Media
Issue Date
1941-07-03
Volume
3
Issue Number
13
Plaintext
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VOL. Ill
OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE ATLANTIC AND GULF DISTRICT,
SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA
NEW YORK, N. Y., THURSDAY, JULY 3, 1941 446 No. 13
NESSCO COMES ACROSS WITH $10 RAISE
f' '
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•
Regarding the Bonus Beef with the Robin Line
An Open Letter to the Shipping
Editor of the Journal of Commerce
2 Stone Street, New York City
June 30, 1941
Mr. Clinton L. Doggett,
Shipping Editor,
The Journal of Commerce ; . .... _
63 Park Row .. I
New York City J ^
Dear Sir;
In today's "Jouimal of Commerce" you comment on the
current dispute between the Seafarers' International Union
of North Ameiica and the Robin Line, regarding the war
bonus to be paid unlicensed seamen. This comment, carried
in your column "The Shipping Outlook," is as full of incor
rect statements as it is of shipownerinspired bile against
the men who sail the ships.
Permit me, first of all, to call your attention to what
might be mildly put as your inaccuracies.
1. Tie increase in the rate of bonus pay from $30 per
month up came on March 21 of this year. It was an increase
to $50, not to $60. It was obtained by the Seafarers' Inter
national Union, through the action of the unlicensed men
on the Robin vessels Robin Locksley; Seattle Spirit and"
Robin Hood—the Engineers only followed .suit. Your state
ments in this respect simply show an utter lack of familiar
ity with the facts in this situation.
2. The increase to $60 per month war bonus came only
at the end of May, when the President announced that the
Red Sea had been reopened to American shipping.
This increase applied to all unlicensed seamen on all
• ships making that run.
Your memory must be extremely shqirt in this respect,
for you comment.ed very favorably on th^ increase in bonus
pay—when it applied to the National Maritime Union. You
called it "Just Deserts" in a headline under your signature.
"Just Deserts," because the NMU's Communist Partycon
trolled leaders had just then done everything in their power
to break the Engineers' strike on the American Export Line.
3. You are presumiituous enough to say that, after the
Robin Moor affair, "the local boss (sic) of the Seafarers'
International Union instructed his men not to sign on the
Greylock, the Moor's sister ship, a week ago Friday. Fur
ther, that "he pre.sented the Line with a demand for an
additional $250 per month, plus $50 for each port... etc."
You do not mention names here, for that would be leav
ing yourself open to legal correction. You merely insinuate,
underhandedly, that the SIU is run by some "boss."
Well, let us enlighten you. The Seafarers' International
Union is hot run by any "bo.s.ses"—neither bosses getting
their instructions from Moscow like those in the NMU whom
you so much admire, nor any other "bosses."
This Union is a democratically controlled organization
where the membership is its own boss.
It was the SIU membership, at meetings up and down
the coast, which voted to present the Robin Line with a de
mand for an additional $250 per month as well as the other
demands.
(Continued on Page 2)
First Robin Moor Survivors
Return with Tale of Trip
The first of the Robin Moor crew that survived its tor
pedoing in South Atlantic waters arrived here last week
from Pernambuco, Brazil. William Carey, Bosun, related a
Uory of the adventure and rescue which is, indeed, a tribute
to the seamanship of the SIU men who manned the lifeboats.
Others of the crew supplied substantially the same infor
mation. <$"
The men had been given only
twenty minutes by the submarine
commander to take to the boats.
In very short order, the four life
boats were afloat and from a
distance of about a mile wit
nessed the sinking of their ves
sel. The submarine, after finish
ing 'its job, circled the boats to
supply them with the magnani
mous gift of a can of "sawdust
bread" each. After that ihey were
completely on their own.
The gear In the lifeboats, It
was reported, was for the most
part useless. Only the experi
ence, skil| and pluck of the sea
men aboard them made possible
the transformation of canvass
covers Into sails, the Improvisa
tion of seaanchors after the or
iginal seaanchors were carried
away, etc. The axes had to be
used on pretty near all the gear
to make it seaworthy.
Even matches, placed ia fruit
(Continued on Page 2)
Shipowners Ask
"Protedion" for
Patriotic Acts
WASHINGTON, D. C. —
Shipowners last week asked
for provisions which would
give them "just compensa
tion" for the use of their
vessels for various Govern
ment purposes in connection
with the National Emer
gency. The demands were
voiced at hearings on the
Bland Ship Warrants Bill,
which is up for action in
Congress.
The Maritime Commission's
attoiney at the hearings, a Mr.
(Continued on Page 2)
Eight Companies
Agree to Forego
Huge Subsidies
Eight .shipowners, engaged
in foreign trade under oper
atingdifferential agreements
with the Maritime Commis
sion, have volunteered to
take a cut iu their subsidy
rates' to "a. comparatively
nominal figure," the Commis
sion announced in Washing
ton last week.
Business is so good now, it ap
pears, that the competitive con
ditions on foreign flag ships
(which brought about the subsi
dies in the first place) have be
come virtually insignificant. The
amount of the subsidy used to be
?i2,500,000 annually for the eight
companies.
Among these are a number
which are at present engaged in
negotiations over a war bonus
with the Seafarers* International
Union. If they can afford to kick
a twelveandahalf million buck
subsidy overboard, it would seem
that they can quite easily come
across with a substantial increase
in bonus pay for the seamen who
sweat for the profits that' end.ble
them to wax so rich.
Seamen 21 Years of
Age Must Register
All seamen reaching the
age of twentyone (21) be
tween October, 1940, and
July 1, 1941, must register
at a Selective Service
board immediately upon
reaching a United States
port.
Long OverDue Pay
Boost Comes As New
Strike Action Looms
New England Steam
ship Company, operat
ing four boats between
New Bedford and Nan
tucket Island, this week
granted the unlicensed
p e rs o 11111; 1 of ibeir
crews a $10.00 montH
ly increase in pay, in
an agreement signed
with the Seafarers' In
ternational Union of
North America.
The N.E.S..S. Co. ships
were tied up iu a fourday
strike last year for a pay
raise and a tencent boost in
overtime. A barrage of Gov
ernment pressure forced the
Union to agree to arbitration,
which resulted in a conces
sion on overtime—to 80 cents
an hour.
This year, the longover
due adjustment in basic
wages was finally reached
after a short walkoff on
three of the four Company
ships, just as the season was
getting under way.
This served to tip oif the ship,
owners that the men would not
tolerate a repetition of last
year's raw deal. Sure enough,
the Company immediately re
quested an appointment for nego*
tiatlons.
Brother John Hawk, Secretary
Treasurer, and two members of
the NESSCO crews, represented
the Union in the negotiatipna
which led to a settlement within
a few hours of di.scussion.
WouldBe Flomar Crew
Spared Fate Wars'n Death
For the past ten days, the Calmar Line's S.S. Flomar has
been tied up in New York. Reason: crew won't sign on:
until they get a higher war bonus for the foreign runs. Be
sides, a Union contract with that line is long overdue—
SIU won an NLRB election on these ships many, many
months ago. <
For a few days, the Company
rumored hot and heavy that the
Navy was taking over the ship.
Nothing but idle rumor!
Then word came that they de
cided to put her in drydock. They
dispensed with the crew and cut
off steam. It looked like something
fishy, but since they went through
the motions, there was nothing
to do but wait and see.
Next morning word le received
that she is lying in the stream!
A prompt investigation roi
vealed that during the night' the
Company had combed the Brook
lyn waterfront for a motley col
lection of stiffs addicted' to the
"weed," a couple of gasliouudi
and otherwise prize specimens of
the profession. After the round
up, all these recruits were not, ol
course, given even the merest tlp»
off that there was some kind ol
a'beef on the Flomar. That would
(Contittuedjjn Page 2).
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THE S E A F A R E R S ' LP G Thursday, July 3, 1941
.'A
Fublisbed by tbe
ATLAINTIC & GULF DISUJICT
of the
Seafarers^ Intematiotial Union
of North America
Affiliated with the American Federation of Labor
HARRY LUNDEBERG, Acting International President
110 Market Street, Rooin 402, San Pranciscb, Calif.
ADDRESS ALL OORRESPONDENGE CONCEJtNING TEIS
PUBLiOAT^ON TO:
"THE SEAFARERS' LOG"
P. O. Box 25, Station P, New York, N. Y.
Phone: BOwling Green 93437
ifriK
(Contimie^d from Page J)
It is the membership which elected a Negotiating Com
mittee from its own ranks to meet the Company and discus
these (demands. '
4. You admit that the present bonus rates were estab
lisheddh an "orderly mahher through negotiation, and both
sides were satisfied." And then you lament that if the de
mands are "even partially" met, "the whole bonus question
would Ije reopened."
feutrfe prWlous' bonus agreeiftehtS — v^th iyhic^h 'hoth
sides wme satisfied, wmOmber—provide specifically for the
reopening of the agreement in the event of jtist such an in
cident as that of the Robin Moor!
Let me quote to you from the SIU agreement with the
Robin Line:
"It is further agreed that this bonus agreenietit may
be reopened for the following reasons:
"The committing of an overt act, or the declaratibn
of intent to commit an overt act, on any American
ship, regardless where it may be, due to bombing, 'sink
ing, mining or the firing of guns thereon Or thereat. . . ."
The signature Of a responsible Robin line executive as
well as that of a U. S. Conciliator is attached to this agree
ment, Mr. Doggett!
Now, instead of holding up the sanctity of agreements
More About
"?.
which you never fail to do, when there can even be the
slightest question of Union men possibly infringing on it—
you applaud the Robin Line's outright flaunting of tlijs
agreement! Jdoreover, you call for a "strong tonic" against
the Union.
WJiat kind of a tonic? You slyly suggest : "The Govern
# ment has been doing, a little cracMng down on strikes in de
fense industries."
Da you expect the Government to send in the Marines
in order to help break a contractual obligation undertaken
by the Robin Line? Even a "patriot" like yourself should
jjpnow the limitations of "patriotism" better than this!
5'. You say that the "iisual machinery of negotiation in
labor disputes has been unable to cope with the situation."
And you imply that the Union is at fault here. But, what are
the facts?
The agreement Avith the Robin Line provides, subject to
the above stipulations: "that this bonUs iti part or whole
may be reopened to negotiation tipon written notice to the
Company from the Union and said negdtiafions shall com-
mence forty-eight hours after receiving such written no-
tice, Sundays and holidays excluded, and both the Corh-
pany and the Union shall reach a decision within five days
after negotiations have commenced."
Aifhe tJiiicih bas lived up to its contractual obligations t6
the letter. It has given due notice. It has made known its
decision on demands.
