Issue Date
1950-02-24
Volume
12
Issue Number
4
Plaintext
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Official Organ, Atlantic & Gulf District, Seafarers International Union of NA
VOL. XII NEW YORK, N. Y„ FRIDAY. FEBRUARY 24. 1950 No. 4
Congressman Bland Dies In Washington
Representative Schuyler Otis Bland, chairman of the House Corhmittee on the
Merchant Marine, and often termed "the father of America's modern merchant ma-
rine," died February 16 in Washington. He was 77,
Judge Bland had represented Virgiriia's first district continuously since 1918.
A staunch supporter of a strong Amirican merchant marin^ Bland was instru
mental in having passed the Merchant Mar ne Act of 1936, which paved the way for
the rebuilding of America's shipping industry.
Maritime labor and management always found Judge Bland sympathetic to the
problems and needs of the maritime industry, one such incident being the recently
won battle to insure the carrying of at least 50 percent of European Aid cargoes in
American bottoms.
Bland's interest in the merchant marine was not solely legislative, for he took
a personal and active interest in seeing to it that the {y;lministrative branches of the
government carried out to the letter the will of his committee and Congress. It was
primarily at his insistence that the "watchdog committee" was set up to see to it that
the 50 percent cargo rule was not violated.
^ America's maritime indtistry of a true friend. Every ship
afloat in the country's new merchant marine is a monument to his memory.
Expected successor to Bland as the Merchant Marine Committee's head is Rep
resentative Edward J. Hart, of New Jersey, who represents the 14th New Jersey district,
including the Port of New York cities of Hoboken and Jersey City.
Presses
Contract
BULLETIN—^As the LOG went to press, the
SIU. Negotiating Committee was still exerting
every effort to hammer out a contract with the
Marine Division of theCities Service Oil Company.
High on the list of Union demands, was tile
insistence that any contract arrived at must cover
personnel on all 16 ships in •
the company's tanker fleet.,
^Meanwhile, the Union Ne
gotiating Committee was
taking note of the rapidly
growi:ig demand by Cities
Service tankermen for an
allout strike against the
company's facilities on all
coasts, unless concrete evi
dence is immediately forth
coming that Cities Service
will sign a decent contract.
Headquarters issued a
memorandum instructing all
Cities Service tankermen and
members of the SlU in all
ports to stand prepared in
the event that the dispute
cannot be resolved across the
bargaining table.
The Union made it clear,
however, that it would con
tinue to press for a peaceful
settlement and that respon
sibility for any strike action
would rest with the com
pany.
Hold It, Brotberl
Don't shoot the postmao!
It's not his fault that the
LOG is late this week. Con'
ditions beyond our control
forced us to delay publica
tion for a few days, but the
next issue will be out on
time, barring a general strike
in the printing industry.
Senate Greup
Sets Hearing
On Maritime
Sea Unions Urge Adoption Of Hiring Haii Bill
WASHINGTON—In a decision
loaded with grave potentialities
for the shipping industry^ the
Supreme Court, has ruled that
the hii'ing hall, as operated by
the CIO National Maritime Un
ion on the Great Lakes, violates
the closed shop ban of the Taft
Hartley Act. "
fiuskin Scholarship
Applications Openod
The 1950 scholarships for
Anierican trade unionists to
• ' study at Ruskin College, Oxford,
England,' have been opened and
applications are now being ac
' cepted at the scholarship com
mittee's offices in New York.
Offered annually by the Trans
atlantic , Foundation are five
scholarships to active trade un
ion members in this country,
each winner receiving tuition,
room and board at Oxford, plus
approximately $210 for personal
expenses.
The offer is open to members
of the AFL, CIO and Indepen
dent unions, with the committee
particularly interested in per
sons between 20 and 35.
Application forms and fiuiber
information are available through
th6 Editor, SEAFARERS LOG,
51 Heaver Street, New York.'AlI
applications must be in the
hands of ttie scholarship commit
;:by ;L
The high court did not dis
cuss the merits of the contro
versy over the hiring halls. It
merely refused to review the de
cision, declaring the union hir
ing halls illegal imder the TH
Act, handed down by the Fed
eral Circuit Court of Appeals
in New York. Thus, the lower
court verdict stands.
The NMU has filed a petition
for a rehearing of its case by
the Supreme Court.
The enthe maritime industry
viewed the decision with con
sideiable alarm, since the end
of unionoperated hiring halls
would mean a return to crimps,
shanghaiing and all the other vi
cious practices that were wiped
out by the rotary system of ship
ping for seamen.
On the management side, there
was fear for the continued effi
cient operation of "'essels whi(A
the union hiring halls have
brought about.
Spokesmen for a section of
maritime management were in
Washington last week, discuss
ing the problem with Govern
ment labor experts.
They expressed the view^ held
generally by ship operators, that
the present njethod of hiring
through the union halls is less
expensive and more orderly.
Meanwhile, responsible mem
bers of Congress, conscious of
the acute problem facing the
maritime industry as a result
of th^ Supreme Court ruling^
began steps to resolve the issue
through remedial legislation.
Senator James Murray, (Dem.,
Montana), announced that the
Senate Labor subcommittee,
which he heads, would shortly
begin hearings on a bill offered
by Senator Warren Magnuson
(Dem., Wash.), to legalize hiring
halls and allow their continued
operation as in the past.
A similar biU has been offered
in the House by Rep. John Le
sinski (Dem., Mich.).
Senator Murray said that the
hiring hall system "has worked
satisfactorily and it seems to me
it ought to be continued."
Senator Taft, however, who
has considerable influence in
Senate Labor Committee deci
sionsj indicated he would block
a move to exempt the marithne
unions' hiring halls from the
closed shop ban imposed by his
law.
But Taft indicated that the
TH ban was a mistake insofar
as its application to the maritime
industry was concerned, at least.
Questioned on the possibility of
allowing seamen's \inions to con
tinue their present hiring meth
od^ Taft said:
"I don't see how we can do
it for the maritime unions im
less we do it for all." /
In fact, that attitude appeared
to set up a, stumbling block to
quick action on the Magnuson
Lesinski bill. Those favoring the
present hiring haU method of
employment are afraid to take
any action that would be un
popular with other sections of
management, especially since
this is an election year.
Nevertheless, all maritime un
ions—^AFL, CIO and independ
ent—are urging immediate pas
sage of the MagnusonLesinski
biU, as the only sound way out
of the confusion and chaos that
would inevitably result if the
hiring haUs are smashed.
PennsYivania Veterans To Get State Benas
Seafaiers who are veterans of
World Wax II, and who entered
the armed forces as residents
of Pennsylvania, are eligible for
state bonus payments. Applica
tions should be filed immedi
ately, as the deadline is July 1,
1950.
Honorably discharged vets,
who lived in Pennsylvania at
the time of entry into any
branch of the military, and v/ho
served more than 60 days be
tween Dec. 7, 1941 and Sept. 2,
1945, can receive compensation.
Payments wiU be figured ' as
follows:
$10 for every month and frac
tion thereof for service in the
US. ^
$15 for every month and Ac
tion thereof for overseas Mrrvice.
Applications may be obtahieA
at all major veterans organiza
tions, aU Pennsylvania National
Guard armories and the ofiiee
of the County Director of Vet
erans Affairs, located in 4he
coimty court hou3^^s.
The state emphasized that ap
plicants must file no later tiian
July 1, 16S0.
The second hearing on prob
lems facing the maritime indus
try has been scheduled for early
next month by the Senate Sub
committee on Merchant Marine
and Maritime Matters.
Senator Warren G. Magnuson,
who is parking the Senate drive
to expand the US njerchant flee^
heads the subcommittee. The
hearing is expected to last about
two weeks.
Among the matters that are
under consideration by the Sen
ate group are a longrange build
ing program, the transfer of
American flagships to foreign
registry, the Economic Coopera
tion Administration and the 90
percent shcUe for US ships
cargoes shipped imder the act,
and competition for commercial
vessels from Army and Navy
ships.
In connection with the cour
struction phase of the hearings,
the Senate subcommittee is con
sidering a biU to give Federal
support to construction and op
eration of this coimtry's mer
chant marine.
A companion bill had been in
troduced to the House of Rep
resentatives by the late Schuyler
Otis Bland, who had headed the
lower chamber's Committee on
Merchant Marine and Fisheries.
Senator Magnuson has express .
ed the opinion that any mer
chant marine expansion pro
gram would fail unless there ;
was assurance that at least 5®
percent of this coimtry's foreign
trade moved in American bot'
toms.
Page Two T H E SEAFARERS tO G friday, Febxuaty 24, !SSO
j't r • '
SEAFARERS LOG %
Published Every Other Week by Jhe
SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION
OF NORTH AMERICA
Atlantic and
. Affiliated with Ihe American Fedefatkmof .Labor. .
' At 51 Beaver Street, New York 4, N. Y.
HAnoyer 22784
f ReentCTed as second class matter August^ 2. 1940, al • t^^e
Office in New York, N.Y., under the Act of August' 24, 19l2.
267^
Union Hiring Halls
It must be admitted that ascertain element among
1 management found the TaftHartley Law, and especially
^its provision banning the closed shop, exactly to its liking.
^It gave them a hammer toliold over, the Leads of organized
labor, because the prohibition of the closed shop is a
threat to the security built up by unionized workers after
years of struggle. ^ «
Whatever the feelings of industry are in regard to
this vicious piece of legislation, you can bet that the ship
owners are almost as vehemently opposed to it as are the
niaritime unions. And they have recorded their opposition
to the ban on the Hiring Hall on many occasions.
Using good, sound business sense, based on a desire
to continue operations with a maximum of efficiency
and a minimum of confusion, the shipowners have seen—
in concrete form—the benefits of the Hiring' Hall, not
only to the seamen, but to the industry as a whole.
Prior to the advent of the Union Hiring Hall in
maritime, conditions were chaotic, to put it mildly. Crews
i^ere obtained through ffair means or foul—and mostly
foul. The parasitic group known as crimps did a flourish
ing business shanghaiing their victims aboard ships for a
j fee, or by maneuvering helpless seamen into debt for
board or lodging until they could force them to take
I any shipboard job, under any conditions, to wipe out their
|v obligations.
fv • Thanks to the Union Hiring Halls, crimping and
shanghaiing are things of the ugly past. Seamen now are
able to obtain employment in a fair, democratic way by
virtue of the rotary hiring system used in Union Halls.
They are assured of proper and respectful treatment—and
consequently, they are better, more efficient workers
because of it.'
Because of the successful operation of the Union
Hiring Halls, ships leave on time, arrive on time and are
manned by qualified seamen who respect their contractual
obligations. This has naturally resulted in. an efficiency
impossible of attainment under the preUnion Hiring Hall
methods. The operators know it. Even Senator Taft knows
ir. He showed the weakness in his armor the other day,
at an open hearing before a Senate Labor subcommittee
on the Magnuson Bill to exempt maritime unions from
the closed shop ban, when he observed: "I don't see how
we can do it for the maritime unions unless we can do
ir for aU."
Th6 closed shop ban—on any union—^is a mistake. In
connection with its application to the maritime unions,
a? least, Senator Taft prefers to remain stubborn about
admitting it, and thus is inviting a return to the old days
of chaos and confusion.
The maritime trnions cannot allow this xo happen.
If Taft and his backers have no obligation to the vast ma
jority of working men and women of this country, their
unions do—and they mean to discharge that obligation.
Regardless of any differences they may have on any issues,
the maritime unions are absolutely united in their stand
on the Hiring Hall.
They know full well that, besides leaving the way
open for the return of crimps afid their ilk, the Hiring
Hall ban could lead to a breakdown of working condi
tions and wage levels — representing years of sweat and
struggle. Smashing of the Hiring Hall could, in essence,
mean the smashing of maritime unions and everything
they have accomplished both in behalf of their member
ships aind for the stability of the industry.
The LesinskiMagniiSon Bill, which would legalize
Hiring Halls and return them to their pi^TaftHartley
status, intelligently jfecogmzes this danger. Congress should
7t quickly to pz• '. it.
Men Hew In The Maine Hespiteie
These are the Union Bibthexs currently in the marine hoq^Hals.
as reported by the Port Agents. Them Brothers find tlihe hanging
heavily on their hands. Uo what you can to cheer them up by
writing them.
STATEN ISLAND HOSPITAL
. CIRNACO ESOLAN
J. H. DANIEL, JR.
LUIS DIOUDONNE
C, P. THOMPSON
THEODORE ROZUM
JAMES HILLIER
R. GRALICKI
JOHN SANTANIELLO
V. E. JOHNSON
H. J. OUT
J. A. PILUTIS
K. JENSEN
J. W. MC CASLIN
B. B. FULLER
MOSES MORRIS
HENRY WATSON
JAMES PANTOJA
B. F. LAW
A. BJORNSSON
% i t
BALTIMORE HOSPITAL
E. K. BR'YAN
J. P. STANFORD
J. O. MORRISON
W. ASHFORD
J, H. TURNER
A. L. MASTERS
G. A. CARROLL
M. DUSENITCH
I. WILLOUGHBY
T. MORIARITY
J. G. HARRIS '
B. THOMPSON
J. DAVIS
S. C. MILLARD
J. SHE A
B. D. ELBERT
N. BATHOIR
J. MARTINEZ
C. TERRY
W. D. WARMAdK
S. BUZALEWSKI
J. A. KRUSEZYNSKI
C, F. SCHERKOUS
F. KORVATIN
P. E. DARROUGH
P. FRANKMONS
ft
NflW ORLEANS HOSPITAL
A. DEFERMO
G. NOLES
E. J. NAVARRE ,
J. D7ENNIS
F. LANDRY
H. F. LAGAN
L. LANG
, L. WILLIS
C. CHESNA
A. PAREK "
C. P. BENWAY V
M. A. DODGE
C. EZELL
P. ROBERTS V
A.. MAUFFRAt ,
N. 1. WEST
,.P;"L/RAY
J. J. GERDA
Staten Island Hospital
You can contact your Hds
pital delegate at the Stateh
Island Hdspital at the follow
ing timesi
Tusiiday 1:38 to 3:30 p.m.
(on 5th and Offa floors.)
Thursday — 1:30 to 3:30 pan.
(on 3rd and 4th floors.)
Saturday — 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
(on 1st and 2nd floors.)
. ..c
C. R. BRACE
C. F, PRICE
O. HOWELL
P. GAVILLO
C, LYONS
T. E. T.EE
H. D. MC KAY
L. TlCildLE
G. B. GILLISPIE
W. W. LAMB
W. HAYES
W. HAZELGROVE
C. NEUMAXER '
W. WALKER ^
^ X
SAN FRANCISCO HOSPITAL
S. SWOR
W. SILVERTHORNE
A. CAUDRA
J. KEENAN
G. W. GHALE
J. JELLETTE
t 4
SAVANNAH HOd£>ltAL
RAY COLE
4 4 4
MOBILE HOSPITAL
H. HENDERSON
t. LITTLE . • '
P. BURROUGHS
A. B. LYNN I .
TiJa BURKE
'444
BOSTON HOSPITAL r H v
FRANK AL.ASAVICK
W. BEZANSON ..jn
F. PAGAN
R. WAGNER,
^ I .• 'i
'. I
V,. .:V • v;;V,
frKtoy. J^i^teafuy ,2# 1850 <fffEJ§MAJ 4 EiEJES I Q G ,.... ,=
P9g0 Tbtee
—tSij
B7 JOHN BUNKER
Several hundred jobs seem
assured for seamen on the West
Coast, with the recent awarding
of bids to the Sun Shipbuildmg
|md Drydock Company at Chest
er, Pa., for the construction of
two Trailerships, imusual vessels
that will <;arry highway trucks
and passengers between I^g
Beach and San Francisco.
"Proposed for several years by
H. P. Alexander, well known
West Coast shipping raan, 'Trail
. crships have received the finan
cial backing of the US Maritime
^ Commission to the extent of
some $110,000,000.
They will operate on an over
mght service between Long
B.each and the Golden Gate, one
,ship leaving the southern ter
minus as another departs from
the north.
5^he Board of Harbor Commis
sioners :Of Long Beach are budd
jj^g a .$3,000,000 terminal to ac
comodate the first two Trailer
ships, when they start operating
some time in 1950 or 1951.
FAMILIAR NAMES '
To West Coast sailors these
two ships will have old, familiar
^ names, for they!ll be called the
H. F. Alexander and the Ruth
Alexander, after ships well
known in the Pacific for many
years before the war.
The "Ruth" was one of the
• first American ships .tp be at
tacked in World War JI while
the "H.F.," a very fast,
beamed passenger liner, carried
thousands of Qf's to wartinae
battlefionts in her role as .an
Army transport.
These Trailer#ip6 are ,563
footers with a 90 foot beam—
sis^eaMe .abips in .leyery reapcct.;
They are intended to cany 136
officers and crew.
Income will be derived partly
passengers and partly from
icarrying .trucks, for they have
accomodations for 383 passen
gers and 176 trucks of the type
comrnorily referred to as .high"
way ~ "trailers," which will
jstbwed along the main deck and
ah upper deck.
