Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1919-09-18
BOSTON UNIONS
STILL VOTING
Result Announced Sunday !
Gompers' Secretary Blames
Boston Officials for Strike

Boston. Sept 11.-Before leaving fo|
Washington early tonight. Guy Oyste9
secretary to President Gompers, of TIL
American Federation of Labor, ISSUED
a statement in which ne condemned TIL
authorities for working conditions in TIL
police department and declared that TIL
striking pstrolmen were not to bamI
for the disorder in the first few day|
of the strike. He said that the mel
were being called "deserters" becaus|
they had the manhood and the courasj
to strike. after a two weeks notice
for their human rights and constitutional
guarantees
The policemen" he said were torceI
to organize in sfhliatior with the Amert
can Federation of Labor TO be heard
and they were forced To strike 70 d.
fend the life of their organization
Whatever else has resulted from thl
unfortunate situation in Boston. cor|
dition with reference to the 'reatmerl
of the Boston police force has been did
closed of which few citizens were awarj
and Of which the ofTcials IN charge miglI
we'll be ashamed. The promptness witt
which the Governor has undertaken Il
see that at least some Of these condt
state of things existed before the pohc|
took action that justified the policemen
in their effort to improve them.
Their grievances were many AMI
almost intoerable--long hours. wagd
insufficient 70 maintain decent stand
ard Of life. unsannary station housed
unsa tisfactory working conditions AMI
the denial Of rights enjoyed by pract|
oil ol, Rorto,I
/ These facts are acknowledged by all
even the police commissioner. These corj
dtions were not bettered by the Is year
efforts of the Social club OF the Bosto|
| police,
LAS fine a body of men as ever sa
800 of them ex-doushboys in Uncle saml
army, and their president. John 4
McInnis. the proud possessor Of tod
honorable discharges from RI. Unite|
| States army and four wounds received
while fighting under the stars an
Stripes, are now being called 'dsserter|
because they had the manhood and IN
| courage TO strike
II am assured that not one OF ~
men had the faintest idea that the Il
Crettable conditions caused by the conf
missioners' negligence could occur Til
of policemen would remain on duty \
these men, I am told. We're sutiicie,j
to have controlled the sttua ton II PROV
| erly utilized. Moreover ~ of the ne|
| did not strike hut We're kicked out. AM
| are now looking to the American Fec
Grafton of .ahor for financial assis
ance to drive the wolf from their FAM
| lily doorstep"
Possibility of = general strike "
other labor unions awaits a meetir|
of the Central Labor Union next Sun
day.
| Boston, Sept. 16.--TeleGrams of com
| mendation for his stand in the polid
situation We're received by Governd
| Coolidge to-day from Governor ?. "
Clement of Vermont and from Lieud
Col Theodore Roosevelt, Governd
| Clements message said
Il admire the stand you have tax
in regard to the Bostone police. Somd
body must stand Arm against the law
less agitation of all kinds If our for|
| of government is to continue in TIL
land. You are undertaking a sred
service not only to the city of Bostd
| and to the commonwealth of Massd
chusetts. but to the country al larg|
Stand fast Success to YOU
| Colonel Roosevelt wired
| Hearty congratulations on yol
handling of the Boston situation. TN
public servant who has in his care N
safety and protection of the individul
people"