The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-01-25

NO4lOAiuCN HUH pdSt
ness as presidential timber by re-
vealing himself in the garment
strike as a striksbreaker and as a
man who could rule with an iron
hand and force c bmpulsory arbitra-
tion upon milit{ntly led union, so
he is now trying tt convince big bust
ness that he can put across their
traction consolidation plan and fare
increase, in spite pf popular opposi-
ton in the city OF New York.
Walker With Olvany.
Mayor Walker. yn the other hand,
backed, it appears, by Boss Olvany of
the local tammanE organization, is
attempting to OPPOSE the governor.
lie and the tamnlany boss seem to
feel, because they have to deal with
it. the pressure of the city's masses.
They know that their party is in
danger of reputation at the NUM-
cipal election this Ear if they openly
join in the drive fdf the big business
traction consolidation plan and an
increased fare. Mdfeover, there are
smaller business interests, such as
the suburban real Estate spectators.
that are anxious to keep and even
extend the citys SC fare system, be-
cause it will be difficult to sell real
estate outside of a second fare limit.
Watching His Step.
Mayor Walker, however, cannot be
expected to make a real fight. A
show of resistance he must make if
he wishes to retain any possibilities
of reelection in the next mayorality
campaign. Consequently, he is pre-
pairing in opposition to the big bust
hess traction consolidation plan,
rather foolish alternative, a system
whereby the BIN. I. keeps its lines,
the l. R. T. its lines and the lines
to be constructed are put in the hands
of yet a third company. Moreover,
Mayor Walker is keenly sensitive to
the strong pressure of the financial
interests from which money would
have to be raised for the bond issue
to building new subways
under his plan. The little skirmish
now going on concerning bus fran
chises is Of Importance because in it
Walker must demonstrate his ability
to deliver the beard of estimate in
his transit plan, but already Walker
is obviously outnumbered by the
friends of Smith. Miller, Borough
President of Manhattan, who owes
his nomination to Smith; Comptrol-
Ter Berry, another Smith appointee;
and even the borough presidents of
Brooklyn and Queens ready to disre-
gard the desires of their population
in this matter at the crack of the,
Smith whip. The Transit Commits
sion also contains such Smith APP
pointees as John F. Gilchrist, Leon
G. Cooley and Chas. c. Lockwood,
and behind the whole Smith traction
consolidation scheme are the brains
.of the veteran corporation lawyer
Mr.. Untermeyer
Would Have to Fight Smith.
Walker will make some show of al
fight but he will probably lose in his
own Board OF Estimate. If he should
carry the fight beyond the Board of
Estimate, there is still the question
of getting The State Legislature to
approve the bond issue referendum
for $300,0OOO0O bond issue by the
City for transit traction. Here he
would have to fight Governor Smith
who would probably receive the sup
port of majority Of the Republicans
in the State legislature.
Governor Smiths plan is vicious
enc because it means a gigantic cor
poration merging all Of the traction
lines of the City, using the City's
funds, trying 10 crush all attempts
at labor organizations on the subway,
elevated and surface lines and raising
the fare Of tho New York traction |
system. Walkers plan is unavoidable
and even foolish. He does not i'm
prove the New York transit situation
by adding a third traction company.
Walkers Futile Plan.
Besides, the transit lines Of New
York City are already secretly far