http://www.seafarerslog.org/archives_old/files/original/f3100b55bcc5367b5731a8badba4a473.PDF ed94388b11977b7b0b28160ae1a2f73b PDF Text Text "WiSW^ Official Organ, Atlantic & Gulf Diatriet, Seafarers International Union of NA VOL. X NEW YORK. N. Y.. FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 19. 1948 No. 47 AS THE AFL LONGSHORE BEEF GOT UNDER WAY SIU Pledges Aid As ILA Ties-Up All East Coast Not a sling was hoisted this .week on the Atlan­ tic Coast from Maine to Hampton Roads except at scattered Army piers as 45,000 striking members of the International Longshoremen's Association^ AFL, resolutely stood by their demands for better wages and conditions. The strike began on Wednesday, November 10, in New York when a group, of ILA locals walked out after rejecting the employ-* ers' latest wage offer as inade­ expre.ss their anger at the 80quate. Other locals in New York day injunction against striking and nearby ports followed suit which expired the night before immediately, and by Saturday the walkout, and their dissatis­ the strike was official from Port­ faction with those clauses of the Fair Labor Standards Act whichland to the Norfolk area. The Longshoremen were strik­ muddied the overtime question on the docks. ing not only for wages but to SIU SUPPORT This week, the SIU pledged all out support to the ILA in the latter's drive to improve the wages and conditions of its mem­ Awards of first place for bers. Tltis action was in line Best Single Editorial and with the traditional relations be­ second place for Best Grigtween the two unions which inal Cartoon were won by have supported each other in the SEAFARERS LOG this many a previous beef. week in the annual contest How long the strike would la.st sponsored by the Interna­ was a matter for speculation. tional Labor Press of Amer­ The ILA membership was deter­ ica. mined to stay out until it ob­ The LOG won its awards tained what it considered a in competition with AFL good deal. labor papers representing By the middle of this week, union workers in aU trades the federal government had and occupations throughout moved into the picture as the the counti^. ILA had anticipated it would. Presentation of the "Award Joseph P. Ryan, president of the of Merit" scrolls will be ILA, was scheduled to sit down made this week at the Amer­ with WiUiam Margolis, assistant ican Federation of Labor's to Cyrus S. Ching, head of the 37ih annual convention, now Federal Conciliation Service. Ry­ being held . in Cincinnati, an had already been in tele­ Ohio. phonic communication with Ching. What Margolis would pro­ This is the second year in pose was not known. which the SEAFARERS By Wednesday, November 17, LOG has competed in the there were 179 vessels which International Labor Press were listed as strike boimd in contest, Tn 1947 the LOG the Atlantic ports. Tn New York was awarded two second there were 230 ships in all, but prizes. many of these, were tied up any­ The prize winning edi­ way and only 86 were listed by torial, printed in the LOG on the Maritime Commission as ac­ June 11, 1948, is reprinted tually strikebound. Of these 86 on page 3. Log Wins Awards •This scene in the Chelsea dock area of the New York waterfront was typical of those in all East Coast ports from Portland to Hampton Roads, as members of the AFL International Longshoremen's Association went out on strike last week. The ships emulated the men — and sat just where they were. Seaman Exposes Esse Stooge 'Union' By ERNEST BOSSERT examples, Sam Royal—one of the patrolmen and organizers—i^ on the regular company payroll of the shore-relief gang. Being a black gang employee, he is sup­ posed to stand a watch in the Engine room on the relief gang. When a ship docks, he comes aboard with a satchel, all dressed up like a lawyer, and collects dues and initiations from new njpmbers, and takes care of the so-called union business gener­ ally. He has never been seen in the engine room, and has never been known to stand an engine room watch, which is what he is sup­ posedly paid for. In a recent issue of the Sea­ farers LOG is an account of the latest strategy of Cities Service in their losing struggle against the Union. They are now or­ ganizing a company union a last frantic effort to offset Union gains. This company union is being organized along the same lines as the Esso Tankermen's Asso­ ciation, which is the stooge union of Standard Oil of New Jersey. Don't be fooled by any of these company outfits that might be formed supposedly for the bene­ fit of the employees. These or­ ganizations are formed princi­ FEARS SIU pally to keep the Unions out, and are not for the seaman's Standard Oil of New Jersey is benefit. They can never take the probably one of the Ijargest and place of, a militant Union such most" efficiently organized cor­ as the SIU. porations in the world. They Ir^ fact, one of their main ob­ know the power of organization. jectives is a blacklist system They also know the power of an against militant men who might efficiently organized and militant have the courage to speak out union such as the SIU. and demand anything foi; the They fear it and will go to employees—something which the great lengths in preventing or­ company looks upon with great ganization of their workers by disfavor. such a Union. They have insti­ tuted elaborate and costly sys­ REAL AUTHORITY tems of service bonuses, and Having been an employee of other concessions and seemingly Standard Oil of New Jersey for liberal policies. In some instances they .even years, 1 feel that I can speak with authority about this com­ surpass conditions' on Unionpany and their stooge, Esso contracted vessels. They have clever high-paid lawyers to draw Tankermen's Association. To begin v/ith, all patrolmen up union contracts and working and executives of the Esso rides closely simulating our Tankermen's Association ai'e on Union contracts. • The word "simulating" above the company payroll and they are, with few exceptions, the is used advisedly because, while same executives year in and year these contracts appear on the out; They have been so since surface as equal to Union eontracts, a close study of them its inception. To point out just one of many will reveal glaring evasions and inconsistancies. In a final analy­ sis they have nothing at all, ex­ cept what is to the advantage to the company. NO PENALTY To illustrate just one of many meaningless clauses in their con­ tract, which simulates Union contracts, there is this cla'use: "There shall be one full un­ broken hour for meals for each man." But, and here is the joker, (Continued on Page 7) (Continued on Page 3) No Deferment For Wartime Seamen Seamen who.have been lugging ment of active seamen. Use of the around their Certificates of Con­ Certificate in conjunction with tinuous Service to wave before an appeal for exemption because local draft boards, should the of skill and participation in an time arise, can toss them in the industry vital to the nation's de­ old seabag. The certificate alone fense might bring favorable re­ won't eyen bring an interested sults. glance from the local boardNO BOARD POWER members, let alone a rising ova­ In the memoranduiji, the na­ tion to the "heroes in dungarees," tional draft headquarters notified A memorandum issued by na­ local boards that their power to tional Selective Service head­ quarters this week cancelled determine whether or not sea­ that clause in the Certificate men had contributed to the war effort to an extent great enough which gave seamen draft defer­ to defer them from military ser­ ment because of wartime service. vice, does not exist under the The clause invalidated reads: draft act of 1948. "Eligible to be relieved from any Officially known as -Memoran­ further consideration for classi­ dum No. 5, the order stated that fication into a class available for many local boards were lacking service." full information on the status of As the sole means of being de­ merchant seamen under the 1948 ferred from service, the Certific­ Draft Act. Clarification was then ate is out. Men who have retired given to the part of the Act from the sea are now without which provides exemption from defense againist military service, military service during peace­ if they are of draft age. time to men who performed cer­ While this is a body blow to tain periods of active military former seamen it does not nec- duty during the recent war. But, the order stated, "The esssp-ily bar the way to defer­ service performed by members of the merchant marine, includ­ ing cadet-midshipmen, being a civilian service, does not qualify them for these exemptions." The Certificate of Continuous Discharge, the memorandum pointed out, is not a discharge from the armed services. It was issued by the War Shipping Ad­ ministration solely for the pur­ pose of establishing eligibility for members of the merchant marine for re-employment rights. The Memorandum went on to say "The Selective Service Act of 1940 expired on March 31, 1947, and as the Selective Service Act of 1948 provides no authority for deferments or exemptions be­ cause of former service as mer­ chant seamen, this Certificate has no bearing on the action of local boards established under this 1948 act." Maybo there's some meaning to seamen in the popular song th-at goes, "Put it in a box, tie it with a ribbon and toss it in the deep, blue sea." ^ ";S �Kit- Paffe Two THE • SEAFARERS tOG Friday. Kovenibef' Id, 1948 SEAFARERS LOG [, I |S- Published Weekly by the SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA Atlantic and Gulf District Afiilieded with Ihe American Federalion of Labor At 51 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 The Commies Try Again One of the dreams of the leaders of the Soviet Union is Soviet control of the world's waterfronts. To make their dream a reality, they have always made dominance of maritime unions one of the chief aims of local com­ munist parties. The Kremlin's strategy is easy to understand. Contro the seamen and the longshoremen, and you can cripple the seaborne commerce on which much of the world's welfare depends. After the waterfront, would come the railroads, the truck lines and even the airlines—and then the men on the Politburo could rule the globe. What of the workers in these fields, which the com­ mies seek to dominate? "To hell with them," say the men of the Politburo. "They're the pawns." It comes as no surprise that a major goal of the commies in the United States is control of the Interna­ tional Longshoremen's Union, AFL, whose members work in American ports from Maine to Texas. Of course, the commies never have gotten very far, for the ILA fought them off. But the commies keep trying, persistently. This week in New York they tried again, ^o far they have gotten exactly nowhere. They were squelched as they were three years ago, when they attempted to take advantage of an earlier ILA strike. This time, as in 1945, the SIU pitched in to help the ILA get rid of these wate'rfront scum, for the two unions have a long estab­ lished tradition of supporting each other. Hospital Patients When entering the hospital notify the delegates by post­ card, giving your name and the number of your ward. A commie meeting called in New York's Manhattan Center in connection with the ILA strike drew a line of pickets. representing the several unions belonging to the Maritime Trades Council. The result was that only handful of men, presumably commie die-hards, entered the hall, and the meeting was a complete failure. Mimeographed postcards can be obtained free at the Social Service desk. Mea Now h The Mtwme Hospitak- Staten Island Hospital A couple of days later, there was found to be a You can contact your Hos­ commie plot afoot to foul the ILA's strike by banging pital delegate at the Staten These are ihe Union Brothers currently in the marine hospitals, up the Army's pier in Brooklyn,- although the ILA's Island Hospital at thf follow­ policy was to keep Army ships sailing for the sake of as reported by the Port Agents. These Brothers find time hanging ing times: national defense and to avoid unfavorable publicity. Again heavily on their hands. Do what you can to cheer them up by Tuesday — 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. writing to them. a swift counter-move, with the SIU and the ILA coope­ (on 5th and 6th floors.) BOSTON MARINE HOSP. rating, completely blocked the scheme. G. MALONEY Thursday — 1:30 to 3:30 pjn. A. THIBODAUX VIC MILAZZO The brass-faced men in the Kremlin may continue (on 3rd and 4th floors.) J. HARRIS JULIUS HENSLEY to dream their dream. But it will remain a dream as long J. WATLER Saturday — 1:30 to 3:30 pan. JOSEPH E. GALLANT as the overwhelming majority of American waterfront N. ROMAIJIO (on 1st and 2nd floors.) MOBILE MARINE HOSP. J. B. MARTIN unionists remain alert to the commie menace. C. OLIVER A. BAUM The communist activity on the New York docks this A. SMITH S. LeBLANC C. SIMMONS week should be a lesson to every seaman and every long­ C. HAFNER E. LOOPER F.» BECKER J. W. CARTER L. MIXON shoreman. Anyone who was not familiar with the dis­ S. P. MORRISS R. PURCELL J. BRANDON T. C. HICKEY ruption the Stalinists caused in the NMU, the MCS and X t. a, S. C. BLOSSER the ILWU had a good chance this week to learn some­ NEW ORLEANS MARINE HOSP. STATEN ISLAND MARINE E. BROADERS thing about commie methods and commie aims. J. N. HULL J. D. ANDERSON F. CARDOZA E. C. LAWSON The main reason everybody should learn the lesson S. C. FOREMAN A. CASTILLO A. N. LIPARI is that we can expect more commie tricks as long as the R. MALDONADO XXX C. B. SHIPMAN BOSTON MARINE HOSPITAL J. N. RAYMOND ILA beef continues—and after. The commies always have J. ASHURST J. N. McNEELY another one in their pocket, and they never hesitate to J. DENNIS JOSEPH E. GALLANT LARS LARSEN p. L. SAHUQUE JULIUS HENSLEY play it. A. NbRMAN C. VINCENT VIC MILAZZO WILLIAM HUNT Remember, the commies never have the welfare of N. S. LARSSON XXX THOMAS VELEZ the working men in mind. Their purposes are the pur­ G. R. ROTZ GALVESTON HOSPITAL J. N, WOOD poses O'f the men in Moscow whose final goal is to bring, G. O'ROURKE NICK NIKANDER M. J. LUCAS' O. HOWELL all the peoples of the world under their collective heel. J. GIVENS E. C. EATON V. P. SALLINGS R. HUTCHINS N. H. LUNDQUIST However, if more people had followed the SIU's H. C. MURPHY L. McKRANE XXX A. WARD traditional anti-communist policy in the past there would C. ATHERIVE BALTIMORE HOSPITAL J. L. GREENE be less communist trouble now on the waterfront and S. ZEIRLER J. MAHONEY LSI everywhere else. When you play with mud, you get XXX W. L. RICE J. L FITZSIMMONS FI MEMPHIS HOSPITAL dirty. A lot of people who played with the commies are C, GASKINS A. M. ATKIEWICZ just finding out this simple truth. P. PEREZ A. MAAMEUR JOHN B. HEGARTY �Friday, NovenlBar 19, 1948 THE SEA FARERS LOG Pag» ThxM ILA Longshoremen Tie-Up All East Coast some West Coast comrades in • (Continued from Page 1) only 16 were SIU ships but the their hopeless campaign to take number was expected to grow. over. To waterfront veterans, the Many of the ships in all'ports pattern of their actions was rem­ B«low U the editorial which won for th* SFAFARERS LOG fhe firai-place "Award of iniscent of their attempt to were foreign. Merir' of the International Labor Preu of America. The editorial appeared originally in the In Philadelphia, the Commis­ move into the big ILA beef of LOG of June 11. 1947. sion reported that 32 ships were 1945 when quick counter-moves strikebound of which 6 were drove them off. SIU at the last count. In Bos­ The ILA began negotiations ton there were 8 ships strike­ with the employers on July 5, bound, in Baltimore 49 and in demanding a 50-cent an hour One of the greatest assists the communist embattled Stock Exchange employes were Hampton Roads only 4. There boost for straight time,' a 75party in the United States has gotten since not dictated by a foreign power. were no reports of the number cent hike for night and weekend True, Mr. Hackenburg, what the SIU did of SIU ships in the three last- work, a pension and welfare the end of the war was given it last week by New York Special Sessions Justice was dictated, but by a power which you named ports. The low number fund, and four-hour work per­ in Hampton Roads was account­ iods with a guarantee of four Frederick L. Hackenburg. In sentencing an may not be able to understand. ed for by the fact that coal hours pay for any man hired. The men who make up the Seafarers In­ cargoes were being loaded by Negotiations became snarled on SIU meihber who was hauled out of an the overtime issue, however, be­ automobile by the New York police, while ternational Union acted from a compulsion railway -v^orkers. cause of an interpretation the Tankers, of course, were run­ he was delivering food to the Wall Street that came from deep within them. Tliey United States Supreme Coiu^ ning freely since longshoremen strikers of the United- Financial Employes, went to the aid of the UFE because of the were not involved in loading or had placed on ^clause in the spirit of trade union solidarity that has unloading them. But except for Fair Labor Standards Act. AFL, Justice Hackenburg said: "I am shocked to the depth of my soul made the SIU a valued friend of honest the oil docks, the Army docks On August 21, just* before when I realize that this cumpulsion (for the trade unions and a hated and feared enemy and the^ Virginia coal docks, ILA's old agreement ran out, an injunction was obtained under SIU to g^sit the UFE in its strike) was of the commie-dominated labor organiza­ every waterfront on the North the Taft-Hartley Act barring the Atlantic coast was dead. dictated by a foreign government which tions. union from striking. Negotia­ COMMIE TRICKS Had the SIU been content to stand on the tions continued while the in­ under the guise of ideology tries to start In New York, the commies, trouble so that they can publish in Moscow sidelines in the fight against commie con­ who for years have vainly tried junction was in effect. trol of the waterfront, then this nation's to get a foothold in the ILA, About a month ago, the em­ 'Riots In Wall Street'." ployers made a "final" offer An iri'esponsible statement of this nature, water borne transportation would be com­ immediately made an attempt which the longshoremen turned to take advantage of the situa­ coming from a man so highly placed as pletely in the hands of an unscrupulous tion by stirring up factionalism down overwhelmingly in an elec­ faction which really takes its orders from tion conducted by the NLRB. This Justice Hackenburg, does more to help the and obscuring the issues with led to a second _"final" offer the Kremlin. political claptrap. Alert action CP than a million pieces of communist pro­ If Mr. Hackenburg's words had not been by the ILA and other unions be­ which the longshoremen turned paganda. It confuses, in the public mind, down in a second election last so widely broadcast, or his position not such longing to the powerful New week. The walkout began in^ the communists with the anti-communists, as to give his views wide circulation, his York Maritime Trades Council New York and several other and allows the party-liners to masquerade ports before the election was ideas would be no more than laughable. forestalled them however. as honest trade unionists. When the commies called a completed. But many people have read the Justice's meeting in Manhattan Center on It is the duty of public officials to at HALIFAX TOO statement, and therein lies the danger to West 34th Street, the Council least read the newspapers. If the Justice rushed 100 pickets to the spot This offer included a 10-cent free trade imions. had only done that much, he would have The communists do not have the courage in a fleet of taxis and private an hour increase for straight cars. Most of the pickets formed time, a 15-cent raise for nights easily found out that the UFE, and the SIUto put their ideas before the public, for a lively, fast-moving line and weekends, a guarantee f SUP, the unions which supported the acceptance or rejection. 