Issue Date
1951-01-26
Volume
13
Issue Number
2
Plaintext
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^15:
Official Organ of the Atlantic and Gulf District, Seafarers International Union of North America
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VOL. XIII NEW YORK. N. Y.. FRIDAY. JANUARY 26. 1951 No. 2
ExPerittits
flapped Down
By NY Court
The 29"former permitmen who
had filed suit against the Union
suffered another defeat in their
a'ttempt to collect damages for
allegedly having been illegally
expelled.
In effect reaffirming their earl
ier decision last November 14,
the Appellate Division of the
New York Supreme Court un
animously turned down, without
bothering to write an opinion,
a motion by the former permit
men to appeal their case to the
highest court of the state.
In their earlier decision, the
court upheld a decision by Su
preme Court Referee Isidor Was
servogel, in 1949, which dis
missed the original suit for an
injunction and $250,000 in dam
ages.
In effect, the decision of the
Appellate Division held that the
plaintiffs are not, and never
were, members of the Union, and
consequently do not possess the
Tights of members. Accordingly,
they cannot insist on the same
procedures that members can.
SIXTH SETBACK
The Appellate Division's deci
sion marked the sixth time that
the 29 plaintiffs were denied ac
tion against the SIU. In addi
tion to Referee Wasservogel's
dismissal of the damage suit,
three applications for temporary
injunctions were refused by the
courts.
In affirming Referee Wasser
vogel's decision last year, the
Appellate Division justices also
awarded to the Union court
costs involved in the litigation.
'The Union's case was prepared
and" presented by Seymour Mil
lerc "of the law firm of Benjamin
of New York City.
Referee Wasservogel's decision,,
said in part:
"The evidence clearly indicates
that plaintiffs were merely per
mitholders in the Union and as
sueh were granted the privilege
: • {Qontifiuei on Page 3)
Co After Your Rating
With the nation tightening its defense preparations,
the role of the merchant marine is daily becoming more
vital. For this reason it is imperative that every Sea
farer stand ready to ship in the rating for which he is
qualified and in which he can be of the greatest service.
In this connection. Headquarters pointed out this
week that many men qualified by experience and skill
have not applied for endorsements for high ratings.
Men who do not seek higher ratings for which they
are qualified are. in effect, causing a waste of needed
skill.
The Maritime Administrator is seeking draftdefer
ment for rated men only. Consequently, men. who are
drafted because they have not obtained' the ratings for
which they are qualified, will not be serving in jobs in
which they can be of greatest service to our nation.
If you have the qualifications, apply for upgrading.
Do it todayl
SIU Manpower Pool Answers
Recruiting, Manning Problems
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Canadian Conyention
* The Canadian District of
the Seafarers International
Union, Which has completely
eliminated the commia CRU
from maritime and represents
all orgtmized Canadian sea
men, has just concluded its
first annual convention. The
next i^sue of the SEAFAR
ERS LOG will carry a spe
cial supplement covering the
convention and some of the
recant activities of the Ca
uadian District.
By JOHN ARABASZ
Alertness, knowhow, and
skillful planning by the Seafar
ers International Union may
prove to be the stumblingblock
to the professional bureaucrats
who are yearning to put their
noses back into the trough.
As the national emergency be
comes ihore serious, all
through the country the former
redtape artists who "won" the
last war by largescale master
minding for the War Shipping
Administration are packing their
sea bags —• Washington version
— in preparation to leaving their
clerks' jobs for a fast hop into
their old wellworn (upholstered)
chairs, and their good old pay
check and power.
LONE OPPONENT .
Though any old experienced
bird dogshould have been able
to get the scent (the editor
frowns on stronger words), the
SIU, apparently, was the only
maritime union to have sensed
the intentions of these power
hungry characters, and to have
done anything about it—or that
wanted to do anything about
it.
Several months ago, when it
became "obvious that the Chinese
reds would continue to carry
out their ^part of Joe Stalin's
plan for world odhquest, and that
the United Nations (the non
commimist countries) was going
to oppose them, it was a sure
thing that aid to Korea and the
European and Asian democracies
would be continued — and in
creased — which meant'more
and more shipping.
It also was obvious that the
bureaucrats would. once again
try to step back into their form
er eushyjpls^l^ try to oontrol
the training and hiring of man
power, as They did before
through the WSA, particularly
the Recruiting and Manning Of
fice of that agency.
Now the only excuse these
babies could have is that the
maritime imions are unable to
supply enough men, especially
those with ratings, to man their
contracted ships.
PREPARED
From this start, the SIU went
ahead to forestall these charac
ters. In every port where the
Union has a Hall, a manpower
committee was set up, and
quietly went into operation
building up a reserve of seamen,
so that every ship under con
tract to us could be crewed with
out delay.
Contacts were made with re
tired and former bookmen above
draft age, particularly the rated
men, telling them that within
a short time jobs would be open,
and were they interested. Other
sources were tapped, and the
response was amazing.
Some men came down in per
son, and most of these were
placed almost immediately • —
since the first of the year we
have crewed about 40 new ves
sels on all coasts, in addition
to our old contracted ships.
Others wrote in, giving the
pertinent information: experi
ence, endorsements, etc., and
said that they were available—
and anxious to ship.
At the recent conference in
{Continued on Page 10)
Unioiu Veto Operator Plan For New RMO
NMU Eyes West Coast,
Woes Operators With
CutRate Contracts
By RAY GATES
SEATTLE — The Sailors Union of the Pacific has
launched an organizing drive among the rank and file
of the Marine Cooks and Stewards union to ward off the
danger of bargainbasement agreements with which Joe
Curran is seeking to gain a foothold on the West Coast.
That a large section of the MCS rank and file is
opposed to the NMU president's attempt to set them up
to further his own personal dreams, is evident from the
success of the SUP's appeal in the short time it has been
in the field.
Despite the intense activity of NMU organizers in
Sall major ports, pledges of sup
port have been coming into
SUP offices from various groups
in the MCS, and a hot fight ap
pears to be in the making.
The SUP's decision to organize
members of the MCS came as
an aftermath to Curran's self
appointment as heir to the lead
ership of the sea cooks union,
which is falling apart as a re
sult of its adherence to the com
munist party line.
Curran began his drive by
planting stooges aboard MCS
ships, urging the men to come
into the NMU. He then came
out to the West Coast last week
to officially announce his plans
to absorb the MCS members.
The difference in the attitude
of Curran and the SUP toward
the. Marine Cooks is apparent
in the plans of both. Curran sim
ply wants to absorb the Cooks
Union, lock, stock and barrel.
The SUP, however, would
grant an AFL charter to the
{Continued on Page 4)
By PAUL HALL a^d
MORRIS WEISBERGER
During the past week we at
tended a joint meeting of repre
sentatives of the various seafar
ing unions, shipowners and gov
ernment in Washington, DC,
along with the other represen
tatives of oiu: organization.
The purpose of the meeting
was to review the statement of
policy drafted by the unions at
a meeting earlier this month,
which they considered as the
minimum reqiiirements essential
to successful mobilization of the
nation's merchant marine in the
event of war.
In addition to providing a pro
gram for maximum efficiency in
the operation of I the merchant
fleet under wartime conditidns,
the . policy of the itpiooe was
drawn up to protect their exist
ence, should government seizure
of aU shipping result from a
total emergency or an allout
war effort in defense of the
country.
After several days of meeting,
the unions decided to reject some
of the shipowners' views on the
statement of policy made by the
unions.
DISAGREEMENT
Although the shipowners were
in agreement with several of the
union proposals, the two groups
were widely separated on the
question of manpow» and train
ing, which the unions felt were
basic issues, and on which they
could not compromise.
The unions* portion on the
manpower and training question
was that the Union Hiring Halls
should be the only source to be
used by the shipowners in ob
taining their manpower needs.
The unions also felt strongly
that entry ratings should not be
required to go through any gov
ernment training schools, as was
the case in the last war. Fur,
thermore, the unions felt, should
any training be necessary, it
should be done by utilizing the
union apparatus.
As was expected, the shipown
ers wanted to perpetuate the
government training schools and,
in addition, to set up manpower
pools in all major ports, such
as those established in the last
war by the government's Re
cruiting and Manning Office.
Under such a setup, the imions
contend, all elements of riffraff
(Continitad on Page 10)
Page Two THE SEAFARERS LOG lUdayv Janua^ 26« 19Sl
a ''v";.
SEAFARERS LOG
Published Every Other Week by the
SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION
OF NORTH AMERICA
Atlantic and Gulf District
Afiiliated with the American Federation of Labor
At 51 Beaver Street, New York 4, N. Y.
HAnover 22784
Reentered as second class matter August 2, 1949, at the Post
Office in New York, N.Y., under the Act of August 24, 1912.
267
No Room For Them
There are very few groups of working men anywhere
who ha\^ done as an effective and thorough job of cleans
ing their ranks of foulups as have the members of the
SlU. Time and again over the years, Seafarers have shown
clearly that the common objective cannot be reached if
irresponsible elements are allowed to pull in the opposite
direction.
Whenever the menaces to tjie general welfare, whom
we know as performers and g'eargrabbers, have shown
their hands, our membership has unhesitatingly taken firm
actioiu ^
That's one of the big reasons why the Seafarers has
been able to score such startling success in advancing the
position of jthe men who sail its contracted ships.
The top wage and working conditions enjoyed by
Seafarers—and those of other seafaring men who have
benefited bytheir lead—are the result of a sound collec
tive bargaining position. This abiHty to make demands of
jthe shipowners in the periodic acrossthetable talks is the
inark of a responsible organization, representing a body
pf equally responsible, conscientious seamen.
Union negotiators with nothing behind them but
k characters having no understanding of their own con
tractual obligations, or respect for themselves, are always
ia pushover for bargaining opponents. Their requests for
Improvements in wages and conditions can always be
I picked full of holes.
If anyone has ever thought that the question of per
i ifewmers, geargrabbers and other irresponsible elements
has been stressed here too frequently, let him look at the
conditions prevailing in maritime today. Let him appraise
the advances since the days before the membership set
out to eliminate chronic foulups from their ranks.
The interests of a union membership is to steadily
improve its wages and conditions of labor. Th^ aim of true
I trade union is to represent the best interests of its mem
bership. Neither objective can be realized if obstacles are
placed in the way by characters lacking the desire to
improve themselves and their way of living.
That's why performers and geargrabbers must heed
the membership's reminder that their antics don't go—
not on our ships.
g Keep Your Eyes Open
I Besides attending to the duties of their shipboard
Ik jobs, Seafarers carry an added responsibility in time of
ICnational emergency. Maritime stands high on the list of
industries whose efficient and uninterrupted functioning
is vital to a successful defense effort.
The most likely targets for sabotage by persons seek
ing to hamper America's mobilization would be the stra
tegic Services—transportation, production, communica
tions and power.
To prevent wouldbe saboteurs who entertain any
ideas of keeping our ships from carrying supplies and
men to our allies and mifitary installations abroard, crew
members on all ships must keep a sharp lookout for strang
ers poking their noses where they don't belong.
All hands should immediately challenge strangers ap
pearing anywhere on their vessels, particularly in quar
ters and in the enginerooms.
Seafarers have demonstrated over the years that they
are capable of thwarting the disruptive tactics of would
be wteckers of America's maritime industry. All we have
to do in the present situation is sharpen our weather eye
for characters who might think there's still a chance for
I some successful sneak activities.
4
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FORT STANTON
SILVESTER WALKER
WILLIAM J. MEEHAN
A. McGUIGAN
HARRY THURMAN
GIDLOW WOODS
DONALD P. MCDONALD
% % ^
MANHATTAN BEACH
FRED W. GRIMES
JOSE DE JESUS
E. LOPEZ
H. TUTTLE
J, H. ASHURST
E, FERRER
JOHN T. EDWARDS
JOHN DRISCOLL
VIC MILAZZO
MATTHEW DRUNO
PETER VORKE
R. A. BLAKE
JOHN PADZIK
A. LOMAS
$ S $
GALVESTON
V. SZYMANSKI
NORMAN A. POWER
C. WINSKEY
EDMOND S. SPENCER
ROBERT MCDONALD
A. MACIEL
NORMAN WEST
4.
MOBILE
TIM BURKE
CHARLES L. KNIGHT
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STATEN ISLAND
P. MANGUAL
P. PRON
PRANK KUBEK
R. GUZMAN
GEORGE RIDECK
EUGENE E. MILANESI
FRED OESTMAN
EARL R. DIXON
FRANK B. STRELITZ
S. C. CUNNINGTON
J. SLAMAN k; k
E. McLIN k
K. c. CROWE,;.
T. CONNELL
J. FIGUERAU
L. BLIZZARD
F. CHRISTNED
B. ZIELINSKI
C. HUNEYCUTT
S. GLYPTIE
» $ Si
BALTIMORE
CECIL E. TAYLOR
OLUE I. ENGLISH
WILLIAM D. WARMACK
JOSEPH A. PILUTIS
FRANCIS O'BRIEN
LUDWIG KRISTIANSEN
H, W. SHERWIN
JOHN M. VITO
B. D. ELLIOTT
HARLEY MILLIRAN
« » »
^ SEATTLE
WALTER H. SIBLEY
» » »
SAN FRANCISCO
.JAMES H. BRANDON
JAMES R. LEWIS
EDWARD L. PRITCHARD
C. L. MOATS
WILLIE WATSON
JAMES HODO
X % %
BOSTON
GEORGE H. WELDON
R. LUFLIN
A. D. LEVA
NEW ORLEANS
J. R. ALSOBROOK
C. A. BROWN
W. O. CARA
L.GOHEN
R. CRUZ '
E. A. GARDNER
A. W. GATEWOOD
H. GERDES
,G. HARDING
L. A. HOLMES
E. P. JANOSKO
D.D.KELLY
G. KRETZER
a E. LAGAN
L. LANG
E. O. MASSEY
J. T. POWERS
K. RAANA
C. RAY
D. O. RILEY
E. E. RITCHIE
C. R. SANDERSON
R. W. THOMPSON
Men In Hospitals
Seafarers who want to
be eligible for the WeK
fare Plan's weekly hos
pital benefits should make
sure they have their Un
ion books, seaman's pa
pers and copies of th<^
last (Bscharges with thwoi
upon entering the hoi^
pital. ^
Union Patrolmen will'
pay the sevendollar ben
efits to the eligible mem:
bers for each full week
of hospitalization during
their weekly visits. Fail
ure of a hospitalized Sea
farer to have the above
mentioned papers with
him^iil prevent the Pa
trolman from making the
benefit payments. k
Hospitalized memberi.
who have not yet .filled
Out beneficiary cards for
the Welfare Plan can ob
tain them from,the Hos
pital Patrolmen., v
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Fxiday,JJanuary 26* USl THE SEAFARERS LOG Page Three
Cities Service Back Pay
The men listed below, who are due back pay from
(Sitles Service Oil Company, should get in touch with
\^Unn O^Loughlin, National Labor Relations Board, 2
Park Avenue, New Yoork 16, New York, at once.
By not having reported before, these men have been
holding up the payments to all the other men involved,
since the money awarded them by the NLRB is to be
shaired on a prorata b^sis. •
FaHure to report will have the effect of depriving
the dthers of nUMwy that th^ can well use.
Jose Abreu Ralph Knowles
George W. El^rdiito James Monroe
Charles R. Gamer / . George Murphy
Howard Hammpns Frank Schmiedel
Torolf Kismul James F. Welch
Coast Guard Procedures
For Getting Endorsements
'Mariiier' To Be Class Name
Cf The New Merchant Ships
"Mariner" has been selected as
the class name for the hew fast
cargo ships to be . built by 'the
Maritime Administration of the
US Department of Commerce,
Vice Admiral E. L. . Cochrane,
head Of the agency, announced.
The first group will bear the
nicknames of the States along
with the word "Mariner," such
as the SB Lone Star Mariner,
SS Keystone Mariner, SS Old
Dominion Mariner, SS Pine Tree
Mariner, SS Hoosier Mariner, etc.
This is the third time a class
name has been selected for a
type of merchant vessels con
Blxucted under a government
program. During World War II,
2700 Liberty ships were built,
and 415 Victory ships, but it
can not be predicted at this time
how many Mariner ships will
Ultimately be constructed.
All classes of merchant vessels
bear Maritime Administration
designations; such as "Cl;
"C2," "C3," "PT2," and the like,
with variations to indicate varia
tions in design. According to this
technical system of designation,
the Mariner ship is a "C4Sla."
Invitations to shipyards to bid
for the construction of the new
Mariner fieet were issued Jan
uary 10, 1951. Congress granted
$350,000,000 for the program.
ExPermitmen's
Appeal Motion
Denied By Court
(Continued from Page 1)
iof working on unionaffiliated
ships only in the event that no
book members were available
for employment ... In accept
tog the permits, plaintiffs vol
Mtttarily accepted their qualified
• employment of temporary Union
sanction. . . .
"In the absence of any allega
tions and proof of malice or Con
spiracy, the coiirt may not con
cern itself with the motives of
the Union or the propriety of
the action taken, and will not
interfere in the internal affairs
bf the Union on behalf of per
sons who admittedly never held
membership books in the or
ganization. ...
'...Nothing in the record
warrants the conclusion that de
fendant's officers or members
scted with fraudulent intent or
jn| bad faith in withdrawing perr
mit cards from plaintiffs. Under
these circumstances plaintiff's
xfiaim for damages may not be
sustained. Judgment is rendered
for the d^eadant dismissing the
complaint on its merits
and laimchings are expected to
begin in 1951.
The Marinerclass ships are to
be 525 feet long. This is a meas
urement shipbuilders term "be
tween perpendiculars." Actually,
with the overhangs at the bow
and stem, the new ships will be
about 560 feet overall. They will
have a speed of 20 knots, and
capable of being armed with
modern weapons against sub
marine, air and surface attack.
Construction plans call for a
minimum use of critical mater
ials, so that quantity production
will not be hindered by bottle
necks in the supply bf certain
metals and other equipment.
The Marinerclass ships are
planned for peacetime service as
replacement vessels for commer
cial use by steamship companies,
their high^ speed matching the
trmd in world shipbuilding and
operation.
As the US merchant marine
expands in the present program
for national defense, many Sea
farers arb interested in obtaining
higher ratings, while former Sea
farers are returning to the Union
Halls to do their bit in the need
for skilled manpower.
The following information, ob
tained in an'inteiview with
Coast Guard representative, is
presented so that all hands will
imderstand the present proce
dures for obtaining seamen's
papers and endorsements for rat
ings in the three shipboard de
partments.
Due to the security screening,
it t^es 30.days or more before
new seamen's papers are issued.
As for validation papers, appli
cation forms are available at any
Coast Guard office, in the event
that they ^e not supplied on
board ship at the time of signing
on.
No pictures are necessary when
the application is submitted.
However, when the applicant
has been screened and passed—
which will take from 60 to 90
days—^he must bring a passport
photo with him when picking up
his papers.
Under no circumstances is a
seaman to relinquish his present
papers, when he receives his
validated tJapers. This is the rul
ing of the Coast Guard in Wash
ington, and no matter what the
local authorities say, hold on to
your original papers, which are
your personal property.
DUPLICATE PAPERS
To apply for duplicate sea
men's papers, one must appear
port photos. The duplicates —
which take from 30 to 90 days
to be issued — will be the vali
dated kind. That's tough, but
you can't do anything about
that.
DECK DEPARTMENT
Endorsements are issued for
Ordinary Seaman, Able Seaman
limited. Able Seaman unlimited.
Carpenter and Boatswain.
Discharges for twelve months
on deck are needed for the
limited (blue) AB ticket en
dorsement.
For the unlimited (green) AB
ticket, three years of deck time
is required.
. For a Bosun's endorsement,
discharges must be presented,
showing 18 months' seatime on
deck.
For all deck department en
dorsements — excepting OS and
Carpenter — examinations must
be passed, including one for a
lifeboat ticket.
For AB papers, in addition to
passing a physical, which in
cludes a colorblindness test, one
must pass an examination which
stresses rules of the road, com
pass, and lifeboat equipment.
A man holding a limited (blue)
AB ticket, upon' acquiring the
necessary three years' seatime on
deck, can have it changed to an
unlimited (green) ticket without
further examination, simply by
producing his discharges.
Carpenter endorsement can be
obtained on the strength of a
letter from the Union, which
must be convinced that the appli
in person, supplying two pass cant has bona fide shoreside or
MA 73067
'Hats Off To SHJ/ Says Philly ILA
INTERNAHONAL LONGSHOREMEN'S ASSOCIATION
LOCAL 1332 COASTWISE AND CARL0ADIN6
324 SOUTH FRONT STREET • PHILAOELFHXA 47, PA.
AfblUtod with Anwiiean Fadsntioa of l.abox and Ttadoa and labor Conszoat of Canada
January 12th, 1951
' Philadelphia, Pa,
1332
Ur. Paul hall
3.1.U. See'ty & Traastrer
51 Beaver St.
Dew York City, N.7.
Dear Paul:
524 3. Pront St..
Philadelphia, Pa.
r' N
s feg a
shipboard experience as a Car
penter.
As far as Deck Maintenance
endorsements are c o n c e r n.e d.,
there is no such rating. Although
a few such endorsements have
been issued occasionally in other . |
ports, the Coast Guard has no
regulations covering this rating; ij
and will not issue this endorse •
ment. }
ENGINE DEPARTMENT .
Once a man has six months*
discharges as a Wiper, he can
obtain any unlicensed endorse
ment in the engineroom far
which he can pass an examina
tion. Shoreside machinists, elec
tricians, plumbers, no matter
how long and varied their ex
perience, still must put in six
months aboard ship as a Wiper.
The Coast Guard issues a
QMED endorsement (Qualified
Member of the Engine Depart
ment) which is supposed to cov
er any rating in the engineroom
below that of Third Assistant
Engineer. This is a peculiar
rating, inasmuch as a man may
hold this endorsement, and still
may not be able to handle such
jobs as Pumpman, Machinist,
Reefer Engineer or Electrician,
Actually the QMED rating COVCTS
Fireman, Oiler, Watertender and
Jimior Engineer.
STEWARDS DEPARTMENT
Stewards Department ratings j,
faU into four distinct categories:
Steward, Cook, Baker and Mess
man.
A Cook's endorsement does not
cover baking; nor does a Stew
ard's endorsement cover cooking
or baking.
To sign on as Baker, Second
Cook and Baker, or Night Cook
and Baker, a man must actuaUy
have a Baker's endorsement;
and a man with a Cook's en.r
dorsement only can fill that job.^
It is possible for a man to have
a Steward's endorsement, and to
be able to ship only as Steward
or Messman. He cannot ship
Cook or Baker, unless he ac
tually has the specific endorse
ment. , ';
Endorsement for Cooks and
Bakers are based on actual ex
perience, either shoreside or
shipboard. They are the only
ratings that do not require prev;
ious seatime.
A Messman's endorsement cov
ers all unrated Stewards Depart;
ment job—galley utility. Stew;
ards Utility, etc.
"HATS OFF TO THE S.I.TJ. As you know the Pcopt of Philade^hia
was tied19 recently due to strikes called by two I.L.A. Locals. The first
strike which came on January 4th (I.L.A. Local #333A—Tugboats ) came as
a ccotplete surprise to our membership. On the very next day Local jf 1566
( carpenters, shipcleaners and maintenance men ) went on strike. The latter
strike was anticipated for several months.
and the men whom 1 represent, are aware that at least one of
the above mentioned Locals would have remained on-strike for many more days
(the strike did last for five days) had it not been for the untiring efforts
of Steve iBlackie) Cardullo and Donald Hall. Along with several others, these
two men spared nothing to bring about 0 successful conclusion of both strikes.
Words nor phrases could fully express my gratitude, respect and admira'tion for
their excellent co-qperation and leadership. Therefore i say many thanks to
you, Tour membership, and the man who represent your membership. ..ishing you
nothing but the best, I remain.
sincerely Yo
J oseph
ocal /
Delegate
L:A.
Gangway Watcli
For the protection of the
crew's gear and the ^p's
equipment, and for the pro
Tection of the SIU agree
ment. men standing gangway
watches should remain at
their post, in the same man
ner as the Fireman below
must stand his watch. Gang
ways cannot be covered from
Ihe messhall or foc'sle.
The gangway watch is as
much a part of our agree
ment with the shipowners as
the wage scale. The job is
easy and the overtime eeon
ed on the weekends fattens
the final payoff bundle. Stick
by that gangway whan on
watch.
Pag'eFour T H E S E A P A R E R S L O G Friday, January 26, 1951
Getting. A Ship Is Ko Problem
For The Rated Med In New York
By JOE ALGINA
NEW YORK — Business and
shipping in this port are movr
ing along at a pretty fast clip.
As a result of the upswing, ra
nted men are getting out without
jUny difficulty.
^ "Approximately 30 ships were
paid off here in the past two
weeks, and eight were signed
on—^ranging from coastwise to
'roundtheworld trips.
We were also fortunate enough
to be able to crew three new
ships that were activated re
cently by new companies signed
by SIU.
