The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1924-10-13
COOLIDGE ACTION
NPOLICE STRIKE
Is CALLED MYTH
Took No Part Whatever
In Meeting Boston Cri-
sis, Say Democrats
(By Leased wire to The Ase-Herald.)

(BY Leased wire 20 Inc Ase'1eraIo.D
WASHINGTON, Oct. 12.-As the
presidential campaign draws to its
close, the democratic national commit
tee comes out with card long held
back by publishing version of the
Boston police strike in 1919 which robs
Calvin Coolidge of all credit for settle
sment of, the trouble. 1t was the ma
tional prominence Coolidge gained at
the time, jerking him suddenly from
practical obscurity as the silent gov
ernOr of Massachusetts, that was pri-
marily responsible for his nomination
as vice president in 1920. r.
Coolidge, the democratic committee
charges, was innocent of any partic-
ipation whatever in dealing with the
Boston police strike" and remained
wholly aloof until order had been COM
pletely restored" The committees
statement declares that Mayor Andrt%
J. Peters, of Boston, actually met the
crisis, dealt with it by courageous, dras-
tic action, and restored law and order"
No New Story
The democratic committees version
of the strike settlement is not new
story. 1t was heard about the capital
when Coolidge succeeded to the pres
idency, and appeared with practically
the same conclusions in at least one
magazine. This is the first time it has
been presented for circulation in news
papers. 1t is given in an article by
Stephen Bonsal, writer and publicist,
with an accompanying statement by the
committee.
simultaneously with publication Of
the democratic version, the republican
national committee here issued an an
swer from Henry Weyman, of Boston,
who was attorney general Of Massachu-
sets at the time who declares that
the democratic statement is entirely
inaccurate and misleading"
Statement Termed inaccurate
Important documents which are nee
essary to give any adequate under
standing of the situation have been sup
pressed" Weyman said. land the gen.
eral attitude of President Coolidge
Commissioner Curtis, and Mayor Pc
tiers, has been distorted, so that as an
accurate record of what took place at
that time the article is of no value. /
was attorney general at the time and
was in constant conference with Pres
ident Coolidge, and had full information
of every action which he took"
The statement by Bonzal contains
correspondence that passed between the
principals in the strike action, Cool
idge, Curtis, Peters and others, and
forms n lengthy document.
Governor Coolidge, the committee
says in its resume, was urged by the
| mayor and the citizens committee to
call out the state guard as a preventive
measure when the strike and probable
rioting and> disorder were a matter of
only a few hours, but did not do SO.
Mayor Called Troops
"The strike came and rioGng and
disorder followed as anticipated. Mayor
Peters ordered out the state guard
located in Boston under authority of
an ancient statute, never previously
invoked, but only after rioting had
started (which, under the law, must
be the conditions under which he could
act) and only after Governor Coolidge
had failed to order out the state guard
as a preventive measure"
On this version, /Weyman said that
Mayor Peters had every authority to
call out all the state guard in the city
of Boston without going to the COVER
nor: nevertheless, the governor offered
to call out that state guard which was
in Boston, and that in the rest of the
state which he had ordered the adJu-
tant general to hold in readiness, at
any time the mayor requested it."
''All that can be claimed for the gov
ernor," Bonsal says, lis that when the
mayor by proclamation had taken
charge of the dangerous situation he
placed at the mayors disposal certain
units of the state guard which were ex.
clusively under his jurisdiction and
which were only subject to the Cover
nor's call"