http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/7cccb9a3f3d9911aab3753d95acfba83.PDF c0939b8c3a1ed207e0ad235c1bc956dc PDF Text Text SIU Wins $12.50-$25 In 2-Yr. Mississippi Pact Union-Run Hiring Hall, Niuny Other Demands Won In New Contrast Official Organ, Atlantic & Gulf District, Seafarers International Union of NA VOL. X NEV/ YORK. N. Y.. FRIDAY. AUGUST 13. 1948 NY Decision Awards Idle Pay To Permits By JOSEPH VOLPIAN Special Services Representative No. 33 AFL Official Dies NEW ORLEANS—The Atlantic and Gulf Dis­ trict of the Seafarers International Union smashed through with a precedent-making pattern for the maritime industry Aug. 6, when New Orleans Agent Earl Sheppard, acting as chairman of the sub-Negotiating Committee, signed a two-year contract with the Mississippi Shipping Company, for the highest wages ever set in the history of maritime. The contract will expire Sept. 30, 1950 and guarantees a wage increase of $12.50 across the board for every rating, with*The company, agreeing that the exception of Bosun, for as well as 12 other outfits enr A aecision, handed down this gaged in various operations. week by. the Unemployment In this was true, based its case on whom the Negotiating Commit­ The main motive behind the sUrance Referee Section of New the fact that the man had left tee secui-ed a $25 raise. SIU Negotiating Committee's York State, clears the way for his work through no fault of hard drive for the two year con­ The signing of the new twopermitmen to collect unemploy theirs. The referees, however, tract with guaranteed manning year contract was made doubly ment insurance after leavi'ng pointed out that a man is able, scales was that it would aUow impoi'tant by the fact that the their ships under the union's'60 under the State Unemployment the SIU to devote far more time Union also secured a clause— Insurance Law, to leave his job day-limit rule. and energy to organizational ac­ contained for the first time in voluntarily and, if in good cause, In an appeal made by Isthmian tivities than ever before. any maritime contract — which Steamship Corporation against collect his unemployment pay. guarantees that the present man­ This additional strength and The "good cause" must be de­ an SIU permitman, the State ning scale on all Mississippi ships energy will be of considerable Referee ruled that the man hat termined by the facts in each cannot be reduced during the! importance to the Union now not left employment without due specific case, the referees pointed FRANK FENTON full life of the pact, unless both that pork chops are getting cause, as claimed by the com out. WASHINGTON — Francis P. parties agree to such reduction. higher in the maritime industry To back up their decision, the pany, but was abiding by the Fenton, director of international In the negotiations with the and every new job from now on contract between Isthmian and referees quoted the State Unem­ relations for the American Fed­ other contracted companies, the will mean additional security for ployment Insurance Law, which the SIU. eration of Labor and former na­ SIU is insisting that the pact the SIU membership. states that good cause for leav­ Events leading up to the ruling tional director of organization, signed with Mississippi be ac­ ing employment exists when "ac­ began when the SIU man, DomiUNION RIGHTS nador Isorda, left his ship in ceptance of such employment died of a heart ailment in his cepted as the pattern for the Washington office this week. He industry. In addition to securing the compliance with the SIU ruling would either require the claim­ allowing a permitman to remain ant to join a company union or was 53 years old. In New York, the Union Ne­ precedent-making clause on Since last year. Brother Fen­ gotiating Committee presented guaranteed manning scales, the aboard a ship for one voyage or would interfere with his joining ton had representated the AFL the two-year agi'eement to rep­ or retaining membership in any sixty days. {Continued on Page 3) in the Inteimational Labor Or­ resentatives of the Atlantic and He then made application for labor organization...." The referees then summarized ganization. He was a vigorous Gulf Ship Operators Association unemployment benefits in New foe of communists in the labor at a meeting held late Thursday their decision: York and was approved. Fol­ movement. "Since it is undisputed that the lowing this. Isthmian entered in­ afternoon. Originally a printing pressmen laws and regulations and prac­ to the case and claimed he had MEETS WATERMAN The San Francisco Branch of left the ship voluntarily and tice of the Union, which the em­ in Boston, Brother Fenton lost A Union sub-committee, his right arm in an accident, the Atlantic and Gulf District ployer herein is boupd, by con­ without good cause. headed by Mobile Port Agent later becoming a representative announced that the search for In its decision the Referee Sec­ tract prohibited the claimant Cal Tanner is holding discus­ for the Teamster Union. He then its own Hall had ended this tion pointed out that the com­ from continuing in employment sions with representatives of the became regional director for the week with the opening of q[uarpany had entered into an agree­ after the completion of the voyWaterman Steamship Corpora­ AFL in Boston, and was brought ters at 85 Third Street. ment with the SIU to employ its - -age- because of the expiration of tion in Mobile. The Mobile com­ The opening of the new Hall members aboard its vessels. Un­ the permitcard that had been is­ to Washington as the AFL's na mittee is also pressing for the followed a decision of A8cG tional director of organization in sued to him, it follows that if the der the rules and regulations of Mississippi-type contract. members in all ports strongly the SIU the man could not con­ claimant had continued in the 1940. The Negotiating Committee re­ urging such action. TEAMSTERS' REP tinue aboard the ship and thus, employment thereafter not only The building is ample enough The late AFL official inherited ports that it will have available in the true sense, was not leav­ would there have been a viola­ ing employment without good tion of the contract between the much of his zeal for the trade for publication in next week's to permit full Branch activity. emjjloyer and the Union but the union movement from his father, issue of the SEAFARERS LOG A special room for recreational cause. claimant's right to join the Union John J. Fenton, who was busi­ full details on the progress of purposes contains a library, games and free coffee. (become a bookmember) would ness agent of Local 68 of the all negotiations up to date. All A8cG Brothers in Frisco As soon as the major com­ have been jeopardized. Teamsters in Boston. are invited to make full use of panies fall in line, the commit­ Brother Fenton was familiar ORIGINALLY CORRECT tee said, the Union will be free the new facility. Phone number to many members of the SIU, "Under these circumstances the There's good news for to deal with other contracted of the Hall remains the same— Commissioner's representatives which he lauded for its policy of SIU flicker fans in New operators, comprising 16 freight- DOuglas 2-5475. supporting other trade unions correctly determined that the York fhis week. The moving ship and 16 tanker companies. claimant voluntarily left his em­ with legitimate beefs. pictuio projection gear is humming- right smooth again ployment with good cause. "The employer's objections are and all hands are invited to attend tomorrow's show. overruled and the initial deter­ mination ruling claimant eligible Feature presentation will SAN JUAN — Strongly sup­ and for an extra five cents an in progress since the first of the is sustained." be "Under Texas Skies," a ported at veiy turn by the SIU, hour beginning Januaiy 1, 1949. year. This far-i-eaching, decision is a larrupin' Western with a The companies had insisted The longshoremen were sched­ the International Longshoremen's clear cut win for the permitmen cowboy cast headed by Bob that the wage issue be arbi­ uled to return to work on the Association emerged victorious of the SIU. For once and for all, Custer and Bill Cody,, two trated; a procedure which the morning of Wednesday; August from a strike in Puerto Rican company objections to permitping-ping artists who sure men receiving unemployment ports of nearly three weeks' dur­ 11, and 430,000 tons of raw sugar ILA could not accept lest the will get those bad guys pay in New York State have ation, when the companies finally piled on Puerto Rican docks union lose all voice in the dis­ 'fore they get to the gulch. pute. were forced to grant a retro­ were expected to start moving. been beaten down. Also on the bill is a cartoon When the strike began, SIU The strike was called late in The effect-this ruling will have active wage increase. subject. "The Foxy Fox." July when it became apparent Headquartei's instructed Sal The new agreement, covering in other states cannot be pre­ The pictures start talking Colls, Puerto Rico Agent, to co­ to the ILA that there was no come 8,000 workers, calls for a dicted, as every state has its at 12 noon. That's tomorrow, operate with the ILA "in what­ other way to break the deadlock pay hike of 10 cents an hour own unemployment insurance Saturday, August 14. ever manner the ILA requests." in negotiations which had been retroactive to January 1, 1948, laws. New Frisco Haii Movies Again! iLA Longshoremen Win Puerto Rico Strike ; '"jy �Page Two THE l!' I>'' pir lijiit SEAFARERS LOG Friday, August 13. 1948 ^ SEAFARERS LOG Published Weekly by the SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA Atlantic and Gulf District Affiliated with the American Federation of Labor At n Beaver Street, New York 4, N. Y. HAnover 2-2784 % Entered as second class matter June 15, 1945, at the Post Office in New York, N. Y., under the Act of August 24, 1912. 267 The Way Is Open The two-year agreement with the Mississippi Ship­ ping Company means that the SIU has breached the defenses of the operators—and once more the SIU has r 'H set a new mark in the industry. Not only is the Mississippi contract a great achieve­ ment in itself, but it is a beacon lighting the way to a new era in SIU and maritime history. The wage increases are highly satisfactory.- The Hiring Hall is the same one we" obtained from the Atlantic and Gulf Operators early in the summer, and we know what a stir that made on the waterfront. The manning-scale clause guarantees that every Mississippi ship will sail with a full ctew. And the new coal and copra clauses mean more jobs because they mean more ships will be sailing. [i « In dealing with Mississippi, the aims of the Nego­ tiating Committee were the greatest number of jobs possible, the tightest job security possible and the highest wages in the industry. These have always been the aims of SIU negotiators, but this year is an especially critical one for the Ameri­ can merchant marine, and the basic provisions of the Mississippi contract had to be thought out with extreme care. This month we are starting the fourth postwar year. The European fleets, with their cheap tramp rates, and low costs based on low wages, are beginning to grab big chunks of the world's trade. The fact that our own Hospital Patients government helped put them back in business to steal When entering the hospital our cargoes only makes matters worse. notify the delegates by post­ card, giving your name and The time has come to stabilize the American mer­ the number of your ward. chant marine in the light of world conditions. And it is Mimeographed postcards up to the SIU to stabilize its own position, whether the can be obtained free at the rest of the industry is ready or not. Social Service desk. That is why the SIU insisted on and got a two-year Staten Island Hospital contract with Mississippi. You can contact your Hos­ That is why the SIU is insisting that the rest of the pital delegate at the Staten contracted companies sign two-year contracts. These are the Union Brothers currently in the marine hospitals, Island Hospital at the follow­ ing times: When the SIU is completely covered by two-year as reported by the Port Agmts. These Brothers find time hanging agreements—and we will be even if the remaining com­ heavily on their hands. Do what you can to cheer them up by Tuesday — 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. writing to them. (on 5th and 6th floors.) panies have to get the point the hard way—we will be able to draw a deep breath and look around us. Thursday — 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. GALVESTON MARINE HQS. C. R. GRIMES (on 3rd and 4th floors.) It is true that we will find ourselves in the best W. H. COLBOURNE W. MATSOUKAS ' Saturday — 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. M. C. GADDY position in the industry, in the only solid position held J. HEITMAN (on 1st and 2nd floors.) H. L. SEYMOUR J. GIVENS _by any maritime union. But we will not be able to rest JAMES FARRIOR A. CAUDRA on our laurels, because the union that rests is the union E. MULHOLLAND G. WELDON that slips backward. J. BOUYEA A. SYLVERA J. W. POLASKI Stabilizing our position, so far as existing contracts W. HUNT EDWIN MAXWELL H. T. NOE R. L. JOHNSTON are concerned, will mean that the SIU can double and FRANK WAGNER B. W. BIGGS K. C. CROWE P. E. CUMARE redouble the vigor of its organizing drive. S. t S. C. OPPENHEIMER H. FERDRICKSSON MOBILE HOSPITAL In the long run, the best guarantee of, more jobs W. H. PERRY H. MASON A. C. McALPIN and greater security is constant expansion. A new com­ T. MANDICK G. L. DUXWORTH L. D. ATKINS pany under the SIU banner means, not only more jobs WALLACE BLY C. NANGLE ED MILLER C. W. HALLA for our membership, but the nearing of stabilization in E. K. NICKERSpN XXX P. G. DAUGHERTY SAVANNAH MARINE HOSP. the maritime industry. t X X XXX BAN PEDRO HOSPITAL B. K. BAUGH At the same time, the Union will be able to move BALTIMORE MARINE HOSP. L. TICKLE TROY THOMAS in still another direction—that of devoting greater at­ HAROLD HANNAH T. C. KELLY • F. W. VANLEW tention to our internal organization—to the tightening y M. BYERS P. D. FULCHER A. S. GRIFFIN . of our organizational set-up, the streamlining of the J. McGUIRE H. W. BIGHAM XXX J. MORTON - Union apparatus so that, when and if the time comes, we NEW ORLEANS HOSPITAL W. ROBERTS H. W. SPENCER STELLY C. FORMAN M. T. TABING can move quickly, smoothly and effectively and at a E. LIPARI W. WHITE XXX minimum of physical and financial expense. R. F. BLACK C. MORALEA STATEN ISLAND HOSPITAL There may be dark days ahead, dark days for the J. DENNIS J. P. GAVIN A. EWING country as a whole, for the maritime unions, and for the L. C. MASON B. L. MODE A. VANELZUELA entire labor movement. A. LOOPER C. L. KAMER M. CASTRO C. ANDERSON W. T. ROSS J. McNEELY The two-year contract is not the whole answer. But E. BOROCUSKI RALPH PIEPHET A. JENSBY the stability offered by this two-year agreement will V. R. NORTH L. A. HOLMES D. DeDUISEN give the SIU the opportunity to prepare itself for what­ V. P. BALLINGS L. J. PATI T. ZEMRZUSKI ever comes. G. J. WANKA C. GREEN W. H. NUNN ) •1 Men Now In The Marine Hospitals 1 �Friday^ August IX 1948 THE SEAFARERS LOG Page Thsv* Mississippi Contract New High inMaritime (Continued from Page 1) Union has also expanded the traditional SIU clause, whereby the Union has the right to open wages at any time. This clause also enables the SIU to open dis­ cussions on overtime, subsistence, lodging allowances and other monetary matter included in the contract. The same Hiring Hall clause previously negotiated with mem­ ber companies of the Atlantic and Gulf Ship Operators Associa­ tion has been made part of the Mississippi contract and thus guarantees the continuance of the Union's Hiring Hall for the two-year period. rules prescribed by the US Pub­ lic Health Service. 4. Addition of a clause in the Deck Department working rules, providing that when the Deck Gang is required to spot booms for longshoremen, they shall be paid for such work at the regu­ lar longshoremen's rate as con­ tained in the longshore working rules of the SIU contract. 5. The Union has agreed that Carpenters may sound all bilges and fresh water tanks, but such work must be done every day while at sea or in port. This will increase the earning capa­ city of the Carpenters, because previously some operators have not allov/ed them to sound bilges on days which would normally mean overtime. 6. The Union has revised the Bosun's clause so that in the fu­ ture, Sunday's eight hours over­ time at sea for sailors will con­ tinue to be paid for at the over­ time rate, but will not be com­ puted as overtime to be equal­ ized for "high man" Bosun. In turn, the Negotiating Committee obtained "a double raise" for the Bosun rating. This is of par­ ticular importance to the Union because the "high man" provi­ sion for the Bosun previously meant that the Bosun was called out at all hours to work over­ time. The new clause in the contract reads as follows: "Section 12. Division of Overlime. All overtime shall be di­ vided as equally as possible among the members of the deck crew. In any event the Boat­ swain shall be allowed to make as many hours overtime as the high man's overtime hours in the Deck Department, except where such overtime has been paid for routine sea watches. If the Boatswain is required to work with and supervise the watch on deck on Sundays or holidays at sea for which the watch on deck receives addi­ tional overtime, he shall receive the same amount of overtime per hour as paid to a member of the watch on deck, in lieu of his regular overtime rate. When the Boatswain is work­ ing alone, or with men on watch below only, on Sundays or holi­ days, he shall receive the regu­ lar overtime rate prescribed." CLARIFICATION Notice To Agents And Crews / The membership is aware of the fact that the SIU Ne­ gotiating Committee is now in the process of negotiations with the members of Atlantic and Gulf Ship Operators As­ sociation, comprising the following companies: Alcoa. Bull, Eastern, South Atlantic, Seas Shipping, Bern­ stein Shipping, Smith and Johnson, Seatrain Lines, BaltimoreInsular. True to shipowner form, these people have wired the Union that the Union is "tieing up their vessels." This, of course, is false and is an obvious attempt by the shipowners to try to lay the groundwork for some phony type of injunction or other legal action. All officials and crewmembers are therefore notified, in riding these particular companies' vessels, to pay particular attention that the shipowner does not and is not allowed to do any chiseling in any form whatsoever. Make sure the operator lives up to all of the terms of our contract. Crews riding these vessels are, in the meantime, notified that on any question that may come up regarding contracts, negotiations, etc., to go directly to the Port Agent in v^hatevcr Port they happen to be for full information. PAUL HALL Secretary- Treasurer A further clarification pre­ scribes that when the Bosun is given the right to work "high Among other improvements man overtime" to equalize his obtained by the New Orleans pay with that of the high man Negotiating Committee are the in the Deck Gang, he shall following: be called out for such work only 1. Recognition of Monday as a at reasonable hours. This will holiday at sea or im port, when elim.inate a large share of the designated holidays faU on Sun­ headaches some of the Mates foe'sles and toilets belonging to unlicensed personnel in the day. This is a marked gain for have caused by insisting that the the unlicensed Engine Depart­ Stewa-i-ds Department. the Union. Under the old con­ ! 