'Ibey mask their while the rest handed out leaf­ four hours pay after being hired, financial workers, were not and are not motives behind high sounding phrases, and lets denouncing the meeting for and a reduction in the total influenced by the orders from Moscow. ~ wait for an opportune time to institute their what it was—a commie trick. hours necessary to qualify for No physical effort was made vacation pay. The wage increases On the contrary. The Seafarers Interna­ iron-handed control. Poland, Hungary, and tional Union has a long and honorable his­ Czechoslovakia are perfect examples. So is to prevent anybody from enter­ were to be retroactive to Sep­ ing the Center because of the tember 15. The employers re­ tory of constant battle against the totalitar­ Russia, for that matter. number of coi>s present, but fused to discuss a welfare plan. ianism represented by the communist party. very few went through the doors. When some of the big passen­ What better way for the commies to pre­ After an hour, it was apparent ger liners annoimced plans to During the war, when men like Justice pare the groundwork than deliberately con­ that the meeting was a failure, use Halifax instead of New York Hackenburg were blind to the menace of fusing the issues, so that the public does and the line was knocked down. as their terminal for the dura­ the communists, the Seafarers International not know whicl^ groups believe in demo­ A commie attempt to strike tion of the strike, the ILA lo­ Union continued to point out that the red- cracy and which in dictatorship? the Army pier in Brooklyn was cal in the Canadian port re­ bowlers were a threat to democracy, and So the eminent jurist has Tiad his say, and foiled in the same manner. Pic­ fused to work the ships after were merely lying low because of the aid he has done his part to add to the confu­ kets including Seafarers went several had. come in. But two out shortly after dawn with days later the Haligonians, wary given by this covmtry to Russia. sion. He can rave and rant about the red- leaflets pointing out that, the of probable legal reprisals by Now it is a matter of -record that this menace all he wants to, but the communists commies wished to sti'ike the the Canadian government, modi­ Union was correct, and that the men who will consider him a a valued friend as long Army pier in an effort to crip­ fied their stand. mistakenly gave aid and comfort to the as he does their dirty work of smearing the ple America's national defense. The Halifax longshoremen an­ The loading of the Army ships nounced that they would work American communists were building a democratic unions and placing them in the continued in line with ILA pol­ the ships, but would not handle Trojan Horse, which now threatens all of us. same category with those controlled by the icy. goods directly consigned to The commies even brought in United States ports. communist party machine. This Union's activities in behalf of the The Logs Prize-Winning Editoriai Commies Little Helper SIU Contracts, US Laws Effective Medicine For Buckes By JOSEPH VOLPIAN Special Services Representative Maybe there are fewer bucko officers than used to be, but one is one too many if you happen to sail under him. However, pro­ vided you can hold out until the ship pays off, you have the chance these days to take the wind out of the sails of any bvasshat who has bucko notions. Between the law and the SIU contract, a seaman who keeps his head can find plenty of ways to strike back at the abuses a high-handed officer heaps upon him. The reason is that the boys in the high-pressure hats must have licenses, and a license is al­ ways subject to withdrawal or suspension. We all know what a "Captain Bligh" can do to make life aboard ship perpetUcil hell. If he is a Skipper, he can ride the en­ tire cr£w into desperation. If he is a Mate or an Engineer, he can make at least his own depart­ ment miserable. What happens when the whole top-side comple­ ment is bucke defies description. TIN GODS When you get a bunch of- lit­ tle tin gods up top, you will al­ ways find that they think they are riding their own private yacht for a pleasure cruise. You and your shipmates in the foc'sle are classed as slaves, always at the beck and call of the afistocrrats whose fun must never be disturbed. Bucko • officers can do such things as make unreasonable searches at unearthly hours; withhold draws; place ridiculous­ ly tyrannical restrictions on shore leave; polish up the single and double irons; make a ship's compartments into virtual pris­ ons; hand out logs for trivial mis­ deeds which often as not are pure accidents; flagrantly violate maritime laws; and attempt, at least, to play fast and loose with the SIU agreement. It takes a bang-up SIU crew to cope with a situation like that, even if it is met more rare­ ly than in those oft-men+ioned "good old days." ACCOUNTABLE It is true that the law of the sea traditionally gives the Mas­ ter of a ship what amounts to dictatorial authority over the crew for reasons that are fairly obvious. However, this authority is not to be abused. A Masfer and all his subordinate officers are accountable for wrongful acts. In some cases, a bucko officer can be brought to book during a voyage, but generally tho.se who suffer from his tyranny must wait until the end of the trip. In a foreign port, however, a crew which has undergone cruel treatment aboard ship can appeal to the American Consul. There are many cases where such appeals have resulted in abrupt changes of disposition and attitude on the part of harsh masters. Of course, no crew phould go to a Consul for help unless the beef is clear-cut. What happens sometimes is that a Skipper gets to think of himself as something of a law­ yer. Apparently, a knowledge of the Shipping Code, plus the right to marry and bury, goes to the man's head. Under these conditions, it may take the Consul to-let him down a peg. But, let us repeat, do not appeal to a Consul unless con­ ditions are absolutely intoler­ able. A Skipper who sets himself up as a legal eagle generally over­ looks the entire field of seamen's rights. He just knows, or thinks he knows, what he can hand out in the way of punishment for one thing or another. HEW TO LINE A person who sits for a ticket as a merchant marine officer, es­ pecially as a Master, must meet very strict qualifications. He must satisfy the government that his ability, experience and habits warrant belief that he can be en­ trusted with duties and respon­ sibilities at sea. In maritime law, there are penalties provided if it can be proved that a ship's officer is guilty of bad conduct, intemper­ ance, neglect of duty or wilful (Continued on Page 15) 1 �Pasre Four Foreign Flags Accused Of Rate War In Aid Plan T H E SEAF ARERS LUG FthUy, November tS. 1948 WHAT ttWWK.,. • Apparently not content with cai'rying fifty percent of the Marshall Plan cargoes to Europe, foi'eign operators have slashed their freight rates in an attempt to take cargoes from American ships, Grenville Mellon, member of the Maritime Commission charged this week. HAROLD LOLL. OS; • According to Mellon, who re­ I think it would be good polcently returned from a three .. icy for the SIU to get behind weeks torn- of Europe, where he any movement for a genuine studied shipping requirements labor newspaper. All other AFL tjnder the Marshall Plan, the unions, too, should endorse the foreign vessels were offering founding of a labor-sponsored rates of about $6.85 a ton publication. I'd read such a figure well under the break-even newspaper and I'm sure most point. of the millions of other, trade Most o'f the operators depress­ union members would welcome ing their rates are engaged in it into their homes. Such a the coal-carrying trade to France newspaper, I feel, should be cir­ from this country. culated in all the big cities to counteract the big-time press. Even with operating expenses Some regular newspapers are much lower than those of Amer­ favorable to unions but. being ican ships, foreign vessels would in the slim minority, they don't have to charge about $9 a ton reach all the people. The sooner to obtain a small profit, Mellen it comes, the better. declared. Purpose of the scheme, he Stated, is to impress on Marshall Plan officials and • Congress the GIL VILA. OS: fact that the higher rates To my way of thinking it is charged by American ships are uneconomical, and thus cause the a good idea. We can't do any­ elimination from the Marshall thing toward bettering condi­ Plan regulations the clause re­ tions without unions, so the un­ quiring that fifty percent of all ions should have their own news cargoes be carried in American coverage. I know what the un­ ships. ions meam at sea. I am sure it BELOW MAXIMUM would be worth the expense and Mellen pointed out that, even effort for unions to back a labor if the foreign flag vessels charged paper, and I personally would the maximum of $9.15 allov/ed be glad to donate toward such them under the regulations, they an effort. I would like to see could transport the coal to France the labor paper set up like the for $2 million less than Amei-ican News," with big headlines and operators. The American rate is with thorough coverage of every­ thing from sports and comics to $11.15 a ton. national amd world news. Once the American ships have been eliminated from the plan,' the foreign flag operators would then boost their rates as high or THOMAS YARBROUGH, AB: higher than the present Amer­ It would be a good thing to ican rates, Mellen declared. have the kind of paper that . The statements made by Com­ missioner Mellen are going to be would let the public know what reported by him to the Mari­ labor's point of view is. After time Commission, Marshall Plan all, we ourselves, all of us officials and to the Congressional everywhere, and everybody is Committee assigned to review equal. Every one should have Marshall Plan activities. the chance to know what's going on. In order to interest people, such a labor-.owned newspaper • would have to show a very Frustrated gag writers can definite viewpoinL And you'd now give vent to their puns, have to put in adl the things witticisms and bright sai that people have come to ex­ ings through Seafare, the pect any newspaper to have. I new comic strip in the SEA­ mean sports, comics auid things FARERS LOG. like that. I'd read such a paper. Seafare, which has been appearing in the LOG for the past several weeks, is J. O'KEEFE, Oiler: un attempt to' show ship­ The expense of such a project board incidents and events in a humorous light. It is at the outset would be terrific, put forth in the hope that I would think, because the pow­ the Brothers can get a laugh erful commercial daily papers out of the otherwise hum­ live maixily by the huge volume drum life aboard ship. of their advertising. It seems to All you Brothers who want me that big corporations that do most of the advertising w'ould to get into the act and put try to kill such a venture by not into picture form the gags doing any advertising in a la­ in your repertoire can do so bor daily. If the plan could get by sending them to LOG going it would be swell. To off­ Cartoonist Eddy Smith, set this disadvantage—^if it is SEAFARERS LOG, 51 Bea­ one—^possibly the answer would ver Street, New York 4, be a monthly magazine, as a N. Y. You don't have to be starter. All the labor news could a cartoonist, just give Eddie be consolidated and presented the idea and heTl take it attractively. from there. QUESTION: An editorial in the SEAFARERS LOG of October 29 stressed the need for a daily newspaper labor could call its own. "Its primary purpose would be to do a bang-up job in organized labor's behalf, while doing a newspaper's regular job of recording and in­ terpreting" the events of the day. Do you thin k there is a place for such a paper ? Hey, Gagwriters! R. WEBBER, Efectridan: I think a daily newspaper run for and by the labor movement is a very good idea. Industry and its mouthpiece, the National Association • of Manufacturers, are well-represented by the com­ mercial press, magazines and radio. At present, labor papers only reach their own union members, with a few exceptions here and there. There is a strong need for a daily paper with a wide circulation that can ably bring labor's own viewpoint on all questions of importance to the general public. A paper like this can be made just as inter­ esting as the current crop of commercial ones. PETER W. DREWES, AB: This probably would prove to be a very good idea. Such a paper would provide the general public with a satisfactory means of understanding the working meui's side on issues involving labor and nnanagement. This would be particularly advantag­ eous when beefs arose, since the public would learn a lot of things they do not know exist under present circumstances. If the labor daily was presented in the form and style of most commercial papers, with sports sections, features, comics and the rest, it would fill a big need and stand a big chance of success. THOMAS HEGGARTY, AB: I think there is a need for a labor-owned daily newspaper. One very important thing it would do would be to bring into the open a good many of the nasty things management is suc­ cessful in hiding from the pub­ lic, And since most of the press is clearly on the side of big business on any issue they have with labor, labor's own daily could see to it that its own slant on things would reach the public. Labor's accomplishment would no longer be hidden in the back pages. People would enjoy it same as they do other papers. The labor daily would have everything they want. DON MORRIS, AB: With big business influencing the present press, it is only reasonable that unions work to­ gether to support a paper that. will give union news a fair break. This is a particularly op­ portune time for such a paper to be launched, with Truman having been returned to the White House, and with liberal men in the Congress as a result of the leibor vote. I would like to see such a paper supported by subscription from all unions so that the success of the paper and its policies would not de­ pend upon the whims of the advertisers. �T.JI £ : S EA ¥ A REUS LOG Friday. NovandMr 19, 1M6 Page Five Ship Arrivals Keep Tampa Busy; Rated Bookmen Can Get Out Fast TAMPA — Shipping remains ville. We still ship a few men fair in this Florid port. We on her periodically, mostly in the are still getting plenty of ships Deck and Engine Departments. and we're dispatching men to TAKE NOTE almost aU of them. All men making this port are To start off this week, we have the Yankee Dawn, Atwa- advised that the only union taxicoal, and the Cantop Victory, cab outfits here are the Florida Yellow Cab Company, Waterman, in port. Slated to ar­ and rive later are the Albert K. owned by the Yellow Cab Com­ Smiley and the John Bartram, pany, and the Red Top, which is run by a local man. both Waterman. The Red Top came around af­ In addition, the Bull Line has ter a hell of a lot of trouble last either the Edith or the Mae com­ year. First the driver settled ing into Port Tampa sometime this week. So, with one of the out of court a few weeks ago Alcoa ships due in from the Is­ and now the company is 100 per land run, we have several vessels cent union. to work from. The ship chandlers are still The Tampa Agent spent last having their problem. Ships pay­ week in Jacksonville working ing off here need things, of with Assistant Secretary-Treas­ course, but they are getting their urer Bob Matthews on negotia­ stores in other ports. tions with the P&O outfit. We To bad these chandlers couldn't can report at this point that, see past first base, during the 1946 from the progress of these con­ General Strike. They are now tract discussions, everything paying for their folly in breaking looks pretty good. the SIU picket lines in this port at that time. COSTLY TRIP Among the oldtimers around From a purely personal stand­ here now are Buddy Baker, point, the trip to Jacksonville Harry Simmons, Sonny Simmons, was rather costly for the Tampa A1 Driver, Uncle Otto Preussler, Agent. He lost almost every­ and Bobby Sheppard. All of them thing but his pants. A prowler are ready to go. This shouldn't be broke into his room at the hard since rated men with books George Washington Hotel and can move fast. took all his dough, his brief case and a sport coat. Cities Service Using Skippers As ABs By WM. (Curly) RENTZ forts, as evidenced by their crewing up with licensed stooges in unlicensed ratings, proves hov/ low they will stoop to keep from giving seamen decent conditions and respectability. These Mates and Masters do not belong to any union. They are not members of the MM&P. They are company stooges pure and simple. Certainly a company that will resort to the practices that Cities Service has throughout the SIU's oi-ganizing campaign is badly in need of clean, decent, democratic shipping procedure that will en­ able their seamen to walk down the gangway with their heads up. By the way, we'd like to ex­ press the appreciation of the local membership to the doctors and nurses in the Baltimore Marine Jlospital for the fine treatment they have been giving SIU members. These people have been look­ ing out for us, and our men say they won't forget it. BALTIMORE — The Interna­ tional Longshoremens Associa­ tion East Coast strike has this port locked up tight. With no count available on the number of SIU ships involved, a total of 49 ships are now strike-bound. There are more tlian tliat number of ships in port but the Maritime Commission, which re­ leased the figure, labels as strike­ bound only those vessels whose cargo loadings or unloadings have been halted. The SIU in the Port of Balti­ more is behind the Longshore­ men 100 per cent. It, is the sin­ cere hope of our membership here that the AFL longshore workers will win their demands. By EARL (Bull) SHEPPARD And we are ready to help them in that direction in any way we NEW ORLEANS—Shipping is certainly above the average fare can. back on an even keel in this Gulf in institutions of that kind. port. And, by the way, our Brothers BUSINESS SLOW With all pasenger ships due to in the Marine Hospital extended Payoff activity was slow in arrive before Christmas and an invitation to all Seafarers to this port during the past week. several other payoffs and transi­ pay them a visit when they get Ships paying off were the Ros- ents scheduled, we can look for­ down New Orleans way. Just to ario, Chilore, The Cabins, W. ward to shipping holding steady. help them pass the time of the Oddly enough, the brief case Carruthers, Dorothy and the Ma- In fact, it looks as though these day, of course. with two receipt books were rore. All payoffs came off okay, vessels could very well clean the However, they added, if you returned to us in Tampa this even those on the Ore scows. beach of all and sundry who do have to put in a stint in the Every member making a morning, but that's about all Completing the list of s i g n - want to ship out. donation to the Union for hospital, the New Orleans hos­ we expect to recover. ons were the Marore, Steelore, Meanwhile, voting in the cur­ pital is just about the most com­ any purpose should receive A Union representative will Chilore, Rosario, Dorothy, The rent Union election for officials fortable spot you'd want under an official receipt bearing journey over to Miami next Mon­ Cabins and the Robert Ingersoll. to administer SIU affairs during the circumstances. the amount of the contribu­ day to set up the voting ap­ Of course, they were signed on 1949 has been heavy. And, if this tion and the purpose for paratus aboard the Florida, so before the strike broke. Ship­ heavy balloting continues, we which it was made. that crewmembers will be able ping is now at a standstill. will probably have a recordIf a Union official to whom to cast their ballots in the cur­ With the large number of breaking vote, as far as the Port contribution is given does rent election to determine the American seamen on the beach of New Orleans is concerned. not make out a receipt for Unipn officials^ for the coming because of the growing number the money, the matter should year. PLEASING SIGHT of foreign flag ships handling immediately be referred to Since the Florida spends only traffic in and out of this country, Our new Hall is still the sub­ Paul Hall, Secretary-Trea­ a few hours in Miami, which are it seerr^ that something should ject of much favorable comment. surer, SIU, 51 Beaver Street, not enough to allow all crewmen be done to give American ships Brothers coming into the Port By LLOYD (Blackie) GARDNER New York 4, N. Y. to vote, the SIU representative an even break at least. of New Orleans for the first time, In advising the Secretarywill stay aboard the ship for the PHILADELPHIA — There are These foreign flag ships travel or who are revisiting the port Treasurer of such transac­ trip to Havana and return. Thus, 5,000 AFL longshoremen on after a long absence, show ununder sub-standard conditions tions, members should stale all hands will be given a chance strike here and the port is dead. mistakeable signs of being high­ and are manned by pooidy paid, the name of the official and to have their say