As the membership probably
knows, the Coast Guard is back
in full strength, and I suggest
that all hands be careful that
they don't get into any unneces
sary trouble.
• As you also know, the Ameri
can legion is pushing as usual
to have the merchant niarine
put under military rule, and it
is doing; everything it can to see
such, a wild dream realized.
The benefits of Union member
ship are more apparent than
ever these days. With prices
bouncing up as they have been
for the past couple of years, the
unorganized working men and
women of this country, especial
I ly the whitecollar workers, are
I really feeling the pinch.
As a group, only the people
with imion membership have
been in a position to cope with
this situation. The imions, in
cluding the Seafarers, have
fought successfully, to keep pace
with spiraling costs. While prices
have shot ahead of wage levels,
as they always do, we Union
people have at least been able
to protect our earning power to
a large degree.
This, has not been the case
with the unorganized, whOse
wages have practically stood still
over the years. These people
now find themselves with a dol
lar so shrunken in size that they
feel just about the way they
would if their wages had been
cut in half.
Once again, the advantages of
union membership have been
demonstrated. We hope that the
vast number of unorganized
people, the majority of whom
are whitecollar workers, will
leam something from this situa
tion.
If they would rid themselves
of the feeling that they can do
right by themselves by dealing
on a personal level with their
employers, they stand a chance
of helping themselves. Collective
bargaining is the only way to
more security in our setup.
We have been receiving quite a bit of The only thing wrong with your article,
mail from American aijd foreign seamen Brother Higgs, is that part where you say
1 , • t m.'r . a • n«mf»i+ TviomKor «Ti+Vi 'fVir>oa • iroore' 'fimo who are riding Panamanian vessels. Natur
ally, the comment has not been complimen
ta^ to the conditions aboard these scows,
nor to the laws of the Republic of Panama
which allow this brutal and almost inhumw
condition to exist aboard Panamanian flag
vessels. Sick and injured seamen are pro
nounced flt for duty, or risk desertion
charge. Wages are not standard for the same
ratings. As an example, the Master of a
vessel gets anywhere from $200 to $270 a
month. Some wage, eh? The Ordinary Sea Stolen from the "Subway News;" Salvation
a permit member with three years' time
should flle an application for his book. It
AIN'T so.
X X X.
The Seafarers Welfare Fund is growing
by leaps and boimds. The trustees' policy
to let this Fund grow so that we will have
a nice reserve will prove to be a wise move.
It'll never go bankrupt, which has happen
ed to a lot of funds which tried to ^ve
benefilts larger than the expected income .,.
Mmhinists And Teamsters Win
Their Sbffces In New Orleans
By LINDSEY WILLIAMS
S NEW ORLEANS^he end of
the Machinists' and Teamsters'
strikes points to a possible in
crease in shipping, as vessels
coming out of the boneyard fgr
repairs had been withheld from
j the port by the dispute.
[' The membership of both un
ions returned to work, after win
ning 15cent hourly wage in
creases across the board. Af
fected by the strikes were 11
waterfront repair and industrial
machine shops.
The SIU cooperated with both
Organizations in their strikes.
Since the last meeting, we had
I fo^ payoffs and three signons.
j All beefs were squared away on
the vessels involved.
For the coming two weeks we
have scheduled eight payoffs.
I The Wild Ranger, Waterman, is
on her last scheduled run to
Puerto Rico. Due back here on
January 31, she will payoff and
signon, and then will be fitted
for the grain run to Europe.
Two of the ships we had in
I for payoffs were the Del Norte
and the Del. Campo. The dele
gates and crefWs of these ships
'shorild be commended for a job
well done. Both of these vessels
were exceptionally clean, and
all reports and minor beefs were
. properly recorded by the dele
gates, which made it simple for
Uiem to be taken up by the
shoreside officials.
As a result the payoffs on the
two vessels went off without a
hitch in record time.
The Seatrain Ne^ Orleans is
i still tied up down at Belle
Chasse awaiting orders. She has
been there since last May. It
Appears that she could bo carry
Ill;^ a helluva lot of tanks to
Korea. Let's hope she
where and real soon.
At the lest membership meet
ing here we reported that ru
mors were being circulated of
some ships coming out, but that
there was nothing definite. We
told the membership that as
as soon as anything definite was
available we'd pass it on to the
men.
Now the rumor has started
that there are two Liberties at
the point, awaiting orders from
New York to take full crews.
The two* Liberties about which
there has been so much talk are
in Mobile, and will be crewed
up there, if this hasn't already
been done.
Wheni ships do come into this
port for crews, we'll let the
membership know by putting
the notices on the board.
man makes about seventy bucks a month.
Crews are switched, mixed and hardtiined.
Panamanians, Germans, English and Indian
crewmembers are all mixed. I'd hate to
lower a boat in a hurry with a crew like
that. Thought I'd print this bit—^lest we>
forget that conditions weren't any better
on American ships not too damn long ago.
X X X
^ Paul Schou, MFOW member who put in
about thirteen months on the .McKettrick
Hills, showed his appreciation with a $52
LOG donation. Thanks, Paul. Incidentally,
the crew was flown back upon expiration
of the articles, and ran into a thriller. One
of the engines conked out and they .were
forced to land in Shannon, Ireland, for re
pairs—^which took two days . . . Bill Lowe
went up for a blood test preparatory to
taking a Cook's examination, and was offered
60 dollars a case" for it . . . Joe Buckley
writes in from the Fairhope, reminding us
that the 60 dollars a day that dock hands
received in Frisco 1,00 ye^ ago puts Harry
Bridges to shame. Of course, hOO years ago
was during the gold rush. For those 60 dol
lars you could buy one pair of men's bed
room slippers made of calf or goatskin.
X X X
Danny Piccirelli writes from Yokohama
to say he is on a fine ship, and forgets to
mention the name of it. This nameless and
Army kettles are a carryover from the days
when donations to feed hungry seamen were
collected in ship's cauldrons. Yup, that's
what they caU that pot . . . "Little Abner',',
Barthes, who used to be Doorman at the
New York Hall, recently retired from the
dredges and is now working ashore in a
nut factory. When he came into the Hall
the other day without a straightjacket,
some member went around yelling that
there was a loose nut in the building. How
corny can one get?
XXX
If you are suffering from that strange
malady known as tankeritis (and I don't
care to hear any medical opinions about it)
you can receive quick treatment for same
in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Keith Terpe
writes that shipping is goad there and as a
result he has to call New Orleans or Gal.
veston for men ... If you are draftable,
and do not have ratings, you may help
yourself to* obtain a deferment by getting
same. The more ratings, and the higher
they are, the better your chance for de
ferment. Pumpman, Machinist and Electri
cian ratings are worth their weight in gold.
XXX
A Seafarer who couldn't have picked a
better tag if he had christened himself has
the middle name of Siu . . . Mickey McFaul,
whom a lot of people are looking for (Won
fine ship has run into Pusan where, Danny der why?), stayed aboard the Coe Victory,
says, they gave the GIs a bellyfull of chow
whenever they came aboard . . . The Janu
ary, 1951, issue of that fine Del Norte ship's
paper, "The Navigator," has an article by a
character known to many as "Captain Bill."
whiclf will take him to England's pubs. If
you know Mickey,you know why i Say
that ... If you have read all the way to
the bottom, here's a break for you. I quit
for today.
Curran Moves West With CutRate Contracts
(Continued from Page 1)
Cooks Union and set it up as an
autonomous affiliate which would
elect its own officers and run
its own affairs in the best in
terests of the membership.
Prevailing, opinion on the West
Coast is that Curran's attempt
to swallow up the Marine Cooks
is made to order for the ship
owners.
They look to him as the in
strument with which they can
depress West Coast conditions,
and get the "bargainbasement
agreements" containing the lower
manning scales that Curran now
has in present NMU contracts.
Another reason for Curran's
attraction to the shipowners —
and which should turn the Ma
rine Cooks against him—is his
pplicy of allowing shipowners
a free rein m the selection of
men in several ratings.
In its appeals to the Marine
Cooks, the Sailors Union is
sh^CSflkiJ tbree important aspects
of Curran's maneuver. They are:
1. Curran's NMU is overcrowd
ed with men and he is now on
the West Coast looking for jobs
for his own members. (Late last
year, the NMU announced it had
23,000 jobs for 45,000 members.)
2. Curran is a serious threat
to the high West Coast manning
scales. The shipowners would
immediately huddle with him to
bring them down to the level
of the NMU scales.
3.' The NMU's East Coast vot
ing power would put a man
from that coast ^ in power oh the
West Coast. As a result the Ma
rine Cooks would have "hardly
more than a squeak within the
NMU." '
In contrast to the bleak pros
pects offered by Curran, the
SUP is giving the Marine Cooks
a set of solid advantages. By go
ing into the SUP, these inen
will get all the fln«r,ci£l sup
port they need. They will have
the: backing of the; m«n^
bership of the Seafarers Inter
national Union, which is com
pletely free of the communist
and excommunist way of think
ing responsible for the present
MCS deterioration.
Moreover, the SUP guarantees
the Marine Cooks full local au
tonomy, and the right to con
tinue saUing from the places
and on the jobs they have had
through the past many years.
Inasmuch as the present disin
tegration of the MCS is the re
sult of leadership, who found it
expedient one way or another to
follow commumst policy, the
rank and file can only, make a
clean break from this kind of
thinking by affiliating with the
SUP.
. In that way only can they
make a sincere and honest job of
cleaning, out the commies from
their ranks; Opinion here is that
the. communist eiementa will
find a refuge within the NMU
dScm Jthefr r^oa they secret
ly favor having Curran take
over. . ... _ . :
Although Curran may have
the initial advantage of having
stooges within the MCS leader?
ship who see a chance to gain
personally from an NMU swal
lowup of the MCS, the rank and
file, who are interested in a
fair and square deal, the right
to run their own union and pre
serve their , autonomy, and the
preservation of their superior
working conditions, obviously
find the SUP plan far more atr
tractive than Curran's fronting
for the shipowners.
Outside of pretty speeches and
a fancy front, Curran can offer
the Marine Cooks nothing. .
From( the standpoint of the jnr
dustry itselL tbe feeling in ma:
rine circles on all coasts is that
Curran's move may well inject
marked instability in maritimei,
a. prospect particularly .unpieat
sant in view of the stability that
has lately come about.
J
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Friday:, January 28, 1851 THE SEAFARERS LOG Page Five
a;
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wiMr
tttllltK..
r '.y QUESTION: What humorous incident you experienced at sea remains in your memory?
H. KELLY, Bosun:
' Aboul seven monlhs ago, I
vas aboasd a ship in Anlwerp.^
One of the ABs was sleeping off
a lough one, and several guys
were discussing how best to
wake him. up to turn to. Finally,
an OS volunteered, saying he
could straighten him out. He
took a bunch of raw onions,
chopped them up and rubbed
them all over the guy, then
wrapped him in his blanket. The
guy didn't budge or blink an
eye. He slept through. Next day
when he woke up, he wondered
what guy thought he was so
funny. Nobody told him, of
e^urse. The: OS just csulds't
figure out how his plan failed.
W. M. WALLACE. Bosum
Sometime ago I was on a ship
leaving Puerto La Crux, Vene^
zuela. for the States. An Ordi
nary who had been oiit the night
before, and was pooped out, was
slated for lookout. He took over
his watch, saying he'd hold out
okay, although his eyes looked
halfclosed. A few moments af
ter he was relieved he was re
ported missing from his quarters.
The ship "was searched but he
couldn't be found. Finally, the
Old Man gave up the search
^d returned to his own quar
ters. There was the missing look
out, asleep in the Captainfs set
tee. He didn't remember how he
got there.
TONY ZALESKL AB:
Last year I was aboard a ship
carrying passengers from, Europe.
One them, a woman, was
aiwng the oddest diaracters
I've ever seen. In fact, she
was more than slightly off her
bean. Although the crewmem
bers told her repeatedly that it
was not allowed, she used to
like to go down, below to ttdk
to the men. Almost every night
she would put on a bathing, suit
and promenade on the deck.
Wherever there was a group of
guys, she'd stop by and start
dancing. She certainly did liven
up the trip. It was just too bad
that she wasn't young and^ good
looking. It's always thcd way.
A. RUMMEL, Chief Cook:
This happened down in Lour
enco Marques. Our ship was lay
ing in the stream. Several of us,
including some pztssengers, were
looking over the rail, when from
ashore comes a crewmember—a
big heavy guy. His pants pock
ets were loaded with gear, and
you could see the strain on them
as he climbed up the Jacob's
ladder. Just as hO neared the
top of the ladder, his pants fell
down. The passengers roared,
and so did the crewmen who
saw it. The guy finally made
it though. He got himself, his
pants and his cargo aboard the
ship okay. I won't mention his
name.
H. WISHNANT, AB: ,
Once in the Phillipines, a
Fireman aboud the ship I was
on went ashore. When he came
back he was feeling^ no pain. He
spied the Chief Cook, who was
thawing out a turkey which was
to serve as the next day's meal.
This touched our Fireman friend,
who went into a crying jag and
bemoaned the fate of the bird.
He picked up the turkey and
kept caressing it, while he
whimpered over and over again, '
"You poor little turkey. Tomor
row we gonna eat you." Despite
the efforts made to quiet down
our sentimental Fireman, he
couldn't be consoled. But he ate
the bird the next day.
V. FITZGERALD, MM: BERNARD MACE. Cbok; TONY FERRARA, Carpenttt: JOHN McGUINNESS. OS: L. P. HOGAN, Deck Engineer:
Downi in Cuba recently, I was This isn't exactly funny when
zidiiig dOwn thei street on a pony you remember that it' really
on my way back to the ship. As happened, but it was the Idnd
I passed a bar, I was hailed by of thiifg you see in slapstick
a group of shipmates from the movies. The Chief Cook on a
SB John Stagg. They proceeded tanker I recently sailed on was
to give me a hard time, telling preparing supper, and he was a
me a big guy like me ought to little short on pork chops. About
be ' ashamed to burden a poor 5:30 the guys started yelling >for
little pony. I got off, and the more. The Chief Cook got all
hei^t thing 1 know the gtfSS^iexcited, ran down t» the ice
were' flying down tlm street, box and came up with a loin of
astride the same pony. Not so j>ork. Between his excitement
amusing to me was an. experience and his haste I thought he'd
bsick in 1923, when I shipped blow up. He kwung a cleaver .to
oh deck. I was chipping over the chop off some chops from the
side in Mobile. As X came along loin. He missed the loin com
sida: a scupper, 1 nearly was plezely but chopped off his
droned and hot by'water thumb kt the knuckle. Didh'f
either. eveh feel it, either.
During the war, I was on the
SS Fluorspar. We picked up a
Messman in Scotland, and it
was his first trip to sea. The
Flr^ Assistant always gave him
a hard time, so the Messman was
afrpid of him. One morning iff ter
breakfast was over, the First
came in and said he wanted
some ham and eggs. The boy
hurried to the galley, but the
Cook said "No more ham, well
fry him some eggs." Afraid to
tell the First, the boy grabbed
a himk of ham that he had
thrWn away uom leftovers,
washed it off and put ixrtn with
the es^ The First said he never
tasted such good ham and eggs,
On my first trip to sea in
1947, I sailed as a Wiper. One
of the first orders I got from the
Chief Engineer was to sougee
the reefer room. I did so, but in
the process I blew out the plant.
The Chief screamed, "Get out
and never come back." Thmx he
told the Old Man "Either Mo
Guinness gets off or I get ofL"
The Old Man told him to cool
off. Then he wanted to put me
to'work chipping on dedk. He
fotmd out that th» aigraement
didn't permit that. So he luroke
mo ^wn from WT^r to work
away. 1 didn't have to dp any
work for several days, but I
got paid anyway.
Recently my ship tied up at
Portlzmd, Maine. On comes a re
lief Chief Engineer in full re
galia. The fibrst night he fired the
F'irst and Second Engineers. Next
morning he caUs for me. "You're
fired," he says. I asked him
why, and he replied that he was
cleaning house. I called the Bos
ton Hall and was told to stay
aboard imtil the Patrolman got
there. I told the Chief this."l'il
fire and hire who I want. If not
111 get off." At the oil docks
three days later X saw him w^Jk
in the rain dorm the gangway
and head for town. He had ail
of his baggage with him.
Page Six THJE SEAFARERS LOG Friday. January 26, 1851
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^lack Eagle Loses
ZOTon Crane In
Tussle With Typhoon
A nottobedenied typhoon caught up with the SS
I Black Eagle off the Okinawa coast and gave it a severe
buflFeting that cost the doughty Victory ship a 20ton
« crane.
The Black Eagle, a National
Bulk Cargo Carriers' vessel, had
been ordered out of Okinawa
harbor on November 8 because
of warnings that a typhoon was
approaching, according to a re
port submitted to the LOG by
crewmember Bill Barth.
Three days later, as she was
cruising off the coast, the Black
Eagle ran headon into the storm,
Barth related. As the tempest in
creased in intfensity, the secur
ing cables of a 20ton crane
worked loose.
The Deck Gang quickly turn
ed to and worked feverishly un
til the cables were again secure.
No sooner had they finished that
j6b, Barth continued, than a
truck on the starboard side for
ward and another at starboard
aft became loose. Again the deck
hands secured the endangered
;cargo.
i By 9 o'clock that night the
typhoon was at peak fury. "All
^ell broke loose," Barth said.
The heavy seas slapped , and
shook the Eagle severely. Final
ly, the crane broke loose again.
"Some of us came out on the
wing of the boat deck and watch
ed that crane do its damage,"
Barth continued.
, As the Eagle rose and feU
' with the heavy seas, the im
bridled crane swimg about
drunkenly. Within 10 minutes it
had pounded a section of t^e
starboard bulwark loose and
left it hanging over the side.
On the next roll the crane
teetered on the open edge of
the deck and plunged straight
l^own into the sea.
' Almost as if contented that,
its objective had been accom
plished, the typhoon shortly af
ter took off and the seas began
to calm down.
The Black Eagle licked its
woimds and her tired deck
hands hit their sacks for a little
shuteye.
Question On How
To Retire Book
Pops Up Again
The oftarising question of
"how do I go about retiring my
book" cropped up again this
week. This time it came from
a Seafarer now in ' the Army,
who expressed concern over the
status of his book.
Headquarters sent an answer
to the inquirer, advising him of
the procedure it has been stress
ing repeatedly in the columns of
the LOG over the past several
years. Since the Korean conflict
the Union v has particularly
brought the matter of book re
tirement to the attention of mem
bers about to enter the Armed
Forces.
In answering the army man's
question. Headquarters urged
again that all hands leaving the
sea, either to enter the service
or for any other reason, should
forward their books to SIU
Headquarters, 51 Beaver Street,
New York 4, N. Y., with a re
quest that they be placed in
retirement.
In order to quality for a re
tirement card, a member must
be paid to date when seek
ing retirement.
Ship To Boat Transfer Of ill Seafarer
Shipmates lower ailing
Frank Formisano over side of
Sealrain Havana to Coast
Guard boat, which responded
to call off the Florida Coast.
Formisano, a watertender, took
ill suddenly, and Skipper
speeded up the vessel for the
rendezvous with the CG.
Coeust Guardsmen unfasten lines on basket in which
Formisano was transferred to the boat which took Him to
a shoreside hospital. Photos, taken by Lester Moore. Oiler,
on the Havana, are part of photo record of the transfer.
: UM
V. .h,
Rotary Shipping System Tops Off Agenda
At Abiqua's Union Educational Meeting
Crewmembers aboard the SS Abiqua, Cities Service*~r;~ T—TT :—T
, , . , ,, 1 1 1 1 . . , , rights and privileges in the or«
tanker, are, working on the wellestablished principle that
Union men who know the score make the best shipmates.
That much is evident from«is
the type of Union education
meetings the Abiqua men have
been holding. As a result of the
effort to have each man fully
understand the nature and func
tion of his Union, there has been
an. increase in shipboard coope
ration and smoother functioning
all around.
The minutes of the latest edu
cational session, held recently at
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Debrisslrewn deck and torn starboard bulwark testify to havbe resuUing from brief eO"
counter between the SS Black Eagie and a typhoon cF the Okinawa, coast recently. Bulwark
was ripped when 20ton criane came loose and crashed into the sea. Photo was among those
submitted by crewmember H. Kelly. f
sea, reveal that rotary shipping
was thoroughly explained and
discussed.
Brother Harold Crane, acting
Ship's Delegate on the Abiqua,
started off the rotary shipping
discussion by asking how many
aboard the vessel were not fully
familiar with the procedure.
Eight crewmen, who came into
the Union as a result of the
SIU's successful organizing drive
in the CS fleef, said they were
wanting on this score.
So Crane started at the bottom
iand toldl how the rotary system
worked, from the time a man
entered the Hall, until he was
shipped out. Nothing was omit
ted. Crane even explained what
questions the Dispatcher was
likely to ask of the job regis
trant.»
Following Crane's explanation,
the Abiqua men went into a
discussion of the system of clas
sifying ratings into three groups
within the various shipboard de
partments'. T. Crawford than
took the floor on the topic of
"shipping from the board." His
clear explanation brought a vote
of thanks from his listeners.
Crane followed Crawford on
the deck with a reading of the
Qujffterly Finance Committee's
report of December 6. "Most of
the men," says the minutes,
"were astonished to learn of the
obviously sound position of the
Union as revealed) inits assets."
Also stressed at the session
was the advisability of keeping
in, good standing and of retiring
a book in the proper manner i"
ordef to protect the members'
ganization.
Article Vlli Section 1 of the
Constitution, dealing withrein
statement was read and disr
cussed.
Before closing the meeting.
Brother Crane stressed that the
proper thing for a member to
do in the event any Union pro
cedure is not clear to him is to
consult his shipboard delegate
or a Patrolman in any port.
The Abiqua men are intent
upon holding their education
meetings regularly. If their be
ginning is any criterion, they're
on the way to becoming some
of the bestinformed Seafarers on
the seas.
Reporters Wanteii
What happens to Seafaren
while taking the ships to the
far flung ports of the world
makes interesting reading to
the rest of the membership.
You don't have to he a
Jack London to knock out the
details of the experience.
Just give us the facts and
well do the rest.
Pictures, too make a story
more interesting. If you, or
a fellow crewmember, are
lucky enough to have a
camera along — send your
snapshots to the LOG. We'll
take care of the developihg
and printing and the return'
ing of the negatives land
prints to you.
Send your hits of news and
snaps to: SEAFARERS LOG.
51 Beaver SireeL New York,
H. Y, ...v...:
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Friday. Januavy 26.4951 THE SEAFARERS LOG Page.Seven
Digested Minutes Of SlU Ship Meetings
I
CHRISTINE. Dee. 17—Chair
wan. R. Ferreia; Senetary. J.
Christian. Discussion on possibil
ity oit demoting 2nd Cook to 3rd
Cook as he cannot bake. Entire
crew voted in favor of the de
motion.^ Suggestion made that
each crewmember donate one
dollar toward purchase of a new
washing machine. Ship's Dele
gate reported everything is ship
shape.
PENNMAR. Nov. 5—Chairman.
John Marshall; Secretary. Char
les T. Scott. Steward reported
$26 in ship's fund and moved
that Department Delegates col
lect one dollar from each mem
ber in Long Beach for the fund.
Deck Delegate suggested 'that
each man on standby cooperate
in keeping recreation room and
messhall clean.
4. 4 t
ROBIN SHERWOOD, Dec. 6—
Chairman. Vincent Kuhl; Secre
tary. Walter Hayes. Delegates
reported all okay. Request made
for more juices, but they are
not available. Crew complained
of insufficieht cold cuts for night
lunch.
4 t t
SOUTHERN CITIES. Dec. 27—
Chahrmaa. Frank Calmen; Sec
retary. A. Foster. Ship's Delegate
reported of difficulty in securing
a needed AB. Beef raised of
Engineers using crew's mess as
passageway dxuring meal hours,
ew percolator ordered to re
lace one that burned out
^ ^ %
ALAWAL Dec. 13—Chairman.
E. Moyd; Secretary. A. Phillips.
Delegates reported no beefs, ex
cept Engine Delegate who re
ported some disputed overtime.
Disciission on Brother Eddie
Westphal who was lost at sea.
Motion carried to send flowers
io services for Brother O. W.
Tompkins who died aboard ship.
% % X
ALCOA PARTNER Dec. 31^
Chairman. Mike Selonka; Secre
lary. Mclnnis. Delegates report
ed all okay. Delegates drew up
protest to company for not send
ing pump for cold water to ship.
Steward criticised for putting
out two second meats at supper
time. Ship's Delegate cautioned
all hands to honor the SIU agree
ment. Suggestion made that Ar
ticle II, Section 32 be modified
so the rest period.would apply
on day of arrival and day of
departure.
fcthan/
XXX
LONE JACK. Dec. 17—Chair
iman. Roy Lundquist; Secretary.
Price Willoghby. Delegates' re
ports accepted. Wendland elect
ed Treasurer for the ship's fund.