6. Transporfaiion, The operaBosun be called out any hour ment. tract Mondays were recognized j tors have made a big beef about to equalize overtime. as a holiday after falling on Sun­ The company had originally transportation. Rather than hold Other clarifications and day only when a ship was in changes made in the contract are tried to insist that, because of up the entire contract and the port. this overtime clause for Wipers, mewly negotiated wage scale, the as follows: 2. Overtime during straight 1. Coal & Coke as Penally Car­ Black Gang quarters on board Union has agreed to set aside hours is to be paid to men wash­ goes: Two years ago the SIU SIU ships in the future should the question of transportation. ing sand ballast off deck, and forced the operators to consider be painted only once a year. Once the entire contract with time and a half is to be paid to coal and coke as penalty cargoes. The Committee rejected this Mississippi has been acted upon men who do this work off watch. This was done in spite of the proposal because it would mean by the membership, the Union This is an innovation in the con­ fact that no other seamen's union filthy quarters for SIU . men. will negotiate a new transporta­ tract and will result in an in­ had such a clause. . At the time Therefore, the Committee agreed tion clause with the operators. crease in the earning capacity of the inception of this 10 per­ to the revision of the Wiper's When completed, it will become of members of the Deck Depart­ cent penalty for coal and coke, working rules based on the view part of the Mississippi contract. ment. the Union was manning close to that if the Wiper can paint the AIMED AT SECURITY 3. Penicillin is toibe carried in rooms during 100 vessels carrying these car­ engine and fire The entire contract negotiation the ships' medicine chests at all goes. Immediately after, be­ his regular working hours, cer­ plan was aimed at gi-eater se­ tainly he should be allowed to times and is to be administered cause of the penalty attached to paint the Oiler's, Fireman's and curity for the membership and to the crew members requiring SIU ships hauling coal, SIU Deck Engineer's quarters in a the procuring of as many more it, according to the methods and companies accepting coal gradu­ I jobs as possible. It was for this similar manner. ally took their ships out of op­ reason that the penalty clauses 4. Assistant Electricians: The were eliminated and the" other eration until, only a short while back, the Union had no vessels rating of the Assistant Electri­ amendments were included in at all hauling coal or coke as cian is changed to Second Elec­ the new contract. trician, with a monthly pay rate regular cargoes. The Committee declared that West Coast- and NMU-con- of approximately $326, represent­ its efforts to obtain the record There must have been a good dersigned compgny agreed to tracted ships, not having this ing a considerable wage in­ wage increases were greatly deal of excitement around the ' enter into an illegal hiring hall clause, have secured this trade crease for men in this classifica­ hampered by the NMU's recent offices of the Mississippi Ship­ contract requiring that all em­ and the SIU membership has lost tion. acceptance of a five-dollar ping Company in the Hibernia ployees be hired from and 1,000 to 2,000 jobs. 5. Utility Messmen: The Un­ across-the-board raise from sev­ Because other maritime unions ion has agreed to a clarification eral contracted companies. Bank Building in New Orleans ' through said organization." The company also charged never tried to obtain this penalty concerning Utility Messmen who during the last days before the The Negotiating Committee that the Union had done some clause, putting the A&G District new agreement was signed. are carried for the sole purpose believes that the two-year con­ The jumping started when the other terrible things, but 24 at a disadvantage, the Negotiat­ of caring for extra passengers. tract with Mississippi, with its hours later Mississippi ordered ing Committee, acting on its own company received a notice from When during the course of a 'guaranteed manning scales, the "full speed astern." initiative for the protection of voyage these extra passengers right to reopen the other moneEarl Bull Sheppard, chairman On that same day, August .5, the meinbersliip and their jobs, of the SIU Negotiating Com­ are discharged from the ship, the ' tary clauses at any time, will the crew of the SS Del Norte, removed these fwo items as pen­ mittee, on August 5 stating that extra Utility men carried for give the A&G membership far one of the company's three alty in the new contract. "in compliance with the interim the purpose of taking care of more protection and security than crack cruise liners, discovered 2. Copra Penalty Cargo: This them may be required to sougee under any of the previous con­ agreement signed by the Union and the Company, dated July that there was no contract. Na­ item is pretty much identical I the unused passenger quarters. tracts. turally, if there was no contract with the question of coal and , Thus, the SIU contract in this 31, 1948, that negotiations have The Committee also pointed the Union crew could not sign- coke. SIU vessels were the only respyect is still tops in the field., out that the next two years will stalemated." on—even if there were 94 pas­ vessels securing penalty pay for as no other member of the be tough ones for the maritime The company, in the person sengers aboard. hauling this product, generally Stewards Department may be industry—possibly the most cri­ of H. X. Kelly, vice-president, The ship was scheduled to hastened to reply on the same sail at four o'clock that after­ the only cargo brought back required to do such work with­ tical of all time. By now lock­ day that negotiations must re­ noon, but it did not leave until from the Far East these days. out payment of overtime. The ing up working conditions and commence at once. Apparently the crew had an agreement un­ Since the SIU ships were the SIU Negotiating Committee be­ making it possible for SIUonly ones that had the penalty, lieves that by taking such a contracted ships to operate in the company got this letter off as der which to work. practically all SIU ships came move, it will encourage SIU- any type of cargo field, the Un­ rapidly as it could. back without any cargo at all. contracted operators to carry ion will be able to guarantee it- . GAY SAILING SOFT ANSWER Consequently, SIU companies more passengers on the 11-pas­ self contracted protection while On August 6, Friday, the have been reducing the number senger-type ships, thereby in­ , devoting itself to other prob "With reference to your let­ company signed the new con­ of vessels running to the Far creasing the number of jobs for lems. ter advising that negotiations tract and withdrew the charges j East, causing the loss of a great have stalemated," Kelly wrote, it had filed at the NLRB. The number of jobs. To protect the Del Norte, with its gay crowd "we beg to disagree with this membership and its jobs, the Ne­ statement. Negotiations, should of passengers, many of them gotiating Committee, on its own vacationists, finally sailed Sat­ continue and we believe that initiative, changed the penalty Seafarers in New York who wish lo receive a check-up they would result in an agree­ urday noon. rules and has agreed that up to By then, it could be presumed for tuberculosis can do so through the facilities offered by ment. We are ready to continue the New York Tuberculosis and Health Association. negotiations at once and re­ that Mississippi officials were 3,000 tons of copra can be car­ ried without being classed as In Manhattan, the clinic nearest the SIU Hall is the quest ''you advise us when we wiping their brows. penalty. Perhaps these' company offi­ Washington Chest Clinic at 123 Wooster Street. The examina­ can meet with you..." 3. Wiper's Duties: In line with tion is free, but an appointment is necessary. The telephone However, this soft answer did cials shared the feelings of a the SIU program of making lady passenger, who was unable number is WAtkins 5-7184. not prevent the company from Another clinic is the Brooklyn Tuberculosis and Health filing a complaint with the Na­ 4;o take her place in the dining every SIU ship a clean ship, the Union Negotiating Committee saloon for luncheon on Friday Association Clinic {d 293 Schermerhorn Street. Brooklyn. The tional Labor Relations Board on agreed that Wipers, during their while the ship was still at the hours are Monday from 12 to 9 PM. No appointment is need­ that same day, charging that ed, and the fee is $1. the SIU had "refused to bar­ dock. The poor lady was just regular working hours, may paint, without overtime, the gain collectively ... until the un­ too seasick to make it. OTHER GAINS Things Jumped For Mississippi — And So Did Their Officials free Check-Up For TB �THE Page Four m SEAFARERS LOG Friday. August 13, 1948 There Are Beefs — And Just Beefers By LLOYD (Blackie) GARDNER The Editor of the LOG has invited me to submit an article "on some subject of general and vital interest to the membership." So getting right down to things I asked of myself, "What's something that everybody is more or less familiar with, but which is always driving guys to the aspirin bottle?" The answer was right there under my nose. It was BEEFS. You can't dispose of a subject like beefs in an article of this type. The guy that can clear up all the beefs around us doesn't exist. But I'd like to sound off a little on the subject, in the hope that it might help to get a clearer picture of which beefs are worthwhile, and which ones ought to be tossed over the side because they can do no one any good. Writes As Member I'd like it understood that I'm writing my views as a Union member, as a Seafarer. It is hoped this will start some discussion on the subject. Any mem­ ber with thoughts on this matter should write in and I' The Editor of the SEAFARERS LOG has invited the Port Agents to submit a series of articles on issues of general and vital interest to the mem-* bership. These articles will not take the place of the Agents' weekly sur­ veys on the state of shipping in their ports and other matters, but will be something extra. The Editor felt that the Port Ag­ ents, because of their positions, would be able to comment wisely on a variety of subjects. The third article in this series appears on this page. It was submitted by Lloyd (Blackie) Gard­ ner, Port Agent in Philadelphia. Mem­ bers are urged to submit their own views on this and the other articles in the series. Brother Gardner is an original mem­ say they are. Plenty of times we have something on our chests that we spill to one another over a drink and we're finished with it. But any gripe or beef that is big enough to get a guy all hot and bothered about, and which he keeps repeating to everybody he comes in contact with, oug'nt to be aired in front of the men whom it af­ fects—the membership. To let a beef take the dark, winding course that leads to confusion can ultimately be harmful. If that's a guy's intention, then he means no good and should be straightened out by anyone within earshot who's interested in his own wellbeing as reflected by the welfare of his organization. express himself. If he agrees with what's said here, or he has something to add, by all means let him drop a note to the Editor so we can all read about it. By exchanging our ideas through the medium of the LOG every man participates in the discussion and has a chance to say what he has been thinking about aboard ship or ashore between regular meet­ ings, where he can also speak his piece. Now there's an idea for another subject. But having chosen beefs, let's stick to it. ber of the SIU and he has been active in Union struggles throughout the period of the entire life of the SIU. Brother Gardner sailed steadily dur­ ing the. war years. He has put in much time as a volunteer organizer and has contributed considerably to the suc­ cesses the SIU has made in bringing unorganized fleets under Union con­ tract. He was first elected to office in the SIU in the last general elections of 1947-48 as Port Agent in Phila­ delphia. In writing about beefs. Brother Gardner deals with a subject he has become very familiar with, as a re­ sult of his considerable experience as Ship's Delegate on innumerable ves­ sels he has sailed. the Shipping Rules as they are?" they invariably ask. You can always answer these cold. The answer is: We don't need new Halls—if we want to jam all the Brothers in dirty, foul, dark Halls without lounging, toilet and recreational facilities. Strikes never were Ginmill Gossip Guys have passed along to me beefs told to them in a ginmill that are really childish stuff. But they are always loaded with harm becaiise they might be taken seriously by the easy-to-convince type of listener. I learned that a certain member was sore because necessary—IF we never cared about getting more a guy he once sailed with, now a piecard, didn't than $45 per month, IF we had been willing to con­ spend a couple of hours talking over the old days tinue to sleep on blue linen. We never need make with him. The disgruntled Brother was yammering changes in Shipping Riiles or other rgulations—if we First of all, let's get clear on what we mean by in a ginmill that the piecard was now a "bureaucratic don't want to make things easier and more efficient beefs. I'm not referring to the kind we get aboard so and so," and that "he's too big to remember his for all concerned. ship that involve contract violations or infractions of pals, now," and "I knew him when." You know the But-, then, what would the gripers have to talk Union Shipping Rules and regulations, or any of the stuff. about if there was no progress? You're right, they'd things covered in writing that our Union enforces for our protection. But when you look at this gripe coldly, you see probably start beefing about why we didn't have how foolish it is. The membership, including the new Halls, why we didn't strike for better conditions, Deals With Gripes griper, elected the man in question to a Union job and why didn't we improve our Shipping Rules. because they expected him to do the job—and do it The beefs I'm concerned with in this article prob­ Endless Subject right. Maybe the official was just itching to get ably could more correctly be called gripes—those down to talk of the old days but his job wouldn't We could go on forever on the subject of beefs. little dissatisfactions, dislikes, rumors and whatnot allow it. Fortunately it isn't necessary. What I'm trying to get that are always making the rounds and most of which are never straightened out because they're not Remember, the piecard is not available for social across is the fact that, aside from the trivial small brought out in the open. life during the working day. The membership pays beefs that are an outlet for steam, and which are very much in order, all beefs affecting the individual All of us gripe. We wouldn't be human if we his wages, the membership chose him because it had and collective welfare of the Union and the member­ didn't. There's absolutely nothing wrong with a guy confidence in his ability and reliability. The official ship should be brought out in the open. blowing off steam. For one thing, it makes him feel is responsible to the membership for delivering the To allow beefs to fester in the dark until they better. For another thing, it sometimes leads to im­ goods. He can't deliver the goods and spend the day sloughing off his duties, while he goes around being become smelly cannot be considered healthful. If we a good sociable guy. If he does, he's not on the ball. have a gripe involving our shipmates. Union Brothers or our Union, we should state our case before the Just Misunderstanding membership, where action to improve or correct a situation can be taken. That little incident is just a case of misunderstand­ ing. Any guy worth his salt with a gripe like that Let's exchange oiu* views and ideas, I think that will get the pitch if it is put to him clearly and in in this way we can all get closer together and thereby the proper light. On the other hand, there are chronic gripers to whom nothing can ever be explained, be­ cause they're never happy unless they are knocking something or someone. Nothing constructive ever comes from these guys. They generally are fascinated by the sound of their own voices, and the more they drink the more they pump their speech boxes and the more destructive become their little stories. They don't confine their barbs to piecards, either. "The Bosun is a bum, doesn't know a damned thing," provements, if his purpose is constructive. Gripes of and that "Steward we got is a phony," and "Where this type have many times been the forerunner of the hell did they get that lousy Messman," and on Union policy, because the member who blew his and on and on. Montonous, isn't it? Pretty sorry lid did it where it could do some good. He either conversation when you get that for a daily diet. wrote a letter to the LOG and got his point across by having the majority of the membership read it, Standstill Attitude or he spoke up at a membership meeting where ac­ It doesn't end there, however. These lads with the build a more tightly-knit organization. Beefs are tion could be taken. loose tongues are only warming up. "Why the hell okay, if they have a sound purpose. Not all .gripes oi* beefs of this type are important do we need a new Hall," and "Why shopld we build I think that if we bear this in mind, we can all -enough to be aired at a meeting—I'm not trying to up the Strike Fund?" and "What's the matter with move ahead more swiftly and surely. �Friday. Augiui 13. 