The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1919-09-15
COOLIDGE ANSWERS !.
G0MPERS; STANDS
FOR SOVEREIGNTY
Situation of Washington
Police Not Same as the
Boston Force, Who Left
Their Posts

Boston, September 14.-Deter-
mination s'tO defend ti,f sover-
eighty Of Massachusetts$ was ex-
pressed by Governor Coolidge in
4 telegram sent tonight to Samuel
Gompers, president Of the Amer
lean Federation of Labor. The
telegram was in reply to one re-
ceived from the labor leader last
night in which Mr.. Gompers asked
him to take "a broad View Of the
situation brought about by the pO-
licemen's strike.
The governor told Mr.. Gompers that
the suggestion of President Wilson thai
orders forbidding the policemen of the
city of Washington to affiliate with ths
American Federation of Labor be held in
allegiance pending the labor conference
to be held at the White House on Octo-
Der did not apply to Boston, as the
Washington police had remained on duty
the Boston policemen's union had been
tried for violation of the order against
affiliation and had been removed and
that the places of the other strikers had
been declared vacant, he added:
II can suggest no authority outside the
courts to take further action
The governors telegram follows:
Replying to your telegram, I have
already refused to remove the police com
missioner of Boston, 1 did not appoint
him. Hel can assume no position which
the courts would uphold except what the
people have by the authority of the law
vested in him. He speaks only with
Boston to affiliate has always been ques
toned, never granted, is now prohibited.
The suggestion of President Wilson to
Washington does not apply to Boston
There the police have remained on duty.
Here the policemen union left their
duty. an action which President Wilson
characterized as a crime against civili-
Zation.
LEFT POSTS UNGUARDED
your assertion that the commissioner
was wrong cannot justify the wrong OF
leaving the city unguarded. That fur
nished the opportunity; the criminal ele
ment furnished the action. There is no
right to strike against the public safety
by anybody, anywhere. at any time.
you ask that the public safety agar
be placed in the hands of these same po-
licemen while they continue in disobe-
dience to the laws of Massachusetts and
in their refusal to obey the orders of the
police department. Nineteen men have
been tried and removed. Others having
abandoned their duty, their places have,
under the law, been declared vacant on
the opinion of the attorney general. J
can suggest no authority outside the
courts to take further action.
IT wish to join You and assist in TAX
ing a broad view OF every situation. A
grave Responsibility rests on all of us
You can depend on me to support you
in every legal action and object policy. I
am equally determined to defend the
sovereignty of Massachusetts and to
maintain the authority and jurisdiction
over her public officers where it has been
placed nv the constitution and laws OF
her people"
The policemen's union made no an
nouncement as to how it was planning to
meet Commissioner Curtis refusal to re-
instate the strikers. who had voted to
return to work il the department order
against affilation were not enforced
pending the White House conference.
MANY other local unions voted today and
tonight on the question of striking In
sympathy with the police. The ballots
will be counted by a committee OF the
Central Labor union, which has been en-
powered to set date for general strike
IL the votes of the different locals favor
such action
Frank H. Mccarthy. New England or
ganized of the American Federation OF
Labor who has been addressing the po-
licemens union leaders. conferred with
Mr.. Gompers in New York today. He re-
turned to this city tonight.