Ship's Delegate reminded crew
of the clause in the contract
that calls for men to be aboard
one hour before the posted sail
ing time. Crew also reminded of
the clause calling for two days'
pay if new man is ordered.
XXX
ANDREW JACKSON. Jen. I—
Chairman. Frank Albore; Secre
tary. Bud Cousins. Delegates re
ported on. the number of books
and permits in their. depart
ments. Motion carried to have
double bottoms cleaned. Motion
carried to have Patrolman check
the rationing of cigarettes, now
limited to two cartons every ten
days. Black' Gang Delegate to
see Patrolman about beef 812
yifhesi qouapi%
• for gour
'^Sl^rAUY
\AUDATBP
vocuAfmr^
awd <Jo it ̂ ̂cott asxfou. caw.
do not Iturn. ixL cjozisr seorruuz^
i^awcsanatidt
icrrcedi. fe? iHentm
Fireman has against the Chief
Mate concerning the treatment
he received while ill.
XXX
ALCOA CLIPPER. Dec. 31—
Chairman. R. Roberts; Secretary.
E. Hunter. Delegates reported
dissatisfaction with food being
given crew. Ship's Treasury re
ported at $95:87. Motion carried
that the Steward explain to a
Patrolman why the menus have
n't been' changed. Motion to buy
a new washing machine voted
down.
XXX
BRADFORD ISLAND. Dec. 31
—Chairman. Buddy Benson; Sec
retary. W. Guitenan. Delegates
reported some disputed overtime
in their departments. Motion car
ried that doors not be locked
while at sea. Motion carri^ that
Ship's Delegate go with Steward
and check the contents of the
store room. Chief Electrician to
check on cost to have present
washing machine repaired as
compared to buying a new one.
XXX
GOVERNMENT CAMP. Dec.
27—Chairman. William Burke;
Secretary. C. Wille. Delegates
reported number of books and
permits in their departments.
Vote of thanks given Treasurer
O'Brien for the swel* job he has
done. Motion carried to put in
for overtime for delayed sailing.
Stewards Department men to
collect Saturday in port over
time for time anchored in Lake
Charles, then other departments
are to put in for, it.
XXX
DEL SUD. Dec. 10—Chairman,
Brown; Secretary, Clarke. Ship's
Delegate reported on visit to
New Orleans • Marine Hospital,
repairs j;hat had been made and
Captain's displeasure with fire
and boat, drill. Motion carried
that the Captain be notified that
the general alarm system had
been out of order for two days
and 1st Assistant would not al
low Electrician to repair it, as
it would invoke week end over
time. Beef about discrimination
in handing out slops; officers and
cadets can draw for another
man, but crewmembers must ap
pear in person. Motion carried
to airmail repair list northward
from Rio on return trip. Crew
agreed that ship is feeding 100
percent better than last trip and
Stewards Department rated a
vote of thanks for a job well
done.
XXX
SEATRAIN NEW YORK. (Date
not given):—Chairman. R. Swee
ney; Secretary. Charlie Goldstein.
Ship's Delegate reported sending
a telegram to Headquarters re
porting a man missing the ship
in New York. Other Departments
reported no beefs. Motion car
ried that in the future Delegates
report men missing the ship by
writing a letter to Headquarters
immediately and sending it
ashore with the pilot. Steward
given a vote .of thanks for the
swell dinner his department put
out on Christmas day.
X X Jk
ALCOA PURITAN, Dec. 3 —
Chairman, S. LeLacheur; Secre
tary. William Frank. Delegates
reported disputed overtime for
delayed sailing. Motion carried
for tho Ship's Delegate to see
the Captain about wiring for
draw money in New York. Sug
gestion made that crewmembers
! leave Patrolman alone and let
the Delegates settle all beefs.
office. "The dispute between the
West Coast Longshoremen and
the SUP was discussed, and the
crew Went on record to keep
out of the battle as far as gin
mill and street arguments are
concerned. If the Union needs us,
then we'll act.
XXX
ALCOA PURITAN, Nov. 13—
Chairman, F. Grumpier; Secre
tary, Michael Amato. Delegates
reported all okay. Old minutes
to be corrected before being ac
cepted. Motion carried to post
a repair list and to eliminate
cold suppers. Suggestion made
that storage boxes be cleaned
more often.
XXX
DEL AIRES, Nov. 19—Chair
man, Bannister; Secretary, Hay
Casanova. Ship's Delegate re
ported on visit he and seven
crewmembers made to Brother
Jacob Levy, of the Del Santos,
in the hospital. Discussion on
penalty cargo from last voyage.
Steward stated that present paint
is no gpod and International
paint should be ordered for next
trip.
XXX
CHIL'ORE, Dec. 31—Chairman.
H. Collier; Secretary, J. Siniard.
Delegates reported on number of
books and permits in their de
partments. Beef raised on boil
ing clothes at night and keeping
the Stewards Department awake.
All departments to cooperate in
keeping laundry clean.
XXX
CATAHOULA, Jan. 7—Chair
man, Adolph Capote; Secretary,
L. Stephenson. Chairman discus
sed letter sent to Headquarters
asking for innerspring mattresses
and a more liberal food supply.
Delegates reported no disputes
in their departments. Suggestion
made that more fried chicken be
served.
received regularly in Capetown
be posted on the bulletin board
and no one is to remove it from
the messroom.
XXX
SEATRADER, Dec. 3—Chair
man. Walker; Secretary, N. Pet
tersen. Ship's Delegate reported
$3.75 in the ship's fund. Dele
gates reported some disputed
overtime, but said things are
running smoothly. Members re
quested to keep their feet off the
tables. Chief Cook asked aU
members, while in port, to eat
as soon as possible.
XXX
PETROLITE, Jan. 9 _ Chair
man, Louis Tilley; Secretary.
Stephen BoguckL Motion carried
that crew will not payoff at sea
until overtime beef with BR is
straightened out and all repairs
attended to. Motion carried that
all crewmembers donate $1 to
the repairing of the washing
machine. Suggestion made that
Steward put in for more milk as
supply is running low.
XXX
IBERVILLE. Nov. 12—Chair
man. F. O'Leary; Secretary. O.
Bodden. Delegates reported no
beefs. Motion carried to hold a
meeting every time around the
loop. Discussion on amount of
food needed for adequate meal.
4. 4.
RAPHAEL SEMMES. Dec. 3—
Chairman. W. C. McCuislon; Sec
retary. Frank Van Dusen. Dele
gates reported number of books
and permits in their departments.
Discussion on man who pUed
off the ship in Jacksonville.
Ship's Delegate to get beneficiary
cards for men who haven't sent
a card yet to the Welfare Plan
XXX
CHRISTINE, Dec. 4 — Chair
man, Vic Miorana; Secretary,
Murry. Delegates reported every
thing shipshape with the crew
doing a good job. Motion car
ried that messrooms and crew,
foc'sles be painted out. Motion
carried that a letter be sent to
the Postmaster General sug
gesting a_ floating marine post
office in the Panama Canal,
such as is operated on the Great
Lakes. Men on gangway watch
asked to stick close to gangway
so the Mate doesn't have to
look all over the ship for them.
XXX
GATEWAY CITY, Nov. 20 —
Chairman, E. Killigren; Secre
tary, R. Daniels. Delegates re
ported their departments in or
der. Question raised on dumping
of garbage; to be referred to
New York.
XXX
ROBIN LOCKSLEY. Dec. 24—
Chairman, Steve Bergeria; Sec
retary, Vernon Porter. Motion
carried that Deck Delegate speak
to Mate about giving the Deck
Department time to sougee their
foc'sles. Motion carried that all
beefs be referred to Department
Delegates to prevent men from
running to head of department.
Agreement made that Ship's
Delegate appoint a laundryman
upon ship's arrival in Africa.
Motion carried that the LOG
XXX
STEEL DIRECTOR, Dec. 24—
Chairman, Oliver Fielding; Sec
retary, N. J. Wood. Delegates re
ported no major beefs. Motion
carried to have Deck DepaH
ment hold a special meeting to
adjust differences or make out
a written report of facts con
cerning refusal of Deck Depart
ment to accept the Deck Dele
gate's report. Deck Delegate had
spoken to Mate to keep off deck;
Mate was back 43n deck the fol
lowing day.
XXX
ELLY, Jan. 5 — Chairman, A.
Giove; Secretary, Osetek. Dele
gates reported all okay. Stew
ard's Delegate reported Steward
refused to attend meeting. Mo
tion carried that a $25 fine be
placed against anyone refusing
to attend to a meeting. Motion
carried to crack down on drink'
ing; anyone who fouls up to. be
brought up on charges.
XXX
VENORE, Jan. 7 —Chairman,
D. Faircloth? SecTetary, J, Eas
terling. Suggestion made that
recreation room be kept clean.
Delegates reported everything in
order.
XXX
CARROLL VICTORY, Nov. 24
—Chairman, G. Strocker; Secre
tary, J. Canlrell. Delegates re
ported all in order as most of
disputed overtime had been
cleared up. Discussion on ice
and Captain's refusal to buy it.
Recommendation that Steward
put out a more balanced diet
and crew cooperate more with
Messman.
CHIWAWA^ fciltes Service),
Jan. 7—Chairman, * R. Pawlak,
Secretary, David Barrett. Chair
man read Union literature on
charges and explained Ihat this
matter was a serious one and
not to b& abused. Request made '
that fruit juices be chilled:
XXX
COUNCIL GROVE (Cities Ser
vice). Jan. 1—Chairman, Sven
Jansson: Secretary, Lawrence
Reimer. Delegates reported num
ber of books and permits in their
dep ̂ rtmciits and listed disputed
overtime. Motion carried to have\
Ship's Delegate see Port Engin
{Cmtinuei on Page 10)
• :V: I
Frid«7, January 26, ISM
SIU Book Prize Possession,
Says Seafarer Now In Army
Galley Men Get Vitamin D
|fe
i K'"»!.• •
It'
i;:
|.te;
i
To ihe Editor:
• I guess a lot of my friends
and former shipmates will be
surprised to learn that the worst
Electrician in New Orleans is
now a recruit in the Army.
She's a feeder but hell on OT.
. Basic* training is like all the
\morganized ships that ever sail
ad, all rolled into one—and every
single month they hit me with
75 bucks, minus taxes and in
surance.
. A lot of my fellow victims are
wondering what they are sup
posed to be fighting for, since of
ficially there is no war on. But
I'm not kicking. I know that
when I get out I won't have to
hit the 5220 line, like a lot of
these guys wUl.
JOB GUARANTEE
My SIU book is my guarantee
.of a job of my own choosing and
a good living wage. I wouldn't
swap it for all the medals in
the Army.
I got a Christmas card from
PFC Tom Williams, exDel Norte
Engine Maintenance. Also a note
from "Blackie" Bankston, the
Del Norte's worldfamous Bosim.
I used to kid him about his
gray hairs, but now I wish I
had them.
I Wonder if there is any way
I could get a print of the picture
printed in one of the August
1951 issues (I think) of the LOG,
showing the Del Norte dele
gates, and in which I appeared
as the Engine Delegate.
jif whoever has the negative
reads this I'd be glad to pay for
the print and postage. I'm really
anxious to have the picture as
a reminder of the best ship and
best damn crew I ever sailed
with.
NEWS WANTED
I'd also like to hear news of
the Del Norte Navigator. I sure
enjoyed working on it with
MLICA CREWMEN
CHARGE LAUNDRY
WITH DIRTY DEAL
To Ihe Editor:
am writii^ in ragard to, a
latHidry in . Portland,; Ore;, that
caters to ships; It is .e^led^ the
'Oregon Laundry; ' ' . %
'While this ship was in port
a few weeks back, one of the
laundry's drivers came • • aboard
soliciting laundry. At the time
of picking it up, they tell you
one price, then when it is de
liyered shortly before the ships
sail they bring it aboard and
eharge a man ̂ ree or four times
the specified amount.
• In one instance, a Brother
• member on this ship was charged
$4.25 for the laundering of four
shirts, and two of them were
not even ones he had sent out.
Please warn • other SIU shipws
to be on the lookout for this
Oregon laundry driver and see
that he does not catch any more
oiE our Brothers.
Pai Ryan
: < . Engine Delegate
.SB. OBw • •
Thurston Lewis, "Salty" Dick
and the others who djd such a
good job of making it tops.
I'd like to extend the very best
New Year's wishes to the LOG
staff, all the guys in New Or
leans, all feUow exSeafarers
now in service, and, in fact, to
all SIU members everywhere.
In closing, here's a promise'to
all friends that I will answer
all letters if anyone wants to
write to me.
Ret. Gordon Peck
U. S. 56082038
Tmg. Btxy C
746 AAA Gun B'n..
Fort Lewis, Wash.
(Ed. note: the picture refer
red to by Brother Peck ap
peared in the July 21 issue of
the LOG.)
Going To Korea?
Kirkman Offers ;
Valuable Tips
To the Editor:
Relaxing on deck of the Archers Hope, Cities Service
tanker, are two members ol the Stewards Department, iden
tified by photographer J. E. BeU, as "Mike, our Second Cook,
and the Chief Cook."
Professional LoanSeekers Out To Exploit
Their Shipmates, Paddy Farrell Declares
To the Editor:
We have tried incessantly to
encomage members of the SIU
to be careful in the handling of
their money at sea and in port.
It is becoming a huge menace
time and again to have fellows
complain of being duped by loan
pirates on board and ashore who
borrow from shipmates a fin or
two "until payoff."
This wise parasite is usually
a gambler or an alcoh'olic and
will stoop to anything for his
selfish ends. In most cases he is
a poor worker. His intention is
to get by the easest way. The
only way this can be done is
by exploiting his shipmates.
SMOOTHIE
He is an ideal promiser and an
elegant talker. He wUl give you
a smooth line and a hard luck
story, like all confidence men.
He usually is dressed up like
a sheik and has a spiel of ship's
talk that would make Columbus
turn in his grave.
When this guy has. used aU
his tricks to borrow all he can
and realizes he is on the run,
he usuaUy packs his gear and
quits the ship, maybe getting
away with a $20O$3OO take. He
goes to the Hall iand registers
for another ship and so on goes
the wheel of misery that this
lousy parasite thinks is clever.
YOUR PROBLEM
The Union cann^ot retrieve
your loss for you. Although the
Union would like to help you,
it is something over which it
has no control. This is some
thing between two guys. There
fore, take warning and watch
out for these cheesymouthed
renegades and keep your money.
And I think if you lose their so
called friendship, you are a win
ner. The old adage says "A bird
in the hand is worth two in the
bush."
Now, lastly, the SIU as an
organization works in the in
Xeep The LOG Coming'
terests of all seamen, whether
they be bookmen, permitmen
and will not condone crooked
ness and shall always try to
stamp it out.
It would be wise to tip off
your Brothers in the SIU as to
the existence of this kind of
character referred to above. I
realize this might be tough to
do, but the truth is best for all
of us.
Paddy (Deep Six) Farrell
Hails SIU Spirit
Of Brotherhood
To the Editor:
I wish to. express my sincere
gratitude to the membership of
the SIU for their generous re
membrance of me and my family
during the holiday season.
This kindly gesture points up
the true spirit of brotherhood
which exists throughout the SIU
ai^ is so well known to all of
its members.
" I am extremely praud of my
membership in the SIU—a real
Brotherhood of the Sea, which
at all times has the welfare and
ccmcem of its members at heart.
I want to take^ this opportun
ity to, extend to all ms Uuion
Brothers a sincere wish for a
happy and prosperoushew year.
Paul Saifford
Going fb Korea? Then. listeny
Brother, cause I've got a fewi
words of advice for Seafarers
who find their ships nosing into
Far Eastern lands. Our ship—tha'
Robin Kirk—has been out hera"
for Over four months and . has,!;
of course, run into the usuai
difficulties of short stores, but
that is to be expected.
Don't take any . Army gear,
from a soldier unless youate
given a receipt for it. The Army?
will shake down the ship andi
you'll land in hot water.
In Korea, deal in American,
money if you can or you'll takes
a beating on every turn in exv
change. Dont' drink Korean,
whiskey; it'll ruin you. Don't
make heavy draws in Pusan
unless you want script for Japami
You can get script, in Korea but;
not in Japan. In other words,;
make your draw for Japan iHi
Korea.
There is , nothing to do . in
Pusan anyway. Th'e army clubs
are off limits to seamen and the
seamen's club has nothing, it's
alaws sold out.
GOOD CLUB
• In Yokohama, however, there
is a fine seamen's club run by,
two very nice people. Unfor
tunately, it is a shame the way.'
it is being abused. It's disgust
ing to watch the performing of
characters and gas hounds who
punch on the tables, yell and"
whistle at everything. Their
conduct is a disgrace to the;
country they represent, our un''
ion and the merchant marine.
I was really ashamed when I'
walked out of the place.
These are critical times for,
the merchant marine and eveiy
seaman is judged to'be typical.'
Every seaman should be on his ̂
best behavior at all times in. the
war zone, keep his eyes and ears
open and his mouth shut unless
he knows that he is right. *
Fred Peltlngai
John Toledo, who entered the Army test week, wants to
ke^ in touch with Union activitiea during his stiiit te the
service. Here he drops LOG subscription cud into box at
Hei^quarters building to make sure he gets the Union paper
regiite^y.
Recommends Brother
For Car Repair Wwlk
To Sae Editor: ' '
My brother, Altpn Roberts,
owns and operates a garage at
10141^ ^rket Street, Houston
15, Texas.
I would like to recomniend
that all SIU: Brothers in that
area who need work done.; on
their cars go to Alton. Roberts
who wiU give them a square deal
in the repair of their cars.
He does goodwork at a fair
price, and aU of his , work is
guaranteed. ; • V
;.; Charlie Roberts
S(Ndrate ffhyana
LogARhythms
By Ci. B. WARD
m
Woe be
unto we
Sorry souls,
who go to 8984
' i'
T
Boiling.; down • ; U' f t JJ;;.:
. 'to Panahte' '' '
Shns relief M
, ."' of: hahaha^J ' '
a • sth^ng'^'drop.
An empty shell \, m
'I'm
without a prop, n »
:,v:.:;..i;Tbus.the fate , ^
;;S?5M^,t.;w;r..:Of ;you.ahd
j|p,.;#nd.. most ef. ud
who;go tO'sea.' s.
Friday, January 26, 1851 THE SEAFARERS LOG
Page Nine
^ Bmemer Men On The Jcb
IK
Deck hands on Ihe Bessemer Victory give the stack
new coat of painty.
^^: : 4
For The Records
Seafarers makiug pay
ments to Union Patrolmen
and other authorized SIU
representatiTes should make
certain the receipts they re
ceive specify the account to
which the money is to be
credited.
For example, receipts
made for LOG donations
should have SEAFARERS
LOG written clearly along
side the amount. Tlie same
applies to recasts for dues,
assessments and other pay
ments.
Careful attention to this
detail will enable Headquar
lers to keep its records ac
curate in crediting income
to the various accounts.
Bea^ Lights Up
Over Juicy Note
To Dry Outfit
To the Editor; *
following is an editorial
m the " New York Daily News
Which I think some of the mem
bers might find amusing:
"The Womens Christian Tem
perance Union, veterans organi
zation of bonedry females has
received the following letter
from somewhere in Korea:
"'Dear ladies of the W.T.C.U.
e men of the Engineers Com
lat Battalion really do apprec
iate the fruit juices you are
sending over here in place of
the beer. It doesn't quite take
rile place of beer, but you can
get quite a better buzzon with
'"'We just add a little yeast
and sugar to it, heat it on the
istOVe and get some of the finest
wine ever brewed. As yeast and
sugar are scarce over here, we
would appreciate it verY much
if you would send some with
the next shipment. Thank you*
very much and keep the juices
coming our way.'
"If the. drys would learn that
you can't beat, either nature or
human nature as evidenced by
this letter, they'd become a lot
wiser than they've ever been
yet."
Tobs Beams
The Bessemer Vic's Bosun, John Nordstrom, strikes a
serious pose for the shipboard photographer.
Tex Offers Doggone Theory
On What Causes Headaches
To the Editor:
Did you ever have a head
ache? Do you know what it was
caused. by? Well, just pull off
your shoes and settle back while
I tell you why you have head
aches and'What causes them.
If you wiU cast an eye around
you, you'll probably see several
people. Now take a good look
at each person individually and
see if he or she reminds vou of
Question Box
CLIPPER CREW ASKS IF ATTENDANCE
IS REQUIRED AT SHIPBOARD MEETINGS
Nditor, Question Box:
1. The question has arisen as to whether men off watch are
required to attend regular shipboard meetings. If these men are
required to attend but do not do so, what action can be taken?,
2. Are members on ships that pay off after the first of the
I,;
if
r::.'
year required to pay the current year's'assessments, or is there
:& 9dday period in which to do this? SS Alcoa Clipper
. ANSWER: 1. AU men off walch must attend meetings,
i unless, of course, they are confined to their bunks by illn^
^ Fhilure to attend the meetings can result In charges^
• : 2w A man who pays off after the first of the year must
the^current year's assessments at the first payoff in the
^ ; year. Otherwise h^ aufeunsdierily goes^^i^ ;
Vlodeck Proposes Campaign
To Cut Down Ships' Noises
a dog or some type. That's right,
I said a dog.
You see everyone has a cer
tain percentage of dog blood in
his body. This blood does not
circulate with the regular blood
in a person's body, but it has
its own small group, which cir
culate as a body.
This dog blood is exactly
what causes a person to have a
headache. It tries to circulate or
mix with the regular blood iii
your body, which it cannot do
under any condition. Therefore
a friction is set up by these two
types of blood trying to mix.
This friction changes to a pres.
sure, which slowly builds up and
causes extremely severe head
aches.^ •
There is only one way in
which a person can overcome
these painful experiences and
that is to close his eyes for a
moment and try to relax. Now
that your eyes are shut try to
picture blood veins before your
eyes—you have to try to picture
this dog blood trying to force its
way over .the regular human
blood in your body.
Now if you will .picture the
dog blood passing the regular
human blood then you will find
that your aches have disappear
ed after the dog blood passed
the human blood.
Now Ed, don't go around tell
ing everyone that this is the way
to get rid of a headache because
they might not believe you and
they will think you are crazy.
Clyde (Tex) Sim
SS Binghamloa Victory
(Ed. note; We won't 1«U s
• ouU •
To the Editor:
Brothers, we have gone a long
way to make the conditions im
der which we work as pleasant
as possible. We went down the
line to get good quarters and
messrooms on every ship—some
place where a man could get
some sleep, without being awak
ened 99 times by noises.
That's why we did something
about the one big foc'sle on
American ships, and fought for
watch foc'sles so that men go
ng and coming on watch would
not disturb those sleeping.
But now w6 are faced with
gigolos, who whistle and sing
and yap out loud in the alley
ways to keep those who wish to
sleep awake almost all the time.
GET THEM, TOG
I now wish to recommend that
we get after those gigolos as we
did the gashounds and perform
ers and other things that were
detriment to the good and
welfare of our Union. Some
people get the idea that when
they are called down about the
whistling and ' noise they are
making, that the old SOBs who
told them to knock off the
whistle is superstitious.
It is not that. Brothers. To
put it mildly, you are a pain in
the neck. (My people read the
LOG too, you know.)
I propose that we get the
foc'sle card that we had a while
back and print it up again and
put copies in the messrooms.
The foc'sle card was used in
our educational program a while
back, but it has since disappear
ed. There is a paragraph on this
card that says something like
this: If you must sing or make
unnecessary noises, go outside
forward or aft—and let loose.
OFFERS CHANGE
At this writing I am on the
124 watch and if we get the
foc'sle card back on the ships,
I'd like to make an amendment
for the justmentioned para
graph to read: "If you must
sing and whistle, go aft til your
cap floats. The break out til
your heart's content.
And another one. If you wish
to play your radio, close your
foc'sle door. Don't let your ship
mates suffer from the heat be
cau.se they have to close their
doors to get some sleep because
you want to listen to cowboy
and tearjerker songs. If it's that
bad, go home, son, and marry
the gal.
This has been a long trip and
I've gotten no rest or sleep on
account of these gigolos. That's
why I'm bitter about cracking
down on them, like we did on
the gashounds and performers.,
Let's hear from you other Bro
thers on this thing.
E. Vlodeck
Ready For Action
Presently aboard an SIU
ship at sea. James K. Rocks,
is a veteran of World War I
and the Mexican border cam
paign. Like his son, who is a
crewmember on the Alcoa Pil
grim. Rocks is anxious to do
Ms bit in the present emerg
ency. Beth ship out of Boston,
Brother Stamps
Approval On
Stewards Guide
To the Editor:
Hats off to Frenchy Michelet
for his interesting article "Guide
for SIU Stewards Department."
Without casting any reflections
on any individuals, I think his
article should be taken to heart,
sincerely and seriously by a lot
of socalled Stewards.