in this impor­ In line with SIU policy, we poorly-fed crews. We have no ly pleased with the setup. the port where the money tant Union procedure. beef with the crewmen of these Our recreational, shipping and are giving them all the help we was tendered. The Florida, incidentally, just ships. They are the victims, and meeting facilities certainly are can in their effort to improve came out of drydock in Jackson­ are not in a position to do any- making a big hit with all hands. their wages and conditions. Nat­ anything about the situation. It seems to be the prevailing urally, our own members here opinion that it would be a great hope for a short but successful AMERICAN ENTERPRISE beef. lift if we could secure a more We had two payoffs here, both Wherever they can, American suitable Headquarters building By FRENCHY MICHELET outfits are using these foreign in New York, and more adequate of them good ones. One was on SAN FRANCISCO—The ship­ will probably continue to operate flag ships. Alcoa is the most facilities in some of the ports the SS Alexandra, a Carras tank­ er the SIU organizers won for ping situation on this coast, three ships each on the grain prominent among those who are needing them. us a while back. The Alexandra capitalizing on the low wage Owning our own halls would run to the Far East from the which has been at a standstill as is in here every two weeks or scales and dii'ty conditions to in­ give the Brothei's a much great­ a result of a two months strike, Seattle environs. so, since she runs coastwise and er incentive in striving to keep When you see things out here, crease their profits. is showing signs of coming to nearby foreign. When it comes to a buck, the the buildings looking ship-shape life again. The shipowners and break, follow Horace Greeley's The second payoff was on Wa­ the striking longshoremen have advice, and "Go west." We will patriotism these big outfits brag at all times. That much has been terman's SS Fail-land—and there renewed negotiations. It looks have a berth for you,* and you about ^n qll their advertisements proven here. goes right oyer the side. Then, too, these buildings was one sweet SIU ship. like we might be moving ships and you. Several unorganized tankers would prove to be an immeas­ The Fairland had been to the again in a week or so. NEW HALL called in this port last week and urable asset to • the membership Far East and had been out four We have very few rated men The new Hall in Wilmington we think we did a pretty good should shipping ever get real long months. She was proof on the beach now as the bulk Avalon Blvd. job in contacting them. On the tough, or should we go into a that a long trip does not have of the crews of the strike-bound is located at 227 to develop the fouled-up beefs It is the former MM&P Hall, Cities Service tankers that came major beef at any time. ships have gone east. in here it seemed that four men that some ships come home with which they vacated when they THE GOOD LOOK Once this strike is over, the bought their own place down with Master's licenses \Vere after a long haul. membership can be assured of there. We have managed to set aboard as ABs, and ten Mates The Fairland had a good The local photographer paid some good runs fi-om this coast. up a good rig there at a min­ were signed on in the same rat­ the Brothers in the Marine Hos­ bunch topside as well as in the Waterman is putting ten new imum expense to the organiza­ ing. The company is struggling pital here a visit last week. The foc'sle. Everybody got along converted C-2s into good runs tion, due primarily to the fact with every stunt in the books to hospitalized Seafarers thought with everybody else. The result originating from here. that it was in fairly good shape keep away from the SIU bannw. they had some pretty fair scen­ was that paying her off was a ery and willingly posed against pleasure. Calmar and Isthmian will con­ and little renovating was neces­ NICE GOING Of course, the tankers are un­ that background for some pic­ tinue their intercoastals, and sary to ready it for occupancy by affected by the strike since the To the Seafarers who are stay­ tures. Yep, those two pretty there is a good chance that Isth­ the SIU. longshoremen do not work them. nurses will be seen just as soon All inquiries 'from the Wil­ ing aboard the Cities Service mian will also resume their pipe­ A lot of tankers hit Phiily every as the LOG has space for the tankers until this di'ive is won, line run to the Near East, afford­ mington, Long Beach and San day. Some of them are organized, photos we submitted. we say "Hats Off!" for the fine ing some additional choice jobs Pedro areaS' should be directed some are not. And what we need Chow in the hospital, accord­ job they are doing. for the membership. And South there, and all SIU business will is more of them. ing to the men there, is good and The company's desperate ef­ Atlantic and Smith and Johnson be transacted therein. Pre-Christmas Prospects Bright For Port New Orleans Seafarers Get A Receipt Tankers Raise Phiily Shipping fram The Dead Frisco Awaits End Of Strike �Page Six THE SEAFARERS LOG Friday, NOTember 19, 1948 Island Sun Shines Brightly But Not On San Juan Shipping By SAL COLLS SAN JUAN—The Port of San,by boat to get here. So if this Completing a voyage of three In the labor field one never Juan, as I write this, is sunny bouquet appears^a trifle tardy Keep In Touch months, twenty-three days, the knows when something like this but slow. Shipping has sat down in being presented, we apologize, As you know, the ILA is on on the slow bell here—and we because we want to thank Bro­ strike and the SIU is support­ Kettering — a converted Navy will come up, and it behooves all know the reasons: 1) the ther Joe Volpian for the prompt ing them. You are asked to stay Transport equipped to carry 12 every member to be prepared, Now is a time to point out to Longshoremens' Strike on the action he brought about in the aboard your ship unless laid off, passengers - was the first SIU ship to pay off during the ILA the membership the wisdom of East Coast, which is keeping case of Brother T. Kato. but do not move the ship with­ the boys on the ships until they Brother Kato was the boy who out specific orders from the Un­ strike. Those who quit were not laying away a little nest-egg replaced, with the exception of when things are good, to carry see what's going to happen, and was forced to check in the Ma­ ion Hall. members of the Stewards De­ 2) the fact that the sugar sea­ rine Hospital in San Juan after Many ships are keeping only partment and the Firemen; but you through an emergency • — such as the present ILA tie-up son is just about over for the being injured on a Bull Line a skeleton crew of three Fire­ those who cared to remain on —and to assure you coffee-and. year in Puerto Rico. ship, and when he was dis­ men and three Gangway Watch­ were kept on the payroll. The recreation facilities of the, The Zafra or the cutting of charged was curtly refused his men, as provided by the agree­ Jimmy Purcell Hall are at your disposal. Every­ the new cane crop will begin earned wages by the Bull Line ment. Should you be laid off, i, S, thing is at hand for your com­ the last of January, and then office here, unless he signed a re-register at the Hall for the fort—and coffee is still on the the sugar sacks will begin to paper relieving the Company of ship you left; and you will have Hold Tight house. Winter weather is ju.st pile up in the warehouses again all 'i-esponsibility. first preference to ship back on Those of you who are being around the corner, so remember for shipment to the States. Now, Brother Volpian's serv­ her for 24 hours after the strike laid off the ships will be wise|that the Hall is the best place Because the sugar is all out ice is not only special—^his job is terminated. of the warehouses. Bull Line is entitled "Special Services"— After that, stay in contact with to hold tight, pay a few weeks for an SIU man to get in out has already, chartered out the but, we've found, almost instan­ the Hall, in the traditional SIU room rent ahead, get some nieal of the cold and spend his spare Francis, the Angelina, and the taneous, as well, and certainly fashion, so that you will be tickets, and stay out of the time without wasting his money Elizabeth, and there'll probably 100 percent effective—^like DDT. available if your Union needs night-clubs till the strike is over. —and you will be on hand if There will be plenty of chance your Union needs assfstance. be a couple more of her scows For just two short days after you. later to celebrate. i Louis Goffin taken off the Puerto Rican fun we sent Brother Volpian an Red Gibbs until next year. urgent SOS to put in his oar on SI Brother Kato's problem, we re­ LOSSES ceived the nicest call from the Good Ship The loss of these ships, of , Bull Line office asking us if we The Robin Kettering came in By CAL TANNER course, makes a big hole in would kindly send Kato over ast Friday for one of the best San Juan shipping. Last week, to collect his back wages. And Robin Line payoffs in a long MOBILE — The pace of ship-lis slated for the boneyai'd. There for example, we shipped men to that. Brothers, is service in any time. There was no disputed ping in this port was slow but were several disputed on the the following ships: the Helen, man's language! overtime in the Deck and Stew­ steady during the past seven McBurney but all were settled. Kathryn, Carolyn, and the Mon­ Five payoffs and an ards Departments, and only a days. The Alcoa Cavalier rounded FULL HOUSE arch of the Seas, and that's all, misunderstanding on - a delayed equal number of sign-ons, includ­ out the week's payoffs. This trim Prothers. Right now, the Hall is fairly sailing in the Engine Depart­ ing two ships on continuous ar­ passenger ship had her usual And there, briefly, you have full of men. There are approxi­ ment. ticles, resulted in a total of 89 clean payoff, thanks to the the picture. Brothers. And that's mately 50 bookmen and 30 per­ This voyage was notable for bookmen and 1*2 permits being heads-up crew of Seafarers the way it's going to be for the mits on the beach. A good num­ minimum of disputes of any sHipped for the week. aboard. next few weeks. ber of these Brothers, we know, kind, which was due in large The Wild Ranger signed on for You all know how late the San are waiting for the MV Ponce. part to the excellent coopera­ Three of the five ships paying the usual rim, while the Hurri­ Juan Branch is in getting the She's due back in Puerto Rico tion of the Captain, Mates and off were Waterman jobs. They cane spent three, days in the re­ weekly LOGS, because of the | the last of November. If she's Engineers. In addition, the Vice- were the Wild Ranger, which pair yard before re-signing for 1,399 miles they have to travel tied up in the States by the Fh-esident of the line, Pendelton, came in from the Puerto Rican a run that will include calls at run; the Hurricane, in from Eu­ strike, we're going to have a made the entire voyage. rope with a few minor Tseefs that ports in Greece, Turkey and Hall full of long, sad faces— As a result, there were num­ were settled quickly to the Italy. mostly belonging to the peren­ erous ceremonial dinners in the The Iberville, also in need of nial beachcombers, like Brothers South and East African ports as crew's satisfaction, and the Iber­ overhaul, will put in about 12 Lockwood, Thompson, Larson, far up the coast as Dar-es-salam, ville, also back from Europe. days in drydock. As scheduled, Jensen, Henault, and a host of for the purpose of promoting The latter's payoff was held up the Cavalier again headed out on others. business and company good­ a couple of hours because of dis­ her South Atlantic cruise. puted overtime for the Black These boys have kind of taken will. By EDDIE BENDER In transit this week was the the Ponce under their wing, so It speaks well of the fine Ste­ Gang. The beef was settled, Daniel Lownsdale, Waterman, Those holding tripcards are to speak, and they fret and wards Department, and of tKe however. now requested to turn these in worry about her when she's Chief Steward, Hauser, that The other payoffs were on the Which took a couple of replace­ and get original permits, in­ away—and they're not on her— these were an outstanding suc­ R. R. McBurney, of the Over- ments. This ship was in good shape on arrival here. stead. This may be done through like a gang of old maids. lakes Freight Corporation, which cess. As usual there is a comple­ any of the A&G Branches, or by ment of oldtimers on the Mobile applying directly to Headquar­ beach. To name a feW, there are ters, either in person or through' IH. J. Cronin, E. A. Trader, Sam the mails. Bailey, C. J. Beck, E. L. Walker, When you do this, it is advis­ By PAUL GONSORCHIK L. G. Morrow, Orvin Music, E. long run eveiyone will profit by get out on jobs than formerly. able to have all previous re­ C; Vitou, A. G. Milne, H. Lawit. This must be so for, in spite ceipts that have been issued to NEW YORK — After having of the fact that there are more[rence, J. Bell, W. Sanders, T. I know of instances where you, as well as your tripcard, in read most of the pros and cons men registered at the moment. Smith and F. Hills. members have stayed aboard the order to make possible a thor- on the transportation rule cur.Shipping for the next week bug'. check-up on all of your rently in effect and which have same ship for a couple of years, we still have occasional difficulty promises to be slow, with only previous payments, and to make been appearing in the LOG, I and • there are more than just a in getting some ratings for jobs. Like Bosuns, for example. I j three or four ships scheduled to sure that your record is credited should like to express my own few of these men who will settle should like to urge the men to : take on crews. One of these is down on a ship for that long. with all monies you have paid. view of this rule. take jobs whenever they come'a passenger ship, which only Another requirement is that Not that 1 have anything I am in favor of the rule we up. take.s replacements. you submit a personal identifi­ are now using—^for many and against a man remaining^ on JOB PROTECTION Howevex*, we still have a few cation with your tripcard—^which various reasons. And I believe board a ship that long, either. „ . , , , ^ XI vessels undergoing repaii's .in the includes the department and rat­ very firmly that these reason are That's okay if shipping oppor­ But back to our transpoi-tation , , , , • 1uiu [local yards and a couple of them, ing in which you ship; your full good ones. tunities are plentiful for every rule. It IS accomplishing for the. oTTT u i. 4.U •NTniTTT u « 1 J * , ^t leost, should some-. name; the date and place of your member. But when jobs are a SIU what the NMU has failed to' ' ... be i-eady . As every member knows, ship­ uuru iu4. I times the latter part of next birth; your height, weight and bit scarcer than they used to be, achieve. When things got tough I ^ color of eyes; your Z-number; ping has dropped almost 50 per you find that some verr good in the NMU, men in that Union, ^ ® ' and the name and address of cent in recent months, due to the men can turn out to be company had no such rule to help speed [ NOT INVOLVED fact that the money men have stiffs when they're interested in your next of kind. up the shipping chances of its, Up to the time this report is Proofs of your strike clear­ shifted American cargo to foreign holding onto a job for a long membership. Our rule in the being Written, the strike of the ances, both for the 1946 General bottoms. Naturally, our shipping time. SIU helps protect your job op- International Longshoremen's AsStrike and the 1947 Isthmian, suffers by such a shift. Some men have said that, un­ portunities. ' sociation, AFL, has not reached FAIR CHANCE must also be submitted. Usually der the transportation rule, they In the NMU they are thinking this far south and, frorn present this is stamped on the tripcard. Under these circumstances, it have a chance of losing their about putting into effect a rule indications, the men will not go But in the event that you do not, would seem only fair that each vacations. I doubt very strongly that would require a member to out in the Gulf. So everything have these clearances stamped in, and every member should be whether this rule makes any dif­ make only one trip on a ship seems to be running pretty" send your strike picketcards, or'given an opportunity to ship out ference insofar as a <nan's vaca­ and then pay off—regardless of smooth" on the Mobile labor front your certificate of discharges j without spending too long a tion is concerned. whether it is a long or a short at the moment. either from a ship, or from a period of time on the beach. Personally, I feel that if a trip. I Repairs on our building have hospital which establishes your The transportation rule now member fails to see that the So, boys, my advice is that you been started, and we are waiting in effect increases the chances of transportation rule is beneficial hold the present transportation for the go-ahead signal from clearance. The membership is doing away the members to get out. And al- to the membership as a whole, rule as it is, until the shipping Headquarters for other renqyawith all tripcards, so that only though objections are made by he is influenced solely by selfish­ situation improves, at least. tions we have planned. bookmen and permitmen will be some who sign off, it should be ness. If you want to sail steady with The whole job will take quite allowed to sail our ships. You j obvious that eventually things As Chief Dispatcher in the only a short stay on the beach, a while to complete. But when it should have no trouble getting a even out and they, too, will get a New York Hall, I am in a posi- 'keep the transportation rule. If is finished, like everything else permit if you now hold a trip- chance to ship out quicker. tion to see the record. And'you want to get a ship once in the SIU turns to, it will make In other words, it works the stranges as it may seme, there five months, then knock out the ! our Hall one of the tops in the card. The sooner you get this, same for everyone, and in the actually are less men trying to | transportatiqn rule. the quicker you can ship. business. Mobile Haii Alterations Begun From The Sixth Deck Transportation Rule Makes Jobs For All •_ .1. "SL r �tFildMt. MtS T If E 5-E >< V A R E R S L O G STARTS LIMITED PASSENGER SERVICE RUN Page Seven Hew York Harbor Is Dosortoit As ILA Strike Gains Momontum By JOE ALGINA NEW YORK—Shipping here is at a complete standstill after weeks of fairly strong activity. Before the Longshoremen's strike became effective, we tied up some loose ends and squared away a few payoffs and sign ons. Among the payoffs were the Emilia, Beatrice and Frances of the Bull Line; Steel Traveler, Isthmian; Afoundria and Gov­ ernor Bibbs, Waterman; and the Robin Kettering, Robin. Those which left before the port shut down were the Afoun­ dria; the Sanford Dole, MarTrade, and the New London, Mathiasen. The Dole helped out a great deal when she came from layup to take a full crew. The New London also had almost a com­ plete turnover in all depart­ ments. The SS Iberville, the first ship assigned by the Waterman Steamship Corporation to the The big port is just about new limited passenger ship service between New York, Florida and Gulf ports, will begin deserted now. Most of the com­ her initial northbound voyage from New Orleans. panies got their ships out of port and those that didn't make it are shut down for the dura­ tion. Several ships due in this NEW YORK, Nov. 19 — The be placed on the run. Service the Antinous and two weeks la­ port were diverted at the last ter by the DeSoto. Sometime in minute to ports not affected by Waterman Steamship Corpora­ will be on a weekly basis. tion will operate a limited pas­ Ports of call scheduled thus far- January the Topa Topa is slated the walkout. Tankers, as usual, are moving. senger service between New are Miami, Tampa, Mobile, New to be placed in the trade. York, Florida, and Gulf ports, Orleans and Panama City. Sail­ CUT TIME FILE FOR PAY with the SS Iberville scheduled ings will also be scheduled from According to Pan Atlantic, the Nobody knows how long this to begin the new service tomor­ Philadelphia and Baltimore. vessels placed on the new run strike is going to last so, if you row. will cut sailing time between All ships in the new service haven't done so already, now is The new service will be the are owned by Waterman and Atlantic and major Gulf ports by the time