The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-04-09
Open Call to Split
Taxi Union Issued
In Socialist Paper
Hackmen Must Combat
Disrupters and Build
Strong Unity
BY HARRY RAYMOND

NEW YORK. - Backing
Samuel Smith and Herman
Goldstein, presidents respec-
lively of the Bronx and
Brooklyn locals of the Taxi
Drivers Union of Greater New York,
in their move to split the union, the
latest issue of the New Leader, "
official organ of the Socialist Party,
came out openly calling for the
Bronx and Brooklyn locals to split
from the Manhattan local and be-
come part of the American FEEDER
alton of Labor.
Played up under heavy type on
the front page of the so-called
labor section of the paper is the
Socialist Party inspired resolution
calling for a split in the Taxi Driv-
ers Union, which says:
Whereas, We are more deter
mined than ever to build a clean
fighting union free from all Com
munist or other disruptive elements
seeking to control the union for
political and other reasons inimical
to the best interests of the union;
therefore
BE 1t Resolved, that we hereby
repudiate all these influences and
will proceed to continue building a
union based on the vital need of
the taxi workers. union that will
take its place in the ranks of the
organized American labor movement
as part of the American Federation
Of Labor"
Resolution Not Voted On
Despite the fact that this resolu-
ton was never voted for by the
rank and file of the two locals, hay
ing been signed only by leaders of
these locals, Mr. Anxious Most, or
ganizer of the Bronx local, in an
article appearing in the same issue
Of the New Leader, states that:
resolutions have been passed re-
pudiating the Communists and call
ing for af1liation with the American
Federation of Labor.
Would Put Green In Charge
A union free from Communists
union dominated by William
Green, who only recently betrayed
the Detroit auto strike-that is what
the leaders of the Socialist Party
want. That is also among the high
est wishes Of Mr.. Roosevelt and the
NR.A. gang,
Then" says Mr.. Most, "as soon
as the strike situation developed
a whole series of mistakes vert
made. The blame for these can bt
laid directly at the doors Of the
Communists
He complains about the Man
haitian conference of labor organi-
cations to support the strike. He
says that this conference "was
called without the consent or
knowledge Of other locals" The
fact of the matter is. however.
that the conference was widely
advertised throughout the city in
both the press and leaflets,
Conference a Success
But despite all attempts of the
leaders of the Socialist Party to
throw wet blanket on the con-
ference it was a success. 1t was
the Communist, the left wing
workers and rank and file mem
bers of the A. F. of L. that gave
moral, physical and financial sup
port to the strike
1t was with the support of the
Communists that the three exist
ing taxi unions were amalgamated
into one strong fighting union.
We would like to know what
help the taxi drivers got from
the leaders of the A. F. Of L.
The hsckmen know what help
came from this quarter. Dele
cations of hackmen were thrown
out Of several New York A. F.
of L. locals by A. F. of L. lead
ers when they came to appeal
for support of their strike. The
best support the drivers got
came from the Communists.
Now Mr.. Most and his Socialist
brethren want to herd the taxi
drivers, who already have a fight
ing independent union, into the A.
F. Of L. They want to split the
union by raising, along with the
capitalist press, the cry Of Com
munism.
The hackmen should not allow
these disrupters to split their
ranks. Hold firm to your union.
Drive from your ranks anyone
VINO attempts to break up the
Taxi Drivers Union Of Greater
New York.
Only q strong militant union
built on the basis of democratically
elected garage committees can win
better wages and shorter hours in
the taxi industry.
The taxi drivers have built this
union in struggle. Strengthen it
and don't let anyone take it away
from you.
sGn.I-.3e TTT.L