This deck, incidentayy, might
even inject a new word ipto
marine terminology, should the
designeis decide to call it the
^trailer deck," as they most ap
propiately could.
PROVIDE NEW SERVIQE
Thei*e have been no ateam
phip passenger lines romnirig
j^ng the West {Coast for .the
j99St ten yaars. The Pacific Coast
, steamship Company, which will
operate these Trailerships, hopes
to sell tickets at $11 for a one
y?ay passage or $19,80 for the
ypimd trip.
This reasonable rate is sure
fp attract plenty of tracje ^m
folks wanting a pleasant sea
trip of short duration, a? Well
' as from travelers between north
em and southern California.
Tentative scheduling caJls for
the .ships to leave Long Beach
jat 6 pm and arrive at Sajn Fran
cisco the next morning at nipe,
8 fast run made possible by
powerful turbines and twin
'screw drives that will send these
coastal liners along at 25 knots.
Tho i^vro ships will each cariy
19 officers and 117 urilicensed
j)erspnnel.. The designs provide
for liberal space in all the guart
accorno^ting officers and
Among the unlicensed med are
six "1 ;OokoiUs," six "Statiop.'
An azchitect's drawing of ono of two faUBrsbips on which construction' is soon to begin.
The vessels axe 563 feet long, have a 9P.£pot beam, and will have accommodations for 382 pass
engers and 176 trailer trucks. The TraUerships will operate between San Francisco and Long"
Beach. Calif.
It is hoped that the innovation of the Trail srships in the coastal trade will open up new
areas of employment for seamen. The ships will each carry 19 officers and 117 unlicensed crew
members. and also will, have qparters for 60 of the trailers' drivers. According to present plans,
the ships will have 25knot speeds.
men," three Oilers, three Elec
tricians, three Firemen, three
Watertenders, three Quarter
masters, nine ABs and several
other un^ecified deckhands in
addition to a Stewards Depart
ment of 69.
These will probably be the
only ships .afloat especially fit:
ted to carry trAi<ds,diriVK»rTi60 M
them.
The idea behind Trailerships
is to circumvent the high cost
of freight handling which has
kayoed the coastwise steamship
lines durmg recent. years, mak
ing resumption of many domes
tic lines impossibje efler the war
Even during tlie 193Qs, the
coastwi^ and intercpastal lines
were having a hard time fi
nancially and, if the war had
not put them out of business be
cause of requisition of their
ships by the government, it is
very Jikoly that they would have
folded up under postwar eco
ncsnic stress.
One of the major proWems of
the coastal lines was competition
from motor carriers, and thous'
ands of tons of package freight
whiclv once moved by seaboard
liners were diverted to highway
trucks, which, besides offering
lc^,er rates., .cojdd give shippers
the extra advardage of doorto
(Jnor
This truck competition grew
by leaps and bounds duiing the
depression, striking hardest at
those sections of the coast which,
supported the most seaboard
traffic.
It was the princip^ reason for
abandonment of the famous Fall
Elver, New London, Providence
and Bridgeport Lines in* New
England.
It was .the reason why Mer
chants and Miners, Clyde Mal
lory, Eastern and other steam
ship companies did not build
new vessels to replace ships
which were becoming obsolete in
the 1930s.
It was to get around this
trucking competition, plus the j
high costs ""of handling cargo ^
which face all postwar steam
ship operations, that H. F. Alex
ander developed his idea for
Trailerships.
ENDORSED BY UNIONS
He has obtained the whole
hearted endorsement of both
longshore and teamsters unions,
and has seen his project finally
win official approval after three
years of "backing and filling" ^
the old salts would say, before
the cautious Maritime Commis
sion.
These two ships, he hopes,
will be the forerimhers
of more extensive Trailer^p
operations to come on the Par
cific, Gulf and Atlantic coasts; |
reviving the prewar coastal pas
senger trade and giving employ]
ment to hxmdreds of seamen in
the process.
(Editor's note: This is the
second and concluding article
on the subject of coastal ship
ping by John Bunker, foriner
member of the SIU. who is
now ship news reporter fox
the Christian Science Monitor.
Bunker is currently at werk
on a series of articles which
will highlight the wartime
role of SIU contracted ships
and their crews. Upon com
, pletion of the project, the
SEAFARERS LOG will pub
lish it in serial form. Because
of the historical nature of the
Seafarers' part in the war.
Bunker's articles should be of
vital interest to all Union
members and others connected
with the maritime industry.)
The Laborer's Prayer
By HOLT ROSS
Lor# ie$ me ̂ fiye :i» way
To do 9ome worthy act each day.
I seek no favors, power or wealth
But just contentment and good health.
Let me dive in where the stream is swift
And give some feilowman a lift.
I trust no one yrjJll ever frpwh
Ap4 say I let a real friend down.
jGojifer on me, O l^ord, ;the gift .
^o giye the poor.n little lift,
:he^ them when they're down and out
,ea,nnot find Iheir way about.
W4ht and poverty ' •
to blight society. , ,
>^1 this load of Vant and sorrow
I would lighten f.or t^wnwrow.
Of worldly goods some. Iwiyen'tstny
tjp tliis land syeallh and,plpnty.
.6 n)py wprXer? everywhere
Unite .and fight tp get thpir share.
;Ojur ifolks.haye surely laced starvation.
3h.ey have suifered esspioitation,
But they always turned to You; .
They remained steadfast and true.
^They had hope and inspiration
An^ j^ways prpyed Ipr tfoe^^
Now, Then hast heard their prayers
And Victory wifl soon be theirs.
We are thankMil for .all fayors, .T r/'i". , .
And wiil share tiiera with our neighhOTS.v • • • • •
I^rd God of Sosts, O, make us strong,
Help us speed our cause along
O, give me strength to lead the fight,
To help the poor each wrong to right,
And to each worker everywhere,
I would award his equal share.
To those in darkness, show the hght.
jGive strength to those too weak to fight.
O Lord, we will obey Thy laws
And would be soldiers for Thy cause.
We that are strong would help the weak,
The pure in hpart and workers meek.
O help me, God, to hold the torch
For Ghristian Wurker? QA. the march.
"Hiose who are blessed should appreciate
Hiy timely aid and reciprocate
By daily doing some good deed
To help someone right now in need.
Lord, help us in this crucial hour;
Give us strength and more willpower.
May we never oeasp to fight.
For fhis cause so just and right.
We know the fight is all uphill,
But we wiil charge ahead until
Each worker comes into his own
And has the strength to carry on.
Lord, when my work on earth is done
And. Labor's yictpry has baen won.
May those w.ho knew me at the end
Say, "He was truly Labor's Friend!"
Vi
m
V'?
• ?
o" V r
Ml
i; • :
• ' V.
%
Fiiae Fmur T B E S E A F A itE R S L O G . • ' ntiday^ i^*hw
IMsbile Expects
ietter Days
By CAL TANNER
MOBILE—Shipping in the port
of Mobile from February
%:• through the 15th, reached an all
time low,. with approximately
thirtyseven bookmen and no
permits shipped for the two
week period. We had four pay
offs and four signons, plus four
ships intransit for the period.
Paying off and signing on were
Corsair, Alcoa; and the Wild
Ranger, Lafayette, and Antinous,
Waterman. All four were in gooc
shape, hoth paying off and sign
ing on.
Intransit for the period were
the Chickasaw, Ames Victory,
Steel Admiral, Greeley Victory.
AH ships were contacted and
necessary replacements furnish
ed.
In the Mobile Marine Hospital
are the following Brothers: H.
Henderson, T. Little, P. Bur
roughs, A.B. ,Lynn and Tim
Burke.
Word has been received from
the Marine Hospital that Broth
er Louis Howard died Friday,
February 17, after a long Ulness.
The Seafarers extend their sym
pathy to the family of Louis
Howard. ,
Waterman SS Company is
changing the Victory ships on
the coastwise nm, and replacing
them with companyowned C2s.
While this will mean a few
more jobs for the port of Mo
bile, it will mean a loss of about
a hundred jobs to the Union, as
these Victorys will be placed in
the laldup fleet here.
Well, we had a few towboat
relief jobs here in the last couple
of weeks and they were what
kept the boys in cigarette money
for the last two weeks. We ship
ped approximately twentyeight
relief jobs to tugs during the
twoweek period.
Shipping will be a little better
during the coming two weeks,
with about nine coastwise anc
four offshore ships due to hit the
port
li.T,...
"V
r/
lI
"AMONG THE BEST MADE SO FART
T
NEW YORK STATE SCHOOt OF INDU8TRIAU AND LABOR RELATIONS
CPRNELL UNIVERSITY
ITHACA, NEW YORK
EDMUND EZRA DAY. CHANCBIXOM
CORNKt.18 WILLXM DK KIEWIET, AcnNS PfmiDKNT
M. P. CATHERWOOD, DEAN
Dscember 7, 1949 v:;?;
, _ S"'• . ... . •
Mr« Albert A* Bsmsteiji
International Representative •
Seafarers International Union
of North America
51 Beaver Street
Hew York 4, Mew lork
Dear Mr# ^mstein: . * '
Thank you for sending a!tohg the tw films for our school to preview;
'^I was much impressed with them* I feel* that your efforts are among the best
made so far by the labor unions*
The film THIS IS THE SIU tms particularly interesting for showing how
the "hiring hall" works* Many of our'students do not h^ve the opportunity
to know how these things function* It iias also good ̂ om the standpoint
of conveying the ideal of your union*
THE BATTLE OF WALL STREET also is useful in that it gives some idea of
lAat is involved in staging a modem successful strike.
Both these films are particularly useful to us because liiey serve as
firsthand information for our students of experiences that few of them
have been able to acquire by actual presence*
m
I hope some day we can make these films a part of our library of
films, but until then yon will be hearing from me for their loan* ' ' "
Thank you for your trouble*
Sincerelyj
J* J* Jehriiig
Asst* Prof, of Industrial and
labor Relations
li^.
Htercury, Shipping
Nosedive in Bustnn
By BEN LAWSON
BOSTON — The only things
J moving around here are the
, thermometer, which is going
down but fast, and the winds,
which are strong enough to ram
your words right back down
yoirr throat.
Up xmtil recently we were
having pretty fair weather, but
• winter sxire 'cut loose the last
couple of days. We've got a foot
of snow on the streets and are
right in the ^ddle of a regular
blizzard of rain, hail and snow.
It's so bad outside that the
> Brothers will have to take to
dog sleds to make the meeting
^tonight.
But if you think the weather
is bad, dipping is worse. We
had one payoff, the W. E. Down
fiig of the State Fuel Corpora
tion, which came in dean with
.no beefs.
Intransit visitors were the
Robin Sherwood; John B. Wa
' terman. Canton Victory, Besse
mer Victory, Waterman, and the
.Steel Vendor, Isthmian.
^ ^ere were some overtime
on the John B. Waterman,
' Vvfaidh were straightened out
aboard rfiip, and mi the Robin
Hherwood, which will be carried
I to the port of payoff.
The two SIU films continue to get unstinted praise from unions and schools. Lack of space
forced the LOG to keep this^ cut on the Shelf for more than two months. It is reproduced now
to remind interested organizations that they can buy a print for $40 for their permanent library.
Recognized unions and labor schools can borrow a copy for a showing at no cost tothem.
By JOE ALGINA
NEW YORK — Shipping has
been very slow duHng the past
two weeks, a condition that ap
pears to be general in all ports.
Although a. number of ships
came into this port, they did
not take large niunbers of re
placements.
The ships pajring off in the
twoweek period just ended
were the following:
Beatrice, Kathryn, Puerto Rico,
Elizabeth, Evelyn and Suzanne,
Bull; Bessemer Victory, Chicka
saw, Warrior, an'd Hurricane,
Waterman; Seatrains New York
and New Jersey; Santa Clara
Victory, Isthmian; Collins, Trans
fuel; J. Hanson, White Range,
and Alexandra, Carras.
Signing on were the Taddei,
Ship Inter Lines; St. Augustine
Victory, Isthmian; Warrior, Wa
terman; Robin Wentley, and the
Seatrain and Bull Line ships.
All of die payoffs and sign
Had Your Say?
Pro and con commenla on
Ihe suggested change in the
shipping rules to make R
mandatory for a wiRn toac
cept his vacation pay and get
off a ship after one year
aboard continue to come in
brom Brothers aeen and
ashore. If you haves*?i yet
expressed your views on the
.quesnon, how about send
ing them to the LOG—now.
ens came off in good shape, the
vessels being clean and ship
shape.
Fouy of the Robin Line ships
are being chartered and will
operate from West Coast ports.
Senator Taft, as would be ex
pected, stated_this week that he
is against anything that would
permit a closed ^op, even iii
maritime. Teift; of course, knows
nothing about what the Union
Hiring Halls Iwve done to stabi
lize conditions in the maritime
industry—and he cares even less.
PROTECT GAINS
Our Union is interested in
seeing tiiat the hardwon gains
of the seamen are preserved, and
that the present stability in the
maritime industry resulting from
establishment of the Hiring Hall
rema^ unchanged. Senator Taft
has no such interest. In fact,
he is determined to break down
union conditions wherever he
can.'
So far, there has been no defi
nite word from Washington on
the status of Bernstein's applica
tion for d subsidy to pemHt ope
ration of two passenger ships to
European ports. As soon as
the membership will be in
formed.
A word of advice to men
aboard ships. We have been in
formed by some members after
they have come into port that
there are logs against them that
are • not true or accurate.
Therefore, we advise all hands
that if a log is placed against
them aboard ship, they should
not sign it if they believe .it to
be inaccurate.'•
Once you have signed your
name to a. log, you have prac
tically admitted that the infor
mation contained therein has
your approval. You cannot ex
p^ to deny it after the ship
comes Into port.
In ether words, you can't
change your story. So don't sign,
if you don't agree with the in
in Savannah
By E. BRYANT
SAVANNAH Shipping bas
been slow in this port, but is
expected to pick up . somewhat
the next two weeks—but this is
by no means a signal for a gold
rush to Savannah. We have
enough men around here to take
care of our needs,
TThere were no payoffs in thfe
last period, but we had the fol
lo^ving ships intransit: Jean;
Bull; Steel Recorder, Isthmian;
Southport, South Atlantic; wd
the Chickasaw and Topa Topa,
Waterman. There was nary a
beef on any of these scows.
The men on the beach are a
little sort of cabbage, and spend
their time on fishing trips, which
cut down on their expenses and
provide good times for all.
We have had good fishing ^
weather down here, and any of
the boys whoare fat from a ̂
cent payoff are cordially invited
to come down with their fish
ing tackle.
Brother Jim McDonald just
blew in after paying off the
Southwind . in Galveston, and
bought five bucks worth of cof
fee and sweetin' for the men in
the Hall.
There is only one man in the
hospital here, Ray Cole, and kis
condition, 1 am glad to say;. is
reported as good.
Just one more word, and that
to performers—^think twice
about coming to "Savannahi The
membership here is sudden
death to them.
New York Shipping Situation (inrhangod
Slight impFOvemeiii
In Frisco Shipping
By JEFF MORRISON
SAN FRANCISCO —Shipping
has. improved over the past two
weeks, but it is still nothing to
brag about. The SS Young Amer
ica gave us our only payofA
later signing on for the Far
East. There were no beefs oh
ship, and the crew was doing
a bangup job, a real credit to
the SIU.
In addition, we had the fol
lowing ships intransit: Topa
Topa, Hastings and Yaka, Wat
erman; Kenyon Victory and Steel
Navigator, Isthmian, and the
Calmar.
On the" beach with us there
are P. Wilma, T. Malone and
Harvey Hill, all of whom came
in with the Mankato Victory
and paid off, and C. Cothraan
and Joimny BurkCi
The following Brothers are in
the Marine Hospital, and would
appreciate hearing from their
friends and shipmates: S. Swor,
A. Caudra J,. Keenan, J. Jellett^
W. Silverthome, and G. W.
Ghale.
something is announ<'ed on th.i8,ifonnation. in the log^ng.
. , ^It , 0 J,!p J 1
Bull Lines Crews
Since Bull Lines is mo
longer mailing cut Inoooae
Tax Withholding Statements,
all men who were on Bull
Lines ships in 194g'cae u^
ed to call at or write to
the company offices for their
statements. Failure to fUb
tax returns befdre Mazdi
15 will result in fines and
penalties. Bull Lines are ki
fcated ̂ 105 Broad Siieet;
New. York City,...
it''
Friday. Fabruaxy 24, 1950. THE SEAFARERS LOG Page Five
'An SlU Credit Union Just Cannot Miss'
By JOHN COLE
»
About 150 years ago, groups of workers banded
together for the purpose giving mutual aid
and assistance to brothers who fell into debt, or
to families who were made destitute by the loss
of their breadwinner.
These, fraternal groups formulated principles
which were later Incorporated by, present day
credit unions.
Actually, however, their real claim to fame
Jay in the fact that they were tjj.e first trade
unions in America, butit was not till later that
they pressed programs that called for improve
ment in their living standards.
We, today, seem to Mhve reversed that process
by going after conditions first, and following^
with stabilizing services later. The organization
saw fit to blueprint the needs of us Seafarers,
and then proceeded to . pick them off like sitting
ducks—^with stout backing, of course, from the
membership.
