New-York tribune., 1919-09-13
Governor, However, Has
Taken Stand That They
Have Forfeited Places
by Their Walk Out
Negotiations Will
Be Opened To-day
Order Preserved by Sol
diers and City Returns
to Normal as Danger
of a Tie-Up Lessons

BOSTON. Sept 13.-Tne police
strike was practically broken tonight,
after day of stout resistance against
compromise. Governor Coolidge called
the strikers "deserters from duty" who
should not be taken back, and as
serted that the government and laws Of
Massachusetts could not be arbtrated
Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, ap-
pealed to Mayor Peters. and the patrol
men to get back on the old footing and
await the Washington industrial con-
ference. Then came an announcement
from the Boston branch of the A. r
of L. that the police were ready TO re-
turn to work, and the end Of the strike
was in sight. A conference scheduled
for tomorrow is expected to result in
a settlement.
Gompers Asks for Truce
Mr.. Gompcrs telegraphed from New
York TO both Mayor Peters and Frank
Mccarthy, New England organizer of
the A. F. of L. In his telegram to
Mayor Peters he sad
mo man or group Of men more
ton situation than do the American
Federation of Labor and I.
you have undoubtedly been ap-
prised of President Wilson's sus-
gestion to the commissioner Of the
District of Columbia, who adopted
regulation similar to that adopted
by the Boston authorities ordering
policemen not to become members
or to retain mem bership in a union
+cl
GRAFTON Of Labor. The President re-
quested that such order be held in
abeyance and the entire matter re-
main in statu quo until after the
conference which he has called for
October for the consideration of
all matters affecting the relations
between workers and employers and
the workers standards. The com
missioners of the District of Co
lumbia complied with the Presidents
request.
81 therefore appeal to you and to
the authorities who Issued the or
der that its enforcement be deferred
until after the Presidential confer
ence.
II am telegraphing the represent
ative of the American Federation OF
Labor in Boston, Mr.. Frank Nc
Carthy, 80 Wheatland Avenue, to
appeal to the policemen's union TO
cooperate and return to their posts
just as if the order had not been
issued at all upon Information that
the enforcement of the order had
been postponed to await the outcome
of the presidential conference"
Too Late, Mayors View
The Mayors reply to Mr. Gompers
was as follows:
"Situation in Boston differs from
that in the District of Columbia, as
policemen here left their posts and
gave the city over to forces of dis
order The Governor. as commander
in chief of the state forces, has now
charge of the Police Department.
Your communication should be d.
rected to him"
The telegram to Mr.. Mccarthy by
Mr. Gompers informed him of the
appeal to Mayor Peters, gave the text
of that message and added
81 strongly appeal to you and to
the policemen to cooperate to have
the. spirit and purpose of the above
quoted telegram carried out, and that
the policemen will wholeheartedly
do their full duty in the premises.
Please give this your immediate at
tentlon."
POiicemen Accept Truce
Mr.. Gompers sent duplicate of the
Peters telegram to Governor Coolidge.
but before it was delivered Frank Nc
Carthy, the A. F. of l.. organizer, an
nounced that the polcemen's union
rad accepted the suggestion Of Mr..
Gompers that they return to work and
await the outcome of the conference at
the White House in October.
Mr.. Mccarthy read Mr.. Gompers's
kilograms sent to him and to Mayor
Peters at a meeting of the Policemen's
Union tonight. He explained the situ-
alton to the members and asked them
to comply with the wishes of the
president of the American Federation
of Labor. After the meeting he issued
the following statement:
The members of the Boston Police
mems Union have accepted the sus.
gestion of Samuel Gompers, president
of the American Federation of Labor.
and instructed their committee 70 act
In accordance"
Conference Likely To-day
1t is understood that leaders Of tha
union will take the matter up with the
authorities tomorrow. They did not
say whether they would first approachs
the Governor, the Mayor or the Police
Commissioner.
Whether the strike could be settled
in this manner was problematical to-
night. Mr.. Gompers's suggestion waa
that the men return to their posta
upon information thai tha anforcex