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N0KFQ > TODAY 10.09.12 00:11l 43 Lines 1917 Bytes #999 (0) @ WW
BID : 28067_KB0WSA
Read: GUEST
Subj: Today in History - Sep 9
Path: IZ3LSV<IW8PGT<ON0AR<VK6HGR<ZL2BAU<N9PMO<KC5CNT<N0KFQ<KB0WSA
Sent: 120909/2156Z 28067@KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA BPQK1.4.52
Sep 9, 1919:
The Boston police department goes on strike
The infamous Boston Police Strike of 1919 begins, causing an
uproar around the nation and confirming the growing influence of
unions on American life. Using the situation to their advantage,
criminals took the opportunity to loot the city.
As society changed in the 20th century, police were expected to
act more professionally. Some of their previous practices were no
longer countenanced. Explanations such as that later given by the
Dallas chief of police in defense of their unorthodox
tactics--"Illegality is necessary to preserve legality"--was no
longer acceptable to the public. Police forces were brought
within the civil service framework and even received training for
the first time. Soon, the American Federation of Labor (AFL)
began to create local police unions.
When the Boston Police went on strike on September 9, the
country's leading newspapers sounded the alarm bells. Some
falsely reported that gangs were running wild and attacking women
throughout the city. Others saw it as evidence of the spread of
communism. In actuality, the strike prompted a lot of property
damage but did not seriously endanger the safety of the
community-partly due to the quick response of the government.
Calvin Coolidge, governor of Massachusetts at the time, called
out the militia to assist Harvard students and faculty who were
acting as a volunteer force. (He later used the incident to boost
himself to the presidency.) While the Boston Police Strike proved
disastrous for unions in the short term, police were eventually
allowed to form unions. However, it is illegal for police to go
on strike, and even informal work actions such as the "Blue Flu,"
whereby large numbers of police officers call in sick at the same
time, are seriously discouraged.
73, K.O. n0kfq
N0KFQ @ KB0WSA.MO.USA.NA
E-mail: n0kfq@winlink.org
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