ECONOMIC SECURITY
Wages, hours, working conditions, manning
I " scales, safety rules, sanitary standards, vacations
(homesteaders notwithstanding), and health and
welfare benefits were just some of the prizes
bagged.
Through all i;hese gains economic security has
been made available to us. What we how need
. is some sy'^ematic device to help us preserve a
substantial part of income, while we are still
enjoying the.high tide of prosperity.
.. A credit union could be that means of main
taining adequately our hardwpn economic secur
' ity.
Apart from the few who dp bave savings ac
counts, what do we know about the monetary
habits of om members?
liet's break them down to the two categories
of carefree sandlot baseball days, and call them
married and the single.
Although these two examples may seem to
oversimplify the problem, fhe end result will
still be the same in most every case.
Comes a big payoff and/papa lays the bundle
. oh the table when he gpts home. Mama, mis
..jpfilculating her needs, shops around for those
, several items that she has wantejJ for a long
time.
When money begins to run low; she stops
the extrabudgetary spending, sudd^y realiz.
ing that she will have all to do to meet remain,
ing living expenses until next pay day with
' what is left.
GOODBYE. BANK ACCOUNT
' Again, her long dreamedof bank account must
' be postponed to some other faraway day.
i ' .
Then there is the correspondingly large pay
off for the man without family r^ponsibility.
The first place he heads for, when he hits
port, is the favorite hangout. There he leaves a
big chunk of cabbage with the "proprietor" for
safekeeping. On the way out he meets an old
shipmate who is up against it and lets him haye
a himdred.
• To tell, the wholes story of his stay in port
would be a monotonous repetition of round after
round of generous improvidence. Needless to say,
he is flat broke when he catches his next ship.
How can we check this treadmill course of
Brothers who toil laboriously from pay day to
pay day, with no appreciable change in their
financial status? Merely by employing that al
waysreliable tangible, group action, and at the
yery small cost of two bits a member.
. Seafarers can decide affirmatively in a refer
endum vote that they want a credit union.
V.
One of the questions presently being pondered
by Seafarers is the advisability of setting up a
credit union by and for SIU members. In a re
cent issue, the LOG published an article con
taining basic information on credit unions—the
way they are set up. how they operate and what
they intend to accomplish. Since publication of
the credit union article there has been a flurry
of pro and con comment.
Among those favoring the credit unipn idea is
Seafarer John Cole. On this page. Brother Cole
tells why he wants a credit union in the SIU.
Because he has done so clearly and comprehen
sively. the LOG feels that all members should
read Cole's article carefully and thoughtfully. It
provides the understanding of credit unions that
is necessary before anypne not familiar with
their nrnkeup and operation can decide whether
he is for. or ageinst, a credit union for Seafarers.
Meanwhile, the membership is urged to con
tinue its shipboard and shoreside discussion of
the subject. Members having opinions they wish
to present to their Union Brothers are requested
to forward them to the LOG for public^ion.
When fhat is done, th^ call a membership
meeting; elect a board of directors (five for
headquarters anti one .fMr every other port that
might be workable), a supervisory pojmmittee of
three, and a credit committee of three; draw up
bylaws in conformity with federal and state
requirements; and petition the Bureau erf Fed
eral Credit Unions for a charter.
When the ch^ter is finally certified, the Sea
farers International Credit Union of North Am
erica is in business.
COOPERATIVE EFFORT
The purpose of a credit union is npt to be
directly: competitive with banks, yet it inevit
ably, must cross some lines into spheres of their,
activity.
It isa cooperative effort , with twofold object
ives: the longrun,which :is to encourage sav
ing; and the shortrun, tofinance personal credit
needs.
It is a banking sefvice nm for the member
ship by the membership. It shields, the individual
from contact with coldly impersonal commercial
banks, as well as from everlurking usurious
loansharksi
"it preserves democratic processes at the mem
bership • levelra rare thing in free enterprise
venture^by giving members the power to se
lect or remove directors; by permitting them the
right to decide how profits shall be shared; and
by allowing equal votes to largest and smallest
shareholders alike.
It helps njembers to help themselves to a
greater degree of financial stability.
Undoubtedly, we could get Union officials to
place SIU facilities at the disposal of a credit
union. Anfij until such time as the baby banking
structure is strong enough to carry its own paid
employees. Patrolmen mi^t pick up deposits
for savings accoimts withdues when ships hit
ports. . *
SPECIAL AGENTS
Commercial banks have already adopted this
technique by assigning special collection agents
to the waterfront.
With persons handling funds placed under
heavy bond, plus strict goveriuneat supervision,
our money has strong safeguards.
Althopgh a share is valued at five dollars, any
multiple part of that sum may be deporited,
even as low as a quarter a month.
A wife may share an account jointly with. her.
husband, but may enjoy none of the preroga
tives reserved for members only.
Just as there is no compulsion on the pari ̂ of
anybody to join the credit union, so there is ho
right on the part of abstainers to exercising
the privileges or reaping the benefits of mem
bership. It has been stated that a group savings
plan is not practicable among sailors. Attention
needs to be called^to the sound condition of pur
Union's treasury to explode that fallacy. 6niy
in an organization as solidly based as ours can
the dream of today become fhe reality of to
morrow.
NO GAMBLE
Members' saving may not be gambled with."'^ |
The purchase of federal bonds and savings,
loans to other credit unions, and loans to mem
bers are permitted. Dividends on earnings may
not exceed 6 percent a year. Losses on bad loans
amounted to onefifth of 1 percent last year. i
The lending service can stop many demorv :,|
alizing worries, but funds may be tapped oijiyj]
for useful, worthwhile purposes. ; i
The credit committee screens all applicants ']
for loans and arranges schedules for repayment.;
Most frequent loans last year were madefor
automobile mortgages, for consolidation of debts,
and for paying current Ijiving expenses.
Unsecured .loans may be made up to limits
set by the directors. Adequate security is re
quired for loans in excess of a member's share
holdings. A loan may be secured by a cosigner.
Eighty percent pf the total income of credit
unions came from the 1 percent interest a month
charged members en their loans. <
At the January meeting every year dirCctois,
supervisory and credit emnmittees are elected.
The directors, iu turn, elect their own officers.
The treasurer is the man on whom responsi
bility is fastened. He manages all affairs, keeps
all books, prepares all r^Dforts. Ho alone among
the officers may be paid a salary..
The clerk keeps minutes of meetings of the
board and the niembership. This office is usualiy
. combined with the treasurer's.
The president presides at meetings and |^e
sents the annual report to the members. In his
absence the vicepresident takes over. '
SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE
The supervisory committee serves as auditors
and ferrets. If any director makes a false move,
they suspend him and turn his case over to the
membership for disposition at a special meeting.
Credit unions have had a century of experi
ence in Europe and Asia. Although their birth
in this country only came in 1909, the.y have
grown with amazing rapidity.
Aiherica now has over 9000 credit, unibrjs ij
(state and federal .combined) and 4,000,000 mem
bers with an accumulated total* of $700 million.
When it is realized tjiat 53 percent of that
sum goes into circulation to stimulate business,
it is no wonder that credit unions are encour
aged by federal, state, and municipal authorities, j
Let's start a grassroots educational program by
collaring every member, shipboard and shore
side, for the purpose of hastening the setting up
of credit union machinery.
We want to be ready to give hard times a
nosethumbing, the next time the econoinic
graphs start their downward spiral.
Go to work on your friends and, if there are
any pessimists among them, tell them to go to
a neutral corner until we put this thing in work
ing order an<bthen they can join. / ' t H
An SIU credit union just can't miss.
J
Cyclone Rips Into Robin Kettering;
Ship, Cargo Take Severe Battering
Damages sustained by the SS Robin Kettering when she was struck by an 80
mileanhour cyclone 12 £ours out of Lourenco Marques, at the entrance of Mo
zambique Channel,are being repaired in Mombasa, crewmember John Tilley inform
ed the LOG this week.
Despite the storm's violence,
which caused heavy damage to
the ship's cargo, crewmiembers
escaped severe injury.
The cyclone raged for 24
kotirs before spending itself and
permitting the Kettering to head
for Mombasa.
As the twister tore into the
Robin Line vessel, a fiveton
steel derrick was ripped from
its mooring and snapped in two
like a matchstick. The wind car
lii^ ried it down onto ^ welldeck
vrith such force that it took a
whole length of railing with it.
Heavy seas accompanied the
cyclon^ rendering the Kettering
almost unmanageable. Then the
cargo began to shift Caterpillar
tractors consigned to Mombasa
broke loose in the hold. Most of
them were damaged and one
was crushed to pieces, after its
ehgine crashed through hatch
boards into the lower hold.
Of two automobiles in the
eOigo, one was telescopOd al
most , beyond ' recognition as it
Was squeezed between tractors
on <Mie side and oil drums on
the other. Many of the'fuel con
tainers burst, spilling oil all over
'the decks, bulkheads and the
overhead.
One of the Seafarers aboard
the Kettering reported:
1 "We were down there in the
hold like cowboys, snagging
those tractors and trying to
if,
After the slonm Kettering crewmen turned to softball.
troimcing the Moipbasa club 23 to 12. Left to right, rear:
J. Tilley, J. Yorin, L. Laronde, E. Hogge, 1st Asst. George and
F. Pasquale; kneeling: Bob Sizemore, R. Williams, T. Parrett;
front: S. Cooper, T. Guiliano, R. Suarez.
fasten them into position. The
cargo kept shifting all the time,
even though it was shored up
with sixbysixes until the hold
looked like a forest."
A deck cargo of sulphuric acid
also broke loose and the potent
chemical ate at the decks. Mom
basa's Port Fire Brigade im
mediately began removing the
acid as soon as the ship tied up
there.
One of the ship's officers said
the seas tossed the ship around
like a toy boat.
"It was terrific," he stated.
"First we were pitching, then
we were rolling, then our teeth
started to fall out."
Crewmembers aboard the Ket
tering were of the opinion that
two other ships were in the
area of the cyclone, but were
too far away to be identified. It
is belived that one was British
and the other Dutch.
iy • • That Wasn't My Mate—That WasMy First
If shipmates of Del Norte crewmember Thurston Lewis are concerned about his
I ^muttering and mumbling these past few days, they needn't be worried. He should
UNION FOR A UNION MAN
in
Joe Kotalik and Odette Pjlkerton bec^e man and wife
Holy Rosary Churcdi in Ashley. Pa.
to normal in due time.
Brother Lewis' unusual con
duct is merely a hangover from
a brotherly chore performed for
shipmate Joe (the Grinder) Zim
mer, who had been trying to
figure out who was which Mate
on what voyage, or something.
Joe bum^ the midnight oil
^d came up with a clarification
that he" wanted to send to the
LOG. He asked Lewis to type it
tip for him. As an explanation of
the Del Norte dilemma, Joe's
masterpieceputs • Abbott and
CosteUo's Baseball routine of
"Who's on first?" to complete
^ame.
Here's Joe's letter:"
"Dear Brothers:
"You will remember the job
I recently had on the Del Norte
running out 'of New Orleans. I
made three, seventeenday trips
on this ship.
"Everything went well, as usu
al on SIU ships. However, there
M iwas a slight misunderstanding
lig lconcermng the question as to
t who was which mat®. This was
brought about by frequent
changing of mates, to wit;
"The First Mate on the first
trip was the Second Mate on the
second trip. Those who called
him 'First' on the first had to
get used to calling him 'Second'
on the second. The Second who
was Second on the first trip w;as
First on the second. The Third
who was Third on the first and
Second on the second, was First
on the third.
"Now the First on the first
went Second on the second, and
Second on the third, and the
Second who was Second on the
first went Third on the third.
"So the First on the first was
really a First because he was
First on the third, and the Sec
ond on the first was a First be
cause he was a First on the sec
ond, and also Second on the
third.
"The Third on the third, who
was first the First on the first,
was a First because he was^ First
on the first, even though he was
Second on the second. However,
the Ilrst who was First on the
first was the real First, because
he was the first First—^e?
"Hoping this will simplify
matters for those of my ship
mates who were slightly con
fused.
"Joe (the Grinder) Zimmer"
Move over, wiU you. Brother
Lewis.
Seafarer Kotalik's Wedding
Brings Out 2,000 Spectators
More than 2,000 persons flocked to the town of
Ashley, near Wilkes Barre, Pa., on Feb, 4 to witness the
marriage of Seafarer Joseph Kotalik, recently a crew
member aboard the SS*
Puerto Rico, to Miss Odette
P i 1 k e r t o n of Nashville,
Tenn. . •
The Holy Rosary Church , was
filled to capacity, hours before
the wedding, with people ar
riving as early as 7:30 AM. Ah
estimated 300 persons, imable to
gain entrance to the church,
stood outside on the steps and
sidewalk. A detail of state po
lice was on hand to handle the
crowd.
HIGH MASS CEREMONY
Brother Kotalik, 32, is 4 feet, 6
inches tall, while his bride mea
sures just under foiur feet.
Twelve midget friends of the
couple attended the ceremony,
which was celebrated in a sol
emn nuptial high mass.
After the wedding, a break
fast was served for the bridal
party , at the home of Joe's sis
ter, Mrs. Michael Onderko, in
Ashley. A reception was held
later at Holy Rgsary Church
SIU IS SAILOR'S HOPE
The lilfle fellow is SIX? (pr^uaced Siyou), a yearling
purchased by Seafarer Aussie Shrimpion in England last year.
Aussie will race SIU in the States ewly in ISSl.^IU is shown
with his mom. Sailor's Hope, when he was 3 yttw Tbe
coming ehiitw.p is' now ia Cansda.
Hall for 300 guests. The bridal
party had dinner at Brother Ko
talik's home af 42 Charles St.,,
Ashley. •
' The wedding was televised
over an eastern network, and.
many Seafarers in New York
reported that they had witness
ed it.
The couple is honeymooning ,
in Miami and Key West. From
there they will go to New Or
leans, where Joe intends to en
ter business.
\ APPEARED ON STAGEr
Mrs. Kotalik has appeared • in
numerous vaudeville and musi
cal shows and during the war
traveled extensively in , this
country as an entertainer in var
ious camp shows. She was with
the traveling company' of the
Ziegfeld Follies several years
ago and had appeared on Broad
way in Gus Edwards' "Show
Window."
Previous to his job as hell.
boy on the Puerto Rico, Brother
Kotalik sailed but of the Gulf
on the Dei Norte in the ^me
capacity. Joe also had been in
show business for ^ time.
Both of the newlyweds are of
parents of average height. Joe's
three brothers and one sister are
also of average height. TJie
bride comes of a family of eight
girls and two boys, all normal
in height. Some of her brothers
are over six feet tall.
Joe joined the SIU in 1947
and hojds Book No. 51233. His
brother Thomas, who~ is 5 feet
11 inches tall, has also sailed on
SIU ships..
ATTENTION!
If you don't find linen
when you go aboard your
ship, notifv Ihe Hal! ai once, •
.A telegram from LeHavreor
Singapore won't do you any^
good, IFs your bed and you* ; '
have to Me fa it.
. ... ...
Fri^y, F*bruKry 24; 1850
Digested Minutes Of SlU Ship Meetings
WARRIOB. Nov. 27—R. Owen.
Chairman; K. Hatgimisips, Sec
retary. Ship's and Stewards Del
egates to notify headquarters re
garding Messman who missed
ship in New York after borrow
ing money from various mem
bers. Ship's Delegate to see if
oil in wash wa,ter can be elim
inated. Medicine chest to be
doublechecked for next voy
age to avoid shortage prevailing
during current trip. Suggested
that clock be obtained for rec
reation room. One minute of
silence in memory of departed
Union Brothers.
% X
STEEL FABRICATOR. Dec. 11
—Miller. Chairman; Bossert. Sec
retary. No beefs, delegates re
ported. Motion carried that Pa
teohnan see Old Man about
drdws in view of circular letter
from company limiting Skipper
to a draw of $100 per man. Dis
cussion on the need for adequate
supplies and a wider variety of
food. Vote of thanks to Alfred
Thomas for keeping good supply
of ice on hand during our stay
In hot climate. Stewards Depart
ment thanked for excellent
Thanksgiving dinner. Suggested
that men getting off ship turn
their keys over to department
heads.
^ t, %
ALCOA ROAMER. Dec. 11—
Wesley Palmer. Chairman; Eu
gene Smith. Secretary. Motion
carried instructing Ship's Dele
gate to get in touch with Union
Hall for disposal of penalty ov
. crtime for no shore leave in
Paramaribo. Engine Delegate re
ported a minor overtime dispute;
there were no other beefs. Sug
ge^ed that galley boy make ice
tea. Stewards Department giMsen
vote^ of thanks for its efficient
service. Ship's Delegate to head
committee which will investigate
ship's library.
^
DEL SOL. Dec. 18—Frank Mc
Quillan, Chairman; J. R. Brown.
Secretary. Ship's Delegate asked
that collection for fimei'al wi'eath
for Baker's deceased mother be
left to department delegates.