The Company has not even seen fit to present counter
proposals. It has not complied with its obligations under the
agreement. Responsibility for the lack of orderly negotia
tions rests entirely with the Robin Line.
Instead of calling for the Marines, Mr. Doggett, an im
^..parttiAl newspaper would present the facts as they are, and
call for| those delinquent in their contractual obligations to
live iipj to them. But that Umuld probably be' much too
stroiVg a'tdhic for your a(dvertisers in the Robin Line. They
pay iheji .moiney and they call your tune!
The fact is that dangers for Seamen on the African run
have iifjjr'eased greatly.
The faet is that the bobhi Moor Inciderit has JhiphtsizM'
' • 'beyohd^
tl^e^ciew oh the Robiii Moor had ihe good fortune tq^
' tihis danger with their lives
First Robin Moor
Siirvivbrs Return
(Continued from Page 1)
jars, were wet and had to be
thrown overboard.
Remarkable discipline was
shown by the crew all the way
thiouglr. After a few days^ it was
decided that' spreading out would
be the best possible means of
achieving a rescue. Three boats
were then picked up by a British
ship going to Capetown, on the
13th day out. The fourth boat
was picked up on the 18th day
out, by the Brazilian steamer
Ozorio.
The O'zorio brought the men to
PeVnambnco, after treating each
and every man with all the atten
tion tfiey could have wanted after
their long travail. In Pernam
buco, the U. S. Consul took
charge, restricting the freedom of
the men for state reasons and ar
ranging for their return to the
States. The return was effected
on the steamer Delargentina of
the Delta Line.
Since fhe Delargehtina's pas
senger capacity was pretty Well
taken up, the Robin Moor surviv
ors were put up on cot's in the
ship's hospital; permiseion was
refused to use the promenade
deck as well as the bar. The men
had to make their own bunks arid
tidy up their own quarters.
Since the articles under which
they sailed stipulated that: they
were" to be given nothirig less
than seconiiclass tfanspbrtation
back to the port of signing, the
men feel that they have a just
beef with the Company to re
cover transportation money which
was ifof expended' when they
were forced! to make the b'Cst of
the Delargentiria's poor accommo
dations.
All the men naturaNy ex
pressed themselves as one hun
dred per cent behind the Union's
move for a higher'bonus arid in
oreased war risk insurance on
the African run. Increases are
indispensable, they said, under
such cpnditions.
And they ought to know!
Information
Beginning with July 1, 1941, Selective Service Headquarters
announced this week, all men registered for the Dfaft wlio are
over" 28 yeatrs of age oh that date are antomaticaily defcrked from*
Army service. .
This announcement came in the form of an order issued by
Brigadier General Lewis B. Hershey, acting chief of the Selective
Service system. 'I'he acting chief declared that he was acting upon •
request of Congressional leaders who have a bill incorporating this
proceduVe up for action. The order is limited to 30 days on the ex
pectatiori that within that time limit, the Bill will hecomri law.
The deferment of men over 28 holds good only for peacetime. •
Should the United States enter the war. all men I'eglsteied would '
immediately become subject to induction.
• • •
Local Draft Boards have received instructions to defer all mar ' '
lied then on the grounds of dependency. Such men are placed in
Class lilA.
* » *
The fact that there is an acute shortage of seamen seemg to
have penetrated to Local Draft Boards in New York at least. Letters
from the Union requesting deferment of qualified seamen receive
prompt attention from the Boards.
A list of Local Draft iS'oard^s Is available' at tfife .tileW^'V'dfk offlcft
of the Uriion, so that seamen" may know the exact place wher<f
they are to register in.this city.
: #
Seafarers' ^ Honor Roli
<4^
S.S. ALCOA TRADER $10.00 '
S.S. OAKMAR ......; i.. 6.60
C. Biitt 4.00'
S.S. EL VALLE 2.00
C. Malpass 3.00
Harris Rappdrt 3.00
G. Rier 1.00
S.S. DELKINA V.. 8.00
W. Aiide! :.......; ^ ' 1.00
S.S. ALCOA MASTER 4.65'
J. Me Ahclretvs .. i... .\ ..... 1.00
R. Milan 1.00
N. Cadenhead l.OO
S.S. ALCOA TRANvSPORT ..1.50
S.S. ALCOA CARRIER 2.7a
E. Coll ink .50
Tqtal .......................... $5i:00
MORE ABOUT
More About
Shipowners Ask
Protection
(Continued from Page 1)
Ney Evans, suggested that provi
sions for "fair and reasonable"
copipensation could be iricluded
in the bill. But the shipowners
would hot comproiriise anci kept
on insisting on "just compensa
ticri."
"Apparently, the shipowners are
jiiore than willing to be patriotic
—provided that the Expense is
borne by the seamen. And, pro
vided that not a certt' of their
profits is touched in the course
of their patriotic enthusiasm.
"Just compensation". — that's
what they will take. "Patriotism"
—that's what they will give.
What's in a word?
Union Saves
Crew frdtti Fate Wdrs'n Oeath
(Continued from Page 1)
have stopped even these char
acters from britng duped for this
finking game. No, they were just
handed jobs on a silver platter—
because Calmar loved them.
Immediately, the remote con
trol apparatus of the SIU went
into action, invisible ray and all.
Lo and behold, pretty soon all
the backwash from the Brooklyh
waterfront had their seabags
packed on' the deck of the Flo
mar, ready to debark. If they
thought they couid hrive SWurri
the distance they Would have.'
But they couldn't and the Com
pany would not coricede to crill
a launch for their erstwhile
guests.
The , upshot was that the Union
had to get liold of a launch
somewhere and help unload the
Flomar of her wonldbe iftnk
crew:.
this daj:
If s
qi^cape
why 6ther seamen plying the same run should forfeit self
protection for the future. ' ' , •
' The faet is that the Union is living up to' the letter 6f its
agrqiemeh'ts. "
The fact is that the Seafarers' Internatiohal Unioh is
eompletely withiu its rights in makiiig demands for a'h up
ward revision of the war bonus agr(e'ements. ,
• It is'up to the shipotvners to make tbeiT"^ ;0i'qposals'.
As f6r the seamen, thejli do hot inteml. to heintiriiidatdd
ohi ijt their jMstifled "dehihhds by anyone.
• ' Yery/truly
" John Haixdc, SeeyetaryTreasutriesr,
Atlantic .& Gulf .
The men, cursing the Com
pany bitterly for deceiving them
and vowrnU that Ihey wb'uld keek
amends, boarded the Union
launch and left the Flomar to
turn on it^ anchor.
It cOst the Company about a
Grand to round up the "ghost
crew." It cost the Union about a
Sawbiici^to disperse it.
The Company later contacted
the Union; 'and they have been
famished a donkey crew pending
negotiation.^ with the Union.
Moral of the story is: It doesn't
pky to buck the just demands of
the SIU!
mtlCl TO ALL
SIU MEN
Canadian Branches of the
Seafarers' International
Union'
,\ithen in Canadian ports,
visit the Mtls of the following'
orgdhi^ailons, affiliated to the
Seafarers' TUierkdtiOnal Union
of iiorth Ainetica:
CANAblAISi
sEA^EKi's uiiiorir
408 St.' Lawrence BohleVard '
Wionfieat, Canada
BRirrSH COLUMBIA
SEAMEN'S UNION
340B Cfwnble Strept
'Vancouver, B.G.
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Thursday, July 3, 1941 THE SEA FA R E R S * L O G
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, A'
{
> IE hat's Doing^
ISORFOLK
June 27, 1941
Editor Seafarers Log:
Dear Sir & Brother:
Shipping continues good with
a shortage of A.B.'s and Oilers;
rated men in the black gang are
bard to find.
* * *
• 4
We had an Isthmian ship in last
week and they had to get most
of the men some place else. As
fasf as they were dispatched
from the hall they went out and
got drunk. Out of five A.B.s
there, two made it. If we Intend
to organize these ships the
membership will have to get in
there and i>ltchi with lis.
* • «
Have got tfie tow boats 86%
better iivlnji conditions since our
arrivai, but it seems as though
• there are a feW s'upermilitdnts
aro'dhd" Who "think they can do
better than the Afifent and Patrot
mah are doing. But Vvhat gets
me is that these "SUPER
SUPERS" have been sieepihg ort
^ dorfkey breakfast, no showers' and
no fans for. yeard but ft seems
as though they get a kick out Of
quittirrg at 'the lasit mihute to get
another n'fght iri art'd thOn, when
there is a leflitirhate beef, they
sail' right Obt from' bnder bs.
• • " •
The Alcoa ships have' been
eailfhlg oiit of here shorthanded
every trip • for the want of
A.B.S and Oilers.
The hall will be moved around
the first of July. Up two flights.'
Maybe the rummies wtii be too
tired to make ft then, so when
the, men who are ready to go to
work dome up to ship,"they won't
be bothered with a bunch of so
caiied militants who get that
way only when they have got
John Barleycorn for a running
mate.
» • »
It seems as though there are a
few Brothers around here who
are under the impression when
they are brought up on charges
the monies that they have put Iri
(he Union v.ill be refunded. Yes,
we have some of those socalled
good Union men around here
too.
Fraternally yours.
Bud Ray, Patrolman
with necessary AB's. The S.S. Jo
sephine Lawrence called up the
other day from Georgetown, S.C.,
but 1 was not able to find any
AB's for her, so she had to sail
shorthanded back to Hoboken.
The S.S. Marjory, the flag ship
of the Bull Steamship Company,
is right now calling from Wil
mington, N. C., for an AB and I
am hoping I will be able to fur
nish them one before she sails
from there. Also had the S.S.
City of Birmingham to sail one
oiler short.
So in case any of the South
Atlantic sanors come home for a
vacation, don't "forget to (Trop
around to the hall; we might
have just tlie job you have been
waiting for.
Steady ds she goes,
Charles Waid, A'gent
Savannah Branth '
MOBILE
TAMPA
SAVAmAH
June 21. 1941.
Editor, Seafarers' Log:
Dear Sir and Brother:
Activities In Savannah still
rushing. The S.S. Willihoto was
here the other day dnd I had to
get 3 AB's from Jacksonville,
Fla.
The S.S. City of Chattanooga
came In 3 AB's short and we
were lucky ehbugh" to supply her
NOTICE
June'is; 1941
Editor, L6'^, '
Brothers:
The boafd has been clean of
jbbs for the last three days. Dur
ing the lull the guys have had
a chance to drift down to the
docks and get in some fishing
with nothing more to do than
listen to the' breej:es whisper
and what whispers!
