The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-27
Taxin1en Cain in
Plebiscite;; TOVOte
AS Strike Goes on
Will Vote on Single
Day at Neutral
Polling Places
UNION WATCHERS
LaGuardia Continues
Police Mobilization
BY HARRY RAYMOND

NEW YORK.-Leaders of
the Taxi Drivers Union yes
terday reiterated the strikers
agreement to hold a plebiscite
on the question of which or
ganization shall represent the men.
At a meeting at City Hall yesterday,
presided over by Bernard Deutsch,
President of the Board Of Alder
men, presidents of the four locals
of the union signed an agreement
to accept a plebiscite for Parmelee,
Terminal and Radio fleet drivers
while the men are on strike. Union
leaders won a signal victory by
forcing Mr.. Deutsch to agree to
hold a plebiscite for the drivers of
the three companies on one day
and not to continue it over a period
Of three days as proposed in the
Mayors original plan.
Mass meetings of strikers were
called last night in all of the strike
halls, where the question of the
plebiscite will be put up for vote.
Meanwhile the strike remains
firm. All garages in the city are
being picketed.
Proof that the Terminal Trans
portation system is employing
armed thugs to crush the resistance
Of the militant taxi strikers was
given yesterday by an inspector for
the company. He told the Daily
Worker that the ruffians have
jack-handles concealed in their
cabs, called squad cars" and that
they have been advised" to use
them when necessary"
Meanwhile the iron fist Of the
La Guardia administration became
more obvious. Special attachments
Of police with radio equipment have
been modified in all sections Of
the city. When asked why the heavy
mobilization Of police, Lieutenant
Valentine answered, I'VE are going
TO meet the new situation with new
methods"
The special Grand Jury formed
a few days ago to take up the
question Of the taxi strike was
called before Judge John J. Freschi,
who read law which prescribed
police violence against the strikers.
Strikers Mass in Streets
Late in the afternoon masses of
strikers poured out of the strike
hall at 10th st. and Third ave,
shouting slogans and calling all
cabs to get off the streets.
Samuel Orner, president of the
Taxi Drivers Union, in comment
ing upon the position of the union,
said that the strikers were not OPP
posed to a plebiscite. THE strikers
are against any kind of a plebiscite
which is designed to trick them and
place them at the mercy of the
bosses" said Orner.
Demand Changes in Plebiscite
It was pointed out by union Of
ficials at the City Hall conference
that the strikers are not against a
plebiscite in principle. but that they
demand certain changes in the
mechanics of the plebiscite. The
original plans for the plebiscite as
proposed by Mr.. Deutsch and mem
bers of the Regional Labor Board
had called for the dragging out
of the plebiscite over a period of
three days. The plan to which
the union now agrees would allow
all men working in the three big
company garages to cast their votes
in one single day. Those permitted
to vote will be all drivers in the
employ of the company on Jan. 81
to 80 and 81.
Thtese were the days Immediately
preceding the first taxi drivers
strike, which began II days ago.
Mayor La Guardia, when asked
what guarantees there will be that
wages and conditions will be i'm
proved in the taxi industry in New
York, said that he did not know
what he could do about it. of
course they pay starvation wages,
said the Mayor. But the Mayor
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