to file for unemploy­ first of its kind since the start of will replace five 11-knot Libertj^ as much as three days. Each will World War II, and will be hand­ vessels that the company has carry 1,000 tons more cargo than ment compensation. led by the Pan Atlantic Steam­ been operating under bareboat the Liberty ships they are re­ It takes a little while for the ship Corporation, a Waterman' charter from the Maritime Com­ placing. money to start rolling but once subsidiary. The vessels being returned to it starts coming in it helps a mission. PORTS OF CALL The Iberville will leave from the Maritime Commission are lot in weathering a period of Four modified C-2 type Mobile tomorrow for New Or­ the Winslow Homer, Daniel no shipping. After the strike, according to freighters, each having cabin ac­ leans, where she will start her Lownsdale, John Bartram, Al­ reports. Waterman is going to bert K. Smiley and John Laur­ commodations for 12 pasengers, initial northbound voyage. She inaugurate a coastwise passen­ ence. will be followed a week later by and capable of ISVa knots, will \ I' i( ii Four Waterman Ships Elnter Coastwise Run Former Esse Man Gives Company Union LowJown V (Continued front Page 1) there is absolutely no provision for a penalty in" the event this "full imbroken hour" for each man for each meal is not al­ lowed. The writer, on one occasion personally asked the patrolman, Sam Royal, for a clarification of this particular clause. I told him it had been the practice to call us out during our meal hours, and asked him if there was any penalty provision. . He replied that no penalty could be claimed and nothing could be done _ about it. I take this one clause to illus­ trate the difference between the Union contract and these phony contracts. The Union contract has the above clause also, but there are penalty provisions which give it strength. II we are interrupted in our meals, we get one hour over­ time, and one additional hour overtime as a penalty for the in­ terruption. Without this penalty provision, the clause itself is meaningless. About two years ago their shrewd company lawyers drew up an entirely new contract, which is a masterpiece in the company interests. I say company lawyers 'drew up this contract, because I am certain that neither Sam Royal nor any of the "executives" of the ^ Esso Tankermen's Associa­ tion has the ability or the in­ genuity to conceive anything so neat. They worked out a plan which provides that, after an employee has a certain amount of con­ tinuous service with the com­ pany, he is given vacation bene­ fits, and thereafter he is given one month's vacation with pay after three months continuous service. The new contract (condensed) means that you work three months continuously, and then have one month off on vacation with full pay. Sounds good doesn't it? Here is the joker: Overtime is entirely out! For many years. Standard Oil has tried to dp away with over­ time. Now through this cleverly devised instrument, they have eliminated overtime entirely. This new contract was pre­ sented and voted upon by the deluded membership. It was ac­ cepted. Whether there was any fraud Connected with the count­ ing of ballots I c_annot say. However, I do know that only those having membership ip the Esso Tankermen's Association were eligible to vote. And I do know also that this Esso Tank­ ermen's Association represents only a very small minority of the men sailing Esso ships. It is such a phony outfit that those who do belong to it are ashamed to admit their member­ ship, in it, and it is seldom that you can find a single man on a ship who will admit membership. without interferring with the No meetings are held on the smooth operations of the com­ ships, and the "union" business pany." At any time that the company is conducted entirely, by these considers it as interferring with company-paid stooges. The thing that sold this con­ "smooth operations" they may tract was the ingenious vacation dispense with it entirely. Then with pay. It sounds very nice. the men will be far worse off But did these deluded Esso men than before; for the company ever stop to consider what they will never go back to paying have lost in overtime! Or how overtime, now that it has been many months vacation they could abolished. The thing that Esso men afford to take on their own, with the lost overtime that this con­ should realize, consider and ap­ preciate—and many of them do, tract deprives them of? for they are not all company They were already getting stooges—is that whatever bene­ twenty-one days vacation. So ficial conditions they now enjoy the company is really only con­ came through the conditions won ceding a little better than two on other lines by the Seafarers months in lieu of the overtime and other bona fide unions. And which they have abolished en­ they can be certain that, if the tirely (with the sole exception impossible should happen and for tank cleaning). the Seafarers should be destroyed, For example, in the case of an Esso conditions will go right AB earning approximately $200 back to moonlight and twilight per month, they are giving him chipping and painting from sun­ $400 per year in lieu of his over­ up to sim-down with no overtime time. $400 divided by 12 is and that the Esso stooge imion about $33 and change per month. will be then—as now—not only He formerly made that much powerless to help them, but un­ overtime for Sunday sea watches willing. alone—not to speak of overtime This article is wi'itten not only for mooring and unmooring, and for the enlightenment of our for loading and discharging cargo membership, but as an appeal to on watches after 5:00 PM and tlie intelligent Esso men—many before 8:00 AM, etc. of whom are my friends and And there is nothing in this former shipmates—^to come into contract that binds the company the SlU and get the wages and to continue giving these vaca­ overtime rightfully due them. tions. Almost every clause con­ Then they can take their own tains provisions stating: "Pro­ vacation when they feeHike tak­ viding it is possible to do so ing it—and a much longer one! ger service with four of its C-2 vessels. The first one to go into action will be the Iberville. The Liberty ships at present used in the coastwise service will be turned into the boneyard. What will happen to the service these C-2s are presently on (East Coast to Europe) is not clear. We hope, naturally, that the company will put additional ships into that run. If they do then we won't be hit by this move. Every 'time a seaman looks at a news item coming from the Maritime Commission a lot of board members' names are men­ tioned. The names are always the same: those of shipping com­ pany executives. It seems that it's about time that maritime la­ bor had a representative on this government board which so greatly effects our lives. NO VOICE At present it's a shipowner monopolized board. There is no one on the board to voice the sentiments' of the men who man the ships. If a Union seaman was put on the board a lot of the foul-ups that "> occur would be eliminated. An example of this is when the Commission agrees upon the design of a new freight or pas­ senger ship. Ten to one that, when the ship is put into serv­ ice, something is lacking for the crew's comfort. Either the foc'sles are too small, heads too few or the messroom inadequate. If a labor man were on the board he could remedy this before the blueprints went to the shipyard. Another thing, a labor man on the board would serve to keep before them the fact that there's more to shipping than just steamship companies. He could prick their consciences regularly and maybe do some good, in spite of the fact that he would be hopelessly out num­ bered in any voting issue. Waterman Receives Young America, First Of 10 Rebuilt C-2s The first of ten C-2 type freighters being converted to company specifications has,been delivered to the Waterman Steamship Corporation. Built during the recent war for use as a troopship, the latest addition to the Waterman fleet is 439 feet long and 63 feet in the beam. She bears the name Young America. Waterman expects delivery of the nine other vessels by the end of the year. They will bring the Waterman fleet strength to a to­ tal of 55 modern dry-cargo ships, the largest privately owned fleet under the American flag. �' . Page Eight THE SEAFARERS LOG SHIPS'MIIIIUTES •" • " - ,''''' '' '•'llr''-0^ • •' • ;' Frida7. November 18, 1948 NEWS , Robin Sherwood SeafarersCondemn ActionsHarmingMembers' Prestige ''/•• " V 't. I Home BuriaX For Member Killed In France In 1946 The conduct of a Robin Sherwood crewmember who assaulted another The body of Seafarer Lawrence Edward Smith, who customer in an East London, South Africa, bar last month, has been round­ ly condemned by several of his shipmates as reflecting unfavorably on men was killed in LeHavre, France in 1946, was reinterred in his native Savannah, Georgia, last week with full military in the seafaring occupation and members of the SIU in particular. honors and an escort of his fellow SIU Brothers. As reported in a Port Eliza-$ Brother Smith, an original beth newspaper, the Robin Sher­ now," the Stewards Delegate member of the SIU who held Book wood crewmember was found concluded. The Sherwood men made it No. 36, was killed January 22, guilty in Magistrate's Court of clear that they weren't concerned 1946, while ashore in LeHavre. striking the bar customer on At the time he was Bosun aboard September 30. He chose the al­ with the argument that preci­ pitated the attack. They made the Shepard Line ship Warren. ternative of a 20-pound fine it equally clear, however, that P. Marks. Burial was in Le­ rather than face two months at they took a decidedly dim view Havre. hard labor. The incident was reported to of the action which cast .un­ At his family's request, his the LOG-by several Seafarers called-for aspersions on men in body was returned to his home aboard the Robin Sherwood, a the seafaring business. aboard an Aimy transport. In TIME ARGUMENT Robin Line vessel on the South addition to the full military hon­ According to the story reach^ African run. ors, Seafarers in Savannah took Because their shipmate's at­ ing the LOG, the attack grew part in the services. Many of tack on the East London man out of a difference between the his former shipmates and friends Sherwood man and the bartender was unprovoked, the Sherwood as to whether or not the clock from the Savannah Hall were Seafarers held that his display of present at the rites. violence only served to blemish on the barroom wall showed the the reputation of his shipmates right time. When a third party Surviving Brother Smith is and seamen in general at a time volunteered that the clock was his mother, Mrs. Maria Mew of SIU members acting as pallbearers remove Brother when the SIU is making every right, the Sherwood man struck Smith's casket from the funeral chapel in Savannah. Savannah. effort to break the misconception that seamen regularly become in­ volved in such altercations. GREATER HARM Although incidents such as the one reported by the Sherwood men admittedly concern only By SALTY DICK those directly involved, the Sea­ farers expressed indignation be­ Our white caps are off to brags that this was the city cause they ultimately feel their "Red" Hancock for convincing where the confederate army was efforts. the Port Steward to give us in­ stopped from going any farther Crew comments pointed to the ner-spring mattresses. The crew north. Henry Yeats asked the fact that the press throughout can now have their beauty nap Deck Steward for a Neptune's the world is quick to play up in­ ...On the SS Del Norte, all Certificate. He says he wants it cidents involving seamen far out the Delegates go around once alto show his grandchildren some of proportion to the space they week inspecting our foc'sles, and;day. (He'd better find a wife merit. Since Seafarers depend Brother, you better have it clean, first!)... 1 understand they're for relaxation on brief liberty in too. A very good idea. May trying to install a movie pro­ the world's ports, the Sherwood other crews follow this ex­ jection machine on the Del Norte men maintained they liked to ample ... Jack Vorel is back for the crew. It won't be long Photo shows a squad of soldiers as they fired a volley spend their time ashore in an at­ again on a Delta ship going to before we'll be asking for a over Brother Smith's grave. Pictures were taken by Seafarer mosphere as pleasant as circum­ South America. He was injured television set next. Laurence Reinchuck. stances will permit. when he dropped a heavy ob­ Heard Joe Lae is Second Stew­ Typical of the opinions re­ ject on his foot. ard on an Alcoa scow ... Bob ceived by the LOG in regard to "Whitey" Tomlinson is our Creel quit the ship to stay the East London affair was one new Ship's Delegate and Ship's ashore for awhile. But 1 know received from the Sherwood's Treasurer. 1 must admit we had the "call of the sea" will be too Stewards Department Delegate. better raise our funds ... Here's much to resist... Ray Flynn, JEAN LAFITTE. Oct. 10— unlicensed personnel's quarters "I believe that capers like this a good question: Should the Chief Pantryman, blew his top Chairman Smith; Recording Sec­ was discussed. The Ship's Dele­ one bring about a dislike for Steward's Department personnel because one of the crew called retary Gilmore. Previous min­ gate stated that a repair list seamen as a whole," he tvrote. return the tips to the passengers his salads garbage ... Who's the utes accepted. Under Old Busi­ would be drawn up. The Stew­ He added that the townspeo­ if they're not sufficient? My an­ big-shot at s^a (a small fry at ness the attitude of the Captain ard asked the crew's cooperation ple's disapproval was evident swer .is No. By returning these home) who has to punch his and his refusal ta authorize in keeping the messroom in or­ whever the Sherwood men went. these tips you are hurting the time card while at home? 1 also necessary paintipg of ships quar- der and returning dirty linen in "I know for certain that the company and of course you are understand he^s th7"buyer of ^ers was discussed and a petition time for it to be sent to laundry. people here (Port Elizabeth) do hurting the Union. Have you groceries and he does the cook­ was approved to recommend that One minute of silence was ob­ not approve of it," he revealed, any suggestions? Sometime ago ing at home. Do you know him? the Captain be removed from the served for Brothers lost at sea. "as it was the only subject of six waiters insisted that we re­ It seems to me the Delta SS ship. The Delegates' reports on conversation ashore last night." turn the tips. We had a special Co. should accept a few good the standing of the membership "We are looking forward to meeting and finally agreed to suggestions- from us for their were accepted. Motion carried submit repair list to the a not-too-cordial greeting when keep all tips, no matter how new liner. We are the ones who we get back to East London. We small. Knowing these boys, 1 will sail her, and I'm sure we Patrolman and not to sign on unless the repair list is okayed certainly couldn't expect other­ asked the messman who had have very good ideas. wise under the circumstances served them during the voyage The election is now under in writing. One minute of sil­ if they gave him anything. He way so do your duty and vote. ence observed for departed XXX replied, "Just one tipped me." I'm referring to our Union. Vote Brothers. It was decided to STEEL ARCHITECT. Oct. 1— (Note: 1 myself depend on tips for the men whom you think have the Ship's Delegate and the Presiding officers not given. Un-. —news tips—and 1 feel that we will help the Union. There are Engine Delegate report the con­ der Old Business it was pointed The membership has gone should accept all tips with many candidates, so pick a good dition of the ship to the Union out that there were still three officials in the HaU. Brother Qilcrs in one foc'sle and three official. And above aU vote! on record lo prefer charges thanks.) Busch was. given a vote of con­ Firemen in another. The Dele­ against all gashounds and Frank Russo is here in the fidence. gate pointed out that by moving performers as well as the Gulf Area. He says he's tired the hospital topside, putting the men who willfully destroy or of the North Atlantic. He's gain­ it X X Electricians in the present hospi­ steal ships gear. The SIU has ing weight. Herbert Knowles is SEATRAIN NEW YORK. Cel. If you don't find linen tal and the Wipers in the Elec-, no place for men who ruin a butcher who knows his meats. when you go aboard your 6—Chairman Antonio Schiavone; trician's foc'sle, there would be the good conditions the He was very unhappy because ship, notify the Hall at once. Recording Secretary Eugene Ray. three rooms available for" the Union wins for them. Take he missed the movie "The Road A telegram from Le Havre or Previous minutes read and ac­ Oilers and Firemen on watch. To Rio" with Bob Hope. action in shipboard meetings Singapore won't do you any cepted. Delegates' reports ac­ George John made a trip by good. Ifs your bed and you cepted. The meeting went into The Delegates' reports were ac­ against men guilty of these Motion under New auto to Chambersburg, Pa. (home have to lie in it. Good and Welfare, where the cepted. things. town) from New Orleans. He sougeeing and painting of the (Continued on Page 9) 'The Voice Of The Sea' MINUTES OF SIU SHIP MEETINGS On Perfonners AnENTION! i , .''V. �THE SEAFARERS LOG Friday, November 19, 1948 Page Nine Digested Minutes Of SlU Ship Meetings COLABEE, Gel. 2 —Chairman M. Sams; Recording Secretary R. D. Niedermeyer. The Delegates reported on the standing of the members. R. Niedermeyer elected Ship's Delegate. - Motion under New Business by R. Gates to have the Delegates see the First Assistant about checking the plumbing aft and getting the water system in ordor. One min­ ute of silence for lost Brothers. Under Good and Welfare it was decided to set a third table in the messhall and to feed the crew before the longshoremen. Brother Hager be delegated to The condition of milk, eggs and Si a saL\ about a;ho oiill be-tfie exchange books upon arrival in coffee was discussed. Meeting Antwerp. Motion carried to ask adjourned at 1:3(5 PM. offlcids of-ihe TA eG Disfvjcf-iVi — Brother Livingston to take the 4 4 4 Si qou have de-f iniie \deas> of ouhair ships' beefs to the Hall and mail ALCOA PENNANT, Oct. 3— back the answers, in case he Chairman Red Sully; Recording "Hie Union's proqva^ should beibr pays off in Antwerp and gets Secretary Griffin. Delegates re­ ihe nex-h qear«=back to the States ahead of the ported all in order. No New; Si upa are in-fevesiec/ m preserving ship.' Under Good and Welfare Business. Under Good and Wel­ the preamble and Oath of Obli­ fare, those ^who paid for medical union democraCL/ — gation were read by the Secre­ treatment in Georgetown, B. G. head -for+he nearest" tary. All Delegates were asked were told to hold their receipts Union Hall an(d ... to turn in slips to ship's Dele­ for the Patrolman as such were S, t. t. gate pertaining to questions collectable xmder the agreement. STEEL RECORDER. Oct. 3— which the crew would like to Chairman A. S. "Salty" Siee. The have clarified at the meetings. The condition of the slopchest Ship's "Delegate reported that he One minute of silence observed would be called to attention of would turn in a repair list right in memory of departed Brothers. Patrolman. The Chief Engineer would be requested to have after the meeting. The Deck 4 4 4 drinking water pump fixed in Delegate asked men in the De­ THOMAS CRESAP, Oct. 13 Montreal. It was asked that the partment to let him know if their —Chairman Edward Stankovich; overtime, which has just been Recording Secretary _ J. B. Cau­ showers be repaired. The crew By HANK checked, .is okay. The Engine sey. -Delegate's reports accepted. was warned to replace cups and Delegate reported the disputes in Under Old Business the previous glasses in the pantry after using, We haven't read the labor-hating newspapers and their dis­ overtime settled. The Stewards minutes wei-e read and accepted. and to wear proper clothing in tortions and we haven't taken any "wildcat" opinion poll of our Delegate reported there were Motion under New Business to the messroom. One minute's sil­ big membership anchored in port. We took a fast landlubber's ence for departed Brothers. seven disputes to be turned over question Patrolman on change in "sight" of the situation, then looked into our cracked crystal ball to the Patrolman. The repair Transportation ruling; that ship­ —and we see that the AFL longshoremen's strike will be over list was discussed under Good ping rules of May 1st be en­ and Welfare. One minute's sil­ forced; that the Stewards Patrol­ before this Friday. If not, it will take another week... Meanwhile ence for departed Brothers. man check stores before leaving the brothers have time on their hands to attend to important ti S) New York; and that transfer of Union business—the voting for election of SIU officials and the NEW LONDON, Oci. 1—Chair­ meat from a lay-up Victory .ship 4 4 4 pro and con discussion of the transportation rule. EDWIN MARKHAM, Oct. 3— man W. Lawlon; Recording Sec­ be investigated. Under Good Chairman L. G. Walberg; Re­ retary Robert Smith. The Dele­ and Welfare, performers during 4 4 4 gates made their reports which stay of ship in Savannah were cording Secretary N. W. Kirk. One Seafarer, finished wilh his long "SS Pelrolifis lankerwere accepted. Under New Busi­ discussed. It was decided to The Delegates reported on the ness a motion carried to amend refer matter to Patrolman. The standing of the membership. itis" voyage, says Ihe high cost of shore leave in Antwerp the fine system for men missing Steward was asked to vary the There was no New Business. Un­ is as follows: Forty-three francs t.o the dollar. A decent meal watches. In the case of day menu. It was decided to assess der Education it was brought costs about a dollar-and-a-half and a double shot of liquor workers, each half day's work each man $1 for a washing ma­ out that there was no Union staggers you for a buck ... Big Dutchy Bolz came in from a will be deemed a watch. Motion chine and for indoor ball equip­ literature aboard, but that the trip aboard the Steel Vendor. He hit many ports, and of them made and carried that no one ment. P. Hume was appointed old membei-s were doing a good pay off until a Union official is Treasurer to handle this^ One job in educating the new men. all he said the w.orst were those of India. Next time we'll aboard and clears the ship of minute's silence for departed Under Good and'^Welfare a beef ask Dutchy to splice for us his reasons why. Could it be in the Steward's department was beefs. Motion made that the Brothers. that "rupee baksheesh" went up by the waterfront "pilots?" settled in a good Union manner. Ship's Delegate notify the Hall The Steward was asked to im­ upon arrival so that a Patrolman 4.4 4 prove the quality dt the eqtrees. , can be dispatched as soon as pos­ Oldtimer Edward Cocking writes from Detroit, saying how The Ship's Delegate was in­ sible. Discussion under Good and structed to ask the Captain to much he's pleased that the SIU membership has made so many Welfare included repairing the put out the draw in US money gains. They sure have: wages, cohtracts and conditions, plus a messhall door. One minute of withqut the Hawaiian cancella­ militant spirit in helping other unions in their beefs... On Novem­ silence for departed Brothers. tion on the back of it. One min­ S, 4. 