http://www.seafarerslog.org/archives_old/files/original/b134ae0ac43203db13ef463ced0a2018.PDF 6d7995f75a25c4d5345b2095549134a2 PDF Text Text .-."'i t-^- Official Organ, AUantie & Gtdf DiaMet, Seafarers International Union of NA VOL. X NEW YORK, N. Y., FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 1948 Dockmen Out As Injunction Ends No. 46 NEW YORK—Angered by the | welfare funds at the time of a 80-day injunction which expired wage review, at midnight on Tuesday. Novem- | jhe retroactivity of all wage ber 9, and by those clauses of the i increases seemed to be the main Fair Labor Standards Act which bone of contention, however. In muddied the overtime question, the contract now being voted up­ The more things change, the fore the hearing units will be Too, shipowners have come to members of about half the ILA on, the wage hikes would be reYork much smaller than before. more they are the same. rely little on the Coast Guard locals 11 .J in« the ,u • New • u -,,7 J area , troactive to September 15, adThe Coast Guard's staff has for the settlement of beefs. The walked off their jobs Wednesday mittedly a compromise between The notorious Coast Guard hearing units have been brought been i-educed considerably, and Helen case had much to do with before voting was complete on a j the ILA and the employers. 1 0,1, TT A u j j back on' the scene after an un- men will now only go aboard this. , The shipowners now at­ nevj wage agreement. I The ILA had made preparaa ship upon complaint. Under tempt to settle their beefs di­ lamented absence of a year and Supporting the New York ac- tions to strike on August 21, but the old regime the procedure rectly with the Unien and have tion, which involved at least 10,- an injunction issued under the a half. The "kangaroo courts," jis they was to trouble-shoot every ship toned down the brashness of 000 of the 25,000 longshoremen 1 provisions of the Taft-Hartley their topside men. on New York's waterfront, 5,000'Act called the proposed strike are known, faded out when no that hit port. men left their jobs in Boston. As one which would affect the nafunds were appi'opriated by Con­ the LOG went to press, addi­ tion's welfare. The walkout gress for their work and the tional ILA locals were walking was stymied until now. power of ruling on cases was out in New Jersey and Balti­ stripped from them. Now reor­ FULL SUPPORT more. Possibilities were that the ganized under the Administfar The polls have been open for almost two work stoppage eventually would tive Procedure Act, the power The position of the 8eafarers from Portland, Maine, to International Union is one of of penalizing merchant seamen weeks in the annual election for the officers extend Hampton Roads. for misconduct, incompetence and watchful waiting at present. who will serve the Union in 1949. So far the negligence is in the hands of The membenship of this union When the indications became number of Seafarers to vote has been greater is solidly together as we were in clear that a large scale walkout civil service merchant marine ex­ amines. July when we started negotia­ was in progress, representatives than that of any previous year. tions,' declared Joseph P. Ryan, of the 8IU met with ILA Presi­ The first four examiners to The polls will continue to be open until the international president of the dent Ryan and pledged the full take office were appointed this ILA. "We are going lo carry support of the 8eafarers. What­ week in New York, and will be­ last of December, but that's no reason for hold­ these negotiations through until ever the result, the 8IU would gin work on the four hundred ing off. A quick job may come up and then it a sati.sfactory agreement is support a legitimate beef. back cases pending in the Third Coast Guard District. may be too late. Step up, show your book, get reached." 8IU crews and ships at the moment are not affected to any Seafarers who may be wonder­ the ballot and make your choice. It's your choice "FINAL" OFFER extent by the walkout inasmuch ing how much the change will as to who will crew the Halls and Headquarters. The contract tentatively agreed as only a few 8IU-contracted mean as far as penalties are con­ upon late Tuesday night by the ships are at piers where long­ cerned can find the answer in The time it takes to vote is no more than ILA and the stevedoring com­ shoremen have stopped work. If the records of the men appointed. that needed to quaff a cold beer and the glow panies called for a 10-cents-an- the walkout does spread to all EX-BRASS HATS of satisfaction that results is greater than a hour increase for day work, a ILA ports, the Atlantic Coast 15-cent boost for night and week­ from Portland, Maine to Hamp­ Two of the four appointed in gallon of . vodka. end work, a reduction in vaca­ ton Roads, Virginia will be shut New York are ex-Coast Guard tion eligibility from 1,350 to 1,- down. This coupled with the officers, late of admiralty law 250 hours, a guarantee of four shutdown on the West Coast firms. One of them .prosecuted hours' pay after being hired, and v/ould leave only the Gulf Coast the Coast Guard's case against revised work week schedules, in operation. the men of the 88 Helen, an Wage clauses were to be retro­ With all the wind knocked Marine Cook and 8tewards, pact 8IU-contracted ship which the active to 8eptember 15. crew refused to sail because of from their sails by the election had been signed with the Marine upset, the Pacific American 8hip-' Engineers' Beneficial Association. The vote now being conducted unsafe working conditions. owners Assoociatioh" and the The Engineers' membership rati­ among ILA members is the sec­ Other than the fact that the men are civilians and come un­ Waterfront Employers Associa fied the pact in meetings of West ond within a week. An earlier "final" offer by the' employers der civE service and not the tion this week hastened from Coast locals." Aiii Coast Guard, the procedure re­ their golden towers—^where they Talks had also" been scheduled was voted down overwhelmingly I __ mains almost the same as be­ had expected to repose until a with the Marine Firemen, Oilers, in an election conducted by fheiP|4|||p flf Q||l WIU new president took over in Jan­ Watertenders and Wipers union. National Labor Relations Board. •••••••«» fore. uary—to give the word that they The meetings with the MFOWW This earlier proposal called for The Coast Guard will still in­ It has come to the attention were anxious to resume negotia­ will probably precede those with a two-year contract with a wage vestigate » complaints aboard of the A&G Headquarters that tions with the striking 'West the ILWU and MCS. Both the review next year, the same 10 ships, draw up charges and certain "newspapers," supposed­ Coast unions. MEBA and MFOWW had ten­ cents-an-hour increase for ly pro-union, claim to have the prosecute the cases. Any appeal Beliefs that full-scale peace tatively agreed with the shipown­ straight time and 15 cents for of the examiners must be made backing of the 8IU. In soliciting talks are in the offing were ers when the ILWU walked out night and weekend work, a re­ as before—to the Commandant advertising from ginmill and polished when Allan Haywood on 8eptembef 2. Thus the two vised work week and reduced restaurant owners, their repre­ of the Coast Guard District. To representing CIO President unions were locked out. vacation eligibility. Principal sentatives have openly stated sum it up, it might be said that Philip Murray, and William N Main objection to signing with shortcoming-of this offer was be­ that the 8IU suports these pub­ the only difference is that the Margolis, Assistant Director of any of the unions during the lieved to be that it lacked a re­ lications and suggests that the examiners have taken off their the Federal Conciliation and course of the strike by the ship­ troactive wage provision. merchants kick in with $25 ads. uniforms. Mediation 8ervice, arrived from owners was that they would not COUNTER PROPOSAL One of the most notorious of Washington to take part in the deal with unions that were comKEPT GOING these is the Trade Union Cour­ meetings. munist=dominated. The Longshoremen's counter­ Dufing the past eighteen ier, which has headquarters in SEEK LONG PACTS The fact that the MEBA and proposal included wage retroac­ months the Coast Guard has con­ New York and circulates from Indications arc that all the MFOWW are free of communist tivity all the way to August 21, tinued to investigate complaints Maine to South Carolina. and draw up charges, all aimed Unions involved are also anxious leadership was thrown at the the day the old agreement ran Recently, in soliciting ads in to the day when the examiners to end the strike which has been shipowners, as evidence that this out. The union also wanted the New York, its representative has in progress since September 2. argument was bunk. The ship­ contract to last for only a single would be appointed. The back­ The unions, reports have it, owners, to quell this talk, moved year, unless the employers claimed to have the backing of log now stands at thirteen hun­ would seek long term contracts, then for peace talks. agreed to discuss pension and the Union. At least one bar own­ dred in the country. er, knowing the 8IU, has given up to four years in length, with A qeat problem now faces the periodic reopenings for adjust money. hearing units in locating the men ment of wage scales. Actually, the Trade Union for trial. The fact that seamen Under the formula which is Courier, in spite of endorsements move around a great deal will expected to end the tie-rrp, by some unions, is anti-labor. make their job one a super- strikes or lockouts in the future Payment of the ten-dollar General Fund assessment Its owner pays most of his edi­ sleuth would pale at. adopted by an 88 per cent vote of the membership in the torial employees far below pre­ can only come about by the CIO referendum, which ended October 8. is now due. The switch in the composition unions if they have approval of vailing imion wages. Recently of the hearing unit has also the national CIO, and by the The easiest way to meet this obligation is to pay up at the in a front-page editorial the made no change in the position employers if they have the ap­ earliest opportunity. Actually, the payment of the assessment Courier endorsed Thomas Dewey of the 8IU. The 8IU maintains proval of the Employers Council. only represents the price of a few rounds of drinks. for president. that if a seaman is charged with Both parent organizations agree Final due date for payment is on January 20, which is Any establishments contacted an infractton ibe should be to withhold support in event of 90 days from the date of the membership meetings at which by commercial newspapers of turned over to civil authorities contract violations. the result of the referendum was announced, in accordance this character claiming the en­ and tried in a civil court. Prior' to the sudden desire of with provisions of the Union Constitution. dorsement of the 8IU are asked In spite of the little change the shipowners to meet with all to contact SIU Hdqts, Offices, Paying up now means you won't have to worry about in make-up, it is expected that the unions, especially Harry 51 Beaver Street, New York, making the January 20 deadline. the,, number of cases to go be- Bridges' Longshoremen and the New York. CG Hearing Units Return In Civies Don't Forget To Vote Coast Strike Rearing End Phony 'Labor' Papers Misuse General Fund Assessment �Page Two THE SEAFARERS SEAFARERS LOG LOG V I rvv-if Mian I Friday, November 12, 1948 U/ Published Weekly by the SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA Atlantic and Gulf District Afiilicited with the American Federation of Labor At yi Beaver Street, New York 4, N. Y. HAnover 2-2784 Entered as second class matter June 15, 1945, at the Post Office in New York, N. Y., under the Act of August 24, 1912. 267 Make Your 'X' The vote is the most precious possession held by a member of a democratic organization. But the vote is valuable only if it is used. If it is not exercised, it withers and dies. To make matters worse, al the rest of democracy's assets die with it. It is every Seafarer's Union duty to cast a vote in the .A&G elections for next year's officials. Only then can he take pride in himself as a Union man. Only then has he participated to the full in democratic action. It is true that one man's vote does not carry an election. However, if the man you personally prefer for a post is elected to it, you know that you helped place him there—proyided you voted. If his opponent wins despite your vote, you can bow to the will of the majority knowing that you have as­ serted your own choice honestly. You have demonstrated faith in your own judgment. There are about seven weeks left in the voting period for the election of A&G officials for 1949. Don't wait un­ til the last minute on December 31, if you possibly can help it.' Vote now! Hospital Patients West Coast Strike When entering the hospital notify the delegates by post­ card, giving your name and the number of your ward. Mimeographed postcards can be obtained free at the Social Service desk. The way things were shaping up this week it looks as if the West Coast Strike will soon end. The operators' strategy worked. Seizing upon the commie issue as a weapon, they prolonged the strike past Staten Island Hospital the national elections. The only trouble was that the You can contact your Hospresidential vote didn't go the way the Pacific Water­ pited delegate at the Staten front Employers Association figured. Their boy, the chap­ Island Hospital at the follow­ pie with the moustache, was dumped. The elections went ing times: These are the Union Brothers currently in the marine hospitals, labor's way with a bang, and the Taft-Hartley boys were as reported by the Port Agents. These Brothers find time hanging Tuesday — 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. (on 5th and 6th floors.) swept out. heavily on their hands. Do what you can to cheer them up by Thursday — 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Whatever the exact outcome on the West Coast, the writing to them. (on 3rd and 4th floors.) Saturday — 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. A&G District, will have come through unscathed and BOSTON MARINE HOSPITAL STATEN ISLAND HOSPITAL (on 1st and 2nd floors.) unsullied. JOSEPH E. GALLANT R. T. WRIGHT R. E. LANSDELL Seafarers xan be proud of their trade union stand JULIUS HENSLEY VIC MILAZZO R. N. McGEE T. RIEGO throughout the strike. A&G members have not -been con­ ANDY HOURILLA P. L. SAHUQUE i 4fused at any time since the strike began. BALTIMORE HOSPITAL A. ACOSTA E. DANCY F. J. CONNOR A. M. LIPARI They have recognized that the rank-and-file mem­ J. SHIPLEY J. FITZSIMMONS R. BINIOS H. S. TUTTLE bers of the striking unions have legitimate economic beefs. A. M. ATKIEWICZ P. FALEMENO G. M. GRAY Accordingly, Seafarers have supported the strike, despite A. MAAMEUR IVAN SIVIT E. JEANFREAU C. SIMMONS the commie issue which the employers used as a club. E. W. GETER J. ZIMMER F. BECKER O. O. MILLAR L. F. COOK When the strike ends. Seafarers can view the record R. PURCELL C. COLLETTI G. O'ROURKE with imtroubled consciences. T. C. HICKEY T. A. PUKKI J. L. GREENE C. BLOSSER C. B. SHIPMAN J. SMITHE They sailed no "hot" ships, nor did they allow West S. E. BROADERS A. COSTILLO G. D. BRADY Coast ships to be re-allocated to A&G-contracted com­ J. D. ANDERSON F. CARDOZA O. HOWELL panies. In short, they acted in strict adherence to their E. C. LAWSON A. NORMAN C. W. JOHNSON own tradition. F. SORIANO 4 4 4 A. R. KING MOBILE HOSPITAL D. D. D'ALTROY V. P. SALLINGS The West Coast Strike actually has been another C. E. GLOVER F. SANTINO M. C. MURPHEY 'powerful demonstration of the tightness of A&G policies. A. C. McALPIN C. H. REISS A. WARD WILLIAM G. RICHARDSON E. E. WEBBER 4 4 4 . Every policy decision that the A&G District has made EUGENE LEARY GALVESTON HOSPITAL R. GIERCZIC in the past two years has been aimed at building up its JOHN WECK NICK NIKANDER K. A. PARKS v own strength, so that the Union's position at the bargain­ H. R. LOWMAN J. GIVENS W. R. GREBE A. SMITH R. HUTCHINS ing table would be that much the more formidable. R. A. HACKER C. W. BARNETT L. McKRANE T. F. OLIVER Among the things which your Union has done along C. HAFNER C. ATHERIVE N. ROMANO this line are the assessments you voted to increase the ERLINE SMITH S. ZEIRLER J. E. TIENSIUM Building Fund, the Strike Fund and the General Fund. JERRY PETTAWAY 4 4 4 S. LeBLANC NEW ORLEANS HOSP. L. KAY • V:; i The shipowners recognized- your Union's strength during JAMES W. CARTER J. N. HULL 4 4 4 B. BIGGS last summer's negotiations. The end product is the twoMEMPHIS HOSPITAL J. DENNIS H. WEBBER year contract, the finest in maritime! JOHN B. HEGARTY S. C. TAREMAN C. HELM Men Now In no Maruie Hospitals wmm »'{': 'w- ; v'Ji, �THE SEAFARERS LOG Friday, NoTember 12, 1948 Page Three Seamen Are Drafted, Despite Assurances On Ihis page are published a summary of a legislative report on the draft as it affects merchant seamen by Captain William C. Ash, vice-president of the Masters, M^es and Pilots, and a set of recommendations which Ash has compiled for the benefit of seamen caught in the draft law's toils. Captain Ash's conclusions gje based on a series of con­ versations he had recently with high draft and defense offi­ cials in Washington. He says that the failure of Congress to exempt at least those merchant seamen, licensed and un­ licensed, who sailed through the war fills him with moral indignation. Ash expects that this winter Congress will act to exempt seamen who can show 18 months or more of wartime sailing. But he points out that this winter may be too late for many. Meanwhile, any seaman's best bet is to follow his recommen­ dations which are as applicable to Seafarers as to MM&P members. Seaiarers desiring further information on the draft should contact Joseph Volpian, Special Services Representative. Sea­ farers International Union, 51 Beaver Street. New York 4. N. Y. Last Spring's prediction that the I cussed a point which .applies to draft would bring woe to many licensed and imlicensed personnel a merchant seaman was not so ' alike. Draft boards. Ash obblack as the reality which has I served, have been arbitrarily or­ developed this fall, according to dering seamen who have been a legislative report by Captain drafted and have appealed the William C. Ash, vice-president decision to stay ashore .while the of the Masters, Mates and Pilots, appeal is pending. to the MM&P membership. Insofar as a seaman is con­ MM&P members are being cerned, such an order is a viola­ classified 1-A right and left, and tion of a man's constitutional the same thing can be said of rights, as Ash makes clear. K Seafarers in many localities. So a man has a shoreside occupa­ completely is the situation "sna­ tion, staying ashore a month or fued," Ash writes, that even two to wait for a decision is no graduates of federal and state hardship. He can keep on work­ nautical academies now sailing ing—at least until the decision are being ordered to shoulder is made. The case of a seaman is a dif­ arms for the Army. Many of these men hold reserve commis­ ferent matter, obviously. If he is arbitrarily deprived of his right sions in the Navy. All this has happened despite to earn a living in his chosen assurances given last spring by profession while others keep selective service officials that ac­ working, he is being discrimi­ tive seamen would be exempted nated against and suffers a very even if retired seamen were not. real hardship as a result. The Washington official agreed Thse officials voiced this opinion that Captain Ash did indeed confidently to Captain Ash and have an important point.. He ad­ Duke Dushane, Washington rep­ mitted that the draft boards resentative of the Seafarers. At that time, wide publicity was were acting