The sun., 1919-09-18
A. +. OF l. SOLIDLY
WITH BOSTON POLICE
Gompers's Secretary Says It Is
100 Per Cent. With strik-
ers in Their Fight. -
LABOR CHIEF is ARBITER
Against General Walkout In
til After Washington Con- !
ference-City Quiet.
BY q stag Correspondent Of TIE Sur.

BY stag Correspondent Of TIE Sur.
BOSTON, Sept. 1.-THE American
Federation of Labor is 100 per cent.
behind the strike of the Boston police
force and behind them in their night
to maintain their constitutional rights
Of American citizenship"
Guy Oyster. Samuel oomperss Sec
rotary. thus declared himself just be-
fore leaving this city tonight to Join
his chief in washington. He took with
him mass OF data, statements and
facts. which the president Of the Ameri-
can Federation Of Labor will digest at
once. for the situation here is such that
almost anything may be expected.
Mr.. Oyster would make no further
answer to the thousand and one Ques-
tons with which ne was bombarded.
He left behind him, however. a type
written statement in which he lays the
Commissioner Curtis and says the DO
lice never would have left their posts,
no matter what their affiliations. had
they not been assured that their de-
lection would not leave Boston open to
the attacks of thugs, thieves, vandals
and hoodlums
No Nearer . Solution.
But some force more powerful than
anything that has yet appeared in this
city since the police force quit work
will have to be injected into the labor
situation here before anything approx
mating a settlement comes to pass. A
sullen. unhealthy and silent deadlock has
taken the place OF the erstwhile diver
SHED manifestations of opposed opinfons
For the hundredth time, Police Com
missioner Curtis reiterated to-day that
the striking policemen may not return
to work under any circumstances. AL
ready the civil authorities have obtained
the word Of the law unfolding their
side Of the controversy. And now the
police are going to court via mandamus
proceedings. to compel the commissioner
to show reasons why the policemen
may not resume their posts and beats
Just as though nothing untoward had
happened.
The strike situation has lost even its
tweedledee and tweedledum aspect. As
matter Of fact the police commits
sioner AYERS that there Is no strike. He
still. like Gov. Coolidge. looks upon the
police as deserters. The police. on the
other hand. declare they are locked out
and their lawyers insist that lockou,
| Is as illegal as any of the actions OF
the police union that are characterised
by the commissioner and the Governor
| as defiance Of the law.
Hard to Build View Force.
Meanwhile, and It is we'll to keep this
| In mind, the commissioners avowed in
tention OF building Boston a new poles
| department is not bringing tho expected
results. Disorders are history, history
that Boston Is loath to put on hel
records AZ q matter OF fact trafflt
newer was more adequately handled by
the old policemen than by the enthusiastic
youngsters In olive drab. who are hold
ing forth on the buster thorouehfarss.-
Actually there is less lawbreaiking n
Boston to-day than there has been II
years. The bands Of hoodlums hav
craftsmanship and the sharp bayonet
of the State Guardsmen and by tn
prodigality of the courts in distributing
all offenders.
| Despite edicts from the State Hous
and the City Hall. the strike Is not owe
4 by any means. Those who say that tn
policemen will give UP the America
Federation of labor charter and "a
their Jobs back a. best they may are nc
taking into consideration the fact
land. on the other hand. the labor leader
In saying that the police win go bac
only as a union are not as sanguine a
their words indicate.
There seems to be nothing to loo
|