Disputed overtime reported in
each of the departments and will
be turned overrto Patrolman up
on arrival in New Orleans. Mo
tion carried to see Patrolman
about changing wooden lockers
to metal ones before ship leaves
port on next voyage. Suggested
that ship's library be exchanged
on arrival. Selico. BR, volun
teered to take care of the mat
ter.
DEL ALBA, Dec. 11—Joseph
Engles. Chairman; Leonard Gol
embiewskL Secretary. Dqpgles
Craddock elected Ship's Dele
gate. Others chosen were Ben}a
min Jarralt. Deck; Harry Thomp
son. Engine, and William Roc
hell, Stewards. Motion carried:
That no one outside of Stewards
Department be allowed to handle
food in South American. ports;
that crewmembers be banned
from entering messhall in shorts.
Suggested that character who
comes aboard in Santos, Buenos
Aires and Montevideo to wash
clothes and do odd jobs be pro
hibited from boarding ship.
4 t t
TRINITY. Dec 14—E. A. Luke
v/ski. Chairman: Pete Biascik.
Secretory., Engine department
men thanked Deck Gang for
building book ^ase for use by
alj hands. J. B. Bamett, Ship's
Delegate Tesigned to allow an
other man to have experience,
with O. W. Rhoades being elect
ed to succeed him. All beefs
squared away from last trip,
COE VICTORY. Dec. 6—Gil
bert Isnor. Chairman: Curt Bor
man. Secretary. Delegates made
their reports. Jack Johns elected
Ship's Delegate by acclamation.
Brother Scully asked member
ship if he could move into ship's
hospital; no one objected. Ship's
Delegate to get in touch with
Captain about getting ship's milk
supply, increased. Chief Steward
to issue two pieces of face soap
per man each week.Night lunch
not to be issued until around
8 PM.
i t:
KYSKA. Dec. 23—C.' Collins.
Chairman; F. Donovan. Secre
tary. Election of new delegates
Daniel Alvino was designated
Ship's Delegate and Abner Ad
ams was elected Engine Depart
ment Delegate. First Assistant
Engineer was called to meeting
and asked if anything could be
done about improving hot water
in showers. He replied that he
woiild install a new thermostat
and if that did not remedy the
trouble he would refer the mat
ter to the company in New York.
It was decided at the meeting
that the Deck Engineer would
be in charge of regulating the
temperature. Suggested that crew
cooperate with the'Messman by
exercising a little patience at
meal time and not rushing him.
A^MOPe^, TAK^A IOOK
AT THE SAfUM^ BOARD ̂ YOO
KA/OW A/MgA/ YOC^R. BHlP IS ^EDUUD
TO LBA\/B PORT. IP TIME iS AlCT
f^STEO^A^klThtEDBLB^ATBSlOPiMD
OCT lliE CORRECT T>EPA13rnJ^ TIME
FROM THE MATE, VOAiT LEAVE THE
SWI? UASTIL YOU MOW WHEAJ YOU ARf
IBAOci ABOARD 1
^
DEL VALLE. Dec. 11—Kend
ricks, Chairman; Ryan, Secre
thanks to Patrolman PurceU Who!No beefs pending, it was
did a fine job. Ship's Delegate
informed crew that Chief Mate
had requested all hands not to
smoke in restricted areas. Broth
er CMeara donated $3.15 to
ship's fund, bringing total to $8.
Chairman asked hands to
return books to proper places.
ft ft t
AZALEA CITY. Dec. 4—Roih
mas. Chairman; N. De Santis,"
Becrelary. Ship's Delegate re
ported that beef on hot water
had been presented to First As
sistant, who promised to take
immediate action. He added that
Captain agreed to have Deck
Engineer keep key for fan room
so he culd regulate temperature.
Under Good and Welfare, it was
suggested that bottle be filled
with fresh water and shown to
Patrolman and sanitation auth
orities So bolster crew's claim
that tanks need cleaning.
ft ft ft
KATHRYN. Dec. 3—W. Blan
ion. Chairman; Richard Cianfag
liaro. Secretary. Delegates re
ports were concurred in. Motion
carried to have Ship's Delegate
contact Captain or Patrolman
about making it standard prac
tice for schedule of destinations
and date of arrival to be posted
at gangway so that crew may
arrange for mail. Under Good
and Welfare, all sorts of ship
board matters were discussed,
including deficient windchutes,
brolten water fountain. Patrol
mafn to be asked whose depart
ment is to paint crew's passage
way.
ft ft ft
ALCOA CORSAIR, Dec. 18—
W. Higgs. Chairman: E. J. Rob
erts. Secretory. Delegates reports
accepted. Ship's Delegate an
nounced that Shipping 'Commis
loners promised to pay off ship
in Mobile on Deo. 26 so men can
have more time at home.'' Mo
tions carried: That Ship's Dele
gate see Punser about draw; that
Steward order new pillows and
mattresses. Discussion on pur
chasing movies; delegate to
check into this. Several Brothers
spoke on subject of writing let
ter to Congressman thanking him
for interest he has shown in
SIU. Ship's Delegate authorized
to WKltc • he letter in behalf of
crew.
{reported by the delegates. Bart
lett was elected Ship's Delegate.
He was instructed to write to
Headquarters to determine opin
ion of membership in regard to
matter of credit union and com
pulsory vacations. Under Good
and 'Welfare, credit unions were
discussed fully pro and con and
the crew was unanimously in
favor pf setting one up for the
SIU, membership. Vacations were
also discussed thoroughly, with
the majority of the crew opposed
to making vacations compulsory.
ft ft ft
BEATRICE, Dec. 31—P. Lob
bregt. Chairman; R. Penningion,
Secretary. All Delegates gave
their reports—^no beefs. Motion
carried to continue cold suppers
in island on holidays. Brother
Lobbregt read and discussed un
ion bulletin on Trotskyites. Crew
voted to go on record against
communist organizations and
anyone connected with them.
Under Good *and Welfare, it was
suggested that clock be moved
to more convenient position.
Steward was asked to. have bet
ter night lunches available,
ft ft ft
CUBORE. 'Jan. 1 — W. W.
Fields, Chairman; W. A. House.
Secretory. Deck Delegate re
ported a small overtime beef in
his department; other depart
ment had no beefs. Vote of
thanks, given Stewards Depart
ment for the excellent Christ
mas dinner. Jack Denby. who is
leaving ship, resigned as Ship's
Delegate. Deck Engineer was el
ected to take over the job. Let
ter written to Congiessman Hel
ler of NY, thanking him for
complimentary remarks about
SIU, was read to the crew. Beef
brought up about condition of
laundry room. Ways of keeping
clean were discussed. Members
were advised that imclean per
sons have no place on SIU ships,
and that no one .ehould leave
laundry dirty.
AH hands are feeling bitter about this ridiculous idea of
destroying the hiring haU because the TaftHartley Act, a "shot
gun" piece of strictly unionbusting legislation,' claims it's illegal
after so many years in beneficial operation. And even the Supreme
Court made a "ski jump" opinion on it, saying the hiring hall
should not be recognized. And many a seafaring Brother is
scratching his head after reading recently that President Truman
would not allow any more American ships to be transferred to
Panamanian or other flags. For many years thousands of jobs for
American seamen were destroyed berause the government allowed
ships to be transferred or sold to other nations. Now comes the
terrific news that all this, would be stopped . . . Brother Larry
Moore, who has been beached many months in New York, has
threatened to ship . . . Les Ames, just sailed into town aboard an
Isthmian scow and no doubt is stowing aboard for more voyaging
... To SIU Brothers in all ports and to their families back home
we recommend them to listen to an excellent news commentator,
Frank Edwards, sponsored by the AFL. He's on every night at
10 p.m. over radio station WOR here in New York. You'll hear
labor news, the AFL way.
ft ft ft
According to a letter." Brother Giles L. Quiim is aboard the
SS Monarch of the Seas and New Orleans was the last port
she hit . . . Jim Helms says that the roof repairing business
is in a slowdown right now . . . Louis Ramirez is in New
York with his mustache right now . . . Another guy with a •
mustache., Sid Rothman. grabbed, a ship recently . . . Fred
Kloiber and John Nelson are two of the Brothers doing a swell
job helping day after day . . . Another Brother ̂ ways helping
is Victor Litardi. who sure has been burning up the typewriter
for many weeks . . . Bill Daniels from Illinois is in New York
right now . . . Keith Forster. the alwayssmiling pipesmoktog
Brother, sailed in this week with a big hullo as usual . . . We
have been informed that a Brother nicknamed "Citizen Joe"
has been threatening to ship—on a foreign run . . . We don't
' remember mentioning before thai several Brothers have been
happy guys since, they received their' citizenship papers—
which makes quite a difference in grabbing a scowOVe remem
ber Carl Lawson. the Bosun, and Clement Hospedales ...
So far it hasn't happened where an SIU ship has hit the "hot"
Chinese waters, where the bonus is big and the' danger is
bigger. The first SIU ship to hit the "chop suey" run will no
doubt be in the news and in the LOG. too.
ft ft ft
The SEAFARERS LOG will be sailing free of cost to the
homes of the foUoAving Brothers: Chester Wilson of West Virginia,
Allen Friend of New York, H. Galphin of Florida, Harold McMahon
of Georgia, Martin Biggins of Massachusetts, A. F. Burns^of
Maryland, David Dial of Texas, Martin'Mackel of Ohio, Bill Gross
of Louisiana, William Blakely of Massachusetts . . . Brother Tim
Barrett, who sailed in from a trip recently, is proud of the fact
that his father has been an AFL member for over 50 years . .
FLASH NEWS—Bosun Alex Andreshak was happily married to a
gal from Galveston, Texas, and they received a wedding dinner
in their honor at the famous "Mecca" in Baltimore . . . Brother
A. Mosher told us about the time they bought a little Scotch as
they lay anchored out in the .port of Hamburg. Buying Scotch
seems to be okay in this port as it is classified as a "free port"
for a ship anchored out. It must have been a nice Christmas,
Brother Mosher, with that "wee" bit o' Scotch for celebration
cf Christmas overseas.
• m
Page Eight THE SEAFARERS LOG Fridaxr February 24/ 1950
TBE MEMBERSHIP SPEAKS
The Steel Rover Boys In Siam,
Or Hoiv To Learn The Hard Way
the Editor:
i
Ci',,. We would like to tuU you
what happened to a few of us
r,i Steel Rover boys in Thailand,
fi, once called V Slam, so anyone
J,making the Far Eastern run may
f r profit by our experience.
1 We dropped the hook in the
1? Gulf of Siam oh Dwember 2.
Nearest town was Kohsichang,
on an island half hour's run
from the ship. Nearest town on
the mainland was Sriracha, one
hour's run by launch from the
To get to Bangkok you have
I S: to go to Sriracha by launch and
3' /• then take a four hour drive
by auto or bus. In Bangkok you
get ail the sights, the sitting,
standing and lying Buddhas,
temples, theaterg, night clubs.
For a quiet time with girls,
drinks, fishing and swimming
! ' ^ nearest place is Kohsichatig.
1^ '' . There was fierce competition
I '^' among four launches owned by
'"y'l bars, three launches from Koh
"' sichang and one launch from
Sriracha, to get customers. The
^tertainers from the bars were
|; '^Ipn the launches.
^ t! "DUMB LIKE FOK
Tbe three launcl^ fr(»ii Koh
I rfiichai^ wore free of i^sffge but
, " nnly went up to 50 ym?ds from
I "Uhore wiiere you had to hire a
I campan to take you the rest
I ' the w^. The. laimdi fr<»a end
I f Jto Sriracha. was owned by the
';4>w»» of the Malee Bm*. It was
I' " free of charge ̂ i^ up to the
i beach of the Malee Bar. Ihe
. :;3 ?. uwner jwas a gee dumb like a
r . He told us he had a car wait
il;' C' ing fbr lis to take us to Bangkok
^ and back for 25 smackCTOos. If
% we waxded to wait untd mom
® ing, he could send us up in one
^ of "his" busses for $1.50. We
took him at his word. When we
got to the bar, there was, of
course, no auto waiting there
for u^ We were mad. The trick
was of course to get us to his
bar and women and then bleed
us white and, if we still had
enough money left in the morn
: • ing to • go to Bangkok, we coidd
We suppose some fellows
would have made the best of
a bad bargain and remained, but
y this p^icuku* group was all for
" the sitting, standing" and lying
Buddhas and temples of Bang
fc ^ kok, so we went around town
looking for transportation.
No luck. Finally the Malee
p bar made a deal with the agent's
|l : r driver to take us up to Bang
kok for 20 dollars. We were
I' \ plpnty sorei as this was more
than the suni originally men
, tioned, and some of us swore
we would give this gee of the
/;• Malee Bar a bit of bad publi
(• Well, Bangkok was worth it.
^|,„;::,;The inost impressive sight was
tv the sleeping Buddha. He was 75
yards long, covered with gold
. / ieaf and his feet were irilaid
ig.^5 ^ with mother of pearl. His re
'Si; f cJinfng position and calm fea
tures expressed the spirit of the
religion he founded. We saw
the sitting Buddha, too, but the
temple of the standing Buddha
was closed.
The religion of the people
here really is a philosophy of
living with quite a lot of ideal
ism, good will and good fellow
ship actually taught and prac
ticed. Their Sutta, or Bible, con
tains quite a number of truths
and paths of virtue by which
the individual can regulate his
life.
We saw a bundh of cobras and
other poisonous snakes at the
Savapha Institute. Anyone who
goes there on Thursday can see
the keeper get down in the pit
and milk the snakes of their
venom which is used for an anti
snakebite senun.
The capital is modeled on the
capital in Washington and has
a milelong approach lined with
trees. The gpvemment buildings
are first class for such a small
country and all of recent con
struction. At night we went to
the Silpakom Theater for 50
cents and saw a two hour show
with bekutiful native dancing.
The story of the drama v/e saw
was taken from the old histwy
uf the Siamese people with Ipye,
.conflicf^ battles court in
tri^e. •
Thcaa we went down to the
market i:egion and saw a strange.
performance in an tfid tbeater.
The gee who owns the place
buys girls of a tender age;
from their parents for 100 to,
300 dollars depending on looks.
He gets th^ young and keeps
them in slavery. They dance
a strip tease which is definitely
not pxoperifor girls of that age.
This slave trader seems to be
in "favor with the governing
clique and is locallyknown as
a racketeer. We were told that
any girls Who escaped from him
were "rubbed out" by his hench
men. How true tii's is, we do
not know, but it sounded pretty
awful. The girls exposed them
selves with such a serious face
that it seemed as though they
were doing something they had
to do rather than wanted to, '
LUNCH AT TROC
The best place to eat is the
Trocadero, the best hotel ̂ in
town. An excellent lunch is 75
cents. Breakfast with lo?tds of
fruit is 35 cents. The bar is
comfortable and reasonable.
Rooms were $3.50 so we stayed'
in the Bungalow Hotel, which
was only 1 dollar but very clean
and screens on the windows.
Showers were handscooped, air
warmed water from a huge jug
at least four feet high and big
around.
In Bangkok we were taken
around all day by Thong Yoo
at the Trocadero Hotel, car
number 103i7, for 7.50 dollars.
This is a good deal for Bang
kok. The same man took us the
long trip bapk to Sriracha for
$17.50.
The agent at the Borneo com
pany was very polite and gave
us good iiifpmiation about seeing'
the town.
When we got back to . the old
Malee Bar we found that the
launch service was not being
kept as advertised on the card
of the bar. We waited around
a while and then began to get
information about other means
of transportation out to the ship.
There was a big launch on a
pier right across from the Malea'
bar which wanted 25 dollars to
take us out. Another smaller
raotor boat nearby wanted 17.20.
We took a native fishing boat
for 6 dollars.
WAR STORY
It was p beautiful trip. The
two native fishermen told us the
whole story of the war by losing
gestures and grunts and noises
like an airplane,. We thought at
first that they were dumblook
ing gees, but when they succeed
ed in telling us ip their sign
and grunt language that Com
munism was the same as Japan
ese fascism, we thought that
they were pretty smart fisher
folk.
On the way baCk to the ship,
which took us two hours, we
were passed by the launch of
the Malee Bar. The owner want
ed to pick US up and Routed
to us that the ̂ ip was not sail
ing until next day, Mon^y. We
were so ^re at fom and were
rajojdng the trip so much that
we ignored him.
We were very lyeEimpressed"
by the people 6f Siam. They are
clever, healthier and, aside
from the rickshaw drivers, le^s
mercenary than other Asiatics.
P.S.: We cannot stress the
phqniness of the Malee bar
too strong and urgently sug
gest that all seamen put the
owner in their 99 year dub.
Ernest L. Zaugg
Fxed Schoenborn
Tom Hawkins
Bob RainTille
Albert Susanann
THEY SAY SHE'S A JEWEL
Everything is ri^l up to snuff on the tanker SS Julbsberg/
according to ciewmembers/ who ought to know. Thfy say.
