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

operation as other drivers joined the
Diamond
J. E. Brown. colored. operator for
University Cab Association. an
nollnced early that the drivers in
his association were not on strike. A
few minutes later. strikers forced
him to the curb in the 1900 block Of
Chaplin street They ordered his
passengers. two white women and q
white man. 10 get out The passen-
gers paid Brown the 20 cents. despite
the inconvenience.
Sure. l pulled up 10 the sidewalk
right away" Brown said. Il wouldn
fight for 20 cents"
Other University drivers dropped
out gradually. Lincoln. another COL
ored outfit. pulled its Sc cars off
the street. The $50 Harlem and Gen
eral cabs. biggest colored-driver group.
were forced at about 8 O'Clock to give
up the attempt TO haul passengers.
City Cab and Premier Cab Asso-
citation drivers began to pour into the
home lots of their companies. afraid
of their cars being smashed. A Pre-
mier statement read:
We're not exactly striking. but oul
fellows are afraid to haul passengers.
The boys are being run of the street.
Our cars are being run into the curb
and bunged UP and the passengers are
being forced to get out and walk
Well just wait and see what de-
velops"
Meanwhile, special police detail
walked up and down before the
parking lot at First and M streets.
At 5:25 am. precinct captains we're
ordered:
Car Tracks Guarded.
Have special attention paid to
street car tracks to see that nothing
may be done to cripple street car
transportation
At 7:45 am. a few minutes before
the first Shriner parade marched
down the Avenue behind a sprightly
brass band. this message went to
police
Complaints are being received that
striking taxicab drivers are driving
around the city interfering with
drivers who are working. Also with
passengers in such cabs. Especially
on principal thoroughfares. Direct
your men to give this special atten-
ton. Inspector Edwards"
Many persons coming downtown TO
work were ignorant of the strike.
One passenger told this story:
Il didn't know any trouble was
brewing and boarded a cab at Con-
tout etra -.
invitation of the one passenger al
ready in 1t.
Almost at once several cabs bore
down like hawks Their drivers
shouted ke-breaker' In a few
seconds we were driven to the curb
and entirely surrounded by other cabs.
"A dozen men crowded about our
car. They cursed our driver and de-
manded that we get out. When my
fellow passenger threatened to call
a policeman. the profane driver block
ing the way in front with his cab
moved aside and let us 90.
"All the way downtown we were
sssailed by striking cabs whose driv-
ers screamed for us to get out.
Sees Drivers Losing.
When the driver dropped me. he
said
"'I don't see any sense to all this
fuss. The drivers are Just keeping
themselves out of some money and
going on strike won't help them any
had heard talk of a strike because
Of private machines lent free to the
Shriners. but I didn't know q strike
was actually on"
At the parking lot q driver was
complaining:
Il carried party from here to
Congressional Country Club. for which
the usual fare is $3.50. When l got
there. the party offered me 90 cents,
which they said was the price and
that was all they were going to pay
The only reason they did that is he
cause of what they heard on the loud
speaker, which intimated that 20 cents
was thee fare anywhere. maybe even
to Baltimore"