Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-06-10

Nemesis Observation-Disclosures arkersDuri
Tigris Syracuse. \
ness they will obtain from this great
throng Of Shriners,
Let me also add that we have had
, absolutely nothing TO do with the
statement issued to the press and at
tributed to the peoples counsel
The $50 cabs Of the Consolidated
Association will not haul a passenger
until Peoples Counsel Roberts retracts
his insulting statement" Harry J.
Grange. president of the company.
said
Leon Brill. president of Bell Asso-
citation. about 500 cars. declared:
Our men are not going to strike.
We don't see any sense In IT. We
object to some of Mr.. Roberts state
ments. but We don't think this is the
way to retaliate
Meeting Held nj 2 AM.
The strike was launched at cab
drivers mass meeting early this morn
ing at First and M streets northeast.
MOLE lHdIl S.UUO tSN
street and sidewalks to hear the ex-
hortations Of Hohensee. business agent
of the cab union, to protect their
rights and regulations.
Hohensee was named strike chair
man at a preliminary meeting OF 400
Diamond operators who said they were
incensed at Roberts published caution
to the Shriners not to let drivers ''gyp
them.
The first meeting broke up soon
after o'clock. The men were sent
into the street to bring more drivers
back to the rally
At 3 o'clock the throng gathered
again. Hohensee climbed on the curb
stone and outlined his three-point
program.
Robert p. Smith. convention direc-
tor general. was awakened to be told
of the meeting. He rushed from his
bed and arrived at the rally at $50
am. Amid boos and jeers he at
tempted a placatory speech.
Explains Special Cars.
The cab drivers in Washington are
honest. courteous and reliable he
warmly assured the beligerent group.
so what" came the answer. Smith
persisted:
The Pennsylvania avenue broad
casts were not the ShrineTs' idea.
Jeers drowned him out.
He turned his attention to the prob
lem of the $50 special Shrine cars.
.Out of 100000 Shriners only 1900
of the higher officials are permitted
to ride in those General Motors cars.
This is a common practice at all con-
ventions to provide free transporta-
ton for the higher dignitaries.
If we didn't get these cars through
the courtesy of General Motors. Almas
Temple would have had to supply
cars at its own expense"
The drivers weren't satisfied. They
insisted the cars picked up any
Shriner who wanted ride. They
resolved not to use any more General
Motors cars
Smith left the curb. He went home
and wrote out an official statement
of his attitude on the General Motor
car question
General Motors has very generously
contributed $50 cars to the Shrine
this week. but I think 1t should be
made clear that these cars will not
be available for use for any one ex-
cept official representatives of our
various temples, and then only for the
transportation Of these representa-
tives and their wives to the of1cial
functions of the convention.
Movements Restricted.
These cars will be the only cars
permitted in certain restricted down.
town areas at certain periods during
the convention. This ruling is neces-
sary. since traffic congestion would
be very serious If all cars were per-
mitted in these areas.
1T is obvious to us that this con-
tribution by General Motors will not
in any way hurt the taxicab business
in Washington during the Shrine
week. particularly in view of the fact
that taxicabs will be at a premium to
handle the 100000 or more visitors
that we expect"
Yeah. but 1900 people riding free
will take away lot Of cab business, "
the drivers answered
Union organizers were busy in the
crowd after Smith left Many drivers
attempted to organize new protective
associations. Hohensee himself brought
few of these to the curb to speak
/ to the crowd. The drivers howled
down these attempts at organization.
Violence Plan Jeered.
! More drivers suggested violence TO
gain their ends. but the same loud
boos that greeted Smith and the union
organizers decried this suggestion.
BY o'clock, Just before dawn. the
strike got under way. From two to
! five men piled into cabs sent out to
cruise. On the windows of some were
scraWled In white letters:
On strike-no passengers"
Some of the striking drivers took
their wives and sweethearts with them
on the strike cruise.
The Diamond lot. at First and N
streets. was jammed with idle cabs
Their drivers milled about restlessly
The cruisers devoted their atten.
ton to spotting and pursuing non
striking cabs Diamond drivers made
reckless U-turns in the middle OF
streets to overtake hackers looking Ton
or carrying passengers.
II became apparent soon there was
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