I heartily agree that a Steward
should be able to run his depart
ment to the best of his ability,
without interference from other
departments. A' Steward, to my
way of looking at it, should be
able to carry out any order that
he relays to the Chief Cook,
A lot of the Steward's head
aches lie in the galley, such ais
sometimes due to an incompetent
Cook. There is nothing more
disgusting than to pass by the
gallajTand see a Cook preparing
a meal with a cigarette in his
mouth, and the ashes about
ready to drop off into what
ever delicacy he might be pre
paring.
HIT JACKPOT
I just completed a trip to
France, aboard one of J. Car
ras' glorified Liberties, and we
found steel wool, match sticks
and even a cigarette butt in the
bread pudding. I prorriptly told
the Steward and the Chief Cook
aboiff these incidents. As we all
know, steel wool is strictly pro
hibited from being use.d in the
galley. But there are still plenty
of Chief Cooks and Stewards
who ignore this.
Another good point is that the
Ship's Delegate and Steward
should check all stores and pro
visions against the requisiticat
that the Chief Steward starts
the trip on. In this way there
is very little possibility that the
crew will run short of different
items.
Let the Steward draw up his
menus with the Chief Cook and
also the Baker so that a variety
of meals can be worked out. And
last but not least, I believe that
the Chief Steward should be
around the galley, either at
breakfast or supper to see that
his menus are properly carried
out.
Vic Miorana
Antinous Seafarers
Thanked By Albinski
To the Editor:
My wife &nd I wish to express,
our appreciation and thanks to
the former crewniembers of the
SS Antinous for their gracious
and timely Christmas offering to
us. ^
It is a real pleasure to sad
with such a fine Brotherhood
that comes to your aid in time
of need.
Edward J. Albinski ,
IS
Page Ten THE SEAFARERS LOG Friday^ jKUwrif 28*U51
IMgested Minutes Of
Shipboard Meetings ̂
{Continued front Page 7)
ear about fans for the crew.
Motion carried to investigate de
lay in securing cots promised
'several trips ago,
% t t.
SOUTHERN CITIES (Southern
Trading), Nov. 30 — Chairman,
Johnny Bergeria; Secretary, Bob
Brown. Crew voted thanks to
Longshoremen in Chester who
aided in successful strike. Pa
trolman in next port to be asked
to look into mail situation.
Dec. 27—Chairman, Frank Cal
nan; Secretary, A. Foster. Dele
gates' reports accepted. Stewards
Delegate recommended that pots
and pans need replacing. Crew
requested milk three times a day
while in port.
Jan. I—Chairman, Johnny Ber
geria; Secretary, Bob Brown. Re
pair list discussed and approved.
Deck' Delegate reported dispute
over lowering hatches. Motion
carried to investigate mattresses.
Jan. 7—Chairman, Frank Cal
nan: Secretary, Bob Brown. Del
egates reported no beefs, except
matter of lowering hatches. Mo
tion carried that a sanitary work
schedule be worked out. New
library to be brought aboard in
next port. ^
Jan. 19 — Chairman, Robert
Brown; Secretary, Joseph Lewis.
Delegates reported no beefs.
Crew voted to oppose any move
made by Chief Engineer to fire
Wiper in next port.
t t. t.
ABIQUA (Cities ̂ rvice)—^Dec.
2&;Chaintian, S. Swienckosld;
Secretary, D. Alt. Delegates re
ported number of books and per
mits in their departments. Stew
ards Delegate reported a little
misunderstanding by the Stew
ard as to the duties of a depart
mental delegate. Matter of Wip
ers working on stages to paint
while ship is at sea to be refer
red to the Patrolman. Discussion
on Transportation Rule. Motion
carried to donate $25 to the Hank
Memorial Fund.
Jan. 1—Chairman, Roy Tallals
MD; Secretary, H. Crane. Ship's
Pelegate reported ship's fund as
standing at $20.98. Motion car
ried to lower payments into the
skip's fund from $1 to 50 cents.
Motion carried to ask that slop
ehest carry sea stores cigarettes
on foreign trips^ Discusion on
the shortage of fruit.
Jan. 7—Chairman, Crane; Sec
retary, Crane. Educational meet
^ t
Draft Registrants
A8cG District Headquarters
this week reminded zdl dndt
registrants to keep in touch
with their local draft boards,
as a means of eliminating
possible coxifusion or misim
derstandings.
Before shipping out, the
draft registrants should in
form their loczd boards of
the name of their ships and
the companies by whom they
are em^ I ycd. If possible,
registrants should also tell
the boards the approximate
duration of their voyages.
Attention to this procedure
will avoid inconvenience la
ter on.
ing called and all in attendance
except men oa watch and Chief
Cook, who claims he knows all
about Union affairs an(^oesn't
need a refresher course. Discus
sion held on the clarification on
part of agreement concerning
handling of stores. Talk on the
general agreement, with copies
passed aroimd for personnel to
study. Talk on the stipulation
clause of the Cities Service con
tract.
Jan. 8—Chairman, Frank Lam
bert; Secretary, M. Shockousky.
Motion carried that no one is to
sign the discharges on the pay
roll while the ship is at sea. Mo
tion carried that meetings be
held on Sunday evenings, with
hours staggered so all watches
would attend at least one meet
ing. Men asked to observe saU
ing board time. Vote of thanks
given Brother Crane for the fine
job he is doing as Ship's Dele
gate and Educational Director.
t. t.
FORT HOSKINS (Cities Ser
vice), Jan. 7—Chairman, G. E.
Doty; Secrietary, trank Flanagan.
Ship's Delegate reported that
new mattresses had been distrib
uted to the crewmembers who
want them. All .men cautioned
on the importance of being sober
at the payoff. Motion carried to
check with the Organizers and
see if 120 quarts of milk can be
placed on this ship as is done
on other SlUcontracted ships.
Deck Delegate reported that the
gang has been called out twice
without the alloted standby
time for coffee.
Praises Mobile Catholic Club
To the Editor:
Thore is a Catholic Maritime Club here in Mobile whicb helps every nne on Jhe
beach. I was just wondering if the seamen who hit this port, or any other port, don't
think It would be proper.for them to make some .dcmations towards trying to h^p
a place that gets no support of any kind.
The Community Chest, the Red Cross and a few other places the public sup
ports by donations send almost every one to this Catholic club. It is a shame that
they get no support from any regular donate funds. I think it, would be a good
idea if this was put in the LOG to let the members know this place does help a sea
man who is down on his luck.
They donate cards, magazines, have free coffee tWice a day for men on the beach,
but it's hard to keep that up if there are no funds to help out. Cpffee, sugar and
cream must be bought, as are the stationery and stamps you gel if you need thm.
They gave the guys on the beach a nice turkey dinner. I was there, as I have been
on the beach 3 months myself.
It is a place the boys get clean beds for $4.00 a week. It is the only place in
Mobile you get a dean bed for that price, so if you can put this in the LOG perhaps
they might get a little help from some of the men who have been helped by them.
M. F. MORRISON
Editor's note: The Catholic Maritime Club of Mobile has a very fine reputation
with the Mobile Seaifarmrs, as it has with anyone who has ever hit that port. Sea
farers, incidentally, will probably get the same excellent treatment Brother Morri
son speaks erf, in any of the Catholic Maritime Clubs.
As to the question of donations, that, of course, is strictly up to the Individual,
as the SIR's policy is not to officially endorse any welfare organization, whether it
be a reRg^us one or seculnt.
SlU Manpower Pool Answers
Recruiting, Manning Probients
(Continued from Page 1)
Washington between the coun
try's maritime unions, and the
Maritime Administration, the im
ions made it dear that they
were willing, rea^ and able to
man the natio.n's merchant fleet
and to train newcomers into the
industry and those entry ratings
Unions Veto Idea Of New RMO
(Continued from Page 1)
may find a haven and the unions
may be forced to accept these
elements from the manpower
pools.
The program offered by the
unions is a sound one, and in
no way injurious to the ship
owners. Inasmuch as the re
sponsibility for carrying out any
program lies solely with the
Maritime Administration and the
proposed National Shipping Au
thority, and inasmuch as Mari
lime Administrator Admiral E.
L. Cochrane had appraised and
accepted in full the unions'
Statement of Policy as a sound
program, the unions felt thait
they should not and could not
alter their position as outlined
in the! jointlydrafted policy sub
mitted to, and accepted by, the
government representatives at
the previous week's meetings.
Because of the fact that the
tvro groups couldn't agree on
the issues mentioned, the union
representatives suggested that
the shipowners draft their ob
jections to the union proposals
and present them to the Ad
ministrator, who could review
them and call another meeting
for further discussion.
who wanted to get higher en
dorsements.
The unions stated in their pro
gram, at the insistence of the
SIU: ..
"In the event there is a greatly
increased need for maritime per
sonnel which may call for more
men than the Union Hiring
Halls can furnish, the Unions,
Mzmagement and Government
should immediately devise a
program for this purpose an4
they should be guided by the
following basic points:
"(a) The Union Hiring Halls
to recruit all entry ratings need
ed from personnel not eligible
for the draft.
"(b) An upgrading and train
ing program actually carried out
through increased manning scales
which, will insure a supply of
competent men for. key ratings
as they are needed."
• UNION IS READY
The Union at present time can
overnight crew any number of
ships with capable^ experi^ced'
men. We didn't expect the bu
reaucrats to agree with us—and
they didn't. (By bureaucrats we
are definitely not referring to
the Maritime Administration,
which has not commented one
way or the other. We mean the
minor moguls, who want to get
back in the saddle again.)
Nor did we expect the ship
owners to agree with us. And
they didn't What they want, of
course, is to create a tremendotjS
pool of seamen, so that they
might (they hope) smash the un
ions after the present shindig
is over.
This is to let these gentlemen
know that there is no need for
another RMO—^that if they SUCP
ceed, through pressure, in .put
ting their plan across, they ar^
sacrificing the country's welfare
for their own selfish interests.
We have enough men a\>ail
able, now and for any future
contingency, to take care Of the
manning and training end—and
if any of these gentlemen have
any doubts, they can have theia
dispelled at any SIU Hall.
Carrying An Idea To Its Logical Conclusion
"The Machinist," organ of iho AFL International Association of Machinists, turns the tables on those politicians
who are always devising new schemes for taking money out of the working stifi's pocket.
Why is it whensomeone has a bright idea about how
to stop inflation and stabilize the nation's economy, it
generally begins—and ends—with the wage earners' pay
envelope?
Our friend, Senator Paul Douglas (D., 111.), is the
latest to offer one of these bright ideas. If the Associated
Press reports him accurately. Senator Douglas has pro
posed a program to "pay the Nation's workers for over
time in Government bonds instead of cash."
The Illinois Senator told a reporter that he has in
mind a plan under which employees would be paid at
overtime rates in Federal bonds which could not be cashed
until the emergency has passed. "Taking that'money out
of circulation not only would reduce the danger of in
flation but would provide workers with a comfortable
financial cushion against possible unemployment after
this crisis," he said.
Now, don't get us wrong. There is nothing wrong
with buying Government Savings Bonds. We think every
one ought to put'some of their earnings into bonds in
times like these.. And, that's just what seems wrong lisiith
the Douglas idea. He doesn't apply it to everyone.
If it is just and reasonable to pay wage earners for
overtime in war bonds, why isn't k just and reasonable
to pay stockholders their dividends in war bonds? Cer
tainly, stockholders don't need their dividends any more
than wage earners need their overtime earnings.
That would take care of labor and capital. But, .
what about the farmers? Certainly they would want to
share in this sacrifice. Why doesn't Senator Douglas sug
gest 4;hat farmers receive their Government subsidies in
the form of war bonds instead of cash?
And, finally, there are the Senators and Congressmen.
Certainly, they too would want to share in this sacrifice.
We suggest that the Douglas plan be tried out on them
first. Senators and Congressmei, get a considerable allow;
ance for travel expenses. That travel allowance could be
paid in war bonds cashable after the emergency. This
would not only keep some cash out of circulation. Hut
also a number of Senators and Congressmen. It might also
help to, increase ihe, • dttenoauce at both branches of
Congress.. ..
Friday, January 26, 19S1 THE SEAFARERS LOG Paga Elaran
Minutes Of A&G Branch Meetings In Brief
I
IM
I i
' BOSTON—Chairman, B. Law
"aen. S94; Recording Secretary, R.
Lee, 47958: Reading Clerk, H.
'Cashman, 40363.
Boston minutes of January 3
accepted. 'Minutes of meetings
held in other ports read and ac
c e p t e d. SecretaryTreasurer's
weekly financial reports for De
cember 23, 30 read and accepted.
'One minute of silence observed
ior members lost at sea.
% % %
GALVESTON — C h a i r m a n,
Kaith Alsop, 7311; Recording
Secretary, R. Wilbum, 37739;
Reading Clerk, C. Tannehiii.
25922.
Headquarters report to the
membership read and accepted,
as were the minutes of meetings
TOTAL
REG.
51
312
85
225
26
5
- 22
107
139
89
183
SHIPPED SHIPPED SHIPPED TOTAL
DECK ENG. STWDS. SHIPPED
A&S Shaping From Jan. 3 To Jan. 17
REG. REG. REG.
PORT DECK ENG. STWDS
Boston 22 17 12
New; York. 124 112 76
Philadelphia 39 24 22
Baltimore..... 85 73 67
Norfolk... 10 12 4
Savannah... 4 0 1
Tampa 8 8 6
MobUe 38 26 43
New Orleans 41 37 61
Galveston. 36 32 21
West Coast 69 64 50
GRAND TOTAL 476 405 363
8
119
29
61
11
2
9
13
39
26
97
7
123
14
51
9
5
11
16
37
20
85
3
85
17
34
10
1
10
20
45
11
76
18
327
60
146
30
8
30
49
121
57
258
1,244 414 378 312 1,104
U '
t; i
III
held in other ports. Tallying
Committee's report accepted. Ag
Mt's report accepted. One min
ite of silence for members lost
at sea.
X % % .
SAN FRANCISCO—No meet
ing held because of a lack of a
quorum.
^ J,
BALTIMORE — C h ai r m an,
^^Wiliiam Rents, 26445; Recording
'Secretary, G. Masterson, 20297;
"Reading Clerk, A. Stansbury,
4683.
f Anthony Pitura took the Union
dath of Obligatiotl. Minutes of
meetings held in other Branches
read and accepted. Headquarters
financial reports and report to
the membership read and ap
proved. Motion carried to refer
all reqimsts for excuses to the
Dispatcher. Motion, carried that
Agent Rents be instructed to
have the . inside of the Union
Hall painted, and all furniture
and dbairs repaired and reup
bolstered. Meeting adjourned at
8:05 with 375 members present.
X X 9^
MOBILE—Chairman, D. Par
ker, 160; Recording Secretary, J.
. Cairroll, 14; Reading Clerk, R.
Jordan, 71. •
SecretaryTreasurer's financial
report and Headquarters report
to the membership read and ap
proved, asi were the minutes of
meetings held in other iSranches.
Agent Tanner's report accepted.
Communication from Headquar
ters concerning the San Francisco
Convention call read and accept
ed. Motion carried to accept
Trial Committee and Tallying
Committee reports. Meeting ad
journed at 7:45 with 250 mem
bers present.
X X
NEW ORLEANS — Chairman.
Johnny Johnston, 53; Recording
Seicretary, Henry Gerdes, ,23362;
Reading Clerk, Budc Stephens,
76,
New Orleans, and said that
nothing was definite yet on any
removals from the boneyard. He
reported a strike in the ship re
pair docks which is getting 100
percent SIU support. He told
the members that ships needing
repairs would have to have the
work done elsewhere or not at
all, and to watch for promises in
other ports of having the work
done when in New Orleans. He
reported eight payoffs scheduled
for the two coming weeks. Bro
ther Johnny, Johnston, retiring
Patrolman, spoke a few words to
the members and thanked them
for their cooperation during the
years he has served the Union
as an official. Under Good and
Welfare, various subjects of con
cern to the port were discussed.
Adjourned at 8:25 with 285
members present.
» » »
SAVANNAH — Chairmaii, E.
Tiiiey, 75; Recording Secreiuy,
J. Parker, 20192; Reading Clerk,
W. Morris, 21636.
, Headquarters report and Sec
retaryTreasiuer's report read
and accepted. Minutes of meet
ings held in other Branches read
and approved. Agent reported
that shipping had been slow, but
three payoffs were expected mo
mentarily. He introduced Agfent
elect Ernest Tilley to the mem
bership, and asked them to give
him the same cooperation he had
received during the past year.
Under Good .and Welfare there
was discussion on the SIU sup
port being given the Retail
Clerks Union in its strike against
the Bargain Comer.
X ^ X'
NEW YORK — Chairman. E.
Mooney, 46671; Recording Secre
tary, Freddie Stewart, 4935;
Reading Clerk, J. Arabasx, 29836.
Branch Agent said that ship
ping and business in New York
were moving at a fast clip, with
rated men getting out without
any trouble. Some 30 ships had
paid off in the past two weeks,
he said. He advised the men to
be carefut not to get involved
with the Coast Guard, which is
again back in full strength. He
also advised aliens to get their
visas as quickly as possible.
M r
i..
I
,fi. b
Ir \K au.
, New Orleans previous minutes
and financial reports read and
approved. Headquarters report to
, the membership and the Secre
taryTreasurer's financial reports
read and accepted. Minutes of
meetings held in other ports ac
cepted. Agent Williams reported
shipping as being in good shape
and commended two ships, the
Del Campo and Del Norte, for
being in good shape. He com
meaied on the rumors o£ more
ships being put into operation in
JACK (SaUor) DELANEY
Write, call or wire Mrs. Addie
Richardson, 522 N. Mobile Street,
Crichton Sta., Mobile, Alabama.
Phone: 77083.
XXX
MELESKI
VANDER VLIST
(ExCoe Victory)
i'Your laundry was left in the
Baggage Room of New York
Hall: Red Brady."
X XXX
H, PEELER
Get in tobch at once with
Robert F. Doyle, 1 North La
Salle Street, Chicago, Illinois,
concerning an accident to a
former shipmate.
XXX
EDWARD STURKEN
Pick up your teeth at office
of J. M. Carras, Inc., 24 State
Street, New York City.
XXX
LOUIS W. BOREN
Your wife wants to. hear from
you.
X X X
MAURICE BERNSTEIN
Contact Robert F. Reynolds
in San Francisco. He is holding
some money for you.
JORGEN JORGENSEN
Contact your wife, Emily, at
5011 Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn,
New York.
WL'AVmi MANNING
Eugene Kohl, who was 3rd
Engineer on the SS Angelina in
1948, is anxious to return the
loan you made. Write him at
5320 Sixth ' Avenue, Brooklyn,
New York, .and send him your
address.
ANTHONY MACULATIS
The receipts, medal and eye
glasses, which you left aboard
ship, have been brought to the
New York Hall. CaU for them
at the baggage room, fourth fioor.
XXX.
JOHN GARBER
This Brother is now in the
army and is anxious to hear from
friends and former shipmates.
His address is: Ret. John Gar
ber, US 52008365, Co. A, 516th
Airborne Inf. Rgt., Camp Breck
inridge, Kentucky.
^ ^ ^ i
LLOYD E. WARDEN
Please get in touch with your
father, 1901 P i c h e r Avenue,
Missouri.
XXX
LUCKY SANTO PENEBIANGO
Get in touch with Ret. John
B. Di Stefano, US 56067001, B
Battery, 63rd AAA Gim Bn, Fort
Bliss, Texas.
XXX
NORLIN M. BERRY
Contact George E. Keams, Jr.,
106 County Building, Media,
Peimsylvania. It is important.
XXX
NICK MUTIN
Contact Morrell Schwimer, 26
Court Street, Brooklyn, New
York; phone: Triangle 56264.
XXX
CHESTER DELICOT
Get in touch with your, draft
board.
XXX
GEORGE JAMES BARON
Get in touch with :^our draft
board. > >
XXX
THOMAS BACON GRINER
Please contact your mother.
WALTER MARCUS
Write to your wife: Mrs. Her
mine Marcus, 17639 120 Avenue,
St. Albans, Long Island, New
York.*
XXX
JOHN C. OVERTON
Your sister, Mrs. Minnie
Gumm, Mims Court, HuntsviUe,
Alabama, wishes to hear from
you.
XXX
HAROLD R. BONNE
Get in touch with' Frederick
R. Graves, 220 Broadway, New
York 7, New York, concerning
your case against Calmar SS
Company.
XXX
FRANCIS P. CORCORAN
Get in touch with your mother.
XXX
EDWARD WAI LUKE
Frederick Travers, 305 Broad
way, New York 7, New York,
needs your testimony to help an
injured shipmate.
XXX
FRANK RAKAS
Gret in touch with Jerry Pier
one, 36 1st St., Brooklyn.
XXX
WINSTON FLATTS
Please comifiunicate with your
mother at 44 Foui'th Street, Al
bertown, British Guiana.
XXX
MANUEL SANCHEZ
Photos you submitted to the
LOG were forwarded to you at
the Baltimore Marine Hospital,
but have been returned as un
claimed. You can pick them up
at the LOG office.
'X X X
RICHARD R. GAYESKA
Write to Charles V. Falls at
State House, Boston, Mass.
Minutes of all Branch meetings
accepted as read. Motions car
ried to concur in the following
committee's reports: Tallying,
Headquarters Reinstatement, and
Trial. Motion carried to donate
sum sought by the Children's
Town Foimdatioijis, Inc. Charges
read and referred to Trial Com
mittee. In Headquarters report,
it was reported that the A&G
SecretaryTreasurer, along with
other SIU officials, was in Wash
ington to attend the conference
discussing the establishment of
an emergency setup in mari
time should a conflict develop.
Report recommended that men
elected to office, as annoimced
in Tallying Committee's report,
should be instated at once in
accordance with precedent. In
connection with v^dated docu
ment being issued to seamen,'^
a result of the presidential se
curity order, members were cau
tioned to hold on to their present
papers when applying for the
emergency document. Report al
so discussed a workpermit sys
tem and recommended manner
in which it should be operated.
Headquarters said that as a re
sult of membership's instruc
tions at last meeting on archi
tect's recommendations for new
building, a request for additional
plans and specifications had been
issued. Motion carried to concur
in Headquarters report. Meeting
adjourned at 7:30 PM, with 756
members present.
XXX
TAMPA—No meeling held bs^
cause of a lack of a quorum.
XXX
NORFOLK — ChairmaJL Bat
Rees, 95; Recording Secretary. J,
Bullock. 4747. No regular meet
ing held because of a lack of
a quorum. Special meeting held
to check shipping cards.
SS ROBIN WENTLEY
The following men have their
inoculation and vaccination slips
at NY Hall. They can get them
by writing or calling for th^
at 51 Beaver St., New York 4,
New York:
W. J. Anderson, Prank Bressi,
Henry R. Dombrowski, W. E.
Harris, Albert Kamens, M. Ka
minski, H. E. Laird, W. MacDon
ald, Geo. W. Manning.
N. F. F. Neilsen, Al Oromaner,
Geo. Andrew Pease, Roy A.
Boston, Thomas M. Reilly, T.
Rezeveteb, C. Schartzer, John
Stringer, E. Tresnick, John R,
Webb.,
Discharges for the following
men! are at Headquarters:
George Fiance, Manuel Vigo,
Peter Patrick, John D. Walker.
Crew, SS ANNISTON CITY
Anyone knowing anything
about the injury sustained by
Jesse C. Laseter on October 31,
1950, at Linton, Oregon, contact;
Robert F. Reynolds, 1303 Hobart
Building, San Francisc(^ Califi
An old hand with the camera. W. R. Cameron, Second
Cook aboard the SS Bienville, is just as much at ease in front
of the lens as he is behind it. A shipmzde look over the camera
for this photo, but cameraman Cameron took over immediately
after. His shots of other Bienville Seafarers appear at right
and below. AH pics .were taken as the Waterman vessel made
her intercoastal run.
^
Cameron mustered a few of the Bienville's Steward' Department men for this shot on deck.
From left to right are P. W. Smith, Galley Utility; A. S. Parson, Saloon Messman; E. Henderson,
Passenger Utility; L. Jordan, Chief Cook: E. Kitchen. Crew Pantryman; C. Jones, Crew's Mess^
man, and A, Anderson, Night Cook and Baker. The Bienville, which sails out of the Port of
Mobile, is a good ship, Cameron reports.
• fT? • •
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, X • • :
^ K ', • * i
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ABO'VE—Coffee time is picturetaking time, Cameron says^
Relaxing over their mugs of java at left side of table (front to
rear) are Gus Key, "Frenchy" Mairtineau. B. Coyer and N.
.Newsome. At r^ht are G; W. Harris, H. (Skeets) Lanier, L.
Abbey and an unidentified erewmember.
'ii
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» I
' LEFT—"Men at Work'' is the way C capiittneii &ii
y^4w of two Bieimiio De<dc Gang members. Bosun W NeW^
miim
(Mty teok^the • camera square • in • the: • eye, as. Deck;:
Maintenance L. Abbey continues the job of spUdng eable,^ ̂ I • •
1' , ' ^ i
^15:
Official Organ of the Atlantic and Gulf District, Seafarers International Union of North America
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VOL. XIII NEW YORK. N. Y.. FRIDAY. JANUARY 26. 1951 No. 2
ExPerittits
flapped Down
By NY Court
The 29"former permitmen who
had filed suit against the Union
suffered another defeat in their
a'ttempt to collect damages for
allegedly having been illegally
expelled.