* * *
One floats fn with a familiar
and oftsmelled stench. The
local cominie stooge and brown
noser, Pete Sosa, NMU dis
patcher when no bigger stooges
are around, has been quietly and
cunningly (he thinks) approach
ing the members of the laidup
Cuba, asking them to sign NMU
pledge cards. This action along
with other efforts. Is a combined
program of the commissars up in
NMU Headquarters to scab the
P&O out when we go up for our
contract.
* « *
A ne>y office of the SIU has
beeii opened by the "Union at
Martinez, Califofhia. SIU fnen
in that port cih get in touch
with Ferh Robbins, Seafarers'
Refiresentative, or Bennie Bar
ren'a. Tanker organizer, at the
address below^
Scafrtrdi^*""
InterntiIi§l<i»iSal tWlcta \
604 Ferry St^efet RdOtti 'S'
MAitinez,
Copies Of the Seafarer's Log
can be^ obtained at the above
address.^""
The boys, most of whom know
Stooge Sosa by sight (he has a
striking' resemblance to a mon
key vi/ith a fresh shave) give
him the horseiaugh, because
they are wise to 'him and the
phoney tactics of the scabherd
Ing committees Who control the
activities of the NMUi
Around a few of the Gulf ports
some of the Bull Line skippers
have been a little goatheaded
qbout dividing absent members'
wages among the vest of the
crew in the deck department.
Deck department cre"ws also
state they have trouble cnllect
iug same in Home Port Balti
more.
The agent around this village
has been having trouble with
drunks holding the ships up In
the wee 'small hburS of the iriorii
ing. Henceforth, he orates, any
man 'doing stich a trick should
not Shbw surprise if he receives
a special delivery note in tfie
next port \Vith. the five flay
notice. ' '
Can't blame a giiy much for
this as every time It is pulled,
the sh'ipoAvhdfs howl bloody mur
der and pound hell out of the
Union through the Maritime
Commission every instant. If a
guy wants to throw a, whingdffig,
let Kfm li^y off, thro# If, and
ship crtrt. 'Shippihg h plfenty fast
enough to' do this and it doesn't
Jower the boom on our Organlza
tidh. "We have enough fd fight
now withduf' difr own mentbers
addiifg"^el td tife fire.
• Your for a* stronger iSlU;" •
King Fisher
June 17, 1941.
Shipping Is still booming
around this part of the country.
Last week tlie Plow City came in
with the new agreement' that was
negotiated in Philadelphia with
the HedgCr S.S. Co., which gives
the men time back for all watches
stood on week ends at sea and
holidays. The crew paid Off and
was well satisfied witli tlie agree
ment. I mean, the company
shifted her down to the drydock
and proceeded to give her a gen
eral overliHuIirig and cleaiiingup,
and Cod knows she needs it.
Whenever you talk about rust
buckets, boys, she takes the vel
vet mop! She will be a little
home V for the boys when she
comes out, though.
The Alcoa Master came in from
the Ba,uxite • Country after mak
ing a trip up to Canada. All over
time was satisfactorily adjusted
and they donated .$4.65 to the Lof/.
They received their transpoila
t'ion back to New York and were
happy.'
The greatest thing today that is
confronting the Union is a few
members of the crew getting
slushed up on sailing time and
going aboard and blowing their
fog horns to let everybody know
how militant they are. This
brand is mostly ordinary seamen
or messmen that have been going
to sea a couple of dog watches.
You know this brand of militant
action keeps popping up in my
mind every time I think about
the days of 1921 to 1935. I just
keep thinking what a collection
of dividends will (he Seamen col
lect for this when things get back
to normal again? And to save my
soul, I just can't conclude. Will
some good Union man that really
appreciates the Union, please an
swer this for me with his honest
opinion?
Last week the Bayou Chico
came in with 29 hours overtime
from last trip sailing from Mo
bile. This beef had to be taken
to a Port Committee, but they
paid it. The money is in the safe
here in the Hall for the eight
men involved in it.
There is also .$4.46 in the safe
here for A. H. PEREZ, Messman;
R. SHEP!PARD, Messman, and W.
J. WARD, Chief Cook .from the
TOPA TOPA on the voyage end
ing May 11, 1941, to be divided
among the three, for passengers.
There 15 also $6.00 for SEA
BRIDGE, Messman from the
Maiden Cieek for feeding pas
sengers, in the safe here.
They can all get this money
any time they call or write for
it.
We expect a busy weekend as
we have about four ships due in
the Alcoa Pathfinder and the
Flour Spar, the Hastings and the
Snn Dance are due in Pensacola
this week, to be turned over to
the ALCOA LINE.
Olden Banks, Agent
SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION
OF NORTH AMERICA : :
Atlantic & Gulf District
Secretary-Treasurer's Office
Room 213 — 2 Stone Street, New York City
P. O. Box 25, Station P Phone: BOwling Green 93437
DIRECTORY OF BRANCHES
BRANOH ADDRESS PHONE
NEW YORK 2 Stone St. BOwling Green 93437
Dispatcher's Office ..BOwling Green 93430
BOSTON 330 Atlantic Ave. ...LIBerty 4057
PROVIDENCE .. 465 South Main St. ..Manning 3572
BALTIMORE ... 14 North Cay St. ...Calvert 4539
PHILADELPHIA ,6 North 6th St. .... .Lombard 7651
NORFOLK 60 Commercial Pi. . .Norfolk 41083
NEW ORLEANS 309 Chartres St. .... MAgnolia 3962
SAVANNAH 218 East Bay St Savannah 31728
JACKSONVILLE „,136 Bast Bay St Jacksonville 51791
TAMPA T2'0fl. So. Franklin St. .Tampa M1323
MOBILE ...... .,55 So. Conception St. Dexter 1449
TEXAS CITY ... 105 4th St., N Texas'City 722
MIAMI 1348 N.E. First Ave.. Miami ^2950
IjSAN JUAN 8 Covadonga St San Juan 1885
A-
Phila'detphia
Port Doings - Serious Consideration Shows
Some Urgent Tasks for Union Meii
BOSTON
June 30. 1941
Editor, Seafarei's Log:
Business is going rather
smoothly to date, with very lit
tle delay'' in getting replace
ments.
There are very few men oh
the shipping lirts at this time,
which makes it rathef quiet
around the Hall.
. Notfit'ng further of any interest
to report.
• Your Boston Reporter
June 23, 1941
Editor Of the Seafarer®' IjOg:
The Old port seems to be slow
ing up a bit. First we lost the
three Range line ships, the pride
and joy of the Philadelphia Navy.
Then four Calmar ships trans
ferred to the Red Sea run. Then
the Pah Atlantic SS tjompa'ny has
only one ship to call here a week
instead of the two. What the
hell is coming off? Shipowners,
are you ti"ying to close up this
port? (We woudei'!)
But seriously, Brothers, we
wonder, how many of the old
timers stop for a moment to con
sider what is taking place. How
many of us here were present
during the last emergency? Sure
ly some of us must have learned
a few lessons from the old ship
ping board days. Surely, we must
remember what caused the Ship
ping Board to come into exist
ence. Let us ask a question:
Aie we heading in the same di
rection now as we did then our
selves. We wonder. Some mem
bers may ask what we can do to
remedy any reoccurence of what
was in 19171819—and for many
years later. Well, if appears to a
few sanemindeu memuers that a
more rigid control of ourselves
is in o r d e r, namely: stop
the drunks, stop raw outandout
chiseling, stop trying to get
something for nothing. Let's
be men and get what is right.
Let us .stop this petty beefing
and chisellhg, learn to respect
the, fellov) that you have put into
office, respect hi^ decisions. Re
member that III rendering a deci
sion he is acting in the best
interest of the majority and not
for any Individual to the detri
ment of the majority, and last
but: not least, don't wait till the
ship is ready' td safl before you
w,ant to hflflg the hook in order
to settle a beef that could be set
tled long before sailing time, and
forget about the GlN MILL at the
last minute.
beach a tarpolan muster would
be Very slim at this time. So,
easy JoJo.
a g * •
Isthmian linesLWe seem te
have quite a time with these
wagons here in this port. When
one of them comes in, they have
it so Weil guarded that It is an
impossihiiity to get aboard. So
vire generally have to set up shop
on the front and contact the men
when they come out. So far we
are having very good luck.
* * «
We are going after the South
ern S.S. Co—(Penn. R.R.) We
just contacted the San Antonio
and picked up two NMU Pro
Books and had 7 other pledge
cards signed, expect better luck
next time.
• • •
Brother Buckman, the Admiral
of the Cuban Distiliing navy, was '
temporary Patrolman while the
agent was on his vacation and he
was supposed to pinchhit for
Flanagan also, hut he met with
an accident. The result was that
his foot was crushed and he was
unable to carry on. So we had
to ask Brother Lester Van Horn
to take over the duties of Patrol
man until Flanagan returns.
« « 41
Well, we guess that we have
said enough for this time, but in
closing let u,s remember that we
are not the only Union man on
the ship. There are quite a num
ber of other fellows that are '
Union men also.
Fraternally, .
The Three Musketeers
W.R.B., No. 1994
J.F.F., No. 542 f
H.J.C., No. 496 " >
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JoJo, the dogfaced boy, con;.
monly known as HangtheHook
Flanagan, departed for his long
earned vacation. And, as usnal
the pink lemonade and the sm?ll
of Yiddish hot dogs* ajid grimy
mustard • must have gotten the
best of old Joe biecause he wound
up in Coney Island as usual. We
do hope he .doesn't go oyerbpard
oii the Finances as, if ant! when,
by the looks of the. boys on the
NOTICE
Men oh the beach at
BEAliilOiMT, TEXAS, are
advised to get in touch
tvith W. H. Parley, Secre
tary of ILA LoeM No. 1610.
Brother Parity is getting
quite a lunhber of calls for
seannen and has agreed to
ship SIU men to such
joibs. Make sure to'.registeif
tfith Kim if :^0u are oil the
bea^K at Beaihiiont ; ;,.
