New-York tribune., 1919-09-13
threat of further strikes being

voted tonight.
"Why does the state object to the
affiliatien Of the police with the A. Il,
of LIZ" was asked.
"That is something the state has
nothing to do with. Internal direction
! of the Police Department is wholly
in the hards of the Police Commits
sioner," the Governor replied.
care your views in harmony with
those OF the commissioner
"My personal desire is to support the
Police Commissioner in any action he
may take"
"Would you permit the men to re-
turn with the understanding that they
! would form an organization not aflilii-
ated with the American Federation of
Labor?"
"You are now coming into the ques-
tion of whether the action of the police
was, as a matter of fact. strike and
whether the men who left their places
might under any circumstances be
taken back. That of course Is for tho
Police Commiss soner alone TO deter
mine"
Not Strike, but Descrtion
"What are the objections to permit
ting them to affiliate with the A. r.
of L. %
"Those have been stated so many
times that l hardly think it necessary
to go into them again. They were
stated last night by President Wilson
very clearly, but perhaps | might once
more suggest the primary objection is
that it is fundamental that control OF
the government and of the main
tenance of law and order must remain
in the hands of the properly const-
| tuted authorities"
"Will you negotiate with the strikers
to see if the basis can be arrived at
for their return ?'
"The present situation should not be
called a strike. There is no strike on.
These men are public officials, not en-
ployes. 1t is improperly referred to as
a strike. A strike is generally con-
sidered to be the act of employees seek
| ing to gain better conditions from q
private employer. These mcn-were Of
fcials, representing not any private
employer but the whole public"
..What do you call their act Of leav-
ing their positions?"
"Desertion of duty"
"Would you be willing that the nine
teen suspended men should be rein
stated aud the controversy submitted
to arbitration? ?"
eve cannot think of arbitrating the
government or the form of law. There
can be no opportunity for any compro-
mise in respect to either"
DO we understand that if the mer
yielded to your view they would be
taken back ?"
'I do not understand that any such
suggestion has been made"
IF it were made, what would bt
your attitude?"
"My personal opinion is that they
would not be taken back. You shoul(
keep in mind, however, that I have
no auth orty whatever over that mat
ter. My only authority is over tht
Police Commissioner, and when l have
appointed him it is his duty to admin
lister the department"
"Do l understand that you are per
sonally of the opinion that the mel
should not be taken back under an,
circumstances 2"
Il do not think of any conditions
under which they would be relnstated
but l must say again that it is a mat
ter wholly beyond my control"
'If they should come to say and an
noUncc that unless their demands were
granted there would be a genera
strike, what would be your reply?"
81 do not know what you mean b.
their demands.'
Hasn't their principal demand beer
that they be allowed to join the a. L
of L.?
) "That, of course, has already bee'
decided A rule of the Police Depart
ment, which is the law Of the common
| wealth, provides that they shall 10
JOIN any outside organization. Tha
being the law, there can be but On
reply to any such demand"
"Do you anticipate that it Will b
10
tary assistance? 2"
THAT, Of course, cannot be foretolC
At present there is no apparent nee
for it. | may say however, that W
shall maintain law and otder at what
ever cost is necessary"
The intimation by Governor Coolidg
! that, regardless of his personal views
the fate of the striking policemen $
Tar as the state was concerned was il
the hands Of Police Commissioner Cur
tis, led to inquiries at the latter's of
tlce about his position.
Policemen Out for Good
The Commissioner could not b
reached, but his counsel, James H. Dew
ling, jr,, said "ln my opinion the po
llcemen who left their posts have wor
the uniform OF the Boston police fore
for the last time While the Commls
sloner has not acted on this particula
point Of reinstatement feel certai
that the men who struck have separate
themselves finally from the depart
mont"
The matter of requests for reinstate
J Enent already has come up, accordin
r to superintendent Of Police Crowley
I who said that number Of the stril
: ing officers had applied for rostoratio
r to duty. At present Mr.. Crowley sal
f these applications were on file
f If the Commissioner decided that tn
Q strikers cannot return he must I'LL TIL
= places of several hundred men, tn
e exact number being in dispute. Mayo
Peters has claimed that 600 of tot.
c force of more than 1,400 RENAME
0 loyal. According to the strikers nc
@ more than $50 officers failed to joi
f the union