In effect reaffirming their earl
ier decision last November 14,
the Appellate Division of the
New York Supreme Court un
animously turned down, without
bothering to write an opinion,
a motion by the former permit
men to appeal their case to the
highest court of the state.
In their earlier decision, the
court upheld a decision by Su
preme Court Referee Isidor Was
servogel, in 1949, which dis
missed the original suit for an
injunction and $250,000 in dam
ages.
In effect, the decision of the
Appellate Division held that the
plaintiffs are not, and never
were, members of the Union, and
consequently do not possess the
Tights of members. Accordingly,
they cannot insist on the same
procedures that members can.
SIXTH SETBACK
The Appellate Division's deci
sion marked the sixth time that
the 29 plaintiffs were denied ac
tion against the SIU. In addi
tion to Referee Wasservogel's
dismissal of the damage suit,
three applications for temporary
injunctions were refused by the
courts.
In affirming Referee Wasser
vogel's decision last year, the
Appellate Division justices also
awarded to the Union court
costs involved in the litigation.
'The Union's case was prepared
and" presented by Seymour Mil
lerc "of the law firm of Benjamin
of New York City.
Referee Wasservogel's decision,,
said in part:
"The evidence clearly indicates
that plaintiffs were merely per
mitholders in the Union and as
sueh were granted the privilege
: • {Qontifiuei on Page 3)
Co After Your Rating
With the nation tightening its defense preparations,
the role of the merchant marine is daily becoming more
vital. For this reason it is imperative that every Sea
farer stand ready to ship in the rating for which he is
qualified and in which he can be of the greatest service.
In this connection. Headquarters pointed out this
week that many men qualified by experience and skill
have not applied for endorsements for high ratings.
Men who do not seek higher ratings for which they
are qualified are. in effect, causing a waste of needed
skill.
The Maritime Administrator is seeking draftdefer
ment for rated men only. Consequently, men. who are
drafted because they have not obtained' the ratings for
which they are qualified, will not be serving in jobs in
which they can be of greatest service to our nation.
If you have the qualifications, apply for upgrading.
Do it todayl
SIU Manpower Pool Answers
Recruiting, Manning Problems
Hr.''jf
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Canadian Conyention
* The Canadian District of
the Seafarers International
Union, Which has completely
eliminated the commia CRU
from maritime and represents
all orgtmized Canadian sea
men, has just concluded its
first annual convention. The
next i^sue of the SEAFAR
ERS LOG will carry a spe
cial supplement covering the
convention and some of the
recant activities of the Ca
uadian District.
By JOHN ARABASZ
Alertness, knowhow, and
skillful planning by the Seafar
ers International Union may
prove to be the stumblingblock
to the professional bureaucrats
who are yearning to put their
noses back into the trough.
As the national emergency be
comes ihore serious, all
through the country the former
redtape artists who "won" the
last war by largescale master
minding for the War Shipping
Administration are packing their
sea bags —• Washington version
— in preparation to leaving their
clerks' jobs for a fast hop into
their old wellworn (upholstered)
chairs, and their good old pay
check and power.
LONE OPPONENT .
Though any old experienced
bird dogshould have been able
to get the scent (the editor
frowns on stronger words), the
SIU, apparently, was the only
maritime union to have sensed
the intentions of these power
hungry characters, and to have
done anything about it—or that
wanted to do anything about
it.
Several months ago, when it
became "obvious that the Chinese
reds would continue to carry
out their ^part of Joe Stalin's
plan for world odhquest, and that
the United Nations (the non
commimist countries) was going
to oppose them, it was a sure
thing that aid to Korea and the
European and Asian democracies
would be continued — and in
creased — which meant'more
and more shipping.
It also was obvious that the
bureaucrats would. once again
try to step back into their form
er eushyjpls^l^ try to oontrol
the training and hiring of man
power, as They did before
through the WSA, particularly
the Recruiting and Manning Of
fice of that agency.
Now the only excuse these
babies could have is that the
maritime imions are unable to
supply enough men, especially
those with ratings, to man their
contracted ships.
PREPARED
From this start, the SIU went
ahead to forestall these charac
ters. In every port where the
Union has a Hall, a manpower
committee was set up, and
quietly went into operation
building up a reserve of seamen,
so that every ship under con
tract to us could be crewed with
out delay.
Contacts were made with re
tired and former bookmen above
draft age, particularly the rated
men, telling them that within
a short time jobs would be open,
and were they interested. Other
sources were tapped, and the
response was amazing.
Some men came down in per
son, and most of these were
placed almost immediately • —
since the first of the year we
have crewed about 40 new ves
sels on all coasts, in addition
to our old contracted ships.
Others wrote in, giving the
pertinent information: experi
ence, endorsements, etc., and
said that they were available—
and anxious to ship.
At the recent conference in
{Continued on Page 10)
Unioiu Veto Operator Plan For New RMO
NMU Eyes West Coast,
Woes Operators With
CutRate Contracts
By RAY GATES
SEATTLE — The Sailors Union of the Pacific has
launched an organizing drive among the rank and file
of the Marine Cooks and Stewards union to ward off the
danger of bargainbasement agreements with which Joe
Curran is seeking to gain a foothold on the West Coast.
That a large section of the MCS rank and file is
opposed to the NMU president's attempt to set them up
to further his own personal dreams, is evident from the
success of the SUP's appeal in the short time it has been
in the field.
Despite the intense activity of NMU organizers in
Sall major ports, pledges of sup
port have been coming into
SUP offices from various groups
in the MCS, and a hot fight ap
pears to be in the making.
The SUP's decision to organize
members of the MCS came as
an aftermath to Curran's self
appointment as heir to the lead
ership of the sea cooks union,
which is falling apart as a re
sult of its adherence to the com
munist party line.
Curran began his drive by
planting stooges aboard MCS
ships, urging the men to come
into the NMU. He then came
out to the West Coast last week
to officially announce his plans
to absorb the MCS members.
The difference in the attitude
of Curran and the SUP toward
the. Marine Cooks is apparent
in the plans of both. Curran sim
ply wants to absorb the Cooks
Union, lock, stock and barrel.
The SUP, however, would
grant an AFL charter to the
{Continued on Page 4)
By PAUL HALL a^d
MORRIS WEISBERGER
During the past week we at
tended a joint meeting of repre
sentatives of the various seafar
ing unions, shipowners and gov
ernment in Washington, DC,
along with the other represen
tatives of oiu: organization.
The purpose of the meeting
was to review the statement of
policy drafted by the unions at
a meeting earlier this month,
which they considered as the
minimum reqiiirements essential
to successful mobilization of the
nation's merchant marine in the
event of war.
In addition to providing a pro
gram for maximum efficiency in
the operation of I the merchant
fleet under wartime conditidns,
the . policy of the itpiooe was
drawn up to protect their exist
ence, should government seizure
of aU shipping result from a
total emergency or an allout
war effort in defense of the
country.
After several days of meeting,
the unions decided to reject some
of the shipowners' views on the
statement of policy made by the
unions.
DISAGREEMENT
Although the shipowners were
in agreement with several of the
union proposals, the two groups
were widely separated on the
question of manpow» and train
ing, which the unions felt were
basic issues, and on which they
could not compromise.
The unions* portion on the
manpower and training question
was that the Union Hiring Halls
should be the only source to be
used by the shipowners in ob
taining their manpower needs.
The unions also felt strongly
that entry ratings should not be
required to go through any gov
ernment training schools, as was
the case in the last war. Fur,
thermore, the unions felt, should
any training be necessary, it
should be done by utilizing the
union apparatus.
As was expected, the shipown
ers wanted to perpetuate the
government training schools and,
in addition, to set up manpower
pools in all major ports, such
as those established in the last
war by the government's Re
cruiting and Manning Office.
Under such a setup, the imions
contend, all elements of riffraff
(Continitad on Page 10)
Page Two THE SEAFARERS LOG lUdayv Janua^ 26« 19Sl
a ''v";.
SEAFARERS LOG
Published Every Other Week by the
SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION
OF NORTH AMERICA
Atlantic and Gulf District
Afiiliated with the American Federation of Labor
At 51 Beaver Street, New York 4, N. Y.
HAnover 22784
Reentered as second class matter August 2, 1949, at the Post
Office in New York, N.Y., under the Act of August 24, 1912.
267
No Room For Them
There are very few groups of working men anywhere
who ha\^ done as an effective and thorough job of cleans
ing their ranks of foulups as have the members of the
SlU. Time and again over the years, Seafarers have shown
clearly that the common objective cannot be reached if
irresponsible elements are allowed to pull in the opposite
direction.
Whenever the menaces to tjie general welfare, whom
we know as performers and g'eargrabbers, have shown
their hands, our membership has unhesitatingly taken firm
actioiu ^
That's one of the big reasons why the Seafarers has
been able to score such startling success in advancing the
position of jthe men who sail its contracted ships.
The top wage and working conditions enjoyed by
Seafarers—and those of other seafaring men who have
benefited bytheir lead—are the result of a sound collec
tive bargaining position. This abiHty to make demands of
jthe shipowners in the periodic acrossthetable talks is the
inark of a responsible organization, representing a body
pf equally responsible, conscientious seamen.
Union negotiators with nothing behind them but
k characters having no understanding of their own con
tractual obligations, or respect for themselves, are always
ia pushover for bargaining opponents. Their requests for
Improvements in wages and conditions can always be
I picked full of holes.
If anyone has ever thought that the question of per
i ifewmers, geargrabbers and other irresponsible elements
has been stressed here too frequently, let him look at the
conditions prevailing in maritime today. Let him appraise
the advances since the days before the membership set
out to eliminate chronic foulups from their ranks.
The interests of a union membership is to steadily
improve its wages and conditions of labor. Th^ aim of true
I trade union is to represent the best interests of its mem
bership. Neither objective can be realized if obstacles are
placed in the way by characters lacking the desire to
improve themselves and their way of living.
That's why performers and geargrabbers must heed
the membership's reminder that their antics don't go—
not on our ships.
g Keep Your Eyes Open
I Besides attending to the duties of their shipboard
Ik jobs, Seafarers carry an added responsibility in time of
ICnational emergency. Maritime stands high on the list of
industries whose efficient and uninterrupted functioning
is vital to a successful defense effort.
The most likely targets for sabotage by persons seek
ing to hamper America's mobilization would be the stra
tegic Services—transportation, production, communica
tions and power.
To prevent wouldbe saboteurs who entertain any
ideas of keeping our ships from carrying supplies and
men to our allies and mifitary installations abroard, crew
members on all ships must keep a sharp lookout for strang
ers poking their noses where they don't belong.
All hands should immediately challenge strangers ap
pearing anywhere on their vessels, particularly in quar
ters and in the enginerooms.
Seafarers have demonstrated over the years that they
are capable of thwarting the disruptive tactics of would
be wteckers of America's maritime industry. All we have
to do in the present situation is sharpen our weather eye
for characters who might think there's still a chance for
I some successful sneak activities.
4
"• • 'i, • .V'
• * :;• <. '• :» • i' .
FORT STANTON
SILVESTER WALKER
WILLIAM J. MEEHAN
A. McGUIGAN
HARRY THURMAN
GIDLOW WOODS
DONALD P. MCDONALD
% % ^
MANHATTAN BEACH
FRED W. GRIMES
JOSE DE JESUS
E. LOPEZ
H. TUTTLE
J, H. ASHURST
E, FERRER
JOHN T. EDWARDS
JOHN DRISCOLL
VIC MILAZZO
MATTHEW DRUNO
PETER VORKE
R. A. BLAKE
JOHN PADZIK
A. LOMAS
$ S $
GALVESTON
V. SZYMANSKI
NORMAN A. POWER
C. WINSKEY
EDMOND S. SPENCER
ROBERT MCDONALD
A. MACIEL
NORMAN WEST
4.
MOBILE
TIM BURKE
CHARLES L. KNIGHT
i % t
STATEN ISLAND
P. MANGUAL
P. PRON
PRANK KUBEK
R. GUZMAN
GEORGE RIDECK
EUGENE E. MILANESI
FRED OESTMAN
EARL R. DIXON
FRANK B. STRELITZ
S. C. CUNNINGTON
J. SLAMAN k; k
E. McLIN k
K. c. CROWE,;.
T. CONNELL
J. FIGUERAU
L. BLIZZARD
F. CHRISTNED
B. ZIELINSKI
C. HUNEYCUTT
S. GLYPTIE
» $ Si
BALTIMORE
CECIL E. TAYLOR
OLUE I. ENGLISH
WILLIAM D. WARMACK
JOSEPH A. PILUTIS
FRANCIS O'BRIEN
LUDWIG KRISTIANSEN
H, W. SHERWIN
JOHN M. VITO
B. D. ELLIOTT
HARLEY MILLIRAN
« » »
^ SEATTLE
WALTER H. SIBLEY
» » »
SAN FRANCISCO
.JAMES H. BRANDON
JAMES R. LEWIS
EDWARD L. PRITCHARD
C. L. MOATS
WILLIE WATSON
JAMES HODO
X % %
BOSTON
GEORGE H. WELDON
R. LUFLIN
A. D. LEVA
NEW ORLEANS
J. R. ALSOBROOK
C. A. BROWN
W. O. CARA
L.GOHEN
R. CRUZ '
E. A. GARDNER
A. W. GATEWOOD
H. GERDES
,G. HARDING
L. A. HOLMES
E. P. JANOSKO
D.D.KELLY
G. KRETZER
a E. LAGAN
L. LANG
E. O. MASSEY
J. T. POWERS
K. RAANA
C. RAY
D. O. RILEY
E. E. RITCHIE
C. R. SANDERSON
R. W. THOMPSON
Men In Hospitals
Seafarers who want to
be eligible for the WeK
fare Plan's weekly hos
pital benefits should make
sure they have their Un
ion books, seaman's pa
pers and copies of th<^
last (Bscharges with thwoi
upon entering the hoi^
pital. ^
Union Patrolmen will'
pay the sevendollar ben
efits to the eligible mem:
bers for each full week
of hospitalization during
their weekly visits. Fail
ure of a hospitalized Sea
farer to have the above
mentioned papers with
him^iil prevent the Pa
trolman from making the
benefit payments. k
Hospitalized memberi.
who have not yet .filled
Out beneficiary cards for
the Welfare Plan can ob
tain them from,the Hos
pital Patrolmen., v
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Fxiday,JJanuary 26* USl THE SEAFARERS LOG Page Three
Cities Service Back Pay
The men listed below, who are due back pay from
(Sitles Service Oil Company, should get in touch with
\^Unn O^Loughlin, National Labor Relations Board, 2
Park Avenue, New Yoork 16, New York, at once.
By not having reported before, these men have been
holding up the payments to all the other men involved,
since the money awarded them by the NLRB is to be
shaired on a prorata b^sis. •
FaHure to report will have the effect of depriving
the dthers of nUMwy that th^ can well use.
Jose Abreu Ralph Knowles
George W. El^rdiito James Monroe
Charles R. Gamer / . George Murphy
Howard Hammpns Frank Schmiedel
Torolf Kismul James F. Welch
Coast Guard Procedures
For Getting Endorsements
'Mariiier' To Be Class Name
Cf The New Merchant Ships
"Mariner" has been selected as
the class name for the hew fast
cargo ships to be . built by 'the
Maritime Administration of the
US Department of Commerce,
Vice Admiral E. L. . Cochrane,
head Of the agency, announced.
The first group will bear the
nicknames of the States along
with the word "Mariner," such
as the SB Lone Star Mariner,
SS Keystone Mariner, SS Old
Dominion Mariner, SS Pine Tree
Mariner, SS Hoosier Mariner, etc.
This is the third time a class
name has been selected for a
type of merchant vessels con
Blxucted under a government
program. During World War II,
2700 Liberty ships were built,
and 415 Victory ships, but it
can not be predicted at this time
how many Mariner ships will
Ultimately be constructed.
All classes of merchant vessels
bear Maritime Administration
designations; such as "Cl;
"C2," "C3," "PT2," and the like,
with variations to indicate varia
tions in design. According to this
technical system of designation,
the Mariner ship is a "C4Sla."
Invitations to shipyards to bid
for the construction of the new
Mariner fieet were issued Jan
uary 10, 1951. Congress granted
$350,000,000 for the program.
ExPermitmen's
Appeal Motion
Denied By Court
(Continued from Page 1)
iof working on unionaffiliated
ships only in the event that no
book members were available
for employment ... In accept
tog the permits, plaintiffs vol
Mtttarily accepted their qualified
• employment of temporary Union
sanction. . . .
"In the absence of any allega
tions and proof of malice or Con
spiracy, the coiirt may not con
cern itself with the motives of
the Union or the propriety of
the action taken, and will not
interfere in the internal affairs
bf the Union on behalf of per
sons who admittedly never held
membership books in the or
ganization. ...
'...Nothing in the record
warrants the conclusion that de
fendant's officers or members
scted with fraudulent intent or
jn| bad faith in withdrawing perr
mit cards from plaintiffs. Under
these circumstances plaintiff's
xfiaim for damages may not be
sustained. Judgment is rendered
for the d^eadant dismissing the
complaint on its merits
and laimchings are expected to
begin in 1951.
The Marinerclass ships are to
be 525 feet long. This is a meas
urement shipbuilders term "be
tween perpendiculars." Actually,
with the overhangs at the bow
and stem, the new ships will be
about 560 feet overall. They will
have a speed of 20 knots, and
capable of being armed with
modern weapons against sub
marine, air and surface attack.
Construction plans call for a
minimum use of critical mater
ials, so that quantity production
will not be hindered by bottle
necks in the supply bf certain
metals and other equipment.
The Marinerclass ships are
planned for peacetime service as
replacement vessels for commer
cial use by steamship companies,
their high^ speed matching the
trmd in world shipbuilding and
operation.
As the US merchant marine
expands in the present program
for national defense, many Sea
farers arb interested in obtaining
higher ratings, while former Sea
farers are returning to the Union
Halls to do their bit in the need
for skilled manpower.
The following information, ob
tained in an'inteiview with
Coast Guard representative, is
presented so that all hands will
imderstand the present proce
dures for obtaining seamen's
papers and endorsements for rat
ings in the three shipboard de
partments.
Due to the security screening,
it t^es 30.days or more before
new seamen's papers are issued.
As for validation papers, appli
cation forms are available at any
Coast Guard office, in the event
that they ^e not supplied on
board ship at the time of signing
on.
No pictures are necessary when
the application is submitted.
However, when the applicant
has been screened and passed—
which will take from 60 to 90
days—^he must bring a passport
photo with him when picking up
his papers.
Under no circumstances is a
seaman to relinquish his present
papers, when he receives his
validated tJapers. This is the rul
ing of the Coast Guard in Wash
ington, and no matter what the
local authorities say, hold on to
your original papers, which are
your personal property.
DUPLICATE PAPERS
To apply for duplicate sea
men's papers, one must appear
port photos. The duplicates —
which take from 30 to 90 days
to be issued — will be the vali
dated kind. That's tough, but
you can't do anything about
that.
DECK DEPARTMENT
Endorsements are issued for
Ordinary Seaman, Able Seaman
limited. Able Seaman unlimited.
Carpenter and Boatswain.
Discharges for twelve months
on deck are needed for the
limited (blue) AB ticket en
dorsement.
For the unlimited (green) AB
ticket, three years of deck time
is required.
. For a Bosun's endorsement,
discharges must be presented,
showing 18 months' seatime on
deck.
For all deck department en
dorsements — excepting OS and
Carpenter — examinations must
be passed, including one for a
lifeboat ticket.
For AB papers, in addition to
passing a physical, which in
cludes a colorblindness test, one
must pass an examination which
stresses rules of the road, com
pass, and lifeboat equipment.
A man holding a limited (blue)
AB ticket, upon' acquiring the
necessary three years' seatime on
deck, can have it changed to an
unlimited (green) ticket without
further examination, simply by
producing his discharges.
Carpenter endorsement can be
obtained on the strength of a
letter from the Union, which
must be convinced that the appli
in person, supplying two pass cant has bona fide shoreside or
MA 73067
'Hats Off To SHJ/ Says Philly ILA
INTERNAHONAL LONGSHOREMEN'S ASSOCIATION
LOCAL 1332 COASTWISE AND CARL0ADIN6
324 SOUTH FRONT STREET • PHILAOELFHXA 47, PA.
AfblUtod with Anwiiean Fadsntioa of l.abox and Ttadoa and labor Conszoat of Canada
January 12th, 1951
' Philadelphia, Pa,
1332
Ur. Paul hall
3.1.U. See'ty & Traastrer
51 Beaver St.
Dew York City, N.7.
Dear Paul:
524 3. Pront St..
Philadelphia, Pa.
r' N
s feg a
shipboard experience as a Car
penter.
As far as Deck Maintenance
endorsements are c o n c e r n.e d.,
there is no such rating. Although
a few such endorsements have
been issued occasionally in other . |
ports, the Coast Guard has no
regulations covering this rating; ij
and will not issue this endorse •
ment. }
ENGINE DEPARTMENT .
Once a man has six months*
discharges as a Wiper, he can
obtain any unlicensed endorse
ment in the engineroom far
which he can pass an examina
tion. Shoreside machinists, elec
tricians, plumbers, no matter
how long and varied their ex
perience, still must put in six
months aboard ship as a Wiper.
The Coast Guard issues a
QMED endorsement (Qualified
Member of the Engine Depart
ment) which is supposed to cov
er any rating in the engineroom
below that of Third Assistant
Engineer. This is a peculiar
rating, inasmuch as a man may
hold this endorsement, and still
may not be able to handle such
jobs as Pumpman, Machinist,
Reefer Engineer or Electrician,
Actually the QMED rating COVCTS
Fireman, Oiler, Watertender and
Jimior Engineer.
STEWARDS DEPARTMENT
Stewards Department ratings j,
faU into four distinct categories:
Steward, Cook, Baker and Mess
man.
A Cook's endorsement does not
cover baking; nor does a Stew
ard's endorsement cover cooking
or baking.
To sign on as Baker, Second
Cook and Baker, or Night Cook
and Baker, a man must actuaUy
have a Baker's endorsement;
and a man with a Cook's en.r
dorsement only can fill that job.^
It is possible for a man to have
a Steward's endorsement, and to
be able to ship only as Steward
or Messman. He cannot ship
Cook or Baker, unless he ac
tually has the specific endorse
ment. , ';
Endorsement for Cooks and
Bakers are based on actual ex
perience, either shoreside or
shipboard. They are the only
ratings that do not require prev;
ious seatime.
A Messman's endorsement cov
ers all unrated Stewards Depart;
ment job—galley utility. Stew;
ards Utility, etc.
"HATS OFF TO THE S.I.TJ. As you know the Pcopt of Philade^hia
was tied19 recently due to strikes called by two I.L.A. Locals. The first
strike which came on January 4th (I.L.A. Local #333A—Tugboats ) came as
a ccotplete surprise to our membership. On the very next day Local jf 1566
( carpenters, shipcleaners and maintenance men ) went on strike. The latter
strike was anticipated for several months.
and the men whom 1 represent, are aware that at least one of
the above mentioned Locals would have remained on-strike for many more days
(the strike did last for five days) had it not been for the untiring efforts
of Steve iBlackie) Cardullo and Donald Hall. Along with several others, these
two men spared nothing to bring about 0 successful conclusion of both strikes.
Words nor phrases could fully express my gratitude, respect and admira'tion for
their excellent co-qperation and leadership. Therefore i say many thanks to
you, Tour membership, and the man who represent your membership. ..ishing you
nothing but the best, I remain.
sincerely Yo
J oseph
ocal /
Delegate
L:A.
Gangway Watcli
For the protection of the
crew's gear and the ^p's
equipment, and for the pro
Tection of the SIU agree
ment. men standing gangway
watches should remain at
their post, in the same man
ner as the Fireman below
must stand his watch. Gang
ways cannot be covered from
Ihe messhall or foc'sle.
The gangway watch is as
much a part of our agree
ment with the shipowners as
the wage scale. The job is
easy and the overtime eeon
ed on the weekends fattens
the final payoff bundle. Stick
by that gangway whan on
watch.
Pag'eFour T H E S E A P A R E R S L O G Friday, January 26, 1951
Getting. A Ship Is Ko Problem
For The Rated Med In New York
By JOE ALGINA
NEW YORK — Business and
shipping in this port are movr
ing along at a pretty fast clip.
As a result of the upswing, ra
nted men are getting out without
jUny difficulty.
^ "Approximately 30 ships were
paid off here in the past two
weeks, and eight were signed
on—^ranging from coastwise to
'roundtheworld trips.
We were also fortunate enough
to be able to crew three new
ships that were activated re
cently by new companies signed
by SIU.
As the membership probably
knows, the Coast Guard is back
in full strength, and I suggest
that all hands be careful that
they don't get into any unneces
sary trouble.
