Daily Kennebec journal., 1919-09-15
'Secret Vote by Over Score Unions
NE. Organizer ConfersWith dompers
Pulpit Comment Adverse TO Strikers
SHARP REPLY

Boston, Mass. Sept. 4.-Determi-
nation 10 defend the sovereignty Of
Massachusetts was expressed by
Governor Coolidge IN telegram
sent tonight to Samuel Gompers.
president Of the American Federation
of Lahur. The telegram was In re-
ply 10 one received from the labor
leader list night IN which Mr. Comp
e-s asked him ID take a broad view"
Of the situation brought about by rhs
policemen strike.
The governor rnld Mr. Gompers
that the suggestion of President VIII
son that orders forbidding the police
men Of the CRY of Washington to
affiliate with the American Fedora
lion Of Labor be held in abeyance
pending the labor conference to be
heid at the White House on Oct. did
not apply to Boston as the Washing
TON police had remained on Jury
ReclrlnE the fact that 19 members
Of the Boston policemen uriun had
been tried for violation of the or
de'1s against affiliatiun and had BEEN
removed, and that the places Of the
other strikers had bsrn u.crarsu va
cant. he added.
Il can suggest no authority out
side the courts to take further ac-
ton"
The Eprerner's telegram follows:
/ Replying To Hour telegram I hare
already refused to remove the pulic-
commissioner of Boston. I din nct
appoint him. He can assume ,,,, nm
/ s1t1un which the courts would un-
hoid except what the people have by
! authority of their law vested In
nln. He speaks only with their
Fo1ce- The right Of the police Of Bos-
ION 10 af1liate has always been
ueslloneo, never granted, is now uro.
niplleo The suggestion Of Presi-
dent Wilson TO Washington doea uut
apply to Boston. There the police re-
manned on duty. Here the uniun no.
ioemen left their duty. an action
which President Wilson characterised
as crime against civilization.
/ Your assertion that the commits
sinntr was wrong cannot Justify the
wrong nf leaving the city unEuarded.
( Ihaf furnished the opportunitv, the
criminal element furnished the ac-
tinn. There is no right TO strike
against the public safety by amy
BODY, anywhere, at anytime.
on ask that the public sHfefy
again ne placed IN the hands Of these
same policemen while they cnntiuue
N dlsobedience to the laws Of Mas
snchusetts and in their refused IN
obey the orders Of the police depart
meuf. Nineteeen men have been
: tried and removed. Others have aban-
doned their duty, their places have
( have. under the law, been declared
vacant on the opinion OF the atfor-
ney general. can suggest no author
ity outside the courts 10 take fur
/. ther actien.
wash 10 JOIN and assist in taking
broad view of every situation. A
I grave responsibility rests ON an of
us. You can depend On me to support
You IN every legal action and sound
policy ! am equally determined to
defend the sovereignty of Massachu-
/ setts and to maintain the AUTHORITY
and Jurisdiction ever her uui,lic Of
hcers where II has been placed by
the constitution and laws Of her pep
pie"
+. The Poiice7enls Union made no an
nouncemenf as to how 1t was plan
ming To meet Commissioner Curtis
i refusal TO reinstate the strikers. who
had voted TO return to work n the
4 department order against affiliRtion
We're not enforced pending the White
Hoase conference. Many other local
unions voted today and tonight IN
| the question af striking in srmpathy
with the police The ballots will be
. counted by q COMMITTEES 1f the Cen
tral Labor Union. whirh has heen
Continues on Psce o-Eol. 81