The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-10-04
WHY GAL
'FORGETS'
THE STRIKE
There Is a Reason Why
Coolidge Does Not
Discuss WaIkout,
Times TashingtOn Bureau,
1929 AeqD EorE ge

" U III AsoA1A-NN " 1 W. III. IA CAIN
INV paign biography of President
- Coolidge states that had 1t
not been for the Boston police strike,
Calvin Coolidge unquestionably
would have gone into the shadows
of private law practice and been
little known outside the common
wealth of Massachusetts"
Following this statement is one
in which surprise is expressed that
the President never talks OF the
strike" even though he owes his
career to It.
Had the biographer made q care
full study Of Coolidge's part in the
strike. he would have understood
why the subject is anathema TO the
President.
For, though his fame rests there
on. the then Governor Coolidge had
little or nothing to do with tho set
tlement Of the strike.
Verdict of Committee
That IS the official verdict Of the
citizens committee of Boston, a com
mittee composed Of the leading citi-
zens Of the city who organized for
the purpose OF helping settle the dis
pute with the police.
Nearly all the members of this
committee are Republicans. Yet. in
an official report. they state that
Governor Coolidge did not assume
control Of the situation until six or
seven hours after the strike had
been ended.
Before reaching this conclusion.
the Citizens committee made a com
plete chronological record Of every
phase Of the strike from the time It
was first threatened, on Aug. q,
1919, 10 the settlement on the morn.
ing Of Sept. IL
The Governor Of Massachusetts
controls the Boston police force
through his power to appoint the po-
lice commissioner.
From Aug. q to Sept. ,. Governor
Coolidge manifested no interest in
tho strike situation. A committee OF
citizens. working IN conjunction
with Mayor Peters. had attempted TO
negotiate with the Governor through
his appoIntee, Commissioner Curtis.
but without success.
Finally, On Sept. 3. the committee
called on the Governor and were
informed that Mr. Coolidge would
take up the matter through the com
missioner.
From Sept. 3 TO Sept, s. attempts
were made to work out u plan Of
settlement The Citizens committee
and the mayor were in full accord,
but had difficulty with Commits
sioner Curtis.
The chronological record from
Sept. s to Sept. II tells the rest of
the story.
Sept. s: Mayor Peters attempted
to communicate with Governor Cool
idge in order to present the plan Of
settlement, but failed to obtain an
audience. He then mailed to plan
to Coolidge and published an an
might know It had been put up to
the Governor.
Sept. 8: After repeated attempts,
citizens committee finally obtained
conference with Governor late in day
and urged him to call out State
guard at once.
Sept. 8: Coolidge informed Peters
formally he had no authority to In
terfere. Peters made public state
ment that he regretted Coolidge
neither approved plan nor offered
alternative for settlement.
Sept. 8: Mayor Peters and commit
tee saw Curtis. Curtis said he had
situation well in hand, that he did
not need State guard and did rot
want It.
No Action Taken
Sept. 9: Mayor and committee saw
Governor and pleaded for State
guard, but no action taken by Gov
ernor.
Sept. o: Same evening, rioting be-
gan and some robberies reported and
disorder threatened
Sept. 10: Curtis dug up old
statute giving city official the au-
thority to call out troops in that
jurisdiction once necessity arose.
Curtis called on Peters to take &C
ton and withdrew himself and his
authority from picture. Mayor
Peters assumed responsibility and
authority and called out troops.
Sept. 10: Mayor Peters demand
ed Coolidge call out additional
troopssp Curtis replied by merely
acknowledging request and again as
serted his retirement from author
ity. Coolidge responded that he was
awaiting any further call for troops.
Sept, 10: Peters called for addi-
tional troops for Sept. 10. at
o'clock.
Sept. II, Thursday: Order re-
stored and city tranquil. Thursday
afternoon, Coolidge called out State
Guard. The report of the citizens
committee:
"By Thursday morning, order
had been generally restored in the
city. On Thursday afternoon. Sept.
II, the Governor assumed control
of the situation as indicated by his
proclamation of that day."