• As you also know, the Ameri
can legion is pushing as usual
to have the merchant niarine
put under military rule, and it
is doing; everything it can to see
such, a wild dream realized.
The benefits of Union member
ship are more apparent than
ever these days. With prices
bouncing up as they have been
for the past couple of years, the
unorganized working men and
women of this country, especial
I ly the whitecollar workers, are
I really feeling the pinch.
As a group, only the people
with imion membership have
been in a position to cope with
this situation. The imions, in
cluding the Seafarers, have
fought successfully, to keep pace
with spiraling costs. While prices
have shot ahead of wage levels,
as they always do, we Union
people have at least been able
to protect our earning power to
a large degree.
This, has not been the case
with the unorganized, whOse
wages have practically stood still
over the years. These people
now find themselves with a dol
lar so shrunken in size that they
feel just about the way they
would if their wages had been
cut in half.
Once again, the advantages of
union membership have been
demonstrated. We hope that the
vast number of unorganized
people, the majority of whom
are whitecollar workers, will
leam something from this situa
tion.
If they would rid themselves
of the feeling that they can do
right by themselves by dealing
on a personal level with their
employers, they stand a chance
of helping themselves. Collective
bargaining is the only way to
more security in our setup.
We have been receiving quite a bit of The only thing wrong with your article,
mail from American aijd foreign seamen Brother Higgs, is that part where you say
1 , • t m.'r . a • n«mf»i+ TviomKor «Ti+Vi 'fVir>oa • iroore' 'fimo who are riding Panamanian vessels. Natur
ally, the comment has not been complimen
ta^ to the conditions aboard these scows,
nor to the laws of the Republic of Panama
which allow this brutal and almost inhumw
condition to exist aboard Panamanian flag
vessels. Sick and injured seamen are pro
nounced flt for duty, or risk desertion
charge. Wages are not standard for the same
ratings. As an example, the Master of a
vessel gets anywhere from $200 to $270 a
month. Some wage, eh? The Ordinary Sea Stolen from the "Subway News;" Salvation
a permit member with three years' time
should flle an application for his book. It
AIN'T so.
X X X.
The Seafarers Welfare Fund is growing
by leaps and boimds. The trustees' policy
to let this Fund grow so that we will have
a nice reserve will prove to be a wise move.
It'll never go bankrupt, which has happen
ed to a lot of funds which tried to ^ve
benefilts larger than the expected income .,.
Mmhinists And Teamsters Win
Their Sbffces In New Orleans
By LINDSEY WILLIAMS
S NEW ORLEANS^he end of
the Machinists' and Teamsters'
strikes points to a possible in
crease in shipping, as vessels
coming out of the boneyard fgr
repairs had been withheld from
j the port by the dispute.
[' The membership of both un
ions returned to work, after win
ning 15cent hourly wage in
creases across the board. Af
fected by the strikes were 11
waterfront repair and industrial
machine shops.
The SIU cooperated with both
Organizations in their strikes.
Since the last meeting, we had
I fo^ payoffs and three signons.
j All beefs were squared away on
the vessels involved.
For the coming two weeks we
have scheduled eight payoffs.
I The Wild Ranger, Waterman, is
on her last scheduled run to
Puerto Rico. Due back here on
January 31, she will payoff and
signon, and then will be fitted
for the grain run to Europe.
Two of the ships we had in
I for payoffs were the Del Norte
and the Del. Campo. The dele
gates and crefWs of these ships
'shorild be commended for a job
well done. Both of these vessels
were exceptionally clean, and
all reports and minor beefs were
. properly recorded by the dele
gates, which made it simple for
Uiem to be taken up by the
shoreside officials.
As a result the payoffs on the
two vessels went off without a
hitch in record time.
The Seatrain Ne^ Orleans is
i still tied up down at Belle
Chasse awaiting orders. She has
been there since last May. It
Appears that she could bo carry
Ill;^ a helluva lot of tanks to
Korea. Let's hope she
where and real soon.
At the lest membership meet
ing here we reported that ru
mors were being circulated of
some ships coming out, but that
there was nothing definite. We
told the membership that as
as soon as anything definite was
available we'd pass it on to the
men.
Now the rumor has started
that there are two Liberties at
the point, awaiting orders from
New York to take full crews.
The two* Liberties about which
there has been so much talk are
in Mobile, and will be crewed
up there, if this hasn't already
been done.
Wheni ships do come into this
port for crews, we'll let the
membership know by putting
the notices on the board.
man makes about seventy bucks a month.
Crews are switched, mixed and hardtiined.
Panamanians, Germans, English and Indian
crewmembers are all mixed. I'd hate to
lower a boat in a hurry with a crew like
that. Thought I'd print this bit—^lest we>
forget that conditions weren't any better
on American ships not too damn long ago.
X X X
^ Paul Schou, MFOW member who put in
about thirteen months on the .McKettrick
Hills, showed his appreciation with a $52
LOG donation. Thanks, Paul. Incidentally,
the crew was flown back upon expiration
of the articles, and ran into a thriller. One
of the engines conked out and they .were
forced to land in Shannon, Ireland, for re
pairs—^which took two days . . . Bill Lowe
went up for a blood test preparatory to
taking a Cook's examination, and was offered
60 dollars a case" for it . . . Joe Buckley
writes in from the Fairhope, reminding us
that the 60 dollars a day that dock hands
received in Frisco 1,00 ye^ ago puts Harry
Bridges to shame. Of course, hOO years ago
was during the gold rush. For those 60 dol
lars you could buy one pair of men's bed
room slippers made of calf or goatskin.
X X X
Danny Piccirelli writes from Yokohama
to say he is on a fine ship, and forgets to
mention the name of it. This nameless and
Army kettles are a carryover from the days
when donations to feed hungry seamen were
collected in ship's cauldrons. Yup, that's
what they caU that pot . . . "Little Abner',',
Barthes, who used to be Doorman at the
New York Hall, recently retired from the
dredges and is now working ashore in a
nut factory. When he came into the Hall
the other day without a straightjacket,
some member went around yelling that
there was a loose nut in the building. How
corny can one get?
XXX
If you are suffering from that strange
malady known as tankeritis (and I don't
care to hear any medical opinions about it)
you can receive quick treatment for same
in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Keith Terpe
writes that shipping is goad there and as a
result he has to call New Orleans or Gal.
veston for men ... If you are draftable,
and do not have ratings, you may help
yourself to* obtain a deferment by getting
same. The more ratings, and the higher
they are, the better your chance for de
ferment. Pumpman, Machinist and Electri
cian ratings are worth their weight in gold.
XXX
A Seafarer who couldn't have picked a
better tag if he had christened himself has
the middle name of Siu . . . Mickey McFaul,
whom a lot of people are looking for (Won
fine ship has run into Pusan where, Danny der why?), stayed aboard the Coe Victory,
says, they gave the GIs a bellyfull of chow
whenever they came aboard . . . The Janu
ary, 1951, issue of that fine Del Norte ship's
paper, "The Navigator," has an article by a
character known to many as "Captain Bill."
whiclf will take him to England's pubs. If
you know Mickey,you know why i Say
that ... If you have read all the way to
the bottom, here's a break for you. I quit
for today.
Curran Moves West With CutRate Contracts
(Continued from Page 1)
Cooks Union and set it up as an
autonomous affiliate which would
elect its own officers and run
its own affairs in the best in
terests of the membership.
Prevailing, opinion on the West
Coast is that Curran's attempt
to swallow up the Marine Cooks
is made to order for the ship
owners.
They look to him as the in
strument with which they can
depress West Coast conditions,
and get the "bargainbasement
agreements" containing the lower
manning scales that Curran now
has in present NMU contracts.
Another reason for Curran's
attraction to the shipowners —
and which should turn the Ma
rine Cooks against him—is his
pplicy of allowing shipowners
a free rein m the selection of
men in several ratings.
In its appeals to the Marine
Cooks, the Sailors Union is
sh^CSflkiJ tbree important aspects
of Curran's maneuver. They are:
1. Curran's NMU is overcrowd
ed with men and he is now on
the West Coast looking for jobs
for his own members. (Late last
year, the NMU announced it had
23,000 jobs for 45,000 members.)
2. Curran is a serious threat
to the high West Coast manning
scales. The shipowners would
immediately huddle with him to
bring them down to the level
of the NMU scales.
3.' The NMU's East Coast vot
ing power would put a man
from that coast ^ in power oh the
West Coast. As a result the Ma
rine Cooks would have "hardly
more than a squeak within the
NMU." '
In contrast to the bleak pros
pects offered by Curran, the
SUP is giving the Marine Cooks
a set of solid advantages. By go
ing into the SUP, these inen
will get all the fln«r,ci£l sup
port they need. They will have
the: backing of the; m«n^
bership of the Seafarers Inter
national Union, which is com
pletely free of the communist
and excommunist way of think
ing responsible for the present
MCS deterioration.
Moreover, the SUP guarantees
the Marine Cooks full local au
tonomy, and the right to con
tinue saUing from the places
and on the jobs they have had
through the past many years.
Inasmuch as the present disin
tegration of the MCS is the re
sult of leadership, who found it
expedient one way or another to
follow commumst policy, the
rank and file can only, make a
clean break from this kind of
thinking by affiliating with the
SUP.
. In that way only can they
make a sincere and honest job of
cleaning, out the commies from
their ranks; Opinion here is that
the. communist eiementa will
find a refuge within the NMU
dScm Jthefr r^oa they secret
ly favor having Curran take
over. . ... _ . :
Although Curran may have
the initial advantage of having
stooges within the MCS leader?
ship who see a chance to gain
personally from an NMU swal
lowup of the MCS, the rank and
file, who are interested in a
fair and square deal, the right
to run their own union and pre
serve their , autonomy, and the
preservation of their superior
working conditions, obviously
find the SUP plan far more atr
tractive than Curran's fronting
for the shipowners.
Outside of pretty speeches and
a fancy front, Curran can offer
the Marine Cooks nothing. .
From( the standpoint of the jnr
dustry itselL tbe feeling in ma:
rine circles on all coasts is that
Curran's move may well inject
marked instability in maritimei,
a. prospect particularly .unpieat
sant in view of the stability that
has lately come about.
J
: • ^1
• ' 'I
"'"sl
• 4
' ^1 • .
i
I
" 11
.f«
A'',',"
Friday:, January 28, 1851 THE SEAFARERS LOG Page Five
a;
• • • vmi4
• '>^>>1 li :
wiMr
tttllltK..
r '.y QUESTION: What humorous incident you experienced at sea remains in your memory?
H. KELLY, Bosun:
' Aboul seven monlhs ago, I
vas aboasd a ship in Anlwerp.^
One of the ABs was sleeping off
a lough one, and several guys
were discussing how best to
wake him. up to turn to. Finally,
an OS volunteered, saying he
could straighten him out. He
took a bunch of raw onions,
chopped them up and rubbed
them all over the guy, then
wrapped him in his blanket. The
guy didn't budge or blink an
eye. He slept through. Next day
when he woke up, he wondered
what guy thought he was so
funny. Nobody told him, of
e^urse. The: OS just csulds't
figure out how his plan failed.
W. M. WALLACE. Bosum
Sometime ago I was on a ship
leaving Puerto La Crux, Vene^
zuela. for the States. An Ordi
nary who had been oiit the night
before, and was pooped out, was
slated for lookout. He took over
his watch, saying he'd hold out
okay, although his eyes looked
halfclosed. A few moments af
ter he was relieved he was re
ported missing from his quarters.
The ship "was searched but he
couldn't be found. Finally, the
Old Man gave up the search
^d returned to his own quar
ters. There was the missing look
out, asleep in the Captainfs set
tee. He didn't remember how he
got there.
TONY ZALESKL AB:
Last year I was aboard a ship
carrying passengers from, Europe.
One them, a woman, was
aiwng the oddest diaracters
I've ever seen. In fact, she
was more than slightly off her
bean. Although the crewmem
bers told her repeatedly that it
was not allowed, she used to
like to go down, below to ttdk
to the men. Almost every night
she would put on a bathing, suit
and promenade on the deck.
Wherever there was a group of
guys, she'd stop by and start
dancing. She certainly did liven
up the trip. It was just too bad
that she wasn't young and^ good
looking. It's always thcd way.
A. RUMMEL, Chief Cook:
This happened down in Lour
enco Marques. Our ship was lay
ing in the stream. Several of us,
including some pztssengers, were
looking over the rail, when from
ashore comes a crewmember—a
big heavy guy. His pants pock
ets were loaded with gear, and
you could see the strain on them
as he climbed up the Jacob's
ladder. Just as hO neared the
top of the ladder, his pants fell
down. The passengers roared,
and so did the crewmen who
saw it. The guy finally made
it though. He got himself, his
pants and his cargo aboard the
ship okay. I won't mention his
name.
H. WISHNANT, AB: ,
Once in the Phillipines, a
Fireman aboud the ship I was
on went ashore. When he came
back he was feeling^ no pain. He
spied the Chief Cook, who was
thawing out a turkey which was
to serve as the next day's meal.
This touched our Fireman friend,
who went into a crying jag and
bemoaned the fate of the bird.
He picked up the turkey and
kept caressing it, while he
whimpered over and over again, '
"You poor little turkey. Tomor
row we gonna eat you." Despite
the efforts made to quiet down
our sentimental Fireman, he
couldn't be consoled. But he ate
the bird the next day.
V. FITZGERALD, MM: BERNARD MACE. Cbok; TONY FERRARA, Carpenttt: JOHN McGUINNESS. OS: L. P. HOGAN, Deck Engineer:
Downi in Cuba recently, I was This isn't exactly funny when
zidiiig dOwn thei street on a pony you remember that it' really
on my way back to the ship. As happened, but it was the Idnd
I passed a bar, I was hailed by of thiifg you see in slapstick
a group of shipmates from the movies. The Chief Cook on a
SB John Stagg. They proceeded tanker I recently sailed on was
to give me a hard time, telling preparing supper, and he was a
me a big guy like me ought to little short on pork chops. About
be ' ashamed to burden a poor 5:30 the guys started yelling >for
little pony. I got off, and the more. The Chief Cook got all
hei^t thing 1 know the gtfSS^iexcited, ran down t» the ice
were' flying down tlm street, box and came up with a loin of
astride the same pony. Not so j>ork. Between his excitement
amusing to me was an. experience and his haste I thought he'd
bsick in 1923, when I shipped blow up. He kwung a cleaver .to
oh deck. I was chipping over the chop off some chops from the
side in Mobile. As X came along loin. He missed the loin com
sida: a scupper, 1 nearly was plezely but chopped off his
droned and hot by'water thumb kt the knuckle. Didh'f
either. eveh feel it, either.
During the war, I was on the
SS Fluorspar. We picked up a
Messman in Scotland, and it
was his first trip to sea. The
Flr^ Assistant always gave him
a hard time, so the Messman was
afrpid of him. One morning iff ter
breakfast was over, the First
came in and said he wanted
some ham and eggs. The boy
hurried to the galley, but the
Cook said "No more ham, well
fry him some eggs." Afraid to
tell the First, the boy grabbed
a himk of ham that he had
thrWn away uom leftovers,
washed it off and put ixrtn with
the es^ The First said he never
tasted such good ham and eggs,
On my first trip to sea in
1947, I sailed as a Wiper. One
of the first orders I got from the
Chief Engineer was to sougee
the reefer room. I did so, but in
the process I blew out the plant.
The Chief screamed, "Get out
and never come back." Thmx he
told the Old Man "Either Mo
Guinness gets off or I get ofL"
The Old Man told him to cool
off. Then he wanted to put me
to'work chipping on dedk. He
fotmd out that th» aigraement
didn't permit that. So he luroke
mo ^wn from WT^r to work
away. 1 didn't have to dp any
work for several days, but I
got paid anyway.
Recently my ship tied up at
Portlzmd, Maine. On comes a re
lief Chief Engineer in full re
galia. The fibrst night he fired the
F'irst and Second Engineers. Next
morning he caUs for me. "You're
fired," he says. I asked him
why, and he replied that he was
cleaning house. I called the Bos
ton Hall and was told to stay
aboard imtil the Patrolman got
there. I told the Chief this."l'il
fire and hire who I want. If not
111 get off." At the oil docks
three days later X saw him w^Jk
in the rain dorm the gangway
and head for town. He had ail
of his baggage with him.
Page Six THJE SEAFARERS LOG Friday. January 26, 1851
». a '
=^i
^lack Eagle Loses
ZOTon Crane In
Tussle With Typhoon
A nottobedenied typhoon caught up with the SS
I Black Eagle off the Okinawa coast and gave it a severe
buflFeting that cost the doughty Victory ship a 20ton
« crane.
The Black Eagle, a National
Bulk Cargo Carriers' vessel, had
been ordered out of Okinawa
harbor on November 8 because
of warnings that a typhoon was
approaching, according to a re
port submitted to the LOG by
crewmember Bill Barth.
Three days later, as she was
cruising off the coast, the Black
Eagle ran headon into the storm,
Barth related. As the tempest in
creased in intfensity, the secur
ing cables of a 20ton crane
worked loose.
The Deck Gang quickly turn
ed to and worked feverishly un
til the cables were again secure.
No sooner had they finished that
j6b, Barth continued, than a
truck on the starboard side for
ward and another at starboard
aft became loose. Again the deck
hands secured the endangered
;cargo.
i By 9 o'clock that night the
typhoon was at peak fury. "All
^ell broke loose," Barth said.
The heavy seas slapped , and
shook the Eagle severely. Final
ly, the crane broke loose again.
"Some of us came out on the
wing of the boat deck and watch
ed that crane do its damage,"
Barth continued.
, As the Eagle rose and feU
' with the heavy seas, the im
bridled crane swimg about
drunkenly. Within 10 minutes it
had pounded a section of t^e
starboard bulwark loose and
left it hanging over the side.
On the next roll the crane
teetered on the open edge of
the deck and plunged straight
l^own into the sea.
' Almost as if contented that,
its objective had been accom
plished, the typhoon shortly af
ter took off and the seas began
to calm down.
The Black Eagle licked its
woimds and her tired deck
hands hit their sacks for a little
shuteye.
Question On How
To Retire Book
Pops Up Again
The oftarising question of
"how do I go about retiring my
book" cropped up again this
week. This time it came from
a Seafarer now in ' the Army,
who expressed concern over the
status of his book.
Headquarters sent an answer
to the inquirer, advising him of
the procedure it has been stress
ing repeatedly in the columns of
the LOG over the past several
years. Since the Korean conflict
the Union v has particularly
brought the matter of book re
tirement to the attention of mem
bers about to enter the Armed
Forces.
In answering the army man's
question. Headquarters urged
again that all hands leaving the
sea, either to enter the service
or for any other reason, should
forward their books to SIU
Headquarters, 51 Beaver Street,
New York 4, N. Y., with a re
quest that they be placed in
retirement.
In order to quality for a re
tirement card, a member must
be paid to date when seek
ing retirement.
Ship To Boat Transfer Of ill Seafarer
Shipmates lower ailing
Frank Formisano over side of
Sealrain Havana to Coast
Guard boat, which responded
to call off the Florida Coast.
Formisano, a watertender, took
ill suddenly, and Skipper
speeded up the vessel for the
rendezvous with the CG.
Coeust Guardsmen unfasten lines on basket in which
Formisano was transferred to the boat which took Him to
a shoreside hospital. Photos, taken by Lester Moore. Oiler,
on the Havana, are part of photo record of the transfer.
: UM
V. .h,
Rotary Shipping System Tops Off Agenda
At Abiqua's Union Educational Meeting
Crewmembers aboard the SS Abiqua, Cities Service*~r;~ T—TT :—T
, , . , ,, 1 1 1 1 . . , , rights and privileges in the or«
tanker, are, working on the wellestablished principle that
Union men who know the score make the best shipmates.
That much is evident from«is
the type of Union education
meetings the Abiqua men have
been holding. As a result of the
effort to have each man fully
understand the nature and func
tion of his Union, there has been
an. increase in shipboard coope
ration and smoother functioning
all around.
The minutes of the latest edu
cational session, held recently at
/
^ A
wmm:"
iiiip
Debrisslrewn deck and torn starboard bulwark testify to havbe resuUing from brief eO"
counter between the SS Black Eagie and a typhoon cF the Okinawa, coast recently. Bulwark
was ripped when 20ton criane came loose and crashed into the sea. Photo was among those
submitted by crewmember H. Kelly. f
sea, reveal that rotary shipping
was thoroughly explained and
discussed.
Brother Harold Crane, acting
Ship's Delegate on the Abiqua,
started off the rotary shipping
discussion by asking how many
aboard the vessel were not fully
familiar with the procedure.
Eight crewmen, who came into
the Union as a result of the
SIU's successful organizing drive
in the CS fleef, said they were
wanting on this score.
So Crane started at the bottom
iand toldl how the rotary system
worked, from the time a man
entered the Hall, until he was
shipped out. Nothing was omit
ted. Crane even explained what
questions the Dispatcher was
likely to ask of the job regis
trant.»
Following Crane's explanation,
the Abiqua men went into a
discussion of the system of clas
sifying ratings into three groups
within the various shipboard de
partments'. T. Crawford than
took the floor on the topic of
"shipping from the board." His
clear explanation brought a vote
of thanks from his listeners.
Crane followed Crawford on
the deck with a reading of the
Qujffterly Finance Committee's
report of December 6. "Most of
the men," says the minutes,
"were astonished to learn of the
obviously sound position of the
Union as revealed) inits assets."
Also stressed at the session
was the advisability of keeping
in, good standing and of retiring
a book in the proper manner i"
ordef to protect the members'
ganization.
Article Vlli Section 1 of the
Constitution, dealing withrein
statement was read and disr
cussed.
Before closing the meeting.
Brother Crane stressed that the
proper thing for a member to
do in the event any Union pro
cedure is not clear to him is to
consult his shipboard delegate
or a Patrolman in any port.
The Abiqua men are intent
upon holding their education
meetings regularly. If their be
ginning is any criterion, they're
on the way to becoming some
of the bestinformed Seafarers on
the seas.
Reporters Wanteii
What happens to Seafaren
while taking the ships to the
far flung ports of the world
makes interesting reading to
the rest of the membership.
You don't have to he a
Jack London to knock out the
details of the experience.
Just give us the facts and
well do the rest.
Pictures, too make a story
more interesting. If you, or
a fellow crewmember, are
lucky enough to have a
camera along — send your
snapshots to the LOG. We'll
take care of the developihg
and printing and the return'
ing of the negatives land
prints to you.
Send your hits of news and
snaps to: SEAFARERS LOG.
51 Beaver SireeL New York,
H. Y, ...v...:
• r/ .1
• Tr.
J
i]
::«fl
• 'f
Friday. Januavy 26.4951 THE SEAFARERS LOG Page.Seven
Digested Minutes Of SlU Ship Meetings
I
CHRISTINE. Dee. 17—Chair
wan. R. Ferreia; Senetary. J.
Christian. Discussion on possibil
ity oit demoting 2nd Cook to 3rd
Cook as he cannot bake. Entire
crew voted in favor of the de
motion.^ Suggestion made that
each crewmember donate one
dollar toward purchase of a new
washing machine. Ship's Dele
gate reported everything is ship
shape.
PENNMAR. Nov. 5—Chairman.
John Marshall; Secretary. Char
les T. Scott. Steward reported
$26 in ship's fund and moved
that Department Delegates col
lect one dollar from each mem
ber in Long Beach for the fund.
Deck Delegate suggested 'that
each man on standby cooperate
in keeping recreation room and
messhall clean.
4. 4 t
ROBIN SHERWOOD, Dec. 6—
Chairman. Vincent Kuhl; Secre
tary. Walter Hayes. Delegates
reported all okay. Request made
for more juices, but they are
not available. Crew complained
of insufficieht cold cuts for night
lunch.
4 t t
SOUTHERN CITIES. Dec. 27—
Chahrmaa. Frank Calmen; Sec
retary. A. Foster. Ship's Delegate
reported of difficulty in securing
a needed AB. Beef raised of
Engineers using crew's mess as
passageway dxuring meal hours,
ew percolator ordered to re
lace one that burned out
^ ^ %
ALAWAL Dec. 13—Chairman.
E. Moyd; Secretary. A. Phillips.
Delegates reported no beefs, ex
cept Engine Delegate who re
ported some disputed overtime.
Disciission on Brother Eddie
Westphal who was lost at sea.
Motion carried to send flowers
io services for Brother O. W.
Tompkins who died aboard ship.
% % X
ALCOA PARTNER Dec. 31^
Chairman. Mike Selonka; Secre
lary. Mclnnis. Delegates report
ed all okay. Delegates drew up
protest to company for not send
ing pump for cold water to ship.
Steward criticised for putting
out two second meats at supper
time. Ship's Delegate cautioned
all hands to honor the SIU agree
ment. Suggestion made that Ar
ticle II, Section 32 be modified
so the rest period.would apply
on day of arrival and day of
departure.
fcthan/
XXX
LONE JACK. Dec. 17—Chair
iman. Roy Lundquist; Secretary.