4. ber 10 the Norton Company published, for $6.00, The Maritime ute of silence for lost Brothers. SWEETWATER, Oct. 10— History of Maine by William Rowe... From Maracaibo, Venezuela, Chairman P, Allgeier; Recording 4 4 4 Brother E. Edginton, the oldtimer and electrician, sends his Secretary J. Wetzlef. The Dele­ CAPE MOHICAN. Oct. 3— Christmas Card greetings to all the boys. Wonder how the landgates reported all in order. Un­ Chairman Tuczowski; Recording der New Business P. Allegeier Secretary Robinson. Previous lubbing Venezuelan life is treating him? was elected Ship's Delegate. Mo­ minutes read and posted. Deck 4 4 4 tion carried that each man do his Delegate Sirois reported clarifi­ 4 4 4 part in making this a clean ship. cation is needed on gangway ANDREW JACKSON, Oct. 10 These brolhers will be mailed the weekly LOG to their Under Good and ^elfare it was watches and on breaking of sea -Chairman Charles Breaux; Re­ homes free of cost: John Roberts of Florida. Fred Harrison decided to have the Ship's Dele- watches, on arrival in port. The cording Secretary Fred T. Miller. of Florida, C. J. Nail of Alabama, Danny Sheehan of Massa­ late see the Chief Engineer about Chief Mate wiU be asked again The Ship's Delegate reported chusetts, James Ervin of Michigan, William Craven of New improving the condition of the to have the laundry painted. The that he would contact the Cap­ drinking water. One minute of Engine Delegate reported seven tain about vouchers and draws. York...And here are some of the oldtimers who may be still silence for departed Brothers. The Stewards' Delegate reported anchored in town: D. Heron, J. Rowan, P. Fernandez, S. Avent, hours disputed overtime and beefs with the First Assistant. 267 hours disputed overtime. Mo­ A. McDonale, A. Sprung, W. Thornton. S. Foss, Louis Franken, He stated that a repair list was tion under New Business that no A. Remijn, A. Reyes, S. Lesley, E. Rydon. A. Maselek, H. Tilbeing made up. Motion under one pay off until all beefs were den, P. Soto, P. Duffy, A. Prime, M. Caten, C, Tinker. New Business to have the Deck settled. Amended to read that Delegate ask the Bosun or De­ no one pay off until itemized ac­ partment head to issue the cor­ counts of wages are given out. We would like to be informed by the membership when they rect amloimt of soap and soap Carried. Motion that 1700 pounds hit foreign ports in the future whether the following seamen's be dis­ powder as per agreement. Mo­ of contaminated flour 4 45 .4 clubs are receiving weekly bimdles of LOGS—the club in Abadan, PETROLITE, Oct. 9 — Chair­ tion carried to have the Dele­ posed of as soon as ship gets in­ Iran; the club in Ras Tanura, Saudi Arabia; and the "AT Ease" man Duke Livingston; Recording gates request the First Assistant to port. Amended that the flour Army Club in Bremen, Germany. Furthermore, we request another be disposed of before the payoff Secretary Robert E. Bishop. Mo­ to have the Wipers sougee the important item. We want to hear from the crews of the following so that the crew can be sure tion under Old Business by alleyway. A vote of thanks was Alcoa ships—Ranger, Capstan Knot, Snakehead, Hawser Eye, that the next gang will not be given the crew of the SS Cape Brother Maher to withdraw the Pegasus and the Mooring Hitch. Are you picking up the weeklystuck with it. Motion that the San Diego for donating a wash­ amendment to motion made at mailed bundles of LOGS addressed to your ships in care of the meeting of Sept 10. A communi­ ing machine to the SS Cape Mo­ crew's overtime sheets " be Alcoa office in Port of Spain, Trinidad? Stretch your sea-legs far cation received by Brother Mag­ hican. Under Good and Welfare checked with the company's enough as the company office to bring these bundles of LOGS num was read and posted. The it was asked that the Patrolman sheets before the payoff. One back to your ships. Let's hear from you fellas on these Alcoa Delegate's reports were accepted. check the slopchest. One min­ minute of silence for departed ships hitting Trinidad. Motion under Nev^ Business that ute of silence for lost Brothers. Brothers. (Continued from Page 8) Business to forward donations to the American Seamen's Friend Society on . the first draw.. One minute of silence for lost Brothers. J. t t .LEGION VICTORY, Oci. 2— Chairman Fred Travis; Record­ ing Secretary Galdikas Alphonsus. The Delegates' reports were accepted. Raymond L. Plude was elected Ship's Delegate. Motion carried to protest the deposit of $4 for new cots and $2 for used cots required by the Captain. Under discussion it was pointed out that this was a company regulation. Motion carried to have Ship's Delegate ask the Captain to increase the cigarette ration. One minute of silence for lost Brothers. CUT and RUN gl. 9- ' •, •« • W.: ^ 4 "i.:; -• M �Page Ten T H E S E AF A R E RS LO G Brother Digs Up Interesting Data On Commentator Against Idle Pay Friday, Norewber 19,^ 1948 Seafarer Pleased With CZ ' Decides To Join Local Cops To the Editor; here as I would in my own home. I would like- to get in a few them. Nothing was too good for I'd like to get some informa­ the poor misguided employee. words on how "things are going tion, if you would be. good Well, the Union lost the elec­ down here in Panama. I came enough to forward it to me: I tion of course. A footnote might off the SS Trinity—a T-2 tanker know that I am entitled to trans­ be added that the chicken sand­ portation back to New York'at wiches suddenly stopped, the —with chronic appendicitis, and the company's expense. But I gifts disappeared and the '"happy have been here since October have prospects of grabbing on­ family" routine went into the 27. It looks like I will be here to a very good job down here. same closet as the crying towels. another ten days, but Fm not If this job should materialize, The wine 'em and dine 'em rou complaining! would I still be entitled to col­ tine had worked. Let me pass the word to all lect transportation from the com­ Why am I telling all this? that anyone hitting Cristobal in pany agent here? The job is Well, I just thought" you'd like need of medical attention should with the Canal Zone police, and to know just in case you too head for the Colon Hospital. I would like to take it. happen to tune in Mr. Fulton This is the best I've seen yet. PAY CONTINUE? Lewis, Jr., some night. If you The doctors and nurses are as Would you also let me know want a strong dose of anti-union- good as they come. There are when my pay ends? Do my isrp just leave the dial where it plenty of good looking nurses wages continue until I get back, is. and the chow is swell. I guess or do they stop when the ship -Charles J. Dougherty I'm getting as good treatment hits New York? Even if I do take the job, I will continue paying all dues FRIENDLY ENEMIES IN THE GALLEY and assessments in order to keep ;• in good standing. I would ap­ i»;S: preciate it very much if you would send this information by return mail, as I will be out of the Hospital by the time the in­ formation would get here in the LOG, I'll sign off for now. Keep those LOGS coming. We get them from the USS. Even an NMU man here prefers it to the PILOT! Albert J. Jannello (Ed. Note: You are entitled to your transportation at com­ pany expense, but you cannot demand cash in lieu of trans­ portation should you refuse the latter. Your wages con­ tinue until the ship returns to the States, after which time you will go on to "mainten­ ance and cure" if you are still unable to work.) ber these outfits get kickbacks from the state. This happened One night a couple of weeks I in New York state recently. ago I happened to be listening to COMPANY'S RECORD my radio when Fulton Lewis, Jr., a so—called commentator, came And now—back to Harris, Up­ on the air. I only listened with ham & Company. When I asked half an ear until he began talk­ one of the members of the Unit­ ing about unemployment insur­ ed Financial Employes about the ance. His comments on that sub­ outfit he took me aside and told ject made me sit up and listen. me an interesting tale. His spiel went something like It seems that the UFE tried to this: organize the workers in this Unemployment insurance is all firm in 1946. After the ground­ right, but it is being administer­ work had been laid the State ed incorrectly. The whole set-up Labor board ordered an election should be changed. Instead of among the employees. When the allowing men to remain idle and election was announced it look­ collect their $20-plus a week un­ ed like the union would have til a job in their classification smooth sailing but they didn't comes up, men should be forced count on what took place. The outfit started a smear to take any jobs that come along. Going on, his remaks can be campaign against the union. The summarized as thus: A man may girl employees were told they be unable to get work in his would lose their rest periods if trade because of a slack season the union won. Big parties were so he bleeds the government un­ thrown and thousands of dollars til work picks up. Instead, he spent to entertain the workers— should be made to take a job in all designed to show them that a field where workers are l^^e- it was just "one big happy fam­ mand. If he refuses he should ily" and no nasty union was be ruled ineligible for compen­ needed. Every day free chicken sand­ sation. wiches were supplied to the of­ That was quite a mouthful he fice force. Money and gifts were got off his chest. In other words, if I, Joe Blow, can't get a job as an AB because of slow ship­ ping I should be made to go to work in a factory or a store, otherwise I forfeit any money I have coming. The way i^ looks to me, Lewis can't be very strongly for unem­ ployment insurance, because if it were administered the way he chooses, no one would receive anything. There's always some sort of a job open somewhere, usually one nobody else wants lavished upon those who were Baker's Pal because of the rough working thought to be wavering in their conditions and poor pay. Lewis allegiance. Out-of-state em­ doesn't nlind this. He's all set in ployees, loyal ones of course, his job. In fact, he was in the were called in to the Wall Street George Reoch, who sent the picture to the LOG, says magazines recently as a "Man of office so as to be on hand when Uncle Otto Pruessler (left), 3rd Cook, and Harold Machon, Distnction." the election came. Chief Cook, turned out chow pleasing Jio the crew of the Employees as far away as NEWSLESS "NEWS" Southport, In their off moments, however, they capered— Florida were called in — plane as the picture shows. Well, Mr. Lewis wound up his fare paid by the company. Super­ "news" summary with a thinly visory employees were reduced disguised plug for the Republi­ in classification so as to be elig­ can candidate (this was before ible to vote, after which they the election). Then we were hon­ would return to their former po­ To the Editor: like a lot of performers without ored with a few words from his sitions. there being a kick-back, even sponsor. On and on went the campaign. There seems to be a mistaken though it is not a Union ship. Guess who his sponsor was? The head of the firm had per­ idea among some of our volun­ When we get aboard any un­ Nope, not a rough-riding steam­ sonal talks with everyone. Co­ teer organizers when they go organized ship, let's act like we ship company, but something pious tears were shed over the aboard a ship that they can get were on a ^nion ship and show worse: Harris, Upham & Com­ fate of the poor staff should the away with murder. Just the fact one and all what a good Union pany, 14 Wall Street, investment UFE enter the picture. Then the that they are not under Union man can do! brokers. Later on, by poking day of the election rolled around. contracts and regillations is no Add Gilham around, I found some very inter­ Employees known to be against excuse for gassing up, perform­ "Baker, Jr.," a baby chim­ esting things about this firm. But the union were sent to the voting ing, and generally fouling up! panzee, is given zm airing by Vets Hospital before .relating these facts, a place in taxis and private cars, the Robin Hood's Night CookWhen we go on these scows the word from his other sponsors, every luxury was heaped upon In Biloxi Baker. Seafarer is identiiied idea is ""to organize by setting a Lewis, inasmuch as he is only as Frank. good example, not only to the To Get LOG beamed out over the Mutual net­ Thanks Brothers crew but to the officers as well. work, is sponsored cooperatively. For Support To the Editor: If we can show them how a good That is, throughout the country Union man conducts himself on I was in the US Veterans Hos­ wherever there are Mutual out­ In Baltimore a Union ship, it will go a long pital in Biloxi, Mississippi for Send in the minutes of lets a local sponsor takes over. To the Editor: your ship's meeting to the After working several months way toward making good ship­ over a month and met quite a A check with the broadcasting New York HaU. Only in that company turned up the interest­ down in the SIU Baltimore hall, mates out of them and ^gaining few seamen there. The librarian way can the membership act ing facts that he is sponsored I wish to thank all the many their cooperation in organizing of the hospital asked me to have the Union send a few LOGs for on your recommendations, by banks, big industries and brothers and union officials who the ship. This applies not only to the the seamen -to read, firms all interested in contribut­ treated me swell, gave out with and then the minutes can be James R. Porter ing little to the support of un­ plenty cooperation and made the work done, but to the way we printed in the LOG for the (Ed. Note: The LOG wUl employed workers. After all, in job easier for the good of all conduct ourselves in- the messbenefit of all other SIU half, foc'sle and even ashore. Do soon be available in the hos­ crews. some states if the number of un­ concernedi, P. J. McCann not get the idea that we can act pital library.) employed is held to a low num­ To the Editor: Says Organizers Must Set Example Send Those Minutes �Friday; NoTember 19, 1948 TBE SEAFARERS LOG SEAFAHBKS ASHORE FROM THE WILLIAM H. ALLEN Page Eleven Official Of Teachers Union Urges Educational Films Of Maritime Labor Unions The foUowing letters from Selma Barchardt, vice presi­ dent of the American Federation of Teachers, in addition to giving the LOG a pat on the back, tells of the difficulty teachers face in presenting to their pupils the labor side of maritime in educational films. Dear Sir and Brother: I have enjoyed. receiving your paper very much. I think it represents a fine, effective type of labor journalism. In fact, its style is so pungent that I have passed on copies of it to teachers of classes in journalism, to use in their classes. I have read with great interest of the many fights in which your people engage in behalf of other unions. I thought it may interest you all to know that some of us are now conducting a fight for the recognition of your men. To be sure, we conduct our fight in a slightly different manner than you do, but I should be very happy if we could have even a fraction of as good results as you all have. Standing before the Victoria Memorial in Calcutta, India, four Seafarers from the William H. Allen, Isthmian, pose for a native photographer. Left to right—Joe Basch, Gooney Bird, Jerry Lonski and Russ Coleman, Jerry Lonski vnrote the account of the Allen's travels in last week's LOG. Lawyer's 'Clarified' Union Contract FoulsGangway Watch On Zane Grey To the Editor: For your information, I enclose herewith a copy of a letter which I sent some time ago to a firm producing educational films. This letter has never been answered; in fact, it has never been even acknowledged. It occurred to me that you w^ould be interested in "the unanswered letter," and to know that i am asking our locals in a number of cities to follow through and write also to the producers of this film, asking that if they say they are pro­ ducing a film which deals with the men who sail the ships, that they should make contacts with the men who sail the ships and with their leaders, and give that part of sea life and harbor life a proper place before school children. representatives of the Sultan's room having a few drinks and Fraternally yours, harbor patrol. I asked the steve­ shooting the breeze. They must I want to thank you for the dore boss, who could speak Eng­ Selma M. Barchardt have gotten a little too noisy to •welcoome LOGs that were mail­ lish, if these men were company suit 'Handcuff," for he rushed Vice President and Washington Representative ed to me. I passed them along watchmen. American Federation of Teachers down withT handcuffs to put on the Bosun. to the boys. Now we have just He said. No, they were from Frith Films heard that the new Isthmian the police and had nothing to do 840 Seward Street UPSIDE DOWN Contract has been signed, and with the company. Again the Hollywood 38, California Mate was asked about the gang­ But when he opened the door •We would like very much to have way watch, or an anchor watch. and saw that he couldn't scare , Gentlemen: you send us a copy of it. We will He said, no, and showed us a anybody, he beat a hasty retreat. 