Capf. J. A. Engelbracht is a "real good Joe," the food put out
by the able Cooks is swell—in short, nio beefs at all. No wonder,
these guys look pleased. They are Red Lachappe, Vlilkins,'
Frank Travis, Pete Street, Vincent Myers, Gene Bacon, George
Thumer and Joe Penner. Pumpman Ray Arnold took the|pholo^
Urges Ballot On Vacatioiis
To the Editor: ,
* I by the last few issues
.of th^ liX3G that the proposed.,
vacation clau^ has caused quite
n few members to voice their
opinions. .
r want to go on record as.
.stating .that a year on a diip'
Is, Jttsag en^gh. A man should
tjhep !take yac^ion. It's get
ting so that it is almost impos,
sible to ship on certain vessels,.,
namelj'' the Robin Line.
Also, it seems that the turn
over in the key rating jobs such
as Bosun, Carpenter, Deck En
gineer and Chief Steward is very
slow. Members take these jobs
and then marry the ships.
YEAR IS ENOUGH
I realize that a guy likes to
stay on a good ship but a year
is enough. What would happen
if just half of the membership
COMING INTO BALTIMORE
decided at the present moment
to homestead?
li^en a Mate or First Assist
ant starts calling' you jby your
first n^e and you know what'
size shoes he wears (just an
ample). Brother, it's time to
make a change. Sov iet's put the
xjuestion to a 90day ref^renduim
vote up and down thje co^
and find out what the rp^ber
ship thinks about the compiil .
sory vacation issue. '
Paul Arthofejr
Breitw^ Recalls:
CS AtttiUmofiism
I
Rough From Start
A bright day and the cameranum'g request brought these
folur members ot the SS Ireneslar's Black Gang together for
some chatter and a photo^ Left to right: ChazR« Hurk, FWTj
Joseph Kidd, Utility; Bjome Jensen, Oiler, and Mike Carlin,
"Vi^per.
To the Editor:
The present situation, ip whi<jh
the Cities Service Oil C!impapy
is trying to evade its obligation,
to sign an agreement wjith t^e
Union, brings to my m^nd tj)e
experience I had with the corp
pany in the early days of tjie
organizing drive. ' . .
I was sailing aboard Cities
Service . ships back before the
first NLRB election. I rerpember
when we were on the jvay ' to
Aruba to pick up a load of crude
oil for England. On the way ,
down I started to talk upion to
the crew and, Brotlier,; every
tiine the word was mentioned
they turned green—they were
so" afraid of being caught even
thinking about it."
The Chief Mate found' out I
was prounion and from then qn
out and I mean out—I j^ot the
dirty end of the" stick, i^t wps
what I expected so I managed
to stand up under it okay.
"Whep we .got to Linderl, N.J.,
I >vas fired, of course, onjy
because I thought Cities Service
seamen deserved the yifht lo
a contract which they so .badly
needed. . ;! ^
Bob Breityirui^
Fridar. Februaxy U. 1950 T H E S B A F A R ER S LOG Page Nine
Hellmuth Holds
Vacation Rule
Would Aid Morale
To the Editor:
I soinetimes wonder if those
Brothers, who are against com
pulsory vacations have ever
• topped to consider the other
Bide of the story and the more
serious aspects of the situation.
What about the men v/ho get
off at payoff, mairied or single,
because their homes are far from
the port they payoff in and they
wish to go home for a visit more
than once every five years^
When these men get ready
to ship again, they don't feel
much like waiting a couple of
months for a job (possibly broke)
just because their Brother Union
members are too selfish to give
them a break. And when they
do have to wait around broke,
they become discouraged. It
we^ens their morale—and often
breaks it.
Our organization is like any
other in one respect: It's power
lies in its unity, and weakness
In any individuals within its
ranks necessarily means a weak
ness in the whole body.
Since our Union was organ
ized in 1938, it has been ever
growing and changing, accord
ing to the needs of its member
ahip. '^e have taken in many
new members, organized large
shipping companies, levied as
sessments, and we've fought for,
earned, and gotten, higher wages
and better living conditions.
Our organization has never
been static. We've created the
finest and most powerful Unioni
the world has ever known. And
we're proud of our Union. Let's
not break it down, but let's make
changes where changes are nec
essary. Let's change with the
changing world! If there isn't
DOWN ON TBE DELTA LINE
From lli^ MV Del Campo. Mississippi vessel on the South
American run, come these photoby Seafarer William Cameron.
Above, front row, left to right: J. Kellogg, M. Machel. E.
Weems; rear. Bosun J. Voxel and T. Dennis.
Vacation Plan Won't Solve
Shipping Problem, He Says
To the Editor:
I wish to compliment Brothers
Joseph Buckley, Joseph Blake
and Frank. Bose for their rational
and praiseworthy arguments
against compulsory vacations. I
agree with them that if there
exists job insecurity among book
members it will not be decreased
by compulsory vacations.
I say that if such a nile were
to go in effect it would not
lessen insecurity ampng mari
time men. Owing to the dimin
ishing of seaborne trade, a
large number of seamen are
thrown out of work regularly.
Economic insecurity and fear of
losing his job has haunted the
wageearning seaman since the
time he first boarded a ship.
Fortunately, his union has done
a lot; a tremendous lo*^, to mini
mize this fear.
enough work fdr all, then let's
divide what workthere is.
I can't see where.it will hurt
any one of us to take avacation
after a year on the same ship.
Don't be selfish. Think of how
proudly we can stand up and
tell everyone that shipping's
good out of our halls, and that
we don't have to worry about
a job.
Albert E. Hellmuth
CREWMAN HAS HEAP
OF PRAISE FOR
THE SS WAR HAWK
To the Editor:
I would like to drop a few
lines to the LOG about the good
ship SS War Hawk, Waterman.
We crewed up in Mobile The
ship was one of many that lay
in port for about five weeks, be
fore the army chartered her to
haul grain to Germany.
We arrived in Nordenham, and
boy it sure is a nice little town.
I think a lot of SIU men have
been there many times. It used
to take quite a while to dis
charge there but we sure got a
surprise when we were ready
to leave in two days flat.
On our way from Germany to
the states, we really cleaned the
ship up and when she arrives
in Philly I am sme they will
!give us a compliment for bring
ing in a ship like this. There
has not been a single beef the
whole, trip. The officers are a
swell bunch, headed by Captain
Elmer Thompson. He has done
everjrthing he could to make this
a pleasant voyage.
Anyone who is looking for a
good ship should take the SS
War Hawk.
Edmtmd Erikson
Tasty chow abowd the Campo Is prepared by these mem
bers of the Stewards Department. Left to right: J. Johnson,
Assistant Cook; E. Odem, Chief Cook; T. Fields, Night Cook
& Baker and W. Cameron, Second Cook.
Brother Cameron, who's getting to be quite a cameraman.
Uses his iV* x 3'/4 speed graphic for these shots.
Limiting Stay Aboard Ship
Seen Harmful To The Union
THE BEEF BOX
EQUAL DIVISION OF OVERTIME
PUZZLES ARIZPA CREWMEN
To the EditOR
Would you please clarify this point concerning the division
of overtime. The problem is this:
As you know, the day men do not work on Sundays or holi
days at sea, yet the three watches must perform their regular
duties, for which, of course, they are paid overtime.
Should this Stinday and holiday overtime be counted when
overtime is computed for the purpose of equal division between
the watchstanders and the day men? This question has caused
quite a bit of dissension.
M. J. Martin
SS Arizpa
ANSWERrActually each man receives overtime pay fOr
the overtime work he has performed individually. There is no
pooling of overtime. The purpose of the eq[ual division of
overtime clause is to allow those men who stand low in over
time work, a chance to bring their overtime wages as near
as possible to the level of the higher men..
This is done by giving overtime jobs to the low men
until the amount Of overtime work has been distributed fairly
equally. It would bo impossible to divide all overtime exactly
eqiial. You can only attempt to divide the work as equally as
possible. The contract says "All overtime shall be divided as
equally as possible among She members of the deck crew"
Here, overtime refeks to overtime work and not the pay, as
some have thought.
To the Editor:
I am not much at writing, but
I have been listening to and
reading a lot abouc this idea of
compulsory vacations.
I have yet to hear an argu
ment that would seem to give
a good solid reason why a man
should have to get off a ship.
The way I see it, if a man
knows he caii stay only so long
on a ship, then there will be
more men taking advantage of
the full time allowed. In that
case, I can't see where it would
create more of a turnover.
I certainly agree with Frank
Bose in his letter of Dec. 30 that
if a man is going, to be a com
pany stiff, staying aboard one
ship will not be the cause of it.
And if he is a good Union man,
nothing will change him.
I personally believe that if the
vacation clause is put through
it will do more toward hurting
our organizing of nonunion ships
than anything else.
It would give John Shipowner
a chance to stress the fact that
we are not sincere about promis
ing job security and that per
sonnel could stay aboard his
ships as long as they cared to.
This is of course just my own
personal viewpoint,
William E. Candler
Baltimore, Md.
(Ed. Note: That's just what
the LOG wants—^the > Brothers'
personal viewpoints on tlus
question. Let's have more of
them.)
Whenever jobs become scarbe
—as they are now—wellinten
tioned people from everywhere
put forth ideas which they feel
will serve as antidotes to imem
ployment, or, as in our case,
tough shipping.
Compulsory vacations is one
of these. Its backers/ however,
fail to understand economic prin
ciples, or at least to recogime
them. The notion that compul
sory vacations will create more
jobs is mathematically absurd.
Whatever merit there may be'
in an increased turnover at the
initiation of such a rule would
be insignificant when compared
AMy WEK3H I
iLoOkS •
AT IT-r.
Shining Eyes
to the ultimate result: more
members woiild stay on their
respective ships longer than us
uaL and the majority of those
who ordinarily do not make
more than one or two trips,
would stick to their jobs like
glue, sweating out their vaca
tion pay.
The fourwatch system, so well
argued for by Brother Joseph
Buckley, is the only real per
manent solution against job"
scarcity. Though it will be sir*
gued against as being too cvun
Wsome, costly, and difficult te
win, it would provide the cusht
ion this industry needs in the
days ahead.
Thousands ofpermitm en
would, under the foiurwatch sys
tem, be spared the terror of un
employment and the demoraliz
ing effects of prolonged failure
to find woik. The fourwatch
system would provide the high
turnover sought on the ships to,
day.
Although the fourwatch sys
tem is just a dream today, at
least we can dream and plan
and hope for the best in the
future.
Bertil Svensson
This cute little lady already
shows signs of being endowed
with plenty of charm. Only
six months bid when this
photo 'was taken, she has just
passed the Idmonth mark.
Her name is Luz Maria and
her proud pop is 'Babe" Miller
—and nO wonder he's proud.
Share The Johs,
Urges Supporter
Of OneYear Rule
To the Editmr:
In answer to your recent edi
torials I am sending you my
opinion on vacations.
It seems to me (Book 34733)
that a Brother who has spent a
year on one ship should give
another man a chance to earn
a living. You may say that the
man has a family to support, so
why take his job away.
I will combat this by having
you look at the records of any
and all bookmen in this Union.
You will find that nearly all o#
us have a family and kids. Evai
if we didn't have any family,
or kids, it should always be
agreed that we should always be
Brother members a chance to
earn himself a living.
I would like to put to the
LOG the suggestion that any
man with a year on a ship get
off for vacation.
John B. Causey
JPagp Ten
'C?,rv,.':v • '..
THE SEAFARERS L0G fxju^, >efanuzy 2/L. ̂ 0
S ./
Crawl Or Be Pui|;eil
Is Russian Dictate
B7 GEORGE S. COUNTS
This is the last of a series of articles on the "Soviet System
Oif .Mind ControL" by one of America's outstanding educators.
'i.
The "letter to Stalin" has be
come a basic Soviet institution.
Whenever any group is under
attack by the Party, or even in
fear of attack, it invariably ad
dresses a communication to Sta
lin couched in unrestrained
words of adoration, giving him
assurances of complete loyalty
and devotion, thanking him for
his fatherly care and promising
to correct aU errors.
The "ideological resolutioi^"
evoked a flood of such letters.
The professors of all the high
er educational institutions of
Moscow begin their letter, un
animoiusly ' approved, with this
salutation:
"We . . . send You, our dear
leader and teacher, our flaming
jjreetin^"
They conclude as follows:
"We are inflnitely grateful to
^^e .Soviet Government, to the
great Bolshevik Party, and to
You personally. Comrade Stalin,
for exceptional concern for the
higher school and science.
"Long live the great Soviet
people!
"Long live the Party of Lenin
and Stalin, the organizer and
inspirer of our victories!
"Long live om* wise leader and
teacher, the greatest scholar of
our epochJoseph Vissarionovich
Stalin!"
STALIN'S INTEREST
A ecmference erf eminent musi
cians addresses a letter to "the
great leader of the Soviet people,
Gomrade Stalin," which includes
these words:
IWe experience a feeling of
tremendous gratitude to the Cen
tral Committee of the Party" and
to You personally, dear Comrade
Stalin, for the stern but pro
founcdy just appraisal of the
present condition of Soviet musi
cal art, and for the attention
which You and the Central Com
mittee of our Party have mani
fested toward the cause of the
development of Soviet music and
toward us, Soviet musicians.
^^TiOng 'live the LeninistStalin
ist people, the people industrious,
fhe people victorious, conquer
ing a truly socialist r.rt, the
most advanced in the wo.ild!
*Tjong live the LeninistStalin
ist Central Committee of the AU
^nion Cpmmunist Pafty!
"Long live our leader and
li^jfwiier, father of die people, the
great STALIN!"
The Academy of Agricultural
. Sdence, after being instruct^
by the Central Committee re
garding the correct position in
genetics, sends the following
note of gratitude:
'^very day and hour the
4/ .
if.
ipg Sfibscribert
Re^rs notifying the SEA
FARERS LOG of a change in
mailing address are re
quested to include their old
.addzess along with the new.
In addition to «riaii3Ttg easier
the »witeh.over it wRl
guarantee uninterrupted
mailing service.
All noHficatioos of change
of address should be ad
dressed to the Editor. SEA
FARERS LOG, 51 Besver
Iteoet. Hew Yosk L N. Y.
scientists and practical workers
in the nural economy feel the
manifold concern of the Coni
munist Party and the Soviet state
for agricultural science and Your,
constant personal sharing in its
further development and flower
ing.
"To You, the great creator
of Communism, patriotic science
is indebted. By Your brilliant
works You enrich and exalt it
before the entire world. You
guard it from the perils of es
trangement from the needs of
the people. You assist il; in
achieving victory over reaction
ary teachings hostile to the
people. You watch over the
continuous growth of scientists.
"Long live forwacdlookiig
churinist science!
"Glory to the great Btdbh.
leader of the people and cory?
phaeu.s* of forwardlooking
science!"
Soviet biologists in fhe august
Academy of Sciisnce, after tha?^
ing Stalin "for the complete
tory of the revolutionary, dia'
lecticalmaterialistic M i c h u r i n
teachings oyer the reactipniaiy
idealistic tendency in bwlq^'
and after promising '^tp conduct
an active struggle against .ser
vility toward bourgeois scifipce
unworthy of a Soviet sci^tl^/'.
conclude their letter with
words:
"Long live advauc^
ist science!
"May pur leader, teacher, aijd
friend of scientists live ..ap,d grps
per many years as the cojy;
phaeus of advanced sdenceJ" .
MONARCHY SURPASSED
The student of Russian ,his
tory will see in this entire sys
tem of mind control the perpetu
ation and perfection .pf au ai).
cient cultural pattern.
Upder the cloak of .Marxist;
verbiage stands the hoary figure^
of Russian absolutism.
The following words from the
great Dostoievsky, ardent Sla
vophil and defender of the mon
archy, express with astonishing
flddity the spirit of So*;ot rule
today:
"And the fact that in Russia
all fundamentals gre difTerent
from anythji^ in Surppp may
be demoiistrated by the fplipw
ing example.
"Civil liberty may .be p^b,
lished in Russia on ap ini^gral
scale; more complete than any
where in the world, whether ;ia
Europe or even in North Ameri
ca, and precisely on the .same
adamant fpun^iion.
"It will be based not ippb a
written sheet of paper, but uppn
the children's .afltection ,crf tjhe
p^ple for the Gmf as theu: fa^
ther, aince children may fee »j)er
mitted many a thing which is
inconeeiyable in the caae gf .con
tractual nations; they mag be
entrusted with much that has
nowhere been .encountered; since
children will not betray their
father, and being children, they
will lovingly accegt from him
any cprreelipn of their errors.'"
If the word "Stalin" be iutb
stHuted for the word "Czar,"
this statement would apply as
truly tp 'the Russia of 194^ 'as
it did to the Russia of 1851, the
year in ,which it was yriltti^
tii&wiiig the current scale for aH ratings ou §jKJ|
t^tractc? iws au4 pay rat$is lugyiously in effect, ate printed below in response t<
the requests received neceiitly iUnion members.
DECK DEPARTM^T
Bosun
Carpenter
W#0a E#©cliy» Wage Effectiva
December 15, 1948
Wage Effective;
June 15. 1949
Ordbwy Scaroan ^
ENGINE DEPARTMENT
Chief iElectrician.... ^ .v' ;$3b0.93
2nd Electxician. ,.... ....;. 3;21.22
Unbcensed Jr. Engineer Pay........... ;... 284.62.
