The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-10-23

GOMPERS In FRESH
ATTACK ON COOLIDGE
Calls Him Particeps Criminis
in Riots Following BOs-
ton Police Strike.
WILSON, PRAISED ACTS
Labor Leader Asserts Cover
nor Put City at Mercy of
Lawless Elements.
WILSON, PRAISED ACTS
pcc,Gi Dssputeh 70 THE NEW yonK HmALD.

Special Despatch 70 TIE NEw YorK HERALD.
New York Herald Bnreau.
Washington. ID. C., Oct 2s.
Frantic efforts by Samuel Gompers to
swing labor 20 tho support of the Demo-
cratic Presidential ticket took a new
turn to-day when the American Fedora
ton Of Labor head issued a bitter at
tack on Gov. Calvin Coolidge for his
handling OF the Boston police strike a
year ago.
Even, Democratic leaders who have
Gorperss support were surprised at his
maneuvre They recalled that Gov.
Cooiidge's stand for law and order won
less of party and that President Wilson
himself had condemned the Boston police
strike and had congratulated Gov. Coo
Iidge on his reelection to the Governor
ship of his State over Richard Long, be-
cause Long was credited with siding
with the strikers.
Gompers assailed Gov. Coolidge to-
day as an "agent provocateur." and
charged tina. the Governor and Police
Commissioner withheld loyal policemen
and troops and left the city of Boston
unprotected The labor president then
made the startling declaration that a
vote for Coolidge would make the voter
IAN accessory after the fact
Issues Boolxiet History.
Gompers started his statement. issued
in form OF booklet with what he said
is true history Of the Boston police
strike. He said the Boston police whom
he described as enc of the finest forces
I'm the world suffer from low pay, long
hours, unsatisfactory working conditions
and unsanitary, vermin infested station
houses.
Going further into the history of the
strike, Gomrers charged Police Com
missioner Curtis attempted to 'repress
and make al submission to his supreme
domination" The actions of Curtis. who
incidentally ordered the policemen to
give up membership in the American
Federation OF Labor finally caused the
policemen to quit work. Gompers said,
and added
Little did they realize that they were
paying into the hands of Gov. Coolidge's
Police Commissioner. who, after provoke
ing the strike, decided to withhold all
police protection under his control in or
der that city would be completely at the
mercy of the lawless element for over
fourteen hours, thereby causing re-
vulsion of public feeling and casting a
stigma on the policemen who had ceased
work
Apparently the sole basis for this
charge Is an affidavit signed by Pau
Ia. x-te TA-al rn Nc M y ~
corning a conversation with an ex-police
superintendent who was raising a volun-
teer force.
"Cops Are vilifed."
@rhh cops are vilified," said Gompers
"Gov. Coolidge and his Police Commits
sioner are glorified. Massachusetts
there she stands'--but blind Justice
| where is she?
III the action of the Boston police wa:
crime against civilization. what terms
can describe the action or inaction o.
Gov. Coolidge and his Police Commits
! sioner?'
| Declaring that the aid and comfor
Gov Coolidge mas bestowed upon hi
striking Police Commissioner certainl,
brands the Governor not only as a self
confessed accessory after the fact. bu
| as particeps criminis, Gompers. con
! tinued: "A vote for Coolidge would
make you an accessory after the fact"
Further on Gompers INDUCED in ex
ciamation:
Imagine this contingency: The posi-
BILE election of Harding to the Presidenc,
and vacancy for any cause occurring
and Coolidge. the political batter. tn
agent provocateur. becoming Presiden
I rI IA VA