arbitrarily, and sug­ given to the theory that active gested that Ash take the matter seamen would not be shoved in­ up with General Hershey. Later, Ash saw Hershey who, to khaki. he writes, displayed considerable WASHINGTON JOURNEY understanding of the problem of So many cases of drafting sea­ the-seaman and the draft. Her­ men from both foc'sle and top­ shey said that seamen could not side have come up that Captain have a cojnplete exemption^ on Ash went to Washington the an occupational basis unless the other day to see what could be draft law itself were changed. done. What he learned is the However, he did agree that draft basis of a set of reconuvienda- boards were acting high-hand­ tions he drafted for the guidance edly in taking men off ships dur­ of MM&P members. The rec­ ing an appeal period, thereby ommendations apply equally well depnving them of a livelihood. to unlicensed men and for that He said that he would inform reason are printed elsewhere on local boards that their policy in this was highly arbitrary. Ash this page. In Washington, Ash talked reports. t with General Hershey, Selective Service boss, Albert Kaye, chief of the Manpower Section of the Munitions Board, and John Noble, assistant to Secretary of Defense Forrestal. Both Kaye and Noble stated emphatically that the armed forces did not wish to draft merchant seamen, but that because of the wording of the draft act they had no -choice. Speaking of a matter which does not directly concern many Seafarers, Noble said that any ships' officers with "reserve naval commissions could go on active duty. with the Navy if they wished in order to avoid an Army hitch. However, although Captain Ash did not say so, this would seem a dubious "out" to -many, notably those who neither hold nor seek commissions. Moreover, to allow the lucky man to do this would require a change in the present rules, in most instances. With Kaye, Captain Ash dis- SPECIAL EXECUTIVE Hershey went a long way to assist merchant seamen in any way he could within the limits of the law. Ash says. He even went to the length of giving Ash the name of an executive offi­ cer who would be directed to handle all merchant marine cases coming to Washington's atten­ tion. Ash also reports that a great deal of public attention has re­ cently been focused on the sea­ man's draft status as a result of the MM&P's protests. The SIU has also raised its voice against the manifest injustice of drafting merchant seamen. Ash writes that he plans to compile a list of cases for publication. . The MM&P official also reports that he is carrying the battle for draft exemption direct to the White House as well as to AFL headquarters in Washington. President William Green of the AFL has promised to help. Recommendations To Draft Eligibles 1. Immediately establish the fact that we are not opposed to Selective Service. We feel that the benefit to future generations of our country will be inestim­ able as a result of physical and educational advantages given trainees that they would never have had otherwise, i.e., correct­ ing eye deficiencies and poor teeth, innoculations against com­ municable diseases, etc. We are only opposed to a small section of the Selective Service Act as it affects merchant seaman. 2. A selectee should appeal his 1-A classification immediately. This appeal MUST be in writing. He will then be scheduled for a hearing before his Local Draft Board. It is most important to remember that- no selectee can be drafted while an appeal is pending. If the Local Board af­ ter a hearing insists on retaining the 1-A classification, he must then immediately file an appeal with the State Appeal Board for further reconsideration. • 3. It is very important to re­ member that no Local Board has the right to deprive you of your constitutional rights and deprive you of earning a livelihood while an appeal is pending. If an ap­ pellant happens to be working in an office, factory or a store, etc., he keeps right on working while his appeal is pending. The merchant seaman is entitled to the same rights and he should forthwith inform his Draft Board as to what ship and what company he works for and the Draft Board has no legal right to stop him from sailing while an appeal is pending. mental expense. Some came out substantiate his request for de­ of the SUP training ships but ferment remembering yoiu: com­ the vast majority came out of pany can say you are in an es­ the U. S. Maritime Training sential industry and a valuable Schools. Other have taken employee of theirs without men­ speciality courses in the same tioning you are irreplaceable schools and many of these have which would not be an honest gone to advanced training as statement at this time. officer candidates, also paid for 8. Finally remembering that by the government. This can not we are working against time be considered too strongly. It that it will take to get a change is an important point which ap­ in the law, the only thing that pears in our favor. Although the the merchant seaman can do is armed services cannot interfere appeal and keep appealing until in the administration of .Selec­ tive Service because it is a he has exhausted every legal strictly civilian function they resource. This, however, I can­ do not want to see men who have not emphasize too strongly. It been specialy trained for the does not mean that any tricks merchant marine inducted into or chicanery or evasive methods their service. The Navy has or failure to comply with the openly notifed all merchant ma­ law should be used. The mer-, rine men, both licensed and un­ chant seaman must keep his licensed, that they can obtain -Draft Board informed as to his naval ranks or ratings if they so I whereabouts at all times. He desire. This is in spite of the fact must keep ii% continuous contact that they do not at present have jwith them. If he feels that his sufficient appi-opriations or bil­ , Board has misinterpreted the lets to conveniently do this but jlaw or failed in giving him the they do not want to see our Mer­ I proper consideration he should chant Navy dissipated and most go to his union for assistance certainly do not-want to see our ' and not do anything untoward merchant seamen inducted into or anything that would reflect discredit on merchant seamen. the Army. We would not be in this posi­ 6. I also quote from Section tion today if the very small per­ 1-E of Title No. 1, "fullest pos- centage of "stinkers" did not, s i b 1 e utilization of Nation's during the last war, ride across technological, scientific and other the country, up and down the critical manpower resources." coast in box cars, or make stand­ Marine seamen who have special by jobs, only to avoid service. skills definitely come within that It is fortunate they were a very category and should claim ex­ small minority or the merchant j marine would not have made the emption on this basis. ' record it has, but nevertheless 7. In all cases a selectee should ^it is because of them that the obtain a letter from his com­ pany and his union to present at law did not contain provisions the time of such appeal • on his of outright deferment of meroriginal classification 1-A to help chant seamen. 4. Because of the way the Se­ lective Service Law is written, the merchant seaman is not en­ titled to deferment because of one or two yardsticks that are used for measuring this. First he must be in an industry which is essential to the national health and safety and secondly he must be irreplaceable or very difficult to replace within that industry, which would qualify in the first case, but in these days of our By JOSEPH VOLPIAN very depleted merchant fleet we Special Services Representative cannot qqualify in the second case because there are so many Men who become seamen in a special code developed for the men on the beach. Therefore do the United States, unlike those maintenance and cure of seamen not use occupation as a basis for of European nations, usually are injured while aboard ship. deferment. adults bfefore they take to the One of the earliest recorded There is presently contemplat­ sea. The greater part of their provisions was the laws of Oled a change in the law either by life has been lived under the eron. an act of Congress or Executive laws and customs of shoreside Because of the archaic lang­ Order by the President, wherein society. uage, it makes intei-esting read­ all men who have had eighteen Unless they have occasion to ing. Here's an excerpt: months of qualified war service, run into the rules of the sea I "If any of the mariners hired that is sailing during the war, they rarely become aware of the by the master of any vessel, go will be draft exempt. We believe difference between laws govern­ out of the ship without his leave, this will be ultimately achieved ing seamen and those governing and get themselves drunk, and but it is no good at present. shoreside workers. thereby there happens contempt 5. The best basis for an appeal There is a difference, though. to their master, debates, or fight­ is from the act itself and I quote On one .very important matter ing and quarreling among them­ from Title No. 1, Section No. 1— the difference is great—that of selves, whereby some happen to (C) of the act which states, "that maintenance and cure of in­ be wounded: in this case the , master shall not be obliged to it shall be consistent with . the jured seamen. The life of a seaman is recog­ get them cured, or in any thing maintenance of an effective na­ tional economy." How can it be nized as being more hazardous to provide for them, but may consistent with our national eco­ and more unstable than that of turn them and their accomplices nomy to train men to be sol­ the shoreside worker. The work out of the ship; but if by the diers when taxpayers have spent he does is dangerous; the ports master's orders and commands millions of dollars to train them visited unfamiliar; the authority any of the ship's company be in the service of the ship, and for the Merchant Marine. Indi­ over him often tyrannical. When he is on a ship at sea thereby happen to be wounded vidual cases will prove that he cannot take his pay and quit, or otherwise hurt, in that case practically all of our seafaring men today, both licensed and un­ if he feels the vessel is unsea- they shall be cured and pro­ licensed, between the ages of worthy or the master incompe­ vided for at the cost and charges twenty-one and twenty-six who tent. I of the said ship." In other words, the master Early in maritime history have had war service were train­ ed either at union or govern­ these matters were realized and (Continued on Page 15) �.Page Four THE S E A F A RE RS LOG Friday. Nevambar 12, 1942 Books To Seafarers — Courtesy AMMLA When ship's delegate Wiley Carter of the SS Steel Maker, lying at Bush Ter­ minal, Brooklyn, telephoned the American Merchant Marine Library Association at 4 J Broadway, Manhattan, to ask that a new library be sent to the big Isthmian C-3 the other day, he was taking advantage of a free service which brightens the long hours at sea for any American crew that wants it. Carter's request came in just as a couple of LOG reporters, were nosing around AMMLA to find out how the Association worked. It was a lucky break. The two reporters hopped aboard AMMLA's panel truck and helped deliver the- books. The boys on the Maker were glad to get them. AMMLA was founded 27 years ago by Alice S. Howard as a public spirited gesture toward merchant seamen. It is supported by private contributions of books and money, plus the slight in­ come from the lending libraries maintained in a number of ports. During the War, the government carried part of the nut. NO CHARGE Three AMMLA employees (above) are ready to load the 'library" consigned to the Steel Maker on the association's truck for delivery to the ship. In AMMLA's reading room (below) at 45 Broadway in New York, a seaman consults Mrs. Caxmel Pisani, one of the librarians. Roy Hobbs, MM. carries a box of AMMLA books aboard the SS Steel Maker. The man with the hooks is a familiar sight to Seafarers, and his burden is an omen of pleasant hours during the voyage. Enjoying AMMLA's contribution to the Steel Maker are (left to right) Wiley Carter, DM, who requested the reading matter; Lloyd Linthicum, Chips; Wilford Mclntyre. MM; Roy Hobbs, MM; Mont McNabb, AB, and Bill Wharton, OS. The ship's libraries are abso­ lutely free. All that any crew has to do is what the Maker's delegate did—ask for one. The standard ship's librar-y contain 26 volumes of fiction, 13 volumes of non-fiction, an assort­ ment of 30 paper covered books and a Bible. Generally a bundle or two of magazines are added. AMMLA makes every effort to see that the magazines are rea­ sonably up to date. The Association rejects some of the books that are contributed on the grounds that they simply are not interesting enough to send to an intelligent American crew. Seamen's interests range into every field, AMMLA has found. In addition, the librari­ ans have discovered that many seamen go in for heavy reading in science, history and such pro­ found novels as those of Tolstoy and Dostoyevsky. Others take lighter stuff. SHORE SERVICE AMMLA's lending service is not free, since it costs a seaman a dollar a year to get it. But the dollar is a nominal sum, and the service costs far more than the seamen's dollars add up to. Members of the lending library can borrow book.s in any of the 10 ports in which AMMLA has lending facilities. A seaman can take up to three nautical techni­ cal books, and up to five volumes of fiction or non-fiction fqr the duration of the voyage. The As­ sociation prides itself that it has helped many a man sit success­ fully for his ticket. COAST-TO-COAST The most elaborate lay-out and biggest library is maintained in New York; where AMMLA has lis national headquarters. Second biggest rig is in San Francisco. But the Association tries to give first-rate service everywhere. In making up ships' libraries and .stocking the lending shelves, AMMLA's staff-workers lean heavily on the suggestions sea­ men themselves make in pei-son or by letter. If you want a spe­ cial book, whether it's Kant's "Critique of Pure Reason" or the latest tough-guy niystery by Raymond Chandler, ask for it. AMMLA will do its best. On page l5 of this issue ap­ pear the addresses^and telephone numbers of all the branches of The American Merchant Marine Library Association. If one of the crew carmot go in person, a phone call will insure a pleas- , ant, entertaining trip. �Friday. Nbvambar 12. 1948 T H B SB AF A REUS LOG Page Five Cities Service Sure To Fatten Boston Shipping Shipping Ciimbs A Few Notches In New York By ERNEST B. TILLEY By JOE ALGINA BOSTON—A week ago we had a nice fat payoff to write about, but this week there is no ship­ ping news to report. There's not a ship in the port. What's worse, we don't see anything coming over the hori­ zon, at least not for a payoff or sign-on. We just hope there'll be one some sweet day. About all we have to do is try to keep Seafarers going af­ ter those Cities Service jobs. And that is a lot of work in itself. One port that is going to pi'ofit from the Cities Service contract when it finally comes is Boston. A lot of those tank­ ers cqme in here, enough to give us a steady flow of ship­ ping. NEW YORK—A notch up from "fair" to a qualified "good" is the state of shipping in this port. The week's sign-ons called for enough men to please the most finicky, of rated men in the deck and engine depart­ ments. Stewards, on the other* hand, haven't had it too well this week. This week's payoffs included the following: Chrysanthy Star, Intercontinental Steamship Com­ pany; Trinity, Cartas; Arlyn, Jean, Suzanne, Bull; Hey ward, Ingersoll, Topa Topa, Canton Victory, Waterman; Steel Voy­ ager, Steel Advocate and Sted Vendor, Isthmian. Sign-ons, which numbered one more than the payoffs, were the Alcoa Polaris, Alcoa; Steel Mak­ er, Steel Architect, Steel Advo­ cate, Steel Voyager, Isthmian; Longview Victory, Teel and Alawai. Waterman; -Morgarrtown Victory and Marine Arrow, Rob­ in; Chrysanthy Star, Intercon­ tinental; Julesburg, Terminal Tankers. There were no major beefs on any of the incoming and out­ going ships. The Steel Vendor, if any were to be chosen, was about the cleanest ship in and about this port in a long time. Other.than the status of ship­ ping given above, the week's lowdown is pretty much a list of short items — so bear with me, Brothers. Shipping Takes Slight Dive in San Jaan By SAL COLLS Juan and the Virgin Islands. She carried a crew of 12 or 15 men, and the boys thought she was red and ripe and ready for organizing. I gave them my blessings and some pledge cards and off they went. to cast their ballots. It seems they can't wait until they get SAN JUAN — Shipping has back to the States and their been kind of like a tropical own home port, the urge being squall here for the past week, too great, and' the excitement, pouring dawn like hell for a too. Of course, it's swell with us. while — which had us combing The more, the merrier, we say!, the beach for men — and then, EAGER all of a sudden, stopping, with They had made contact pre­ hardly a drop falling towards viously with several members of the end of the week. the crew, and the crew were eager for unionism — as what Second of the SIU Atlantic As this report is being sent in, there has just been a trickle working man isn't today! Any­ & Gulf District Halls to be of jobs for the ships, and most way, the boys made a stab at opened on the West Coast of them calling for rated men. it—and then they hit the stump. is the new Hall now in oper­ It was found that she was un­ We have sent men to the Bea­ ation in Wilmington, Cali­ der Hondurian registry with a trice, Emilia, .Morning Light, TAKE HEED long time contract. Which Dorothy, and the Carolyn, but fornia. We certainly hope all hands just a handful. wouldn't have stopped us alto­ The new Hall, located at will heed the notice in last gether, but the fact that no The good old dependable 227 Vz Avalon Boulevard, will week's LOG. If you are on a member of the crew had sea­ operate under the supervi­ Cities Service ship and are "in­ shoregang has saved us. There man's papers did! sion of the San Francisco vited" to join the company's own has been plenty of work for And so it goes. Branch, but will maintain its phony new union, go ahead and deck men, and one or two good The voting for '49 A&G offi­ own shipping board and will join. You'll be doing the SIU a hold-cleaning jobs. cials is going on at a steady be run as a regular Atlantic favor. What the company is try­ clip. .Some of Ihe Brothers are SHIPPING RULES & Gulf District Hall. ing to "do is compile a blacklist, dropping in at the Hall during Incidentally, we can send a their dinner hour on the ships so don't give them the chance. The way to counter this phony little news through the LOG, move that Cities Service is try­ that the membership accepted ing is to stay aboard the ships. unanimously a uniform set of Stay aboard even if you have td shipping rules for the San Juan shoregang at the last meeting. By CAL TANNER join the company union. We are sending Headquarters If you are on a Cities Service MOBILE — Shipping has been]burg and Bremen, and the . , -.,1. ship which hits Boston or any­ a couple of copies as soon as' THEY'RE BACK Morning Light on continuous ar­ ^he past week with 65 where near Boston, be sure you they are ready. Bob Matthews' ticles to Puerto Rico. ^hree permits shipThe Coast Guard hearing units call the Boston Hall. We'll cov­ has been working on a new; Ships in transit were the Al­ are back again. Though not so shoregang contract with Bull J^ere were three payoffs er you if we have to fight our coa Pioneer from New Orleans Line, which we are all looking and three sign-ons including one dictatorial as before, they're still way through fog, rain, snow and with oldtimers Sloppy Creel and with continuous articles. not to our