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T HE S E A F A R E R S » L O G Thursday, July 3, 1941
I ' ;
RESOLUTION
(The following Resolution, proposing a revote on the
'n$5 Strike Assessment was passed unanimously at the New
Branch of the S.I.U. on Monday, June 23, 1941).
it is the opinion of many members and offl
fj^ials. 0^, this Union that our Strike Euli'd is at present too
1 insignificant to serve as a substantial feserye fund in case
rwf emergency, and ^ , ^
'' ' WHEREAS, we all know that the shipowners are con
i^hntiy building up their financial reserves in preparation
.'of schemes to take back gains made by the Union in recent
.years^and to deprive us of the weapon of organized strength
which alone made possible these gains, and . ,
WHEREAS, experience has shown us that in 1921, when
the shipowners went to bat to take away, improved condi
tions Avon by the seamen during the last war, itwas lack of
adequate Strike Funds that finally licked the Unions in that
struggle, and
WHEREAS, Ave are resolved not to alloAV a repetition of
that distastrous experience of 1921 to take place and to
throAv us back once more into sea slaverjq and
WHEREAS, Ave as members of this Union, the Seafarers'
International Union of North America, OAA'C a definite re
sponsibility to the organiization to help build it strong and
make it mighty and impregnable against anyand all at
tacks, and
WHEREAS, it can't be denied that each and every one
cf us is today, thanks to the Union, in a position to pay at
least the small sum of Five Dollars ($5.00) in t"he interests
of ourselves and our organization. Now Therefore Be IT
RESOLVED, that the question of a Five Dollar ($5.00)
Strike Assessment be resubmitted to the membership, and
be it further
RESOLVED, that the period of voting shall be six weeks,
and be it finally
RESOLVED, that each member understanding the score
give vigorous support to this resolution on all vcsscls and
in all ports.
(Signed) Howard Guinier, No. 478; Earl K. Riley,
i No. 537; Douglas Muncaster, No. 397; Clar
is _ ence E. Norman, No. 987;, C. E. Martinez,
' « No. 2676; Charles Moulaison, No. 1228; F, L.
I ' Hart, No. 488; W. Carlin, No. 4981; W. Paul
Gonsorehik, No. 749; Arthur Thompson, No.
2888; F. E. Hathaway, No. 86.
Where Is That
Wandering "Party
Line" Tonight?
GiftHorse for Labor
Under a heading, "Strike
Drop Is Seen as War Hits
Russia," the evervigilant (for
the shipowners) Journal of
Commerce comments as fol
lows on June 23, 1941:
"It was assumed that the
American Communists
would swiftly change their
program from one of attack
upon to support of the de
fense program, possibly re
viving, with some modifica
tion, the slogans of the
'Popular Front'. Such a
change, it was thought,
. would be made with much
greater speed than that of
1939 following the German
Russian pact, through new
experience In changing pol
'Icy plus the greater urgency
of the present situation." «
The Jaumal sounds as if it
were welcoming back an old
friend into the fold. And, to
be sure, it has good cause.
For, if the Communist Party's
gents with the flexible spines
do indeed flock" back to the
slogans of the "Popular Front,"
it' will be a real bonanza for
the shipowners. In fact,' for all
employers. The Journal ap
SPECIAL
NOTICE
Will a man named
RECORD, Avho shipped
out of Jacksonville about
March 20, 1941 on a Bull
Line ship as Oiler or Fire
man, get in touch with the
JacksoiiAdlle Agent at his
earliest convenience. A
matter of utmost Union
importance is involved.
Fraternallj',
C. M. Rogers,
Jackson\dlle Agent
MARSHALL MENZIE
Write yoqr wife, c/o Mrs.
Perlra, 1215 A Street, Hay
wnrd, Qal'tornia. Important.
JOSEPH F. WELSH
Get in touch with' your
mother at 251 Seeman Ave.,
New York City, Apt. 4E.
Urgent.
U.S. Official Scores
Employers Holding
Up Defense Work
With labor attacked on all
sides as the culprit holding up
. . . "national defense", it is refreeh
parently well remembers how j ing for a change, to hear a con
, „ trary opinion from Government
Patronizing Advice
Prom the Employers
the C.P. "Popular Front" line
resulted in innumerable strike
breaking expeditions by Sta
linitecouti'olled laboi" leaders
of the BrldgesCurran type
from 1935 to 1939, It also
knows that under the cover of
the "Popular Front," the great
est sellout of all—the sellout
of the French sitdown strikes
of June, 1936 was under
taken by the Stalinite agents
in that' country.
Could anything better be
hoped for? Not by the ship
owners and their ilk!
Among the choicer' pieces of
fatherly advice given to labor re-
cently, is this bit of counsel from
the ever so solicitous Journal of
Commerce:
The' labor movement must
tighten its internal organiza
tion;. . National leaders of
hoth the A.F. of L. and the
C.I.O. have but limited author
ity over the constituent and in
ternational unions. . . . They
cannot hope to do this unless
fhe national leadership can be
made truly effective, if neces
nary, through changes in the
structure and organization of
these labor bodies."
It seems that the Journal is
flisturbed about jurisdictional dis-
putes, etc. So, it' offers this sim-
ple formula: Labor must
"tighten" its organization. How?
'Well, since the "National Lead-
ers" haye "but llraited authority,"
~~yibY-^Qive them unlimited au-
4horityJ
In other words, the employers
Who run the Journal are all in
layor of a dictatorship over la
Iwr^provided it does not inter
fere too much with them. These
j)^pie are the same birds who
' liollered "dictatorship" every time
the; Roosevelt Administration
passed, one of it's mild laws to
.prevent them from skinning
the peoifle outright! Apparently
what's sauce for the goose is not
«auce for the gander.
iFhat' they aetually mean, is
tfiCf would Ufceto flee 'Twes
ism" established in the labor
unions, autonomy abolished and
trade union democracy ground
under foot.
Well, it's our guess that the
American Avorking stiff won't go
for that. He won't stand it from
any Hitler. And he won't stand
it from the native variety of
would'ue Hitlers.
Asks Brothers
To Visit SIU Man
Shipmates:
When you are in Boston,
please go to the Carney Hos
pital and see Francisco Almo
doval from Guanica, P.R. He
got hurt on the S.S, Delfina.
Just a few minutes will make
him happy.
His son,
Teofolo Almodoval,
SIU No. 6346
JOE GRANDE, No. 1640
Get In touch with HUGH'
BROWN, Jr., G. 131, who
would like to recover some
gear which you are reported to
be keeping for him. He may
be reached on the S.S. Alcoa
Mariner—e.o. Geo. Hugglns A
Co., Port of Spain, Trinidad,
B.W.I., until June *12; c.o.
Grace, Keneddy A Co., Kings
ton, Jamaica, B.W.I., until
June 18 and e.o. Alcoa 8. 8.
Co., 254 So. Broad St.
Ala.» en anA after iune lA
700,000 Jobless
Americans Turned
Adrift by Congress
With major attention of the
public directed toward war devel
opmente or the great labor strug
gles, Congress and the Adminis
tration in Washington quietly put
through legislation turning 7(j0,
000 jobless Americans adrift in
Btoimy seas of presentday ecu
nomy.,
It was merely a bill to reduce
by 44 per cent the W.P.A. payroll,
to take effect on July 1.
Another 1,250,000 Americans,
who have not Been given any re
lief assistance before, are addi
tional victims of the latest eco
nomizing measures put through
by Congress.
The motivating impulse of the
Bolons seems to be summed up in
the following: All funds for war.
not a cent for relief—to reverse
an old slogan under which the
unemployed fought many a battle
for sustenance.
While we are about to go out
and flght for the "Four Free
doms," said to be basic for the
progress of humanity, one ot
these most basic "Freedoms"—
that called "Freedom from Want"
—seems to be taking it on the
chin, and not at the hands of
Hitler at' all, but of alleged demo
eratie antagonists of the Nazi
beasts •
sources lately.
Bosses Avho are growling loud
est about Etilkes are themselves
holding up national defense by
backward labor policies, defense
officials charged in Washington
this week.
Dr. Will W. Alexander, as
sistant to the Associate Direc
tor cf the Office of Prcducticn
Management, declared such pol
icies are endangering the pre
paredness program far more
than strike stoppages, "which
amount to but a fraction of 1
per cent of the mandays
worked."
Among employer practices de
nounced by Dr. Alexander were
the refusal to tialn' local work
eis for skilled Jobs; "pirating"
of workers from other plants;
banning_of'skilled Negroes and
aliens from defense work; mis
erable working conditions which
cause employees to migrate to
jobs in other cities, and "hog
ging" of defense contracts by
big business, to the exclusion of
duller ehiployers.
*^Tht<ic practice's, helsaid, "cre
ate delays and disruptions In
defense production."'
Discrimination against Ne
groes and aliens has become a
"damaging bottleneck," Dr,
Alexander said. Barring of non
citizens has reached "alarming
proportions" because of anti
'alien hysteria, and thus has pre
vented use of workers having
skills vital to defense, he point
ed out.
Profiteers Are Making
AJekaefPresideiifs
Premise enWarPrefits
(From Ltt&or, Railroad Labor's
Paper)'
Speculators and profiteers are
making a joke of President Roose
velt's promise that nobody will be
permitted to get rich out of the
defense emergency. '
According to the Department of
Labor, when the War Department
went into the market for a large
purchase of tomatoes, the price
most overnight went up 21/^ per
cent — not only on tomatoes, but
on corn and other canned prod
ucts.
Speculators, the department
said, have played a big role in |a
spectacular jump in commodity
prices, which rose sharply in the
past three weeks.
Soaring retail food prices be
tween midApril and raidMay, the
department disclosed, took an
other big bite out of the house
wife's marketing dollar.
To this disagreeable fact was '
added the"bad news" that the ad^
vance in living costs, which has
continued without interruption
for six months, shows no signs
of a letup.
Taken all together, food prices
are now 5.3 per cent above the
level of last May, but that figure
does not begin to tell the 'real
Btory. On the most essential arti
cles of diet the jump has been
much greater. Eggs and butter, for
example, are about 20 per cent
higher: potatoes,. 24.1 per cent;
pork chops, 15.2 per cent; oranges
and sugar, nearly 10 per cent.
These are foods which, expert's
declare are the backbone of an
adequate diet.
In a report covering wholesale
prices, the department said that
since midAugu6t 1939, there has
been a rise in the general level of
farm prices of 28 per cent; tex
tiles, 23 per cent; hides and lesv
ther products, 15 per cent".
Higher wholesale prices, in the
course of time, are reflected in
higher retail prices, so the out
look for the consumer Is anything
but happy. ;
h(.
HUGH MURPHY
Now at Staten Island Marine
Hospital. Wants to get iii
touch with shipmates that
were with him on the S.S.
Ionian last year. Important.
Do mr Ship
Clarke AUen Gravely
P3067
Arthur C. LYing
Certificate iNo. Z — 63959,
E — 13330
Carries two books (ILA &
IBU) at same time.
