The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1925-02-15
We Apologize

the Transfers Union in reply to criticisms OF the
Premier taxicab story printed in the Feb. issue
of the DAILY WORKER:
"Dear Comrades:
"The story published in the DAILY WORKER
Of Feb. 2 in which it was stated that the manage
ment of the Premier Taxicab company was respon-
sible for a letter to all taxi drivers employed urg
ing them to join the ku klux khan, and the further
statement that the union did nothing for the taxi
drivers who are members Of it, was incorrect in
these particulars.
'Tn pursuance Of the policy followed by all Com
munist papers and Communist parties, we freely
admit the mistakes made and on the day following
the incorrect story we printed the statement of
those who took issue with it.
1--WE wish to point out, however, that the story
Of the ku klux khan letter sent to the employees of
the Premier company was furnished us by one OF
these workers and that it was printed in good faith
in line with our policy of waging on this labor
hating organization wherever it shows its hooded
head.
"WhiIe we were incorrect in stating that the let
TER emanated from the management itself, never
theless think that it is better to in overzea
in these matters than to allow sinister activity
of the khan to escape unnoticed.
1.-THE only reason we in any way regret any
inconvenience suffered by the Premier company as
a result Of the publication of the incorrect story
is that it is perhaps the only concern of its kind in
Chicago that is unionized to any extent
aside from this it is collection of capitalists
who are engaged in making profit by taking as much
Of the revenue produced by their workers as the
workers will stand for and therefore to be treated
by us exactly as we treat all other exploiting en-
terprises-as enemies of the working class.
'9rhe statement that we regret the most and
that demands complete retraction and explanation,
is that which states that the union does nothing
for its members.
'This statement is entirely wrong and has no
place in Communist paper. 1t is entirely out of
harmony with Communist theory, policy and tao
tics which regard the unions as the basic organs
of the class struggle. 1t was not written by a
responsible member of the staff and the error was
overlooked at time when two of the staff we're i'll
and the careful reading of all copy physically i'm
possible.
'"rhe Communist Party and the Communist press
do not fight unions or endeavOr to discredit them.
On the contrary, the Communists aim to be the
most active in organizing and in the work of the
unions. We believe that only by building powerful
fighting industrial unions thru a policy of ANAL
gamation can a real labor movement be created as
a solid foundation for the struggle for the over
throw of capitalism and the establishment of the
dictatorship Of the working class which will in turn
lay the basis for Communist society.
"In the daily struggles of the workers the Com
munist Party and press looks upon the unions as
the most efficient weapon of the workers.
1--WE do not fight unions. We do fight the con-
sentative, reactionary and corrupt officials where
ever we find them. We fight them because we know
that they obstruct the progress of the unions and
of the class struggle and therefore delay the victory
of the workers.
'Had the DAILY WORKER directed its crit
icsm at the officials and not at the uiOn we would
still have been subject to censure if the facts were
incorrect, but we would not have committed a grave
political error.
"The DAILY WORKER never consciously prints
manufactured news Of the labor movement. Those
who are opposed to our policies do not like the
manner in which we handle the news, but so far
untruths are concerned it is our object to print
the truth of all labor controversies even when we
get the worst of it.
"Quite aside from any ethical or moral consider
alton, it is only by establishing reputation for
accuracy and detailed knowledge of all the prob.
lens and struggles of the unions, the unorganized
workers and the working class as a whole that the
Communist press gain their confidence and
support.
1--WE call your attention to the fact that in the
year since the DAILY WORKER began pubca.
ton, a year in which Communists have been
sandered vilifed and denounced in all the official
union press their policies tactics and objects lied
about, year in which they have been expelled by
the trade union bureaucrats from labor organiza-