liking. If you are forward to for use wifh our new fire to do it. Joe Hand aboard; the Kenyon Those paying off were the sent for by a hearing unit, first shoregang shipping rules. Victory — Isthmian — in good check with the SIU hall. TALK UP! Brothers Morgan, Lockwood, Desoto, Waterman, which came shape; and the Liberty tanker, We're still waiting for some­ off a short coastwise run and The transportation rule is wide Fisher, Bonet, and Thompson Mostank, which took a few re­ thing definite on Bernstein's ap-. went into the shipyard for strap­ open for discussion these days. were on the committee to draw placements. plication for two passenger ships. ping. Afterwards she is schedDon't fail to send your own up the rules, and I think theyj No news to this moment. We're OUTLOOK FAIR view of the transportation ques­ did a neat job. It's something "'^d to go back on the European passing the word along to the tion to the LOG. If this matter we've needed badly down here ^un. Oldtimers on her were Sliipping for tJie next week Brothers who have been follow­ for a long time. Phillip Reyes, Hugh Hallman, comes up to a vote, be sure you looks fair with both major com­ ing the ups and downs in this John Thomason, and Roland have had your say and know all panies having C ships due in for case. NEAT JOB Stanley. the angles on it. payoffs and crews. Alcoa has The possibility of the West The Fairport, also Waterman, one due in transit and a passen­ But, before I forget, we did At this time it looks as if all Coast strike winding up soon has hands on the Boston beach have have a little excitement round i P^id off in good shape from a ger ship, and Waterman has four us looking forward to the re-' voted in the election of A&G the Hall about the middle of!foi-eign run. And the Morning ships under repair in the ship­ sumption of intercoastal ship­ District officials for 1949. Never­ the week. A couple of our beach- Light came in from her Puerto yard which will be coming out ping. These being primarily Wa­ P®i<^ ^iih minor soon. So with these and the theless, our ballot box is open combing Brothers brought in ^1'^° terman ships, they'll mean a ships in transit there should be lot to us in jobs. every day. If you haven't voted some information concerning a beefs. Sign-ons were'the Hastings for a fair week. when you hit Boston, hurry up rusty little tramp ex-Navy barge Motion pictures are still be­ that was running between San fiamburg, the Fairport for HamThe following Brothers in the ing shown every Saturday on arid do it. < hospital are receiving their bene­ the 3rd deck here. The films us­ fits: C. E. Glover, A. C. Mc- ually are a couple of years old,' Alpin, Williams G, Richardson, but they're full-length sound Eugene Leary, John Week, H. R. jobs and stiU pack a wallop Then there is another thing! for conditions and. it will con­ Loman, A. Smith, C. W. Barnett, worthy of seeing on a dull Sat­ By PAUL GONSORCHIK C. Hafner, Erline Smith, Jerry urday afternoon. As a union man you may-be tinue to have to do so. Last week I wrote about Ship­ asked suddenly to do several Seafarers who are being draft­ ping Rule Number Three, re­ But when the call comes for Pettaway, and James W. Carter. Pictures and interviews of pa­ ed or expect the call soon are hours of picket duty here or garding hospital cases — but help, watch some of the mem­ there are many other rules laid there in the interest of the SIU. bers whom you had thought tients in the Marine Hospital and reminded to retire their books. down by the membership, which Quite possibly it may be of good Union men when you some of the staff were taken, If they can't appear in person, it is your duty to know about a voluntary nature and not di­ shipped with them, try to angle which will appear as a feature in they should mail the book into and to carry out. rectly connected with a ship themselves out of picket duty the LOG. Thanks are due Dr. Headquarters, inclosing a re­ Porter and the entire staff of the turn address. It's a very poor excuse to strike. But you or your organi­ when they are needed. Hospital for their 100 percent, co­ come in and say, "I didn't know zation will never get anywhere Probably they are waiting for operation. about that!" For, besides our sitting on your cans and saying, some soft job in the Union — Voting is now going on briskly educational meetings, regular "That ain't my be'ef!" as if there were any soft jobs! for officials who will serve the meetings, and the LOG, there Let those who say that stop, So when you are called out to Union during the coming year. Membership rules require are many educational pamphlets a minute and analyze themselves do any duty, just put it down Practically everyone eligible to available at the Hall and put every man entering the to see if they are union men or to good unionism and do it. vote has done so already. Around aboard the ships that will keep Union Halls to show his a mere semblance of one. Finally, as an SIU member, 300 votes have been cast, which you informed if you will read Union Book, Pro-Book, per­ - Any fight that is a legitimate don't forget that elections for indicates that this year's ballot them. mit or whitecard to the door­ But the real offender is the union battle is all unions' battle new officials is now on. Be sure from Mobile will be one of the for the you know for whom you cast largest ever cast. man. This is for the mem­ man who says, "Tm an oldtimer," and we are all fighting Some of the oldtimers on the or "I helped to organize this betterment of conditions and your vote. The majority of bership's ' protection. Don't wages. After all if it wasn't for these officials are known to all beach include W. Saxon, J. Union." waste the Doorman's — or' the work done by your fathers members. Others are not. In­ Moore, N. Breedin, H. Douglas, J. If you are, you should know your own—time by arguing better than to ask for special twenty-five years ago in fighting quire about them and find out Sprengel, J. Robertson, William this point. Observe the rules privilege in this organization, or to organize unions in all fields, if they are the kind of men Sloomn, K. W. Nickerson, A. Nel­ you make. to expect your officials to vio­ where would labor be today? who follow SIU policy and son, E. Evans, J. F'oster, and M. Martin. Labor has always had to fight abide by 'the rules. late membership rulings. Wilmington Hali Mobile Expecting Better Days All Must Follow Union Rules And Polities Membership Rules �THE SEAEAR ERS LOG Page Six Baltimore Shipping Down Again As Ships Head For Other Ports FMday. Norember 12, 1948 m APPRECIATION OF SEAFARERS' AID McurASY-'niAsuiin IAMB A. lUmiDM^ lArATim, INB. rOURTH VieB-HIUIDSNT Hnu-r r. KowiNni, MiLWAumc, «M. ^ PRBSIOBNT VRKOW A. NOtMAWAiaMT, LAPAVm* tM^* riRST VteV.PflllS!DKNT «. A. •ACaCCTT, riTTSBUM, KAA INTERNA lATION PIFTH VICt-RRUIOSNT WATMAM WsmMKHMtll. NCW VOMC, H. V. By WILLIAM (Curly) RENTZ SSCOND VtCK-MniDKNT TNOA, A. «UIMt.AN, XAHKBVtUJI, O. SIXTH VICB-PRXaieCNT •AMUKL J. MITUM. LO* ANSCLU, CAtiP. BALTIMORE—The good ship­ member Isthmian? Stay on ping we reported a week ago these tankers and we'll bring proved short lived. During the them in the way we did the past seven days the shipping ships with the buff funnels. rate slipped back down, way STILL HOPEFUL down. We had four sign-ons, distri­ We didn't expect the slump. buted the same way as the pay­ In fact, we expected things to offs — two Ores, a Bull and a stay at the good pace of the South Atlantic. That was all week before. . .What seems , ,. , to • and we sure hope things pick have happened is that ships that ^^e week to come. were supposed to come mtoj ^here was only one serious Baltimore simply turned up in Lgef during the past week. This other ports. | concerned the Steward As a result, we have plenty | aboard the Bull Line's SS Marof men on the beach with more ina. coming in all the time. Wliere j The trouble with this Steward they come from we don't know, was that he seemed Unable to They must have read that ship- run his department. How he ever ping was good. obtained his papers we don't Payoffs on contracted ships know. He still has his papers, totaled four. There were two! but we don't think he'll sail Ores, one Bull and one South' steward again. Atlantic. In addition there were' The man just did not seem to two unorganized tankers, one of know anything about storing them belonging to you-know-' the ship or putting out meals, who. Both were in good shape, in fact, the crew said the meals Those unorganized tankers are were "plain hell." coming along. It takes time to Naturally the boys wanted the bring these things through. Re- Steward put off, and put off he TMIPIO VICB-MIUIPKNT riUNK C. fllVBA. SUTnCs MONTANA SXVINTH VICC-PRSSIDSNT •SWARD T. SHAV, PMILADILPHIA. PA. was. Two In Transit Only Activity For Galveston By KEITH ALSOP GALVESTON—With no pay­ offs or sign-ons this week we had to be content with two ships in transit, the Governor Kilby and the Seatrain Havana. Shipping being in the doldrums, we gave these two ships extra special care, but it really wasn't necessary — both were in good shape with no beefs aboard. Other than courting to these ships, our only other port ac­ tivity was to concentrate our­ selves with work in the unor­ ganized field here. It's a long, slow process, but by banging away at these out­ fits we swell our contracted fleet — the only way we can grow stronger and continue to bring more jobs to the mem­ bership. In case a shipmate of yours may be beached down here this week, here are a few of the oldtimers around: Sam Pearson, from the Peach State; A. S. Ellis and Preacher Perry, both of whom recently returned from a fishing trip to Florida. They say the reason they are here is because they've wasted away to practicaUy nothing and want a Far East run to bring the pounds back. OTHERS ON BEACH Other men here are Fred - Hethcoat, E. O. Moon, Stew Monast, W. Humphry, William F. Barht, M. L. Olvera and R. L. Meadows, Jr. A suggestion has been made here that seems to be a good one so we're passing it along to Headquarters: The point is that the SIU make up stationery kits to be given to the Seafar­ ers in the marine hospital. The kits would bear the name of the SIU. It is felt that all members of the Union are proud of their organization, and would appre­ ciate using stationery bearing the SIU letterhead. I think it is a good idea; the boys in the ' marine hospitals will, I hope, agree with me. OFPICR OP iNTCRHATioNAL sccRrrARY-TRBAsuRSR LKVCRINa RUIUDINa NhvsinbaT* fl o, 1 J.S'XO Mr. Paul Hall, Secy.-Treas. Atlantic and Gulf Districts Seafarers International Union of N. A. 51 Beaver Street New York, New York J)ear Brother Hall; On behalf of the RETAIL CLERKS INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION, APL, I take this opportvinity to tMnk you and all the members of the Seafarers Union for the valuable assistance you are giving us in ovir battle to organize the New York department stores under the AFL banner•• I donot hesitate to say that if the ever-ready willingness and \mstinting support which you give to sister imions v/ere a general practice in th© labor movement, the entire labor movement would go forv/ard much faster. Our increasing success in driving the conlmunists out of the retail industry and giving the retail store employees the benefit of bona fid© and militant APL xinionism will owe a considerable share to your friendly interest, V/e hope that you will not hesitate to call on our union for any One thing still holding ^ship­ assistance that may be within oin? power to render your organiza­ ping down in this port is the tion wherever and whenever it may be need'ed. West Coast Beef. If the strike out there should end, we might With cordial regards and fraternal greetings, I am get some intercoastals to help us sweep the beach here. ' Fraternally yours. The Ore Line * ships are in good shape now. Bookmen are manning them these days which helps because everybody knows Samuel J, MejCefs what he's doing both as a sea­ International "Vice-president man and a Union man. RETAIL CLERKS INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION GOOD GRUB. GOOD SHIP 0EIU:153 It sure looks good to see those ships crewed up solid again. 1440 Broadv/ay — Room 1564 They should stay that way. Most New York 18, New York of the beefs from the Ore ships concern grub. If the Cooks In line with the general Union policy of aiding bonatide trade unions involved in econ­ would just regulate their work omic issues, the SIU gave aid recently to the Retail Clerks Union in its drive to organize , the a little better, the ships wouldn't workers of New York department stores. The facilities of the Union were put eit the disposal have to run out of food as some of the AFL clerks. of them have been known to The aid given the Clerks Union by the SIU is just one more in a long string of assists do. marked up during the past years. Bonafide unions embroiled in legitimate beefs have come There is one sure way to keep to know that the SIU is sincere in its desire to aid individual unions, thus bolstering the labor a crew pretty well satisfied and movement in general. that is to feed the boys well. There is no way we can ex­ press our gratitude to the Doc­ tors and Nurses at the Marine Hospital for the way they have been treating sick Seafarers. We in the Port of Baltimore thank them from the bottom of our hearts. It is swell to walk into a MaBy LOUIS GOFFIN we had to combat inexperience the SIU can justly feel proud of rine Hospital like the one in in the labor ^field. Things moved its record. Baltimore and get the reception Looking back to 1938 when along slowly and it wasn't un- Today on our tenth anniveryou get here. The Doctors and the SIU was formed. Union af­ til 1944 that we began to speed sary, we are a united organizaNurses go out of their way to fairs on the waterfront were a "Ption, with a strong membership. do the right thing by you. Their bit demoralized. The AF of LSU, True, we had gone through financially stable, and possessing aim is to fix you up and send the NMU and remnants of the tough times in the ever-increas-^ the best agreements in the marold ISU, plus two or three other you back sailing. the' would-be Unions were in the, ing battle against . . x.shipown• itime field. aF +v,a+ +5,v,a ©^s, thc commies snd other misCongratulations are in order held; and seamen at that time x.. • i. x x ha,! aViaiax. a* had the choice of joining one ' Rts ,who did thcir best to break^ for everyone who had a part in or another down. The record shows that the building of this District. We they failed miserably to do this. are proud to be members. It is Every member making a The compact few who were So, from 1944 the Union, rein- now a great honor to be able to donation to the Union for members of the AF of LSU be­ forced by new blood, started to say, "I'm an SIU man!" any purpose should receive came the nucleus of the new, I Therefore, on this our tenth an officieil receipt bearing fighting SIU, which started on anniversary, we, the members of the amount of the contribu­ a very small scale at the end the SIU, can feel proud of our tion and the purpose for of October, 1938. Negotiating Committee which, which it was made. The Union grew and grew through its determination to give If a Union official to whom until now, on its tenth birthday, the membership nothing but the contribution is given does it has become the dominant Un­ best, has signed the finest agree­ not make out a receipt for ion in the maritime field. At the ments in Maritime. the money, the matter should present time, the finest contracts immediately be referred to and the best. seamen are in the We can all feel proud of our­ Paul Hall, Secretary-Trea­ SIU. selves, in that we kept our faith surer, SIU, 51 Beaver Street, with each other. And if we HARD WORK New York 4. N. Y. stick together, as we have in the In advising the SecretaryHowever, all of this did not past, the next ten years will Treasurer of such transac­ come about merely for 'the ask­ bring further advances. Then, tions, members should state ing. A lot of hard work went when we celebrate pur twen^ the name of the official and into the building up of the--Un- move forward. New contracts tieth anniversary, we can look the port where the money ion. When we started we were'were obtained. Non-union com- back and feel just as proud of was tendered. small and, with the exception panics were brought into line, our Union as we now feel on of a few officials and organizers,' And to make a long story short, our tenth. ' - Get A Receipt �'V- Friday, NoTember 12, 1948 THE SEAFARERS LOG Page Seven Minutes Of A&G Branch Meetings In Brief Meeting was recessed for fif­ SAN FRANCISCO—Chairman, teen minutes to give members an A. Michelet, 21184; Recording opportunity to submit written re­ Secretary, R. W. Pohle, 46828; quests for topics of discussion, Reading Clerk, W. J. Brown, 94. after which time the sailing . Motion carried to table that SHIPPED SHIPPED SHIPPED TOTAL REG. REG. TOTAL REG. PORT part of Philadelphia Branch min­ ENG. STWDS. SHIPPED board time, the new registration DECK ENG. STWDS. REG. DECK system, and charges were put on utes dealing with the transporta­ 35 34 41 110 13 11 10 34 Boston the agenda. Discussion brought tion ruling until such time as the 189 170 183 186 542 150 165 501 out . the various circumstances in membership has time to kick it New York 51 46 47 30 123 45 37 133 which the changing of the sailaround. Motion on the Savan­ Philadelphia 119 90 106 63 272 93 Baltimore 67 266 ingboard time would involve nah New Business to^ refer the 20 15 23 58 16 Norfolk. 14 13 43 overtime. It was pointed out issuing of books to the volunteer 15 10 5 6 11 36 Savannah 8 19 that performing and the failure organizers. New Business of all 19 9 Tampa.~ 11 39 15 16 17 48 of crewmembers to observe their other Branches accepted. The 74 71 . 59 67 53 192 part of the agreement often loses 72 204 Secretary - Treasurer's financial Mobile. 110 .'. Ill 158 135 126 347 123 416 overtime for the rest of their report and report to the member­ New Orleans 78 Galveston 45 31 56 15 179 11 57 shipmates, and it was recom­ ship were accepted. Communica­ 27 21 17 55 9 43 mended that such cases be dis­ 11 13 tions accepted. . Agent's report San Juan San Francisco .'. Shipping ue To S No ciplined. The new registration accepted. Motion under New rules were outlined and discus­ Business to table action on trans­ GRAND TOTAL , 731 623 611 1,965 547 654 551 4,752 sion revealed that the meeting portation clause until the mem­ bership was fully informed were accepted. The resolution istration rules be accepted. Un­ York and to leave it to Head­ was of the opinion that they through their meetings and the submitted by Headquarters Oc­ der Good and Welfare all hands quarters to make a donation to were of benefit to all. Chairman LOG. Carried. One minute, of tober 29, and the letter from the were urged to cast their vote in the March of Dimes. Communi­ Morrison outlined the correct silence for . departed Brothers. Secretary-Treasurer on the Ne­ the election for 1949 officials. cations from Headquarters on procedure in bringing charges, Topics of general interest were gotiating Committee's report The transportation clause came transportation, the story and pic­ pointing out that one man could discussed under Good and Wel­ were accepted. • Motion carried in for a good deal of discussion, tures of the Marine Hospital, and bring charges, but that those fare. Meeting adjourned with 38 to accept the new registration with the concensus of opinion be­ the registration rules were ac­ who do so must be present at the trial or he would be subject members present at 8:45. rules. The Ballot Committee, ing that all should accept their cepted. The Secretary-Treas­ % composed of J. S. Rubery, J. S. transportation and get off the urer's financial report was ac­ TAMPA — Meeting called to O'Byrne, and J. E. Kniess, re­ ship, regardless of length of trip. cepted. The Patrolman's Reports, order at 7:00 P. M., but as there ported 40 men voted and that One minute's silence for departed the Dispatcher's report and the was only a few bookmen present ballot numbers 78 to 300 were on Brothers. Motion carried to ad­ Balloting Committee's report no regular meeting was held. hand. Accepted. The member­ journ at 9:15 P. M. with 370 were accepted. One minute of to a fine himself. General dis­ However it was decided to hold ship stood one minute in silence members present. silence for departed Brothers. cussion followed in which it was for departed Brothers. Under Meeting adjourned at 8:20 with recommended that the establish­ XXX Good and Welfare several mem­ MOBILE—Chairman, C. Kim­ 350 members present. ment of a welfare fund should bers spbke on the new registra­ ball, 52; Recording Secretary, J. XXX be the next step taken toward tion rules. Meeting adjourned at Carroll, 14; Reading Clerk. H. J. GALVESTON—Chairman, Jeff improving the Union. 