All meiubers of the Seafarers International Union
of North America, AHantic & Gulf District, are asked
to cooperate with the Union patrolmen in paying their
dues promptly. For the benefit of those members who
may not be aware of the fact, we are hereby reprinting
a resolution on this subject adopted by the New Orleans
Branch on February 10, 1941, and later on concurred
in by all the other Branches: '
"Due to the financial condition of the Union all
members while einployed shall have their dues paid
through the current month and shall not he regis
tered on the shipping list if their dues are not paid
flHtraghtiiecurretti
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VOL. Ill
OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE ATLANTIC AND GULF DISTRICT,
SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA
NEW YORK, N. Y., THURSDAY, JULY 3, 1941 446 No. 13
NESSCO COMES ACROSS WITH $10 RAISE
f' '
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Regarding the Bonus Beef with the Robin Line
An Open Letter to the Shipping
Editor of the Journal of Commerce
2 Stone Street, New York City
June 30, 1941
Mr. Clinton L. Doggett,
Shipping Editor,
The Journal of Commerce ; . .... _
63 Park Row .. I
New York City J ^
Dear Sir;
In today's "Jouimal of Commerce" you comment on the
current dispute between the Seafarers' International Union
of North Ameiica and the Robin Line, regarding the war
bonus to be paid unlicensed seamen. This comment, carried
in your column "The Shipping Outlook," is as full of incor
rect statements as it is of shipownerinspired bile against
the men who sail the ships.
Permit me, first of all, to call your attention to what
might be mildly put as your inaccuracies.
1. Tie increase in the rate of bonus pay from $30 per
month up came on March 21 of this year. It was an increase
to $50, not to $60. It was obtained by the Seafarers' Inter
national Union, through the action of the unlicensed men
on the Robin vessels Robin Locksley; Seattle Spirit and"
Robin Hood—the Engineers only followed .suit. Your state
ments in this respect simply show an utter lack of familiar
ity with the facts in this situation.
2. The increase to $60 per month war bonus came only
at the end of May, when the President announced that the
Red Sea had been reopened to American shipping.
This increase applied to all unlicensed seamen on all
• ships making that run.
Your memory must be extremely shqirt in this respect,
for you comment.ed very favorably on th^ increase in bonus
pay—when it applied to the National Maritime Union. You
called it "Just Deserts" in a headline under your signature.
"Just Deserts," because the NMU's Communist Partycon
trolled leaders had just then done everything in their power
to break the Engineers' strike on the American Export Line.
3. You are presumiituous enough to say that, after the
Robin Moor affair, "the local boss (sic) of the Seafarers'
International Union instructed his men not to sign on the
Greylock, the Moor's sister ship, a week ago Friday. Fur
ther, that "he pre.sented the Line with a demand for an
additional $250 per month, plus $50 for each port... etc."
You do not mention names here, for that would be leav
ing yourself open to legal correction. You merely insinuate,
underhandedly, that the SIU is run by some "boss."
Well, let us enlighten you. The Seafarers' International
Union is hot run by any "bo.s.ses"—neither bosses getting
their instructions from Moscow like those in the NMU whom
you so much admire, nor any other "bosses."
This Union is a democratically controlled organization
where the membership is its own boss.
It was the SIU membership, at meetings up and down
the coast, which voted to present the Robin Line with a de
mand for an additional $250 per month as well as the other
demands.
(Continued on Page 2)
First Robin Moor Survivors
Return with Tale of Trip
The first of the Robin Moor crew that survived its tor
pedoing in South Atlantic waters arrived here last week
from Pernambuco, Brazil. William Carey, Bosun, related a
Uory of the adventure and rescue which is, indeed, a tribute
to the seamanship of the SIU men who manned the lifeboats.
Others of the crew supplied substantially the same infor
mation. <$"
The men had been given only
twenty minutes by the submarine
commander to take to the boats.
In very short order, the four life
boats were afloat and from a
distance of about a mile wit
nessed the sinking of their ves
sel. The submarine, after finish
ing 'its job, circled the boats to
supply them with the magnani
mous gift of a can of "sawdust
bread" each. After that ihey were
completely on their own.
The gear In the lifeboats, It
was reported, was for the most
part useless. Only the experi
ence, skil| and pluck of the sea
men aboard them made possible
the transformation of canvass
covers Into sails, the Improvisa
tion of seaanchors after the or
iginal seaanchors were carried
away, etc. The axes had to be
used on pretty near all the gear
to make it seaworthy.
Even matches, placed ia fruit
(Continued on Page 2)
Shipowners Ask
"Protedion" for
Patriotic Acts
WASHINGTON, D. C. —
Shipowners last week asked
for provisions which would
give them "just compensa
tion" for the use of their
vessels for various Govern
ment purposes in connection
with the National Emer
gency. The demands were
voiced at hearings on the
Bland Ship Warrants Bill,
which is up for action in
Congress.
The Maritime Commission's
attoiney at the hearings, a Mr.
(Continued on Page 2)
Eight Companies
Agree to Forego
Huge Subsidies
Eight .shipowners, engaged
in foreign trade under oper
atingdifferential agreements
with the Maritime Commis
sion, have volunteered to
take a cut iu their subsidy
rates' to "a. comparatively
nominal figure," the Commis
sion announced in Washing
ton last week.
Business is so good now, it ap
pears, that the competitive con
ditions on foreign flag ships
(which brought about the subsi
dies in the first place) have be
come virtually insignificant. The
amount of the subsidy used to be
?i2,500,000 annually for the eight
companies.
Among these are a number
which are at present engaged in
negotiations over a war bonus
with the Seafarers* International
Union. If they can afford to kick
a twelveandahalf million buck
subsidy overboard, it would seem
that they can quite easily come
across with a substantial increase
in bonus pay for the seamen who
sweat for the profits that' end.ble
them to wax so rich.
Seamen 21 Years of
Age Must Register
All seamen reaching the
age of twentyone (21) be
tween October, 1940, and
July 1, 1941, must register
at a Selective Service
board immediately upon
reaching a United States
port.
Long OverDue Pay
Boost Comes As New
Strike Action Looms
New England Steam
ship Company, operat
ing four boats between
New Bedford and Nan
tucket Island, this week
granted the unlicensed
p e rs o 11111; 1 of ibeir
crews a $10.00 montH
ly increase in pay, in
an agreement signed
with the Seafarers' In
ternational Union of
North America.
The N.E.S..S. Co. ships
were tied up iu a fourday
strike last year for a pay
raise and a tencent boost in
overtime. A barrage of Gov
ernment pressure forced the
Union to agree to arbitration,
which resulted in a conces
sion on overtime—to 80 cents
an hour.
This year, the longover
due adjustment in basic
wages was finally reached
after a short walkoff on
three of the four Company
ships, just as the season was
getting under way.
This served to tip oif the ship,
owners that the men would not
tolerate a repetition of last
year's raw deal. Sure enough,
the Company immediately re
quested an appointment for nego*
tiatlons.
Brother John Hawk, Secretary
Treasurer, and two members of
the NESSCO crews, represented
the Union in the negotiatipna
which led to a settlement within
a few hours of di.scussion.
WouldBe Flomar Crew
Spared Fate Wars'n Death
For the past ten days, the Calmar Line's S.S. Flomar has
been tied up in New York. Reason: crew won't sign on:
until they get a higher war bonus for the foreign runs. Be
sides, a Union contract with that line is long overdue—
SIU won an NLRB election on these ships many, many
months ago. <
For a few days, the Company
rumored hot and heavy that the
Navy was taking over the ship.
Nothing but idle rumor!
Then word came that they de
cided to put her in drydock. They
dispensed with the crew and cut
off steam. It looked like something
fishy, but since they went through
the motions, there was nothing
to do but wait and see.
Next morning word le received
that she is lying in the stream!
A prompt investigation roi
vealed that during the night' the
Company had combed the Brook
lyn waterfront for a motley col
lection of stiffs addicted' to the
"weed," a couple of gasliouudi
and otherwise prize specimens of
the profession. After the round
up, all these recruits were not, ol
course, given even the merest tlp»
off that there was some kind ol
a'beef on the Flomar. That would
(Contittuedjjn Page 2).
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THE S E A F A R E R S ' LP G Thursday, July 3, 1941
.'A
Fublisbed by tbe
ATLAINTIC & GULF DISUJICT
of the
Seafarers^ Intematiotial Union
of North America
Affiliated with the American Federation of Labor
HARRY LUNDEBERG, Acting International President
110 Market Street, Rooin 402, San Pranciscb, Calif.
ADDRESS ALL OORRESPONDENGE CONCEJtNING TEIS
PUBLiOAT^ON TO:
"THE SEAFARERS' LOG"
P. O. Box 25, Station P, New York, N. Y.
Phone: BOwling Green 93437
ifriK
(Contimie^d from Page J)
It is the membership which elected a Negotiating Com
mittee from its own ranks to meet the Company and discus
these (demands. '
4. You admit that the present bonus rates were estab
lisheddh an "orderly mahher through negotiation, and both
sides were satisfied." And then you lament that if the de
mands are "even partially" met, "the whole bonus question
would Ije reopened."
feutrfe prWlous' bonus agreeiftehtS — v^th iyhic^h 'hoth
sides wme satisfied, wmOmber—provide specifically for the
reopening of the agreement in the event of jtist such an in
cident as that of the Robin Moor!
Let me quote to you from the SIU agreement with the
Robin Line:
"It is further agreed that this bonus agreenietit may
be reopened for the following reasons:
"The committing of an overt act, or the declaratibn
of intent to commit an overt act, on any American
ship, regardless where it may be, due to bombing, 'sink
ing, mining or the firing of guns thereon Or thereat. . . ."
The signature Of a responsible Robin line executive as
well as that of a U. S. Conciliator is attached to this agree
ment, Mr. Doggett!
Now, instead of holding up the sanctity of agreements
More About
"?.
which you never fail to do, when there can even be the
slightest question of Union men possibly infringing on it—
you applaud the Robin Line's outright flaunting of tlijs
agreement! Jdoreover, you call for a "strong tonic" against
the Union.
WJiat kind of a tonic? You slyly suggest : "The Govern
# ment has been doing, a little cracMng down on strikes in de
fense industries."
Da you expect the Government to send in the Marines
in order to help break a contractual obligation undertaken
by the Robin Line? Even a "patriot" like yourself should
jjpnow the limitations of "patriotism" better than this!
5'. You say that the "iisual machinery of negotiation in
labor disputes has been unable to cope with the situation."
And you imply that the Union is at fault here. But, what are
the facts?
The agreement Avith the Robin Line provides, subject to
the above stipulations: "that this bonUs iti part or whole
may be reopened to negotiation tipon written notice to the
Company from the Union and said negdtiafions shall com-
mence forty-eight hours after receiving such written no-
tice, Sundays and holidays excluded, and both the Corh-
pany and the Union shall reach a decision within five days
after negotiations have commenced."
Aifhe tJiiicih bas lived up to its contractual obligations t6
the letter. It has given due notice. It has made known its
decision on demands.
The Company has not even seen fit to present counter
proposals. It has not complied with its obligations under the
agreement. Responsibility for the lack of orderly negotia
tions rests entirely with the Robin Line.