1941 THE SEAFARERS LOG Page Five You Can Get Out In Philadelphia If You Don't Pick And Choose By LLOYD (Blackie) GARDNER Shipping in New York HoUs To Fair Clip PHILADELPHIA — Although it can't be called too good, ship­ ping is holding .its own in this port, and is fair enough to en­ able a man to get out—if he's not too particular about the type of ship or the run it makes. There were several payoffs "during the week. One was on the 88 Isle of Patmas, of the Mar-Trade Corporation. We had a bit of trouble on this ship be­ cause the ship's officers had been ti*ying to throw their weight around. A damned good 8IU crew manned the Isle of Patmas and, in the course of our little in­ vestigation, we found that the trouble was caused by a couple of Union-hating officers who, un­ fortunately, chose to ignore the agreement. hands to think about for a little while. All three of these shipswhich were paid off in Philly during the past week are recent, additions to the SIU's growing list of contracted companies. Judge for yourself, then, theimportance of our Organizing; Department to our Union and the membership. You can easily see how necessary your all-out support is to the winning of any objective selected by our Or­ ganizing staff. It all adds up to more jobs for the membership. I can guarantee the member­ ship here in Philadelphia is more than glad to see these new addi­ tions coming in. Philly has al­ to get a cargo subsidy for the purchase of six ships in this By JOE ALGINA T •. f iu Antwerp - Rotterdam run, and country. NEW YORK-In spite of the Com­ I have also just learned that general lull in maritime, ship­ mission to charter one of the ping and business in this port transpiacific liners, Mariposa or a Japanese tanker has replaced continue to ride along at a fair the Monterey, as an Atlantic a U.8. ship on an oil run to Iran. clip. Several good payoffs featured A woman named Eleanor You the past week's activity among (Cissie) Patterson, publisher of "MEVAM Yf^7 the Washington 8tar, died a them the following Waterman ships; 88 Maiden Victory, 88 couple of weeks ago. During Afoundria, 88 Governor Sparks her time, her paper was one of and the 88 Kyska. the loudest anti-labor rags in the country. There were a few disputes aboard the Maiden Victory, Everytime organized men and which is on the intercoastal run, women struck for decent wages, but all 'vere satisfactorly OKAY. NOW and a chance to take care of squared away. their families more adequately, However, we finally squared One of these beefs had the this woman's paper screamed matters away and paid off the Mate and the Bosun as princi­ that labor was getting away Isle of Patmas. 8he is still here, pals. It seems the Mate didn't with murder. awaiting orders. Let's hope that like the Bosun and wanted him liner for six months and as a Last week, when her will was her next trip will be smoother ^red. But we didn't think his cruise ship for the rest of the filed it was learned that she had for all hands. reasons were sound and we year. left 15 million dollars, not count­ Another payoff took place wouldn't go for it. The Bosun The Commission said it ing the value of her newspaper, aboard the Cape Mohican of stayed. wouldn't chai'ter one of the ves­ judged by some to be worth Mar-Ancha. This was a com­ sels alone. * ALCOA PAYOFFS another couple of millions, and paratively easy one, with all ways been chiefly a port of call Two Alcoa vessels, the 88' 8hould Bernstein be given the many more millions in property, hands leaving the payoff very for most of the larger companies Paul Revere and the 88 Alcoa subsidy he's asking for, it will the full value of which hasn't happy. The Cape Mohican is on —so it means a hell of a lot to Polaris, also were ship-shape at mean that the' sadly lacking yet been determined. the Island run. have these newly-organized ships American passenger service will the payoffs, with only minor Also paying off was the John coming in to payoff here. get a boost. beefs to be cleared up. H. Marion, a vessel of the U. 8. An incident that occurred here And it will mean more jobs Other ships terminating voy­ Waterways outfit. The Marion, the other day is worth repeating. ages in New York this week for American seamen who are too, was a good clean ship and It is likely to either make you on the beach, while foreign If your requisition is cut. were the Carras tanker, 88 was manned by a competent laugh or blow your top but, Trinity, in after a four-monlhare taking more and inore or if the food is not up to pu. bunch of 8eafarers, sparked by whichever way you do give out, trip, and our old friend the every day. notify all three Delegates at a capable oldtimer, Bosun the story has a point. 88 Oolabee, American-Hawaiian,' 1 see what happens the end once so that the ship will not Ernest Bell. PUZZLED MAN which makes a 14-day run to "^onth, however. sail until the matter has been This Liberty tanker has only straightened out. Canada and back carrying news- • MORE HELP recently come under the 8IU One of our members paid off It is the responsibility of print. Just to show you the way banner but, believe me, she is a ship here this week and was the Steward to check the 8everal sign-ons took place ^ every merchant fleet is being a credit to the Union. 8he was notified to appear the next day stores before the ship sails, this week, with the 8S Isaac ^ helped out at the expense of spic and span and a pleasure before the Coast Guard to and any complaints %iade far Singer, 88 Jean Lafitte and 88 our own shipping, there's an to payoff. answer charges pending against at sea won't do the crew any Bret Harte heading the list. item this week that tells of a him. ALL NEW good if they have to eat short Attention must be focused-on l2-mlllion-dollar American loan The guy was dumbfounded at And that leads me to a point rations or poor food. a little mixup which, in the in-1 to four Netherlands shipping the news, because he had not I think is worthwhile for all had one instance of trouble dur­ terests of all hands, cannot be ^ companies to be used for the allowed to continue unchecked. ing the entire trip. I went up to It appears that some crewmen the CG with him—and guess announce their intentions of get­ what? ting off the ship at payoff time, The Coast Guard donkey but when replacements arrive it is always a pleasure to see finding that this isn't so. All started reading a list of charges By WILLIAM RENTZ they report that they have a ship in first-rate condition at ports have their ups and downs. made aboard a ship that ended changed their minds and want BALTIMORE — 8hipping was the payoff. Baltimore included, as this her voyage in January 1947. to stay on. fair in this port last week, but However, the fact that there week's shipping report bears out. This guy had been logged two Once a man declares his in-' it appears as though a slow are beefs does not mean always There seems to be a decline for one for about eight different tention of getting off a ship and week is ahead of us. We hope, that the men are not fully ac­ in the number of performers charges, but this didn't satisfy replacements are called for, he of course, that it turns out quainted with their contracts. around here, something which the big brave subway sailors-. must follow through and get otherwise. Too many beefs can be traced is very good to note. Oh, no, this offender, they said, off. This is only fair to his Un-. The payoffs took place aboard to the fact that topside people If there are any around, they had to be disciplined as well. Of ion Brothers and will avoid a' the Cubore, Oremar, W. R. think they are gods and try to are certainly behaving them­ course, the big bi-ass actually had good deal of mixup. |Davie, Atlanta City, Charles give the men 'a hard time. But selves by staying away from no power to do anything, but We'll have a chance to see Nordhoflf, Edith, Mae and the they are learning, too. the Hall. That's the best thing they explained that the charges whether the Maritime Commis-'Bull Run. Although these are A few ships have come in for them to do if they're not would be filed until the Congress sion means what it says in de-, fewer than what Baltimore is here in transit status during in ship-shape condition, because appropriated enough dough for ploring the shortage of Ameri-1 accustomed to handling, I guess the past week. Most of them they know we will not tolerate the kangaroo courts to begin op­ can-flag passenger ships when it we could say is was better than were Alcoa and Waterman ships foul-ups around here. erating again. holds a hearing on August 30,'nothing. that hit this port for loading We cannot allow any man to 8o there you are. Laugli or on an application filed by the On the sign-on side we had only. hui't his Brothers by hurting blow your lid but think it over. Arnold Bernstein Line for an only three ships taking crews. Most of the local talk is about the Union. QUIET FRONT These were the 8teel Executive, the state of shipping. Men are operating subsidy. ORGANIZING an Isthmian ship, and two Ore wondering where all our ships On the labor front, things are PASSENGER PLANS jobs—the Cubore and the Ore- are going, and whether the pow­ vei-y quite in Philadelphia, but An unorganized tanker came The Bernstein outfit wants to mar. The number of sign-ons inaugurate passenger and cargo gives a pretty good picture of ers that be are going to let into port last week and we labor men here are disguested our merchant fleet go down. hit her as soon as she tied up. over the calling out of the Na­ service to Antwerp and Rotter- ^hr^state"* of'" shTppin^"~h7re When they were so busy giv­ We're anxious to see all unor­ tional Guard to deal with a dam, for which they will buy ing away and selling our ships ganized tankers under the 8IU strike in Dayton, Ohio. But, the two P-2-type transports,' CLEAN PAYOFFS they probably never realized banner, where they belong. And then, what do you expect? That's General John Pope and General that, before they knew it, they'd with the membership's help, where 8enator Taft hails from, There were few beefs on the.se [William Weigel. be watching other countries be­ we'll continue to work so that isn't it? .An application for a construc­ ships and only minor ones at gin to carry the biggest load of they will be 8IU one day. Baseball and the hot weather that. All were taken care of tion subsidy for conversion of the world's shipping. Our Brothers in the local Ma­ have this town by the seat of the the two ships to civilian pas­ at the payoffs. rine Hospital are doing well. I pants and aside from questions The crews coming in here are senger use has already been PLENTY OF MEN bringing their ships in pretty get to see them every Friday, on the temperatui'e reading, the filed with the Commission. , There are plenty of men on when they get the LOG8 and one-big thing in everyone's mind The Bernstein Line has piade clean. The fact that they are several attempts to operate un­ doing such a swell job seems the beach here. We don't know their weekly hospital benefits. is this: How to get tickets for All in all, everything is pro­ the World 8eries at 8hike Park der the American flag, but each to indicate they are getting to where they are coming from. All apparntly think that Balti­ ceeding well in the Port of when the amazing A's cop the' time the Commission has turned know their contracts. This is of great help to the more is the best port for ship­ Baltimore,, with no trouble of pennant? (Editors Note: If they down its requests. Patrolmen, besides the fact that ping. Unfortunately, they are any kind pending. do!) , Last February, Bernstein tried Chief Stewards Baltimore Expecting Slow Shipping Week �THE Page Six Frisco Branch Finally Does It: Opens New Hall For A&G District SEAFARERS LOG SHIP BLAST VICTIM ON THE MEND By A. S. CARDULLO r •' Ir SAN FRANCISCO — Here's . lieve me when 1 say it isn't the announcement we promised funny. The CIO longshoremen out last week: The new Hall of the here have an injunction against San Francisco Branch, Atlantic them and they are looking for and Gulf District, is located at any excuse to stop work. 85 Third Street. The phone In this case the commies whis­ pered "race riot," and the press number is still DOuglas 2-5475. said "crew riots," neither of All of us out here are proud which were true. of our new quarters and we The whole incident could have know the other members will be, been averted if the messrooms too. The accommodations are were kept locked when the ship ample for our purpose. Every­ was in port. We trust that the thing is spic and span, with members will keep this in mind freshly painted white walls and the next time their ships are out this way. shinning wax floors. That's all for now from the RECREATION ROOM Gold Coast. In-our next report James Jones, one of the men buraed in steam line ex­ plosion aboard the SS John Bertram in Tampa last month; There is special room for we hope to be able to report a has been discharged from the hospital, where above photo was recreational purposes, containing number of men registered and taken, but will require indefinite treatment for his burns. a library, games and free coffee were shipped. for the brothers browsing around. Members who wish to impi'ove their rating will flnd our collection of text books on a variety of subjects quite help­ By CAL TANNER the Alcoa Runner, the William cussions are continuing with ful. Waterman Steamship Corpora­ Johnson and the Ben Fisher. MOBILE — During the past tion, the main company here. Only vessel to hit Mobile in Union educational material is seven days shipping reached a Our negotiating committee is transit this week was the Gov­ also available for all hands in­ new low, with a total of 58 book­ terested in the know-how needed men and 11 permitmen being ernor Bibb, a Waterman ship making definite progress. While the company is asking to be a good Union man. Edu­ shipped. Only four ships paid off that came in with a full crew for some changes and concessions from Beaumont, Texas. Our cational classes will be held and none signed on. Patrolmen visited the ship and in the proposed contracts, these daily once things start to roll. At this writing, however, thei'e the replacements needed were are not vital enough to won-y A vote of thanks is due—sev­ are several ships waiting to be furnished right away. about, and have no effect on any eral A&G men on the beach here signed on as soon as necessary of our hard-won provisions in NO OPTIMISM who helped line things up at the repairs are made, and slopchests the old contract. In face of the fact that ship­ new Hall, and get it in working and stores are put aboard. At no time here have negotia­ All ships paying off are Alcoa ping last week was the woi'st we order. Among these Brothers, tions broken down. Both sides whose enthusiastic efforts were jobs. The Clipper, one of the have had in some time, we can­ are meeting continuously in or­ line's luxury passenger ships, not be optimistic about the im­ very helpful, are: der to get the new contiact took no replacements this trip. mediate future. Prospects do lined up as quickly as possible. C. Metting, P. Drevas, R. W. Her payoff, like that of the Cape not look too good for the coming We hope to be able to reiSort Stanford, T. Popa, D. Bell, J. R. Edmont, was smooth. week. something favorable on this in Gordon, R, K. Williams, H. AberThe Edmont, which had been Quite a few arrivals are ex­ the very near future. ham, S. Holden, H. Beckman, L. operated by Alcoa for sometime pected, but there is no certainty Burnett, J. Ciglio. now, is being turned back to j that they will go back out again. OLDTIMERS We didn't have any payoffs the Maritime Commission for In fact, some of them are sched­ Included among the oldtimers here during the past week al­ layup. uled to undergo repairs at the -on the beach in Mobile at the though we did have several ships shipyards ,here. The moment SQUARED AWAY moment are Charles (Captain) stop by in transit. Among these shipping does revive, we will re­ The payoff' aboard the William Spencer, W. W. Brown, K. W. were the Penmar, Calmar, St. port it to you, via the LOG. Johnson was held up awhile be­ Klug, W. Jimmie Grey, E. L. Augustine Victory, and the War­ According to the report of our cause of overtime disputes, all of Collins, M. Bonds, J. L .Osborn. rior. The Warrior merely stopped Patrolman who visited the local which were finally settled to the William Werneth, Leo P. Marsh, for a breather before making the maiine hospital, all goes well crew's satisfaction. Tom Meagher, J. Jordan and S. European run. with our Brothers confined there. Chief cause of trouble aboard W. Ghale. Brothers receiving their Union this ship was the Skipper and a UNNECESSARY BEEF The SlU-affiliated Marine Al­ benefits this week included A. Mate—who is an ex-NMU man— lied Workers' Towboat Division A group of the boys on one of both of whom made a lovely C. McAlpin, L. D. Atkins. Also has been digging in at the na­ in the hospital are Brothers our ships had another fracas combination. tional pastime. In a free-hitting Wallace Bly and