8:25 P. M. with 85 members Fischer, 59. Morrison, 34213; Recording Sec­ XXX discussion on problems facing present. Mobile previous minutes, spe­ retary, Keith Alsop, 7311; Read­ GALVESTON EDUCATIONAL the Seafarers. The main topic cial meeting minutes, and educa­ ing Clerk, R. Wilburn, 37739. MEETING, Nov. 2 — Chairman % % • brought up was the shipping tional minutes were accepted. Galveston minutes, financial Keith Alsop; Recording Secre­ NEW ORLEANS — Chairman. Minutes of Savannah were nonrules. Several oldtimers brought out the advantages in having Leroy Clarke, 23082; Recording concurred with and referred to report, educational minutes, and tary, R. Wilburn. Written topics for discussion men accept their transportation Secretary, Herman Troxclair, Director of Organization. The special meeting minutes read and accepted. Minutes of all were submitted by those present. when it is due and paying off 8743; Reading Clerk, Johnny minutes of other Branches hav­ Branches having New Business The relationship between the the ship. For one thing it im­ Johnston, 53. ing New Business were accepted. read and accepted. The Agent unions of the AFL was discussed, The New Orleans previous Agent Cal Tanner reported that proves shipping and gives the men on the beach a chance to get minutes, the New Orleans finan­ the Morning Light, Hurricane, reported that due to the Cuba and it was pointed out that while out. A case in point was the cial report and the Secretary- Iberville, D. Lownsdale, War­ Victory laying up and the Gov­ each union has complete auton­ payoff of the Governor Kilby last Treasurer's financial reports were rior, Maiden Creek, Wild Ranger, ernor Kilby being transferred to omy, all are joined together by week. If it had not been for accepted. New Business of Phila­ Monarch of The Sea, Alcoa Cav­ another Port for the payoff be­ trades councils locally, and de­ the transportation ruling there delphia were referred to Head­ alier, Alcoa Runner, J. W. Cul- fore arriving in the Texas area, partments nationally, for mutual would only have been a handful quarters. All other Branches' len, and Alcoa Pilgrim were due shipping has been slow for the aid and cooperation; though of jobs on this ship, but as it New Business were accepted. in the port between now and the last two weeks. The Governor these councils and departments turned out 25 men on the beach Agent Sheppard reported that 20th of November; and the Rad- Miller will payoff the last of the have a purely advisory status. went out on her, and some of the the business of the port was in ketch—Radocean tanker—was in week, and other Waterman ships Discussion then took up the men who paid off registered and good order, but that sign-ons had port and the crewing of this ship are due to hit Port, but where duties of men in ''^each of the reshipped on her. The new reg­ fallen off with only 5 sign-ons. was indefinite. The architect's they will payoff is not certain ship's departments, and there istration rules came up for com­ However, 21 ships stopped in plans for the renovation of the yet. Seventy-four have been was lively discussion centering ment too. There were a few and were contacted in transit. Union's building at Dauphin and cast in the first two days of vot­ principally on the duties of the fellows that always want egg in The SS Charles Nordhoff, Alcoa,- Lawrence Streets, have been sent ing, and the Agent urged all to Steward's Department. The gen­ vote as soon as possible. Report eral election was then discussed their beer, but they just wanted went into the boneyard. The SS accepted. After discussion, a mo­ and Brother Aslop pointed out to sornething to beef about. A man Del Monte, Mississippi, is in drytion carried to accept the com­ the members that we are one of shipping as day man does this dock undergoing conversion to munication from the Secretary- the few unions that is run by because he wants to, and a man carry reefer cargo. Smith and Treasurer asking that the trans­ and for the rank and file; and shipping on watch also does this Johnsori's SS James Gillis is un­ portation ruling be aired througli that now, with the general elec­ for the same reason. Shipping is dergoing repairs with future the medium of the LOG and tion under way, it is the duty of good enough that men wanting status undetermined. Both ships each member to cast his ballot through discussion in the meetto ship as either day man or on will take full crews when ready and to give considerable thought to the Secretary-Treasurer in ings before final action is taken. watch can do so in a few days to go. Ten payoffs are sched­ to whom he choose to represent New York to be acted upon by a The Resolution to support the in Tampa. In fact, some of uled for the next two weeks him for the coming year. March of Dimes was accepted. Headquarters Committee. As those who criticized group reg­ with three of them Alcoas which The Headquarters' Report was XXX soon as these plans are approved are headed for the boneyard. istration were in the Hall a few NORFOLK — Chairman Wosiaccepted. Motion carried to con­ work will go ahead to complete Voting for 1949 officials is under days ago when Mobile had to be lunk, 48570; Recording Secretary, cur with the new registration called for both day men and way and a large vote is indicated the new Hall, which the Agent Kennedy, 43464; Reading Clerk, rules. The Balloting Commit­ watch men. Any way you look for the Port. Report accepted. opinioned would be among the Jones, 41772. tee's report, the Headquarters fi­ at it group registration works Patrolmen's reports accepted. finest belonging to the SIU. The Minutes of other Branches hav­ out okay—especially for men The Dispatcher reported 347 reg­ Agent worked with Brother Mat­ nancial report, and the Patrol­ ing New Business were read and man's report were accepted. The that are unable to get AB tick­ istered, and 416 shipped includ-. thews, Assistant Secretary-Treas­ accepted. There was general dis­ Dispatcher reported 179 regis­ ets because of physical handi­ ing lay-up, towboat, and stand­ urer, and New Orleans Agent cussion on the Secretary-Treas­ tered, and 57 shipped. Motion caps. The financial report was by jobs. Ship's minutes were Bull Sheppard, in New Orleans urer's communication on the carried under New Business to made. Thirty-nine men were re­ sent to the LOG.. Communica­ to straighten out negotiations transportation ruling. The new allow a man more than one with Alcoa on their Passenger ported registered, and 48 ship­ tions from the Secretary-Treas­ registration rules were accepted. voyage whether transportation is Ships. Tlie results was that all urer on the transportation clause ped. and on the New Registration wages and retroactive pay have involved or not. Motion to have The Agent reported that a com­ ^ 1 BOSTON—Chairman, H. Cash- Rules were accepted. Headquar­ been brought up to the uniform the Negotiating Committee en­ mittee was lining up a camera to man, 40383; Recording Secretary, ters resolution on the March of passenger ship scale. He asked deavor to get all inside painting take the pictures of the Marine E. Dakin, 180; Reading Clerk, L. Dimes concurred in, and the the membership to take an active done by the sailors and not by Hospital to go with a story for One the LOG. The Resolution from Secretary-Treasurer's report to part in voting for the 1949 offi­ the shipyard. CarriedN. Johnson, 108. minute of silence observed for Headquarters was accepted. The New Business of Branches was the membership was accepted. cials, as it is the duty of every Agent's report and the Patrol­ departed Brothers. Three mem­ r^ad and accepted. The Agent's Committee's report accepted to book man to cast his vote and man's report on activities in the bers Obligated. Meeting ad­ verbal report and the Patrol­ allow Dalton H. Morgan, Robert thereby show who he would like Fort were accepted. The Dis­ journed at 8:20 P. M. with 160 man's report were accepted. The C. Niebling, Bernard Grazis, and to have represent him for the patcher reported 58 men regis­ members present. Dispatcher reported 110 regis­ Delbert H. Dean to become re­ coming year. Agent's report ac­ tered, and 43 shipped. There cepted. Motion carried un(^er tered and 34 shipped. The active. The Balloting Commit­ XXX was no New Business. General GALVESTON EDUCATIONAL Headquarters report to the mem- tee's report was accepted. Twen­ New Business to give the vvaiidiscussion followed under Good b e r s h i p, and the Secretary- ty-two men were Obligated. Mo­ resses who are on strike our sup­ MEETING, Oct. ^8 — Chairman, and Welfare. One minute of silTreasurer's financial reports for tion carried unanimously under port. Motion carried to concur Jeff Morrison: Record Secretary, (Continued on Page 15) weeks ending October 16 and 23 New Business that the new reg­ with the resolution from New R. Wilburn. A&G Shipping From Ort 19 To Nov. 1 M �Page Eight ^ THE SEAFARERS LOG Fridair. November 12. 1948 MEWS You Sailed The Seven Seas? Okay! Name Them, Brother Returns From Rest A stickler of a question popped up in the LOG office this week when Brother Agripino Dipasupii wrote in asking the names of the "seven seas." Admitting that he didn't know* them, he wrote; "Lots of broth­ and seas but do not refer spe­ cifically to the seven seas. The ers in a gay mood talk about information desk of the New having 'sailed the Seven Seas, York Public Library was unable have asked a number of brothers to find anything definite on it, what these are, but no one that FROM MYTHOLOGY I talked to seemed to be sure of However, the information desk the answer. of the New York Daily News "Wouldn't it be a good idea to found a reference in old Brahaprint those 'Seven Seas' in the manic lore jn which the seven seas were referred to as the LOG for the information of the waters dividing and bounding the seagoing membership?" seven land masses. Of course the Well, being a little hai'd put world was not well explored in for an answer, the LOG staff de­ those days so that has little meaning. In modern usage it cided to ask some of the boys appears to mean the seven fresh in from the ships. Brother oceans. ^ Timothy B. Moriarty, who hap­ All we can say is, you name pened to be on the fifth deck, them and they're yours! listed the Black, Caspean, Red, Yellow, Dead, Baltic, Adriatic, and North Seas, and then gave up with the conclusion that there were a lot more than seven when you started to count them. - T. Viken, a long-time Isth­ mian Bosun, named the seven Oceans: North and South Paci­ fies, North and South Atlantics, Arctic, Antarctic, and Indian Ocean. P. L. Macklin agreed. Anti-Union Topsiders -FindCrew's Spirit Unbreakable Not many of the old-line anti union Isthmian ships are left after more than a year under an SIU contract, but according to a recent report to the LOG by Scotty Aubusson, the SS Mont­ gomery City is one of them. Captain William McAdam, notorious character who has been known to strike men under his command, set the temper of this ship's recent voyage to the Far East with the general out­ look of "to hell with the Union," Aubusson said. acting as stool-pigeons on the crew. The Chief Mate rode the Bosun and the gang. With all overtime cut to the bone, there was still 100 hours of disputed overtime — most of which was collected at the payoff. Throughout the trip a multi­ tude of phony logs was pre­ pared. For instance, the Firemen divided up the cleaning of bur­ ners—-as is customary — so that each cleaned three on watch. The Chief Engineer and the First Assistant peeked in while one Fireman was cleaning his three (after having been told merely to "clean his burners"). As soon as he had completed these three, he was logged for disobeying a lawful order in that he did not clean all of them. The Skipper stated plainly that he did not like unions, and Charles Colletti, Jr. Engin­ that he and the Chief Engineer eer, whose latest ship was the would do all they could to give Bucyrus Victory, is back in the crew a bad time. In this New York looking for an­ vein he started the trip off by other ship after spending a telling the Bosun that he was short vacation with his mother not going to recognize his over­ NO SMOKING and nephew. Baby . Billy, in time. Chicago. Brother Colletti has The Chief Mate ran around been a member of the SIU The officers gave the Captain deck puffing a massive pipe and since 1943. full support in this program. logging men for smoking on deck! The Captain threatened the Cooks with logs several times because the eggs were not done to suit him. Although the Stewards Depart­ A fine example of mem­ ment had mostly old Isthmian bership action to curb per­ men, the men were learning formers was the special unionism fast, and were satisfac­ meeting called by the Depart­ tory to' the rest of the crew. ment Delegates November 2 on Three ports in India were the SS Daniel H. Lownsdale to visited: Bombay, Calcutta and deal with disrupters aboard. The Colombo. Prices were described keynote to the meeting was by Aubusson as terrific. A shot LEMME THINK struck by F. J. Gillette, Ship's of whiskey cost four rupees —Paul Gonsorchik, who after all Delegate, who served as Record­ about a dollar and thirty cents. must have dispatched more men ing Secretary when he said: The Indians, except retail houses to the seven seas than anyone "Nothing, I think, could be and beggars, were very tough on else in the SIU, opinioned they better than the educational meet­ foreigners. There seemed to be were the seven major seas—not ings in our Union Halls and on consideiable communist infiltra­ counting the oceans. the ships' to acquaint the mem­ tion in their thinking. Next we hit that repository of bership with the duties and re­ In spite of the many difficul­ odd facts and general informa­ sponsibilities of a Union Mem­ ties presented the crew, the tion, "Cut and Run" Hank, who ber, and with the importance of bosun, a young fellow named looked up from his mailing ma­ curbing performing and actions Pete Blum, proved -to be "a chine to say, "Well it's kind of detrimental to the membership damned good Union man who ' hard to figure out, but I think and the standing of the Union. tnew his job and kept peace in it means the whole world—espe­ The more education we have in the crew," Scotty concluded.. cially all the ports and by-ways Union matters the more we will off the beaten track." -stand to gain in conditions, and Apparently Hank's answer was the better we can maintain what as close as any. The American we already have." College Dictionary says,. "Seven With that the gavel sounded A newly added feature seas — The navigable waters of and the crew got down to busi­ Three stalwarts of the crew of the Daniel H. Lownsdale, to the pages of the SEA­ the world." The World Almanac ness. The meeting was held at Waterman coastwise ship, pause in their work for a bit of FARERS LOG is the comic and the Information Please Al­ 8:30 A- M., after leaving Miami, coffee. No names were enclosed with the pictures submitted manac list some eighteen oceans and was attended by all hands. strip "Seafare." LOG car­ to the LOG by W. J. Barnes. Sam Vatis presided as Chair­ toonist Eddy 'Smith is the man. The meeting commenced man responsible for most of with the ship'.s delegate giving a the humorous shipboard in­ review of past and present per­ cidents depicted to date, with forming. The crew was then FELTORE, Sept. 12 — Chair­ down his order for needed items. Delegate. W. Grant elected by a few assists from Jim asked if they did not think it man WUliam Fields; Recording The meeting asked Brother acclamation. There was general was time to call a halt to all of Lowney, but Brother Smith Secretary Jesse D. Baugher. A Thompson to explain the beefs discussion under Good and Wel­ this. is willing to forsake his few hours were reported dis­ on the ship to officials in the fare, One minute of silence in Several members took part in puted in the Deck Department. Hall. Minute's silence for de­ memoi-y of departed Brothers. monopoly on what takes discussion which resulted in the Under New Busine.ss, motions parted Brothers. place in the panels. S. & S, decision that examples would were made to check the ice MAIDEN CREEK, Sept. 13— have to be made of those guilty. Any Seafarers nursing boxes and storerooms before Chairman Frank Van Dusen; Re­ The first offender, totally in com­ ideas which might prove in­ leaving port, to ask the Captain cording Secretary H. Vickery. petent in his work, .was fined $15 teresting and humorous to in "post the slopche.st pricfe list, Minutes of Sept. 5 were read with the understanding that he the -membership can bring and for the Ship's Delegate to and accepted. Delegate's reports leave the ship. them to life in the LOG by get copies of the Ore line agree­ were made and accepted. Under 5, 5. submitting their ideas to Two other men held guilty of ment. C. L. Omohundro was WILLIAM SEATON, Sept. 5— New Business motion carried lesser offenses were fined $5. Eddy Snuth, SEAFARERS elected Ship's Delegate. Engine Chairman Burnstine; Recording that the repair list be accepted LOG, 51 Beaver Street, New The crew went on record as Delegate, Bill Thompson spoke Secretary P. S. Parker. The after corrections and additions. York. N. Y. being all out in favor of eli­ briefly on the Taft-Hartley Law Delegates reported all membere Motion that the slopchest be minating performing, and de­ You don't have to be a pointing out that it was intended in good standing. Under New checked for prices, sizes, and cided that heavy fines would be cartoonist, or even a rea­ to break the Hiring Hall and Business there was a motion by quality for the benefit of the exacted against those who broke sonable facsimile. Just jotthe Union. He then discussed W. Grant and seconded, by oncoming crew, and that the old the ship's rule. The crew en­ 4own the idea in -Mquence the shortage in dishes, and the James Cox that Delegates draw cigarettes be replaced with fresh dorsed the principal of a clean and send : it along. ' Then ' need for new mattresses; and up a repair list.. Motion by ones. Motion that sheets of cor­ ship. - The action-»f the mieeting watch the LOG for the re-^: asked the Steward to inform the A» H al m.e s and seconded by rect size frr mattresses be. 