The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-02-13
SAVAGE ASSAULT
ON TAXI DRIVERS
BY OFFICIALD0M
Corrupt Gang Controls
Amalgamated Taxi
Association


rank and file members of the Anal
gamated Taxi Association at their
last meeting, beatings organized as
part OF the terror drive by corrupt
officials now under criminal charges,
gave further confirmation of the eX-
posure of the entire racket in the AS
ISOLATION printed in the February
issue of the Taxi Worker.
In this article the Taxi Worker
gives review of the Associations
history, originally organized to pro-
tect individual taxi owners against
the powerful taXi-fleet corporations
and the discriminatory legislation
the fleet owners were able to secure
IN the state legislature.
Now the Association has fallen into
the hands Of corrupt officials who
"ob the membership and at the same
time betray their interests to the
fleet organizations. Already, in yio-
lation Of the organizations constitu-
ton taxl-fleets are being taken in.
This means direct service to the Cen
eral Motors which controls an over
whelming proportion of the taxi
fleets.
Fight Racket
Those subjected to attack at the
meeting were members of a rank and
file group within the Association VINO
have been fighting the corruption in
this organization. This group is
known as the Liberty group, hated by
the corrupt officials because it
brought charges against them expos
ing the entire racket.
Following is an account of the at
tack related by a member of the Lib
erty group:
The Analgamated Taxi Associa-
ton held it's meeting at Teutonia
Hall on Feb. 6, with 81 members
present. Thirteen of these were en-
ployed by two fleet operators and are
known as 81 month men who come
to the meetings for the purpose Of
giving support to the racketeers.
Begins With Abuse
when President John Donohue
(now under charges called the meet
ing to order, Frank Putnam, secre-
tary-treasurer, stated that he did not
have the minutes of the previous
meeting, And BESIDES he said,
members of the rat organization are
here referring to the Liberty group.
pat Devine, member of the Liber-
ty group asked Putnam what was
being done about the $40 fee for the
medallion Ga plate used by the driv-
ers inside the cabe). To this Putnam
answered, The A. T. Association has
always taken care of its members,
but you, rat SON. of-a-b-- We will
not do anything or give you any in
formation"
More abuse was heaped upon other
members who made motions to re-
duce the dues to 81 a year instead
of the present $i2 a year dues. Frank
Engels, another official, attacked
these members and referred to their
attorney in the graft investigation,
BrodSky, as a jew-son-of-a-b--,
bastard and Communist.
Beatings Begin
Frank Putnam then came from
the side of the ROOM" relates the
member, land, on approaching a
member, McGrath began to give him
the Jumps with the aid Of Jean, en-
ployed in the insurance office. After
the beating McGrath was thrown out
Of the hall.
Tom Cunningham was the next
attacked. Before he was thrown out
Of the hall one Daggett kicked Cum
ningham in the stomach. He was on
the floor vomiting when McGrath
came TO his aid and assisted him
to the street. Cunningham recently
came out of the hospital where he
was operated on for an liberated
stomach. He is now in the hospital
in serious condition.
Sam Joyce and Harry Brody were
likewise attacked and beaten.
Trial Tuesday
"Sumrnonses have already been Is
sued and served for the trial sched-
uled tomorrow at the 57tE ST. court.
Members of the Amalgamated and
the opposition are urged to come to
court"
Members of the Amalgamated are
called upon to cooperate with the
rank-and-file opposition In oustipg
the grafters in the Association. For
further detail see the organ OF the
Taxi Workers Union, the "Taxi
Worker" 30 E. 18th st. A full story
Of the Amalgamated racket is printed
in the February issue.