E. K. Nickerson. with the longshoremen here. The Patrolmen won the beef contest the other day, our tugThis is the third beef of this that arose as a result of no shore INTEREST IN CONTRACTS men dropped a close game to the i5ort. If the messrooms were leave in Bermuda, and also The main topic of interest to Mobile Ri\^r Rats, an aggrega­ "cept locked during the period squared away several other the Seafarers around the Hall tion representing the river and in port, and the watch were beefs. The last payoff for the now is the progress of contract bar pilots here, 16 to 15. Pitch­ given the keys to hold, these week was on the Ben Fisher, negotiations. At our last regular ing the pellet for the MAW was beefs would never happen. v/hich had but a few minor beefs meeting, the membership was in­ Brother M. E. Nelson. Some fellows may think it's a that were quickly settled to the formed of the negotiations being The towboat Division has an­ joke to be in port for a day or satisfaction of all hands. conducted in New York and other game scheduled for next The ships to be signed on what the Negotiating Committee week, and it is hoped that all so and stir up • beefs like these, but A1 Berstein and I make these when the repairs have been is doing. Brothers on the beach will drop docks everyday and you can be- made and stores completed are Down here in the Gulf, dis­ by to see them play. Mobile Reports Progress With Waterman I;:: FrMat. August 13, 1948 The Patrolmen Say— Do It Right NEW YORK—In recent weeks we have come across quite a number of demotion beefs. Somehow, a few Skippers and Chief Engineers have arrived at the old-fashioned idea that, by demoting a rated man, they have handed out the extreme penalty against so-called mis­ conduct. It is true that any man found guilty of not being able to carry out the duties of his rating can be demote'd to the next infer­ ior rating, but such action must be proven before the U. S. Steamboat Inspectors. But we have been plagued by certain officers who take the position that they are big­ ger than the Inspectors that is­ sue the ratings, and make a practice of demoting not to the next rating, but (to take an ex­ ample) from Chief Steward to Messman, or from Chief Elect­ rician to Wiper. Such a pro-' cedure is contrary to maritime law. Demotions for minor miscon­ duct is a high-handed gesture of swell-headed Chief Engine­ ers and Skippers, enthralled by their "exalted" position, who imagine themselves the sole judge of others with the right to give or take away a mans livelihood. Fortunately the officers who pull this tactic are few, and their unwarranted action should not be allowed to cast a reflec­ tion on the majority of officers, who endeavor lo do the right thing. The rated men shipping out of the SIU realize that they have an obligation to their ship­ mates and to their Union to do the work of their respective ratings and instances where they have not been able to do their duties are very few. Remember that, as long as a man carries out his responsibil­ ities and lives up to the agree­ ment, regardless of anything else he may do, he is protected against any and all demotions. Of course what a man does on his own time is his own busi­ ness. When you go Aboard ship, though, do your job right and prove to others (as we already know) that an SIU seaman is the best seaman in the world! Louis Coffin �THE SEAFARERS LOG Friday, August 13, 1«48 GRATEFUL FOR UNION BACKING Why Bosuns Get Grey SAN JliAN — There's no change in the strike situation down here as the longshoremen's beef continues 100 percent ef­ fective. Relations between our crewmembers here and the striking men of the ILA and UTM are at a very high level. What I call incurable "com­ pany men" among Masters and Mates often constitute a serious menace to the life and limb of the crew, as well as a hazzard to the. ship, a source of loss to the company and a . liability to the underwriters. These men go on the mistaken idea that, if they chisel a few hours overtime from the crew and indulge in other penuriousness, the company will, in undy­ ing gratitude, magnanimously present them with* a Commo­ dore's position or a shoreside job. Captain McF., ordinarily a kindly man to his crew, had wox-ked long and diligently at his profession, and had risen to command one of several sister ships that were the world's largest bulk carriers. San Juan SlU Continues To Aid Puerto Rico Longshore Strike By SAL COLLS By G. W. BILL CHAMPLIN On my first trip to sea on the old Marore, in 1925, I became acquainted with the kind of Master, who is a company man first, and a seaman afterward. Page Seven ' SIU rraresentalion drew plaudits from Seafarer John White, ChiR Electrician aboard the Robin Gray, after the Union aided him in being cleared of phony sabotage charge lodged with Coast Guard by vessel's Chief Engineer. Line ship, was disposed of when the Oiler, who had been per­ forming for three days, was pulled off the vessel. The Night Cook and Baker, who had been late for three consecutive days, was fined $25. Because of the present .situa­ (Editor's Note: Late dispatches tion, there were no sign-ons. report settlement of the strike.) Both the Catahoula and the Oddly enough, shipping has Carabulle, of the Cuba Distilling been very good, especiallj'^ in Company, have called in here the Deck Department. Since the and shipboard organizers were strike may last indefinitely, contacted on both these vessels. many of the men on the vessels Sentiment on both these vessels tied' up are heading for the appear to be strongly SIU. mainland, because they would rather take their chances > on (Editor's Note: On Aug. 3, being shipped out from another the National Labor Relations port. Board handed down a certifica­ Replacements for them have, tion order naming the SIU as collective bargaining agent, as a therefore, been necessary. result of the elections held re­ SQUARED AWAY cently on these ships.) Of course, there have been no payoffs during the past week. A beef on the SS Monroe, a Bull RECOMMENDATION ' The local Building Committee has recommended the purchase of the building on Palayo Street, just around the corner from our present location, to serve as a new Hall. The membership has Someone called the French accepted the committee's recom­ Police who beat and kicked the mendations. violently resisting Cook to jail The strike being conducted by to sober up. our AFL Maritime Trades De­ I put out the supper alone as partment affiliate, the ILA, has the Third Cook also took off, and the island tied up tight, and the didn't show up till next morn­ Governor of the island and one ing. The Chief Cook got out the of his aides have gone to next day after a rough night in Washington to see if something jail without cigarettes. cannot be done to bring about When we got to Dingwall, I a settlement. found the Crewmessman missing Bosuns Aren't Only Grey Ones, Suys Stewurd By RAYMOND J. WELLS So that left only one thing to do: try to persuade the old Third Cook to sign on as Night Cook and Baker—broken ribs and all. This he did, although he had taken his papers and clothes home previously. Everything went smoothly till we hit the coast of Europe The good Captain was even There have been many articles then on his last voyage, for he in the LOG about Bosun's prob­ was to have been made Com­ lems; but I can tell you he is modore next trip. not the only man who gets grey Sailing out of New York, we hair! hit Cristobal on Sunday, March Take the last trip of the SS 7 (my birthday, damn it!) and, William R. Davie, South Atlanlay on the hook. "Heavens," ex­ tic. We left June 17, and just claimed the Skipper who didn't got back. It was my 13th cross­ swear, "a day lost!" ing of the Atlantic—so maybe At Cruz Grande, Chile, there that had something to do with it. Because of the strike, there on sailing day. We left the dock, was a shortage of ore, and an­ We crewed up in Baltimore, but were held up by the tide, are more Brothers around the and the sailing boa»-d was posted beach then normally. Some of other two days were lost. and the first thing off the bat again for 8:00 PM. I went the lads seen around are E. Venthe Chief and 3rd Cooks got into A week later we lost a day in tureira, M. Murphy, M. Santi­ ashore to look for him. a battle, with the Saloon MessMiraflores Lake, awaiting transit ago, H. R. Billings, Homer SpurAfter visiting fifteen joints I man mixing in too. through the Panama Canal. Then came back fifteen minutes before lock, G. Gonzalez, J. Bermudez, All came out with bruises and we took on bunkers at Chrlstosailing. About then the Mess- J. Maldonado and J. Goicoechea. bal. "Great Guris! More lost black eyes and got a calling man showed up and made the down by the Patrolman, before time." ship. So we left Dunkirk with sailing to Norfolk. We were to discharge at Spar­ all hands aboard. Saturday, the 3rd Cook went rows Point, Baltimore; so we I got a good night's sleep ran through the Virginia Capes to the doctor to get cracked ribs fifteen days later and started to thinking the battle was over for and headed up Chesaijeake taped up—a result of the pre­ discharge. that trip, only to find the Saloon vious fight. He paid off Sunday Bay. The Chief Cook got all gassed Messman sick the next moiming. under mutual consent, leaving There the company agent met us short-handed. After loading up and started scattering things He was laid up for four days us in an old launch and told the coal, we shifted ship and loaded around the galley. When I went thereafter. Skipper to head back outside for stores, preparatory to sailing in, he took a swing at me. He So you see eveiy thing has By KEITH ALSOP Greenville, N.J., because the port Sunday PM. followed me into the saloon, worked out all right in the end— GALVESTON—The return to was tied up with a waterfront I went down to the galley at threw the Third Cook on one of but I earned a few of those normal shipping which we have strike. 5:30 and found a big fire in the the tables and knocked him out. Bosun's grey hairs on the way! been expecting in this port hap­ stove, and figured everything The poor Old Man, in a dither pened this week. of righteous indignation over the was under control for breakfast, We're back to normal, but we delays these "blasted Unions and went back to bed. can still report that shipping is About 7:15, the Saloon Messwere causing him—and of course terest on the part of the mem­ good in the Deck Department. MOBILE—The Mobile Branch with his mind on the Commo­ man called me and said the bership. There was one payoff in this dore's job decided he'd show Night Cook and Baker had gone of the Marine Allied Workers, Under tei'ms of the resolution, area, the SS Aroseman in Hous­ Bethelehem Steel what a faithful to bed. affiliated with the SIU, will I went down and found him hold regular membership meet­ only members at work at meet­ ton. This vessel signed on, as servant he was by saving an ing time will be excused from hour from Cape Chai'les to either sick or drunk, but he re­ ings on the first and third Mon­ attendance. Failure to be px'es- did the SS John B. Weaver, fused to turn to. By that time Sandy Hook. days of each month, with all ent for at least one of the this week. it was 7:30—breakfast time—and hands being required to attexid monthly meetings will result in So hugging the coast, full nothing was ready. SUMMER OUIET at least one session monthly. a member being dropped from speed ahead, he piled her up on I built up the fire again and a bar. But, don't laugh—we The lag that comes with the These provisions are incorpo- the shipping list, making it nec­ managed to get the meal out; were in a tough spot then, off essary for him to x-e-register. month of August has had its vrated in a resolution adopted and when the Chief Cook came an icy shore, with the barometer recently by the MAW to insure WELFARE FUND effect on most evexything around in tp start dinner I notified the falling. The powerful turbines Captain that the Night Cook, quorums for the transaction of Employed members who do here. Things are quiet through­ and twin scx-ews were useless, Branch business by the member­ not attend the one required and Baker was fired. out the area, with nothing of and so were the Coast GvJard meeting each month will have That left us two men short on ship in regular meetings. special interest to report to the tugs that came to our aid. to pay a two-dollar penalty fee, a Sunday sailing, with the Hall PROTECTIVE MEASURE membership. The Old Man broke down and closed. With the help of the which will be banked in a spe­ cried like a baby. I often look port officials we finally rounded "The x'esolution, submitted by cial account to be known as Several Seafarers are in the back and remember him then, up two SIU replacements and Mack Hawkins and J. A. Foster, the Mobile Branch Marine Al­ Galveston Marine Hospital. They helpless and frightened, tasting brought them dawn to the ship. of the MAW Towboat Division, lied Workers Welfax-e Fund. are W. Matsoukas, J. Heifixian, the bitter fplly of forgetting that Proceeds of this fund will be Charges were read to the old declared that "before coming a Master must be a seaman first Night Cook and Baker, who did under the banner of the Seafar­ 'used "for the benefit of sick J. Givens, A. Caudra, G. Weland a company agent last. not deny them, only stating that ers International Uixion tug- members and other worthy don, J. W. Polaski, H. T. Noe boatmen in the Port of Mobile causes," as set forth in the and B. W. Biggs. However we did get off on the he was depressed. worked long hours and for low resolution. When it came to signing on second high tide, and made Among the Brothers around The MAW Mobile Branch wages for many yeax-s..." and the replacements, one was an Greenville after all—later than the beach at the present time ever, of course, thanks to the alien, and our allowed comple­ that is was therefore necessary meetings will be called to or­ are Sam Cooper, C. Collins, J. Two to protect the newly-won con­ der at 7 P.M. on the nights Skipper's fear of the. company ment of aliens was filled. tract conditions by active in­ specified. W. Heitman and Sam Vincus. houx-s to go! whip. <5or Galveston Has Jobs On Deck, Bat That's AH Mobile MAW Sets Up Meetings �THE SEAFARERS LO€ Eight Friday. Augual 13. 1948 SBBPS'MIMVTES AMD NEWS Seafarer - Explorer Has ^Salaried' In Dark Continent, South America I the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan, the One Seafarer who ... 11 I Belgian Congo and Uganda seen t-.e interior as v/ell as come together. He traveled by the coasts of continents is foot on some occasions, and by canoe on others. No colonial . Otto Richfield who says he government would gujvrantee is an explorer and anthro­ him any protection whatsoever pologist as well as a seaman. in this cannibal-infested area, Richfield has prowled the jungles of darkest Africa and Brazil's Matto Grosso, and has done extensive radio work in South America in connection with his scientific interests. The record of his adventures, in­ cluding meetings and correspon­ dence with many South Ameri­ can political bigwigs, is con­ tained in a personal log which he calls his "Golden Book." Born in Austria, Richfield is now a naturalized American ci­ tizen. He claims two degrees from the University of Vienna where he made his first in­ quiries into the field of anthro­ pology. (In case your favorite dictionary is in the next foc'sle, anthropology is the science that treats of the origin and devel­ opment of mankind, including customs, beliefs, languages, and other matters. Richfield says he goes in for the whole business, but that his special interest is languages.) In 1935, Richfield headed for central Africa. He was a rover at heart, he maintains, and of­ fers as evidence the fact that when he was a boy of eight he ran away and lived for a week in the woods outside Vienna be­ fore he was found. UP THE NILE In Africa, he headed up the White Nile to the area where he says. However, the natives gave Richfield no trouble. In fact he made friends with them, if the accompanying photograph is any indication. He also collected utensils, weapons and other gimcracks illustrative of the cen­ tral African way of life which he says he shipped back to var­ ious museums in Vienna and elsewhere in Europe. the Bolivian border, a matter of some 600 miles in all. Then he struck out north for Cuiaba, last big outpost before the Mat­ to Grosso itself. FOUND RIFLE Once in the vast relatively unexplored wilderness of Matto Grosso, Richfield, traveling along the rivers by boat and canoe, made friends with the tribes of hostile indfans that live in the area, notably the savage Chavantes. Richfield did not find Fawcett but he did find Fawcett's rifle and evidence leading him to believtT that Fawcett was dead, killed, probably, by the wild Chavantes who resented the Englishman's intrusion into their land. But the trip made a good story for the radio stations which backed it. In his radio work on this occasion and others, Richfield was always aided by his knowledge of lan­ guages. He speaks German, Eng­ lish, Spanish, Portuguese, Ital­ ian, French and Arabic. In ad­ dition, he says that he can find his way around in dialects of several South American Indian and African tribes. Richfield wandered around Africa and the Red Sea for a couple of years. One day in Casablanca in 1938, being the master of several languages, he shipped as interpreter on a French passenger liner bound for Buenos Aires. Once ashore, he proceeded to explore a tough section of South America the hard way. With some help from the Bra­ zilian government and the back­ ing of a group of Brazilian ra­ dio stations, Richfield set out Before becoming a Seafarer, on an expedition into the Matto Grosso in Western Brazil. His Richfield spent a stretch begin­ object was to find a British ex­ ning in 1940 in New York. He plorer named P. H. Fawcett who worked mostly as a designer of had not been heard from since 1925 when he had left on a leather goods and belonged to Local 60 of the International search for a "lost city." Ladies Handbag, Luggage, Belt The first part of the trip was relatively luxurious, Richfield and Novelty Workers Union, points out, since he traveled by AFL. But he hopes to follow the rail all the way from Sao Paolo, sea for many years to come. the huge city 40 miles inland from the port of Santos, to the end of the line at Corumba near LOGS IN JAX ||i!