'or- was signed by the Delegates and • suits. crew when the company turned j John Messick' to elect a Ship's all full bobk members present. {Conthi-aed -on Page 9) ' • 'vV--- I Lownsdale Men Knuckle Down Performers Gagsters Wanted Digested Minutes Of SiU Ship Meetings �THE SEAFARERS LOG FridAir, Morember 12, 1948 Page Nine Minutes Of A&G Branch Meetings In Brief (Continued from Page 8) dered. The Deck Department recommended that any overtime collected for the Mate working on deck be turned over to the Day man. Vote of thanks given the Cooks. t, i, CAPE MOHICAN. Sept. 5— Chairman Tuczowski; Record­ ing Secretary Robinson. The Deck Delegate reported minor beefs, and stated that low men would get more overtime. The Engine Delegate and Stewards Delegate, Brother Tresnick. re­ ported no beefs, members in good standing. Brother Tuczow­ ski was elected Ship's Delegate under New Business. Motions carried to paint out the laundry and fix the washing machine. Under Good and Welfare the Ship's Delegate was asked to check the laundi-y for cleanli­ ness every day, the watch was -a.sked to leave the messroom clean at night; and the 8-12 OS was instructed as to his sani­ tary duties. One minute of sil­ ence for departed Brothers. XXX NEW LONDON. Sept. 3— Chairman W. Lawton; Record­ ing Secretary Edward Vilbert. Previous minutes were ac­ cepted. It was reported that the letter referring to miscon­ duct of Cooks' had not yet been sent, and that the Pumpman's beef had been settled. The Delegates reported on standing of membership. Motion carried under New Business that the Ship's Delegate ask the Captain to write a letter for each man registering for the draft. Mo­ tion to have the Ship's Delegate send ^a radiogram to the Hall to request an organizer to come aboard in Jersey. Under Good and Welfare there was discus­ sion of the failure of milk and bread to be brought aboard in Texas. Chairman Lawton spoke on the $10 General Fund As­ sessment. Minute of silence for lost Brothers. to clean the lounge, the Engine Department to take care of the laundry, and the Stewards De­ partment to take care of the pantry. The Sanitary man in the Engine Department was asked to keep quarters clean, and the Steward volunteered to furnish cleaning gear. One minute of silence for lost Brothers. i X tROBIN TRENT. Sept. 28— Chairman George Allen: Record­ ing Secretary George Leidemann. Old business included reading of previous minutes, and report by Stewards Department Delegate on minor beef that would be turned over to Patrol­ man. Under New Business mo­ tion by Curt Nelson and sec­ onded by Bosun J. Sensor to check stores that are condemned. Motion by Ira Myers to have innerspring mattresses put aboard for entire crew. Seconded by F. Townsend. Carried. Mo­ tion by Steward, seconded by G. Allen, to move Cooks to second deck. Motion lost. Discussion under Good and Welfare in­ cluded repair list, cleaning foc'sles before leaving ship and issuance of linen. One minute of silence for Brothers lost at sea. nrvM/'r Sept. e \ OA r-u • MS PONCE. 24—ChairSTEEL DIRECTOR. Sept. 19 '"a" Switzer; Recording SecChairman William E. Logan; T- Nelson. The Deck Recording Secretary James R. Delegate reported a beef pendMurran. The Engine Delegate' upon arrival. Motion under recommended' that action be New Business that the Union be taken against crewmembers informed that the Deck Delegate, guilty of actions unbecoming a J- Henault. has carried out" his Union Brother. Motion carried responsibilities to the satisfacunder New Business that PO t">n of the crew, and _that he Messman put in '12 hours for trouble with the Captain is the the Third Mate painting his result of a personal grudge. Mo­ room. Motion that anyone drunk tion by Hernandez that if the at payoff be fined $50. Motion Captain tries to hard-time the Delegate, the articles be termi­ that Patrolman be asked to nated in Ponce and suitable ac­ speak to Chief Mate about the tion taken. Under Education, medical attention given un­ Brother, Sullivan asked that licensed men. Under Good and copies of new agreements be put Welfare there was discussion on on board, and that bulletin board the feeding of extra persons in and rack for Union literature be the crew messroom in foreign placed aboard. The repair list poi-ts, and on the repair list. One minute of silence for Brothers was discussed, under Good and Welfare. One minute of silence lost at sea. for lost Brothers. SANTOBE. Sepi. 26 —Chair­ man G^rge Hose; Recording Secretary Paul Lawrence. Dele­ gates reported on the standing of members in their departments. Accepted. Under New Business motion carried to recommend Bpsun Cqmelius Moll for a full book, Five bbokriien agreed to sign his rfeicdmmendation. Under Gopd giid Welfare it was arraitgdd for the Deck Department XXX AFOUNDRIA, Oct. 6 —Chair­ man Edward Szarlhe; Recording Secretary R. Lauger. No beefs were reported by the Delegates. Motion under New Business that all overtime be squared away with the Delegates, and that no one go to the department heads to argue their overtime as that is a Delegate's job. Carried. Mo­ tion by the Electrician, seconded by E. Szarythe that a standard brand of syrup, such as Karo, be carried next trip. The meeting went into Good and Welfare where the Deck Delegate, Augie Zazzaro, suggested that all laun­ dry be hung in the laundry room to dry. Guidry and Coralty asked that it be hung outside of the recreation room. The Steward's Delegate. Rafael Padilla asked that the crew cooperate in keep­ ing thg crew's messroom clean. One minute of silence for Broth­ ers lost at sea. X X X THOMAS CREl AP. Oct. IDChairman Cau<-ey; Recording Secretary Kuhn. Brotiier Wagner was elected Ship's Delegate. Mo;;^ tion under New Business that the New York Public Healtii Department be asked to make : rat survey of the ship. Motion carried to have the medicine and slopchests checked by the Dele­ gates and Patrolman upon ar­ rival. General discussion fol­ lowed under Good and Welfare. One minute of silence for lost Brothers. MEWTRANSPOOTATION RULE. (S UP FOR, RE-EXAMIMATIOM BYTHE MEMBERSHIP. A FEW WEEKS AGO Vot; WERE ASKEPYCJUR OPlNlOM C?F THE PROPOSED UNIFORM REG­ ISTRATION RULES .SINCE ADOPreoBY ALL. BRANCMES . IN ORDER. It) GET THE MEMBER­ SHIP'S SUGSESTIOAJS AdDRECo^^.MEA/piUlOltS BEFORE T; i .MA : rER WAS SlyBAAlTTEpTb COA^TWiOE. VOT^- A/OWl ,TWE-rR4»JSfD|ZTAnOAj G?0ESricW IS SURiilT'tHD T&R VoUR. ClFllJlO^;. IF MAVESOAI^TH/A/GIb •SEND IT ifJ. TH/NK Witi. HAVE Aft/ BFFECroWTHE PiNAL DlSPOSlTlO/U CFlHE PROBLEM. CUT and RUN By HANK XXX JEAN LAFITTE. Sept. 26— Chairman Smith; Recording Sec­ retary Roy Gilmore. Brother Charles Busch elected Ship's Delegate. Under Old Business the previous minutes were read and accepted. The Ship's Dele­ gate was instructed to take up the matter of an adequate sup­ ply of cigarettes with the Cap­ tain. The Delegates reported on the standing of the members. Under New Business, motion , carried to have the domestic ! tanks cleaned and cemented and lines cleaned. Under Good and Welfare, Brother Busch stated that he had taken up the matter of candy in the slopchest with the Port Captain, and found that the shortage was due to hot weather. It was decided that if the Deck Department didn't find time to paint the Stewards De­ partment quarters the non-food handlers in the Stev/ards Depart­ ment would do it. One minute of silence for departed Brothers. 4, 4. S. GOVERNOR GRAVES. Oct. 3 —Chairman Frank Albore; Re­ cording Secretary L. Nicholas. Previous minutes and Delegates' reports accepted. Motion carried under New Business that a joint repair list be drawn up by De­ partmental Delegates. Motion that no one pay off till all beefs ar? settled and the ship cleaied by the Patiolman. Under Good and Welfare it was suggested that the libi-ary be changed, and that everyone staj"^ sober at the payoff. One minute of silence in respect for depaited Brothers. XXX JOHN B. WATERMAN. Sept. 9 —Chairman L. Mclnnes; Record­ ing Secretary Charles Peters. The Deck and Engine Delegates reported considerable disputed ovei-time. There was no New Business. Under Good and Wel­ fare the repair list was checked. Under discussion it was asked that more ice cream be served, and that caimed ham and a bet­ ter brand of coffee be made available for night lunch. It was suggested that an adequate sup­ ply of DDT be put on board. One minute of silence for departed Brothers. Gtood shipping is still hitting our town. Regular company ships, the new tankers and the many orgcuiizing jobs which the membership have quickly taken have been coming through with the goods. When the West Coast strike is settled soon there'll be many SIU ships moving again out there—with, we hope, enough SIU men available for every one of them. Meanwhile, the East Coast AFL longshoremen strike, we feel, won't last longer than two weeks. (Hope we won't have to take the rope—like Roper—on this.) Brother John Campbell just sailed in from a trip... Accord­ ing to their letter dated October 24, Brothers Paul Gay, Vasco Baucom and Thomas Freeland are on the beach in Port Said, Egypt, receiving hospitalization, and appreciating the fact that they had a few September-dated LOGS to read... From Galves­ ton, Texas, Seafarer Thomas. Walker, who says he's following in his father's footsteps, has requested to receive the weekly LOG so his father, a pro=union man and a sailor way bade before the 1904 Baltimore fire, can read of the seafaring life as it is today. XXX Last week Brothers Steve Carr and Joe Clurman were plenty happy that so many labor-hating Tafl-Hartleyites re­ ceived their much-deserved unemployment papers—thanks to the votes of the members in labor unions... Here are some of the oldtimers who may still be in town: A. Williams, A. Costa. W. Philip. Nathan Robertson. J. Naylor, E. Steele. D. Jessup. Charles Patraiker, L. W. Ball. A. Dudde. C. Burns, T. Toohy. E. Robinson, Fredrick Miller. T. Gilham. R. E. Jackson, M. Sterne. Guy Whitehurst, C. Jurewicz and George Brazil. Here nre a few more new sea novels. The Restless Voyage :y Stanley Porteus, published by Prentice Hall, $2.75 ... Mysteries and Adventures Along the Atlantic Coast by Edward Snow; Dodd, Mead Co., $4.00... On November 15 the Barnes Company will publish A Treasury of Sea Stories compiled by Gordon Aymar, illustrated by Rockwell Kent, containing fictional and factual nautical stories... The following brothers will be receiving the weekly LOG free of cost to their homes: John Lunn of Pennsyl­ vania, Barney Swearingen of Florida, James Ray of North Caro­ lina, John Dixon of California, Edward Carton of Florida, Harold Bullock of Pennsylvania. News Item. Washingfon—Gonorrhea can now be prevented by taking a single pill of penicillin within a few hours after exposure. Dr. Harry Eagle of the National Insiilutes of Health. U.S. Public Health Service, reported... Commenting on this we'll say that shipboard medicine chests should be furnished with these pills in great quantity. We believe, however, it may take years and lots of red tape before this newly-devel­ oped treatment can be made available to freighter medicine chests. We may be wrong. Steps may have been taken, or will be taken, to provide the ships of our merchant marine with such penicillin pills. J. -v' . �Paire Ten T HE SEAF AR ERS LOG Fridtir, November 12, 1948 THE MraiBERSHIP SPEAKS Crew, Like Filly^lieu Bird, Only Knows Where It's Been Jack Of All Trades Noonday 'Sun' Not Bright He's Port Engineer's Son the Captain Bligh days of long To the Editor: idainfully. That is all they got ago. The only way that you can "Heyday" is everyday aboard make another trip on the Noon­ 'out of him. After reading in the LOG of the SS Noonday! day is to get on the good side Now our main purpose in writ­ Red's story of the "Mission to of the Oiler on the 4 to 8—then Upon coming aboard the Noon­ ing this letter is to find out if the Far East," we find we have something can be done to remedy he will give his permission. day in Orange, Texas, the gang /just about the same conditions this situation. But should you be a good began asking for the usual in­ aboard this scow, the SB Michael, Union man and a true Seafarer, formation about how this is, and you are put on the list as ex­ HANG OVER BEEFS as prevailed aboard Red's Mis­ how that is. They were quickly pendible. This Oiler has been on sion San Fernando. This ship is a Carras tanker informed that this was this, and the Noonday for three years, and From the beginning of this with offices in New York. Al­ that was that. . he thought he could run things trip we have had the same old though we, the Deck and Engine And this is what was what:.- till the eagle-eyed boys from mystery as to where we were Delegates, joined the ship in Beware of the Mate, for he is a Galveston arrived and hell began going, where we were at. It sure Galveston, she is from New York very dangerous fellow. He will to pop. has fouled up the messroom navi­ and had quite a few beefs on come into a room and beat gators. As to asking any of the her from the previous trip to WANTED PAY hell out of the gang if they . Mates for any of this informa­ Montreal. The Galveston Patrol­ don't walk a chalk line. And The first to get fired was tion, a guy might just as well man told us that this company please remember that a fair-eyed "Cornbread" the Chief Electri-. was still imder the process of duck his head in a bucket of salt Jerry DeMeo, recently of water. You'd get the same satis­ being organized. the SS Evangeline, is a hsmdy Oiler and a couple of other boys cian. He was eagle-eyed and not faction. Things are getting out of con­ man to have around in a pinch. will tell the Chief Engineer blue-eyed. The Chief did not However, our main beef at the trol because of the Captain's During a trip aboard the everything that goes on among like him because he wouldn't work for nothing. Next to be . present time is all this mystery policy of causing dissension Evangeline. Brother DeMeo the crew. fired was the Delegate, because If you feel like talking about about our mailing addresses. among the crew, his failure to pinch-hitted as telephone op­ he took care of Union beefs in . About ninety percent of us are extend the common courtesy of erator during an emergency. th& way things are run, remem­ proper fashion. Then came married men and have families giving us a mailing address, and On the articles he was listed ber that the Chief Engineer hap­ Charlie and Bill, the Wipers, or girl friends that we would like his cynical and oppressive atti­ as AB. He's handy in the pens to be the Port Engineer's son. He is' a slave driver from who crossed the blue-eyed Oiler. Engine Room, loo. to hear from occasionally. tude. We fear that if this trip lasts We are leaving Rotterdam toThe only boys that were able • day, according to the sailing much longer, morale will be to make another trip were the Of ' board, and are bound for the broken down altogether. blue-eyed boys. The Chief made • great vmknown. The Delegates course we are hoping for a I am an ardent reader of the To the Editor: the remark that any man who were instructed by the crew to short trip and a signed agree­ SEAFARERS LOG and, by this . find out from the Captain, if ment with this company. I am taking the time to write knowledge of your official publi­ bothered Brother Sanchez was possible, a definite mailing ad­ Our ship's meetings are being and thank you sincerely for bothering him, and that he had cation, I feel a kinship with your dress. , After they had stated held regularly in addition to fired more than one crew for try­ their business to him, he simply educational meetings. We have the solidarity your Union and its Union. Therefore it makes me ing to pull him off the ship. Of leaned back and laughed dis- tried to work out and rectify membership are showing in help­ feel good inside to hear about your answering an appeal for course to lose him would be to our problems through the me­ ing my International union in its help. Thanks again. lose his source of information. dium of these meetings; but un­ time of need. This letter is being written So beware of Marcine Langley, My International has a proud der the circumstances there is not much more that we can do, record of assisting others and I with the approval of my Local's Chief Engineer of the SS Noon­ day. He will drive hell out of and not much chance to settle know that all officials of the entire membership. Martin Rose, President you unless you have blue eyes. things through the department AFL and other branches of our Local 396. ILGWU Cornbread MacCormaek great Labor movement have a heads. > To the Editor: Oswego, N. Y. similar record. Bill Quinn Right now we are having quite After having spent five years a few beefs that' will have to as an officer in the Merchant wait until we get back to the THREE MEN, THREE DEPARTMENTS ON THE SEATRAIN HAVANA Marine, I was enraged to hear the anti-miion propaganda being states. spread over the college campus C. L. Davie of the University of MassachuC. J. Quinol setts against maritime labor. J. R. Gordon I am now a senior at the Uni(Ed. Note: A contract has • versity, and have chosen the been signed with this com­ maritime Hiring Hall system as a topic for -a lengthy editorial pany.) aimed at nullifying the one^ sided views expressed by a - majority of the faculty. Since I LIKEB MEDICAL have not been sailing recently, I AID RECEIVED have lost many contacts with IN BALTIMORE the industry and former ship­ mates. Thus I am writing you To the Editor: for some of your publications ' and any statistical data that I I was in the Marine Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland for two can use in such an editorial. One of the seamen's unions' months. I would like to tell the most serious enemies 'today is a membership through the med­ mis-informed public. I hope, by ium of the LOG of the excellent • clearly displaying our side of the treatment I received. picture, to eirlighten this public There was never a time that ' concerning pre-union treatment the nurses hesitated to come of seamen, and to contrast this when I called. Everything pos­ with their status at the present sible was done to hasten my re­ time. I intend especially to em­ covery. When a man is sick and phasize the non-partisan policies needs help, it means everything of the Hiring Hall. to feel that the doctors and Any help you can give me nurses take an interest in him would be deeply appreciated. .. instead of in how much money he has—as might possibly be Robert Norwood the case in a private hospital. (Ed. Note: Union educational I appreciate the opportunity of literatxire and copies of the telling of the good treatment I Representing three departments on the Seatrain. Havana are Glen Vinson, OS, tightening LOG are being sent to Mr. received. a brake on a freight CM; J. Johnson, FWT, knob-twirling in thq engine room: and J. Hutchins, Clyde Baumgardner, Sr. StewMd, just posing on the Seatrain pier in Edgewater, N. J. Pics sent in by Brother Vinson. Norwood with our best wishes.) To the Editor: Garment Local Prexy Thanks SIU f Elequests Data To Rebut Anti-Labor Dogma On Campus I �Friday. NoYdmBer 12, 1948 THE.SEAFARERS FOR THE ATLANTA FROM THE ATLANTIC LOG Page Eleven Practical Jokes Of Allen Officers Find Cool Audience Among Crew To the Editor; While the Isthmian ship Atlanta City was "flying down to Rio" recently a trolling line brought forth the fine porpoise specimen being displayed by the crew. All agrin over their catch, the men are, kneeling — Tony Aligara, Utility; Pat Cain, OS; Jesus Fernandez, 2nd Cook. Back row — Sam Cessna, AB; Jim Hicks, FWT; Red Baron, AB; William Mellow, Deck Eng.; L. Armentano, OS; L. Piker, Jr. Eng.; W. Brewer, Chief Cook. Log-A-Rhythms The Life For Me By BILL GILSTRAP Love there's been and lust enough and bitterness and lying; Hard roads and stony ways I think it was he trod. But all there is to hear now is the low waves sighing, And the whispering winds that makes the sea-grass nod. Perhaps she knew enough of hate to need the thought of dying; She swam alone at twilight out beyond the breakers rim. Her dirge is the fluted driftings of a seagull's crying, The gurgling tidepools tone her funeral hymn. Yes, joy there's been and flaming scorn and loneliness and trying; Now she drifts in coral gardens, dreamless and deep. Her chalice, the moving water-weeds, the ebb tides' plying; The searing grief's forgotten and all that's left is sleep. Reports Jean As 'One Swell Ship' The Summary To the Editor: By FRANK BOYNE Sing hi! sing ho! for the briney deep. You can keep your cattle and keep your sheep; Yes, keep your farms with their rustic charms; The life for me is in Neptune's arms. It's the deep blue sea for me. Out on the sea where the breeze is fair, Where the tang of salt permeates the air. And the gulls fly high in the azure sky, \7here the ocean swells go rolling by. This is the life for me. ^ With the scintillating stars at night, God's patterns ever shining bright. The silvern dust of the milky way. And the soft moonlight on the waters play. God's work for all to see. Out here you know there's a God above; In the rays of the sun is the warmth of his love. How oft have I itood as the night turned to dawn, And watched overawed as a new day was born. Out here on the sea. You can talk of nostalgia for your home and hearth, Whilst I travel on to the ends of the earth; To the north, to the south, to the east and the west, With the gentle heave of old Neptune's breast. I'll feel forever free. 4, ; I. . .