Milford chronicle., 1923-08-10
COOLIDGE WON NAME
AS FIRM GOVERNOR
His Suppression Of The Boston
Police Strike Made Him A
National Figure.


Democratic newspaper of New York
City, in it's issue of August 3rd, said:
Calvin Coolidge is the thirtieth Pres
ident of the United States and the
sixth Vice President to succeed to the
higher Office through the death of a
President. The other five were: John
Tyler, 1915, who succeeded William
Henry Harrison; Millard Fillmore,
1868, who succeeded Zachary Tay-
lor; Andrew Johnson, 1863, who
succeeded Abraham Lincoln; Chester
A. Arthur, 1875, who succeeded
James A. Garfield, and Theodore ROos-
evelt, 19O1-5, who succeeded William
Mckinley.
Geography-not infrequently ma
jor consideration in the nomination Of
a candidate for second place on the
ticket"-played less part than history
in the nomination of Coolidge for Vice
President by the Republican National
Convention in 1920, his stepping stone
to elevation as President. From actual
observation at the time and scene Of
that selection it may be stated beyond
fear of contradiction that there was
less talk of giving the necessary geo
graphical balance to the ticket when
his name went before the convention
than there was of the achievements
of the man and what he stood for in
American politics.
In the Commonwealth of Massachu-
setts, where he was best known and
had spent more than twenty years in
public Office before he achieved ma
tional prominence, the name of Cal
vim Coolidge was a synonym for in
dependence, rugged honesty, simplici-
ty of habits, courage, inhexible de-
votion to duty and the austere virtues
generally associated with the pioneer
stock from which he sprang. 1t had
become a synonym also for success at
the polls, for he had never been de-
feated for office, and, generally speak
ing, in each successive election at
which he was a candidate the returns
had shown increased pluralitles.
Politicians in Massachusetts mar
Yeled at this, for Coolidge never was
l a "handshaker." He was admittedly
/ the poorest kind of a mixer, and he
appeared to shun rather than seek the
publicity so eagerly sought by most
men in public life, apparently living
up to homely adage of his own: Let
men in public office substitute the
light that comes from the midnight
oil for the limelight."
Victor in Boston Police Strike
When the Republican National Con-
vention was held in June, 1920, only
a few months had elapsed from the
time when overnight Calvin Coolidge |
then serving his first term as Cover
nor of Massachusetts, became the talk
of the nation for the important part
he had played in breaking" the po-
lice strike in Boston. What he did in
that grave crisis to stay the forces OF
disorder, to uphold American inst1tu-
tions and vindicate the principles OF
law won him commendation from
Governors, United States Senators,
members of the House of Representa- |
tives and from host of men OF prom
inence in and out of public life. Wood |
row Wilson, then President of the
United States, although Of the oppo-
site political faith, took occasion TO
send a message to Governor Coolidge
in which he lavished praise upon him
for the courageous stand he had TAX
en- in that emergency.
What has been termed "The Great |
Adventure" in the public career OF
Coolidge that called for the exercise |
of those qualities of courage and de- |
cision that had been latent within him |
and only awaiting an opportunity to
assert themselves came in september,
1919 In thirty-seVen cities in different |
parts of the country unions had been |
formed within the uniformed pohce |
forces and become affiliated with the
American Federation of Labor. For |
some time prior to the fatetul Sep
teInber organizers had been at work |
within the Boston force. Their efforts |
had been attended with considerable |
success ,and early in the month de-
mand as made by the unionlzed po-
licemen on Police Commissioner Ed
win U. Curtis for permission to JOIN
the American Federation of Labor.
Commissioner Curtis Immediately
promulgated a rule prohibiting any
union of the Boston police force from
afiliating with an outside labor un-
ion.
A strike of dissatisfied policemen
was threatening when an appeal was
made to Governor Coolidge to reverse
the order of the Police Commissioner
coupled with a demand for the remOv-
al of the Commissioner AiGlseIt. The
union organizers and the unioniZed
DOllC6uCu VI DOSlOu5 IL WdS luuVl-
stood at the time, had received con-
siderable aid and comfort from the
Mayor of the city, who had failed to
give even moral support to the Com
missioner of Police.
In the emergency that had arisen
Governor Coolidge sought advice from
a committee composed of prominent
citizens. A conference was held AZ
which the situation was reviewed from
every angle. At this meeting the Gov
ernor did little but listen. After he had
heard the views of all present, Cover
nor Coolidge arise abruptly from his
seat and said:
Il thank you, gentlemen, 1 see my
way clearly, and now 1 am going to
act"
Stood Back of Commissioner
He then summoned the Police Com
missioner and called upon him to en-
force his order assuring him that in
whatever he found necessary to do in
that direction he would have his full
lest support. The Boston Police I'm [
ion defied the Commissioner, secured
charter from the American Federation {
of Labor, and after nineteen Tinglead
ers in the movement had been brought i
up on charges before the Commission
er and had been found guilty, but with |
penalties suspended to afford them an I