- . Seafarer Otto Richfield shakes the hand of an African Chieftain whom he claims to have found somewhere near the upper reaches of the White Nile. Richfield states he wore the necktie to impress • the chief. • iv'.aa Holds African Title, Eyes Wrestling Crown Of Europe Lou Meyers, Chief Stew­ ship lay-over there, accoiding to a report carried in the "Trin­ ard on the Paul Revere, who idad Guardian." as Lew Martinelli holds the This 250-pound Seafarer, who South African heavyweight wrestling championship and is rated the number one contender by the National Wrestling As­ sociation, recently challenged all comers in Trinidad while his George Thompson Dies In Accident George Thompson, 22-year-old Seafarer, was killed on July 19 while working in the American Oak Leather Company plant in his hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio, the LOG learned this week from retired Seafarer WiUiam F. Clouse, Jr. Clouse reported that Thomp­ son was electrocuted when he touched a 440-volt wire while drilling a hole through a casing of a control board. Brother Thompson had taken the job ashore to earn money to return to New York for a ship. He had been home five weeks when the accident oc­ curred. Clouse, an old shipmate M kr Lew Martinelli to the wrestling world, but Lou Meyers to his Seafarer Brothers, and "Stewy" to his shipmates on the SS Paul Revere where he is Chief Steward. The husky battler recently challenged all comers when the ship stopped in Trinidad. Holder of many championships, he is rated Number One contender for the American title by the Na­ tional Wrestling Association. Seafarers ' touching Jack­ sonville ,will now be able to pick up the latest copy of the LOG, thanks to arrange­ ments made for distribution of the LOG in that port. . The Savannah Hall, which represents ships touching Savannab, has arranged for H. Bennett of 501 East Bay Street. Jacksonville to handle 40 LOGS weekly. The loca­ tion is near to the water­ front and is easily accessible from aU ships. of Thompson's, reported Thomp•son had served on picketlines in the 1946 General Strike and in the 1947 Isthmian Strik^. Thompson joined the SlU in Norfolk early in 1946 and sailed is now 27, recently held the world champion Jim Londos to two draw battles and plans an­ other crack at the _world champ­ ionship after making a try for the European title. Son of the European titleholder from 1900 to 1904, Meyers began wrestling at the age of eight. After battling amateurs for seven years, he turned pro and has been winning most of his professional bouts all over the world ^or the past 12 years. Trained by Zbysco, ex-European champion, and his father, Meyei's is of such proportion that he was dubbed .the Orang Outang in South Africa when he fought the noted Whiskers Blake there for the title. A BIG BOY With 49 inch chest normal, and 54 inch expanded, 20 inch neck and 19 inch biceps, he can clean and jerk 325 pounds in weight lifting. When ashore he runs two-and-a-half miles every morning, and on the ship tosses a few weights about to keep in shape. Last February he defeated Henri de Glane the French champion in Paris; so it is no GEORGE THOMPSON wonder that Chanka Maharaj, once pride of Trinidad, decided as messman. In good standing at the time of his death, burial to remain in retirement when benefits have been paid to his Meyers was there. wife Mrs. Jean Thompson. In Brother Martinelli — er — Cincinnati he made his home at Meyers, that is, joined the SIU 2624 River Road. in 1945 and carries a full book. �Friday, Augusi 13, 1948 THE SEAFARERS LOG Page Nine Digested Minutes Of SlU Ship Meetings at next meeting. Cauied. Un­ WILLIAM TILGHMAN. March der Education the changes in the 27—Chairman J. Napier: Record­ Waterman agreement that be­ ing Secretary R. Noe. Bosun came effective in 1947 were dis­ elected Ship's Delegate. Motion cussed, and the referendum de­ that Departments rotate each cision that those responsible for week in keeping the laundry sanitary work must ' put in the clean. Motion that coffee time full two hours to insuie that an be taken in recreation room. Un­ SIU Ship is a Clean Ship was der Good and Welfare it was pointed out. Undei- Good and recommended that books be re­ Welfare it was pointed out to the turned to the ship's library after membership that each man use. Members asked to turn in should be prompt in paying the repair list to their Delegates. new Building" and Strike A.s.sessSteward asked that used laundry ments. One minute of silence be returned promptly. in New Orleans. Under Good for Brothers lost at sea. 4 i and Welware it was decided to XXX PETROLITE. June 23—Chair­ ask the Captain to have the DANIEL HUGER. June 6— man Cy Magnan; Recording Sec­ messroom and recreation room retary Puke Livingston. Dele­ sougeed and painted. There was Chairman Earl DiAngelo; Re gates' reports accepted. Motion discussion on moving the outside cording Secretary L. H. Harris. that any Bookmember caught laundry aft where there would Minutes of previous meeting ac­ HE CHISELLING QAVS ARE BACK AGAIN, carrying tales top-side be be less noise fi-om the steam line, cepted. Delegates reported all Departments in good shape. Mo­ WITH SOAAE OPERATORS REFUSING brought up on charges, and that and also discussion on keeping tion carried to have ship fumi­ TO CARRY OUT ALL PARTS OF THE. any tx-ip-card doing so be ex­ the officers out of the ci-ew's gated at next poit. Motion by CONTRACT THEY SIGNEp. WHGAl cluded fi-om future meetings. Un­ messroom. The Ship's delegate B. D. Lock, seconded by J. O. YOU COME ACROfiS ANY ATTEMPT der Good and Welfare there was was asked to endeavor to have -Xo VIOLATE THE AGREEA^EAJT,/VOTIFY Brusso Jr. to have Patrolman general discussion and recom­ the draws put out in US money. check slopchest invoice.-; to be THE NEAREST UNION HALL, —AND VOU mendations concerning cleanli­ % X X WILL GET RESULTS, SEAFARERS, AS sux'e the pxices weie not above ness of quartei's and messroom. SUZANNE. May 30—Chairman the legal ten peicent. Motion to USUAL, WILL CARRY OUT THEIR PART OF The Steward was asked to see P. Dunphy; Recording Secretary renew the mattresses. In Good TWE CONTRACT — ANP WILL MAKE SORE about sending personal laundry W-, F. DeLong. Disputed over­ and Welfax-e Brother ^Anderson THAT THE COMPANIES PO, TOO, ashoi-e in France. The Ship's time was reported by Depart­ asked that the crockeiy, silverdelegate was asked to check and ment Delegate. Discussion under wax-e, and toasters be leoi'dered. report back on the money ex­ Good and Welfare covered re­ Brother Harris asked that the change in France. Educational quest for more fruit juices, and table-tops, black- board and ice­ meetings were scheduled for the feeding of watch first. It box in the messroom be put into every Sunday. One minute of was suggested that all stage lines good order or replaced. The silence for departed Brothers. and gantlins be reserved for no Steward expi-essed thanks to the By HANK other use so that they would be crew for cooperation duiing the kept in safe condition fox- those trip. One minute of silence for Oui humorous fountain of knowledge is overflowing. Prac­ trusting their life to them. Jack depai ted Bx*others. tically splitting at the sides with comical facts. We've been" Martin, Deck Delegate, staited laughing to ourselves ever since we installed this column with discussion on the disputed over­ X % a radar detector (a pair of eager ears and pot-luck) for any CHARLES NORDHOFF— time arising from delayed sail­ comical brotherly news floating in and out of port. We have Chairman R. E. Dickey; Record­ ing. The repair list was to be also rigged our oxvn humor pressure-cooker with a safety valve ing Secretary Stephen Sczylrian. made up by Department Dele­ for possible boners. Well, we now believe that old saying, which Everything ship-shape, repoi'ted gates and x-eported at next meet­ is, you'll never stop learning as long as you live. Take chess, Delegates. Motion under New ing. One minute of silence for for example. A slow, brutal, brainy gaine. We were amazed, howBusiness to elect a Ship's Dele­ Bi others lost at sea. XXX evgr, when several champion chess players playing on the third gate. After discussion the mo­ XXX AFOUNDRIA. June 6—Chairj deck told us that the oldtimers in chess-playing (landlubbers, of TOPA TOPA. May 2—Chair­ tion was withdrawn and the man Jerry J. Palmer; Recording ^ course) usually freeze themselves for a week or longer over just meeting went into Good and man John Marshall, Recording Welfare. Tablecloths were asked Secretary William Hahn. The Secretary B. S. Hoffman. Undergone chess-game. We couldn't stand it (or sit it out) watching for the ci-ew's mess tables and Shi#'s Delegate reported the slop Old Business the committee ap- and non-kibitzing at a game taking a whole week. It would seem there was general discussion on chest was short of needed items. pointed at previous meeting to as if rigor mortis were sitting in the game, too. The monotony cleanliness and ship's repairs. A Under Good and Welfare it was study px-oposed changes in the of it all would hold us in such suspense that we'd probably "pop" committee was appointed to decided to accept one dollar don­ Registration Rules, reported that oiu' coffee-lined gaskets, cut the game short and promise ourselves draw up a list of fines that were ations toward obtaining a new no changes be i-ecommended by never to watch another chess game. After all, it would be chess to be reported back to a special motor for the washing machine. this crew. Deck Delegate re­ one of those things. X X X meeting later. One minute of One minute of silence for Broth­ ported that ovei-time for Mates wox-king on deck was being silence for departed Brothers. ers lost at sea. Second Cook Eddie Eriksen cooked us a few morsels of turned in regulax'ly. Motion car­ ft i t. information about food—especially the art of making Irish ried to appoint a committee to ANGELINA—Recording Secre­ slew. Eddie, who really digs into those smorgasbords when he draft a letter to the LOG point­ tary Doc Chalra. Overtime dis­ hHs Copenhagen, Denmark, or uptown New York around West ing out the evils of company putes i-cpoi'ted by Deck Dele­ 54th Street, says lots of cooks don't make Irish stew the policy in working Gex-mans at gates. Steward Delegate pointed right way. They use beef or veal instead of lamb. When Eddie chipping and painting, in the out that the messhalls must be XXX was on the SS Janeway with Steward John Jellefte he cooked port of "Hambm-g. Norgaard. kept cleaner. Under New Busi­ TOPA TOPA. May 23—Chair­ a Danish dish (which looks like hash) of meat, potatoes, ness it was decided to put in for man John Marshall; Recording Zavassen. Silvertsen to serve on onions, etc. However, Danish cocking doesn't appeal to average a new awning for the fantail. Secretary William Hahn. The the committee. The 2nd Cook SIU crews. Scandanavians are famous for eating fish in all Motion to have the blackgang Deck Delegate reported disputed elected Ship's Delegate. Under shapes and forms, day after day. But they also have a sweet head and showers i-epaii-ed. A overtime in his depax-tment. Education, Jerry Peilmer gave a tooth, oddly enough, for one particular food. This is hot, secret vote of full-book membei's There was a motion under New talk on the importance of ship­ sweet soup made from prunes or other fruits. (This fact to determine whether the Stew­ Business to have the Patrolman board meetings. still looks fishy fo us, however.) ard would be allowed to make check the slopchest as thex*e were XXX another ti-ip. By a vote of 10 to many shortages. Under Good Biother Jei ry Palmex' sailed in this week fi-onx Geiman pox'ts 7 he was allowed to stay on. and Welfare a repair list was and sailed out again aboard the SS Afoundria.. . Last week a One minute of silence was ob­ made up. There was discussion bi-other was lea\-ing New York with his gear. No, he didn't have served for departed Brothers. on the inferior brand of coffee, a ship. He was just going down Jo Baltimore and he said, "This and of the necessity of having a town is too bi^ for me. I gotta walk too much" ... Steward BiU better job done on sanitary Dunham, who made many trips on the SS Alcoa Cavaliex-, an­ cleanup. One minute of silence nounced last week—"I'm not doing much of anything. And I'm for depax'ted Bx'othex-s. getting mighty tired of doing that, too." XXX XXX AFOUNDRIA. May 31—Chair­ XXX XXX man Jerry J. Palmer; Recording WILLIAM H. ALLEN. May 16 George Meaney writes from New Orleans aboard the BEAVER VICTORY. June 28— —Chairman W. Addison, Record­ Secretary B. S. Hoffman. Deck tanker New London—"This is a good ship. Some of the ing Secretary A. Brodie. Evei-y- Delegate Palmer reported that Chairman James W. Kelly; Re­ brothers aboard are J. C. Rowley, P. Achilles, Herbert Berthing was leported in order by the stores, slopchest, and x-epair cording Secretary Victor A. ner, William Dixon, J. De Jacimo, Tom Scanlon, Bob 0, the Delegates with the exception list had been checked by the Caver. John Hitch elected Ship's Smith, D. B. Carpenter, Ben Talbert, P. Seixford, William of some disputed overtime. Mo­ Patrolman in New York, and Delegate by acclamation. Sev­ Burton, Ed Lamb, Chet Novakowski and that little brother tion under New Business by G. that minor repairs were ' being eral motions carried for i-epaix-s, with mustache and songs. Steward Jimmy Crescitelli." Lonski, seconded .by B. Craig to started by the Chief Engineer. new gear, and fux-nishings. Un­ t i X send a telegram, to the Secre­ Motion under New Business by der Education, Chairman J. W. To aid in oxxr search for humorous events and sayings we've tary-Treasurer to find out where J. Palmer to leave the registra­ Kelly spoke on unionism, both ashore, and as it entered into created—companies, please note— two brand-new shipboard x-atthe crew stood on war bonuses tion rules as they are. The ar­ the carx-ying out of the contracts ings, which could x-evolutlonize the maritixixe industry. We'd like etc., in the Middle Eastern War ticles in the LOG about the com­ on board ship. Under Good and to see a Coffee Cook signed aboard. The coffee would then be mittees working on new registra­ areas. Motion made to curb Welfare there was discussion on just right at all hours, not bilgy one time and like tea the next tion rules were read. Amended drunkeness on board ship. Mo­ ship's cleanliness, and proper dis­ The second: A Humor Maintenance Man. He would maintain thr. by Brother Palmer to end dis­ tion by W. Morris Jr. to request posal of garbage. One minute of pressure of laughs equally in all departments. Until next week,, cussion and turn the matter over New Orleans to check the standing of Brother who missed ship to a committee to report back \ silence for Brothers lost at sea. • biothers, keep those ships clean and happy. CUT and RUN •; �Pw T«II TBE SEAFARERS. LOG Ftidar, August 19. 1948 MEMBERSHIP SPEAKS mI j-r-' 1^' • Brother Offers Sure-Fire Formula For Living On $26 A Week In N. Y. To the Editor: three cents. The man believes in Father Divine, and won' Now that more and more sea­ charge a cent more. From there men are suffering from the dol­ you can go to the Davenport lar shortage, I would like to of­ theater—27th between 3rd and fer a few suggestions on how to Lexington Avenues. It's a free make the $26 per week unem­ theater, open every night ex ployment insurance stretch out cept Monday. Off Washington to cover expenses. That is, if Square they have the Playhouse you're on the beach in New York. with free dancing and gym. First is food. If you dine at The YMCAs also furnish free the "orange room" (Nedicks), movies, and tickets to all the you can get coffee, juice and plays, broadcasts, television two donuts for 10 cents; have shows, and amusement parks. lunch at various cafeterias for If you like free art shows, 40. to 60 cents; and supper for look into a borrowed New York about the same. I always ask er Magazine; and go to the large for lots of bread and get it. libraries for information on lec­ Between this and eating at tures of- timely interest. At the free-lunch counters on East 14th Museum of Modern Art you can get in free by showing your Coast Guard pass. 