.Unlicensed Jr. Eugineer ̂ SFatcb . .. .......255.04
PlumberMachinist 292.90
Deck Engineer 255.04
Engine Utibty.....; 2J5.04
Evaporator 237.29
Oiler 222.51
OiJer^Piesel 243.51
Watertender 222.51
Fireman^atertender 222.51
Fireman T;........" 210.68
v........ 219.55
$288.94 $296.44
258.5,4 266.94
237.84 245.34
• mH 226.01 233.51
; 222.51 226.01 233.51
. 1^9.97 193.47 200.97
iWkm 9^y 9m carried) 331.35
Rjefrigeratifl^ .Engineer
three ate carried)
$364.43
324.72
288.12
258.54
296.40
2^5.54
258.54
240.79
226.01
247.01
226.01
226.01
214.18
223.05
334,85
$371.93
332.22
29J.62
266.94
303.9,0
2664)4
266.04
248.29 '
233,51
254.51
233.51
233.51
221.68
230.55
: 342.3,5;
STEWARDS D^ARTMENT
'Leader of an operatic clioidis
A^istant C
i .
, •
331.35 334.85 342.35
293.49 296.99 304.49
271.01 274.51 282.0:1
..... .
$278.25 $281.75
. .
$289.25
255.04 "258.54 • 266.04
255.04 258.54 ' 266.04
231.38 234.88 242,38
219.55 223.05 230.55
189.97 193.47 200.97
189.97 193.47 200.97 fJtditymaQ • • • ^ ^ • • '
Note: The SIU is in the process of workittg out details <rf a wdfare plan, already signed by
a considerable number of contracted operators. Under the agreement, the operators contribute^ to
a welfare fund 25 cents a day for eatdi man employed. Paymepts into the fund are retroactive to
Ja^ucuy 1, 1950.
The following mep have mpngy
due them, as of last November,
(let in tpucb with Smith &
Johnson, 60 Reaver "St., New
York 4, New Yprk.
I SS JAI>^S M. GIUJS
James Beaners, Antonio De
Costa, Paul N. Froom, Stylianos
Mondanos, Cecil Thomas, D.
Woods, George T. Brannan, Jqse
M. Dominquez, John W, Hags,
Henry J. Rote, Rpbect H. Wat
kins, Thomas J. Dgwes, AJbprt
E. Editors, Chiles Av Lpuje,
Stanley Rugyski, Ravid L. Wil
liams.
SS JOHN DiJiCaCINSON
William F. Bakley, Louis p.
Gkioch, Manuel Di Barros, Pieijro
Paulin, Emilio Di Pietro, Charles
F. Scherhans.
SS THOMAS J. LYONS
Alexander Apoline, George. W=
Lpwry, Pouglas W. Clifton,
BUeran G. SieiTa» Herbert .R,
HVitcWns, William P. Vaughn.
Du'ei^ry Of BIU Halls
SIU, A&G District
BALTIMORE 14 North Oay St.
William Rentz, Agent .^ulbwij 4040'
BOSTON .276 State St.
Ben Lawson, Agent Richmond 20140
Dispatcher Richmond 20141
CALVE^TPN. 308>/»—aOrd SL
kelth Aisop, Agent Phone 28446
LAKE CHARLES, La.... 1410 Ryan St.
Jj. S. Johnston, Agent
jyig^^E.^,,... .t S^yth jt^yrrepce St,
Cai Tanner, A0.^t Phone H17M
NEW ORLEANS. S23 Bienville SL
E. Sheppard, Agent Magnolia 61126113
NEW'YORK... 81 Beaver St.
^oy Angina, Ageyt HAnover 2^784
NORFOLK...; 127129 Bank St.
Ben Agept Phone jl1083
PHILADELPHIA ,.337 Market St.
S. CarduUo, Agent Market 71635
SAN FRANCISCO ,. ..85 Third St.
J^f. Morrison, Agent Douglas 25475
.SAN JUAN. PR.... Ponce de Loon
Sal Colls, Airenf
SAVANNAH 2 Ahercom St,
E. Bryant, Agent Phone 3.1728
SEATTLE........ 2700 let Ave.
Wm. McKay, Agent Reneoa 4870
JM/IFA 18001811 N. FrankUii St.
Ray Wjiite, Agent .Phone a1323
WUMlNGTONTCaUf., 227 H Avalon Blvd.
E E TUley, Agent Terminal 4^2874
UEAIKEPARTRRS . .81 Beaver St., N.YA;.
SECRETARVTREASyPEP.
Panl Hall
DIRECTOR OF ORGANIZATION
ILJndsey WUUama
ASST. SECRETARYTREASURERS
Robert Matthews Lloyd Gardner
Joseph Volpian
SUP
HONOLULU.. 16 Merchant SE
Phone 88777
FORTLAl!iP Ill W. Burnsido SE
. Beacon 4330
JUCHMQNp, CaUL .;?57 Sflt S*
^ Phone .2890
SAN FRANCISCO.... 59 Clay" SE,
' Douglas 28363
SEATTLE 86 Seneca. SE
Main p20O
WILMINGTON. 440 Avalop Blvd.
Terminal 43131
Canadian District
MONTREAL......
FORT WUXJAM. .
Ontario
HAUFAX
PORT COLBORNE
TORONTO,
VICTORIA. B.C. .
VANGOyVER
HEADQUARTERS.
Mimtreal
. .404 Le Moyne SE
UNiversity 2427
llSVi Syndicate Ava.
Phone 33221
128>/i HoriU St.
Phone 38011
.... .103 Durham SE
Phone 8501
....lllA Jarvls St.
Elgin 5710
.. .602 Bonghton SE
Empire 4831
.. ..868. Unzsiltos SE
.ftciflp 7824
......812 McpUI SE
Plateau 670
Friday, February 24, 1350 THE SEAFARERS LOG Page ElereA
SAVANNAH —Chairman, Jeff
dlHetfe, 37060; Recording Secre
liry, L. E. Hodges, 255; Reading
(fierk, E. M. Bryant, 25806. .
^ SecretaryTreasurer's financial
report and Headquarters report
td the membership read and ap
pfcoved. Agent reported that
^ee intransit ships had called
ahce the last meeting, each of
tiiein taking replacements from
flfa Hall. He added that he had
yteited the local Marine Hospi
tal to discuss the setting up of
ff blood bank for local members
aftd their families, as was sug
^ted under Good and Welfare
ait last meeting. Hospital authori
ties said they had no facilities
fet such a plan and referred the
i^nt to the local Red Cross
chapter. Minutes of other Branch
nSsfeetings approved as read. Mo
tion carried to excuse Brother
llObert Woodward, whose' car
broken down en route to
ifail. Motion carried to com
itfend Brother Smith for accept
ing job under the circumstances
aryi give him his original ship
ping card. Despite personal diffi
culties he remained aboard ship
rather than leave it sail short
handed. Membership suggested
that Agent get data on pro
laj)or candidates for coming el
ection and post same. It was
pointed out that registering and
vqting is a must because of the
need to oppose antilabor legis
lation. Cities Service situation
was discussed. There were 85
members present when meeting
adjourned.
t.
MOBILE —Chairfhan, J. Par
ker, 160; Recording Secretary
J. Caifroll, 50409; Reading Clerk,
H. J. Fischer, 59.
Previous meetings' minutes
read and apiwoved. Port Agent
re^rted on the prospects for
shipping in the next couple of
wdeks, saying there would be
abdut three offshoijg ships and
niiie coastwise and intransit
vei^sels arriving during the two
wdek period. He also elaborated
on the Secfetary'Treasurer's re
port on Cities Service, and urg
ed everyone to be ready* in the
I event they were needed. He con
cliMed his feport by stating that
W^erman would start bringing
their ships down to Mobile for
annual inspections around the
last of Marchy thus causing a
bigger turnover in this port. Sec
retaryTreasurer's financial re
port and Headquarters report to
the membership read and ap
proved. Meeting adjourned at
7:55 PM, with 450 members
present.
t S. t
ilEW ORLEANS — Chairman,
Frenchy Michelet, 21184; Record
ing'Secretary, Johnny Johnston,
53; Reading Clerk, Buck Steph
ens, 76.
. Minutes of the Branch meet
ings read and approved. Secre
taryTreasurer's financial report
and Headquarteris report to the
membership accepted as read.
Port Agent disOuss^ the affairs
of the Branch, which are in good
shape. He said that ten ships
had paid off since lasj: meeting,
but there were few calls for re
placements. There were seven
signons ahd about 20 ihtransit
ships in port. Ten payoffs are
scheduled for the coming two
w^ks. Grain ships, he said, are
again beginning to come into
this port. He announced that the
coffee um is working in the
Hall, and that the Del Norte
A Shipping Fnm Feb. 2 To Feb. IS
REG. REG. REG. TOTAL ffltlPPED SHIPPED SHIPPED TOTAL
PORT DECK . ENG. , STWDS. REG. DECK EWa STWDS. SHIPPED
BostoiL ....... (No Figures Received) (No Figures Received)
New York. ^ 87 60 96 243 31 29 38 98
Philadelphia. (No Figures Received) ' (No Figures Received)
Baltimore. 94 78 64 2^6 91, 69 61 221
Norfolk. 27 48 36 111 3 2 — 5
Savannah ,3 5 11 19 4 3 3 10
Tampa 7 9 9 25 20 19 13 52
Mobile.:.... 25 18 16 59 14 12 11 37
New Orleans....,..,...^......... 57 41 75 s 173 66 42 76 184
Galveston.........v........... .49 33 _ 14 '98 27 23 19 69
West Coast. 29 18 19 66 . 39 49 38 126
GRAND TOTAL 378 ^ 310 340 1,028 295 248 259 802
crew had donated a picture made
of butterfly wings to the Branch.
Director of Organization Lihdsey
Williams discussed the Union's
organizing drive to date, and
thoroughly covered the Cities
Service beef. He said that strike
preparations will, continue until
a contract has been signed on
the company's 16' ships. Motion
carried to give a vote of thanks
to Del Norte crew ^or their
splendid cooperation. Excuses
were referred to the Dispatcher.
E. F. Lyttle, L. A. Beaudry and
R. L. McDavitt Were obligated.
Under Good and Welfare there
was much discussion on the
Cities Service beef, cooperation
in regard to the serving of cof
fee in the Hall and the need for
keeping the Hall clean* Meeting
adjourned at 8:15 PM, with 520
members present.
4. 4. i
NORFOLK—Chairman, J. S.
White, 56; Recording Secretary.
James A. Wyim, 30783; Reading
Clerk, Ben Rees, 95.
Minutes of meetings in other
Branch ports read and ai,proved.
F'ort Agent discussed the state
of shipping here, stating that
there was no change and that
immediate prospects were not
bright. Communications from
Brothers seeking to be excused
from meeting were referred to
the Dispatcher. Changes were
read and approved aiid motion
carried to refer them to a Trial
Committee to be elected under
New Business. Elected were T.
Hill, Luther Thome, Earl Con
gelton, W. LaChance, and N. C.
Wroton. Secrefary'Dreasuper's re
port read and approved, as well
as Headquarters report to the
meinbership. Meeting adjourned
at 7:50 i^, with 111 members
present.
SAN FRANCISCO—Chairman,
Jeff Morrison, 34213; Recording
Secretary, P. M. Robertson,
30148; Reading Clerk, S. White,
38302.
Motions carried to accept other
Branch minutes as read. Agent
reported that shipping had im
proved a bit during the past two
weeks, but that it is still far
from being what he. would like
it to be. The prospects for the
coming two weeks look better, he
said,, with" several ships sched
uled to make this a port of call.
Trial and Excuse Committee was
elected. Motion carried to elect
the following: S. Ghale, R.
Stephens, F. McGarry, J. Coth
rah and J. Simmon. Motion car
ried to accept Headiquarters Re
instatement Committee's report.
Under Good and Welfare, there
was discussion on the. Cities
Service beef, and the memb^
ship indicated it was in favor
of the Union throwing every re
source into this beef to bring
the company tmder contract.
Meeting adjourned at 7:55 PM,
with 38 members present.
% t, %
BALTIMORE—Chairman, Wil
liam Renlz, 26445; Recording
Secretary, G. A. Masterson,
20297; Reeding Clerk. A1 Sians
bury, 4683.
Motion carried to suspend
regular order 6f business and
go into obligations and charges.
B. A. Granberg and N. Straton
took the Union Oath of Obliga
tion. The following men were
elected to serve as af Trial Com
mittee: J. Gill, J. Turner, P. J.
Ryan, W. Harrell and C. O.
Saunders. Minutes of other
Branch meetings read and ap
proved. SecretaryTreasurer's fi
nancial report and Headquarters
report to the membership ac
cepted as read. Motion carried
to refer written excuses to the
Dispatcher. Agent reported that
shipping had been slow and is
expected to continue that way
for a while. Motion carried to
accept Hospital Committee's re
port. Motion (by J. F. Lee) car
ried to make up shipping list
and post near Dispatcher's
counter. Meeting adjourned at
8:10 PM, with 392 members
present.
t 4 4
PHILADELPHIA — Chairman,
D. Hall, 43272; Recording Secre
tary, Branconi, 100848: Reading
Clerk, G. H. Seeberger, 6932.
Minutes of previous meetings
in all Branches, read and acc^t
ed. Agent discussed the status of
local shipping and mentioned
the prospects for the coming
two weeks. SecretaryT^easurer's
financiai report and Headquar
ters repqrf to the membership
accepted as read. Motion carried
to allow Brother George Noble
pay up his dues in arrears and
register for shijiping. Communi
cations from members seeking
to be excused from meeting
were referred to the Dispatcher.
Charges against a Brother for
conduct unbecoming a Union
memi)et were referred to an el
ected Trial Committee. One min
ute of silence in memory of de
parted Union Brothers. Meeting
adjourned at 7:30 PM.
NEW YORK —Chairman, S.
Simmons, 219; Recording Secre
tary, Freddie Stewart, 4935:
Reading Clerk, Robert Matthews,
154.
Motions carried to accept min
utes of previous meetings in all
Branches as read. Secretary
Treasurer's financial: report ac
cepted and concurred in. Port
Agent was absent due to illness,
and it was recommended that
his report be incorporated with
Headquarters report. Headquar
ters report pointed out that ship
ping had slowed down some in
New, York. The report also
brought the membersliip up to
date on the Cities Service, beef.
Communications from members
seeking to be excused from to
night's meeting referred to the
Dispatcher. Motion (by Y, L.
Steibig) carried to try to secm'e
a Hall sufficient to accommo
' date all members at future meet
ings, Under Good and Wdfare,
there was discussion on Nie
Teamsters' organizing. .drive in
New York, inwhich the support
of all SIU men on the beach
was recommended; on the strike
of the Mine Workers Union aaad
the credit union idea and ttie
possibilities fcHP one being set vrp
within the SIU.
X % %
G A L V E S T O N—'Chairman,
Keith Alsopt, 7311; Recording
Secreiaiy, R. Wilbum, 37739:
Reading Clerk, J. Byrd, 34683.
Minutes of previous meetings
in Galveston and other Branches
read and concurred in. Secretri^
Treasurers financial report and
Headquarters report to the mem
bership approved as read. Agent
discussed shipping in this area.
Mason HaU, Boyd Breeden and
Charles McUowell took the 'Un
ion Oath of Obligation. One
minate of silence in memory Of
departed Union Brothers. Motion
carried to adjourn at 7:30 .PM.
*
• ".M
DAVID HERON
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Riebenstein,
933 Linwood Avenue, Canton,
Ohio, are anxious for you to
write them.
4. . 4
CHARLES WINFREY. JR.
Write to your father, 818
South Chestnut Street, Bristow,
Oklahoma.
4 4. 4
WALLACE L. ASHFORD
Your father, George W. Ash
ford, asks that you write.
4 4 4
HEBEF R. GUYMAN
Contact Mrs. Shirley Wessel,
Supervisor, Missing Seamen Bu
reau, Seamen's Church Institute,
25 South Street, New York 4,
New York.
4 4 4
RALPH J. PENNINGTON
Get in touch with Harold Gutt
man; 66 Beaver Street, New
York 4, N. Y.
4 4 4
STELIANOS T. MONDANOS
The photostats of your dis
charges from Isthmian vessels
are being held in the LOG of
fice. Call or write for them.
4 4 4
DICK BOLES
"Let me know where I can
write to you: C. P. Jones, 513
East 9 Street, Greenville, North
Carolina."
4 4
ROLAND BRUCE CORNELL
Get in touch with William L.
Standard, 38 Park Row, New
York 7, N. Y.
4 4 4
JOSEPH D. DODGE
Get in touch with your bro
ther, Harris, concerning income
tak.
4 4 4
FRANK MAZZA
Mfs. Andreshak, of Galveston,
Texas, would like to hear from
you.
4 4 4
EDWARD J. ZEBROWSKI
A registered letter is being
held for you at office of Calmar
SS Company, 25 Broadway, New
York City.
