Evening star., 1932-09-05
POLICE FRATERNITY
| MEETS OPPOSITION
Philadelphia Director Sees no
Good to City in Pro-
posed locaI."
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star
PHILADELPHIA, September 5.-As
the result of a Nationwide investiga.
tion, Director Kern Dodge of the De-
partment of Public Safety believes "it
would not be a good thing for the city
for Philadelphia police to join the Fra
ternal Order CT Police.
The director submitted his findings
to City Council in 13-page report
based on replies to questionnaires for
warded to the mayors of 81 cities and
towns and heads of boroughs in which
the order claims to have branches. The
order has national headquarters in
Pittsburgh, where it also has its largest
lodge
When 1t became known, early last
June, that the Fraternal Order of Po-
lice was attempting to form a lodge in
Philadelphia City Council asked Direc-
tor Dodge to conduct an investigation
and submit report.
Mr., Dodge said he saw where II
might be productive OF great harm.
Ordinance Awaits Action.
Mayor Moore has not publicly ex-
pressed an opinion in the matter, but
nevertheless, an "anti-union" ordinance
is awaiting action by Councils Public
Safety Committee
The director says the Fraternal Order
OF Police insists 1t is not a union, but
he adds that the definitions of the
word union" in the Standard Die
tionary indicate that certainly the
order comes within these definitions u
1T is without question a union. no
mctter how benevolent and conciliatory
It may be at the present moment" said
Mr.. Dodge
The 'anti-union" measure, II adopt-
ed In its present form, would prevent
all officers and employees of the Public
Safety Department from joining any
organization or association not directly
conducted or supervised by the depart
ment. The ordinance makes exceptions
Tor beneficial and other organizations
now existing in the department.
IL may or may not be a mere CO.
incidence that the pay cuts to place the
police and firemen upon the same rela.
tive basis as other city employees. pre-
ceded by only few days the beginning
OF a series OF meetings for the purpose
OF organizing local lodge of the Fra
ternal Order of Police" said the direc-
Tor In his report. He pointed out that
hremen are not eligible to Join the
order.
In 16 Of the cities replying to the
Questlonnalre, where the order is now
operating. every single policeman is a
member OF it, in three cities SO per cent
OF the force belong, in three 80 per cent,
IN one 80 per cent, in another rs per
cent. ~
Membership Percentage.
This percentage of membership is a
rather significant thing" says the di-
rector. "As any one who has had the
snghtest experience with Organization
work knows a membership of more than
oo per cent of the eligibles Is considered
an excellent average, and membership
oI 10 per cent or above can rarely be
secured without coercion
Folntlng out that the national Off
GERS assert the order does not counte-
nance strikes, such as rocked the citv
OF Boston when Calvin Coolidge was
governor of Massachusetts,, Director
Dodge says: "The constitution of the
oroer, however, makes no mention of
Strlkes, and since wages, hours and
regulations are among the aims and
OBJECTS OF the organization. it world
appear that any administration so
nnded might establish a strike policy
az Will, II 1t were to decide that its de-
Inanos could not be enforced by politi-
The director also explains "that the
oatn OF obligation in the ritual pledges
Ine member to secrecy and to Obedience
70 tne oincers of his lodge, but it makes
no mentlon OF loyalty to the city he
serves or OF obedience to the orders of
MS properly constituted superiors."
wniIe zO mayors say the order has
mace no demands for higher nav
snorter hours, changes in regulations
seven mayors say that it has. ACCORDING
70 Mr.. Dodge's report. All agree thai
Lne order has never yet resorted to
strike to obtain its objects.
81; Louis, Kansas City, Boston and
washington, D. c., have refused ad-
mlttance to the Fraternal order of Po-
lice, he said. VI Ho-
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