'At Carnegie JJ^T ONg" MORS: Hall they have art, dance, ballet, clay-modeling, musical instruc­ tions, etc., for 25 cents a lesson Take it in. You'll fill up a lot of time and stretch the $26 per week. WHISTLE STOP If you like wetting your whistle, you can go to a place between 96th and 97th Streets on Third Avenue for the largest glass of suds in NYC (32 ounces) for a dime. There is free tele­ street and Third Avenue the vision, too. Grab a chair, roll food bill will come to nine dol­ yourself a tantalizing home-made lars per week—^no tips though. cigarette, and relax. What the Between job-calls at the Hall, hell, why worry? The next trip you can go to the local Horn will be different. But don't and Hardart automat and serve drink so much yoU' can't ride yourself a glass of ice water, back. ease up to the tea dispenser and While doing all of these things grab a few lemons while no­ you keep telling yourself that body is looking, then sit down the next time you get a ship by the windows and squeeze the you will save some money so lemons into your water behind yoi. won't have to go to free the paper you picked up at the places next time. Hall. Add plenty of free sugar, So open up a bank account and presto! you have free lem­ at the Seaman's Bank for Sav­ onade. ings at 74 Wall Street. Depbsit your book with them and they'll DEMAND MORE When ordering food always give you an identification card. look the waiter in the eye and When you sign on the next ship jingle a few coins — he may present the card to the Shipping think it's tip money. When ser­ Commissioner and go the limit ved always tell him to take, it on the allotment to your ac­ , back and put more food on it. count. While in the N.Y. Hall, take For a place to stay — otl}er in the free movies and tele­ than the ten cent hotel (sub­ ways), always find a family vision shows, and read the time­ rooming house for from five to ly educational booklets, and eight dollars per week. There catch up on the reports of the you will have someone wake Safety of Life At Sea Confer­ you up in the morning, will find ence which was held in London soap lying aroimd the bath­ this year. If you don't like free movies, room, can wash your clothes St the launderette, and will prob­ remember that the places on ably find an iron handy to Times Square are only 50 or 60 cents before 1:00 P.M. week­ crease your clothes. I prefer landladies, for they days. On Sundays you can always always have a soft spot in their hearts. Seamen are usually handy, and there may, be odd jobs around the place that will Iqnock down the rent-bill and maybe earn a few meals. You can listen to her radio, possibly be invited for a car ride, and have the privilege of getting a tan at Tar-Beach (the roof). While sweating out the wait­ ing period for a job, you can always cool off at the various free YMCA swimming pools and showers. There's a place off Third Ave­ nue on 31st Street where you can get a good shoe shine for Notes On Seamen-Types Found Aboard All Ships avoid the crowds by taking a To the Editor: nice long bike trip or hike to City Island, where they have A*" seaman's behavior ashore I plenty of boats for rent, or the would not undertake to defend Bronx Zoo, or go up to Rocke­ or condemn, except to say that feller Center. he lives hard and must play Try a few of my suggestions hard. But on shipboard a sea­ and, for the fun of it, live by man is a comrade above all else. them for one week. If you run There are three types of men over the budget, take a ride who are not wanted on board out to the Marine Hospital with ship and who usually don't stay some LOGS and visit the SlU Ai J i A ^^ry long anyway. One is the guys there. Also donate a pint 1 t .1 J .. . mentally unsuited who cannot of blood for them—it sure is a adjust himself to shipboard rou­ sensation giving your blood for tine and, as a result, is bad someone that needs it. tempered, ill-mannered and at Some day I'll write an ar- odds with the tone of good huticle on. how to live on $500 nior which usually prevails on per week Ah yes, to think of merchant ships. There are the the days of the wartime completely incompetent ones — bonuses! (since the war's end, a very Happy starving! The next trip small minority. And last, there will be different. ' are the few extreme radicals Ed Larkin who work determinedly to des- ON THE JOB AND ON THE ALERT On the job chipping on the boat deck the Homet men make sure the ship stays spic and span. They're proud of their ship, which, they claim, is spotless inside and' out. Right foreground — Garrod, AB. At left — Hall, AB and Duncan OS. troy shipboard peace and har­ mony. Constructive radicalism has done much to spark seamen out of the terrible lethargy of ' a few years ago when their livihg conditions and wages were be­ low anything on land. They or­ ganized and fought for decent conditions. But I am refen-ihg to the character who for per­ sonal reasons or in the name of some foreign ideology, deliber­ ately disorganizes and disrupts a crew by promoting arguments and bum beefs. The crew on On SIU boat soon takes care of this type of person nowadays.; THE DISRUPTION Then there are brave men and cowards at sea. One of the most courageous men I have ever had the honor to sail with was a young kid called "Lefty." Named so on account of having lost his right arm at the should­ er during an enemy attack some­ where at sea. He did not care 'LO talk about the incident, so the where and when of it I never learned. He had an unusually happy dispo­ sition combined with a sharp wit that made him a favorite of the crew to" whom he served three meals a day as messman. He asked no allowances due to his handicap, and did his job a bit more efficiently -than the majority of messmen who have two good arms. But often when he thought himself unobserved, I could d6tect a shadow of hopelessness cross his features when the go­ ing was rough—but only for a moment. • Then by calling on some re­ serve willpower, he would be­ come again his cheery self and continue his duties with vigor as if trying to drive away the few minutes of depondency from his thoughts. John Wunderlich Jr. Waiting For Visa, LOG Keeps Him Posted To the Editor: Just a note to thank you for sending me the LOG. I shall look forward to receiving it every week. My application is in for a US Visa, so I expect to be back be­ fore very long. I sure miss my Seafarer friends down there and the atmosphere around the New York Hall. Larry McMullin Sydney, N. S.. On the alert lo protect their conditions aboard ship the crew of th^ Winslow Homer meets in regular shipboard session to hammer out problems. The two boys on the left are Stallones, OS; and Hall. AB. At the table, front to rear—Wilson. Oiler and meeting's chairman; Robert, BR; Sam, 3rd Cook; and Fireman. Seated at nght. front to rear—Scotty, Saloon Mess; Wiper; Brown, Utility; Baker, AB. Standing, front to rear—Bill. Fireman; Wiper; Barrett. Oiler, and Cain. AB. �Friday. August 13. 1948 THE S B AT ARERS Rdps Burials Of American Seamen Abroad As 'Shabby' it. I wanted to know why the body could not be returned to I ran into a situation in Ant­ the States. » werp recently while I was a COMPLAINED OF COST member of the crew aboard the SS Fairisle that certainly doesn't The consul informed me that speak well for the type of treat­ to return the body would cost ment accorded seamen—even in about $1,000 and since the com­ death. pany only provides $300 for fun­ The Fairisle was in Antwerp eral expenses, the man had to after spending 10 weeks in a be buried on the other side. Hamburg dfydock. While in the I don't know if this situation Belgium port, I visited a sea­ holds true with the companies men's club, where someone ask­ we have under contract but it ed to see if I could get a couple certainly striked me as being a of boys together to attend the pretty shabby way to do things. funeral of an American seaman As I told the consul, if a man is who had just passed away. ill he is returned to the States. The seaman was off the Henry There isn't any reason why the Jocelyn, a Sword Line ship, and body of a man who passes I believe he was a member of away shouldn't be returned to the NMU. Four of us from the his loved ones for burial. I think Fairisle attended the funeral to it's a shame to show respects pay our respects in behalf of in this way. the seaman and we draped the I'd like to know what the American flag over his coffin. score is on this situation inso­ The fact that this American far as our "'contracted companies had to be bui-ied on the other are concerned. side annoyed me and I spoke "Brother Dutch" to the American Consul about To the Editor: LOG Page Eleven Big-Game Expedition Outside Beira Nets SIU Sextet Plenty Of Steaks To the Editor: When our ship arrived in Beira, South Africa, six of us decided to head into the interior and do a little big-game hunting. We left early the first afternoon with two guides and a number of native camp workers. We left as soon as possible as we wanted to arrive in camp before dark. It seemed that as soon as we left town we were in ideal hunt­ ing territory, but most of the big game was not there, they had been driven inland by civiliza­ tion. During our drive inland we hunted during about four of the seven hour journey. We shot one leopard, two deei- and one wildcat. We were lucky to kill a leopard, we were told, as they are very scarce this time of j'ear. We drove about 150 miles be­ fore we made camp and as soon as the camp_ had been set up we retired for the night. .< ^ •" HEADED BACK We retui-ned to the camp about noon, had our dinner and packed up for the return trip. There was hunting all the way back during which we bagged one (A tale found in a bottle at sea) By JAMES P. CONROY I do not recall who first saw 'er< Battered hulk of debris. "A light—two points Starboard bow, sir," Had been someone's cry to me. From the bridge of the schooner "Bennett," My glasses raised that dawn, I saw it flicker a minute Then, by God, the light was gone. Had it been s. star reclining Behind that edge of sea? Perhaps the sun's first shining. Yet, no, it could not be. There it was again, and brighter yet. But one point off our beam. Hell, I'd of made an even bet 'Twas coming on full steam. Yea, it was a ship, a ghastly ship. With the sun's first rays we saw; A wooden bark with sail adrift— I stood and gasped with awe. It drifted damn near on us, » Without motor, without steam. And of wind there had not been a gust For all the Caribbean. "Hard right, we'll pull alongside," I shouted the command; "We've a prize ship there, we'll ride 'ex. Back up unto the land." "A ghost ship," were the whispers among my leary men, "A prize that only listers would ever want to win." "An ancient Spanish galleon is what it well might be." "Perhaps the 'Flying Dutchman' for it's light I chanced to sec." "The hell with ell that gumshoe." Was my swashbuckling reply. For 'tho I'd seen that light too. Not one bit feered was I. We lowered boats, to lines secure Upon the floating wreck. The sea was calm, rnd I was sure We could 'aul 'er deck to deck. With creaks and groans, and wire for line We pulled 'er to our side. "Secure 'er mete, we've got 'er fine She's now the 'Bennett's' pride." With gangway lowered, I went aboard The shattered, grotesque prize. My mate and men all stayed behind. Reluctance in their eyes. Once below in that rotten wood. Former presence was betrayed. By musty bones, no longer good. To the decks on which they laid. I was truly dismayed When in the chartroom I strayed. And saw on the table so torn, „ That the Captain did la7 With a knife for a stay. Through his rib bones all decayed worn. •, i Before departing for the hunting grounds 150 miles in­ land from Biera, South East Africa, these brothers lined up with their guides for a picture. Back row, left to right— Hunting guide, H. Leroy, Tex, E. Samia and second guide. Front row—Jesse Cann and Roy Urgent. Brother E. Chalewitch took the picture. The wJiule paity was up early the next morning and ready to go. About ten miles from camp we shot another big deer. During the hunt I saw two lions, but they were too far away for pur­ suit. Captain Barstow's Prize iill wild pig. We saw some deer but we didn't shoot any more. At one place in the road we had difficulty getting around some- trees that elephants had pushed into the road during the night. Our party arrived back in Beira late that night, vei-y tired after a most successful hunting trip over beautiful, grassy plains and through jungles that -few white men have ever seen. E, Chalowifch Electricians On The Ship — Ashore They Are 'Officers' To the Editor: TT— r and There was the air of another's presence Thai seemed to fill the room. Yet nothing was there but~ the essence Of a bloody heathen tomb. Imagine my horror upon the sight. Of a galley, neat and trim, A fire in the oven, burning bright, 'Neath a coffee pot, filled to the brim. Fresh boiling coffee in this ghastly hole. Uncanny, insane, a horrible dream. Yet it was real, as real as my soul. Which cowardly let my lips scream. "Ahoy, mate. 'Tis a ghost ship, indeed," I screamed as I ran from below. Oh curse the sailors who live by a creed. The mate had cast off from our tow. "I'm Captain Barstow, mate," I cried, "I'll log you, I'll break you this minute." "Your Captain of that prize." he replied, "I'm skipper of the 'Bennett'." Yea. the blasted mate and- the scurvy crew. Sailed and let me stay; Aboard this ship of ghostly brew Where I'm writing from today. The "Bennett's" out of sight now. And my prize has picked up sail. A light has flashed upon the bow. And I hear an eery wail. The light upon the bow must be The one we saw this dawn: The glare of it I plainly see, But not who turned it .on. We ere sailing through a foggv cloc.m. O'er an unfamiliar sea. There are voices from the chartroor.-. And I think they speak of ma. I'm tired and I'm sleepy. And there's nothing else to do. So 1*11 go below for coffee. And sign-on my new found crew. This is a conversation over­ heard at the Seamen's Club in Port of Spain, Trinidad. Upon entering this club, every seaman is required to sign his name, rating, and ship in the register book. Theie are two of these books, one for officers, and one for unlicensed personnel. Two Electricians from one of the Alcoa ships on the bauxite shuttle entered the club and pro­ ceeded to the books to sign their names. Asked by the doorman if they were officers or un­ licensed men, the Chief Electri­ cian replied "We are junior offi­ cers." "What is your position aboard ship," asked the doorman. "We are Electricians," was tho reply, and they preceeded to sign their names in the officers book. While they were signing, an­ other seaman entered who was a crewmember of another Alcoa ship lying along the dock. Ap­ parently knowing what ship the Electricians were on. he asked them if a certain man had come ashore in the launch \>'ith thvun. and First Assistant Engineers is hard to say: but I do feel quite sure of one thing: If our Union is ever faced with a showdown with the shipowners, and our future existence is at stake, there is no doubt as to which side these characters would swing to. I wonder if they ever stood on a picket line? G. Troche John L. Hicks Crew On Shuttle Run To Bremen Requests The LOG To Ihe Editor: I am writing for the ciew of the SS Joshua Thomas, Coast­ wise Lines, five months out of San Francisco on the ore run be­ tween Bell Island, Newfoundland and Bremen. We are to be on this run for a couple more trips and would appreciate it if you would send us copies of the_ LOG. We have not seen one since we left Frisco, and can get little information a.s to what is happening at home. I will trj' to arrange it with the Red Cross in- Bremen to handle the LOG there as quite "What department does he a few ships like us are stopping work in," asked the Chief Elec­ there that can't get them now. trician? I'll let you know in a later letter "On deck," was the reply. of any definite arrangements that "Well I don't know whether he can be made. came ashore oi- not," replied the Ira Carey electrician. "1 don't know any Deck Delegate of the Deck hands" names. I'm the First Assistant Engineer!" (Ed. Note: Fifteen LOGS are Now what sati.sfaction these sent weekly to Special Serv­ would-be officeis get out of ices. Army PX, Bremen, Ger­ ma.squerading as Junior Officers many.) SAY 'SIR', BUB d'l 5r �THE S E AF ARERS' LO G Page Twelve A SPECTATORLESS PARADE IN GENOA Seafarer Urges President To Honor War Certificates To the Editor: you who have answered the call of your country and served in its merchant service, I extend the heartfelt thanks of the nation and hope that you wiU continue to serve it in peace timd:' Signed: Harry Truman, Presi­ dent." Do you remember, Harry? Arfe you going to go back on your word 'now? I am sure that President Roosevelt, if he were living, would say "Exempt all seamen from the draft! The maritime industry must be prepared fot all possible wars." I hope Harry Truman doesn't let us down. Just a word of advice to the membership: Get those Certifi­ cates of Continuous Discharge. They may be of some use yet. Fred R. Hicks . Well it looks as if our old friend General Hershey has his old job back again—much to my sorrow. I understand that he is pressing very hard to put Sea­ farers who are in the 19-through25-year group in the army. Only yesterday I read in the Jersey papers that merchant sea­ men were not eligible for de­ ferment under the new draft act. The policy is reputed to be that the Certificate of Service issued by the Maritime Commission was only valid during the last war, and that if a man came out of it without having an arm or leg blown off, he woidd now have to serve an additional 21 months in khaki. The Government spent mil­ lions of dollars training seamen to replace the tremendous losses of the first months of the last war, as well as to man the new ships; and then put out more dough to pay office employes to To the Editor: issue these scraps of paper after Like about ninety-five per cent "the war was over. What good of the other members in the SIU are they if they don't stand for wartime service and exempt I voted for the $10 building and those who hold them from serv­ strike assessments. In spite of ice in some other outfit? it being carried by this over­ whelming vote, which shows the SMELLS PLOT Regular service veterans are bulk of the men in the Union exempt even if they didn't go wanted it, the one rotten apple into a war area. Why aren't sea­ in every barrel has shown up. Recently, on an SIU ship, I men who were in war areas all ran into that rotten apple. This the time? I wouldn't be a bit surprised if certain big business guy is easily the most ignorant groups are persuading the brass pei'son in the world or is on hats to push for the drafting of the company's private payroll. He was peddling around the seamen for their own selfish mo­ ship the tale that he was against tives. Our Government certainly con- the building up of the Union sidered seamen essential to our strike and building funds be­ National Defense during war­ cause Union funds are put in the time; so it is only logical that bank under the names of offi­ the Government should be con­ cials and "what is to stop them cerned to have a strong mer­ from withdrawing all the money chant marine during peacetime. and taking off?" The Marshall Plan, to supply Sounds incredible, but that's commodities to countries in need, what he said. Can you imagine a guy so stupid? is only beginning. If he were a good Union man Many dollars were spent on letters from the President to sea­ i,s would have served at one men issued a Certificate of Con­ time or another on the Union tinuous Service. The -message Auditing Committee and would read something like this: "To have learned of the protection By ROCKY BENSON According lo Seafarer Shelly .While Ihe above is a communist parade through the streets of Genoa. Italy in protest against the