The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-08-28
RED CANDIDATE
HITS |RT HEADS
Greed for Profit Costs
Blood, Says Dunno

health of the millions of workers of
New York City who are compelled to
use the subways, elevateds, etc. This
criminal policy inevitably led to the
tragedy of last Friday when, with
1000 crowded into the ten trains,
scores of lives were sacrificed to the
greed and profits of the traction
barons. Nor has this been the first
of such accidents. AS far back as
1918 the transit commission was in
formed that the Malbone Street dis
aster, where hundreds of people
were killed and injured was also due
to a conscious undermining of
safety devices and equipment.
Not Safety, But Profit First.
. "For the past ten years the tran
sit history of New York has con-
sisted of series of wrecks and col
lisions, attended by terrific loss of
life. What concern is it of the rich
stockholders and directors of the
subway company that the lives of
those who work underground, of
those who must travel in the SUBJ
ways are jeopardized and imperilled ?
The Hedleys, the Quackenbushes,
Dahls and Chadbournes are but in
terested in increasing their profits;
if expenses can be lowered by not
making necessary repairs and i'm
provements by worsening the con-
ditions of those who work for the
company the matter of lives of
workers and passengers counts for
nothing in their estimation. A few
thousand dollars spent in campaign
contributions goes long way to-
ward closing the eyes of city Off
Gals to the criminal negligence of
the l. R. T.
Slaughter in Fight for &c. Fare.
"There is no question but that the
Traction Company hoped to put
across the 7-cent fare by pursuing
such policies. They hoped that the
workers, becoming impatient with
poor, crowded, insufficient an d
dangerous service would be willing
to pay increased fare. They did not
point out, of course, that the profits
the Traction Company made last
year were more than enough to take
care of all necessary repairs and i'm
provements, could have provided for
additional cars and service and could
have made possible wage increases
and better conditions for the subway
workers.
SIN this criminal policy, the l. R.
T. has had the support of the city
and state government. Al Smith, the
Democratic Governor of New York
State and candidate for President on
the democratic ticket and the repub-
lican legislature are equally re-
sponsible. They did not compel the
traction company to make the neces-
sary improvement in service though
the order was given several months
ago. Tammany judges and Tammany
police have time and time again
aided the transit company with in
functions and police clubs in their
attack upon traction workers when
these workers went out on strike for
improved conditions and for the
right to organize.
Tammany's Masters.
"Tammany Hall with Mayor
Walker in the lead not only have not
put up fight against the seven cent
fare steal, but have laid the basis
for it Immediately after the elections
are over. And now Mayor Walker
caps the climax by excusing the l.
R. T. by saying: Terrible and de-
plorable as it is, we find some COM
fort in splendid subway construction
where train would split in half, yet
only one supporting column was de-
stroyed. The rest of the structure is
SAFE Already the traction Com
pany and government officials are
attempting to lay the blame for the
disaster upon some innocent worker.
1.-THE traction robbers as Chad
bourne, Kenny and others are known
supporters of Smiths candidacy.
Kenny who is big stockholder in
Traction Company has already given
$4,000 for Smiths Campaign and
has stated that he is ready to give
more. Nor does Hoover the republic
can candidate lack such support.
"The millions of workers of New
York City will not be deceived by
the attempts of the l. R. T. and of
the two parties, the democratic and
the republican parties to whitewash
their responsibility for the tragedy.
Prosecute Real Criminals
"The Workers (Communist) Party
demands that the executive heads
pof the Traction Company who are
responsible for Fridays catastrophe