WILLIAM MATSOUKAS
ANTONIO GONZALES
Contact Joseph P. Marcelle,
Collector of Internal Revenue,
Treasury Department, Internal
Revenue Service, 210 UvingstOil
Street, Brooklyn 2, New York.
4 4 4
JOHN MCNAMARA
Get in touch with Mrs. C. J.
Price, 4636 N. Lincoln Avenue,
Chicago, niinois.
4 4 4
VICTOR ARTDRO VALENCIA
Rafaela Martinez Valencia, 424
Francisco Street, San Francisco,
California, wants you to get id
touch with her.
4 4 4,
CREW SS ABR. ROSENBERG
(May, 194e^anuazy, 1947)
WiU former shipmates of Lu
cien R. EUe On that voyage
in touch with him on a matter
of great importance. Write to
SS Alcoa ^valier, c/o Alcoa
SS Con^any, 1 Canal Street
New Orleans, Louisiana.
4 4 4
FREDERICK JOHNSON
"Dear Fred, please write to
Mom, P.O. Box 308, Station A,
Boston, Massachusetts."
4 4 4
WILLIAM PAYNE HAYMEN 1)
Contact James J. Gourles^ Ml
Court House, Paterson, New
Jersey.
EDWARD*^ VAN^ NIEROP
(VANNIEROP)
Get in touch with Fred J. Zee
handelaar, 9511 — 87 Street,
Ozone Park 16, Long Island, New
York, concerning an inheritance
from relatives in the Nether
lands.
SS CAROLYN
C. P. (Slim) Thompson aska
that Cherokee, the Oiler, and
Tommy, the ' Fireman^ contact
him by mail or in person at the
Staten Island Marine Hospital^,
concerning the accident of Jan
uary 28, in Ciudad Trujillo.
4 4 4
RUruS L. O'NEAL
Get in touch with your wife,
1403 West 41 Street, Norfolk 8,
Virginia.
Of late there seems to have been renewed activity on the pfart of photography
minded Seafarers. Photos being received from SlUcontracted vessels on the high: seas! ,
tell of the camera adventures of Union members in the four corners of the earth. All /
of the lensmen are interested in sharing their "shots" with Brothers, through the '
medium of the LOG. * ,
On this page are some selections from the latest batch received. The LOG asks ^ |
—— WJ. VUW^JL. yxMv iiauuivvVLA.. XXa Ulilixy il5 pOSSlDle t
K
AboBrd the SS Steel Naviga
tor, erewmembers call Bosun
jAndreshak (left) "Popeye the
Second."' Duke Fisher and Red
Ransome submitted this photo
taken in Bombay, India, to
show why. With the Brother
Andreshak, er — Popeye, is
"Shorty," a shoe shine boy
who conducts his business on
the Bombay docks. Oh yes,
Andreshak is only mugging to
oblige the ceuneraman.
This. group. shot would indicate that most of the lads aboard the Jeff Davis, Waterman,
travel around together when they hit a formgn port. The scene is a seamen's club in. Yoko
hama, Japan, where the fellows took advantage of the opporkinity to wet their whistles and
relax a bit.
.. /
Guys who have sailed with
Walter Newberg say he tatef
with the best as a Steward*
Here he is with a pet durlas|F
a recent voyage aboard a
Bull Lines ship. Brother New*
berg is temporarily engage^
in shoreside fooddispensingv
He's now in charge of the
restaurant in the grog shop^^
located on street level of the
New York Hall at 51 Beaver
Street.
They have him by Mie tail now, but tlm
350pouttd shark didn't give up mthout a
• i^ggo. Just ask Frank Pasquale, who nabbed
vkirn w^h a meat hook, a piece ofbeef and
a heaving line.
Red Fisher has thawed Old a bit eince he fo6k^^
from the poop deck pf t^ SS Colid)^ up in Bale Comeau,
Canada, recently," .:'....'; " v'. ''
Siuall but 90^ eating, are these lOxpound
flounders caught 1^ Frank Gardner When he
was Steward on the Loyola Victory. Frank
pulled in 46 others like those he's holdings He
:friedthem as snacks ior..s3iipmaieii. ..
• • • i>'^i*^ki"T'''
paiiiiiisiiil
Official Organ, Atlantic & Gulf District, Seafarers International Union of NA
VOL. XII NEW YORK, N. Y„ FRIDAY. FEBRUARY 24. 1950 No. 4
Congressman Bland Dies In Washington
Representative Schuyler Otis Bland, chairman of the House Corhmittee on the
Merchant Marine, and often termed "the father of America's modern merchant ma-
rine," died February 16 in Washington. He was 77,
Judge Bland had represented Virgiriia's first district continuously since 1918.
A staunch supporter of a strong Amirican merchant marin^ Bland was instru
mental in having passed the Merchant Mar ne Act of 1936, which paved the way for
the rebuilding of America's shipping industry.
Maritime labor and management always found Judge Bland sympathetic to the
problems and needs of the maritime industry, one such incident being the recently
won battle to insure the carrying of at least 50 percent of European Aid cargoes in
American bottoms.
Bland's interest in the merchant marine was not solely legislative, for he took
a personal and active interest in seeing to it that the {y;lministrative branches of the
government carried out to the letter the will of his committee and Congress. It was
primarily at his insistence that the "watchdog committee" was set up to see to it that
the 50 percent cargo rule was not violated.
^ America's maritime indtistry of a true friend. Every ship
afloat in the country's new merchant marine is a monument to his memory.
Expected successor to Bland as the Merchant Marine Committee's head is Rep
resentative Edward J. Hart, of New Jersey, who represents the 14th New Jersey district,
including the Port of New York cities of Hoboken and Jersey City.
Presses
Contract
BULLETIN—^As the LOG went to press, the
SIU. Negotiating Committee was still exerting
every effort to hammer out a contract with the
Marine Division of theCities Service Oil Company.
High on the list of Union demands, was tile
insistence that any contract arrived at must cover
personnel on all 16 ships in •
the company's tanker fleet.,
^Meanwhile, the Union Ne
gotiating Committee was
taking note of the rapidly
growi:ig demand by Cities
Service tankermen for an
allout strike against the
company's facilities on all
coasts, unless concrete evi
dence is immediately forth
coming that Cities Service
will sign a decent contract.
Headquarters issued a
memorandum instructing all
Cities Service tankermen and
members of the SlU in all
ports to stand prepared in
the event that the dispute
cannot be resolved across the
bargaining table.
The Union made it clear,
however, that it would con
tinue to press for a peaceful
settlement and that respon
sibility for any strike action
would rest with the com
pany.
Hold It, Brotberl
Don't shoot the postmao!
It's not his fault that the
LOG is late this week. Con'
ditions beyond our control
forced us to delay publica
tion for a few days, but the
next issue will be out on
time, barring a general strike
in the printing industry.
Senate Greup
Sets Hearing
On Maritime
Sea Unions Urge Adoption Of Hiring Haii Bill
WASHINGTON—In a decision
loaded with grave potentialities
for the shipping industry^ the
Supreme Court, has ruled that
the hii'ing hall, as operated by
the CIO National Maritime Un
ion on the Great Lakes, violates
the closed shop ban of the Taft
Hartley Act. "
fiuskin Scholarship
Applications Openod
The 1950 scholarships for
Anierican trade unionists to
• ' study at Ruskin College, Oxford,
England,' have been opened and
applications are now being ac
' cepted at the scholarship com
mittee's offices in New York.
Offered annually by the Trans
atlantic , Foundation are five
scholarships to active trade un
ion members in this country,
each winner receiving tuition,
room and board at Oxford, plus
approximately $210 for personal
expenses.
The offer is open to members
of the AFL, CIO and Indepen
dent unions, with the committee
particularly interested in per
sons between 20 and 35.
Application forms and fiuiber
information are available through
th6 Editor, SEAFARERS LOG,
51 Heaver Street, New York.'AlI
applications must be in the
hands of ttie scholarship commit
;:by ;L
The high court did not dis
cuss the merits of the contro
versy over the hiring halls. It
merely refused to review the de
cision, declaring the union hir
ing halls illegal imder the TH
Act, handed down by the Fed
eral Circuit Court of Appeals
in New York. Thus, the lower
court verdict stands.
The NMU has filed a petition
for a rehearing of its case by
the Supreme Court.
The enthe maritime industry
viewed the decision with con
sideiable alarm, since the end
of unionoperated hiring halls
would mean a return to crimps,
shanghaiing and all the other vi
cious practices that were wiped
out by the rotary system of ship
ping for seamen.
On the management side, there
was fear for the continued effi
cient operation of "'essels whi(A
the union hiring halls have
brought about.
Spokesmen for a section of
maritime management were in
Washington last week, discuss
ing the problem with Govern
ment labor experts.
They expressed the view^ held
generally by ship operators, that
the present njethod of hiring
through the union halls is less
expensive and more orderly.
Meanwhile, responsible mem
bers of Congress, conscious of
the acute problem facing the
maritime industry as a result
of th^ Supreme Court ruling^
began steps to resolve the issue
through remedial legislation.
Senator James Murray, (Dem.,
Montana), announced that the
Senate Labor subcommittee,
which he heads, would shortly
begin hearings on a bill offered
by Senator Warren Magnuson
(Dem., Wash.), to legalize hiring
halls and allow their continued
operation as in the past.
A similar biU has been offered
in the House by Rep. John Le
sinski (Dem., Mich.).
Senator Murray said that the
hiring hall system "has worked
satisfactorily and it seems to me
it ought to be continued."
Senator Taft, however, who
has considerable influence in
Senate Labor Committee deci
sionsj indicated he would block
a move to exempt the marithne
unions' hiring halls from the
closed shop ban imposed by his
law.
But Taft indicated that the
TH ban was a mistake insofar
as its application to the maritime
industry was concerned, at least.
Questioned on the possibility of
allowing seamen's \inions to con
tinue their present hiring meth
od^ Taft said:
"I don't see how we can do
it for the maritime unions im
less we do it for all." /
In fact, that attitude appeared
to set up a, stumbling block to
quick action on the Magnuson
Lesinski bill. Those favoring the
present hiring haU method of
employment are afraid to take
any action that would be un
popular with other sections of
management, especially since
this is an election year.
Nevertheless, all maritime un
ions—^AFL, CIO and independ
ent—are urging immediate pas
sage of the MagnusonLesinski
biU, as the only sound way out
of the confusion and chaos that
would inevitably result if the
hiring haUs are smashed.
PennsYivania Veterans To Get State Benas
Seafaiers who are veterans of
World Wax II, and who entered
the armed forces as residents
of Pennsylvania, are eligible for
state bonus payments. Applica
tions should be filed immedi
ately, as the deadline is July 1,
1950.
Honorably discharged vets,
who lived in Pennsylvania at
the time of entry into any
branch of the military, and v/ho
served more than 60 days be
tween Dec. 7, 1941 and Sept. 2,
1945, can receive compensation.
Payments wiU be figured ' as
follows:
$10 for every month and frac
tion thereof for service in the
US. ^
$15 for every month and Ac
tion thereof for overseas Mrrvice.
Applications may be obtahieA
at all major veterans organiza
tions, aU Pennsylvania National
Guard armories and the ofiiee
of the County Director of Vet
erans Affairs, located in 4he
coimty court hou3^^s.
The state emphasized that ap
plicants must file no later tiian
July 1, 16S0.
The second hearing on prob
lems facing the maritime indus
try has been scheduled for early
next month by the Senate Sub
committee on Merchant Marine
and Maritime Matters.
Senator Warren G. Magnuson,
who is parking the Senate drive
to expand the US njerchant flee^
heads the subcommittee. The
hearing is expected to last about
two weeks.
Among the matters that are
under consideration by the Sen
ate group are a longrange build
ing program, the transfer of
American flagships to foreign
registry, the Economic Coopera
tion Administration and the 90
percent shcUe for US ships
cargoes shipped imder the act,
and competition for commercial
vessels from Army and Navy
ships.
In connection with the cour
struction phase of the hearings,
the Senate subcommittee is con
sidering a biU to give Federal
support to construction and op
eration of this coimtry's mer
chant marine.
A companion bill had been in
troduced to the House of Rep
resentatives by the late Schuyler
Otis Bland, who had headed the
lower chamber's Committee on
Merchant Marine and Fisheries.
Senator Magnuson has express .
ed the opinion that any mer
chant marine expansion pro
gram would fail unless there ;
was assurance that at least 5®
percent of this coimtry's foreign
trade moved in American bot'
toms.
Page Two T H E SEAFARERS tO G friday, Febxuaty 24, !SSO
j't r • '
SEAFARERS LOG %
Published Every Other Week by Jhe
SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION
OF NORTH AMERICA
Atlantic and
. Affiliated with Ihe American Fedefatkmof .Labor. .
' At 51 Beaver Street, New York 4, N. Y.
HAnoyer 22784
f ReentCTed as second class matter August^ 2. 1940, al • t^^e
Office in New York, N.Y., under the Act of August' 24, 19l2.
267^
Union Hiring Halls
It must be admitted that ascertain element among
1 management found the TaftHartley Law, and especially
^its provision banning the closed shop, exactly to its liking.
^It gave them a hammer toliold over, the Leads of organized
labor, because the prohibition of the closed shop is a
threat to the security built up by unionized workers after
years of struggle. ^ «
Whatever the feelings of industry are in regard to
this vicious piece of legislation, you can bet that the ship
owners are almost as vehemently opposed to it as are the
niaritime unions. And they have recorded their opposition
to the ban on the Hiring Hall on many occasions.
Using good, sound business sense, based on a desire
to continue operations with a maximum of efficiency
and a minimum of confusion, the shipowners have seen—
in concrete form—the benefits of the Hiring' Hall, not
only to the seamen, but to the industry as a whole.
Prior to the advent of the Union Hiring Hall in
maritime, conditions were chaotic, to put it mildly. Crews
i^ere obtained through ffair means or foul—and mostly
foul. The parasitic group known as crimps did a flourish
ing business shanghaiing their victims aboard ships for a
j fee, or by maneuvering helpless seamen into debt for
board or lodging until they could force them to take
I any shipboard job, under any conditions, to wipe out their
|v obligations.
fv • Thanks to the Union Hiring Halls, crimping and
shanghaiing are things of the ugly past. Seamen now are
able to obtain employment in a fair, democratic way by
virtue of the rotary hiring system used in Union Halls.
They are assured of proper and respectful treatment—and
consequently, they are better, more efficient workers
because of it.'
Because of the successful operation of the Union
Hiring Halls, ships leave on time, arrive on time and are
manned by qualified seamen who respect their contractual
obligations. This has naturally resulted in. an efficiency
impossible of attainment under the preUnion Hiring Hall
methods. The operators know it. Even Senator Taft knows
ir. He showed the weakness in his armor the other day,
at an open hearing before a Senate Labor subcommittee
on the Magnuson Bill to exempt maritime unions from
the closed shop ban, when he observed: "I don't see how
we can do it for the maritime unions unless we can do
ir for aU."
Th6 closed shop ban—on any union—^is a mistake. In
connection with its application to the maritime unions,
a? least, Senator Taft prefers to remain stubborn about
admitting it, and thus is inviting a return to the old days
of chaos and confusion.
The maritime trnions cannot allow this xo happen.
If Taft and his backers have no obligation to the vast ma
jority of working men and women of this country, their
unions do—and they mean to discharge that obligation.
Regardless of any differences they may have on any issues,
the maritime unions are absolutely united in their stand
on the Hiring Hall.
They know full well that, besides leaving the way
open for the return of crimps afid their ilk, the Hiring
Hall ban could lead to a breakdown of working condi
tions and wage levels — representing years of sweat and
struggle. Smashing of the Hiring Hall could, in essence,
mean the smashing of maritime unions and everything
they have accomplished both in behalf of their member
ships aind for the stability of the industry.
The LesinskiMagniiSon Bill, which would legalize
Hiring Halls and return them to their pi^TaftHartley
status, intelligently jfecogmzes this danger. Congress should
7t quickly to pz• '. it.
Men Hew In The Maine Hespiteie
These are the Union Bibthexs currently in the marine hoq^Hals.
as reported by the Port Agents. Them Brothers find tlihe hanging
heavily on their hands. Uo what you can to cheer them up by
writing them.
STATEN ISLAND HOSPITAL
. CIRNACO ESOLAN
J. H. DANIEL, JR.
LUIS DIOUDONNE
C, P. THOMPSON
THEODORE ROZUM
JAMES HILLIER
R. GRALICKI
JOHN SANTANIELLO
V. E. JOHNSON
H. J. OUT
J. A. PILUTIS
K. JENSEN
J. W. MC CASLIN
B. B. FULLER
MOSES MORRIS
HENRY WATSON
JAMES PANTOJA
B. F. LAW
A. BJORNSSON
% i t
BALTIMORE HOSPITAL
E. K. BR'YAN
J. P. STANFORD
J. O. MORRISON
W. ASHFORD
J, H. TURNER
A. L. MASTERS
G. A. CARROLL
M. DUSENITCH
I. WILLOUGHBY
T. MORIARITY
J. G. HARRIS '
B. THOMPSON
J. DAVIS
S. C. MILLARD
J. SHE A
B. D. ELBERT
N. BATHOIR
J. MARTINEZ
C. TERRY
W. D. WARMAdK
S. BUZALEWSKI
J. A. KRUSEZYNSKI
C, F. SCHERKOUS
F. KORVATIN
P. E. DARROUGH
P. FRANKMONS
ft
NflW ORLEANS HOSPITAL
A. DEFERMO
G. NOLES
E. J. NAVARRE ,
J. D7ENNIS
F. LANDRY
H. F. LAGAN
L. LANG
, L. WILLIS
C. CHESNA
A. PAREK "
C. P. BENWAY V
M. A. DODGE
C. EZELL
P. ROBERTS V
A.. MAUFFRAt ,
N. 1. WEST
,.P;"L/RAY
J. J. GERDA
Staten Island Hospital
You can contact your Hds
pital delegate at the Stateh
Island Hdspital at the follow
ing timesi
Tusiiday 1:38 to 3:30 p.m.
