The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1919-09-16
AN OBJECT LESSON.

/ T..
cision OF Police Commissioners Curtis
sof Boston. backed by Governor Cool
lidge, that the striking policemen Of
that city win not be restored to
! their places should receive the APP
probation of all men who would see
law and order maintained in accord
with American principles in the cities
1 of this country. One may have SYM
pathy, as we do, for those OF the
force who have not understood or
lrealized the seriousness OF their
offense a nd have been misled by
others, but this is plainly a matter
lin which the officials must be guided
, by a stern sense OF duty and OF
right. 1t is not. as we have said
| heretofore, a question OF unionism:
it is not a question of the right OF
policemen to organize among them
Iselves for their own advancement.
That right has not been denied. The
question is the fundamental one OF
the obligation that rests upon every
government worthy OF the name to
| furnish protection to the people
under it, and OF the obligation OF the
/ force engaged to give that protection,
TO serve Loyalty and faithfully in &C
oath OF office. There is no likeness
between labor union OF private
F! citizens and a union Of public Off.
cials. The workman In private lie
lis under no obligations to municipal
Tor other government save those In
I CURED by every citizen. He is not
engaged in the public service. He is
under no official oath that binds his
sworn guardian of the peace, an
essential agent of government in the
maintenance of order, in the protec-
ton OF life and property, and 1t Is
his duty to serve the public without
fear or favor, without distinction Of
persons or of class. To desert their
posts individually is a punishable be-
travail OF trust; to desert in body
lis, as President Wilson says, "a
crime against civilization"
"Tn my judgment" said the prest-
ldent, the other day, speaking Of the
Boston strike, '.the obligation of a
policeman is as sacred and direct as
the obligation of soldier. He is a
public servant, not private employe,
and the whole honor and safety of
the community is In his hands" A
"a wholesale desertion In defiance o.
authority. is equivalent to mutiny
In the army, an offense that receives
and merits the severest punishments
3 in the military code. 1t must be Sc
punished, for mutiny strikes at the
very foundations of an army. A
polfcemen's strike in large city IL
greater offense than a mutiny in
the army in time Of peace, for 1t
abandons an innocent and trusting
people and leaves 1t at the mercy Of
the criminal and the mob. Tae stu
alton in Boston the past week, with
it's violence, its loss OF life, IT'S de
struction Of property, is an object
lesson that should impress the whole
country with sorrow and shame ihs
such condition could arise in one
of the chief cities of America. 1t Is
condition that cannot be counten-
anced anywhere. If municipal gov
ernments cannot depend upon ;teir
police organization, then there is an
send of municipal government. That
is the issue, and Governor Coolidge
and Commissioner Curtis are right in
making the issue one 10 be settled
now. The Federation of Labor should
understand the clear distinction D.-
tween the organization Of such pub
lie servants and the organization of
private citizens. They are not upon
the same plane, and they are alto
Darbar ipppr, ma fffola