1 I have received your announcement of the three new harbor pay postage. copy of the contract, which their He then told the OS on gangway films. It is good to know that you are using the harbor as a study I will give you the highlights company lawyer had "clarified," watch (they hadn't wanted to unit for social studies classes. I am particularly interested in of events on board tha good ship making it different from our have a gangway watch here your relating the many governmental activities incident to a port Zane Grey. In the first place this copy which we got out of the either, but the Agent straighten­ of entry to a story of the harbor. I like this approach immensely. ship is only about five years old LOG. Sure enough, there it was. ed that out) to go ashore and get but looks to be twenty-five. She It stated that it was optional a cop. The OS told him his duty I wonder if, in ^our treatment of the social and economic has been making long trips ever whether the Master has a gang­ was to stand by the gangway and activities related to a harbor, you have had the opportunity to since she was built, according way watch or not. he intended to stay there. At get really to know the men who sail our ships? Their unrelenting to Chips who has been on her Of course, it would have taken this the Second Mate gave up; tight, through the years, for human liberty, their determination to all along. three men away from their chip­ but from that time on he was secure recognition of the dignity and worth of the individual man, When this crew came on board ping hammers, and it would have called "Handcuff" by the crew. their uncompromising support of great far-reaching moral prin­ she was rusted from one end cost the company 48 hours over­ We left Jeddah September 20, ciples, are to me one of the most magnificent aspects of harbor to the other. The gear was time on the weekends. It is easy and arrived in Bombay Septem­ life. It was back in my high school days when I read Ernest not in the shape it should be, to understand why his "Lord­ ber 30. 'While lying at anchor Poole's "The Harbor" that I first became aware of the gripping either. The blocks were all froz­ ship" did not want a sailor on one morning waiting for dock social challenge to be found in the problems of any harbor; the en, the dogs on the water-tight watch. space, I was standing amidships human problems, I mean. When, a few yeai-s after that, I first doors could only be moved with when I heard "Handcuff" telling heard Andrew Fureseth speak, this challenge took on another TEH! TEH! a sledge. It took us twice as the native watchman what to do meaning. I was eager to have the privilege of feeling myself long as it should to overhaul the —how to raise the flags and so associated, spiritually at least, in the fight this noble character e have a very good Chief jumbo-gear, when we had to Mate on board. He is an old- forth. I don't know whether the was making for his fellow men. use it in Jeddah. timer who came up through the native understood him, but he Did you ever meet Andrew Fureseth? How inspiring would I asked Chips, how come, and hawse-pipe; but it is the Skipper proceeded to carry out the or­ be a dramatization of the story of his life! I am much the richer he said that he was kept busy who runs the deck; The Mate ders. because I knew him doing other things for the Old hadn't a chance if he wants to A little while later the blinker Do tell me, do your pictures of the haibor, for our school Man. This is his first American hold his job. So the Second and on a nearby ship asked what the children, tell them of men like these two who have fought for ship, and I guess he doesn't know Third Mates had to tend the trouble was. Why did we have and won freedom for the men who sail the seas? the score yet. Now the Old Man gangway lights and flags and call wants to take it out on this crew the crew in the mornings. Of our flag upside down. I looked Very truly yours, by trying to get everything done course they split 15 hours over­ aft and sure enough, Old Glory SMB:SH Selma M. Barchardt in one trip. time between them, so they did­ was upside down. "Handsuff" lost The Skipper just doesn't like n't mind doing it. no time getting aft to correct the a Union man, which is not sur- j One evening, having nothing watchman's mistake. After that prising on an Isthmian ship. -He better to do, I thought I would the Mate took caie of the flags To the Editor: more bearable. The Steward not •wants to be different. He or­ go back and shoot the bull with himself when he thought about dered the clocks to be changed the Bosun. On my way past the We have just completed a four- only performed his duties, but on the 12-4. That will make it saloon I saw the Mate on watch it—though most of the time they months Far East trip to Egypt, went out of his way to do extra pretty tough when we start back. playing poker .— on company were up all night. There's more, the Persian Gulf and India on things for us, such as getting ice overtime! Isthmian's Steel' 'Vendor. Three cream before leaving Calcutta but why go on. LONG STRUGGLE enlightening ship's meetings for home. I would not have thought so (Name Withheld) As for the Second Cook and were held, in addition to a num­ We arrived in Jeddah on Sep­ much about it if this character Baker, if MA is a degree given ber of Departmental meetings. tember 13, and asked the Mate had not been throwing his weight toone who has mastered the about a gangway watch. He said around all trip, telling the men The usual Isthmian beefs came arts, then MB (master of baking) they would get a watchman from on watch what he would do if he up—poor overtime and bad top­ should be Ray Vandersalle's title. shore. But he put on a watch the ever caught a man away from side administration. But there One of the best Bakers afloat, he first night since it was late in the gangway—that is .if there had were no beefs on the chow! knows his art from A to Z. Both the evening when we .arrived. been a gangway'watch! When Though the stores were far from he and the Steward showed The Master went ashore to see he came out of the game I told the best, the Cooks turned out a every consideration for their fel­ the Agent the next day. him I was amazed to see him. fine bill-of-fare. low Brothers in the best SIU The Mate was asked about the an officer, playing cards on the A vote of thanks was given to fashion. •gangway watch, but hb said, no, company's overtime. the Steward, Vincent G. Orencio, Special recognition is also due there would be someone out from This was 'Handcuff,' the Sec­ and to the Second Cook and Ba­ to Frank Osetek for his splendid shore. We were anchored about ond Mate. He got his name in ker, Ray Vandersalle, for their .service as crew messman. two miles off shore. On Septem­ Tampa when a couple of the boys efforts in doing all possible to The Crew ber 14 they sent out two local were gathered in the Bosun's make a hot and dismal trip a lot of SS Steel Vendor Call Galley Work *Sheer Artistry' �Page Twrtee TBE SEAFARERS LOG Friday; Norember 19< 1948: Defends Conduct Of U.S. Seamen Against Criticism Of Shoresiders tentially United World. Seamen The average moron will say are emissaries to all countries that war is different and that Every day, since I first learn­ they visit. excesses are excusable then. But ed to tell the bow from the will that erase the dislike of the UNITE NATIONS stern, I have heard what a bunch American GI and the American of lazy-good-for-nothings sailors They bring the language and people that I have encoimtered are; and it has finally, after customs of their own people in the French, whom we were many years, brought me to the and thus bring their homeland supposed to have saved, and in conclusion that I would like to —closer to people who have nev­ the Italians, whom we conquCTclarify what a seaman is to the er left their own country. Of ed? millions who dislike us. course millions will say that To begin with, we are actual­ seamen are a damn poor exam­ Today I belong to one of the ly human beings, some big, some ple of their country. But I will finest and most well-meaning or­ small, some short and some tall; say that on the whole, they are ganizations in the world for sea­ but we are of the same back­ far better examples than the GI's men. The majority of those in the organization are upright grounds as anyone else. of the last war. Secondly, we are not all a This is not a sdanderous re­ men who have the same heart­ bunch of hurly-burly ignoram­ mark about the GI either, for aches, weaknesses, and qualities uses, as some people like to I was in the Navy myself, and of other people. think. I believe that most of heard the stories told by many So I say, "long live the best the men who sail today are in­ GIs themselves, as well as the builders of unity in the world— telligent to the point where they stories told by people who had the seamen." can make focds of the average contact with them. Phil "Blackie" Wagner person on the beach on many subjects of conversation. Lots of seamen are college graduates, and I would say that the ma­ jority have finished high school. (The following letter from complish our objective and bring But it is not schooling alone Local 224 of the Barbers' about 100 percent organization. that makes judgment. It is con­ Union, Providence, Rhode Is­ AU Union barber shops display tact with different people, and land, asks the supporf^of or­ the Barbers' Union Shop Card, the ways and means of life that ganized labor in the drive to which like all other xmion labels,, builds character ' and broadens organize the local barber union shop cards and buttons, the mind. Most seamen today shops. Although the number represents competent workman­ can speak from two to ten lang­ of Seafarers patronizing Pro­ ship and sanitary conditions. It uages. That is something that vidence barber shops would be will not tolerate child labor ex­ few ashore, except the foreign small, all avenues of support ploitation. bom or the specially trained, are being solicited by the We ask that when you patron­ can do. union.) ize a barber shop, please look for Thirdly, those people who cri­ the Union Shop Card. If the ticize us forget that if it were Greetings: Union Shop Card is not on dis­ not for seafaring men there I was instructed by the Bar­ play, please walk out and give could never have been a United ber's Union Local 224, Provi­ your patronage to someone else States, nor can there be a po­ dence, R. I., to write the mem­ who displays the Union Shop bers of organized labor to solicit Card. your cooperation in our attempt We are sure that if this kind to organize all the barber shops of cooperation is extended to us in our city. The slop chest is your cor­ there will be a thorough organi­ In oiu- endeavor to organize zation of the barbers in our city ner store while you are at the barbejrs, we are striving to in a very short period of time. sea. You can't take your improve our conditions and serve trade someplace else if the the public better. We know that Sincerely and fraternally yours, slop chest doesn't have what Albert lannuccillo with the cooperation of your of­ you need. Secretary-Treasurer ficers and members we can ac­ To ihe Editor: Barbers Ask SIU Support In RI AHENTiON! AIN,^ COUlCfrT Cd/WAK WITH HAMBURG POYO BOY'.THAT IWA$ 60m BABE I OiEP TO KNOW IN MOBILE .' THAT LinlE SAX. IN SHANGHAI OUT AT THL MOSTLY ABOUT THE 6X^9/ PIP YA EYCR. ^A(L OH W "RO$T-TUP SlCTOKYr POAK^ ff SKIPPER \ I W06HT TO lf\ B>ur WHlfl THE ^ET AfWKB, THE , miC 4tWAY;^ 4£m V BE AMUT ^IR?! , ...TO THINK I GOT ALL DOLLED UP TODAY FOR THO^E , ^ FLAT TIRE^.^ T/masTO^ii MOW Sinking Of The SS Finnborg By GEORGE REOCH The SS Southport's eager bow Cleft the English sea. Le Havre and La Belle France lay A scant mile to her lee; Her marks showed that light she rode, For homeward bound was she. - Salt spray kissed the forpeak rail, Cold as a spinster maid. Fresh winds sang to the long, strong booms, Fast in their cradle laid; High pressure turbines purred and whined, Exhaust steam hissed free, Plock, plock, plock murmured the prop. As it beat the lazy sea. King Neptune threw a blanket gray Across the channel wide. It curled and wrapped the Southport's bulk, A surging vapor tide. The world we knew was lost to view; In cotton wool we'd hide. Long, deep and loud our fo^orn blew. Her echo answered back; With ne'er a sound of other ships Around our lonesome track. The lowering sun showed day was done. And gray was edging black.. Then quick to port the silence broke, A whistle sounded clear; Three desperate blasts the Southport blew, Shrill warning to the rear; The strange ship's call told one and all. That she was gravely near. T'was then we saw her sharp black bow Break through the wall of white; Her course to port she held and then, Swerved sharply to our right. She was quite low with full cargo, While we were high and light. She cleared our forepeak by scant yards. Then hard to port she made; Our lookout cursed a salty oath. For he was sore afraid Each second past would be his last, Yet on the forepeak stayed. Just aft of midships her we met. Our sharp bow cut in deep; She drifted off amid the haze To find her long last sleep. Our horn sounds shrill, then all is still. As through the fog we creep. Says Log Aids SIU Work In Canada To the Editor: We have been receiving the SEAFARERS LOG every week, and wish to express our appre­ ciation for a fine Union paper. Things have been in turmoil here all summer; but since the CLSU-SIU merger, they have been straightening out little by little, and by the end of naviga­ tion December,we hope to have all our ships 100 percent Union. Your paper is doing a fine job in helping to bring that about. It gives the fellows a good look into the Union and what it can do for them. The Canadian Great Lakes sailors welcome the SIU, as the achievements of this organization are a record to be proud of. We hope for similar conditions in the not too distartt future. As you see, we have moved to a new location as this mak^s things a little easier for us. Best regards to all. F. Fiorito Port Arthur, Ont. �Fridayv NovMslMr 19. 1«4» THE SEAFARERS LaG THE DECK GANG OF THE WILLIAM JAMES Page Thirteen Roundup Of Membership Comments Pro And Con Transportation Rule Following are excerpts of letters from the membership giving their views on the Union trans­ portation rule. The rule calls for men to- take transportation money and pile off when a ship pays off at a port other than the one in which the crew signed on. To save space and avoid repetition, the salient points stressed in the letters have been culled and ar^ printed here. Aiming a camera at a gang of Seafarers is always good reason for knocking off work for a minute or two. Here some of the crew of the'^illiam James face the camera'and smile purty-like. Left to right—J. Cogger. Savan. Eddy, Kid Belt and Bill—as they were identified by Brother Cogger who submitted the picture ^to the LOG. Convulsions Of LaSalle Leave Red Pale And Wan To the Editor: Again I write on behalf of the Waterman Steamship Company, and believe me, I would like to be half of the Waterman Steam­ ship Company. This past trip took us to Germany. Coming back light, as usual, the good old North Atlantic reared its ugly head. These ships roll so much the company would profit by putting "cabodex" half­ way up the bulkheads. One day our stern got thrown out of the water so far the screw didn't get wet for three hours. When it finally came down the bow was so high the Mates were shooting the Sun through the hawse-pipes. I asked one of the passengers who was having a rough time of RED CAMPBELL it if she had a weak stomach. She said, "Weak, Hell! I'm Mayflower. That's why I'm leav^ throwing farther than anybody." ing the La Salle for the peace Far be it from me to say Wat­ and quiet of South Street, where erman ships are hungry. It's a a guy only sleeps in the gutter sort of a "forced diet." The because it keeps him off the oranges we had must've been streets. grown in Alaska. You get more Red Campbell juice out of a shackle. Only my blood has a lousier color. (Local Board 10 please note.) Even on WILMINGTON HALL short trips Waterman runs out ANSWER TO WISHES of things. Last week the crew pooled its soap ration to give the OF COAST BROTHER canary a bath. This company To the Editor: haunts me. One night I dreamed I thought perhaps you might the stockholders were beatir^ be interested in clippings from me over the head with lead over- I time sheets. the Los Angeles Herald and Ex­ press evening editions of No­ TOTE THAT BALE vember 4, especially the one You may have read in the pa­ captioned "Boo Bridges"—which pers about wild life disappearing. . Definitely false—it's on the Wat­ I am enclosing. I will be glad when the SIU erman ships. There's a rumor the company's training the rats to hall opens in Wilmington, as stack dunnage — they're big I have made my home here in California, and it's a long ways enough. But this tops them all. One of from the Gulf Coast to Sari the elevator boys in the new Francisco without an SIU Hall. Waterman Building in Mobile Holding a permit I it is especial­ ^ got sick and had a temperature ly tough. E. G. Brookshire of 110 degrees. The board of""directors put him in -the cellar to (Ed. Note: The A&G Dis­ hekt the building. I heard one of trict Wilmington Hall is now the company big-wigs sprained open and operating. The ad­ his ankle squeezing a tube of dress is 227'/2 Avalon Boule­ - toothpaste. On the way to the vard. The clippings Brother office he makes all the employees Brookshire refers to tell of go through a bank to fill their Harry Bridges being booed pens.. when, at a longshoremen's This ship was taken back from meeting, he attempted to ex­ the Navy several years ago, and plain Henry Wallace's poor already it has every modem showing in the recent elec­ convenience they had on the tion.) Opposed In Favor To the Editor: * ... It seems to me that this rule applies most often to Alcoa ships. I am in favor of letting a man stay on the ship for ninety days, and then if the ship pays off with transportation involved, let him take his money and re-register. We have too many members with families to support who cannot afford to get off a ship with a five or six weeks payoff and wait on the beach a month or so for another job. So far as I can see in the meetings down here, the only members who are in favor of the present rule are those who cannot make more than one trip because of their bad behavior. The decent seamen, who have obligations, are against it. If the ruling was made with the idea of pro­ moting jobs, then it should have established a system of staggering jobs on all ships whereby none be allowed more than one trip. Thus no one would have to remain' very long on the beach. I think that would do the trick.... J. S. Arzamendi To the Editor: It's.a cinch the transportation ruling is help­ ing the general shipping picture in the Branches. Blackie Gardner's Report in the October 22 LOG pointed out the direct benefits felt in Philadel­ phia; and the speeding up of job-turnover in other Ports generally stems from the occasional full crews called for on these transportation payoffs. These are healthy signs. They indicate that the ruling is operating for the general welfare of the membership Anthony Oliva Guido Merola Milton J. Karlovec ... By refusing your transportation money, you admit for the record that you don't really need this clause in the contract. Let the record get packed with these refusals and we will end up without a transportation clause. That'll save the operators thousands of dollars—at the ex­ pense of the membership. Whose side are we on anyway? Charles Moscarella We, the undersigned bookmembers and trip Through a long record of Union action, the card men of the SS William Carruth, wish to go contracts have been built up to provide many on record as opposed to the transportation rul­ penalties and bonuses for the membership. But ing ... this is the first time we've heard anybody in the This rule voids the vacation clause and will Seafarers advocating the pjaying of a bonus to prevent a family man who must work steadily the operators. Yet a crew that turns down from following the sea. It is decidedly unfair transportation money is presenting the company to force a man off a ship (for which he may with a fat little bonus to hold his job. That's have waited two months) after a six week not the Union way. Keep your bonus money voyage. He would then have to face the possi­ and give your job to a Union Brother on the bility of another two months on the beach. beach—He probably needs it worse than you do Signed by seventeen bookmen and nine permitmen John. R. Butler Frank Bloom If _ at the end of a trip—whether it be two Nick Pappas weeks or two months—the Mate fires me with­ Patrick L. Macklin out good cause, my Union Officials soon straight­ en that Mate out and I have my job back. That's Most SIU ships are on regular runs now, so job security. a man can ship steadily without getting off if Nowadays if I make a week's run up from