New-York tribune., 1920-01-09
1000 Boston
Business Men
Hoot Compers
A. F. of L. Heads Charge
of ''Frame-Up" in Police
Strike Greeted With
Howls of ''No, No, No."
Luncheon Scene Intense
Blames Commissioner for
Recent Walk-Out, Calling
Him s'Czar Autocrat"
Special Corresponden

BOSTON, Jan. S.--Vigorous protest
was registered against the utterances
of Samuel Gompers, president of the
American Federation of Labor, in ref
erence to the recent Boston police
strike, when he addressed more than
1000 business men this afternoon as
the luncheon guest of the Boston
present we're members of the cham
Der.
Loud cries of "No, no" greeted Mr.
Gompers when he accused Police Com
missioner Edwin U. Curtis of sus-
pending members of the former police
force to provoke disorders and give
opportunity to lawless element to
take advantage of the situation that
developed. The labor chief was clearly
on the defensive as soon as he men,
: toned the police issue. Early in his
address he said:
Won't Run Away
II had not intended to mention the
word police for it seemed to me that
in alluding to that term / should first
want to look arounu and see if there
was a representative of the police force
about me. But l am not accustomed to
running way from any issue"
Breaking sharply from review of
the plan of regional tribunals, Mr..
Gompers suddenly said:
81 am now gbing to look around me,
for am going to utter the sacred term
police He looked around, and the
audience laughed.
Zone might imagine that, in view of
the trouncing the old police force got,
this discussion" Ar. Gompers said.
What is it we have witnessed after
all, but plan provoked by the man
who occupies the great position of
Police Commissioner"
''No, no, no." went up cries from the
audience. Keep away form It," rang
out clear voice at the front
II am willing to take the conse-
quences of my action" replied Mr..
Gompers.
Take the consequences" shouted a
voice
II am probably more able to take
the consequences of my statement than
you are" retorted the speaker.
people believe that the president of
the American Federation of Labor has
wonderful power of dictatorship. Why,
in all my life, l never did suggest q
strike. There is no such power. Then
why make it a condition of dismissal
for the police to become affiliated with
our organization
"The commission which went before
your Police Commissioner and pre-
sented a plan, at my advice. for these
men to surrender their affiliation, re-
ceived scant attention. | would not
take away their charter when they had
done nothing to warrant it, but the en-
tire matter was rejected by his majesty,
the autocrat of the people of Boston.
THE fact is, volunteers were not put
to work because it was intended to give
The opportunity to provoke the lawless
element to take advantage of the
emergency"
mo! No, No." came shouts from
all over the hall Mr.. Gompers con-
tinued:
Police Unjnstly Treated
"'The police of Boston. like those in
most cities, were unjustly treated for
long years. They were men who had
given excellent service. Their words
were unheeded. They were voiceless.
They were not given opportunity to
express themselves. If they did it was
misunderstood, and they had to find
somebody to speak for them. Their
aHiliation with the American Fedora
ton of Labor was perfectly natural
and normal. 1t was not an overt or
improper act. 1t did not conflict with
their duties. One of the conditions on
which the charter was issued was that
they could not utilize the strike, but
that we might speak for them.
my friends, if the American Fed
Grafton of Labor had proved itself to
DC untrue to our country. unworthy Of
its respect, or had shown by the slight
est act that it could direct or suggest
strike, there might have been some
justification for the Police Commits
sioner's act. Why make this a cause
FOR war? Police are not necessary to
us. ! not only asked my secretary to
come to Boston and interview the
Mayor, the Governor and the Police
Commissioner, but kept the wires hot
to prevent this disruption. And now
you have new police force"
prolonged applause from men and
women in the gallery greeted Mr..
Compsrs at this point At its conclu-
sion Mr.. Gompers remarked: II hone
you VIII have as much frenzied joy in
the future as YOU seem to have rcu,