The Washington herald., 1919-09-03
POLICEMEN TO DEFY
CITY COMMISSIONERS
In FORMING A UNION
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CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE
resolution condemning the order
was referred to its committee on
law and legislation.
Sentiment against the Commis-
sioners' stand was openly expressed
in organized labor circles last
night.
Position of A. F. of l..
Frank Morrison. secretary of the
American Federation Of Labor, de-
cIared that the Commissioners
have no more right to bar the
policemen from joining trades
unions than they have to pfevent
them from joining the fraternaI or
ders, such as Athe Masons or the
Knights OF Columbus. He declined to
give formal statement on the prob
able action OF the A. F. OF l., pend
ing the arrival in Washington today
Of President Gompers. He observed,
however. that thirty-two police un-
ions throughout the country have
been issued \. F. of L. charters, and
IN only two or three instances have
the civic authorities raised objec-
tiOns.
May Seek Court Bid.
An effort to enlist the aid of the
District Supreme Court in preventing
/ the Commissioners from carrying out
their threats of dismissal will be made
| by the union. which places strong
hopes in the court granting at least
a temporary restraining order against
the Commissioners until the legality
OF their action is tested
An indication Of organized labor's
feeling toward the COMMISSIONER at
titude Is seen in a rousing meeting
held last night OF Local 90. Interna-
| tiOnal Union of Steam and Operating
Engineers. Two hundred unanimously
adopted the following resolution:
This union indOrses the position OF
| the policemen's organization in their
fight for a decent living wage and
/ conditions. and deplores the stand
taken by the Commissioners 5 auto
cratic, unjust and discriminating to
the welfare OF the policemen, and con-
siders il as a gratuitous insult to or
Eanized labor to state that a man who
belongs to the organized labor move
mcnt has assumed a place where he
cannot be fair to other people and in
the eyes of the Board Of Commission
ers is not fitted to assume any posi-
ton in which the welfare of the COM
munity should be guarded"
1t IS reported the Commissioners
have gained cooperation OF the
United States government in their
right against the union to the extent
Of calling in troops to take the places
OF striking policemen. Rumor yes
were being instructed in the manual
Of the police department.
Investigation last night disclosed
that not more than 400 men are sta
toned at Fort Myer. These compose
skeleton troops of cavalry and field
artillery. Deducting the number of
men required for guard and other
duties at Fort Myer, it is problemati-
cal whether large enough force
could be obtained from that point to
police the city in case of a wholesale
dismissal of policemen.
The UItImatum.
Yesterdays orders from the Com
missioners to the policemen follow:
q No member OF the metropolitan
police department shall Join or be-
come a member OF any organization
Of policemen which is affiliated direct
" or indirectly with any other labor
Organiza ton nor shall any member
OF the metropolitan police depart
ment retain membership in any or
ganization Of policemen which is af-
filiated directly or indirectly with any
other labor organization after Sep
tember :. 1919.
80 Every member OF the metropol-
itan police department shall make n
statement in writing on a form pre-
pared for the purpose and shall file
the same with the commanding officer
of the precinct, division or bureau to
which he is assigned not later than
l2 o'clock midnight, September 7. 1919;
such statement to contain a categori-
cal answer to the following inquiry:
Are you a member of any organiza-
ton OF policemen which is affiliated
directly or indirectly with any other
labor organization?
3. Each and every such statement
as filed with the several comma nding
officers shall at once be sent to the
major and superintendent OF the met
ropolitan police department.
- Any member of the metropolitan
police department who joins or be-
comes a member Of any organization
of policemen which is affiliated d.
/ rectly or indirectly with any other
I labor organization. or who retains
membership in the same after Sep
tember :, 1919. or who fails. refuses
| or neGlects to make and file the writ
| ten statement hereinbefore required,
shall be deemed guilty OF willful nom
compliance with the rules and regu-
lations adopted by the board OF COM
missioners for the government of the
metropolitan police department. and
| upon conviction thereof shall be re-
moved from the said metropolitan
police department"
British General Killed.