Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1924-09-24

bdheu COhIOl VI JHS pOllCe ue-
partment and called out members
of the State Guard located in
Boston. Then Governor Coolidge
assumed command, ordered OUT
the entire State Guard, and got
all of the publicity and credit
which has made and perpetuated
the Coolidge myth"
The history Of the inception
PROCESS and suppression of the
strike is told in the report of the
Citizens Committee (of thirty
FOUR appointed by Mayor Peters
to deal with the strike then threa.
tened but not called. This re-
port, which was not completed
and issued until nearly month
after the strike ended and long
after the myth was spread nation
wide, has since been made by The
City of Boston public document
(No. 108-1919). There were
Republicans as well as Demo.
Gratis and Independents among
the Committee. It's chairman
was James J. Storow, of the firm
of Lee, higginson and Co., bank
ers.
This committee was appointed
by Mayor Peters on August 27.
following the affiliation of the
Boston Policemen's union with
the American Federation of La
Dor. The next day the commit
tee issued statement declaring
that the policemen's union should
not affiliate with the American
Federation of Law. Negotia-
tons were undertaken for the
purpose of adjusting the police
mems grievances on the basis
OF the surrender of their charter
as local union of the American
Federation of Labor. A plan
that seemed to have prospect
of acceptance by all those cor
cerned was adopted. Mayor Pc
ters and the Citizens Committee
sought the assistance of Governor
Coolidge. The appeal was made
to Governor Coolidge because
the police department of Boston
is under the control of the State
The Police Commissioner of Bos-
ton is appointed and removable
by the Governor.
Mayor Peters was unable 10
reach Governor Coolidge by tele-
phone on the day the strike be-
gan and sent to him the plan of
adjustment devised by the Com
mittee, expressing at the same
time the strong opinion" that
it offered basis of solution.
81 hope you may feel that you
can take steps to assist in the So
luton suggested" Mayor Peters
wrote to Governor Coolidge.
Governor Colleges reply prac-
tically shouldered on Mayor Pc
ters and, Police Commissioner E.
U. Curtis the responsibility for
settling the strike. There was
a note Of resentment in Mr.. Cool.
idge's letter. 1t appears in his
statement that "it semes to me
that there has arisen a confusion
which would be cleared up if suck
person undertakes to perform
the duties imposed upon him by
law Governor Coolidge's let
ter to Mayor Peters closed with
this statement:
81 am unable to discover any
action that / can take"
Mayor Peters then acted under
authority of a statute placing the
police and State Guard in his
control in certain emergencies.
In its report of this phase of
the strike, the Citizens Commit
tee said:
"On Tuesday evening, Septem
Der 8, disorders, and robbery oc.
Cured, and on Wednesday morn
ing, September 10, Your Honor
assumed temporary control of the
Police Department, acting under
statute =. which gives Your Hon
or the power to do so, tumult
having then occurred. Your
Honor also Immediately called
out that part of the State Guard
located in Boston, which you
then had authority to do, and re-
quested the Governor to order
out three additional regiments
of infantry.
"By Thursday morning." con
tinued the Committees report,
''order had been generally res
tored in the city. On Thursday
afternoon, September II, the
Governor assumed control of the
situation, as indicated by his pro-
clamation of that day."
After having been unable TO
discover any action" he could
take and having waited until
Mayor Peters had the situation in
hand, Governor Coolidge issued
the proclamation that begot the
Coolidge Myth" Here is the
proclamation:
''The entire State Guard of
Massachusetts has been called
out. Under the constitution the