Instead of calling for the Marines, Mr. Doggett, an im
^..parttiAl newspaper would present the facts as they are, and
call for| those delinquent in their contractual obligations to
live iipj to them. But that Umuld probably be' much too
stroiVg a'tdhic for your a(dvertisers in the Robin Line. They
pay iheji .moiney and they call your tune!
The fact is that dangers for Seamen on the African run
have iifjjr'eased greatly.
The faet is that the bobhi Moor Inciderit has JhiphtsizM'
' • 'beyohd^
tl^e^ciew oh the Robiii Moor had ihe good fortune tq^
' tihis danger with their lives
First Robin Moor
Siirvivbrs Return
(Continued from Page 1)
jars, were wet and had to be
thrown overboard.
Remarkable discipline was
shown by the crew all the way
thiouglr. After a few days^ it was
decided that' spreading out would
be the best possible means of
achieving a rescue. Three boats
were then picked up by a British
ship going to Capetown, on the
13th day out. The fourth boat
was picked up on the 18th day
out, by the Brazilian steamer
Ozorio.
The O'zorio brought the men to
PeVnambnco, after treating each
and every man with all the atten
tion tfiey could have wanted after
their long travail. In Pernam
buco, the U. S. Consul took
charge, restricting the freedom of
the men for state reasons and ar
ranging for their return to the
States. The return was effected
on the steamer Delargentina of
the Delta Line.
Since fhe Delargehtina's pas
senger capacity was pretty Well
taken up, the Robin Moor surviv
ors were put up on cot's in the
ship's hospital; permiseion was
refused to use the promenade
deck as well as the bar. The men
had to make their own bunks arid
tidy up their own quarters.
Since the articles under which
they sailed stipulated that: they
were" to be given nothirig less
than seconiiclass tfanspbrtation
back to the port of signing, the
men feel that they have a just
beef with the Company to re
cover transportation money which
was ifof expended' when they
were forced! to make the b'Cst of
the Delargentiria's poor accommo
dations.
All the men naturaNy ex
pressed themselves as one hun
dred per cent behind the Union's
move for a higher'bonus arid in
oreased war risk insurance on
the African run. Increases are
indispensable, they said, under
such cpnditions.
And they ought to know!
Information
Beginning with July 1, 1941, Selective Service Headquarters
announced this week, all men registered for the Dfaft wlio are
over" 28 yeatrs of age oh that date are antomaticaily defcrked from*
Army service. .
This announcement came in the form of an order issued by
Brigadier General Lewis B. Hershey, acting chief of the Selective
Service system. 'I'he acting chief declared that he was acting upon •
request of Congressional leaders who have a bill incorporating this
proceduVe up for action. The order is limited to 30 days on the ex
pectatiori that within that time limit, the Bill will hecomri law.
The deferment of men over 28 holds good only for peacetime. •
Should the United States enter the war. all men I'eglsteied would '
immediately become subject to induction.
• • •
Local Draft Boards have received instructions to defer all mar ' '
lied then on the grounds of dependency. Such men are placed in
Class lilA.
* » *
The fact that there is an acute shortage of seamen seemg to
have penetrated to Local Draft Boards in New York at least. Letters
from the Union requesting deferment of qualified seamen receive
prompt attention from the Boards.
A list of Local Draft iS'oard^s Is available' at tfife .tileW^'V'dfk offlcft
of the Uriion, so that seamen" may know the exact place wher<f
they are to register in.this city.
: #
Seafarers' ^ Honor Roli
<4^
S.S. ALCOA TRADER $10.00 '
S.S. OAKMAR ......; i.. 6.60
C. Biitt 4.00'
S.S. EL VALLE 2.00
C. Malpass 3.00
Harris Rappdrt 3.00
G. Rier 1.00
S.S. DELKINA V.. 8.00
W. Aiide! :.......; ^ ' 1.00
S.S. ALCOA MASTER 4.65'
J. Me Ahclretvs .. i... .\ ..... 1.00
R. Milan 1.00
N. Cadenhead l.OO
S.S. ALCOA TRANvSPORT ..1.50
S.S. ALCOA CARRIER 2.7a
E. Coll ink .50
Tqtal .......................... $5i:00
MORE ABOUT
More About
Shipowners Ask
Protection
(Continued from Page 1)
Ney Evans, suggested that provi
sions for "fair and reasonable"
copipensation could be iricluded
in the bill. But the shipowners
would hot comproiriise anci kept
on insisting on "just compensa
ticri."
"Apparently, the shipowners are
jiiore than willing to be patriotic
—provided that the Expense is
borne by the seamen. And, pro
vided that not a certt' of their
profits is touched in the course
of their patriotic enthusiasm.
"Just compensation". — that's
what they will take. "Patriotism"
—that's what they will give.
What's in a word?
Union Saves
Crew frdtti Fate Wdrs'n Oeath
(Continued from Page 1)
have stopped even these char
acters from britng duped for this
finking game. No, they were just
handed jobs on a silver platter—
because Calmar loved them.
Immediately, the remote con
trol apparatus of the SIU went
into action, invisible ray and all.
Lo and behold, pretty soon all
the backwash from the Brooklyh
waterfront had their seabags
packed on' the deck of the Flo
mar, ready to debark. If they
thought they couid hrive SWurri
the distance they Would have.'
But they couldn't and the Com
pany would not coricede to crill
a launch for their erstwhile
guests.
The , upshot was that the Union
had to get liold of a launch
somewhere and help unload the
Flomar of her wonldbe iftnk
crew:.
this daj:
If s
qi^cape
why 6ther seamen plying the same run should forfeit self
protection for the future. ' ' , •
' The faet is that the Union is living up to' the letter 6f its
agrqiemeh'ts. "
The fact is that the Seafarers' Internatiohal Unioh is
eompletely withiu its rights in makiiig demands for a'h up
ward revision of the war bonus agr(e'ements. ,
• It is'up to the shipotvners to make tbeiT"^ ;0i'qposals'.
As f6r the seamen, thejli do hot inteml. to heintiriiidatdd
ohi ijt their jMstifled "dehihhds by anyone.
• ' Yery/truly
" John Haixdc, SeeyetaryTreasutriesr,
Atlantic .& Gulf .
The men, cursing the Com
pany bitterly for deceiving them
and vowrnU that Ihey wb'uld keek
amends, boarded the Union
launch and left the Flomar to
turn on it^ anchor.
It cOst the Company about a
Grand to round up the "ghost
crew." It cost the Union about a
Sawbiici^to disperse it.
The Company later contacted
the Union; 'and they have been
famished a donkey crew pending
negotiation.^ with the Union.
Moral of the story is: It doesn't
pky to buck the just demands of
the SIU!
mtlCl TO ALL
SIU MEN
Canadian Branches of the
Seafarers' International
Union'
,\ithen in Canadian ports,
visit the Mtls of the following'
orgdhi^ailons, affiliated to the
Seafarers' TUierkdtiOnal Union
of iiorth Ainetica:
CANAblAISi
sEA^EKi's uiiiorir
408 St.' Lawrence BohleVard '
Wionfieat, Canada
BRirrSH COLUMBIA
SEAMEN'S UNION
340B Cfwnble Strept
'Vancouver, B.G.
."4
A'
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Thursday, July 3, 1941 THE SEA FA R E R S * L O G
• > i
, A'
{
> IE hat's Doing^
ISORFOLK
June 27, 1941
Editor Seafarers Log:
Dear Sir & Brother:
Shipping continues good with
a shortage of A.B.'s and Oilers;
rated men in the black gang are
bard to find.
* * *
• 4
We had an Isthmian ship in last
week and they had to get most
of the men some place else. As
fasf as they were dispatched
from the hall they went out and
got drunk. Out of five A.B.s
there, two made it. If we Intend
to organize these ships the
membership will have to get in
there and i>ltchi with lis.
* • «
Have got tfie tow boats 86%
better iivlnji conditions since our
arrivai, but it seems as though
• there are a feW s'upermilitdnts
aro'dhd" Who "think they can do
better than the Afifent and Patrot
mah are doing. But Vvhat gets
me is that these "SUPER
SUPERS" have been sieepihg ort
^ dorfkey breakfast, no showers' and
no fans for. yeard but ft seems
as though they get a kick out Of
quittirrg at 'the lasit mihute to get
another n'fght iri art'd thOn, when
there is a leflitirhate beef, they
sail' right Obt from' bnder bs.
• • " •
The Alcoa ships have' been
eailfhlg oiit of here shorthanded
every trip • for the want of
A.B.S and Oilers.
The hall will be moved around
the first of July. Up two flights.'
Maybe the rummies wtii be too
tired to make ft then, so when
the, men who are ready to go to
work dome up to ship,"they won't
be bothered with a bunch of so
caiied militants who get that
way only when they have got
John Barleycorn for a running
mate.
» • »
It seems as though there are a
few Brothers around here who
are under the impression when
they are brought up on charges
the monies that they have put Iri
(he Union v.ill be refunded. Yes,
we have some of those socalled
good Union men around here
too.
Fraternally yours.
Bud Ray, Patrolman
with necessary AB's. The S.S. Jo
sephine Lawrence called up the
other day from Georgetown, S.C.,
but 1 was not able to find any
AB's for her, so she had to sail
shorthanded back to Hoboken.
The S.S. Marjory, the flag ship
of the Bull Steamship Company,
is right now calling from Wil
mington, N. C., for an AB and I
am hoping I will be able to fur
nish them one before she sails
from there. Also had the S.S.
City of Birmingham to sail one
oiler short.
So in case any of the South
Atlantic sanors come home for a
vacation, don't "forget to (Trop
around to the hall; we might
have just tlie job you have been
waiting for.
Steady ds she goes,
Charles Waid, A'gent
Savannah Branth '
MOBILE
TAMPA
SAVAmAH
June 21. 1941.
Editor, Seafarers' Log:
Dear Sir and Brother:
Activities In Savannah still
rushing. The S.S. Willihoto was
here the other day dnd I had to
get 3 AB's from Jacksonville,
Fla.
The S.S. City of Chattanooga
came In 3 AB's short and we
were lucky ehbugh" to supply her
NOTICE
June'is; 1941
Editor, L6'^, '
Brothers:
The boafd has been clean of
jbbs for the last three days. Dur
ing the lull the guys have had
a chance to drift down to the
docks and get in some fishing
with nothing more to do than
listen to the' breej:es whisper
and what whispers!
* * *
One floats fn with a familiar
and oftsmelled stench. The
local cominie stooge and brown
noser, Pete Sosa, NMU dis
patcher when no bigger stooges
are around, has been quietly and
cunningly (he thinks) approach
ing the members of the laidup
Cuba, asking them to sign NMU
pledge cards. This action along
with other efforts. Is a combined
program of the commissars up in
NMU Headquarters to scab the
P&O out when we go up for our
contract.