^1.1 I want to warn our Brothers I Flitting a shell in the cham­ who pull into the city docks in ber he took a shot at what he There was never a dull mo­ Houston to watch themselves at I called a sea hawk, then leaving ment aboard the Isthmian ship, night, as seamen have been hav- j the shell in the chamber he I. William H. Allen. It was a hec­ ing trouble here for quite a long started to spin it. Suddenly he put the gun against his temple tic and hilarious trip from the time. and pulled the trigger. He scared One of the ABs did not make time we signed on her in March the hell out of his .wife all right the ship in New Orleans, and till we paid off in the Gulf on as a result we sailed all the for she thought it was loaded. September 17. way to Bombay shorthanded. Al­ Later on when I thought of the We left a drydock in Balti­ though we could have picked incident I wished it had been. more for Tampa and the Gulf up a man in Alexandria, the We were required to steer bridge in all to load. In Houston we had our Captain stated that he had no from the flying kinds of weather. The only over­ first serious trouble. Four of the intention of doing so. head protection we had all the Deck Department were jumped RUSSIAN ROULETTE way to Bombay was a torn-up by a bunch of jerks who worked The Skipper seemed to be a canvas, although it rained nearly them over with lengths of chain. As a result W. Edwards, Afe, and pretty good guy up till the all the time. Robert French had to be hos­ time we left the States, then we A TORRENT pitalized. Edwards had six or really got a rude awakening. eight stitches taken in his head, He delighted in shooting at sea It rained so hard one night and French had to check in the gulls. His wife was on board that Edwards had to stand in Galveston Marine Hospital with all the way down the coast, and front of the gyro repeater in or­ a broken jaw. The otjjer two on one occasion he came up on der that Davies, who was on the boys only suffered a few bruises the bridge with his .38. wheel, could see it. We could not move down below as the Captain had taken the wheel off to prevent the Mates from doing just that in foul weather. Going through the Dead Sea it was blistering hot. I had my cot on number three hatch. Someone threw ice cold water on me from the bridge. Looking up I saw the Captain, Chief Mate and Purser looking down and laughing. Since the Purser was the practical joker aboard, I thought he had done it, so I cussed him out. The Old Man yelled down, "Look out, boy! We have a log book on this ship!" This statement was followed with more water being thrown on me. As I was perspiring free­ ly in the heat, and the water was like ice, it sure woke me up. As my linen was soaked by this time, I tore it off the cot and went to the Steward and demanded dry linen. The Stew­ ard gave it to me and went to the Captain and blew his top about the moronic sense of hu­ mor of the so-called officers and gentlemen aboard ship. Later I W. W. Bunker, Fireman on Ihe Isthmian ship William H. found out that the Skipper was Allen, shows off his eight foot playmate. Shot was by Jerry the one who had thrown the Lonski, the only one who was brave enough to venture near. water. Ship was in Calcutta at the time. JAMMED UP This is the score, boys: On my tropical run to San Juan, Puerto Rico I met some of the boys on the beach. My desire was to join them and say hello to the gals. But when I registered at the Hall I saw the SS Jean on the board calling for two ABs. JUST MARRIED^ WANTS BRIDE TO READ LOG To the Editor: My folks have been receiving the LOG regularly and enjoy it very much. They save all the issues for me till I get home. Just recently, however, I've got­ ten married; so I wish you would have the LOG sent to my new address in.Pontiac, Michigan. I truly wish you could meet my wife, for she is a very fine person. I know she'll enjoy reading the LOG. Well, I hope to be on the coast shipping out soon. Dwaine Lassen (Ed. Note: The LOG is being sent to your new address as you request.) The Piurser got himself in quite a jam in Bombay w'hen ' The 9:00 o'clock call came and he attempted to peddle 4 guns 'and 415 rounds of ammunition. no one took the jobs. - Red Mich­ The man he contacted to do ael told me, "Here's the job for business with happened to be a you!" As he always does, he cop, and the local papers made twisted my arm, and I took the quite a story out of it. They job. One of my buddies, Eliseo stated that over 200 men posing Santiago, who came off a Water­ 'as tally clerks' and stevedores man ship with me, told be he in the raid netted four pistols would go with me and so he did. with 415 rounds of ammunition, My first meal on the ship was one rifle with 150 shells (this reaUy a joy. The Chef told me was the Skipper's), and one other not to be scared to eat, and so I i weapon (which, so help me, was dug in. His grub has so much I the Steward's air-rifle), and a flavor that if one is in a hurry quantity of cosmetics. he will bite his finger-s! If you According to the stories in the fellows want to get fat for the papers it looked as though they holidays and pick up some were going to put the Purser change for your pockets, join the against a wall and see how much SS Jean. lead they could pump into him. The boys elected me Deck The trial came up the 25th of Delegate. I had a chat with the June when we were at sea. Up­ Mate and he is a swell guy to on arrival in Calcutta we fouT«i get along with if you use a fair that he had received a fourapproach. The Old Man gives us month sentence. all the cigarettes and money we He got out in three months want. though. I saw him later in Bal­ She has a fine crew in all De­ timore. He had no words of love partments. . Right now the Mate for his fellow officers for whom has offered to cooperate in hav­ he had taken the rap, as several ing the ship made ship-shape. of them had been in on the deaL Join the SS Jean. You can't go They knocked the Purser while wrong. he was in the clink and even Ivon Vante drank his beer. Deck Delegate Jerry Lonski !i �THE SEAFARERS Pag* Twalve Seafarer Attending School Finds Faculty Needs Union LOG Friday. Ne*«tnlMr 12, 1948 Ilie Glad Hand one of our club meetings she was damning organized labor to • ^ Well, I got myself an oar, the point that even Joe Stalin threw it over my shoulder, and would have given her a nod. I headed inland. As I was travel­ don't mind telling you that I ing through the fair little town let her have it with both bar­ of Moccassin Bend a local yokel rels. I am expecting to be asked me what it was. Driving labeled a communist any day the blade of the oar down into now. the ground I grasped his hand Speaking of the coming elec­ and said, "Howdy, neighbor! This tion, I know each and every is the place I've been looking member is awaiting the outcome. for." But what ever it may be, I Getting away from the sea know the SIU will hold a true I am here in Chattanooga going course. to school. Yep! I decided to During my career at sea I take up my GI Bill of Rights, served nearly three years in the as I used to be in the Navy. Navy and two-and-a-half in Hie Whether it's a soft shoe You might say I am getting my Merchant Marine. During nearly danc^e or the beginning of a book learning so I can be a big- eighteen months of that time I glaff hand routine, nobody shot someday. But that is not was a member of the Union. The knows. Anyhow, it gave Char­ the reason for this letter. SIU taught me more of the Here in the southern blue benefits of a democracy than all lie Ferret, Assistant Electrician ridges, where the air is almost the history books written since on the Alcoa Patriot, a reason for having his picture taken. as fresh as a sea breeze, I miss Plato. Shot '^as by Harry Thompson, xny SEAFARERS LOG and the AS A MAN Fireman on the ship. news about all the good guys In closing I will say that I that I once sailed with. Maybe if I had my LOG I could go met the best that America has SEAFARER IN ARMY down to the Tennessee River, to offer in the SIU. There you ASKS SHIPMATES •which is close by, and feel a are accepted upon the basis of little bit at home once again. what you are as a man, and not TO DROP A LINE Besides I need the LOG to sup­ how thick your pocketbook is To the Editor: port the many arguments that or what side -of the tracks you I haven't been receiving the come from. I have here in school. LOG for quite sometime, so The school teachers are pre­ Now I am turning from the perhaps you did not get my dominantly anti-union. Instead sea to seek an education. I be­ change of address. of admitting that they are gross­ lieve it is rightly mine, and that As you know I'm in the army. ly underpafd for their services— it should be available in a like I volunteered in June because I for reasons that I attribute to manner to all of you. didn't have very much hope sheer ignorance—they cling to I would like to know if it is that the merchant seamen would the idea that they're just the still possible to obtain all of the be deferred, and I joined in or­ forgotten cream of aristocracy. SEAFARERS LOGS in book der to get it over with. All they need is a damn good form. If so please let me know Since being in the army I democratic Union to represent as soon as possible. have gone quite a long way. I Keep a sharp look-out, g. true will attend OCS (Officers Can­ them. course and steady as she goes! didate School) about the first of NO ORGANIZER Jim McGuffin 1949. Please ask any of my old (Ed. Note: If you -will send shipmates who may read this Don't get me wrong though. I'm not up here trying to or­ your address we wiU put you to write me and let me know ganize the teachers of the State on the mailing list for the how everything is going out on of Tennessee. But topics on la­ LOG. As to back issues: Bound the deep blue sea. bor and management crop up volumes back through 1946 are My present address is. Lead­ now available at $2.50 each. ers Course, 23rd Arm'd Engin­ very often in a classroom. Just- a little incident that hap­ They are boimd six months to eers Bn., 3rd Arm'd Division, pened here last week will serve the volume, which makes live Fort Knox, Kentucky. as an example. With the ap­ volumes in alL and can be Alvin L. McDowell proaching national election, we obtained by writing the LOG •are holding a dummy election office, 51 Beaver Street, Ne-where on November 2 to see who York 4, N. Y.) would be chosen for President. One of the teachers made a talk about our wonderful democracy, its rights, its benefits, and how high the standard of living is here compared to that of other governments. Yet a couple of days ago in To the Editor: Reports SS Beachcomber 'Launched' Front Texas Bar To the Editor: Asks Relief For Cramped San Juan Hall RETIRED, SIU MAN LIVING ON PRAIRIE :WANTS THE LOG To the Editor: ^ I am a retired Seafarer as of a few months back, and am now , Jiving on the prairie in Canada. I never hear any news about the seafarers I once knew; nor am I able to keep track of Union activities. Therefore I would like to have you send the LOG to me here. I will appreciate it very much as it is the only medium through which I can hope to keep track of what is going on. Glen Seeley Manitoba, Canada (Ed. Note: The LOG is on its way to the prairie.) ttcvoe Being a newcomer to the Port of San Juan, Puerto Rico I feel that other members who have never been to this Port are un­ aware of conditions at this Hall. It is no longer than the Dis­ patcher's office in New York. I want to call your attention to this matter as I feel that other members probably don't know about it unless they've been down here. Shipping is cer­ tainly good enough to warrant something better. As it is, there is no privacy for the pie-cards at all, no place to read without someone walking on your feet, no place to write a letter; in fact, it is impossible to relax in the Hall at all, as the chairs are all worn out. And, of course, there is not sufficient room to hold meetings. As I sit at the Agent's desk writing this, my chair is jammed against the toilet door. Everyone is doing the best he can with what he has, but I-can tell you we have damn little to do with! I hope you will pub­ lish this letter in the LOG, Aubry Thurrnan To Ihe Editor: tation. Victor Bonet, Third Cook off the Ponce, just flew in from Florida where he was in the hospital in Miami. A few of the Brothers have been flying down to San Juan to get a ship. They say ship­ ping's slower than slow in the big Atlantic ports. Shipping has been good all right down here; and from the look of things should be that way until Christ­ mas at least. Bill Barrett met his Brother, Bob, the other night in one of the ginmills. Bob piled off the One night last week, while enjoying a quiet beer in the Texas Bar, one of the young beauties sidled up to me and whispered in my ear that she was going to Washington to see President Truman and ask him to build a special ship for the San Juan Beachcombers. Accord­ ing to her specifications it would be some shipi. Well, I looked around and there were sixteen beachcombers in the bar, and each deck rating was present with a couple of members of the Stewards De­ partment as well. All were en-, joying a heave ahead, and I heard that most of them paid cash. "Red" Morgan was there and Walter Larson, Joe Henault, Tommy Chambers, Bill Thomp­ son, Johnny Dean, and T. Kato, to mention but a few. The boys are on the move again. "Whitie" Anderson just shipped out on the Monarch of the Seas, and Thompson on the Dorothy. Spurlock has almost shipped "Red" Morgan on the ship he was on, and now both Suzanne. He's been talking to brothers live at the Sanchez Morgan for an hour now — even Hotel in Puerta de Tierra. offered to buy his pots and pans. Special note:' Brother Spurlock Pat Dunphy looked the board failed in his attempts to ship over in the Hall and seeing no Brother Morgan, so Morgan can jobs sat bravely down to rest. still be found in his usual Tony (Chico) Gonzalez paid haunts. off the Jean and shipped on the Where oh where is the pretty Rosario as Bosun. His Brother, motor vessel Ponce? It' was ru­ Pablo, is Bosun on the Bull Line mored that she would be in San ship Kathryn. I saw Sal Colls, Juan about November 1. Now the Agent, pass—and I mean she has sli-ayed off again, and pass—the skid row yesterday. He nobody seems to know when didn't even see the boys! Red she'll get back to sunny Puerto Spurlock, after his day's work is Rico. done at the Hall, hies it home It looks like Sal Colls was to his shack in Catano. Tony right. I'll have a long wait if Viera, the San Juan Patrolman, I stick it out for the Ponce to is usually hoofing it up and down get back. Oh well, that's life! the waterfront covering the Keep her steady between the ships. You can bet the mem­ anchors. bership gets real SIU represen­ Woody Lockwood �THE SEAFARERS Friday. NovembM 12# 1948 LOG Page Thirieea Membership Comments Oh Transportation Rule t ; Says Principles Should Guide Stand On Rule To the Editor: HAPPY WITH THE WHOLE WORLD , >> / Since the Union rule call­ ing for men to take trans­ portation money and pile off after a trip ending in a port other than the payoff port went into effect, many opin­ ions pro and con have been expressed in the LOG and at membership meetings. On this page is a sampling of membership opinions. Arguments for and against the rule are given almost equal space. Brothers hav­ ing points to add on the sub­ ject are urged to write to the SEAFARERS LOG. ^ Several branches report that their shipping picture is de­ finitely being benefited by the operation of the transportation i-uling. They indicate that the job-turnover is speeded up a good deal. Anybody interested in job security must be pretty tickled to hear that. Of course, I realize that it is sometimes a real hardship for men to get off a ship before they have a stake made. But it is damn sure a hardship to be stuck on the beach with no jobs turn ing over and no money at all in your pockets. So it looks like it all boils down to this: No matter what we finally decide to do there's going to be hardship for somebody. A choice has to be made. In that case let's forget about the hardship for the time being and decide on principle. The ob­ vious principle at stake seems to be this: As a result of years of negotiating and Union action we have a transportation clause in our agreements which acknowl­ edges the responsibility of the company to get a man back to the area in which he shipped. STIFFEN FIGHT*""" If many members refuse their transportation money when it is offered to them, they will go on record as indicating that the transportation clause is not really needed, and will make it difficult in. future negotiations to retain the clause at all. That would please the com­ panies very much and beat the membership out of a lot of money in the long run. It looks to me like we had better keep our transportation ruling as it is, take our money and re-iegister. Gene Nowokunski Chico Erazo of the LaSalle, Waterman, seems to be at peace with the entire world as he takes it easy while his ship was in Manila recently. - Picture was taken by Ludovico Agulto. the "Manila Watch," who sent it to the LOG. Brother Agulto stated that he tried to reach Chico with the picture but the ship sailed early. It's in the LOG office if Brother Erazo wants to pick it up. Trinity Crewmen Ask Referendum To the Editor: After reading the LOG of Oc­ tober 8, we, the undersigned bookmembers, wish to protest the transportation ruling ac­ cepted by shoreside • meetings which provides that a man com­ ing in on a ship which pays off in an area other than the area of signing on must pay off and accept his transportation money. This was taken up at our ship­ board meeting. The crew was unanimously against it. We feel that this matter should be put on a ballot and voted on up and down the coast for 60 days by the entire membership. We feel that this practically cancels the vacation clause in our contract and that it lessens our job security. We would like to see other ships write in and express their views on the matter. Bookmembers of SS Trinity: J. W. McCaslin, Jack E. Kelly. James McFarlane. Wm. J. McLaughlin. Michael E. Buckley. Jxilian A. Tito, D. E. Prile, W. H. Lewis, E. Rydon, P. S. Shauger. Stanton Mar­ shall. Albert F. Vetis, Kasimir Puchalski. William Corey, Wil­ liam Bees. Robin Kettering Men Set Alcoa Partner Crew Feels Rule .. African Sun In Veldt Tilt Hurts Family Men To the Editor: nie Scialpi, third—Del Benedict, To Ihe Editor: We, the crew members of the SS Alcoa Partner, wish to go, on record that we do not agree with the transportation rule whereby a man has to get off his ship and take his transportation money.. We feel that a man is entitled to stay on his job as long as he is satisfactory and does his work. Not many seamen stay on a ship for a long period of time, but there is quite a large number of seamen who have responsibilities, such as large families, who can not afford to change ships often. Suppose a man ships out of the Gulf for a six-weeks trip and then pays off in New York, or an Atlantic Portr. He hasn't made enough money in six weeks to even pay