Marshall Plan. From the looks of the number of participants and spectators, the parade was a complete washout. Twisted Tale Of Finance Draws Fast Kayo Bypassing Of Seatrains Puzzles Him To the Editor: What's wrong with the Seatrain Lines ships? Whatever it is let's bring it out into the open and settle it in SIU fash­ ion. I know it takes a good man to hold down one of these jobs, but surely there must be CREWMEN PROUD TO HAVE WORKED: WITH AZALEA MATE To the Editor: We, the members of the Deck Department of the SS Azalea City, wish ix> convey our thanks and highest regards to Chief Mate Thompson for the manner in which he took over his job and put to shame the efforts of his predecessor Higginbotham. In spite of the severe handicaps of working under an anti-union captain, he did a swell job. We are proud to have met and worked with Chief Mate Thompson and highly recom­ mend him to aU members of the SIU as a good shipmate. Crewmembers SS Azalea City some men in the Union with guts enough to sail these ships. There's so much beefing about poor shipping in New York, yet we ha-ve to sail short or fill up with permit holders. It's not only New York, it happens on both ends of this run. Why? The • wages are higher. We have better food with plenty of frCsh vegetables and milk. Plenty of everything but men to sail them. On these ships there 'is no lay-up or boneyard worry — you are assured a full year's work if you want it. ^ that the Union has against any dishonest officials or employees: the weekly rank and file check­ up, the commeixial auditing committee and—as additional in­ surance—the bonding system of the Union. UNION SAFEGUARDS The saying goes, "Eternal vigi­ lance is the price of liberty." Well, the same thing goes for the SIU—and every other Union, too. With the safeguards em­ ployed by the SIU, the possi­ bilities of anyone absconding with the Union funds are very remote. However, should this happen, the Union would not lose one cent. The lesson this guy taught me is that the membership gets out of the Union what it puts into it. Disinterest and non-partici­ pation in Union affairs breeds characters like this one. If it is wholesale among the member­ ship, the Union will reflect it by Thank You Joe Algina, wife Eileen and Baby James Joseph wish lo lhank New York Branch and Headquarters fbr the gift re­ ceived for little James Joseph. being bureaucratic, corrupt and dishonest. Fortunately, the SIU does not fall into this classification. Most of us in the Sltl have be^n in­ terested and have participated in running the Union. We have the best Union in the industry, be­ cause, up to now, the officials and the membership have worked together to make it so. Only by continuing this joint action can we be assured of the fact. Personally, I . have no doubt but that the membership will continued to participate and the Union will grow stronger. At the time this prize fool (or shipowners stooge?) was spout­ ing off his twisted tale I, know­ ing the Union financial set-up, from having acted on union com­ mittee, quickly set him straight before he caused any trouble. He sure clammed up quick when I gave him the score. So quick in fact that I now wonder what really caused the guy to say something that was so openly wrong. Incidentally, how many of you good Union men make it a point to answer some of these guys who shoot their mouths off in the same way? I feel that a good union man should always do so. Red Hollinger PUTTING UP A GOOD FRONT 1- When you payoff a ship and you go to the Union Hall, what is the firet thing you do? 1- Register for a job 2- Shoot the bull 3- Show your Union book 4- See the Patrolmen 2- When it is 6 bells on a shift what time is it? 1- 5 PM 2- 6 PM 3- 7 PM 4- 8 PM 3- If steering 270 degrees on the compass, what direction will the ship be headed? 1- North 2- South 3- East 4- West 4- What is the biggest company under contract to the SIU? 1- Isthmian 2- Waterman 3- Alcoa 4- Mathiasen 5- What was the name of the first steamship to cross the At­ lantic? 1- The Great Western 2- Fulton 3- Persia 4- Savannah 61 To which port is it the short­ est distance by sea from Rio de Janeiro? 1- New York 2- New Orleans 3- Houston 4- San Francisco 7- How many spokes in the Sea­ farers Emblem? 1- 4 2- 6 3- 8 4- 9 8- What day and in what month did the 1946 General Strike be­ gin? 1- Oct. 1 2- Nov. 13 3- Sept. 4 4- July 30 9- Who is a reefer on a ship? 1- One who smokes a pipe 2- Needlepusher 3- Purser 4- Refrigeration Engineer 10- Which is the brightest star of the First Magnitude? 1- Canopus 2- Sirius 3- Capella 4- Vega (Answers will be found on Page 15.) Crewmen Cheer Payoff Actions Of Patrolnieii To the Editor: GOOD PORTS We- make two of the best ports in the world—Havana and New Orleans every trip. The jobsjjaren't bad, so what's the trouble? I've sailed these ships and found conditions a little better than on most other ships. Also, I've been around long enough to know a good thing when I find it. Of course, this is only my opinion, but let's hear about this from others. I'm anxious to know what it is that is wrong with Seatrain ships? Jsunes Slickney Ddday, August 13, 1948 Testimony lo ihe good food served, the boys of the Cape Race "Beef Trust" pose for Seafarer Ed Larkin's camera. According to Larkin, the boys are "all out" for the fine chow served by Steward Fidel Likbeui. The boys are. left to right—John Murphy. Bosun; James Flanagan. AB; John Hopkins. Oiler. Frank Borkowski. 3rd Cook, and Joseph Wilaszak. Night Cook-Baker. On behalf of the crew of the SS Sweetwater, Metro Petrol­ eum, I want to extend our thanks to Jim Drawdy and Red Gibbs, the Patrolmen who paid off the ship in New York last week. We knew the Patrolmen would go to bat for us, but w'e stiU feel a vote of thanks is in or­ der. It was beautiful to see them go into action. They squared away' the beefs we had and each crewman collected every­ thing due him. They gave us real representation. Thanks, fellows. John Dubrowski 2hd Pumpman �THE SEAFARERS LOG Friday. August 13, 1948 Member Says Cash In Bank Is True 'Union Insurance' To the Editor: in normal times and furnishing housing, food, etc. for strikers during strikes. That the SIU has certainly done. " We have the best contracts in the industry which prove our Union is on the top in its role, and we run the best strikes of any union any­ where. Pooch And Pal lii Page Thiztaaa Swan Crew Charges Skipper Ignored Dirt, Hurt Morale To the Editor: It is the feeling of the entire 'Deck Department that the Cap­ On Friday, July 16, Chief tain has been unfair and pre­ Mate Daniel Harmon instructed judiced in his actions through­ the Bosun, Paul Basberg to turn out the trip. several men to on overtime sougeeing the passageways and the We feel that the anti-Union attitude of the Captain should men refused. be investigated by the Patrol­ When the crew boarded this man. ship on June 1, in Norfolk, the The Mate admitted that the passageways and messhalls were previous crew had been drunk filthy. Nevertheless, the Captain most of the time in port and refused to turn any men to on no one was logged. Yet this sougeeing. The crew has had to crew was logged two for one live in, and look at, this filth all plus a day's bonus in every trip and now, two days before case where men took time off. arrival in the U.S., they feel In one case a man received a that they do not want to assist log for taking off only a half Seafarer Glen Vinson caught the Captain in misleading the hour one morning, though he Company officials into thinking this shot of Brother Thomp­ that this has been a clean ship. returned and worked the rest of the day. The Captain called the Bosun son and his dog aboard the Considering this treatment it up and told him that since the is no wonder that morale was Seatrain New York on a re­ crew refused to play ball with low, and most of the crew got cent trip. Thompson is the him, he would not put out a so they just didn't give a New York's Bosun. Pooch draw in Savannah, and that the damn. On top of this the Deck crew would receive no money Department was the only one just goes along for the ride. prior to pay-off. logged although other depart­ ments took time off as well. Further, the crew was requir­ ed to work under unsafe con­ ditions. In Rouen the Bosun brought to the Mate's attention that it To the Editor: liam R. Davie, South Atlantic, was not safe for men to work received a severe cuft on the over the side beneath cranes Hospital conditions in Fiance hand in Dunkirk and was sent handling coal. The Mate re­ for American seamen are the to the hospital. He spent seven plied, "Those are your orders." worst in the world. They would days in there and finally was Leaving DingwaU, Nova Scotia, just as leave a man to die as sent back to the ship in worse the deck gear was not secured not, and the steamship agents condition than when he went in. before hitting open sea. Several there don't seem to be able to do No stitches were taken, and no holds were imcovered and the treatment was given. He is now booms were still topped anything about it either. A crewmember of the SS Wil- in the Marine Hospital in Balti­ SHORT OF TOOLS more with blood poisoning and The ship left Norfolk with no stands a good chance of losing the hand or arm—all because of deck tools whatsoever. The only the refusal of the French hospi­ rifar 1 in-spike on board was tal to give simple antiseptic brought on by the Bosun. The fire apparatus on board was ex­ treatment. m i?/o, LARRY, rne €1JOPY HOLE So, Brothers, be very careful ceedingly inadequate. Most of 3TEWAR0, HAD A MANICURE not to get hurt over there. If the hoses forward leaked and you have a major injury and one fire station lacked a hose A *3^100 0OTTLE OF have to be taken to the hospital, altogether. The Bosun reported this and IMPORTED 'CHAMPY/' you will find yourself in a tough was told by the Mate that there spot. were no new ones aboard and If this happens to you, write he would have to make out with in to the LCXS. Maybe some­ two used spares in the forepeak. thing will be done about it if These proved to be in bad con­ conditions are generally known. dition. However a few days be­ J. Sullivan fore arrival in Savannah the Mate broke out new ones. There was insufficient hot wa­ ter for showers, but the Chief Engineer refused to remedy it. The Captain showed no rea­ sonable courtesy toward the crew throughout the trip, and was even seen making searches or inspections—in the foc'sles To the Editor: when the crew was not present. Yes, this is the same Captain We had a meeting last night Lennie G. Hubbard about whom and the HaU was fuU because so the poem was written and pub­ many ships are tied up here with lished in the August 6 LOG. the Stevedore's Strike.' At times We hope no SIU crew sails with like these one realizes how im­ him again. Paul- H. Basberg portant it would be to own our Ship's Delegate own Hall and have a place where we could put up the membei-ship for the night. We want to ask all SIU Brothers all over the world to To insure payment, all back us in our desire for a new claims for overtime must be hall here in Puerto Rico, so turned in to the heads of de­ when you come to this port you partments no later than 72 can say, "This is an SIU port hours following the comple­ and I am coming home." tion of the overtime work. Yes it will be a real home. As soon as the penalty You ought to have been here last work is done, a record should night to hear Brother Spui-lock be given to the Department M/N60, THE DININ6 POOM blowing his top to make every­ head, and one copy held by COMEDIAN, WASMV CLOWNINO one realize that the SIU Hall is the man doing the job. his home in time of need. WHEN INTESTINAL FLU 60T In addition the depart­ The watchword down here mental delegates should now is SIU discipline and Broth­ check on all overtime sheets erhood. 72 hours before the ship George Litchfield makes port. Seafarer E. Reyes caught his shipmedes in off moments with these sketches from the Del San Juan Norte's recent trip to the south. For the record, I must say that I agree wholeheartedly with Brother Cal Tanner's article sug­ gesting that the membership save money for the tough times and strikes (LOG, July 30). It wasn't until I read his ar­ IN GOOD SHAPE ticle that I fully realized just Too, from Brother Tanner's how important "having money in article, I see that the Union is the bank is. Every guy knows strong financially. He states the it is nice to have a few bucks Union has $800,000 in the strike salted away just in case, but fund alone, and is on a sound few of them realize that those operating basis. This is all to bucks are insurance on their the good. Hard times are coming and, Union. I guess you could call it no doubt, strikes, too. The Union "Union Insurance." is in good shape now, thanks to Brother Tanner says the Union the fact that we have tightened cannot pay the private expenses up the union while still giving of the membership during a us full representation. We have strike and each man should put no kick coming on that score. aside personal savings to tide So, brothei-s, it looks like the him over during that period. SIU is strong enough to weather He's right. a long strike; the question is, are I don't know if many of the we? It would be a tragedy if men believe the Union actually the Union fell because its mem­ woxild pay their expenses, but a bers couldn't pay their way lot of guys just didn't give a through a strike. thought as to how they would Evei-y man in the SIU hopes get through a long strike. When for the day when the Union will it comes, then it's too late. own its own Halls, hotels, res­ Of course, the Union cannot taurants, credit imions and ship­ play wet nurse to the mem­ board slopchests. In other words, bers. They're old enough to take we should have big plans for the care of themselves in these future of our Union. Let's be sure that those plans become matters. facts by remaining financially The Union, as I see it, takes strong ourselves. care of its membership by bet­ Jim Mathias tering job conditions and wages or THC 1^0 French Hospital's Service Draws Blast From Seafarer 1/ TeSSs' Feels New Hall In San Juan Would Be 'Honjie' OP Overtime IN B,A, v< �p: |; 1^'' liV Page Fourteen THE SEAFARERS LOG Friday. August 13. 1S48 Ift:-' I Passingr Time On The Steel Chemist Isthmian ships are known for their long trips, and the most recent voyage, of the Steel Chemist was no exception. She made a three-and-one-half-month trip to the Far East and hit few ports. When she paid off in New Orleans last week, Seafarer Earl Laws sent these pictures along to show what the crewmembers did to pass the time during the long weeks at sea. Laws, a Junior Engineer, is an old hand with Isthmian ships. During the organizing campaign he rode several of them as a volunteer organizer, and each time hung up impressive scores for the SIU. The crewmen of the Chemist reported that the trip was a long one and at times dull but, all in all, it wasn't near as bad as some Isthmian voyages. Quite an im­ provement over what they said about the trips before the company signed an SIU contract. Described by Laws as "a general bull session." Ihese Chemist crewmembers (above) seem to find something of in­ terest in the tale being told by the me.n-in the middle. It looks as if the man in the foreground has heard the story before. The Chemist at the time this picture was snapped was steaming through Mediter­ ranean. The "Blue Mediter­ ranean," however. doesn't seem to interest them. i S. At left, two old buddies from way back. ' Ralph the Fireman and "Tampa Red" Connell. pose for Brother Lews' camera. "Tampa Red" was the Chemist's Third Cook, which may account for the front h-3 is putting up. \tr 1:- While in the Suez Canal the Chemist men played hosts to the usual number of bumboat merchants. Here one dis­ plays his wares of leather goods and souvenir trinkets to the critical eyes of the ship's carpenter. Bosun Ellis, and "Yardbird" Roberts. Laws didn't. report whether the boys made any purchases. Seafarer "Buck" Wheat, AB. smartens up a bulkhead on the Chemist to make sure she comes in clean. We don't know what Brother Wheat is squinting at. but perhaps, he's seeing visions of that payoff-to-come in New Orleans. Or perhaps he caught a drop or two of paint in the eye. Harold Rhodes, ship's Baker, takes time from his galley duties to put the suds to his clothes. A bucket of hot suds and a stiff bru h brings the dirt out of anything. At right. Andy Anderson and Tommy Mecamore examine the leather pocketbook pur­ chased in Port Said. With the bumboat steaming away from the ship, it's too late if the boys have any complaints. .5 • �THE SEAFARERS LOG Friday. August 13, 1948 LIVING IS BECOMING A LUXURY Money Due The foUowing crewmembers of the Steel Executive, voyage No. 3, have an allowance of one night's lodging due them. Vouch­ ers are being held for them at Isthmian Steamship Corporation, 71 Broadway, New York: Walter W. Danley, Henry Gibbs, Adam Swisczowski, Rus­ sell W. Finstrom, Richard Doupe, George T. Bareford, ^Anthony Freidof Fondila, Albert C. Belt, Admoaitis, Finn Rasmussen, Charles E. Ackerman, Bjorne Granberg, Lawrence Cox. Fred W. Johns, John A. Hoff­ man, George Dwyer, Charles F. Reiff, Albert J. Jensen, Jerome B. Crowley, Richard A. Anzzlone, Jose B. Pereira, Benny B. Amequita, Martin E. Fernberg, Marvin Henson, Alen L. Saunderii, William P. Gorman. Robert Gomez, Rodrigo Pelayo, Stanley Potuma, Anthony Ben­ jamin Modo, Oscar A. Payne, Rinaldi Lorenzo, Silverio Parian, Angel M. Chexerez and Aquilino Villariza. S. S. 1 LUISE TORRES Get in touch with Smith & Johnson Steamship Corp., 60 Beaver Street, New York 4, N. Y. They are holding money due you. RISES » HALF YEAR - |HIGIfiSrSINCEi93r?^ Offic* CgulgnMnl Mimifoe. tmrCloiro4 la^aoSbor,. BY.GEMERALHILLS^ - $15,008,393 EARNED &IN OIL REPORTS 'I $2a799.153HET|: BYim; «-i iarningi in Firjt Six MonthjnV More Than OoyVed Those in Same Period of *47 . , Quull 10 11.04. SiWA(. /tlOiy Ya.YBoto. OTHER RESULTS RREGIVEN^: National 'Casn Register *lsofIssues Figures Show.ng Cais in -a'' -a* mi46 EARNED BY HOME PRODUCTS >4 ^4ft ' J Cooillion'i Profit tor Holt Trar to tun. 30 Is timost Ooubit 1947 Figure • *> T •• p.v PI* '*» Aft.r .41 ••••« fdm W* ^ FI-NA.