The Connecticut labor news., 1924-10-25
COOLIDGE CAUSED INSTEAD OF PREVENTING OR PUTTING DOWN
 THE BOSTON POLICE STRIKE

u1l1On ana installed Of1ceTS.
 1 II August Y, the Boston Central Labor Union passed resolutions con- graduating them on their American
 manhood Tn establishing union in or der that they may be able to protect and promote the interests of themselves and their families"
 12- August 21 and 25, Commissioner Curtis preferred charges of disobedi- ence against 19 patrolmen, 17 of whom were officers in the union. The Police mems Union issued a statement saving tn ere was nothing in their obligation to the Union conflicting with their oath as police officers and stating they inteded to do their. full sworn duty by the city. 13 Commissioner Curtis swore in 10
 volunteer police to serve in emereen- cies" and began to advertise for 1000 volunteer police
 l4 Mayor Peters realizing the deE- cacy of affairs, appointed Citizens Committee of 34 prominent bankers lawyers, manufacturers and merchants to study the matter, confer with both parties and try to solve the problem. They were led by James J. Storrow, Boston's most prominent banker, and an able arbitrator of much experience
 The policemen chose two attorneys, Messers. Vahey and Feeney. They met with the Mayors committee and went into every detail of the living wage and the unbearable working conditions
 The Citizens Committee expressed it. self as shocked that such a state of affairs could exist in Boston," and said they would do everything to remedy it. Chairman Storrow stated at the start that he firmly believed the police should give up their union charter. IS The Citizens Committee stated they had reached the conclusion that an amicable agreement could be ob- tained by which the men would give up their A. F. of L.. charter and obtain better working conditions. SO that all parties would be satisfied"
 They drew up settlement plan which provided:
 (a) The police would voluntarily give up their labor charter.
 <b) That wages and hours requiring adjustment would be investigated and recommend upon by a committee of three.
 (c) That policemen might join or stay out of the local Boston Police mems Union, as they chose, without dis elimination
 This plan was satisfactory to the po- licemen's attorney, to the Boston Cham Der of Commerce and to every news paper in the city, which openly ap- proved the plan.
 But 1t was not agreeable to Commis- Sioner Curtis, whose pride would not let him reinstate the 1o men he had pre- pared for firing" And it was not ap- proved by Governor Coolidge for he continually repeated that he didn't want to get mixed up in it," that The had authority to act,' and that he didn't feel it his duty to communicate with the commissioner on the subject"
 Thus we see that two men, the gov ernor and his police commissioner, pre- vented the consumation of peaceful settlement of the dispute. Both Gov ernor Coolidge and Commissioner Cur tis absented themselves from the city for long periods at this time. Neither the mayor nor the Citizens Committee could locate them when the situation grew most threatening.
 16 Sunday, September 7, Governor Coolidge was urged to come to town 1 and the Citizens Committe spent six | hours with him urging his approval of | this common sense plan by which he | could gain everything he wanted, and at the same time give the men chance to get raise Ill pay. But he would not approve it, neither could he give any real criticism against it. He just did | nothing at a time when something had to be done. i
 Y Monday, September 8, Commis- sioner Curtis fired the 19 men for join ing their own policemens union Soon | after, the 1,116 other members unani- mously voted to walk out before they 1 too got kicked out. But they" gave the city "A hours notice, plenty of time for Commissioner Curtis to assemble his volunteers" or call in the state guard | for street duty.
 IS When the committee urged the governor to call out the state guard to protect the city, he refused point blank When Mayor Peters urged Commission CT Curtis to call out the state guard, he was told that I've don't want the state 1 guard and won't have it" Governor Coolidge at the same time advised Nfa,.nr DetarS tc attor,d to hic oI..t, hI,ci-