE UNION
Opinion Divided Whether Cor
poration Counsel Can Win on
Points of Law.
By BILL PRICE.


The District Commissioners. whose
orders that Washington policemen
members OF the PoIicemen's Union
must severe their affiliations with
the American Federation Of Labor OF
lose their positions. has attracted
nationwide attention and become an
issue in the courts and. nearly every
where else, will leave to Conrad
Syme, corporation counsel, the answer
that viii be made Thursday before
Justice Gould, who issued the re-
Gtraining order against the Commits
sioners.
Syme has informed Commissioners
Brownlow that he will be ready to
meet the issues that have been raised
BY wilton ]. Lambert and r. H.
Yeatman, attorneys for the Police
mems Union he will not seek a
postponement, he stated today. and
believes that no time should be lost
in disposing Of this question in the
courts that all officials involved may
know just where they stand. The
Commissioners desire speedy settle
ment OF the legal and other ques-
tions.
Syme will make his stand on both
the legal points raised and on the
principles, proposing TO emphasize
the latter to the fullest extent
Syme has declared to his legal as
EOeiates that he believes a Judge OF
the bench might just as well be af-
hlizted with the Federation or any
powerful labor organization as a po-
lieeman- He sees no difference in the
principle. he has stated
Syme's Hard Task.
Not all the high officials OF the
District building are agreed that
Eyme win be able to win his case. As
20 the principles which actuaed the
Commissioners in their attitude. there
appears to be unanimity, but on the
law points there is q private opinion
that Lambert and Yeatman may have
the best Of the arguments before Jus
fiee Goould when they undertake TO
have the restraining order made per
nanent
IN case Justice Gould should make
1t permanent the Commissioners will
ut once appeal TO the District Court
OF Appeals and follow that, IL neces-
farg. by going 70 the United States
Eupreme Court
Syme's hardest fight will be over
the contention OF theattorneys for
the polfcemen's Union that the Com
bnissioners have no authority to at
tempt TO apply the orders they issued.
stress on the fact that Commissioners
have no control over a policeman's
time or personal affiliations II honor
able, while he is on duty.
No Personal Control.
Their control is over his acts while
IN the discharge OF his duties; au-
thority to pass Judgment on whether
he has violated his oath OF office. Un-
iii he does violate this oath, it will be
contended, or misbehaves himself, his
private affairs are not subject to in
quiry or trial
The duestionnaires as TO an officers
Affiliations will be strongly attacked
as wholly un-American and subver-
siVe OF the rights OF free citizens. It
Is already charged that some officers
were improperly Influenced to sign
ssN1os to the question whether they
belonged TO the union.
Svrne must also meet the conten-
tion that the action Of the Commi-
sIoners violate the Clayton and other
acts recognizing the rights or men
70 organize into unions
SuBreu,e Court DeelsfOH.
promfnent lawyer today stated
that, there IS a mighty interesting
decision BY the Supreme Court as TO
alleged conflict between the oath or
a man as q member Of a labor union
and his oath as a policeman 1t has
long been known that a large num-
Der Of Washington policemen are
members in good standing OF various
labor unions. Many were carpenters,
timers, bricllmasons or members or
other crafts when they went into the
police department They have kept
their memberships in good standing.
Several years ago q policeman who
Was a member OF q union WAS e1-
PEELED by his union because his oath
a. an officer eondicted with his union
oath, this lawyer stated An appeal
vas taken to the highest courts the
nnal result being that the union was
compelled TO reinstate him, the court |
also holding that the oath as police
man was superior TO any other and |
that q policeman must enforce the |
IaE without regard TO the identity |
Of personS.
II this case b produced before |
Justice Gould, the argument OF Syme |
viii be that it 90 still left with a |
policeman aa TO which oath he pre- /
feFs 70 favor and that he should have /
but one oath 20 be loyal 20.