A City in Terror: 2the 1919 Boston Police Strike

There is a new reprint of this book on the market. This is a classic on why police are not allowed to strike. On September 9 and 10, 1919, Boston Police struck for better working conditions and wages and the right to associate with the AFL. What happened is that the criminal element struck during the strike and literally looted and damaged millions of dollars worth of property. Women were raped on the streets. Both the police commissioner Curtis, Mayor Peters, and Governor Calvin Coolidge did nothing, being assured by Curtis that enough policemen would remain to patrol the city. Bad elements, including sailors, anarchist Letts, and underworld figures from New York struck and mayhem ran wild in the streets for two days. Mayor Peters finally got help from the National Guard and Militia to put down the rampage at a cost of 8 lives. When Coolidge saw what Peters did, he claimed the credit for the militia action, even though it was the Mayor's incentive. Of course, Coolidge parlayed his fame from this to become a Vice Presidential candidate and eventually President. This is a worthy read of an event not now known to many people. Police still do not have a right to strike, and this is the reason. One man road this issue to the Presidency. Politics and public protection do not mix.

I would have liked to have seen a greater number of references and footnoting for the book. While a very good history, it lacks what I would consider a true scholarly outlook. I do not doubt the research, but I have a problem with not being able to follow up on the research. Overall, this book is an excellent resource for the Boston Police Strike, especially in lieu of the results (the First Red Scare).

This book is great for anyone interested in Boston history, labor history or American history in the period following WWI when labour unions were striking all across the country and fear and violence were shaping politics in America. The riots, and the politically shrewd actions of Goverenor Calvin Coolidge led to his election as President in a time when the handling of unions and strikes was as important of an issue as any in modern day politics. I highly recommend this book if you are interested in seeing what life was like in 1918, what happens when the police force of a large city strikes, and what chain of events can propel a man to the highest political office in the world.