-! . Jl-a » '.I ' •. f. .*• :i»Sttfl Ukfe iir.<t t 'O.HP.f FtNANQAL Standard Sanitary Salu and EarmngM 4ffl«ncafl rS^ b»54j602.339,|iiJ 1^47 Industry Net Totals S10 Billions 1948 Sale?::! i .rXv^ jAnd Profit fori;: Set Peaks !;'• U. S. study Shews Riit In Earnings in lost Quorttr of Oil Reports :k GM, R^dortiri^ Higher First Fl Half Net.Ill//.^^BiaEarninasGain jli H.ow the working man s hide is being skinned io provide unprecedented profits for the large corporations is graphically presented in chart above. While living costs are rising to fantastic heights this year, business is slicing melons in portions never before dreamed of. The worker, of course, is eating less. DIRECTOR OF ORGANIZATION LIndsey Williams ASSIST. SECRETARY-TREASURERS Robert Matthews J. P. Shuler Joseph Volpian SUP HONOLULU AOHOK'^lN NEW YORK E. P. O'Brien. $2.00; M. F. Dellano. Ceo. Elmo Anderson. $5.00; F. Hig- $1.00; A. MacDonald. $1.00; J. Wright. gins. $5.00; G. Meshover. $5.00; J. $2.00: F. B. Stumpf. $1.00; R. DarTorrefiel $.1.00; W. Dixon. $1.00; E. ville. $1.00; H. Sorenson. $2.00; E. R. F. Paul, $1.00; R. K. Tompkins. $10.00; Crowell, $2.00; E. R. Celnow. $2.00; F. W. Tompkins, $5.00;- G. C. Ebon. V. Makko. $2.00;, A. Gzerwinski, $3.00. SS J. P. ALTGELD $5.00; D. L. Yielding. $5.00; A. L. Copeland. $5.00; C. K. Neumann, $5.00; W. A. Ryan, $1.00; .S P. Anderson. R. A. Barrett. $2.00; F. W. Fehr. $1.00; B. A. Graham. $1.00; W. J. $5.00; G. G. Bauer, |5.00; R. T. Wil- McKeon. $1.00; T. M. McDonald. $2.00; loughy. $5.00; M. M. Schapiro. $1.00; J. P. Descartes. $1.00; J. Cichomski, M. F. T. Crommie $l.,00: J. Guerra. $1.00. $1.00; I. G. Shulton, $6.00. SS CANTON VICTORY SS FRANCES L. E. Lemay. $2.00; R. Beach, $1.00; A. O. Serrano. $1.00; L. P. Tabar.- E. Troop. $2.00; K. E. Davis. $3.00; rini, $1.00; Wm. E. Janlech, $1.00. C. R. Mendoza, $1.00; P. Salvo, $1.00. SS ARLYN SS JEAN LAFITTE B. Delvalle. $1.00; H. T. Clisson. $1.00; A. Santiago. $1.00; O. Plaza. $1.00; R. L. Torres. $1.00; J. Reyes, $1.00; O. H. Lopez. $1.00; L. Solar. $1.00; W. V. Cachola, $1.00; P. Bazaar. $1.00. E. J. Chante, $1.00; M. E. Biggins, $1.00; R. G. Grigg, $1.00; J. Finelli, $1.00; T. R. Goodipan. $1.00; Secundino Santoria, $1.00;' J. J. Quinlan, $2.00; R. Carrington, $1.00; C. L. MacDonald, $1.00: £. w. Walden, $2.00. SS SEATRAIN N. Y. H. A. Thompson. $2.00; F. D. Berthold. $1.00; R. Schwartz. $3.00. SS SUZANNB p. A. Dunphy $l..60; B. Billaneuva. $1.00; J. J. Martin. '$>.00; A. Vallejo. SS D. HUGER $1.00; C. Negron. $1.00; Felix Muniz, E. C. Anderson. $2.00; E. J. DeAn- $1.00; P«dro Padro, $1.00; Pedro San­ gelo. $5.00; W. Wilson, $2.00; F. C. chez, $1.00; Tomas Majica. $1.00. Murray, $1.00: A. J. Dorugh. $1.00; B. SS EVANGELlNi D. Locke. $5.00: J. B. Porter. $2.00; W. M. Todd. $1.00;. W. Grant. $1.00; L. H. Harris. $2.00; A. G. Milne, $2.00; J. O. Bruso, $2.00; E. J. Guthrie. $2.00; P. J. Sparta, $2.00; ' A. T. Joaduin' G. E. Dickens. $2.00; A. J. Scheving. $1.00; A. Bryant. $1.00:'" Gt. Lakes District MONTREAL BICTORIA, B.C... VANCOUVER.. • 1227 Philips Square 602 Boughton St. Empire 4531 565 Hamilton St. Pacific 7824 SS JOLIET ICTORY INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS 16 Merchant St. Phone 5-8777 PORTLAND Ill W. Burnside St. Beacon 4336 RICHMOND, Calif 257 5th St. Phone 2599 SAN FRANCISCO 85 Third St. Douglas 2-S47S $2.00. SS STAGG SEATTLE 86 Seneca St. Main 0290 M. F. Libby. $5.00; D. P. Rivers. WILMINGTON 440 Avalon Blvd. $3.00; J. A. Wynn, $1.00; G. Nutting. Terminal 4-3131 $5.00; B. oschi. $5.00; O. N. Davidsen. $2.00; C. Fernanders. $2.00; E. E. Ekiund, $1.00; Howuizah, $5.00; Charlie Johnson, $1.00; N. E. Wroton, $1.00; G. E. PetUpas. $1.00; N. I. West. $3.00, BUFFALO 10 Exchange St. SS COLABEE Cleveland 7391 J. J. Swykert. $2.00; S. J. Nathan. CHICAGO, III 3261 East 92nd St. $1.00; C. D. Friedemann, $1.00: C. Phone; Essex 2410 Gibbs. $1.00 CLEVELAND. 2602 Carroll St. Main 0147 DETROIT 1038 Third St. Cadillac 6857 DULUTH 831 W. Michigan St. Melrose 4110 1- Show your Union book TOLEDO 618 Summit St. 2- 7 PM Garfleid 2112 Canadian' District JOE BARRON Mrs. W. C. Simmons, 1011 E. Osborne Avenue, Tampa 5, Flori­ da (Phone 33-5863) has very im­ portant mail for you. 4 4 4 DONALD WILSON BROWN Contact your family at Box 123, Navarre, Ohio. Serious ill­ ness. 4 4 4 JOHN ROACH Charles Dix asks that you write him care of SIU, 51 Beaver Street, New York, N. Y. 4 4 4 TOM BLEVINS Please get in touch with your mother, Mrs. W. M. Blevins, at once. Jefferson, North Carolina. CLYDE KEATON Your mother asks that you get in touch with her at once concerning your father's health, at Tazewell, Tenn., R2. Also write your wife and your daugh­ ter, Jean, at Fairmont, W. Va. 4 4 4 GEORGE BROWN. AB Please get in touch with the Dreischs, 1175 Evergreen Avenue, Bronx, New York City. HANK MASON Your gear left aboard the Cap­ stan Knot is at the Mobile Hall baggage room, and the check for it is at the mail window. V/hitey Dude, Ship's Delegate. SS NEWHALL HILLS 4 4 4 Crewmembers who were JOSE MADUREIRA aboard the tanker Newhall Hills A. & H. Lazarus, Attornies-aton Sept. 14, 1946, when vessel law, Union House (Third Floor) was being salvaged by MV 12-16 Queen Victoria Street, Pigeon Point, are urged to get Cape Town, South Africa, wis'n in touch with Abe Rapaport in you to contact them. Benjamin Sterling's offices. Room 4 4 4 1711, 42 Broadway, New York JOSEPH LEON BOURGEOIS City. It is important. Miss Anita Bourgeois -would 4. 1 4. like you to get in touch -with LAWRENCE TRENT her at 6 Arthm- Street, Salem, R. H. FERRELL Mass. Important. Please contact Joe Volpian, 4 4 4 Special Services Department, JOHN L. NEWTON New York Hall, regarding Miles Please contact Emma McGilC. Foster's accident on the SS vreay, 243 School Street, SomerIberville. ville, Mass., as soon as possible. 4 4 4 4 4 4 The following men can pick J. HEACOX up their discharges at the SeaGet in touch with your mother train offices. Room 1115, 39 or sister. Broadway, N. Y.: Eugene Mc4 4 4 Guinn, Irving Weitzman, Harold FRANCIS A. VIGEANT Releford, Edwin Elfstrom, Jesse Your mother asks you to con­ A. Wood Jr., James B. Murphy, tact her at 15 Blanche Street, Ralph Coopei-, Olav Hagbo, Ted Cambridge, Mass. She is hold­ H. Bozeman, Robert Burns. ing mail for you. 4 4 4 4 4 4 HJALMAR V. NIELSON CHARLES J. CALVERT Your book and gear are in the Your mother is anxious that San Francisco A&G Branch Hall. you get in touch with her. NOTICE! SIU, A&G District SECRETARY-TREASURER Paul Hall PERSONALS WtitinthiuhHblf-Year NH S24j94im f424,456,102 Saltt Total Sets Record Higi SiU HALLS BALTIMORE 14 North Gay St. Williani Rentz, Agent Calvert 4S39 BOSTON 276 State St. Walter Slcknsann, Agent Bowdoin 44S5 GALVESTON 308«/,—23rd St. Keith Alsop, Agent Phone 2-8448 MOBILE 1 South Lawrence St, Cal Tanner, Agent Phone 2-17S4 NEW ORLEANS 523 Bienville St E. Sheppard, Agent Magnolia 6112-6113 NEW YORK 51 Beaver St. Joe Algina, Agent HAnover 2-2784 NORFOLK 127-129 Bank St Ben Rees, Agent Phone 4-1083 PHILADELPHIA. . .614-16 No. 13th St Lloyd Gardner, Agent Poplar 5-1217 SAN FRANCISCO 105 Market St Steve Cardullo, Agent Douglas 2-5475 SAN JUAN, P.R 252 Ponce de I.eon Sal Colls, Agent San Juan 2-5996 SAVANNAH ,. .220 East Bay St. Charles Starling, Agent Phone 3-1728 TAMPA 1809-1811 N. Franklin St R. H. Hall, Agent Phone M-1323 HEADQUARTERS. .51 Beaver St., N.Y.C. HAnover 2-2784 Page Fifteen 345678910- SS A. JACKSON . H. J. Smith. $1.00; F. W. . Kelly. $2.00; J. Branscomb. $2.00; E. Mulieri, $l.ft0; J. F. Minnahan. $1.00; V. W. Sorensen. $2.00; J. P;-Wise. $10.00; R. DeFretes. $2.00; J. O'Brien. $2.00; P. Hamilton. $2.00; P. W. Bentley. $2.00; H. H. Power. $2.00; H. L. Franklin. $2.00; J. C, Hare, $1.00; T. Bratsos, $4.00; C. A. Moss, $2.00. SS ELIZABETH QUIZ ANSWERS F. Hernandez, $1.00; J. J.. Briant, 11.00; R. F. Stewart, $1.00: R.^ Herrera, $1.00; P. Barbosa, $1.00; M. Soliva, $1.00; F. Molina. $1.00; Ed Castro, $1.00; R. Barrientos. $1.00. West Waterman Savannah New, York 8 Sept. 4 Refrigeration Engineer Sirius SS FISHER AMES F. J. Deoliveria, $2.00; M. Chapman, jr., $5.00; W. W. Moore. $5.00; J. Shaw. $1.00; A. N. Booth. $15.00; A. Lipari, $4.00; J. W. Headley, $2.00; C. Bourne. $5.00; R. W. Jones. $5.00; J. Celler. $5.00; W. O. Ammann, $5.00; V. Svendsen. $5.00; J. A. Tonnazzi. $5.00; J. R. eoone, $2.00; D. Meara. $5.00; S. M. Sorko, $5.00; E. B. Moore. $5.00; J. J. PadeUky, $5.00; E. M. Cullerton, $5.00; J. S. Anderton. $5.00; M. Courtney. $2.00. i Notice To All SIU Menbers The SEAFARERS LOG as the official publication of the Sea­ farers International Union is available to all members who wish to have it sent to their home free of charge for the enjoyment of their families and themselves when ashore. If you desire to have the LOG sent to you each week address cards are on hand at every SIU brancli for this purpose. However, for those who are at sea or at a distance from a SIU hall, the LOG reproduces below the form used to request the LOG, which you can fill out, detach and send to: SEAFARERS L(Xr, 81 Beaver Street, New York 4 ,N. Y. PLEASE PRINT INFORMATION To the Editor: I would like the SEAFARERS LOG mailed to the address below: Name Street Address ... State City ..... Signed Book No I �Page Sixteen Ikm THE SEAFARERS Eastern Ports Want Trade Gulf 'Steals' The "cold war" between US ports on the North Atlantic sea­ board and those in the Gulf of Mexico became a little brisker the other day, when representa­ tives of eight northern ports and eastern railroads met in Phila­ delphia to combat the rise in im­ portance of New Orleans and Mobile. "New Orleans is trying to sell .the nation's shippers the idea that everything originating be­ tween Pittsburgh and Denver and north to the Canadian border should be shipped through the Port of New Or­ leans," charged a spokesman for the Quaker City meeting, per­ haps a little wistfully. At the meeting, officials from Portland (Maine), Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Camden, Wilmington (Delaware), Balti­ more and flampton Roads as well as freight executives from the railroads were present. Upshot of their discussion was that the rails and the ports would have to cooperate closely if they were not to lose more business to the Gulf. They claimed that New Or­ leans and other Gulf ports were taking advantage of lower freight rates to those outlets. They said that the freight rates were originally established to offset higher shipping rates from the Gulf. TEAPOT TEMPEST .... After September 1, pas­ sengers on Robin Line ships will have to be a whole lot richer, if they want to make the run to Africa. The com­ pany has announced that, as of the above date, all pas­ senger fares wiil be in­ creased 25 percent. However, the Robin Line, a member of the Atlantic and Gulf Ship Operators Association, has not seen fit to offer the SIU any bigger wage increase than the 17 cents a day the Union Ne­ gotiating Committee re­ jected two weeks ago. ; Friday* August Id* 1948 WHAT ttWNK... QUESTION: What was the toughest run you made during the war period? C. HOSPEDOLES, Ch. Stew.: A run to England aboard the SS Frances Marion in 1944. I was Chief Cook at the time, and we had left New York in convoy. Several of fhe crew, in­ cluding myself, were playing cards in the messhall when we reached the English Chaimel. Suddenly we heard the roar of an explosion. The alarm started ringing and we went out on deck, thinking we had been hit. But we found it was the ship behind us. She had been struck by a mine. Of course, the con­ voy had t.o keep right on mov­ ing, but destroyers went back to pick up the survivors. We were lucky but our nerves jangled. A. J. FERRARA, Carp.: In the middle of 1942 I was on the Fluor Spar. We had a load of bombs and aerial torpedoes slated for the British, then fight­ ing Rommel in Egypt. We made it to Lake Ismalia ai the en­ trance of the Suez Canal, but that was as far as we got. For three days we were given a hard time by the German Air They dropped aerial mines in the Canal and in the 1; Lake. If we had made a move we would have gone sky high, so we stood still—playing pos­ sum — and then unl.oaded our cargo right there in the Lake. I was sure glad when that cargo was unloaded. Now the freight rates from Gulf ports are the same as those from New York and other North Atlantic ports, they maintained, although it takes two or three more days to reach Europe from the Gulf than from the north­ CANDIDO BONAFONT. FWT: east coast. My most harrowing experience • New Orleans officials, happily came when I was aboard the noting the giowth of the Cres­ Delisle. While the ship was in cent City and other Gulf ports Liverpool, England, she was as shipping centers, countered by struck by a torpedo but didn't saying that they certainly had made no effort to steal business sink. That was ciose enough but, from New York and Philadel­ later, when we were .off the phia, but that the new impor­ coast of Cuba her number came tance of their area was solely up. She was struck by a tor­ the result of a program of mak­ pedo and sunk. Two men were ing friends in foreign countries. lost in the expiosion. The rest So far as Seafarers are con­ of us hit the iifeboats amd were cerned, the dispute among the ports pj'obably is something of a later picked up by a corvette. tempest in a teapot. As long It seems that that ship was just as SlU-contracted ships con­ slated for the bottom of the tinue to sail, the question of ocean. I was bombed on the which ports they sail from is Arizpa, but it was nothing like secondary. that trip on the Deiisle. Robin Wants A Raise LOG FRED L. TRAVIS, Elec.: I was on the Melvin H. Baker when she caught a Jap torpedo in the Mozambique Channel, but that wasn't as bad as when we were bombed in Antwerp in January, 1945, on the MV Blen­ heim. We arrived on New Year's Day, and were greeted by the Luftwaffe'ji last raid there. We shot down two ME-109s and one Spitfire — by mistake — but we weren't hit. On January 8, though, a V-2 hit 100 feet off the port side. A lot of American soldiers feeding with us were killed along with some steve­ dores. Half the crew was badly hurt. A lot of them got purple hearts. Then for six weeks we were damaged every day by the buzz bombs. That was the v/orst I saw. EDMUND ERIKSEN, 3rd Cook: I had a. close call on the Rob* in Sherwood during a return to the States from England in 1944. We ran into a terrific storm and ..our coal ballast be* gan shifting. All hands were or* dered into the hold, and I was in the foc'sle changing from m; heavy gear when—bam!—I was laying over in the corner of the room. The ship took a 53-degrec starboard list. General alarm was sounded and we went to the deck and put on life-jackets* I was about to get into No. 5 boat on starboard side with my watch partner, but changed my mind, because of the heavy seas^ Nine men got in that boat* Eight of them were lost. A. R. CARRASQUILLO, Oiler: I sailed throughout the war in all the zones and never once 'was in serious trouble. I made many trips through the Caribbeetn, an area where the subs were knocking them off right and left, but never once was my ship attacked. I guess it was .just pure luck. Of course every guy has his anxious moments while pushing a ship through sub infested water, never know­ ing when a torpedo is going to strike. I sweated out many a trip when we were carrying ex­ plosives, and was always glad when that run was ended. PABLO TORRES, Bosun: The time you got it was you* toughest trip. In- 1942, when the German submarines were in the West Indies and the Caribbean* I was on the Edith. She was a Bull Line ship, on her way from New York to Puerto Rico* The subs were out and the Navy first held us up at Miami, then sent us down by way of a port in British Honduras. That didn't do any good, for we got it com­ ing out of British Honduras. We lost the radio operator and a FWT. The rest of us spent seven days in the boats, and wers out of wader and in bad shape when we made it^ into Black Rivef* Jamaica. I was bombed in Ant­ werp, but the torpedo wat worse. RAYMOND MORAN, FWT; We were on the old Beatrice n from Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, for Pensacola. I'd been dream­ ing of submarines and then we got it. I was on watch when it hit. I put out the fire, but the Chief Engineer put a pistol on me to keep me from going up. He claimed we weren't hit but that it was "American fleet ex­ ercises," although we were afire and listing. Then we got another one and the Mate was con­ vinced. Finally I found my way to one of the boats. Three days later we made it to Kingston, Jamaica. The Steward was lost, so I was lucky, I guess. I sailed all through the war. but that was the worst lime. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Seafarers Log Issues 1939-1949 Description An account of the resource Volumes I-XI of the Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource August 13, 1948 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Newsprint Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Vol. X, No. 33 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES SIS WINS $12.50-$25 IN 2-YR.MISSISSIPPI PACT UNION-RUN HIRING HALL,WON IN NEW CONTRACT NY DECISION AWARDS IDLE PAY TO PERMITS ILA LONGSHOREMEN WIN PUERTO RICO STRIKE MISSISSIPPI CONTRACT NEW HIGH IN MARITIME THINGS JUMPEDFOR MISSISSIPPI AND SO DID THEIR OFFICALS THERE ARE BEEFS-AND JUST BEEFERS YOU CAN GET OUT IN PHILADELPHIA IF YOU DONT PICK AND CHOOSE SHIPPING IN NEW YORK HOLDS TO FAIR CLIP BALTIMORE EXPECTING SLOW SHIPPING WEEK FRISCO BRANCH FINALLY DOES IT:OPENS NEW HALL FOR A&G DISTRICT MOBILE REPORTS PROGRESS WITH WATERMAN SAN JUAN SIU CONTINUE TO AID PUERTO RICO LONGSHORE STRIKE BOSUNS AREN'T ONLY GREY ONES,SYS STEWARD GALVESTON HAS JOBS ON DECK,BUT THATS ALL MOBILE MAW SETS UP MEETINGS SEAFARER-EXPLORER HAS SAFARIED IN DARK CONTINENT, SOUTH AMERICA HOLDS AFRICAN TITLE,EYES WRESTING CROWN OF EUROPE GEORGE THOMPSON DIES IN ACCIDENT PASSING TIME ON STEEEL CHEMIST EASTERN PORTS WANT TRADE GULY 'STEALS' Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 08/13/1948 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America 1948 Periodicals Seafarers Log