* « *
A ne>y office of the SIU has
beeii opened by the "Union at
Martinez, Califofhia. SIU fnen
in that port cih get in touch
with Ferh Robbins, Seafarers'
Refiresentative, or Bennie Bar
ren'a. Tanker organizer, at the
address below^
Scafrtrdi^*""
InterntiIi§l<i»iSal tWlcta \
604 Ferry St^efet RdOtti 'S'
MAitinez,
Copies Of the Seafarer's Log
can be^ obtained at the above
address.^""
The boys, most of whom know
Stooge Sosa by sight (he has a
striking' resemblance to a mon
key vi/ith a fresh shave) give
him the horseiaugh, because
they are wise to 'him and the
phoney tactics of the scabherd
Ing committees Who control the
activities of the NMUi
Around a few of the Gulf ports
some of the Bull Line skippers
have been a little goatheaded
qbout dividing absent members'
wages among the vest of the
crew in the deck department.
Deck department cre"ws also
state they have trouble cnllect
iug same in Home Port Balti
more.
The agent around this village
has been having trouble with
drunks holding the ships up In
the wee 'small hburS of the iriorii
ing. Henceforth, he orates, any
man 'doing stich a trick should
not Shbw surprise if he receives
a special delivery note in tfie
next port \Vith. the five flay
notice. ' '
Can't blame a giiy much for
this as every time It is pulled,
the sh'ipoAvhdfs howl bloody mur
der and pound hell out of the
Union through the Maritime
Commission every instant. If a
guy wants to throw a, whingdffig,
let Kfm li^y off, thro# If, and
ship crtrt. 'Shippihg h plfenty fast
enough to' do this and it doesn't
Jower the boom on our Organlza
tidh. "We have enough fd fight
now withduf' difr own mentbers
addiifg"^el td tife fire.
• Your for a* stronger iSlU;" •
King Fisher
June 17, 1941.
Shipping Is still booming
around this part of the country.
Last week tlie Plow City came in
with the new agreement' that was
negotiated in Philadelphia with
the HedgCr S.S. Co., which gives
the men time back for all watches
stood on week ends at sea and
holidays. The crew paid Off and
was well satisfied witli tlie agree
ment. I mean, the company
shifted her down to the drydock
and proceeded to give her a gen
eral overliHuIirig and cleaiiingup,
and Cod knows she needs it.
Whenever you talk about rust
buckets, boys, she takes the vel
vet mop! She will be a little
home V for the boys when she
comes out, though.
The Alcoa Master came in from
the Ba,uxite • Country after mak
ing a trip up to Canada. All over
time was satisfactorily adjusted
and they donated .$4.65 to the Lof/.
They received their transpoila
t'ion back to New York and were
happy.'
The greatest thing today that is
confronting the Union is a few
members of the crew getting
slushed up on sailing time and
going aboard and blowing their
fog horns to let everybody know
how militant they are. This
brand is mostly ordinary seamen
or messmen that have been going
to sea a couple of dog watches.
You know this brand of militant
action keeps popping up in my
mind every time I think about
the days of 1921 to 1935. I just
keep thinking what a collection
of dividends will (he Seamen col
lect for this when things get back
to normal again? And to save my
soul, I just can't conclude. Will
some good Union man that really
appreciates the Union, please an
swer this for me with his honest
opinion?
Last week the Bayou Chico
came in with 29 hours overtime
from last trip sailing from Mo
bile. This beef had to be taken
to a Port Committee, but they
paid it. The money is in the safe
here in the Hall for the eight
men involved in it.
There is also .$4.46 in the safe
here for A. H. PEREZ, Messman;
R. SHEP!PARD, Messman, and W.
J. WARD, Chief Cook .from the
TOPA TOPA on the voyage end
ing May 11, 1941, to be divided
among the three, for passengers.
There 15 also $6.00 for SEA
BRIDGE, Messman from the
Maiden Cieek for feeding pas
sengers, in the safe here.
They can all get this money
any time they call or write for
it.
We expect a busy weekend as
we have about four ships due in
the Alcoa Pathfinder and the
Flour Spar, the Hastings and the
Snn Dance are due in Pensacola
this week, to be turned over to
the ALCOA LINE.
Olden Banks, Agent
SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION
OF NORTH AMERICA : :
Atlantic & Gulf District
Secretary-Treasurer's Office
Room 213 — 2 Stone Street, New York City
P. O. Box 25, Station P Phone: BOwling Green 93437
DIRECTORY OF BRANCHES
BRANOH ADDRESS PHONE
NEW YORK 2 Stone St. BOwling Green 93437
Dispatcher's Office ..BOwling Green 93430
BOSTON 330 Atlantic Ave. ...LIBerty 4057
PROVIDENCE .. 465 South Main St. ..Manning 3572
BALTIMORE ... 14 North Cay St. ...Calvert 4539
PHILADELPHIA ,6 North 6th St. .... .Lombard 7651
NORFOLK 60 Commercial Pi. . .Norfolk 41083
NEW ORLEANS 309 Chartres St. .... MAgnolia 3962
SAVANNAH 218 East Bay St Savannah 31728
JACKSONVILLE „,136 Bast Bay St Jacksonville 51791
TAMPA T2'0fl. So. Franklin St. .Tampa M1323
MOBILE ...... .,55 So. Conception St. Dexter 1449
TEXAS CITY ... 105 4th St., N Texas'City 722
MIAMI 1348 N.E. First Ave.. Miami ^2950
IjSAN JUAN 8 Covadonga St San Juan 1885
A-
Phila'detphia
Port Doings - Serious Consideration Shows
Some Urgent Tasks for Union Meii
BOSTON
June 30. 1941
Editor, Seafarei's Log:
Business is going rather
smoothly to date, with very lit
tle delay'' in getting replace
ments.
There are very few men oh
the shipping lirts at this time,
which makes it rathef quiet
around the Hall.
. Notfit'ng further of any interest
to report.
• Your Boston Reporter
June 23, 1941
Editor Of the Seafarer®' IjOg:
The Old port seems to be slow
ing up a bit. First we lost the
three Range line ships, the pride
and joy of the Philadelphia Navy.
Then four Calmar ships trans
ferred to the Red Sea run. Then
the Pah Atlantic SS tjompa'ny has
only one ship to call here a week
instead of the two. What the
hell is coming off? Shipowners,
are you ti"ying to close up this
port? (We woudei'!)
But seriously, Brothers, we
wonder, how many of the old
timers stop for a moment to con
sider what is taking place. How
many of us here were present
during the last emergency? Sure
ly some of us must have learned
a few lessons from the old ship
ping board days. Surely, we must
remember what caused the Ship
ping Board to come into exist
ence. Let us ask a question:
Aie we heading in the same di
rection now as we did then our
selves. We wonder. Some mem
bers may ask what we can do to
remedy any reoccurence of what
was in 19171819—and for many
years later. Well, if appears to a
few sanemindeu memuers that a
more rigid control of ourselves
is in o r d e r, namely: stop
the drunks, stop raw outandout
chiseling, stop trying to get
something for nothing. Let's
be men and get what is right.
Let us .stop this petty beefing
and chisellhg, learn to respect
the, fellov) that you have put into
office, respect hi^ decisions. Re
member that III rendering a deci
sion he is acting in the best
interest of the majority and not
for any Individual to the detri
ment of the majority, and last
but: not least, don't wait till the
ship is ready' td safl before you
w,ant to hflflg the hook in order
to settle a beef that could be set
tled long before sailing time, and
forget about the GlN MILL at the
last minute.
beach a tarpolan muster would
be Very slim at this time. So,
easy JoJo.
a g * •
Isthmian linesLWe seem te
have quite a time with these
wagons here in this port. When
one of them comes in, they have
it so Weil guarded that It is an
impossihiiity to get aboard. So
vire generally have to set up shop
on the front and contact the men
when they come out. So far we
are having very good luck.
* * «
We are going after the South
ern S.S. Co—(Penn. R.R.) We
just contacted the San Antonio
and picked up two NMU Pro
Books and had 7 other pledge
cards signed, expect better luck
next time.
• • •
Brother Buckman, the Admiral
of the Cuban Distiliing navy, was '
temporary Patrolman while the
agent was on his vacation and he
was supposed to pinchhit for
Flanagan also, hut he met with
an accident. The result was that
his foot was crushed and he was
unable to carry on. So we had
to ask Brother Lester Van Horn
to take over the duties of Patrol
man until Flanagan returns.
« « 41
Well, we guess that we have
said enough for this time, but in
closing let u,s remember that we
are not the only Union man on
the ship. There are quite a num
ber of other fellows that are '
Union men also.
Fraternally, .
The Three Musketeers
W.R.B., No. 1994
J.F.F., No. 542 f
H.J.C., No. 496 " >
v
1S
• m
•
: % •
• , :l
:lpl
a 4
•
'yy
JoJo, the dogfaced boy, con;.
monly known as HangtheHook
Flanagan, departed for his long
earned vacation. And, as usnal
the pink lemonade and the sm?ll
of Yiddish hot dogs* ajid grimy
mustard • must have gotten the
best of old Joe biecause he wound
up in Coney Island as usual. We
do hope he .doesn't go oyerbpard
oii the Finances as, if ant! when,
by the looks of the. boys on the
NOTICE
Men oh the beach at
BEAliilOiMT, TEXAS, are
advised to get in touch
tvith W. H. Parley, Secre
tary of ILA LoeM No. 1610.
Brother Parity is getting
quite a lunhber of calls for
seannen and has agreed to
ship SIU men to such
joibs. Make sure to'.registeif
tfith Kim if :^0u are oil the
bea^K at Beaihiiont ; ;,.