his debts incux'red while he was on the beach wait­ ing for that job! Therefore, we wish to go on record as opposed to the new amendment to the present trans­ portation rider. * Signed by 32 members of the SS Alcoa Parlner AsksTime Limit Amendment To Help Men On Short Runs On the second voyage of this converted Navy Transport, the Robin Kettering, talent for the big leagues was uncovered while lying at anchor in the port of Dar-Es-Salaam. The African Sim of FarreU Lines sent our crew a challenge to a softball game. We readily accepted and proceeded to the field of battle. Of course all hands had been training rigorously on beer and bagels in these South and East African ports. We galloped on to the field and proceeded to warm up mrtil the time came to do battle. Already the African Sun had a list of conquests worthy of pride and confidence (including the Robin Mowbray, African Star, and a Canadian ship, all taken on in Durban. We were sceptical of the outcome, but we were deter­ mined to give them a battle that would make them work. With Bobbie Packert winging them in from the mound to Spotty Scott, we had the follow­ ing men in other positions: first base — Art Monceau, secondEddie Kroskie, shortstop—John­ shortfielder—A. D. Brown, right field — Frank Kuvakas, center— Joe Oi'lando (Second Assistant, who can really play baU, and helped us out to a fine victory), left field—Joe Stackowicz. Our substitutes to relieve the first of the early-winded were Hank Wirth Speedy Brownlee, and A1 (PiUs) Weber. YER OUT! A very fine job of umpiring was turned in by Bob Hum­ phries, who gave a fair decision on all plays of fast action. • The "heavy lumber work of Monceau, Stackowicz, Scailpi, Kuvakas, and Benedict put men on and aroimd the diamond to come up with an 11-8 victory over the African Sun. Everyone enjoyed the game in­ cluding the local residents, who watched from the sidelines. Good sportsmanship ^was shown by both sides, following the tilt, all went for a refreshing swim in the ocean made enjoyable by a cold brew after a hot day on the diamond. Del Benedict Pleased By Rule And Way Handled In Log, Meetings To the Editor: I have noticed in the LOG re­ cently much agreement with the present rule on Transportation. The membership seems to favor the idea that when a man has any kind of money coming to him from the shipowners — and specifically when they are en­ titled to transportation money— that they had better take it. That sounds pretty sound to me. What's a ship more or less be­ tween Seafarers? There'll al­ ways be another one—and if we keep the Transportation Ruling there wiU be more of them more often! But if you do give' any­ thing away, give it to a Union Brother; don't give it to the op­ erator! But aside from that, there is one thing that this debate over the Transportation Rule has highlighted, and which I im­ agine a lot of people who read the LOG besides the membership —including the operators—must have noticed, and that is the truly democratic process by which the Seafarers arrive at a decision on Union policy. BY MEMBERSHIP This Union is run for the mem­ bership by the membership. Most any organization, no matter how dictatorial, can be said to be run for the membership-^with the exception, perhaps, of some commie outfits which are run for Joe Stalin. But there ai-e not many that are run by the mem­ bership as the Seafarers is. On controversial question, equal space is given opposing opinions in the Union's paper. Things are certainly not rail­ roaded through the meetings. In fact, in -this case they are dis­ cussed in the LOG, as well as in the regular meetings, thereby giving as large a number of members as possible a chance to acquaint themselves with the question befoi-e any action was taken on it. Personally, I think we ought to take our money, protect our contract, and speed up shipping by retaining the present ruling. But > whatever happens I'll be damned well satisfied to go along with what I know will be the wishes of the majority when ac­ tion is taken. Waller Gardner To the Editor: Being a permitman I've long ago found out that my opinion counts very little when it comes . to a discussion of Union activi­ ties. And when it comes to shap­ ing Union policies, I count as nothing, lacking the chance to vote. But I do like to get my say in once in a while, and I fall back on the LOG when it comes to doing this. A great deal of pro and con comment has been heard lately about the new rule whereby a man receiving transportation money must pile off of the ship, whether he is a bookman or a permitman. I find a number of good things to say for this. Chief among these is the fact that it will create a greater shipping turn­ over, and in these times that we've all been putting up with in the last few months, that means a lot. There are those who will ar­ gue that in the interest of job security, which is what a union stands for, men should be al­ lowed to remain on the vessel. When there are only so many jobs, with men waiting to take them, then I think that it fur­ nishes greater security to get some of those jobs passed around among all of us. ASKS TIME LIMIT But the rule lacks something that would make it much better, and help every man affected by it. I think that there should be a definite time limit that a man can be allowed to stay on the ship before he must get off if he receives transportation money. Let us say sixty days. A sixty day time limit wiU cover him if he is on a Victory or C-ship running to Europe, for he can then make two trips in­ stead of one. This of course means that the ship might sign on in New York and then pay off in Mobile or New Orleans. Some will argue that the rul­ ing tends to nullify the vaca­ tion-clause in our contracts. Hav­ ing been on te.n. ships since be­ coming a permitman in the SIU, I've yet to run onto a single man on any of those ships who said that he'd been on for a year or was planning to stay on for a year in order that he might collect his vacation pay. Of course there are some men who have homesteaded ships for a year or more. But those men are to be found on the vessels that have a steady run to an exceptionally good port, such as Antwerp, Rotterdam and Bre­ men. I notice that the ships on such a run usually pay off in New York on the return voyage and then sign coastwise articles if they are scheduled to run along the coast and down to the Gulf to load. A good many men that I've talked to are in favor of the new ruling, and those men haven't been just permitmen in­ terested in shipping turnover. Bookmen have expressed the same favor for the rule. With modification, particularly in regard to a minimum time limit, the rule can be a very good one for the membership as a whole. V. D. HaU �T BE SEAFARERS Page Fourteen LOG Friday, November 12;~1948 Goodbye To The Eden By CAPT. R. J. PETERSON channel, in and out of the North Sea and the Baltic, she went from place to place, crawling in and out of the big ports like a bedbug, her belly full—making money for the rogues who had changed her flag and port of registry to disguise their true character. At the end of six months of busy runs that gave no rest to the crew, she came down from Archangel with timber, listing so badly that the high deckload sloped moi-e than the roof of a house. Day by day, she listed worse. We reached Bristol at last, our him in the foc'sle until he is no port of destination. It was sum­ mer and the season was over, longer wanted. and it was almost over for SS The old tramp was not a sea­ Eden, too. She entered the worthy ship. The rusty, boiler dock gates. The forward tug leaked and it took the life out gave a sharp, short pull, on the of the stoker to keep up the, To voice his discontent with the ship, the sailor would sing the chantey: "Oh, the times are hard, and the wages low!" Then the rest of the crew would join in the chorus: "Leave her, Johnny! Leave her!" But SS Eden was all right. She carried Aoal from Tyne to London and the crew, paid by the week, provisioned themselves and sometimes, going ashore to buy their stores, returned aboard with a bottle of rum and roar­ ing in chorus: with cushions, large table, easy ally to stop the escaping steam "Sixteen men on dead man's chairs. and yelled for assistance from chest! Amidship berthed the officers the Mates who, in their turn, "Yo-ho-ho! And a bottle of in bare rooms with barren at- yelled for the Bosun. rum!" mosphere, and slept in bunks He yelled for the sailors to It was too good to last. The with the mattress as flat as get the handy billy and go down freight went down and the Eden pancake. in the engine to lash the steam steam. The watch over, he ® We felt laid up; the joliy good ciew Forward, the foc'sle was a cylinder with wire. • forward, tottering about weakly, the shock. paid off, and scattered to the damp and dark hole that smelled "But we have no wire!" yelled with glazed eyes, a man in a From a crowd on dockside, four winds. like a cave on muddy foreshore the sailors. daze, ready to, drop. J i r u . people pointed fingers at us. A SS Eden lay, for two years, at low tide. "Then use ropeiy yelled the 111 equipped, the lifeboats were photographer rushed out from chained to a buoy near the Here, under low ceiling, the bosun. rotten and leaked, gone beyond ^he crowd and took pictures of muddy banks of Tyne, swinging men groped their way about, "But we have no rope, either!" repair. The man at the wheel, ! g were climbing up the to the tides, tugging at the chain their heads bent, like men in yelled the sailors. exposed to the weather on the high side of the deckload. We that, grinding in the hawser hiding. They slept in bunks that Cries of rage rent the air in unsheltered bridge, held on to heard a dock loafer laugh and pipe, sent up a low groan. Too resembled pauper's coffins. Nar­ darkness. The Eden was a mad­ the big wheel for his life lest he say: "Look at them sailors, go­ costly to be scrapped, she was row was their pjace, and here house in distress. She rolled be thrown over on his head. ing up the high slope like bloomabandoned, disowned, left to rot they lived, took their meager with rails awash and the forward She steered by hand and the in' baboons!" and rust—so it seemed. meals or sat in dog-watches or bell, that was cracked, struck That night we tied up the moved about, deprived of day­ with broken, throaty sound at gear with its drum and chain NEW OWNER were worn to the last and loose. ship, across the dock near the light. each roll, as if someone were Prisoners of the sea, that's choked. It was a relief when tiie On cross seas, the big wheel timber wharf; then all hands But, there came one day a kicked like a mule. The re­ went ashore to sleep. It felt crowd of workmen with tools what they were, these under­ engines began to chug-chug and lieved Helmsman came off the good to have a peaceful rest, to and went to work on the Eden dogs; but they were men indis­ she forged ahead, leaving a bridge holding on to the rail lay and relax and sleep in a like eager beavers, getting the pensable, men who knew toil wake behind. with strength exhausted in his soft bed, first time in more than ship ready for sea. In two weeks, and sweat, who could fire and arms—the hands stiff, cramped, six months. The Eden was no keep steam, or man the lifeboat, BELL TO BELL all fixed up and painted, she was lifeless. garden with a bed of roses. ready for business, and hoisted and weather the gale! Life on the Eden at'sea, went The SS Eden waddled along, The next morning we came on her gaff the flag of the new COVERED WITH COAL on from bell to bell. It went on run on the shoe string, en­ flown to the docks and found owner. in driving rain, in cold weather, gaged in cut-throat competition," the SS Eden lying on her side^ The crew, young fellows all, The S.S. Eden went under the snow and sleet—without pity, for the curse of the sea. Selfish and rtear the muddy bank, like a who signed on at half of the coal chute at night like a thief; poor Jack had to justify his greedy, she undercut the rates dead fish. prevailing wages in port, came on top of the tip, a rough man, presence aboard by long hours and denied to honest men the The Captain and officers let from the meanest crimp in town. who swore at every second word, of work and short sleep, and right to earn a decent living by out a howl of rage in chorus. A hard-up lot, they joined the pulled the lever and there was had to risk his limb and the sea. It made the rest of us chuckle Eden, each carrying a tin cup, a roar and rattle as a' black life for a pay of a peon, to keep Up and down the English with delight. a plate, a spoon, and a mattress stream rushed down the chute filled with shavings. like a torrent to fill the holds That was all they owned be­ to the combings and over. sides the clothes on their back, Sunrise found the ship's decks threadbare; and their shoes, covered under a pile of coal. She down on the heels. lay over, with an off-shore list, They owed, of course, the low in water as if sinking at the X~X~X~X~XK"XK~XK"X~XK~X~X~X~X~XK~X~X»*X-»X»<~XK«<«<~X-X~X*<~X~>-X«<*4HX«X"X":»^X"X**> crimp one month's pay in ad­ pier. The open bridge, painted SEA CHASE, by Andrew Geer; by Marlene Dietrich if "Sea this collection highly recom­ Harper & Brothers, 274 pages. Chase" makes the movies. vance; they had stayed in the white the day before, resembled mended reading for all hands. * • • S3.00. boarding house two weeks and now a charred house gutted by Seamen wHo read this yarn had lived on weak tea, bread, fire. The Eden was not a pleas­ probably will forgive the author A MOUSE IN THE UPLANDS, This is a first-rate adventure and on soup made of fish-heads. ant sight. by Erskine Caldwell, Penguin a few technical errors if, indeed, The Bosun, a long-armed shell­ Signet Books. 144 pages, 25 The greasy Cook, a young man story of war on the sea until you they notice them. Things move back with hooked fingers, went with pasty face, gave a smile, get toward the end where the that fast. cents. for his men and put them to showing his rotten and yellow author just puts together too * Those who read Caldwell work in a hurry; he had bought teeth. "De stores kom yust nu! many implausibilities in his ef­ MAN IN THE MODERN alone for his lively action, bi­ fort to make things work out to his job from the office, had paid He shouted. WORLD, by Julian Huxley. zarre characters, and low-down a moral climax. Obviously, Mr. for it a certain sum of money. Sailors and firemen, looking Penguin Mentor Books, 191 belly laughs—and such readers and was afraid to be fired and dike chimney sweeps, took aboard Geer has one eye on Hollywood include the most of us—^will be pages, 35 cents. lose his savings. some sacks of potatoes, a barrel and the other on the flag. pleased to find a strong, violent Then the Second Engineer of salt horse, a keg of salt herThis collection of 13 essays by story that grips the attention Just before the war bi-eaks out came to turn his men to. He rings, some hard tack, and a in September 1939, a rusty Ger­ an eminent biologist, who is and carries one straight through looked as though he had just case marked in fat letters fish- man tramp slips out of Sydney, Director General of the United to the end. In this respect it's crawled out of the bilges. He; balls in kraft." Australia. She is short of fuel Nations Educational and Security a good deal like a ""Western" wiped his face with a bit ofj "It'll give us the strength of and stores, but her Master, Cap­ Council, is highly informative in or a pulp mystery, and as such waste, entered the firemen's [ Samson!" someone shouted, tain Ehrlich, is an indomitable portions and downright contro­ is good reading. foc'sle, looked his men over, pointing at the case. "Fishballs! seaman .as well as a cold-blooded versial in others. However, those who • have then drove them to work. He, One ball a man and one potato!" monster. He is determined to found in Caldwell vital charac­ Outstanding is the "Uniqueness too, had bought his job. There was a laughter. But it reach Valparaiso, Chile, where he terization, proceeding swiftly of Man," which briefly but very The SS Eden carried but two was a cruel joke. toward a tragic climax (which, can get supplies, and then run readably traces human evolution. Engineers and two Mates and the British blockade into a Ger­ In spite of the great respect in being made to appear inevit­ BREAKDOWN they all, including the Steward able, packs social implication), man port. Huxley will command from his and the Master, had bought their as in such stories as "G,andy Man The next morning, the Eden After a fantastic layover at a readers, many will undoubtedly Beechum," will find little of that berths from the office and lived went to sea. She waddled from in fear of losing their jobs, los­ headland to headland, hugging forgotten Pacific island to take take is.sue with him on his here. on wood for fuel, the SS Ergen- theory of eugenics. Few of us ing their money. The corners are sharp, the the coast, afraid of big seas. are ready to give any group—strasse limps to Valparaiso. And characters are labelled, and the Sometimes, mostly at night, the MASTER'S CABIN even if they be well-intentioned engines would break down; and- she almost makes Germany, but biologists—the authority to plan action is forced. There is a de­ Aft, in a spacious cabin with for hours she would wallow the British get the ship and the cadent aristocrat who sleeps the world's population. • a large skylight, lived the Mas­ helplessly in the trough of the murderous Master off Norway. In with the colored maid, a weak ' Huxley, nonetheless, is inter­ wife, cringing near-slaves,, and ter like a lord. He enjoyed all seas like a log; while, in the a way, you're sorry, for you can't help admiring the old,man, esting in whatever he piit his a gun-fightin' finish. the comforts of a home—a large engine room, the steam kept Anyway, murderous brute that he is. pen tOi His vast fund of knowl­ it's diverting and those who saloon, old fashioned fireplace, hissing angrily like a large ser­ it mantelpiece, mirrors, varnished pent. . There's a woman in the stor;' edge, which he ably presents in start it will probably finish '• oak panels, fancy carvings, seats The Engineers worked frantic- who undoubtedly will be played the lingo of the laymen, makes before laying it down. BOOKS IN REVIEW . iJ, �vr^T^ng; r THE SEAFARERS LOG Friday, November 12, 1948 Page Fifteen Let's Look At The Law! Minutes Of A&G Bramh Meetings In Brief I*: "From the earliest times mar­ {Continued front Page 3) from Headquarters to support Meeting adjourned at 8:35 P. M. (Continued from Page 7) was obligated to the seaman if itime nations have recognized ence for departed Brothers. the March of Dimes was ac­ with 92 members present. his injuries occurred in his work that unique hazards, emphasized i Meeting adjourned with 215 men cepted unanimously. The Agent's aboard the ship. Injured gas- by unusual tenure and control, report and the Patrolmen's re­ PHILADELPHIA — Chairman, hounds, however, were chased attend the work of seamen. The present.. ports were accepted. The Dis­ D. C, Hall, 43372; Recording Sec­ physical risks created by na­ t 4. off the ship. patcher reported 272 registered, retary, Ray Gates, 25128; Read­ tural elements and the limita­ SAVANNAH — Chairman. C. Since the days of laws such tions of human adaptability to Starling, 6920; Recording Secre­ and 266 shipped. Motion carried ing Clerk, William Daniels, 23861. as this, hundreds of decisions unanimously under New Busi­ That part of the Savannah work at sea enlarge the narrow­ have been made and precedents er and more strictly occupation­ tary, J. Sellers; Reading Clerk, ness that all men entitled to New Business asking for issuing established which bear on spe­ al hazards of sailing and opera­ J. Chassereau, 34797, transportation shall take their The New Business for Phila­ money and get off the ship. Mo­ of books referred to the Direc­ cific cases under