the lie wants to. Everybody knows what these runs Gulf, to New York and have my job taken away are, and they can easily find out what ships are from me by this transportation ruling, that's job on them. So anybody who for personal reasons security too-^r so the advocates of the ruling wants to ship year in and year out can wait an would have me believe... R. H. Guibeison extra week or so and grab one of them. It's little hardship and certainly not too much to ask in The new transportation rule seems especially the name of Unionism for the rest of the Brothers hard dri those men with short payoffs on the to protect their contract by taking their trans­ ERP grain run. The trips are short, the turn­ portation money and piling off. Especially when around is fast, and the grain is blown in and you consider that by doing so they are helping" sucked out without using the winches. That the shipping picture in all Ports means a short payoff for all black gang men, ^ Charles Hoenemann though the fellows on deck do well enough All of ^us on the William D. Davis with the A lot of guys seem to be confusing the mean­ exception of the Deck Engineer, had to stay on ing of the words "job security." They give it the for lack of sufficient money to hit the beach. meaning the employers have been giving it to Nine of the Deck gang were rich enough to hold wages and conditions down for years. The underpaid clerk or share-cropper has been slav­ pile off. On September 22 I was. put off the James ing for years without Union conditions or wages, Caldwell in New York because of the new because some skin-flint employer offered him ruling. In this case we not only hit the beach job security—slave security, that is. Our job short of dough, but one of the best crews I security is Union secuiuty and the security of our conti-acts. Tossing over $30, $40, or $50 in have ever known was broken up. transportation money evei'y now or then may be Bill Gray and A. D. Filippie job security to some, but it's damned poor Leonard Paradeau Unionism to me. William R. Serpe Steven Frankiewilz ... I won't say that a man who rides a ship ... Here is what the rule has done to me—a trip after trip is necessarily a poor Union man, but I will say he is more apt to be than a-man bookmember of this Union: I came in recently on the South Atlantic ship, who changes ships frequently, attends many James Swan. Being a bookman, I figured 4hat of shor-eside meetings, keeps in touch with the course I could "stay on the ship; so I hadn't cared membership, and participates in some of the about the size of my payoff. But when we hit Union action. It takes a mighty militant guy to Norfolk, Va., on November 12, I was forced to buck the same Mate and the same Skipper and payoff. So I had a $36 payoff, plus a $20.69 the same ship's problems trip after trip without transportation deal—^for a total of about $56. softening up a bit. Especially if the Mate is a When a man has to get off a ship in that condi­ pretty good guy. There's a tendency to let down tion, I don't think there is much use in working a little and not fight so hard for Umon con­ ditions ... This Transportation ruling protects the for a full book. Frank Hall Union contract—but aside from that, it is not a ...I've-been wanting to come back to sea; bad thing for the Union or for the Brothers to but it doesn't look so good. There are three fel­ keep the jobs turning over. lows here, that went so far in the hole from the Anthony Foressie effects of the transportation clause that they Paul A. Calabrese are retiring their books and working ashore. I think the clause is fair, but that it should Writing in regard to the transportation clause, be limited to over sixty days. Men with families I for one would just as soon leave it as it is. can't afford to work a month and wait for a From my point of view it creates more jobs— and it gives the fellow on the beach a chance. job for another month... Paul Fernandez Carroll L. Brown �Page Fourteen TBE SEAFARERS LOG Friday, November 19, 1948- Meet The Ballad-Singing Seafarer By HOMER (Red) SPURLOCK He strummed a chord. "Think of the saving right thci-e! Yessiree, this is a mighty fine little old port. But I might as well be singin' as talkin', I guess." And then he was off, again, singing a ballad he had written himself called "The Lonesome Homesick Blues." This one he composed during the war and if you read the words below, you'll understand why he was so homesick and blue. r I've traveled all around the country, I guess I've been most every­ where. Sailed for every steamship company, An' never paid a nickle fare. SAN JUAN—^The fii-st time I laid eyes on Aubrey "Tennessee" Thurmon, he was flaked out on a chair in the Texas Bar, his guitar thundering away, and he was singing a little ditty about a certain Frankie and a certain Johnnie, whose love affair ended I've been from Maine to on the rocks with all hands go­ California, ing down in a gurgle of passion­ From the Cape to old Cairo; ate violence. I've never tried to save" any "And who might that stranger money. be?" I inquired in a whisper of I want to go home, but it ain't So now I got no place to go. one of the Brothers. no use, "Oh, that's a guy by the name The WSA won't tmm me loose. I met a little gal in Capetown, of 'Tennessee'," he answered im­ I got those Lonesome Home­ I asked her if she'd be my, patiently, and then glared me sick Blues. wife; down. "Say, shut up, will ya. Foolin' round in Trinidad, I told her I was tired of sailin', This boy's good, and I want to Done spent all the money I An' swore I'd settle down for , listen to 'im. He just piled off had. life. a Bull Line scow a couple of I got those Lonesome Home­ days ago." sick Blues. Just thdn I heard the whistle The boy who had just piled off I go ashore, get on a drunk. blowin', a Bull Line scow had finished his Go back to the ship an' lay in Comin' through the fog an' song in the meantime, and was my bunk. rain. beginning another, whose first I see the Chief with a mop an' I left that gal a standin' there, words were rather terrifying to broom. An' I've never seen that gal contemplate: Then I take off for the boiler Aubrey "Tennessee" Thurmon, the singing Seafarer, as again. room. he appears to Brother Homer Spurlock. "The bilge pumps were pump­ I went home but I couldn't Oh, listen to a seaman's story, ing out blood. stay. And Aubrey Tennessee Thurman I got some good advice to give An' don't forget the things I And the condenser was full of My draftboard put me in lA. is a good ballad singer. you, say; cold beer ..." Got a cute little blonde down So I'm going to close this little A lot of things you ought to My pocketbook is empty. in Capetown, graphic bouquet to a good union know. So I'm shippin' out today. It was so quiet in San Juan's Gonna catch me a ship that's brother and friend by presenting favorite relaxing parlor that you Africa bound. Take a tip from one who's But if you want to do me a could have heard a sailmaker's Then Til get rid of those Lone- another sample of his work writ­ ten by him, a ballad he calls: traveled. favor. needle drop. Only the strong ' some Homesick Blues. An' never start to ramblin' When I lay nie down an' die; smoke-cured voice of Tennessee THE SEAMAN'S LAMENT round; Just dig my grave on a sandy giving out on the ballad that had Brother Thurman comes from Once you get the ramblin' Come an' gather all around beach, plenty of blood, sweat, and tears a ballad singing part of the coun­ fever. me. So I can hear those waves roll for its theme. try, Nashville, Tennessee, and he You never want to settle down. by. An' listen to my tale of woe; Later on, when I had a chance started singing and playing there to talk with Aubrey Thurman, when he was all of twelve years I learned a few facts about this old. His mammy taught him, he newest comer to the San Juan told me. beach which might prove inter­ esting to the general member­ The first job he ever had was in a traveling medicine show ship. By I. H. PEPPER I learned, for one thing, that touring the South. When he was "How should I know why! She No use trying to sl^ep. Too ing . . . dull, shrill, empty he has carried a book in the SIU seventeen, he got a break and since 1943, that he sailed all' given a place on the Grand hot. It's late to be going for a sounds. Like echoes. Smoke so just does, that's all! . . . What do ratings in the Engine Departf" walk, but that's better than ly­ thick it hurts your eyes.. Music you do for a living?" "Hasher over on Bumside ment, and that he preferred the That s just about the largest hill­ ing here m bed, tossing—^think­ box clicking and playing again South African run over all others billy show in the world. Broth­ ing. Switching on the light in a continual battle of drums street." "Yer too pretty to be a above the bed makes the room and horns, —^that is, imtil his maiden voyage ers, in case you don't know! "Two beei-s. Toots! How's this hasher." seem even hotter, stickier. Slip­ to Puerto Rico! RATES WITH BEST "They like 'em that way." ping into a dress, then down the table?" "You know," he mused: "I "Who don't!" "Okay." Tennessee is just like all the stairs to the street. love it down here already. Why "I ought to be getting home. "Want to dance while the other first rate ballad singers "Evening Mrs. Smith. Mr. in Capetown, for instance, the Early shift tomorrow." girls say to you: T love you, I've heard, like Burl Ives, Josh Smith," to the old couple sit­ beer's comin'?" "You look tired." "Sure, if you want to." sailor, pay my rent.' But down White, Leadbelly, and Woody ting on the front steps in the "Loosen up, Blondie. Say, "Yeah." here, it's: T love you, poppy, buy Guthrie, in that he fools around dark. "I'll walk a ways with you." until he hears a song he likes "Hot 'nuf for you. M's what's your name?" me beer.'" "No thanks. I'll go alone." "Why do you want to know?" and, if it rings true, he listens to Langly?" "It's pretty late, and dark." "I gotta call you something, it carefully a couple of times, "Why do people always say "I'll be okay.". don't I?" and then he has it for the rest that? Stupid thing to say. "Well, if that's the way you "Blondie's good enough."' of his life indelibly etched on Wandering on down the street want it. Drop in again some­ "If that's the way you want it his brainpan. Once he memorizes between rows of flats, where time." a song, he never forgets it. He other people are sitting on the ...Good music, eh?" "So long, Blondie!" figures roughly that he has a steps smoking. A baby crying "Yeah. It is." Out into the street again and "You don't like to dance, do thousand tunes in his head! from some small hot room. A dog NEW ORLEANS—The grow­ It's a real pleasure to sit lying out on the sidewalk, pant- you?" through the dark. ing national problem of river around and listen to Brother ing. A boy and girl kissing on a "Hey, Toots! Did you ever "Don't care much about it." and stream pollution may soon Thurman perform. When he front porch. A raucous laugh "There's our beer. Let's get see such a pretty babe so be solved, if blue-print plans of sings he gets that far away look from a lighted open window, the while it's cold." dump?" a water-borne incinerator prove in his eyes of the true balladeer curtains tied in knots to let in 'What do you mean 'dump'? "I used to come here often." workable. Just because she don't get soused"Yeah? Ain't never seen you and pretty - soon, as the melody every breath of air. People in­ with the likes of you? That poor For a long time sanitation ex­ progresses, images spring up to side sweating and playing cards. before." perts in this city and elsewhere the right and left, sixty a min­ Through the park. A couple "Busy lately..^ Don't get around kid looked all tuckered out!" Walking . . . Walking, Home? throughout the nation have been ute. on each bench and-some on the much." "Why not? Cigarette? . . . Say, Is that hot room home? stumped by the present method In your mind's eye you can grass, not caring that they are pf disposing of ship's garbage see a rusty old freighter cleaving not alone., you're a smooth-looking doll. The river flowing imder the in port. Walking —past the park. Over Plenty of guys could go for you." bridge looks cool—so nice and the yeasty water way out in cool. Don't be an.ass. That's a "Thanks." Although the procedure was I the middle of a big lonesome the bridge. Where to? What long way down. "I could, myself." not fully outlined, it appears that ocean; you can hear the last does it matter. Everyplace is the Back through the park. Up the "Yeah?" ships would transfer their gar­ lonely note of a train's whistle, same, isn't it? street. Quieter now. People try­ "What's the matter. Don't you bage to a barge, which would as she rolls down the long cinder Walking down "L" street. ing to get some sleep. Smiths like beer, either?" then immediately proceed to track into Memphis; or the hobo Lights down here" and music still out on the steps, smoking, "Sure I do." burn it in the incinerator and walking down the track at sun­ coming from somewhere. "Too darned hot to sleep, ain't "Well, drink up and we'll dispose of the ashes. set, tired and hungry and dirty "Hi, Blondie. Got a -match?" it M's Langly?" have another." In sortie ports ships dump their and dreaming of a drink of cool "Sure. Here." "Yeah. It is." "Sure." refuse when they are 30 miles clean water. "Where ya goin'?" On up. the steps. Mrs. Smith "Hey, Toots! Draw a couple at sea, but in New Orleans this Imagery is the very heart of a "No placr." calling after her. over here! . . . Good egg. Toots would be impractical because of ballad—the thing that brings a "Come on in and have a beer." "M's Langly!" is. Always full of hell." the long trip down the river to lump to the throat and makes "I don't know you." "Yeah?" "Yeah?" the Gulf. As a result, the prac­ you wojider suddenly why you "What does that matter?" "Have you heard frona your "That gal gets a bang out of tice is to dump garbage on were ever born anyhow. "Guess it doesn't matter." husband since-he got sent over?" everything." leased ground or in the nearby A good ballad singer can do "Come on, then. Let's go in." "He's dead." "Why?" river. Lots of noise. People laughthat to his listeners everytime. SECOND FRONT Mobile Incinerator May Be Solution To Harbor Polintion �Friday, NoVfamber 19, IS'ifS Page Fifteen THE SEAFARERS LOG Senator Taft Snaps The Whip {Continued From Page 16) democracy has \ values that transcend speed and efficiency. » Perhaps we ought to be grateful even for thfe ten minutes Senator Taft was able to give to the July meeting. When the same committee conducted public hearings over a period of three weeks last spring, Senator Taft was unable or unwilling to make any appearance whatever. Small wonder the lack of con­ fidence enjoyed by the special Taft-Hartley commit­ tee whose statutory purpose is to make recommen­ dations to Congress and not to tell the general coxmsel when and how he should proceed against labor imions or others. Senator Taft's explanation of the origin and pur­ pose of the meeting assumes a new high in public gullibility. CONSTITUENTS ALL "I was appealed to by the newspaper publishers" (He means the Chicago newspaper publishers. Unlike Mr. Findling, the Senator—^for reasons that would " seem fairly obvious—scrupulously avoids any mention of Chicago throughout his lengthy reply) "including one of my most distinguished constituents, Mr. John S. Knight, publisher of the Akron Beacon Journal," (Is Mr. Knight the "distinguished constituent" of every Senator in whose state he publishes a news­ paper? Ironically, Mr. Knight could not conceivably have been concerned about his Akron, Ohio, publi­ cation. Why? That newspaper encountered no diffi­ culty with the printers and was in no way involved in the litigation) "to arrange a meeting for them with Mr. Denham in order that they might urge upon him prompt action to enforce the injunction." Picture the timid, retiring newspaper publisTiers ap­ pealing to their Senator to arrange a meeting for them with the otherwise inaccessible Mr. Denham! It would, doubtless, be an exaggeration to say that SlU HALLS the publishers and Denham were actually bedding to­ gether-for the preceding ten months. But it would be far closer to the facts than the naive—^perhaps "silly" is the better word—assertion of the realistic Senator from Ohio. Since the Loftus story of August 14 we have had several additional versions of what precisely Senator Taft said to Messers. Findling and Johns at the meet­ ing. The Findling version—already quoted above— speaks for, and beyond, itself. Given all the relevant circumstances, such as the time, the place, the per­ sonalities and Senator Taft's actual language as re­ ported by Mr. Findling, Denham's agents required ho special gift of imagination fully to comprehend what was expected , of them by the chairman of the Senate Labor Committee and the most powerful spokesman for the majority party in Congress. Denham, too, has presented a version—at a press conference held on August 23. And it's a beauty. Though he did not, because of illness, participate in the meeting himself, he did not hesitate to volunteer his belief that Senator Taft was merely making "in­ quiries as to how the law was working." Enough said. of the .case, except to say that the publishers seemed to me to have made out a prima facie case." A song inArogue some time ago went something like: "I don't want to tell you what to do or what not to do, but if I were you, I'd..." Poetic license of a kind allows popular song writers an occasional rhyme without reason. Senator Taft doesn't even favor us with rhyme. Toward the end of his "reply," Senator Taft ob­ serves that "the Board apparently found that the facts justified an application for contempt proceedings" because they actually filed such proceedings. Why "apparently?" A slip of the pen revaling strong doubts in his mind, too? There follows great praise for the "fairness and good judgment of Mr. Denham." That's about as impressive—and as modest—as Edgar Ber­ gen seriously lauding the wit and charm of Charlie McCarthy. IT'S NO JOKE Unfortunately, however, we are not here dealing with a comic radio program that can be turned on and off at will. We deal, rather, with a "shocking" threat to our democratic program of government POETIC LICENSE which, for most Americans, has continuous and eter­ Mr. John Knight, on August 22, after the July meet­ nal validity. From the beginning its basic theme has ing had been exposed by Mr. Loftus and the I.T.U. been the separation of sovereign powers, which has resolution, published a signed editorial in all of his been aptly described as "the rock upon which the papers in which he sought to defend Senator Taft American Constitution is built." Every schoolboy and the newspaper publishers. I heartily recommend learns and most adults retain the classic teaching of that all read that illuminating version in full. Here Alexander Hamilton: it is enough to say that he admits that Senator "The accumulation of all powers, legislative, execu­ Taft "urged that such a case should not be per­ tive and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, mitted to gather dust in the files." a few or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed The nub of Senator Taft's version of what he said or elected, may justly be pronounced the very defini­ to the Board's attorneys is set forth in a sentence that tion of tyranny." can serve handsomely as a model of political double We should have thought that it would not be talk. forgotten—or rejected—by leading agents of bur leg­ "I did not purport," says he, "to pass on the facts islative and executive departments. PERSONALS Buckos No Longer Holy Terrors When a crew brings in a beef (Continued from Page 3) JOHN B. PURVIS violation of the laws of the sea. with clean hands, squaring it is Your father is critically ill. BALTIMORE 14 North Gay St. It is up to Seafarers, working a cinch. William Rentz, Agent Mulberry 4S40 Please contact your home at through their Union machinery, BOSTON 276 State St. once. Very urgent. to see to it that officers on SIU E. B. Tilley, Agent Richmond 2-0140 NEW YORK % % Dispatcher Richmond 2-0141 ships hew to the line. INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS DANNY SHEEHAN •GALVESTON 308%—23rd St. F. Fromm, $1.00; B. Capse. $1.00,; G. But seamen should not abuse Keith' Alsop, Agent Phone 2-8448 J. KNAPP Get in touch with your wife, C. Register, $2.00; E. H. Brondelsbo, MOBILE 1 South Lawrence SL $3.00; R. E. Miller. $2.00; P. F. Ras- the rights which they hold under The bookkeeper at SIU Head­ at 430 Main St., Medford, Mass. Cal Tanner, Agent Phone 2-17S4 mussen, $2.00; F. E.. Gardner, $3.00; J. the law and by virtue of Union quarters, 6th Floor, 51 Beaver ^ i. NEW ORLEANS 523 Bienville St. W. Horn, $1.00; E. W. King,^$5.00; S. contract. Many Skippers, Mates Street, New York is holding EDDIE CAMPBELL E. Sheppard, Agent Magnolia 6112-6113 B. Luttrell, $25.00; Edward C. Atkins, and Engineers are fine men who $10.50 due you. KEW YORK 51 Beaver St. $5.00; Russel E. Simmons, $5.00; Ches­ WM. HOUGHTON Joe Algina, ' Agent HAnaver 2-2784 ter Gaw'rych, $5.00; A. Goldsmit, $1.00; have lived in the foc'sle them­ NORFOLK 127-129 Bank St. Write or come down to 627 C. Vovrloumis, $1.00; S. Vandal, $1.00; selves. Being human, they too HARRY R. STRATFORD fien Rees, Agent Phone 4-1083 M. Szubert, $2.00; C. R. Fimentel, can become badly provoked by a Fern St., West Palm Beach, Fla. Your claim against the Gau­ PHILADELPHIA. . .614.16 No. 13th St. $2.00; M. T. Diaz, $1.00; J. D. Peralta, crew of performers. i a; Eloyd Gardner, Agent Poplar 5-1217 cher Victory has been settled. $5.00; Charles J. Peterson, $5.00;* Her­ STANLEY LIONEL SAN FRANCISCO 85 Third St. bert N. Leavelle, $5.00; Ulus S. Veach, It is very difficult for a Union Contact Ben Sterling, 42 Broad­ Steve Cardullo, Agent Douglas 2-5475 A. E. Jayasinghe, Colombo Jr., $5.00. Patrolman to dress down a Skip­ way, New York 4, N. Y. SAN JUAN, P.R 252 Ponce de Leon SS SAN DIEGO per at a crew's request when Sal Colls, Agent San Juan 2-5996 Supply Service, 634 Second Div., % % % T. G. Troy, Jr., $5.00; C. N. H. Allen, SAVANNAH 220 East Bay St. Maradana, Colombo, Ceylon, is $2.00; H. W. Clemens, $2.00; F. Lan- the crewmen themselves have LEO L. DEITZ Charlek Starling, Agent Phone 3-1728 anxious to hear from you. tiere, $4.00; J. D. Pawlowich, $3.00; M. fouled up the ship. You are asked to communicate TAMPA 1809-1811 N. Franklin St. G. Vierra, $4.00; D. E. Hammos, $5.00; 4 Si i Ben Sterling, 42 .Broadway, New A good Union man does his R. H. Hall, Agent Phone M-1323 J. L. Cunningham, $5.00; E. Rudnicki, JOSEPH NORMAN RIOUX work. We have won our wages New York 4, N, Y, This con­ WILMINGTON, Calif.,, $5.00: A. Buscarello, $6.00; ,B. Derol, 227% Avalon Boulevard Contact Mrs. Shirley Wessel, $13.00; D. E. Zweep, $3.00; J. A. and conditions by doing our cerns your injury aboard the HEADQUARTERS.. 