Price Willoghby. Delegates' re
ports accepted. Wendland elect
ed Treasurer for the ship's fund.
Ship's Delegate reminded crew
of the clause in the contract
that calls for men to be aboard
one hour before the posted sail
ing time. Crew also reminded of
the clause calling for two days'
pay if new man is ordered.
XXX
ANDREW JACKSON. Jen. I—
Chairman. Frank Albore; Secre
tary. Bud Cousins. Delegates re
ported on. the number of books
and permits in their. depart
ments. Motion carried to have
double bottoms cleaned. Motion
carried to have Patrolman check
the rationing of cigarettes, now
limited to two cartons every ten
days. Black' Gang Delegate to
see Patrolman about beef 812
yifhesi qouapi%
• for gour
'^Sl^rAUY
\AUDATBP
vocuAfmr^
awd <Jo it ̂ ̂cott asxfou. caw.
do not Iturn. ixL cjozisr seorruuz^
i^awcsanatidt
icrrcedi. fe? iHentm
Fireman has against the Chief
Mate concerning the treatment
he received while ill.
XXX
ALCOA CLIPPER. Dec. 31—
Chairman. R. Roberts; Secretary.
E. Hunter. Delegates reported
dissatisfaction with food being
given crew. Ship's Treasury re
ported at $95:87. Motion carried
that the Steward explain to a
Patrolman why the menus have
n't been' changed. Motion to buy
a new washing machine voted
down.
XXX
BRADFORD ISLAND. Dec. 31
—Chairman. Buddy Benson; Sec
retary. W. Guitenan. Delegates
reported some disputed overtime
in their departments. Motion car
ried that doors not be locked
while at sea. Motion carri^ that
Ship's Delegate go with Steward
and check the contents of the
store room. Chief Electrician to
check on cost to have present
washing machine repaired as
compared to buying a new one.
XXX
GOVERNMENT CAMP. Dec.
27—Chairman. William Burke;
Secretary. C. Wille. Delegates
reported number of books and
permits in their departments.
Vote of thanks given Treasurer
O'Brien for the swel* job he has
done. Motion carried to put in
for overtime for delayed sailing.
Stewards Department men to
collect Saturday in port over
time for time anchored in Lake
Charles, then other departments
are to put in for, it.
XXX
DEL SUD. Dec. 10—Chairman,
Brown; Secretary, Clarke. Ship's
Delegate reported on visit to
New Orleans • Marine Hospital,
repairs j;hat had been made and
Captain's displeasure with fire
and boat, drill. Motion carried
that the Captain be notified that
the general alarm system had
been out of order for two days
and 1st Assistant would not al
low Electrician to repair it, as
it would invoke week end over
time. Beef about discrimination
in handing out slops; officers and
cadets can draw for another
man, but crewmembers must ap
pear in person. Motion carried
to airmail repair list northward
from Rio on return trip. Crew
agreed that ship is feeding 100
percent better than last trip and
Stewards Department rated a
vote of thanks for a job well
done.
XXX
SEATRAIN NEW YORK. (Date
not given):—Chairman. R. Swee
ney; Secretary. Charlie Goldstein.
Ship's Delegate reported sending
a telegram to Headquarters re
porting a man missing the ship
in New York. Other Departments
reported no beefs. Motion car
ried that in the future Delegates
report men missing the ship by
writing a letter to Headquarters
immediately and sending it
ashore with the pilot. Steward
given a vote .of thanks for the
swell dinner his department put
out on Christmas day.
X X Jk
ALCOA PURITAN, Dec. 3 —
Chairman, S. LeLacheur; Secre
tary. William Frank. Delegates
reported disputed overtime for
delayed sailing. Motion carried
for tho Ship's Delegate to see
the Captain about wiring for
draw money in New York. Sug
gestion made that crewmembers
! leave Patrolman alone and let
the Delegates settle all beefs.
office. "The dispute between the
West Coast Longshoremen and
the SUP was discussed, and the
crew Went on record to keep
out of the battle as far as gin
mill and street arguments are
concerned. If the Union needs us,
then we'll act.
XXX
ALCOA PURITAN, Nov. 13—
Chairman, F. Grumpier; Secre
tary, Michael Amato. Delegates
reported all okay. Old minutes
to be corrected before being ac
cepted. Motion carried to post
a repair list and to eliminate
cold suppers. Suggestion made
that storage boxes be cleaned
more often.
XXX
DEL AIRES, Nov. 19—Chair
man, Bannister; Secretary, Hay
Casanova. Ship's Delegate re
ported on visit he and seven
crewmembers made to Brother
Jacob Levy, of the Del Santos,
in the hospital. Discussion on
penalty cargo from last voyage.
Steward stated that present paint
is no gpod and International
paint should be ordered for next
trip.
XXX
CHIL'ORE, Dec. 31—Chairman.
H. Collier; Secretary, J. Siniard.
Delegates reported on number of
books and permits in their de
partments. Beef raised on boil
ing clothes at night and keeping
the Stewards Department awake.
All departments to cooperate in
keeping laundry clean.
XXX
CATAHOULA, Jan. 7—Chair
man, Adolph Capote; Secretary,
L. Stephenson. Chairman discus
sed letter sent to Headquarters
asking for innerspring mattresses
and a more liberal food supply.
Delegates reported no disputes
in their departments. Suggestion
made that more fried chicken be
served.
received regularly in Capetown
be posted on the bulletin board
and no one is to remove it from
the messroom.
XXX
SEATRADER, Dec. 3—Chair
man. Walker; Secretary, N. Pet
tersen. Ship's Delegate reported
$3.75 in the ship's fund. Dele
gates reported some disputed
overtime, but said things are
running smoothly. Members re
quested to keep their feet off the
tables. Chief Cook asked aU
members, while in port, to eat
as soon as possible.
XXX
PETROLITE, Jan. 9 _ Chair
man, Louis Tilley; Secretary.
Stephen BoguckL Motion carried
that crew will not payoff at sea
until overtime beef with BR is
straightened out and all repairs
attended to. Motion carried that
all crewmembers donate $1 to
the repairing of the washing
machine. Suggestion made that
Steward put in for more milk as
supply is running low.
XXX
IBERVILLE. Nov. 12—Chair
man. F. O'Leary; Secretary. O.
Bodden. Delegates reported no
beefs. Motion carried to hold a
meeting every time around the
loop. Discussion on amount of
food needed for adequate meal.
4. 4.
RAPHAEL SEMMES. Dec. 3—
Chairman. W. C. McCuislon; Sec
retary. Frank Van Dusen. Dele
gates reported number of books
and permits in their departments.
Discussion on man who pUed
off the ship in Jacksonville.
Ship's Delegate to get beneficiary
cards for men who haven't sent
a card yet to the Welfare Plan
XXX
CHRISTINE, Dec. 4 — Chair
man, Vic Miorana; Secretary,
Murry. Delegates reported every
thing shipshape with the crew
doing a good job. Motion car
ried that messrooms and crew,
foc'sles be painted out. Motion
carried that a letter be sent to
the Postmaster General sug
gesting a_ floating marine post
office in the Panama Canal,
such as is operated on the Great
Lakes. Men on gangway watch
asked to stick close to gangway
so the Mate doesn't have to
look all over the ship for them.
XXX
GATEWAY CITY, Nov. 20 —
Chairman, E. Killigren; Secre
tary, R. Daniels. Delegates re
ported their departments in or
der. Question raised on dumping
of garbage; to be referred to
New York.
XXX
ROBIN LOCKSLEY. Dec. 24—
Chairman, Steve Bergeria; Sec
retary, Vernon Porter. Motion
carried that Deck Delegate speak
to Mate about giving the Deck
Department time to sougee their
foc'sles. Motion carried that all
beefs be referred to Department
Delegates to prevent men from
running to head of department.
Agreement made that Ship's
Delegate appoint a laundryman
upon ship's arrival in Africa.
Motion carried that the LOG
XXX
STEEL DIRECTOR, Dec. 24—
Chairman, Oliver Fielding; Sec
retary, N. J. Wood. Delegates re
ported no major beefs. Motion
carried to have Deck DepaH
ment hold a special meeting to
adjust differences or make out
a written report of facts con
cerning refusal of Deck Depart
ment to accept the Deck Dele
gate's report. Deck Delegate had
spoken to Mate to keep off deck;
Mate was back 43n deck the fol
lowing day.
XXX
ELLY, Jan. 5 — Chairman, A.
Giove; Secretary, Osetek. Dele
gates reported all okay. Stew
ard's Delegate reported Steward
refused to attend meeting. Mo
tion carried that a $25 fine be
placed against anyone refusing
to attend to a meeting. Motion
carried to crack down on drink'
ing; anyone who fouls up to. be
brought up on charges.
XXX
VENORE, Jan. 7 —Chairman,
D. Faircloth? SecTetary, J, Eas
terling. Suggestion made that
recreation room be kept clean.
Delegates reported everything in
order.
XXX
CARROLL VICTORY, Nov. 24
—Chairman, G. Strocker; Secre
tary, J. Canlrell. Delegates re
ported all in order as most of
disputed overtime had been
cleared up. Discussion on ice
and Captain's refusal to buy it.
Recommendation that Steward
put out a more balanced diet
and crew cooperate more with
Messman.
CHIWAWA^ fciltes Service),
Jan. 7—Chairman, * R. Pawlak,
Secretary, David Barrett. Chair
man read Union literature on
charges and explained Ihat this
matter was a serious one and
not to b& abused. Request made '
that fruit juices be chilled:
XXX
COUNCIL GROVE (Cities Ser
vice). Jan. 1—Chairman, Sven
Jansson: Secretary, Lawrence
Reimer. Delegates reported num
ber of books and permits in their
dep ̂ rtmciits and listed disputed
overtime. Motion carried to have\
Ship's Delegate see Port Engin
{Cmtinuei on Page 10)
• :V: I
Frid«7, January 26, ISM
SIU Book Prize Possession,
Says Seafarer Now In Army
Galley Men Get Vitamin D
|fe
i K'"»!.• •
It'
i;:
|.te;
i
To ihe Editor:
• I guess a lot of my friends
and former shipmates will be
surprised to learn that the worst
Electrician in New Orleans is
now a recruit in the Army.
She's a feeder but hell on OT.
. Basic* training is like all the
\morganized ships that ever sail
ad, all rolled into one—and every
single month they hit me with
75 bucks, minus taxes and in
surance.
. A lot of my fellow victims are
wondering what they are sup
posed to be fighting for, since of
ficially there is no war on. But
I'm not kicking. I know that
when I get out I won't have to
hit the 5220 line, like a lot of
these guys wUl.
JOB GUARANTEE
My SIU book is my guarantee
.of a job of my own choosing and
a good living wage. I wouldn't
swap it for all the medals in
the Army.
I got a Christmas card from
PFC Tom Williams, exDel Norte
Engine Maintenance. Also a note
from "Blackie" Bankston, the
Del Norte's worldfamous Bosim.
I used to kid him about his
gray hairs, but now I wish I
had them.
I Wonder if there is any way
I could get a print of the picture
printed in one of the August
1951 issues (I think) of the LOG,
showing the Del Norte dele
gates, and in which I appeared
as the Engine Delegate.
jif whoever has the negative
reads this I'd be glad to pay for
the print and postage. I'm really
anxious to have the picture as
a reminder of the best ship and
best damn crew I ever sailed
with.
NEWS WANTED
I'd also like to hear news of
the Del Norte Navigator. I sure
enjoyed working on it with
MLICA CREWMEN
CHARGE LAUNDRY
WITH DIRTY DEAL
To Ihe Editor:
am writii^ in ragard to, a
latHidry in . Portland,; Ore;, that
caters to ships; It is .e^led^ the
'Oregon Laundry; ' ' . %
'While this ship was in port
a few weeks back, one of the
laundry's drivers came • • aboard
soliciting laundry. At the time
of picking it up, they tell you
one price, then when it is de
liyered shortly before the ships
sail they bring it aboard and
eharge a man ̂ ree or four times
the specified amount.
• In one instance, a Brother
• member on this ship was charged
$4.25 for the laundering of four
shirts, and two of them were
not even ones he had sent out.
Please warn • other SIU shipws
to be on the lookout for this
Oregon laundry driver and see
that he does not catch any more
oiE our Brothers.
Pai Ryan
: < . Engine Delegate
.SB. OBw • •
Thurston Lewis, "Salty" Dick
and the others who djd such a
good job of making it tops.
I'd like to extend the very best
New Year's wishes to the LOG
staff, all the guys in New Or
leans, all feUow exSeafarers
now in service, and, in fact, to
all SIU members everywhere.
In closing, here's a promise'to
all friends that I will answer
all letters if anyone wants to
write to me.
Ret. Gordon Peck
U. S. 56082038
Tmg. Btxy C
746 AAA Gun B'n..
Fort Lewis, Wash.
(Ed. note: the picture refer
red to by Brother Peck ap
peared in the July 21 issue of
the LOG.)
Going To Korea?
Kirkman Offers ;
Valuable Tips
To the Editor:
Relaxing on deck of the Archers Hope, Cities Service
tanker, are two members ol the Stewards Department, iden
tified by photographer J. E. BeU, as "Mike, our Second Cook,
and the Chief Cook."
Professional LoanSeekers Out To Exploit
Their Shipmates, Paddy Farrell Declares
To the Editor:
We have tried incessantly to
encomage members of the SIU
to be careful in the handling of
their money at sea and in port.
It is becoming a huge menace
time and again to have fellows
complain of being duped by loan
pirates on board and ashore who
borrow from shipmates a fin or
two "until payoff."
This wise parasite is usually
a gambler or an alcoh'olic and
will stoop to anything for his
selfish ends. In most cases he is
a poor worker. His intention is
to get by the easest way. The
only way this can be done is
by exploiting his shipmates.
SMOOTHIE
He is an ideal promiser and an
elegant talker. He wUl give you
a smooth line and a hard luck
story, like all confidence men.
He usually is dressed up like
a sheik and has a spiel of ship's
talk that would make Columbus
turn in his grave.
When this guy has. used aU
his tricks to borrow all he can
and realizes he is on the run,
he usuaUy packs his gear and
quits the ship, maybe getting
away with a $20O$3OO take. He
goes to the Hall iand registers
for another ship and so on goes
the wheel of misery that this
lousy parasite thinks is clever.
YOUR PROBLEM
The Union cann^ot retrieve
your loss for you. Although the
Union would like to help you,
it is something over which it
has no control. This is some
thing between two guys. There
fore, take warning and watch
out for these cheesymouthed
renegades and keep your money.
And I think if you lose their so
called friendship, you are a win
ner. The old adage says "A bird
in the hand is worth two in the
bush."
Now, lastly, the SIU as an
organization works in the in
Xeep The LOG Coming'
terests of all seamen, whether
they be bookmen, permitmen
and will not condone crooked
ness and shall always try to
stamp it out.
It would be wise to tip off
your Brothers in the SIU as to
the existence of this kind of
character referred to above. I
realize this might be tough to
do, but the truth is best for all
of us.
Paddy (Deep Six) Farrell
Hails SIU Spirit
Of Brotherhood
To the Editor:
I wish to. express my sincere
gratitude to the membership of
the SIU for their generous re
membrance of me and my family
during the holiday season.
This kindly gesture points up
the true spirit of brotherhood
which exists throughout the SIU
ai^ is so well known to all of
its members.
" I am extremely praud of my
membership in the SIU—a real
Brotherhood of the Sea, which
at all times has the welfare and
ccmcem of its members at heart.
I want to take^ this opportun
ity to, extend to all ms Uuion
Brothers a sincere wish for a
happy and prosperoushew year.
Paul Saifford
Going fb Korea? Then. listeny
Brother, cause I've got a fewi
words of advice for Seafarers
who find their ships nosing into
Far Eastern lands. Our ship—tha'
Robin Kirk—has been out hera"
for Over four months and . has,!;
of course, run into the usuai
difficulties of short stores, but
that is to be expected.
Don't take any . Army gear,
from a soldier unless youate
given a receipt for it. The Army?
will shake down the ship andi
you'll land in hot water.
In Korea, deal in American,
money if you can or you'll takes
a beating on every turn in exv
change. Dont' drink Korean,
whiskey; it'll ruin you. Don't
make heavy draws in Pusan
unless you want script for Japami
You can get script, in Korea but;
not in Japan. In other words,;
make your draw for Japan iHi
Korea.
There is , nothing to do . in
Pusan anyway. Th'e army clubs
are off limits to seamen and the
seamen's club has nothing, it's
alaws sold out.
GOOD CLUB
• In Yokohama, however, there
is a fine seamen's club run by,
two very nice people. Unfor
tunately, it is a shame the way.'
it is being abused. It's disgust
ing to watch the performing of
characters and gas hounds who
punch on the tables, yell and"
whistle at everything. Their
conduct is a disgrace to the;
country they represent, our un''
ion and the merchant marine.
I was really ashamed when I'
walked out of the place.
These are critical times for,
the merchant marine and eveiy
seaman is judged to'be typical.'
Every seaman should be on his ̂
best behavior at all times in. the
war zone, keep his eyes and ears
open and his mouth shut unless
he knows that he is right. *
Fred Peltlngai
John Toledo, who entered the Army test week, wants to
ke^ in touch with Union activitiea during his stiiit te the
service. Here he drops LOG subscription cud into box at
Hei^quarters building to make sure he gets the Union paper
regiite^y.
Recommends Brother
For Car Repair Wwlk
To Sae Editor: ' '
My brother, Altpn Roberts,
owns and operates a garage at
10141^ ^rket Street, Houston
15, Texas.
I would like to recomniend
that all SIU: Brothers in that
area who need work done.; on
their cars go to Alton. Roberts
who wiU give them a square deal
in the repair of their cars.
He does goodwork at a fair
price, and aU of his , work is
guaranteed. ; • V
;.; Charlie Roberts
S(Ndrate ffhyana
LogARhythms
By Ci. B. WARD
m
Woe be
unto we
Sorry souls,
who go to 8984
' i'
T
Boiling.; down • ; U' f t JJ;;.:
. 'to Panahte' '' '
Shns relief M
, ."' of: hahaha^J ' '
a • sth^ng'^'drop.
An empty shell \, m
'I'm
without a prop, n »
:,v:.:;..i;Tbus.the fate , ^
;;S?5M^,t.;w;r..:Of ;you.ahd
j|p,.;#nd.. most ef. ud
who;go tO'sea.' s.
Friday, January 26, 1851 THE SEAFARERS LOG
Page Nine
^ Bmemer Men On The Jcb
IK
Deck hands on Ihe Bessemer Victory give the stack
new coat of painty.
^^: : 4
For The Records
Seafarers makiug pay
ments to Union Patrolmen
and other authorized SIU
representatiTes should make
certain the receipts they re
ceive specify the account to
which the money is to be
credited.
For example, receipts
made for LOG donations
should have SEAFARERS
LOG written clearly along
side the amount. Tlie same
applies to recasts for dues,
assessments and other pay
ments.
Careful attention to this
detail will enable Headquar
lers to keep its records ac
curate in crediting income
to the various accounts.
Bea^ Lights Up
Over Juicy Note
To Dry Outfit
To the Editor; *
following is an editorial
m the " New York Daily News
Which I think some of the mem
bers might find amusing:
"The Womens Christian Tem
perance Union, veterans organi
zation of bonedry females has
received the following letter
from somewhere in Korea:
"'Dear ladies of the W.T.C.U.
e men of the Engineers Com
lat Battalion really do apprec
iate the fruit juices you are
sending over here in place of
the beer. It doesn't quite take
rile place of beer, but you can
get quite a better buzzon with
'"'We just add a little yeast
and sugar to it, heat it on the
istOVe and get some of the finest
wine ever brewed. As yeast and
sugar are scarce over here, we
would appreciate it verY much
if you would send some with
the next shipment. Thank you*
very much and keep the juices
coming our way.'
"If the. drys would learn that
you can't beat, either nature or
human nature as evidenced by
this letter, they'd become a lot
wiser than they've ever been
yet."
Tobs Beams
The Bessemer Vic's Bosun, John Nordstrom, strikes a
serious pose for the shipboard photographer.
Tex Offers Doggone Theory
On What Causes Headaches
To the Editor:
Did you ever have a head
ache? Do you know what it was
caused. by? Well, just pull off
your shoes and settle back while
I tell you why you have head
aches and'What causes them.
If you wiU cast an eye around
you, you'll probably see several
people. Now take a good look
at each person individually and
see if he or she reminds vou of
Question Box
CLIPPER CREW ASKS IF ATTENDANCE
IS REQUIRED AT SHIPBOARD MEETINGS
Nditor, Question Box:
1. The question has arisen as to whether men off watch are
required to attend regular shipboard meetings. If these men are
required to attend but do not do so, what action can be taken?,
2. Are members on ships that pay off after the first of the
I,;
if
r::.'
year required to pay the current year's'assessments, or is there
:& 9dday period in which to do this? SS Alcoa Clipper
. ANSWER: 1. AU men off walch must attend meetings,
i unless, of course, they are confined to their bunks by illn^
^ Fhilure to attend the meetings can result In charges^
• : 2w A man who pays off after the first of the year must
the^current year's assessments at the first payoff in the
^ ; year. Otherwise h^ aufeunsdierily goes^^i^ ;
Vlodeck Proposes Campaign
To Cut Down Ships' Noises
a dog or some type. That's right,
I said a dog.
You see everyone has a cer
tain percentage of dog blood in
his body. This blood does not
circulate with the regular blood
in a person's body, but it has
its own small group, which cir
culate as a body.
This dog blood is exactly
what causes a person to have a
headache. It tries to circulate or
mix with the regular blood iii
your body, which it cannot do
under any condition. Therefore
a friction is set up by these two
types of blood trying to mix.
This friction changes to a pres.
sure, which slowly builds up and
causes extremely severe head
aches.^ •
There is only one way in
which a person can overcome
these painful experiences and
that is to close his eyes for a
moment and try to relax. Now
that your eyes are shut try to
picture blood veins before your
eyes—you have to try to picture
this dog blood trying to force its
way over .the regular human
blood in your body.
Now if you will .picture the
dog blood passing the regular
human blood then you will find
that your aches have disappear
ed after the dog blood passed
the human blood.
Now Ed, don't go around tell
ing everyone that this is the way
to get rid of a headache because
they might not believe you and
they will think you are crazy.
Clyde (Tex) Sim
SS Binghamloa Victory
(Ed. note; We won't 1«U s
• ouU •
To the Editor:
Brothers, we have gone a long
way to make the conditions im
der which we work as pleasant
as possible. We went down the
line to get good quarters and
messrooms on every ship—some
place where a man could get
some sleep, without being awak
ened 99 times by noises.
That's why we did something
about the one big foc'sle on
American ships, and fought for
watch foc'sles so that men go
ng and coming on watch would
not disturb those sleeping.
But now w6 are faced with
gigolos, who whistle and sing
and yap out loud in the alley
ways to keep those who wish to
sleep awake almost all the time.
GET THEM, TOG
I now wish to recommend that
we get after those gigolos as we
did the gashounds and perform
ers and other things that were
detriment to the good and
welfare of our Union. Some
people get the idea that when
they are called down about the
whistling and ' noise they are
making, that the old SOBs who
told them to knock off the
whistle is superstitious.
It is not that. Brothers. To
put it mildly, you are a pain in
the neck. (My people read the
LOG too, you know.)
I propose that we get the
foc'sle card that we had a while
back and print it up again and
put copies in the messrooms.
The foc'sle card was used in
our educational program a while
back, but it has since disappear
ed. There is a paragraph on this
card that says something like
this: If you must sing or make
unnecessary noises, go outside
forward or aft—and let loose.
OFFERS CHANGE
At this writing I am on the
124 watch and if we get the
foc'sle card back on the ships,
I'd like to make an amendment
for the justmentioned para
graph to read: "If you must
sing and whistle, go aft til your
cap floats. The break out til
your heart's content.
And another one. If you wish
to play your radio, close your
foc'sle door. Don't let your ship
mates suffer from the heat be
cau.se they have to close their
doors to get some sleep because
you want to listen to cowboy
and tearjerker songs. If it's that
bad, go home, son, and marry
the gal.
This has been a long trip and
I've gotten no rest or sleep on
account of these gigolos. That's
why I'm bitter about cracking
down on them, like we did on
the gashounds and performers.,
Let's hear from you other Bro
thers on this thing.
E. Vlodeck
Ready For Action
Presently aboard an SIU
ship at sea. James K. Rocks,
is a veteran of World War I
and the Mexican border cam
paign. Like his son, who is a
crewmember on the Alcoa Pil
grim. Rocks is anxious to do
Ms bit in the present emerg
ency. Beth ship out of Boston,
Brother Stamps
Approval On
Stewards Guide
To the Editor:
Hats off to Frenchy Michelet
for his interesting article "Guide
for SIU Stewards Department."
Without casting any reflections
on any individuals, I think his
article should be taken to heart,
sincerely and seriously by a lot
of socalled Stewards.
