The Connecticut labor news., 1923-08-18

CT, was the DemOCfdIlC CdnQ1OaIe idge.
 | Mir Long argued that the strike never would have taken place If
 Governor Coolidge had assumed strong position, and also that Cool tidge had nothing whatevert to do with the restoring of order. The facts were published month after the in- cident in a report prepared by a com
 mittee appointed by Hon. Andrew J. Peters, mayor of Boston at the time, Der of Commerce
 This committee, of which James ]. Storrow, partner in the banking house |of Lee, Higginson & Co.,, was chair
 man, was appointed several weeks be-
 fore the strike occurred and about
 the time the policemen's union was organized Police Commissioner Cur |tis had taken position in strong op- position to the policemen's union and declared that under no circum-
 stances would he treat with such an Organization. He refused to meet any representatives of the men or to consider their demands.
 Citizens Committee Acted
 The citizens committee attempted
 to intervene and to secure a settle
 ment of the trouble. They had numerous conferences with represen- tatives of the policemen and also with Commis ssioner Curtis The committee
 recognized the fact that the police men had good grounds for complaint about some details of their work and especially concerning conditions in many of the station houses, as well as injustices affecting their hours of work. The negotiations reached such a point that the committee was satis- hfd an adjustment could be reached and that the men were prepared to abandon their union
 Representatives of the committee reported these facts to Commissioner Curtsi and urged that he agree to a settlement of the controversy which would avoid the threatened strike. He refused to alter his position in any respect. His belief was that the men would not strike; that the entire movement would fail, and there was no occasion for him to discuss con dftions in the department with any representatives of the patrolmen.
 Memberes of the committee there upon conferred with Gov. Coolidge and urged him to use his influence to prevent a break. The governor was to do this, although the Po- lice Department of the state Is direct ly responsible to the governor, the commissioner being appointed by the governor of the state The committee having failed in its efforts and the danger of strike appearing to be the committee had a furth- CT conference with the governor on Monday, September 8, the day before the strike took place On this occas- ion, the committee pointed out to the governor that in their opinion strike was inevitable; that large propor- ton of the patro1men would leave their posts of duty, and that the gov ernor should immediately order state troops to their armories in the city and suburbs to be within call in the event of strike.
 Coolidge Delayed Action.
 Following this conference on the day on which the strike actually took place, the governor sent a written statement to the committee in which he said that he was unable to dis ,over' any action he could take. Late shat afternoon large number of the members of the force quit work and the disorders which broke out that evening and extended far into the night followed immediately. Early he next morning-September Io-no action having been taken by the gov ernor. Mayor Peters called out all of he regiments of the State Guard sit lated in Boston, as he had power to 10 by law under riot conditions. The mayor also made formal request to Gov Coolidge for additional regi- nents from outside. The troops call d out by the mayor, with the aid of ! voluntary citizens police, restored order completely during the day Not lntil the next day-Thursday, Sep ember 1I-did Gov Coolidge take control and issue his proclamation. n this proclamation, he declared that le took the step of calling out the additional troops "in the performance ,f my duty, in the restoration of ,rder"
 All of the facts as summarized bove were included in the report is- ued by the citizens committee after pproval by the directors of the Bos- an Cha arSher of Cornnerca