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T HE S E A F A R E R S » L O G Thursday, July 3, 1941
I ' ;
RESOLUTION
(The following Resolution, proposing a revote on the
'n$5 Strike Assessment was passed unanimously at the New
Branch of the S.I.U. on Monday, June 23, 1941).
it is the opinion of many members and offl
fj^ials. 0^, this Union that our Strike Euli'd is at present too
1 insignificant to serve as a substantial feserye fund in case
rwf emergency, and ^ , ^
'' ' WHEREAS, we all know that the shipowners are con
i^hntiy building up their financial reserves in preparation
.'of schemes to take back gains made by the Union in recent
.years^and to deprive us of the weapon of organized strength
which alone made possible these gains, and . ,
WHEREAS, experience has shown us that in 1921, when
the shipowners went to bat to take away, improved condi
tions Avon by the seamen during the last war, itwas lack of
adequate Strike Funds that finally licked the Unions in that
struggle, and
WHEREAS, Ave are resolved not to alloAV a repetition of
that distastrous experience of 1921 to take place and to
throAv us back once more into sea slaverjq and
WHEREAS, Ave as members of this Union, the Seafarers'
International Union of North America, OAA'C a definite re
sponsibility to the organiization to help build it strong and
make it mighty and impregnable against anyand all at
tacks, and
WHEREAS, it can't be denied that each and every one
cf us is today, thanks to the Union, in a position to pay at
least the small sum of Five Dollars ($5.00) in t"he interests
of ourselves and our organization. Now Therefore Be IT
RESOLVED, that the question of a Five Dollar ($5.00)
Strike Assessment be resubmitted to the membership, and
be it further
RESOLVED, that the period of voting shall be six weeks,
and be it finally
RESOLVED, that each member understanding the score
give vigorous support to this resolution on all vcsscls and
in all ports.
(Signed) Howard Guinier, No. 478; Earl K. Riley,
i No. 537; Douglas Muncaster, No. 397; Clar
is _ ence E. Norman, No. 987;, C. E. Martinez,
' « No. 2676; Charles Moulaison, No. 1228; F, L.
I ' Hart, No. 488; W. Carlin, No. 4981; W. Paul
Gonsorehik, No. 749; Arthur Thompson, No.
2888; F. E. Hathaway, No. 86.
Where Is That
Wandering "Party
Line" Tonight?
GiftHorse for Labor
Under a heading, "Strike
Drop Is Seen as War Hits
Russia," the evervigilant (for
the shipowners) Journal of
Commerce comments as fol
lows on June 23, 1941:
"It was assumed that the
American Communists
would swiftly change their
program from one of attack
upon to support of the de
fense program, possibly re
viving, with some modifica
tion, the slogans of the
'Popular Front'. Such a
change, it was thought,
. would be made with much
greater speed than that of
1939 following the German
Russian pact, through new
experience In changing pol
'Icy plus the greater urgency
of the present situation." «
The Jaumal sounds as if it
were welcoming back an old
friend into the fold. And, to
be sure, it has good cause.
For, if the Communist Party's
gents with the flexible spines
do indeed flock" back to the
slogans of the "Popular Front,"
it' will be a real bonanza for
the shipowners. In fact,' for all
employers. The Journal ap
SPECIAL
NOTICE
Will a man named
RECORD, Avho shipped
out of Jacksonville about
March 20, 1941 on a Bull
Line ship as Oiler or Fire
man, get in touch with the
JacksoiiAdlle Agent at his
earliest convenience. A
matter of utmost Union
importance is involved.
Fraternallj',
C. M. Rogers,
Jackson\dlle Agent
MARSHALL MENZIE
Write yoqr wife, c/o Mrs.
Perlra, 1215 A Street, Hay
wnrd, Qal'tornia. Important.
JOSEPH F. WELSH
Get in touch with' your
mother at 251 Seeman Ave.,
New York City, Apt. 4E.
Urgent.
U.S. Official Scores
Employers Holding
Up Defense Work
With labor attacked on all
sides as the culprit holding up
. . . "national defense", it is refreeh
parently well remembers how j ing for a change, to hear a con
, „ trary opinion from Government
Patronizing Advice
Prom the Employers
the C.P. "Popular Front" line
resulted in innumerable strike
breaking expeditions by Sta
linitecouti'olled laboi" leaders
of the BrldgesCurran type
from 1935 to 1939, It also
knows that under the cover of
the "Popular Front," the great
est sellout of all—the sellout
of the French sitdown strikes
of June, 1936 was under
taken by the Stalinite agents
in that' country.
Could anything better be
hoped for? Not by the ship
owners and their ilk!
Among the choicer' pieces of
fatherly advice given to labor re-
cently, is this bit of counsel from
the ever so solicitous Journal of
Commerce:
The' labor movement must
tighten its internal organiza
tion;. . National leaders of
hoth the A.F. of L. and the
C.I.O. have but limited author
ity over the constituent and in
ternational unions. . . . They
cannot hope to do this unless
fhe national leadership can be
made truly effective, if neces
nary, through changes in the
structure and organization of
these labor bodies."
It seems that the Journal is
flisturbed about jurisdictional dis-
putes, etc. So, it' offers this sim-
ple formula: Labor must
"tighten" its organization. How?
'Well, since the "National Lead-
ers" haye "but llraited authority,"
~~yibY-^Qive them unlimited au-
4horityJ
In other words, the employers
Who run the Journal are all in
layor of a dictatorship over la
Iwr^provided it does not inter
fere too much with them. These
j)^pie are the same birds who
' liollered "dictatorship" every time
the; Roosevelt Administration
passed, one of it's mild laws to
.prevent them from skinning
the peoifle outright! Apparently
what's sauce for the goose is not
«auce for the gander.
iFhat' they aetually mean, is
tfiCf would Ufceto flee 'Twes
ism" established in the labor
unions, autonomy abolished and
trade union democracy ground
under foot.
Well, it's our guess that the
American Avorking stiff won't go
for that. He won't stand it from
any Hitler. And he won't stand
it from the native variety of
would'ue Hitlers.
Asks Brothers
To Visit SIU Man
Shipmates:
When you are in Boston,
please go to the Carney Hos
pital and see Francisco Almo
doval from Guanica, P.R. He
got hurt on the S.S, Delfina.
Just a few minutes will make
him happy.
His son,
Teofolo Almodoval,
SIU No. 6346
JOE GRANDE, No. 1640
Get In touch with HUGH'
BROWN, Jr., G. 131, who
would like to recover some
gear which you are reported to
be keeping for him. He may
be reached on the S.S. Alcoa
Mariner—e.o. Geo. Hugglns A
Co., Port of Spain, Trinidad,
B.W.I., until June *12; c.o.
Grace, Keneddy A Co., Kings
ton, Jamaica, B.W.I., until
June 18 and e.o. Alcoa 8. 8.
Co., 254 So. Broad St.
Ala.» en anA after iune lA
700,000 Jobless
Americans Turned
Adrift by Congress
With major attention of the
public directed toward war devel
opmente or the great labor strug
gles, Congress and the Adminis
tration in Washington quietly put
through legislation turning 7(j0,
000 jobless Americans adrift in
Btoimy seas of presentday ecu
nomy.,
It was merely a bill to reduce
by 44 per cent the W.P.A. payroll,
to take effect on July 1.
Another 1,250,000 Americans,
who have not Been given any re
lief assistance before, are addi
tional victims of the latest eco
nomizing measures put through
by Congress.
The motivating impulse of the
Bolons seems to be summed up in
the following: All funds for war.
not a cent for relief—to reverse
an old slogan under which the
unemployed fought many a battle
for sustenance.
While we are about to go out
and flght for the "Four Free
doms," said to be basic for the
progress of humanity, one ot
these most basic "Freedoms"—
that called "Freedom from Want"
—seems to be taking it on the
chin, and not at the hands of
Hitler at' all, but of alleged demo
eratie antagonists of the Nazi
beasts •
sources lately.
Bosses Avho are growling loud
est about Etilkes are themselves
holding up national defense by
backward labor policies, defense
officials charged in Washington
this week.
Dr. Will W. Alexander, as
sistant to the Associate Direc
tor cf the Office of Prcducticn
Management, declared such pol
icies are endangering the pre
paredness program far more
than strike stoppages, "which
amount to but a fraction of 1
per cent of the mandays
worked."
Among employer practices de
nounced by Dr. Alexander were
the refusal to tialn' local work
eis for skilled Jobs; "pirating"
of workers from other plants;
banning_of'skilled Negroes and
aliens from defense work; mis
erable working conditions which
cause employees to migrate to
jobs in other cities, and "hog
ging" of defense contracts by
big business, to the exclusion of
duller ehiployers.
*^Tht<ic practice's, helsaid, "cre
ate delays and disruptions In
defense production."'
Discrimination against Ne
groes and aliens has become a
"damaging bottleneck," Dr,
Alexander said. Barring of non
citizens has reached "alarming
proportions" because of anti
'alien hysteria, and thus has pre
vented use of workers having
skills vital to defense, he point
ed out.
Profiteers Are Making
AJekaefPresideiifs
Premise enWarPrefits
(From Ltt&or, Railroad Labor's
Paper)'
Speculators and profiteers are
making a joke of President Roose
velt's promise that nobody will be
permitted to get rich out of the
defense emergency. '
According to the Department of
Labor, when the War Department
went into the market for a large
purchase of tomatoes, the price
most overnight went up 21/^ per
cent — not only on tomatoes, but
on corn and other canned prod
ucts.
Speculators, the department
said, have played a big role in |a
spectacular jump in commodity
prices, which rose sharply in the
past three weeks.
Soaring retail food prices be
tween midApril and raidMay, the
department disclosed, took an
other big bite out of the house
wife's marketing dollar.
To this disagreeable fact was '
added the"bad news" that the ad^
vance in living costs, which has
continued without interruption
for six months, shows no signs
of a letup.
Taken all together, food prices
are now 5.3 per cent above the
level of last May, but that figure
does not begin to tell the 'real
Btory. On the most essential arti
cles of diet the jump has been
much greater. Eggs and butter, for
example, are about 20 per cent
higher: potatoes,. 24.1 per cent;
pork chops, 15.2 per cent; oranges
and sugar, nearly 10 per cent.
These are foods which, expert's
declare are the backbone of an
adequate diet.
In a report covering wholesale
prices, the department said that
since midAugu6t 1939, there has
been a rise in the general level of
farm prices of 28 per cent; tex
tiles, 23 per cent; hides and lesv
ther products, 15 per cent".
Higher wholesale prices, in the
course of time, are reflected in
higher retail prices, so the out
look for the consumer Is anything
but happy. ;
h(.
HUGH MURPHY
Now at Staten Island Marine
Hospital. Wants to get iii
touch with shipmates that
were with him on the S.S.
Ionian last year. Important.
Do mr Ship
Clarke AUen Gravely
P3067
Arthur C. LYing
Certificate iNo. Z — 63959,
E — 13330
Carries two books (ILA &
IBU) at same time.
All meiubers of the Seafarers International Union
of North America, AHantic & Gulf District, are asked
to cooperate with the Union patrolmen in paying their
dues promptly. For the benefit of those members who
may not be aware of the fact, we are hereby reprinting
a resolution on this subject adopted by the New Orleans
Branch on February 10, 1941, and later on concurred
in by all the other Branches: '
"Due to the financial condition of the Union all
members while einployed shall have their dues paid
through the current month and shall not he regis
tered on the shipping list if their dues are not paid
flHtraghtiiecurretti
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