51 Beaver St.. N.Y.C. Supervisor, Seamen's Church In­ Cassara, $6.00; F. N. Gerez, $5.00; I. work and demanding our rights. William H. Prescott, P. Matorzko, $5.00; M. S. Sasfina, HAnover 2-2784 stitute, 25 South St., N. Y. $5.00; D. L. Hunter, $10.00; D, TreSECRETARY-TREASURER t. %. t, visano, $5.00; E. N. Elder, $3.00; A. E. Paul Hall EDWARD GRIFFITH Rosado, $2.00. DIRECTOR OF ORGANIZATION SS HILTON Get in touch with Mrs. Harvey Lindsay Williams L. Williams, $2.00; - S. Roberson, The SEAFARERS LOG as the official publication of the Sea­ Sigmore, Boonville, North Caro­ ASSIST. SECRETARY-TREASURERS $1.00; G. H. Rowland, $2.00; O. farers Intemational Union is available to all members who wish Robert Matthews J. P. Shuler lina. Morales, $2.00; P. Bates, $2.00; M. to have it sent to their home free of charge for the enjoyment of Joseph Volplan Fernandez, $2.00; R. M. Crabb, $2.00; 4. Si a> their families and themselves when ashore. If you desire to have W. L. Mauck, $1.00; J. M. Koszyk, J. J. JACKSON $2.00) V. E. Westhaver, $2.00; W. the LOG sent to you each week address cards are on hand at every SUP Get in touch with Alvin (Nick) Mitchell, $2.00; D. Marchant, $1.00; A. SIU branch for this purpose. HONOLULU 16 Merchant St. Ham, 1777 West 21st Street, Los Jensen, $1.00. However, for those who are at sea or at a distance from a SIU Phone 5-8777 SS SEMMES Angeles, California. PORTUVND Ill W. Burnside St. A. Remijn, $1.00; J. E. Badger, $2.00; hall, the LOG reproduces below the form used to request the LOG, 5 t. SBeacon 4336 D. Alvino, $1.00; P. Lohse, $1.00; A. which you can fill out, detach and send to: SEAFARERS LOG, 51 A. E. CUNNINGHAM RICHMOND, Calif. 257 5th St Cherney, $2.00; D. J. Smith, $2.00; J. Beaver Street, New York 4, N.Y. 'Phone 2599 Your wife asks you to com­ Dedicatoria, $1.00; C. K. Kean, $5.00; SAN FRANCISCO 50 Clay St. municate with her at 535 Indian C. Neumann, $2.00; J. Stopowski, $2.00; PLEASE PRINT INFORMATION i Douglas 2-8363 D. Omar, $1.00; D. Altroy, $2.00; J. SEATTLE 86 Seneca St. Street, Savannah, Georgia. Terraccinano, $1.00;-R. Carlson, $1.00; Main 0290 F. Simione, $2.00; J. Toro, $1,00; E, To the Editor; t, t. % WILMINGTON 440 Avalon Blvd. Snowman, $3.00. BENJAMIN GREEN Terminal 4-3131 MV GADSEN I would like the SEAFARERS LOG mailed to the • Contact your wife at Grant- N. Sepe, $4.00; J. W. Overton, $2.00; ville, Georgia. It's very impor­ R. O'Neill, $1.00; G. Henry, $5.00; E. address below: Canadian District J. Rogg, $1.00; A. M. Arroyo, $1.00; J. tant. MONTREAL 1227 Philips Square A. Wernboe, $1.00; E. C. Craig, $5.00. Name ft aj s. Plateau 6700—Marquette 5909 SS LEGION VICTORY A. M. ROBERTSON PORT ARTHUR 63 Cumberland St. S. Salorzano, $2.00; C. Phares, $3.00; Phone North 1229 Street Address Get in touch with your wife W. L, Gibson. $2.00. PORT COLBORNE 103 Durham St. SS MONROE Phone: 5591 as soon as possible. M. Cruz, $2.00; T. Torres, $1.00; W. State City Si S. S> TORONTO lllA Jarvis Street R, Lee, $1.00; L. R. Serrano, $1.00; R. Elgin 5719 VICTOR M. CARAVELLO Hestress, $1.00; L. Cruz, $2.00; E. RuVICTORIA, B.C 602 Boughton St. bio, $1.00; G. Rodriguez, $1.00; J. Signed Miss Grace Walter, 9745 76th Empire 4531 Miranda, $2.00; T. Grant, $2.00; J. VANCOUVER 565 Hamilton St. Street, Ozone Park 17, New Melendez, $2.00. Pacific 7824 York, is anxious to hear from Book No.. SS LAWRENCE you. ' E, C, Croft, $5.00. SIU, A&G District NOTICE! Notice To All SIU Mombers •m ii �I I'age Sixteea THE SEAFARERS LOG Friday". November 19, 1948 Senator Taft Snaps Thie Whip By HENRY KAISER Counsel to International Typographical Union For the fifteenth time in lesg than a year, th^ In­ ternational Typographical Union has been afflicted by the scourge of "Denhamitis." What is Denhamitis? It is a unique source of infection recently brewed in the wchly endowed laboratories of those two eminent political scientists, Robert A. Taft and Fred A. Hartley. The unusual virulence of the last attack ought to give pause to those who out of ignorance or short­ sighted selfishness have been acclaiming the "con­ structive genius" of Taft-Hartley. This time the dan­ ger of its malignancy to the very heart of our con­ stitutional democracy should be obvious to all having knowledge of the facts. General Counsel Denham of the National Labor Relations Board requested an injunction against the Typographical Union. Judge Swygert issued the in­ junction on March 27. Two days later, again at Denham's request, the judge denied a motion for a stay of the injunction pending an appeal. Thereupon, the I.T.U. obtained a conference with the judge and Denham's representatives to work out an agreement that would preclude even an unintended technical violation of the decree. Such an agreement was reached. ITU DECISION The I.T.U. undertook to draft instructions to its affiliated locals that would accomplish its declared intention fully to comply with the decree. They were to be distributed only after they had been studied and officially approved by the N.L.R.B.'s general coun­ sel. It was further agreed that, if the general counsel believed that any future I.T.U. action conflicted with the decree, he would permit an opportunity for cor­ rection before instituting contempt proceedings. This clear commitment was several times repeated in per­ sonal conversations with responsible agents of the general counsel. The approved instructions were then sent out to all locals, on March 31. A few days later they were sup­ plemented by suggestions of "contract provisions which may be proposed in collective bargaining dur­ ing the pendency of the federal court decree." Denham received copies of these "contract provi­ sions" not later than April 3. Negotiations then took place which resulted in satisfactory agreements in such vital areas of the printing industry as New York, Philadelphia, Newark, Detroit, Louisville, Roch­ ester and elsewhere, a development that should have been most gratifying to Denham, Senator Taft or any other person ostensibly devoted to the public welfare. » But the Chicago publishers (possibly as a result of a still unpublicized merger of the states of Illinois and Ohio they now appear to be "constituents" of Senator Taft), rejecting all offers of the Chicago local of the I.T.U., forced the continuation of the strike that had begun in November of 1947. Unlike their colleagues in other cities—indeed, con­ trary to the practice of some of the very men who publish papers in other cities as well as Chicago— they insisted that the contracts requested by the Chicago local contained unlawful clauses. Some light may be thrown on their Jekyll-Hyde approach to the law by a comment on their attitude toward wage increases. Before the injunction the Chicago publishers refused even to discuss wages. After the decree they offered an increase that was far below the local's demand and far below that granted by comparable newspapers. It thus can be safely predicted that the ambiguities of the TaftHartley Law, compounded by Denham's zealous antiunionism, will frequently beat down a fair wage. After all, that's the fundamental why of Taft-Hartley. The N.A.M. was not playing marbles. CONTEMPT PETITION The next significant date in this sordid story is August 13 when Denham's associates advised (this was the first intimation we had from any source) of their decision to file a petition for judgment in con­ tempt. Our demand for some explanation for the crude breach of their personal promise, made in the presence of the court and several times reiterated thereafter, yielded only embarrassed evasions. Nor was any satisfactory explanation proffered when we pointed out that for almost five months they knew of the "contract provisions" which they now charged as contempt; that their prolonged silence could, in view of our agreement, only have meant that they found no illegality in the "contract pro­ visions;" that their decision to institute a contempt action constituted an offensive kind of entrapment and unfairly jeopardized all of the agreements that had been negotiated since the decree. But some explanation there must have been, and it appeared on the following day in a New York Times The vlciousness of the Taft-Hartley law is best shown by the long strike of the Inter­ national Typographical Union against several Chicago newspapers. In this article Henry Kaiser, counsel to the ITU, reveals the sordid attempt made by Senator Taft to bludgeon the printers' union. He tells of the secret meeting, called last July by Taft, present at which were representatives of the Chicago papers and National Labor Relations Board officials. Taft, acting for his "constituents" put the heat on the NLRB men to get them to crack down on the ITU. His actions have been singularly responsible for the long strike. Brother Kaiser sees the Taft maneuvers as a "threat to our democratic program of government." The article is reprinted from the October 1948 issue of the American Federationist, official AFL monthly. story by Mr. Joseph Loftus, one of the most able and reliable labor reporters in the land. He revealed that in July Senator Taft called a meeting at which were present representatives of the Chicago new.spapers and to which he "summoned" Denham's associates, Messrs. Findling and Johns. Mr. Loftus reported that at that meeting, carefully kept secret. Senator Taft "called upon government officials to bring contempt of court action against the I.T.U. and its officers." • Mr. Loftus went on to say that "Mr. Findling and Mr. Johns were unwilling to discuss the incident," which is not a bit surprising. Nor is it surprising that the printers, who were then holding their convention, were not content to remain equally silent. By unanimous resolution they condemned Senatqr Taft for "allowing his desire to destroy trade unionism to lead him into an obvious attack upon the fundamental principle that the leg­ islative, executive and judicial branches of the gov­ ernment shall be independent in order that the Am­ erican way of life may be preserved," and for his "attempt to bludgeon attorneys for the N.L.R.B. into seeking a contempt citation." The convention called upon the President to "investigate this matter." tor Taft informs us, "frequently urged action by district attorneys." • Senator Taft owes a plain duty to every citizen, especially during the Presidential campaign, to cite, if he can, a single instance where Senator Truman, as head of a powerful committee with jurisdiction over district attorneys, secretly called to his office any district attorney and in the presence of parties directly interested in a particular case and possessed of extraordinary political and social influence, asserted (in Senator Taft's language as reported by Mr. Find­ ling) "that he regarded the case as the most important case that had come to the Board and that it stood as a symbol to many members of the Congress of the effectiveness of the enforcement machinery of the statute and that he was greatly disturbed by reports indicating that there was a serious breakdown of the enforcement machinery in the case." Senator Taft tried to belittle the F^'esident's state­ ment by terming it "merely an attempt to curry favor with the labor bosses who control the labor publicity to which he is looking for help in the election." Does the Senator really believe that so transparent a smokescreen will obscure his own emin­ ently successful efforts on behalf of some of the most 1 powerful newspaper and radio publicists in the (fountry? TAFT'S "CONSTITUENTS" Let anyone call the roll of "constituents" for whosa immediate benefit Mx-. Taft "put the heat on" Den­ ham—the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun Times, the Herald American—the Hearst Chicago outlet—and the Chicago Daily News, one of the Knight chain. Then let him decide for himself whether the President or the Senator is currying the favor and political support of those who "control publicity." Nor should it be forgotten that the President was responding to the public request of some 85,000 union printers, all citizens and all clearly part of the President's constituency and not to the clandestine request of a few "labor bosses" from somewhere outside of tho United States. Not the least of the many curious statements in the Senator's reply is the disclosure that the July meeting at his office was, at his request, called by "the Special Committee created by the Taft-Hartley Law." If, as he insists, it is "the duty" of every Senator to do what he did, then, plainly, an official meeting of the Joint Committee would appear to have been entirely superfluous. Superfluous or not, we are greatly indebted to the Senator for his revelation on the methods employed by that important committee. "SHOCKING" INTERFERENCE Though he says he "took the matter up with the President Truman responded promptly by a tele­ Special Committee," Senator Murray of Montana, a gram describing the I.T.U. charge of Senator Taft's member of the committee, in response to direct inquiry interference .as "shocking" and promising that "it will by Mr. John J. Pilch, president of the Chicago local be investigated thoroughly and immediately." The of the I.T.U., stated: results of the investigation were published on Sep­ "Senator Taft's explanation referring to the Joint tember 14 when President Truman released an Management-Labor Committee and saying 'that com­ exchange of letters between himself and Mr. Findling. mittee called the meeting in "question' is amazingly The President* charged Senator Taft with the "en­ wide of the facts. Other members of the committee tirely improper"conduct. of attempting "to put the were not informed of the meeting either in advance heat on one of the Executive Departments." or subsequently. I learned of the meeting later through This," at long last, broke Senator Taft's silence. On the public press." ^ the following day he issued a formal statement which HEARD NOTHING was called a "reply" to the President's charge of improper conduct. It should, more accurately, have Senator Pepper of Florida, another member of the been called- a "confession," as a careful reading readily committee, had this to say: shows. "I knew nothing of Senator Taft's invitation to a At the outset the Senator from Ohio solemnly an­ meeting in his office on the I.T.U. case held on July nounced "the duty of every Congressman and Senator, 28." when his constituents allege that some Executive De­ And Congressman Lesinski of Michigan, still another partment is not doing its duty in relation to matters committee member, was also wholly unaware of any in which they are interested, to take up that matter such meeting. with the Executive Department concerned. If the It is not unfair to speculate' on the number of other constituents appear to have a prima facie case, every occasions that members of thie committee may have Senator and Congressman- urges prompt action, or learned of its meetings via fortuitous newspaper re­ some reason for failure to act." leases that are published many weeks after the meet­ Standing alone, that statement is perfectly reason­ ings have been held. able. No one will or can take exception to it. But it Even more surprising is the manner in which some doesn't stand alone. of the meetings of this committee apparently are If Mr. Taft means what he seems to say, namely, conducted. Most citizens are .under the reasonable that some of his constituents appeared "to have a impression that the work of their Congressional com­ prima facie case" that the Executive Department mittees is performed by persons duly elected to headed by Denham "is not doing its duty," then I Congress. It is, of course, usual and frequently neces­ would fully agree. I would surmise that the Senator sary for such committees to employ professional aid has been receiving many thousands of persuasive and to utilize the contributions of private groups and letters to that effect from union men and women who persons. But that does not and cannot condone a prac­ are bonafide, voting residents of Ohio. tice of running official committee meetings without But obvibusly he can't mean that because later he any members present. Yet that is. what happened in makes clear that "in this particular case I made no July. charge that the National Labor Relations Board had The Findling letter to President Truman shows that neglected its duty." Thus, one is reluctantly forced to the meeting ran from 11 A.M. to 12:45 P.M. Senator brush aside his noble statement of Senatorial duty Taft admits that he was present for only the first as a sanctimonious irrelevancy. "ten minutes." Not a single member of the committee, Next comes the suggestion (based on a supposition) therefore, participated in the remaining ninety-five that the President "must have done a thousand times minutes of its (the committee's) official meeting. To when he was a Senator", what he now, as President, be sure, that may accbunt for the speedy and efficient criticizes Senator Taft for having done only once. realization of the true purpose- of that meeting; but The President's War Investigating Committee, Sena­ (Continued on Page 13) � 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 19, 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. 47 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES SIU PLEDGES AID ILA TIES-UP ALL EAST COAST SEAMEN EXPOSES ESSO STOOGE 'UNION' NO DEFERMENT FOR WARTIME SEAMEM ILA LONGSHOREMEN TIE-UP ALL EAST COAST SIU CONTRACTS,US LAWS EFFECTIVE MEDICINE FOR BUCKOS FOREIGN FLAGS ACCUSED OF RATE WAR IN AID PLAN SHIP ARRIVALS KEEP TANPA BUSY;RATED BOOKMEN CAN GET OUT FAST CITIES SERVICE USING SKIPPERS AS ABS PRE-CHRISTMAS PROSPECTS BRIGHT FOR PORT NEW ORLEANS SEAFARERS FRISCO AWAITS END OF STRIKE TANKERS RAISE PHILLY SHIPPING ASHIPPING FRAM THE DEAD ISLAND SUN SHINES BRIGHTLY BUT NOT ON JUAN SHIPPING MOBILE HALL ALTERATIONS BEGUN TRANSPORTATION RULE MAKES JOBS FOR ALL NEW YORK HARBOR IS DESERTED AS ILA STRIKE GAINS MOMENTUM FOUR WATERMAN SHIPS ENTER COASTWISE RUN FORMER ESSO MAN GIVES COMPANY UNION LOWDOWN WATERMAN RECEVIES YOUNG AMERICA,FIRST OF 10 REBUILT C-2S ROBIN SHERWOOD SEAFARERS CONDEMN ACTIONS HARMING MEMBER'S PRESTIGE MEET THE BALLAD-SINGING SEAFARER SENATOR TAFT SNAPS THE WHIP Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 11/19/1948 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America 1948 Periodicals Seafarers Log