The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-02-05
3O,OOOHaCkmenOut;;
LaGuardia in Big
BETRAYAL Move
Continued from Page u


Saturday afternoon, where the
Mayor met leaders Of four taxi
mems organizations, it was pointed
out BY joseph Gilbert, organizer Of
the Taxi Workers Union, that La
Guardia went back on his word by
trying TO get the drivers to accept,
instead of the full 100 per cent Of
the tax, only 40 or SO per cent Of
the sum.
"This rnaneuYer was made
through an appointment by the
Mayor of Morris l.. Ernst, a New
York liberal lawyer as the me-
diator," declared Gilhert.
Ernst, speaking for LaGuardia,
told the committee to take what
you can get"
Harry Cantor, also representing
the Taxi Workers Union, dashed
into Ernst's proposal by declaring
that ''the men came on strike for
100 per cent Of tbs tax and they
VIII get in in view of the rlilitant
STIR TgIe the hackmen are putting
up"
Cantor pointed out that the taxi
men are also fighting for the recog-
milton Of a union of all taxi drivers
to be set up on the basis Of garage
committees which will guarantee
rank and file control and honest
distribution Of the million and a
half tax money which is due the
men.
Calls Mayors Hand
C. demanded that LAGuar-
dia KEEP his promise to the hack
men by withdrawing the appeal Of
the Supreme Court decision, which
declares the tax illegal, and give
the money to the drivers.
LaGaurdia, however, proposed
through his spokesman, Ernst, that
instead Of recognition Of union Of
tax.men the so-called impartial
chairman Ernst HIMSELF take care
of all matters Of the demands of the
strikers, and that the union keep
out Of the matter.
''You have four unions" said
Ernst. "F7ow are we going to recog-
nize anybody"
Demand Recognition
Gilbert replied, I'VE propose an in
union representing all the
hacknen in New York and that this
organization be recognized"
Ernst is attempting to get the men
back to work by Monday morning
without settling the question Of the
tax, while giving false promises to the
drivers that the question will be set
tied later.
While Ernst was putting forward
this strikebraaking proposal, Gilbert
asked the following questions:
'Tf on Monday morning these
men return to work does that mean
that t,,ey will have to continue to
nay the nicEc,s to the fleet owners?
Does it mean that the men will get
the money already paid in?"
SIT does not mean any such
thing" Ernst replied. "The men
viii have to continue to pay the
tax until after we agree with the
fleet owners as to what percentage
of the money viii go to the men.
This money will be impounded with
the impartial chairman and kept
until tire final decision is reached
on the tax"
Meanwhile, City Chamberlain Berle
is in Albany bargaining with Tam
many State Senator Dunnigan, who
has offered to speed the passage Of
Jaw declaring the tax law legal, thus
deriving the drivers Of their money.
Working with La Guardia, in an at
tempt to hoodwink the drivers b2ck
to work without winning their de-
mands, is VIM. Gandall, one Of the
committee of Is which helped elect
La Guardia and also an organizer for
the United Taxicab Drivers Union OF
the A. F. Of L.
During the City Hall proceedings
Gandall supported every proposal
made by Ernst and fought vigorously
against all proposals for militant &C
ton and unity put forward by Gil
bert and Cantor of the Taxi Work
ers Union.
Side b. side with Gandall in the
sellout maneouvers is one Sam Smith,
a well known strikabreaker, leader of
the Bronx Empire City Taxi Assoc:a-
ton.
In 1880 Smith with the Brooklyn
Tamn2ny district leader WolAof
broke the "Black Beauty strike
which was led by a rank and file
committee. In October, when the
Taxi Workers Union organized mass
meeting of 1000 drivers at the Christ
Church to discuss the question Of the
5 cent tax, Smith provoked fiTht
with red batting argument, which
led to the breaking up of the meeting.
Smiths most recent activity in the
field Of strikebreaking took placs a
week ago when the Posenb,att Gar
age, 149 Girard Ave, Bronx, went on
strike for the cent tax under the
leadership Of the Taxi Workers IN on
Smith came to the garage and herded
the men back to work with the
promise that La Guardia would see to
it that the men world get the nickels
Gives Br;be
Saturday night Smith was over
heard to tell CandGll that for $sC
he would get all his Bronx men t.
:oin the Gardall's United Taxicat
Union.
IT. w. q. Demands
AT mss meg lg of strikers hello
IN Saturday at Manhattan Tyceur
the Taxi Workers Union put forward
| the following demands for fte strike