Boston Mayor, Police Commissioner. A lawyer, he held a number of government positions in the city of Boston, including serving as Mayor in 1895. He was Boston's Police Commissioner during the Boston Police Strike in 1919. He forbid the largely Irish-American police force, who felt underpaid and over worked, to unionize. Over 1100 police officers went on strike, causing several days of riots to erupt across the city. Governor Calvin Coolidge sent in the National Guard to fully restore order to the city. Commissioner Curtis refused to rehire the strikers, but gave new officers, including, for the first time, African-Americans, the better working conditions and pay that had been sought by the strikers.
Boston Mayor, Police Commissioner. A lawyer, he held a number of government positions in the city of Boston, including serving as Mayor in 1895. He was Boston's Police Commissioner during the Boston Police Strike in 1919. He forbid the largely Irish-American police force, who felt underpaid and over worked, to unionize. Over 1100 police officers went on strike, causing several days of riots to erupt across the city. Governor Calvin Coolidge sent in the National Guard to fully restore order to the city. Commissioner Curtis refused to rehire the strikers, but gave new officers, including, for the first time, African-Americans, the better working conditions and pay that had been sought by the strikers.
Bio by: Jen Snoots
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