The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-01-20


The executive council of the American Federation of Labor
has the traction workers to the traction barons for an
indefinite period by its decision just made in Miami
This decision is to strike the marlborough Rapid
Transit Company lines while the injunction hearing pending
only the R. refuse arbitration of all issues arising
out of the struggle of the workers to organize
In reality this abandonment of attempts to
traction workers since the R. IT, knowing advance
that no strike will called will Systematically discharge and
discriminate against all workers who join the Amagamaed Asso
citation of Street and Electric Railway Employees.
Organization under such conditions and with the methods
used by Amagamated impossible If there pretense
continuing this work. following the decision of the executive
council it can be nothing else cruel farce conducted at the
expense of the traction workers.
Nothing better illustrates the systematic policy surrender
followed the official labor leadership than its actions IN this
situation where the right of the labor movement to exist and
function organizing instrument and for the workers
barons
The hopes traction workers have been dashed time and
again When the traction baron would profit from delay the
union officials always ready to delay action
When strike against the R. could been called last
would have met with tremendous response from the
traction all lines it sabotaged and finally called
off thru medium of the most brazen deception carried on IN
conjunction with Tamany Hall officials notably Mayor Walker
When the application for the new injunction hearings on
which are pending Green's VOLS and Mahons
talked loudly but did nothing except hire hghed lawyers
shady deals with republican and democrat leaders and prac
tically discontinue organization work.
At that time and it yet late strike against the
injunction union it designed to protect and for
organization and recognition of the union would have damazed
the whole injunction ISSUE secured wide mass support and might
changed the whole current in the labor movement from
sluggish stream to torrent sweeping away all antabor lnunc
tions by violation of them.
whole has been submerged in deuge of law
yers talk and blatant optimism emanatng from official labor
leaders unwilling dscred the courts"one of
great American Institutions.
Faith in the courts must be preserved This the slogan
which labor ociadom plays the OF the enemies of
leaves the traction workers in the largest
city United States the merces of yellow dog contracts
company unionsm and the traction barons
executive council Of the A. F. of L. will not smash in
organizing the workers for violation OF them
Rather than such and decisive conflict with the
capitalists these officials will the labor movement strangled
They dead whose they watch
live fighting which would challenge their lead
ership.
The surrender R. injunction deepens the crisis in
the labor Here the mine fields, offcadom
sounds not a single note of militant struggle
1t clear that the New York traction workers will be
organized by such leadership Among the traction workers
themselves is the leadership that will build fighting union
Careful and energetic work the of traction
by militant shop committees the setting skeleton
organization of ants whom the workers trust constant ag
the vital issues affecting workers in the industry and
strike opportune momentthis is the the traction
workers will organize.
leaders who will fight themselves and who do
thing possible crush the will to struggle the rank and
file The traction workers must expect this opposition and treat
part of the capitalist system which must be broken and
defeated