Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-09-15
TRY TO REGAIN
OLD JOBS FOR
BOSTON POLICE
Hold "Unomcial" Confer
ence - City Normal,
Removes Barricades.

Boston. Mass, Sept. IA defn-
ite campaign to regain for the
striking policemen the places now
officially declared to have been lost
because of desertioon Of duty. was
expected to be begun today. The
action was expected TO depend
upon the result OF conference be
tween union labor leaders and Po-
lice Commissioner Curtis. The
commissioner. at the request of
the union heads, consented to the
meeting on an unofficial basis but
the labor men said they hoped TO
obtain from it an exchange Of
views which might be made the
basis or negotiations.
The extent to which the Ameri-
can Federation of Labor would
support the night for rcinstate-
ment and recognition as a union
was in doubt today. Immediate
danger of general strike, threat
ened by the central labor union as
its principal weapon in support of
the patrolmen appeared removed
by the disposition of the labor
leaders to move slowly.
No General Action!
From New York, where Presi-
dent Gompers of the American
Federation of Labor has been di-
recting the federation interests
in the BOstop situation, came word
from one of his assistants that
there would be no general action.
Officers of the central union here,
however. said they knew of no de-
Cision 10 warrant such "A state
ment that the proposal for a gen
eraI strike was still before the un-
ion and that a decision would
come with the completion Of poll
of the several craft organizations.
This poll ia being taken secretly.
II is not complete. several OF thc
unions having feared to declare
themselves It is known that
some of them voted 10 take sympa-
thetic action; that others frowned
upon it., and that more cautious
unions postponed action until they
saw how sentiment lay.
Suggests Courts for Cops.
Governor Coolidge, refusing
President Gomper's demand for
the removal of Police Commits
sioner Curtis, suggested that the
police might have resources TO the
courts if they felt their rights had
been invaded by the commission
er's action in discharging the union
leaders and declaring vacant the
places of the men who left their
posts.
Remove BarricadeS.
Restoration OF the city to or
derly conditions has been followed
by removal OF many OF the barri-
cades placed over store fronts and
other property as a result of the
looting in the early days of the
strike. The number of state
on patrol was reduced
today but all the troops were still
held in the city. concentrating at
points for availability as merg-
ency reserves.
Preparations of the federal au-
thorities to send regular army and
navy troops into the city stood as
an emergency preCauilon but II
was said that unless there were a
strike there was no likeli-
hood Of their being called upon.
win Build New Force!
The development of the new po
lice force around the nucleus or
regulars who remained on duty be
gan today with the appointment of
20 patrolmen. The appointees, all
war veterans and certified by the
civil service commission as having
passed its examinations, reported
for instructions in the duties. and
It was said at police headquarters
that they probably would be placed
on patrol duty within a day or
two.