I heartily agree that a Steward
should be able to run his depart
ment to the best of his ability,
without interference from other
departments. A' Steward, to my
way of looking at it, should be
able to carry out any order that
he relays to the Chief Cook,
A lot of the Steward's head
aches lie in the galley, such ais
sometimes due to an incompetent
Cook. There is nothing more
disgusting than to pass by the
gallajTand see a Cook preparing
a meal with a cigarette in his
mouth, and the ashes about
ready to drop off into what
ever delicacy he might be pre
paring.
HIT JACKPOT
I just completed a trip to
France, aboard one of J. Car
ras' glorified Liberties, and we
found steel wool, match sticks
and even a cigarette butt in the
bread pudding. I prorriptly told
the Steward and the Chief Cook
aboiff these incidents. As we all
know, steel wool is strictly pro
hibited from being use.d in the
galley. But there are still plenty
of Chief Cooks and Stewards
who ignore this.
Another good point is that the
Ship's Delegate and Steward
should check all stores and pro
visions against the requisiticat
that the Chief Steward starts
the trip on. In this way there
is very little possibility that the
crew will run short of different
items.
Let the Steward draw up his
menus with the Chief Cook and
also the Baker so that a variety
of meals can be worked out. And
last but not least, I believe that
the Chief Steward should be
around the galley, either at
breakfast or supper to see that
his menus are properly carried
out.
Vic Miorana
Antinous Seafarers
Thanked By Albinski
To the Editor:
My wife &nd I wish to express,
our appreciation and thanks to
the former crewniembers of the
SS Antinous for their gracious
and timely Christmas offering to
us. ^
It is a real pleasure to sad
with such a fine Brotherhood
that comes to your aid in time
of need.
Edward J. Albinski ,
IS
Page Ten THE SEAFARERS LOG Friday^ jKUwrif 28*U51
IMgested Minutes Of
Shipboard Meetings ̂
{Continued front Page 7)
ear about fans for the crew.
Motion carried to investigate de
lay in securing cots promised
'several trips ago,
% t t.
SOUTHERN CITIES (Southern
Trading), Nov. 30 — Chairman,
Johnny Bergeria; Secretary, Bob
Brown. Crew voted thanks to
Longshoremen in Chester who
aided in successful strike. Pa
trolman in next port to be asked
to look into mail situation.
Dec. 27—Chairman, Frank Cal
nan; Secretary, A. Foster. Dele
gates' reports accepted. Stewards
Delegate recommended that pots
and pans need replacing. Crew
requested milk three times a day
while in port.
Jan. I—Chairman, Johnny Ber
geria; Secretary, Bob Brown. Re
pair list discussed and approved.
Deck' Delegate reported dispute
over lowering hatches. Motion
carried to investigate mattresses.
Jan. 7—Chairman, Frank Cal
nan: Secretary, Bob Brown. Del
egates reported no beefs, except
matter of lowering hatches. Mo
tion carried that a sanitary work
schedule be worked out. New
library to be brought aboard in
next port. ^
Jan. 19 — Chairman, Robert
Brown; Secretary, Joseph Lewis.
Delegates reported no beefs.
Crew voted to oppose any move
made by Chief Engineer to fire
Wiper in next port.
t t. t.
ABIQUA (Cities ̂ rvice)—^Dec.
2&;Chaintian, S. Swienckosld;
Secretary, D. Alt. Delegates re
ported number of books and per
mits in their departments. Stew
ards Delegate reported a little
misunderstanding by the Stew
ard as to the duties of a depart
mental delegate. Matter of Wip
ers working on stages to paint
while ship is at sea to be refer
red to the Patrolman. Discussion
on Transportation Rule. Motion
carried to donate $25 to the Hank
Memorial Fund.
Jan. 1—Chairman, Roy Tallals
MD; Secretary, H. Crane. Ship's
Pelegate reported ship's fund as
standing at $20.98. Motion car
ried to lower payments into the
skip's fund from $1 to 50 cents.
Motion carried to ask that slop
ehest carry sea stores cigarettes
on foreign trips^ Discusion on
the shortage of fruit.
Jan. 7—Chairman, Crane; Sec
retary, Crane. Educational meet
^ t
Draft Registrants
A8cG District Headquarters
this week reminded zdl dndt
registrants to keep in touch
with their local draft boards,
as a means of eliminating
possible coxifusion or misim
derstandings.
Before shipping out, the
draft registrants should in
form their loczd boards of
the name of their ships and
the companies by whom they
are em^ I ycd. If possible,
registrants should also tell
the boards the approximate
duration of their voyages.
Attention to this procedure
will avoid inconvenience la
ter on.
ing called and all in attendance
except men oa watch and Chief
Cook, who claims he knows all
about Union affairs an(^oesn't
need a refresher course. Discus
sion held on the clarification on
part of agreement concerning
handling of stores. Talk on the
general agreement, with copies
passed aroimd for personnel to
study. Talk on the stipulation
clause of the Cities Service con
tract.
Jan. 8—Chairman, Frank Lam
bert; Secretary, M. Shockousky.
Motion carried that no one is to
sign the discharges on the pay
roll while the ship is at sea. Mo
tion carried that meetings be
held on Sunday evenings, with
hours staggered so all watches
would attend at least one meet
ing. Men asked to observe saU
ing board time. Vote of thanks
given Brother Crane for the fine
job he is doing as Ship's Dele
gate and Educational Director.
t. t.
FORT HOSKINS (Cities Ser
vice), Jan. 7—Chairman, G. E.
Doty; Secrietary, trank Flanagan.
Ship's Delegate reported that
new mattresses had been distrib
uted to the crewmembers who
want them. All .men cautioned
on the importance of being sober
at the payoff. Motion carried to
check with the Organizers and
see if 120 quarts of milk can be
placed on this ship as is done
on other SlUcontracted ships.
Deck Delegate reported that the
gang has been called out twice
without the alloted standby
time for coffee.
Praises Mobile Catholic Club
To the Editor:
Thore is a Catholic Maritime Club here in Mobile whicb helps every nne on Jhe
beach. I was just wondering if the seamen who hit this port, or any other port, don't
think It would be proper.for them to make some .dcmations towards trying to h^p
a place that gets no support of any kind.
The Community Chest, the Red Cross and a few other places the public sup
ports by donations send almost every one to this Catholic club. It is a shame that
they get no support from any regular donate funds. I think it, would be a good
idea if this was put in the LOG to let the members know this place does help a sea
man who is down on his luck.
They donate cards, magazines, have free coffee tWice a day for men on the beach,
but it's hard to keep that up if there are no funds to help out. Cpffee, sugar and
cream must be bought, as are the stationery and stamps you gel if you need thm.
They gave the guys on the beach a nice turkey dinner. I was there, as I have been
on the beach 3 months myself.
It is a place the boys get clean beds for $4.00 a week. It is the only place in
Mobile you get a dean bed for that price, so if you can put this in the LOG perhaps
they might get a little help from some of the men who have been helped by them.
M. F. MORRISON
Editor's note: The Catholic Maritime Club of Mobile has a very fine reputation
with the Mobile Seaifarmrs, as it has with anyone who has ever hit that port. Sea
farers, incidentally, will probably get the same excellent treatment Brother Morri
son speaks erf, in any of the Catholic Maritime Clubs.
As to the question of donations, that, of course, is strictly up to the Individual,
as the SIR's policy is not to officially endorse any welfare organization, whether it
be a reRg^us one or seculnt.
SlU Manpower Pool Answers
Recruiting, Manning Probients
(Continued from Page 1)
Washington between the coun
try's maritime unions, and the
Maritime Administration, the im
ions made it dear that they
were willing, rea^ and able to
man the natio.n's merchant fleet
and to train newcomers into the
industry and those entry ratings
Unions Veto Idea Of New RMO
(Continued from Page 1)
may find a haven and the unions
may be forced to accept these
elements from the manpower
pools.
The program offered by the
unions is a sound one, and in
no way injurious to the ship
owners. Inasmuch as the re
sponsibility for carrying out any
program lies solely with the
Maritime Administration and the
proposed National Shipping Au
thority, and inasmuch as Mari
lime Administrator Admiral E.
L. Cochrane had appraised and
accepted in full the unions'
Statement of Policy as a sound
program, the unions felt thait
they should not and could not
alter their position as outlined
in the! jointlydrafted policy sub
mitted to, and accepted by, the
government representatives at
the previous week's meetings.
Because of the fact that the
tvro groups couldn't agree on
the issues mentioned, the union
representatives suggested that
the shipowners draft their ob
jections to the union proposals
and present them to the Ad
ministrator, who could review
them and call another meeting
for further discussion.
who wanted to get higher en
dorsements.
The unions stated in their pro
gram, at the insistence of the
SIU: ..
"In the event there is a greatly
increased need for maritime per
sonnel which may call for more
men than the Union Hiring
Halls can furnish, the Unions,
Mzmagement and Government
should immediately devise a
program for this purpose an4
they should be guided by the
following basic points:
"(a) The Union Hiring Halls
to recruit all entry ratings need
ed from personnel not eligible
for the draft.
"(b) An upgrading and train
ing program actually carried out
through increased manning scales
which, will insure a supply of
competent men for. key ratings
as they are needed."
• UNION IS READY
The Union at present time can
overnight crew any number of
ships with capable^ experi^ced'
men. We didn't expect the bu
reaucrats to agree with us—and
they didn't. (By bureaucrats we
are definitely not referring to
the Maritime Administration,
which has not commented one
way or the other. We mean the
minor moguls, who want to get
back in the saddle again.)
Nor did we expect the ship
owners to agree with us. And
they didn't What they want, of
course, is to create a tremendotjS
pool of seamen, so that they
might (they hope) smash the un
ions after the present shindig
is over.
This is to let these gentlemen
know that there is no need for
another RMO—^that if they SUCP
ceed, through pressure, in .put
ting their plan across, they ar^
sacrificing the country's welfare
for their own selfish interests.
We have enough men a\>ail
able, now and for any future
contingency, to take care Of the
manning and training end—and
if any of these gentlemen have
any doubts, they can have theia
dispelled at any SIU Hall.
Carrying An Idea To Its Logical Conclusion
"The Machinist," organ of iho AFL International Association of Machinists, turns the tables on those politicians
who are always devising new schemes for taking money out of the working stifi's pocket.
Why is it whensomeone has a bright idea about how
to stop inflation and stabilize the nation's economy, it
generally begins—and ends—with the wage earners' pay
envelope?
Our friend, Senator Paul Douglas (D., 111.), is the
latest to offer one of these bright ideas. If the Associated
Press reports him accurately. Senator Douglas has pro
posed a program to "pay the Nation's workers for over
time in Government bonds instead of cash."
The Illinois Senator told a reporter that he has in
mind a plan under which employees would be paid at
overtime rates in Federal bonds which could not be cashed
until the emergency has passed. "Taking that'money out
of circulation not only would reduce the danger of in
flation but would provide workers with a comfortable
financial cushion against possible unemployment after
this crisis," he said.
Now, don't get us wrong. There is nothing wrong
with buying Government Savings Bonds. We think every
one ought to put'some of their earnings into bonds in
times like these.. And, that's just what seems wrong lisiith
the Douglas idea. He doesn't apply it to everyone.
If it is just and reasonable to pay wage earners for
overtime in war bonds, why isn't k just and reasonable
to pay stockholders their dividends in war bonds? Cer
tainly, stockholders don't need their dividends any more
than wage earners need their overtime earnings.
That would take care of labor and capital. But, .
what about the farmers? Certainly they would want to
share in this sacrifice. Why doesn't Senator Douglas sug
gest 4;hat farmers receive their Government subsidies in
the form of war bonds instead of cash?
And, finally, there are the Senators and Congressmen.
Certainly, they too would want to share in this sacrifice.
We suggest that the Douglas plan be tried out on them
first. Senators and Congressmei, get a considerable allow;
ance for travel expenses. That travel allowance could be
paid in war bonds cashable after the emergency. This
would not only keep some cash out of circulation. Hut
also a number of Senators and Congressmen. It might also
help to, increase ihe, • dttenoauce at both branches of
Congress.. ..
Friday, January 26, 19S1 THE SEAFARERS LOG Paga Elaran
Minutes Of A&G Branch Meetings In Brief
I
IM
I i
' BOSTON—Chairman, B. Law
"aen. S94; Recording Secretary, R.
Lee, 47958: Reading Clerk, H.
'Cashman, 40363.
Boston minutes of January 3
accepted. 'Minutes of meetings
held in other ports read and ac
c e p t e d. SecretaryTreasurer's
weekly financial reports for De
cember 23, 30 read and accepted.
'One minute of silence observed
ior members lost at sea.
% % %
GALVESTON — C h a i r m a n,
Kaith Alsop, 7311; Recording
Secretary, R. Wilbum, 37739;
Reading Clerk, C. Tannehiii.
25922.
Headquarters report to the
membership read and accepted,
as were the minutes of meetings
TOTAL
REG.
51
312
85
225
26
5
- 22
107
139
89
183
SHIPPED SHIPPED SHIPPED TOTAL
DECK ENG. STWDS. SHIPPED
A&S Shaping From Jan. 3 To Jan. 17
REG. REG. REG.
PORT DECK ENG. STWDS
Boston 22 17 12
New; York. 124 112 76
Philadelphia 39 24 22
Baltimore..... 85 73 67
Norfolk... 10 12 4
Savannah... 4 0 1
Tampa 8 8 6
MobUe 38 26 43
New Orleans 41 37 61
Galveston. 36 32 21
West Coast 69 64 50
GRAND TOTAL 476 405 363
8
119
29
61
11
2
9
13
39
26
97
7
123
14
51
9
5
11
16
37
20
85
3
85
17
34
10
1
10
20
45
11
76
18
327
60
146
30
8
30
49
121
57
258
1,244 414 378 312 1,104
U '
t; i
III
held in other ports. Tallying
Committee's report accepted. Ag
Mt's report accepted. One min
ite of silence for members lost
at sea.
X % % .
SAN FRANCISCO—No meet
ing held because of a lack of a
quorum.
^ J,
BALTIMORE — C h ai r m an,
^^Wiliiam Rents, 26445; Recording
'Secretary, G. Masterson, 20297;
"Reading Clerk, A. Stansbury,
4683.
f Anthony Pitura took the Union
dath of Obligatiotl. Minutes of
meetings held in other Branches
read and accepted. Headquarters
financial reports and report to
the membership read and ap
proved. Motion carried to refer
all reqimsts for excuses to the
Dispatcher. Motion, carried that
Agent Rents be instructed to
have the . inside of the Union
Hall painted, and all furniture
and dbairs repaired and reup
bolstered. Meeting adjourned at
8:05 with 375 members present.
X X 9^
MOBILE—Chairman, D. Par
ker, 160; Recording Secretary, J.
. Cairroll, 14; Reading Clerk, R.
Jordan, 71. •
SecretaryTreasurer's financial
report and Headquarters report
to the membership read and ap
proved, asi were the minutes of
meetings held in other iSranches.
Agent Tanner's report accepted.
Communication from Headquar
ters concerning the San Francisco
Convention call read and accept
ed. Motion carried to accept
Trial Committee and Tallying
Committee reports. Meeting ad
journed at 7:45 with 250 mem
bers present.
X X
NEW ORLEANS — Chairman.
Johnny Johnston, 53; Recording
Seicretary, Henry Gerdes, ,23362;
Reading Clerk, Budc Stephens,
76,
New Orleans, and said that
nothing was definite yet on any
removals from the boneyard. He
reported a strike in the ship re
pair docks which is getting 100
percent SIU support. He told
the members that ships needing
repairs would have to have the
work done elsewhere or not at
all, and to watch for promises in
other ports of having the work
done when in New Orleans. He
reported eight payoffs scheduled
for the two coming weeks. Bro
ther Johnny, Johnston, retiring
Patrolman, spoke a few words to
the members and thanked them
for their cooperation during the
years he has served the Union
as an official. Under Good and
Welfare, various subjects of con
cern to the port were discussed.
Adjourned at 8:25 with 285
members present.
» » »
SAVANNAH — Chairmaii, E.
Tiiiey, 75; Recording Secreiuy,
J. Parker, 20192; Reading Clerk,
W. Morris, 21636.
, Headquarters report and Sec
retaryTreasiuer's report read
and accepted. Minutes of meet
ings held in other Branches read
and approved. Agent reported
that shipping had been slow, but
three payoffs were expected mo
mentarily. He introduced Agfent
elect Ernest Tilley to the mem
bership, and asked them to give
him the same cooperation he had
received during the past year.
Under Good .and Welfare there
was discussion on the SIU sup
port being given the Retail
Clerks Union in its strike against
the Bargain Comer.
X ^ X'
NEW YORK — Chairman. E.
Mooney, 46671; Recording Secre
tary, Freddie Stewart, 4935;
Reading Clerk, J. Arabasx, 29836.
Branch Agent said that ship
ping and business in New York
were moving at a fast clip, with
rated men getting out without
any trouble. Some 30 ships had
paid off in the past two weeks,
he said. He advised the men to
be carefut not to get involved
with the Coast Guard, which is
again back in full strength. He
also advised aliens to get their
visas as quickly as possible.
M r
i..
I
,fi. b
Ir \K au.
, New Orleans previous minutes
and financial reports read and
approved. Headquarters report to
, the membership and the Secre
taryTreasurer's financial reports
read and accepted. Minutes of
meetings held in other ports ac
cepted. Agent Williams reported
shipping as being in good shape
and commended two ships, the
Del Campo and Del Norte, for
being in good shape. He com
meaied on the rumors o£ more
ships being put into operation in
JACK (SaUor) DELANEY
Write, call or wire Mrs. Addie
Richardson, 522 N. Mobile Street,
Crichton Sta., Mobile, Alabama.
Phone: 77083.
XXX
MELESKI
VANDER VLIST
(ExCoe Victory)
i'Your laundry was left in the
Baggage Room of New York
Hall: Red Brady."
X XXX
H, PEELER
Get in tobch at once with
Robert F. Doyle, 1 North La
Salle Street, Chicago, Illinois,
concerning an accident to a
former shipmate.
XXX
EDWARD STURKEN
Pick up your teeth at office
of J. M. Carras, Inc., 24 State
Street, New York City.
XXX
LOUIS W. BOREN
Your wife wants to. hear from
you.
X X X
MAURICE BERNSTEIN
Contact Robert F. Reynolds
in San Francisco. He is holding
some money for you.
JORGEN JORGENSEN
Contact your wife, Emily, at
5011 Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn,
New York.
WL'AVmi MANNING
Eugene Kohl, who was 3rd
Engineer on the SS Angelina in
1948, is anxious to return the
loan you made. Write him at
5320 Sixth ' Avenue, Brooklyn,
New York, .and send him your
address.
ANTHONY MACULATIS
The receipts, medal and eye
glasses, which you left aboard
ship, have been brought to the
New York Hall. CaU for them
at the baggage room, fourth fioor.
XXX.
JOHN GARBER
This Brother is now in the
army and is anxious to hear from
friends and former shipmates.
His address is: Ret. John Gar
ber, US 52008365, Co. A, 516th
Airborne Inf. Rgt., Camp Breck
inridge, Kentucky.
^ ^ ^ i
LLOYD E. WARDEN
Please get in touch with your
father, 1901 P i c h e r Avenue,
Missouri.
XXX
LUCKY SANTO PENEBIANGO
Get in touch with Ret. John
B. Di Stefano, US 56067001, B
Battery, 63rd AAA Gim Bn, Fort
Bliss, Texas.
XXX
NORLIN M. BERRY
Contact George E. Keams, Jr.,
106 County Building, Media,
Peimsylvania. It is important.
XXX
NICK MUTIN
Contact Morrell Schwimer, 26
Court Street, Brooklyn, New
York; phone: Triangle 56264.
XXX
CHESTER DELICOT
Get in touch with your, draft
board.
XXX
GEORGE JAMES BARON
Get in touch with :^our draft
board. > >
XXX
THOMAS BACON GRINER
Please contact your mother.
WALTER MARCUS
Write to your wife: Mrs. Her
mine Marcus, 17639 120 Avenue,
St. Albans, Long Island, New
York.*
XXX
JOHN C. OVERTON
Your sister, Mrs. Minnie
Gumm, Mims Court, HuntsviUe,
Alabama, wishes to hear from
you.
XXX
HAROLD R. BONNE
Get in touch with' Frederick
R. Graves, 220 Broadway, New
York 7, New York, concerning
your case against Calmar SS
Company.
XXX
FRANCIS P. CORCORAN
Get in touch with your mother.
XXX
EDWARD WAI LUKE
Frederick Travers, 305 Broad
way, New York 7, New York,
needs your testimony to help an
injured shipmate.
XXX
FRANK RAKAS
Gret in touch with Jerry Pier
one, 36 1st St., Brooklyn.
XXX
WINSTON FLATTS
Please comifiunicate with your
mother at 44 Foui'th Street, Al
bertown, British Guiana.
XXX
MANUEL SANCHEZ
Photos you submitted to the
LOG were forwarded to you at
the Baltimore Marine Hospital,
but have been returned as un
claimed. You can pick them up
at the LOG office.
'X X X
RICHARD R. GAYESKA
Write to Charles V. Falls at
State House, Boston, Mass.
Minutes of all Branch meetings
accepted as read. Motions car
ried to concur in the following
committee's reports: Tallying,
Headquarters Reinstatement, and
Trial. Motion carried to donate
sum sought by the Children's
Town Foimdatioijis, Inc. Charges
read and referred to Trial Com
mittee. In Headquarters report,
it was reported that the A&G
SecretaryTreasurer, along with
other SIU officials, was in Wash
ington to attend the conference
discussing the establishment of
an emergency setup in mari
time should a conflict develop.
Report recommended that men
elected to office, as annoimced
in Tallying Committee's report,
should be instated at once in
accordance with precedent. In
connection with v^dated docu
ment being issued to seamen,'^
a result of the presidential se
curity order, members were cau
tioned to hold on to their present
papers when applying for the
emergency document. Report al
so discussed a workpermit sys
tem and recommended manner
in which it should be operated.
Headquarters said that as a re
sult of membership's instruc
tions at last meeting on archi
tect's recommendations for new
building, a request for additional
plans and specifications had been
issued. Motion carried to concur
in Headquarters report. Meeting
adjourned at 7:30 PM, with 756
members present.
XXX
TAMPA—No meeling held bs^
cause of a lack of a quorum.
XXX
NORFOLK — ChairmaJL Bat
Rees, 95; Recording Secretary. J,
Bullock. 4747. No regular meet
ing held because of a lack of
a quorum. Special meeting held
to check shipping cards.
SS ROBIN WENTLEY
The following men have their
inoculation and vaccination slips
at NY Hall. They can get them
by writing or calling for th^
at 51 Beaver St., New York 4,
New York:
W. J. Anderson, Prank Bressi,
Henry R. Dombrowski, W. E.
Harris, Albert Kamens, M. Ka
minski, H. E. Laird, W. MacDon
ald, Geo. W. Manning.
N. F. F. Neilsen, Al Oromaner,
Geo. Andrew Pease, Roy A.
Boston, Thomas M. Reilly, T.
Rezeveteb, C. Schartzer, John
Stringer, E. Tresnick, John R,
Webb.,
Discharges for the following
men! are at Headquarters:
George Fiance, Manuel Vigo,
Peter Patrick, John D. Walker.
Crew, SS ANNISTON CITY
Anyone knowing anything
about the injury sustained by
Jesse C. Laseter on October 31,
1950, at Linton, Oregon, contact;
Robert F. Reynolds, 1303 Hobart
Building, San Francisc(^ Califi
An old hand with the camera. W. R. Cameron, Second
Cook aboard the SS Bienville, is just as much at ease in front
of the lens as he is behind it. A shipmzde look over the camera
for this photo, but cameraman Cameron took over immediately
after. His shots of other Bienville Seafarers appear at right
and below. AH pics .were taken as the Waterman vessel made
her intercoastal run.
^
Cameron mustered a few of the Bienville's Steward' Department men for this shot on deck.
From left to right are P. W. Smith, Galley Utility; A. S. Parson, Saloon Messman; E. Henderson,
Passenger Utility; L. Jordan, Chief Cook: E. Kitchen. Crew Pantryman; C. Jones, Crew's Mess^
man, and A, Anderson, Night Cook and Baker. The Bienville, which sails out of the Port of
Mobile, is a good ship, Cameron reports.
• fT? • •
W ' *'
f /
, X • • :
^ K ', • * i
nr
ABO'VE—Coffee time is picturetaking time, Cameron says^
Relaxing over their mugs of java at left side of table (front to
rear) are Gus Key, "Frenchy" Mairtineau. B. Coyer and N.
.Newsome. At r^ht are G; W. Harris, H. (Skeets) Lanier, L.
Abbey and an unidentified erewmember.
'ii
'"'hf
» I
' LEFT—"Men at Work'' is the way C capiittneii &ii
y^4w of two Bieimiio De<dc Gang members. Bosun W NeW^
miim
(Mty teok^the • camera square • in • the: • eye, as. Deck;:
Maintenance L. Abbey continues the job of spUdng eable,^ ̂ I • •