Great Falls daily tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1895-1921, 1919-09-13
STRIKING COPS
ASKED To WAIT
ONWH|TEH HOUSE
Walkout Off Except as
Commissioners Balks at
Restoring Men.
MAY DECIDE THEY ARE
DEsERTERs OUT TO STAY

Boston, Sept. t2.-Taking their cue
from Samuel Gompers, Boston's striking
police have decided to return to their
posts.
Whether the city will take back the
men whom President Wilson accused of
committing crime against civilization
in desertng their places Of duty is a
question not yet decided by Police Com
missioner Curtis. He issued orders, this
afternoon that no strikers applying for
reinstatement should be taken back
before hearing from the attorney gen.
eraI.
The decision of the men to return was
announced BY Frank Mccarthy. New
England organizer of the American Fed
Grafton of Labor, following the receipt
Of suggestion from Gompers that the
men return to duty and await the action
Of the conference to be held between
capital and labor representatives at the
White House, October 8. Gompers sent
Mayor Peters a copy of his message to
Mccarthy: and learning that the mayor
rclinquished all claim to authority in
the strike to Governor Coolidge the
president Of the A. +. l.. repeated the
message to the governor.
Men Apply TO Get Back.
Police Commissioner cnrtiss state
ment was interpreted to mean that the
attorney general would be asked to de-
eide whether the patroimen were
employees" who had a right to strike.
or Officers of the government who
had no such right.
Applications for reinstatement have
been made by "a number" of striking po-
liccmen, Chief Superintendent of Police
Crowley said today.
Officers Of the policemcn's union.
however, asserted that instead Of losing
strength, asserted that instead Of losing
The union roll now shows ,3SJ members
it was said.
Deserters, Says Governor.
Governor Coolidge in statement
charactcrzing the action of Boston 20
Hcemen as desertion Of duty. rather than
a strike today, said he could think Of
no conditions under which they should
be allowed to return.
With the threat of n sympathetic gen
eral strike held off by the action Of the
Central Labor union. last night. in or
dcring all local unions to act on the
proposal at once, thus giving fuller ex-
preston Of opinion the situation re
SuHll2 from tbc Stflke oil pollcemen
assumed a camer aspect today The re
ductjon during the night of the disturb
ances which marked the first two nights
of the strike was a reassuring feature.
Soldiers If the state guard continued
in charge of the streets. aided by the
force of volunteer policemen and such
members of the regular force as had re-
fused to desert their posts. Little diff
ficulty was experienced in breaking up
the crowds, except in one or two sec
tions.
Governor Coolidge. who was in charge
of the police situation, today, as com
manderin- chief Of the armed forces Of
the state. had reassurances from both
the war and navy departments that any
call which he might make upon the
president for federal assistance would
be answered promptly. Military leaders
estimated that $4,000 regulars could
reach the city within T. hours.
The death list as a direct result of
the strike now in its third day stood
today at seven.