unusual cir­ ting vessels. delphia was non-concurred with. tion carried to non-concur with tor of Organization, and the rest cumstances. In the overall sense, "The restrictions which ac­ All other New Business of new registration rules. One min­ accepted. Other Branch minutes however, the rule is still as it company living aboard ship for Branches were accepted. The ute of silence for departed accepted. Special minutes of was hundreds of years ago. Branches posted. The Agent re­ long periods at a time combine In the United States, in addi­ with the constant shuttling be­ Secretary-Treasurer's weekly fi­ Brothers. Meeting adjourned at ported that out of five payoffs, tion to the responsibility of the tween unfamiliar ports to de­ nancial report was accepted. The 8:00 P. M. with 488 members four were tankers recently shipowner to furnish mainten­ prive the seaman of the com­ Agent reported shipping very present. brought into the. SIU by the Or­ ance and cure, marine hospitals forts ai\d opportunities for lei­ slow with plenty of men regis­ ganizers. The membership was t X t tered in all departments but no are provided the seamen. sure, essential for living and jobs to offer at the present time. SAN JUAN — Chairman, S. asked to take these jobs These do not relieve the ship­ working, that accompany most A payoff is expected for next Colls, 20185; Recording Secretary, promptly. Accepted. All com­ owner from his responsibility, land occupations. week which majr help some. H. Spurlock, 11101; Reading munications from the Secretarybut rather are available so the "Furthermore, the seaman's Heavy voting' has been going on Clerk, G. Litchfield, 44798, Treasurer were accepted. The seaman will be sure of having unusual subjection to authority in the election of officials for The New Business of all resolution to support the March care, should the shipowner fail adds the weight of what would 1949. Report accepted. The Dis­ Branches was accepted. Motion' of Dimes was accepted. Motion to give it and in the rarer cases be involuntary servitude for patcher reported 36 registered that all permitmen be excused' carried under New Business to to which the shipowner's obli­ others to these extraordinary and 19 shipped. No New Busi­ from the meeting to make room accept the new transportation gation does not extend." hazards and limitations of ship ness. In the general discussion for bookmen—carried. The Agent rules. The Secretary-Treasurer's financial reports and report to The whole matter of mainten­ life. under Good and Welfare, several the membership were accepted. ance and cure is summarized in "Accordingly, with the com­ Brothers spoke on the transpor­ The Patrolman's report was ac­ the United States Code, Title bined object of encouraging ma­ tation rule. One minute of sil­ cepted. The Dispatcher reported 46—Shipping, which reads: for departed Brothers. rine commerce and assuming the ence 123 registered, and 133 shipped. well-being of seamen, maritime Meeting adjourned at 8:30 P. M. Six men were Obligated. There nations uniformly have imposed with 45 members present. was general discussion under broad responsibilities for their t ^ t. Good and Welfare. One min­ health and safety upon the BALTIMORE — Chairman. A1 SIU, A&G District owners of ships. In this coun­ Stansbury, 4683; Recording Sec­ reported that shipping was al­ ute's silence for Brothers lost at sea. Meeting adjourned at BALTIMORE 14 North Gay St. try these notions were refiected retary, Red Clough, 3765; Read­ most too good to be true for a 8:15 P. M. with 100 members port-of-call, and that he ex­ William Rentz, Agent Mulberry 4540 early, and have since been ex­ ing Clerk, Dolar Stone, 1996. present. BOSTON 276 State St. panded, in legislation designed The regular order of business pected this to continue till after E. B. TiUey, Agent Wchmond 2-0140 secure the comfort and health was suspended while seven mem­ the first of the year. He asked i 4- 4" Richmond 2-0141 Dispatcher NEW YORK—Chairman, Lind­ of seamen aboard ship, hospitali­ men to stick around the Hall bers were obligated. A trial GALVESTON 308'/j—23rd St. was elected. The and take the jobs, as it was a sey Williams, 21550; Recording Keith AIsop, Agent Phone 2-8448 zation at home and care abroad." committee MOBILE 1 South Lawrence St. To bring the whole niatter Baltimore minutes, the Baltimore disgrace for ships to sail short- Secretary, Freddy Stewart, 4935; Cat Tanner, Agent Phone 2-1754 down to a dollars and cents financial reports, and the Secre­ handed while men with the re­ Reading Clerk, Jack Parker, NEW ORLEANS 523 Bienville St. reports quired ratings were on the 27693. E. Sheppard, Agent Magnolia 6112-6113 basis, it had been the practice tary-Treasurer's financial Minutes of previous meeting The action in beach. Action was taken on the NEW YORK 51 Beaver St. of companies until recently to were accepted. Joe Algina, Agent HAnover 2-2784 pay a man on maintenance and Philadelphia New Business on communication from Headquar­ accepted. Motion to non-c6ncui NORFOLK 127-129 Bank St. cure $3.50 a day—an amount set the transportation clause was ters asking for a story and pic­ with that part of Savannah New Ben Rees, Agent , Phone 4-1083 tures covering the Marine Hos­ Business authorizing issuance of PHILADELPHIA. . .614.16 No. 13th St. by the courts in hundreds of non-concurred, with and the rest pital, and a committee headed books, and to refer the matter to cases. was accepted. The Savannah Lloyd Gardner, Agent Poplar 5-1217 SAN FRANCISCO 85 Third St. The SIU, however, realizing New Business on the issuing of by the Agent was appointed to the Organizers. The rest of the Steve Cardullo, Agent Douglas 2-5475 that this was not sufficient for books to permitmen was non- take care of this. The new reg­ minutes were accepted. The res­ SAN JUAN, P.R 252 Ponce de Leon existence today, worked out a concurred with. The New Busi­ istration rules were accepted. olution to support the March of Sal Colls, Agent San Juan 2-5996 SAVANNAH 220 East Bay St. letter supplement with our con­ ness of other Branches was ac­ The communication from Head­ Dimes was accepted. The Secre­ Charles Starling, Agent Phone 3-1728 tracted operators wherein they cepted. The communications from quarters on transportation was tary-Treasurer's report to the TAMPA 1809-1811 N. Franklin St. pay men injured aboard their Headquarters were referred to discussed, and a motion carried membership and his financial re­ R. H. Hall, Agent Phone M-t323 ships $6.00 a day. New Business. The resolution to table action till the subject port were accepted. The Agent's WILMINGTON, Calif., had been fully discussed by the report was accepted. The Patrol­ 227 V4 Avalon Boulevard membership in all Ports and men's reports were accepted. The HEADQUARTERS. .51 Beaver St., N.Y.C. through the medium of the LOG. Dispatcher reported 542 regis­ HAnover 2-2784 SECRETARY-TREASURER The addresses and telephone The Patrolman's report was ac­ tered and 501 shipped. There LAWRENCE GIGLIO Paul Hall numbers of the 15 libraries main­ cepted. The Dispatcher reported was no New Business. There , NICHOLAS FAZIQ Dl^CTOR OF ORGANIZATION tained by the American Mer­ 55 registered, and 43 shipped. The was general discussion under Lindsey Williams Contact Attorney Ben Sterl­ chant Marine Library Associa­ shoregang shipping rules for the Good and Welfare. The transpor­ ASSIST. SECRETARY-TREASURERS ing, 42 Broadway, New York, tion are listed below. If you Port of San Juan which had tation clause was discussed pro Robert Matthews J. P. Shuler concerning the settlement of your want a free ship's library, tele­ been posted in the HaU were ac­ and con. One minute of silence Joseph Volplan case. phone or visit the AMMLA of­ cepted unanimously. One min­ for departed Brothers. Meeting ute of silence was observed in adjourned at 8:20 P. M. with 1600 tS. Sfice nearest you. SUP ^LARS M. HOLMSTEDT. AB memory of departed Brothers. members present. Boston, 408 Atlantic Ave. Liber­ HONOLULU 16 Merchant St. WILLIAM D. MOORE, AB ty 6782. Phone 5-8777 MARCELINO SANTIAGO, OS PORTLAND Ill W. Burnside St Providence, Rhode Island State Please get in touch with At­ Library, State House. Dexter Beacon 4336 RICHMOND, Calif 257 5th St. torney Ben Sterling, regarding 2360, ext. 457. Phone 2599 illness on board the SS Henry The SEAFARERS LOG as the official publication of the Sea­ New York, 45 Broadway, Bowl­ farers International Union is available to all members who wish SAN FRANCISCO 59 Clay St, Villard. Douglas 2-8363 ing Green 9-0220. to have it sent to their home free of charge for the enjoyment of ft Si Si SEATTLE 86 Seneca St. Philadelphia, Pier No. 4 South, their families and themselves when ashore. If you desire to have Main 0290 DANNY KENNEDY Foot of Chestnut St. Lombard the LOG sent to you each week address cards are on hand at every WILMINGTON 440 Avalon Blvd. BILL YETMAN 3-1120. Terminal 4-3131 ' Your gear is in Waterman's Baltimore, Municipal Recreation SIU branch for this purpose. main office in Mobile, according Pier, foot of Broadway, Wolfe However, for those who are at sea or at a distance from a SIU Gt. Lakes District hall, the LOG reproduces below the form qsed to request the LOG, 4992. BUFFALO 10 Exchange St. to Tuohy. Cleveland 7391 S. X Norfolk, 406 East Plume St. which you can fiU out, detach and send to: SEAFARERS LOG, 51 CHICAGO, III 3261 East 92nd St. SS CHARLES L. McNARY Beaver Street, New York 4, N.Y. 49631. Phones Essex 2410 WiU any of the crewmembers Savannah, 307 East St. Julian CLEVELAND 2602 Carroll St. PLEASE PRINT INFORMATION i St. 2-1000. Main 0147 who were employed aboard the SS Charles L. McNary on or DETROIT 1038 Third St. Charleston, Public Librai-y, 6273. Cadillac 6857 about October 26, 1946, and wit­ New Orleans, Dock Board Tool To the Editor: DULUTH.. 831 W. Michigan St. nessed an accident where Thom­ House, Foot of Poydras St. Melrose 4110 I would like the SEAFARERS LOG mailed to the as Carroll Perry was injured Magnolia 3849. TOLEDO 615 Summit St. Garfield 2112 aboard said vessel and from Chicagd; South Chicago Public address below: which injuries he subsequently Library, 9055 South Houston died, please communicate with Canadian District Ave. Saginaw 8065. Name Ben Sterling, 42 Broadway, New Sault Ste. Marie, Old Weather MONTREAL 1227 Philips Square Bureau Bldg. 874. Plateau 6700^—Marquette 5009 York 4, N. Y. Street Address PORT ARTHUR 63 Cumberland St. Seattle, 3203 East Marginal Way. S^ & » PORT COLBORNE 103 Durham St. Men who witnessed the acci­ Seneca 0788. State City Phone: 5591 dent which befell Jesse R. Mat­ Portland, Library Association of TORONTO Ill A Jarvis Street Portland. Beacon 7201. Elgin 5719 thews aboard the William T. Signed VICTORIA, B.C 602 Boughton St. Barry while the ship was in San Francisco, 105 Embarcadero. Empire 4531 Gibraltar in March 1948 are Garfield 8965. VANCOUVER 865 Hamilton St Book No.. asked to contact Ben Sterling, 42 San Pedro, 820 South Beacon St. Paciflc 7824 Terminal 3-3607. Broadway, New York 4, N. Y. SlU HALLS NOTICE! AMMLA Branches Notice To All SIU Members 'V'^ I if �Page Sixteen THE SEAFARERS LOG Friday. November 12. 1948 The Seafarers And The Election Results By CHARLES RAYMOND Last November 2, little Harry Truman put the boots to Tom Dewey and his Big Business supporters, in the biggest upset since Corbctt took John L. Sullivan. He didn't do it alone, of course, because behind him—outraged by the passage of the Taft-Hartley Act, by the open union-busting by the large corporations with the tacit approv­ al of the Republican Congress, by the rising cost of living and the do-nothing policy on housing—was the overwhelming majority of the American labor movement. And the job was done the hard way—against the opposition of the Republican moneybags, the reactionary Dixiecrats, and the commie-controlled Wallace movement. On this page is published the view of one Seafarer in regard to the recent national elections. The opinions ex­ pressed are those of Brother Charles Raymond and do not represent the position of the SIU. ' tionally, proceeded to take their fight into the political arena. Some few, wanting to get in with what they thought would be the win­ ning team, backed Dewey and the republi­ cans—hoping, no doubt, to get the drippings from the beer keg when the real anti-labor drive began. TIDE IS TURNED Two years ago, the republicans and their The overwhelming majority of labor, how­ big business allies really went to town to do ever, supported Truman and the Democrats. a job on labor. Full page ads were placed During the states primai^ies, they went to work throughout the country by the National As­ and dumped a number of reactionary Demo­ sociation of Manufacturers, the various Chamcratic politicians and got pro-labor men to run in their place. During the election campaign, the unions — AFL, CIO and Independent — were practically the entire Democratic machine. Truman was deserted by the southern Demo- CAN t CM bers of Commerce and the large corporations, "exposing" the trade unions. The GOP whip- ped the hell out of the democrats by capturing control of both the House and the Senate. ed, and possibly repealed outright. There may be some form of price qontrol, and strength­ ening of rent controls. The outlook for lowcost housing is brighter. For us, the threat against the Union Hiring Hall will be re­ moved, and the NAM-planned offensive will probably fall flat on its face—for the time being, at least. Flow long this condition will last, no one can say, politicians being politicians. It would sur­ prise no one, if some of the newly elected "friends of labor" move themselves to the other side of the fence. They've done it before. But, nevertheless, this election was a definite vic­ tory for the labor movement. The union-bust-* ers were dumped, but good—for the time be­ ing. But one thing is sure, labor is definitely in the political picture, for good or for bad. TIME WILL TELL We all know what happened then: The republicans, aided by reactionary Democrats, passed the NAM-written Taft-Hartley Law over Truman's veto. Price controls were smash­ ed, rent controls were eased and the housing crats, the commie wing of the party—who sup­ program was scuttled. ported Wallace—:and by many of his top ad­ visers who sat on their backsides, waiting for LABOR SUFFERED Dewey to be elected. Nobody thought Truman Prices rose almost beyond the reach of the would win — nobody but Truman and the average worker, and a very definite anti-labor American workers. campaign was begun. The west coast ship­ As far as the Seafarers were concerned, we owners moved against maritime labor, using took no sides officially in this campaign, what­ the T-H law as a phony excuse to smash those ever our personal, unprintable opinions of Toni unions. New York, although a "liberal" demo­ Dewey. The SIU has always been anti-political, cratic city, caught' the fever and sent out its depending on its economic power to gain ad­ cops to beat up pickets on the Financial Work­ vances for its members. This attitude stems ers picketline. Congressman Hartley announced mainly in the experiences we have had with liis intention of "investigating" the ILGWU's the commies on the waterfront, who used trade organizing drive against the gangsters in the unionism to supplement their political philos­ garment industry. ophy. Any time the interests of the seamen The Hiring Hall was declared illegal—the conflicted with the interests of the communist Seafarers beat that one through its economic party, the seamen were dumped. The commies' power, but how the Boys would have liked to frequent change of line, their acting as Russian smash the SIU, because of the help it had nationals to the detriment of the American always given other unions, and because its workingman, disgusted the -seathen and tended militaiicy was putting new life into other to make them shy away from all political part­ ies and activities. unions! During this period, of course, the Seafarers came out in good shape. Through ou^economrc strength, its careful preparation and streamlined organization, we made great gains in wages and conditions and led the way for the other maritime unions. We were, hot^ever, prepared for stormy weather ahead. That is why we insisted upon a 2-year contract with our operators, and controlled admissions into our organization. That is why we built up ouf strike fund and increased our general fund. We were ready for anything and felt confident of maintaining our conditions and winning new gains the way we always had—at the point of production, that the unions will probably get a good part of, though probably not all of their demands. The Taft-Hartley Law will probably be amend- PACKS POWER The next several months will show whether labor has gained anything from its political activities, whether the promises and pledges of politicians mean anything;- whether political action can be used by labor without sacrificing its use of economic power. The next few months should be carefully watched by all Seafarers, We have never beei^ freeloaders—we have always paid our own way, and more. More so than most organiza-* tions, we have proved that we consider our-^ selves a very active part of the labor move­ ment — by our financial and organizational support of all legitimate trade unions. If the Seafarers gains from this political victory of the trade unions — a victory in which we took no part — and if it is shown that this type of activity is really beneficial, and that labor does not get rooked—perhaps we may have to' re-evaluate our non-political position. However, other unions have long been poli­ tical, but in a way much different from the commies. Outfits like the ILGWU, for ex­ ample, have been an important'factor in local, state and national elections for many years. But their approach is truly different. There is no doubt but that the ILGWU is strictly for the The one thing that has kept the Seafarers workers and is not a stooge for either a for­ strong and dynamic is that we were alwayjf eign power or the bosses. It uses political ac­ ready to learn from our own experiences ani tion, to support its economic power to gain from those of other outfits. Our main job is conditions for its members and for labor as to protect the seamdn and continually improve a whole. his conditions. And if it can be done by using What does this election mean to the Seafarers a strength we have., never used before—wel, Meanwhile, othdr unions, not as- well pre­ and to organized labor? For one thing, so over­ perhaps we should use itw It is worth thinking pared as the SIU, either in morale or organiza- whelming was labor's part in Truman's victory, about. y � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Seafarers Log Issues 1939-1949 Description An account of the resource Volumes I-XI of the Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource November 12, 1948 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Newsprint Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Vol. X, No. 46 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES ILA DOCKMEN WALK OUT AS INJUCTION ENDS CG HEARIMG UNITS RETURN IN CIVES COAST STRIKE NEARING RND PHONY 'LABOR' PAPERS MISUSE NAME OF SIU SEAMEN ARE DRAFTED,DESPITE ASSURANCES RECOMMENDATIONS DRAFT ELIGIBLES BOOKS TO SEAFARERS-COURTESY AMMLA CITIES SERVICE SURE TO FATTEN BOSTON SHIPPING SHIPPING CLIMBS A FEW NOTCHES IN NEW YORK SHIPPING TAKES SLIGHT DIVE IN SAN JUAN MOBILE EXPECTING BETTER DAYS ALL MUST FOLLOW UNION RULES AND POLICIES BALTIMORE SHIPPING DOWN AGAIN AS SHIPS HEAD FOR OTHER PORTS TWO IN TRANSIT ONLY ACTIVITY FOR GALVESTON YOU SAILED THE SEVEN SEAS?OKAY! NAME THEM,BROTHER ANYI-UNION TOPSIDERS-FIND CREW'S SPIRIT UNBREAKABLE LOWNSDALE MEN KNUCKLE DOWN PERFORMERS GOODBYE TO THE EDEN THE SEAFARERS AND THE ELECTION RESULTS Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 11/12/1948 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America 1948 Periodicals Seafarers Log