(on 5th and Offa floors.)
Thursday — 1:30 to 3:30 pan.
(on 3rd and 4th floors.)
Saturday — 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.
(on 1st and 2nd floors.)
. ..c
C. R. BRACE
C. F, PRICE
O. HOWELL
P. GAVILLO
C, LYONS
T. E. T.EE
H. D. MC KAY
L. TlCildLE
G. B. GILLISPIE
W. W. LAMB
W. HAYES
W. HAZELGROVE
C. NEUMAXER '
W. WALKER ^
^ X
SAN FRANCISCO HOSPITAL
S. SWOR
W. SILVERTHORNE
A. CAUDRA
J. KEENAN
G. W. GHALE
J. JELLETTE
t 4
SAVANNAH HOd£>ltAL
RAY COLE
4 4 4
MOBILE HOSPITAL
H. HENDERSON
t. LITTLE . • '
P. BURROUGHS
A. B. LYNN I .
TiJa BURKE
'444
BOSTON HOSPITAL r H v
FRANK AL.ASAVICK
W. BEZANSON ..jn
F. PAGAN
R. WAGNER,
^ I .• 'i
'. I
V,. .:V • v;;V,
frKtoy. J^i^teafuy ,2# 1850 <fffEJ§MAJ 4 EiEJES I Q G ,.... ,=
P9g0 Tbtee
—tSij
B7 JOHN BUNKER
Several hundred jobs seem
assured for seamen on the West
Coast, with the recent awarding
of bids to the Sun Shipbuildmg
|md Drydock Company at Chest
er, Pa., for the construction of
two Trailerships, imusual vessels
that will <;arry highway trucks
and passengers between I^g
Beach and San Francisco.
"Proposed for several years by
H. P. Alexander, well known
West Coast shipping raan, 'Trail
. crships have received the finan
cial backing of the US Maritime
^ Commission to the extent of
some $110,000,000.
They will operate on an over
mght service between Long
B.each and the Golden Gate, one
,ship leaving the southern ter
minus as another departs from
the north.
5^he Board of Harbor Commis
sioners :Of Long Beach are budd
jj^g a .$3,000,000 terminal to ac
comodate the first two Trailer
ships, when they start operating
some time in 1950 or 1951.
FAMILIAR NAMES '
To West Coast sailors these
two ships will have old, familiar
^ names, for they!ll be called the
H. F. Alexander and the Ruth
Alexander, after ships well
known in the Pacific for many
years before the war.
The "Ruth" was one of the
• first American ships .tp be at
tacked in World War JI while
the "H.F.," a very fast,
beamed passenger liner, carried
thousands of Qf's to wartinae
battlefionts in her role as .an
Army transport.
These Trailer#ip6 are ,563
footers with a 90 foot beam—
sis^eaMe .abips in .leyery reapcct.;
They are intended to cany 136
officers and crew.
Income will be derived partly
passengers and partly from
icarrying .trucks, for they have
accomodations for 383 passen
gers and 176 trucks of the type
comrnorily referred to as .high"
way ~ "trailers," which will
jstbwed along the main deck and
ah upper deck.
This deck, incidentayy, might
even inject a new word ipto
marine terminology, should the
designeis decide to call it the
^trailer deck," as they most ap
propiately could.
PROVIDE NEW SERVIQE
Thei*e have been no ateam
phip passenger lines romnirig
j^ng the West {Coast for .the
j99St ten yaars. The Pacific Coast
, steamship Company, which will
operate these Trailerships, hopes
to sell tickets at $11 for a one
y?ay passage or $19,80 for the
ypimd trip.
This reasonable rate is sure
fp attract plenty of tracje ^m
folks wanting a pleasant sea
trip of short duration, a? Well
' as from travelers between north
em and southern California.
Tentative scheduling caJls for
the .ships to leave Long Beach
jat 6 pm and arrive at Sajn Fran
cisco the next morning at nipe,
8 fast run made possible by
powerful turbines and twin
'screw drives that will send these
coastal liners along at 25 knots.
Tho i^vro ships will each cariy
19 officers and 117 urilicensed
j)erspnnel.. The designs provide
for liberal space in all the guart
accorno^ting officers and
Among the unlicensed med are
six "1 ;OokoiUs," six "Statiop.'
An azchitect's drawing of ono of two faUBrsbips on which construction' is soon to begin.
The vessels axe 563 feet long, have a 9P.£pot beam, and will have accommodations for 382 pass
engers and 176 trailer trucks. The TraUerships will operate between San Francisco and Long"
Beach. Calif.
It is hoped that the innovation of the Trail srships in the coastal trade will open up new
areas of employment for seamen. The ships will each carry 19 officers and 117 unlicensed crew
members. and also will, have qparters for 60 of the trailers' drivers. According to present plans,
the ships will have 25knot speeds.
men," three Oilers, three Elec
tricians, three Firemen, three
Watertenders, three Quarter
masters, nine ABs and several
other un^ecified deckhands in
addition to a Stewards Depart
ment of 69.
These will probably be the
only ships .afloat especially fit:
ted to carry trAi<ds,diriVK»rTi60 M
them.
The idea behind Trailerships
is to circumvent the high cost
of freight handling which has
kayoed the coastwise steamship
lines durmg recent. years, mak
ing resumption of many domes
tic lines impossibje efler the war
Even during tlie 193Qs, the
coastwi^ and intercpastal lines
were having a hard time fi
nancially and, if the war had
not put them out of business be
cause of requisition of their
ships by the government, it is
very Jikoly that they would have
folded up under postwar eco
ncsnic stress.
One of the major proWems of
the coastal lines was competition
from motor carriers, and thous'
ands of tons of package freight
whiclv once moved by seaboard
liners were diverted to highway
trucks, which, besides offering
lc^,er rates., .cojdd give shippers
the extra advardage of doorto
(Jnor
This truck competition grew
by leaps and bounds duiing the
depression, striking hardest at
those sections of the coast which,
supported the most seaboard
traffic.
It was the princip^ reason for
abandonment of the famous Fall
Elver, New London, Providence
and Bridgeport Lines in* New
England.
It was .the reason why Mer
chants and Miners, Clyde Mal
lory, Eastern and other steam
ship companies did not build
new vessels to replace ships
which were becoming obsolete in
the 1930s.
It was to get around this
trucking competition, plus the j
high costs ""of handling cargo ^
which face all postwar steam
ship operations, that H. F. Alex
ander developed his idea for
Trailerships.
ENDORSED BY UNIONS
He has obtained the whole
hearted endorsement of both
longshore and teamsters unions,
and has seen his project finally
win official approval after three
years of "backing and filling" ^
the old salts would say, before
the cautious Maritime Commis
sion.
These two ships, he hopes,
will be the forerimhers
of more extensive Trailer^p
operations to come on the Par
cific, Gulf and Atlantic coasts; |
reviving the prewar coastal pas
senger trade and giving employ]
ment to hxmdreds of seamen in
the process.
(Editor's note: This is the
second and concluding article
on the subject of coastal ship
ping by John Bunker, foriner
member of the SIU. who is
now ship news reporter fox
the Christian Science Monitor.
Bunker is currently at werk
on a series of articles which
will highlight the wartime
role of SIU contracted ships
and their crews. Upon com
, pletion of the project, the
SEAFARERS LOG will pub
lish it in serial form. Because
of the historical nature of the
Seafarers' part in the war.
Bunker's articles should be of
vital interest to all Union
members and others connected
with the maritime industry.)
The Laborer's Prayer
By HOLT ROSS
Lor# ie$ me ̂ fiye :i» way
To do 9ome worthy act each day.
I seek no favors, power or wealth
But just contentment and good health.
Let me dive in where the stream is swift
And give some feilowman a lift.
I trust no one yrjJll ever frpwh
Ap4 say I let a real friend down.
jGojifer on me, O l^ord, ;the gift .
^o giye the poor.n little lift,
:he^ them when they're down and out
,ea,nnot find Iheir way about.
W4ht and poverty ' •
to blight society. , ,
>^1 this load of Vant and sorrow
I would lighten f.or t^wnwrow.
Of worldly goods some. Iwiyen'tstny
tjp tliis land syeallh and,plpnty.
.6 n)py wprXer? everywhere
Unite .and fight tp get thpir share.
;Ojur ifolks.haye surely laced starvation.
3h.ey have suifered esspioitation,
But they always turned to You; .
They remained steadfast and true.
^They had hope and inspiration
An^ j^ways prpyed Ipr tfoe^^
Now, Then hast heard their prayers
And Victory wifl soon be theirs.
We are thankMil for .all fayors, .T r/'i". , .
And wiil share tiiera with our neighhOTS.v • • • • •
I^rd God of Sosts, O, make us strong,
Help us speed our cause along
O, give me strength to lead the fight,
To help the poor each wrong to right,
And to each worker everywhere,
I would award his equal share.
To those in darkness, show the hght.
jGive strength to those too weak to fight.
O Lord, we will obey Thy laws
And would be soldiers for Thy cause.
We that are strong would help the weak,
The pure in hpart and workers meek.
O help me, God, to hold the torch
For Ghristian Wurker? QA. the march.
"Hiose who are blessed should appreciate
Hiy timely aid and reciprocate
By daily doing some good deed
To help someone right now in need.
Lord, help us in this crucial hour;
Give us strength and more willpower.
May we never oeasp to fight.
For fhis cause so just and right.
We know the fight is all uphill,
But we wiil charge ahead until
Each worker comes into his own
And has the strength to carry on.
Lord, when my work on earth is done
And. Labor's yictpry has baen won.
May those w.ho knew me at the end
Say, "He was truly Labor's Friend!"
Vi
m
V'?
• ?
o" V r
Ml
i; • :
• ' V.
%
Fiiae Fmur T B E S E A F A itE R S L O G . • ' ntiday^ i^*hw
IMsbile Expects
ietter Days
By CAL TANNER
MOBILE—Shipping in the port
of Mobile from February
%:• through the 15th, reached an all
time low,. with approximately
thirtyseven bookmen and no
permits shipped for the two
week period. We had four pay
offs and four signons, plus four
ships intransit for the period.
Paying off and signing on were
Corsair, Alcoa; and the Wild
Ranger, Lafayette, and Antinous,
Waterman. All four were in gooc
shape, hoth paying off and sign
ing on.
Intransit for the period were
the Chickasaw, Ames Victory,
Steel Admiral, Greeley Victory.
AH ships were contacted and
necessary replacements furnish
ed.
In the Mobile Marine Hospital
are the following Brothers: H.
Henderson, T. Little, P. Bur
roughs, A.B. ,Lynn and Tim
Burke.
Word has been received from
the Marine Hospital that Broth
er Louis Howard died Friday,
February 17, after a long Ulness.
The Seafarers extend their sym
pathy to the family of Louis
Howard. ,
Waterman SS Company is
changing the Victory ships on
the coastwise nm, and replacing
them with companyowned C2s.
While this will mean a few
more jobs for the port of Mo
bile, it will mean a loss of about
a hundred jobs to the Union, as
these Victorys will be placed in
the laldup fleet here.
Well, we had a few towboat
relief jobs here in the last couple
of weeks and they were what
kept the boys in cigarette money
for the last two weeks. We ship
ped approximately twentyeight
relief jobs to tugs during the
twoweek period.
Shipping will be a little better
during the coming two weeks,
with about nine coastwise anc
four offshore ships due to hit the
port
li.T,...
"V
r/
lI
"AMONG THE BEST MADE SO FART
T
NEW YORK STATE SCHOOt OF INDU8TRIAU AND LABOR RELATIONS
CPRNELL UNIVERSITY
ITHACA, NEW YORK
EDMUND EZRA DAY. CHANCBIXOM
CORNKt.18 WILLXM DK KIEWIET, AcnNS PfmiDKNT
M. P. CATHERWOOD, DEAN
Dscember 7, 1949 v:;?;
, _ S"'• . ... . •
Mr« Albert A* Bsmsteiji
International Representative •
Seafarers International Union
of North America
51 Beaver Street
Hew York 4, Mew lork
Dear Mr# ^mstein: . * '
Thank you for sending a!tohg the tw films for our school to preview;
'^I was much impressed with them* I feel* that your efforts are among the best
made so far by the labor unions*
The film THIS IS THE SIU tms particularly interesting for showing how
the "hiring hall" works* Many of our'students do not h^ve the opportunity
to know how these things function* It iias also good ̂ om the standpoint
of conveying the ideal of your union*
THE BATTLE OF WALL STREET also is useful in that it gives some idea of
lAat is involved in staging a modem successful strike.
Both these films are particularly useful to us because liiey serve as
firsthand information for our students of experiences that few of them
have been able to acquire by actual presence*
m
I hope some day we can make these films a part of our library of
films, but until then yon will be hearing from me for their loan* ' ' "
Thank you for your trouble*
Sincerelyj
J* J* Jehriiig
Asst* Prof, of Industrial and
labor Relations
li^.
Htercury, Shipping
Nosedive in Bustnn
By BEN LAWSON
BOSTON — The only things
J moving around here are the
, thermometer, which is going
down but fast, and the winds,
which are strong enough to ram
your words right back down
yoirr throat.
Up xmtil recently we were
having pretty fair weather, but
• winter sxire 'cut loose the last
couple of days. We've got a foot
of snow on the streets and are
right in the ^ddle of a regular
blizzard of rain, hail and snow.
It's so bad outside that the
> Brothers will have to take to
dog sleds to make the meeting
^tonight.
But if you think the weather
is bad, dipping is worse. We
had one payoff, the W. E. Down
fiig of the State Fuel Corpora
tion, which came in dean with
.no beefs.
Intransit visitors were the
Robin Sherwood; John B. Wa
' terman. Canton Victory, Besse
mer Victory, Waterman, and the
.Steel Vendor, Isthmian.
^ ^ere were some overtime
on the John B. Waterman,
' Vvfaidh were straightened out
aboard rfiip, and mi the Robin
Hherwood, which will be carried
I to the port of payoff.
The two SIU films continue to get unstinted praise from unions and schools. Lack of space
forced the LOG to keep this^ cut on the Shelf for more than two months. It is reproduced now
to remind interested organizations that they can buy a print for $40 for their permanent library.
Recognized unions and labor schools can borrow a copy for a showing at no cost tothem.
By JOE ALGINA
NEW YORK — Shipping has
been very slow duHng the past
two weeks, a condition that ap
pears to be general in all ports.
Although a. number of ships
came into this port, they did
not take large niunbers of re
placements.
The ships pajring off in the
twoweek period just ended
were the following:
Beatrice, Kathryn, Puerto Rico,
Elizabeth, Evelyn and Suzanne,
Bull; Bessemer Victory, Chicka
saw, Warrior, an'd Hurricane,
Waterman; Seatrains New York
and New Jersey; Santa Clara
Victory, Isthmian; Collins, Trans
fuel; J. Hanson, White Range,
and Alexandra, Carras.
Signing on were the Taddei,
Ship Inter Lines; St. Augustine
Victory, Isthmian; Warrior, Wa
terman; Robin Wentley, and the
Seatrain and Bull Line ships.
All of die payoffs and sign
Had Your Say?
Pro and con commenla on
Ihe suggested change in the
shipping rules to make R
mandatory for a wiRn toac
cept his vacation pay and get
off a ship after one year
aboard continue to come in
brom Brothers aeen and
ashore. If you haves*?i yet
expressed your views on the
.quesnon, how about send
ing them to the LOG—now.
ens came off in good shape, the
vessels being clean and ship
shape.
Fouy of the Robin Line ships
are being chartered and will
operate from West Coast ports.
Senator Taft, as would be ex
pected, stated_this week that he
is against anything that would
permit a closed ^op, even iii
maritime. Teift; of course, knows
nothing about what the Union
Hiring Halls Iwve done to stabi
lize conditions in the maritime
industry—and he cares even less.
PROTECT GAINS
Our Union is interested in
seeing tiiat the hardwon gains
of the seamen are preserved, and
that the present stability in the
maritime industry resulting from
establishment of the Hiring Hall
rema^ unchanged. Senator Taft
has no such interest. In fact,
he is determined to break down
union conditions wherever he
can.'
So far, there has been no defi
nite word from Washington on
the status of Bernstein's applica
tion for d subsidy to pemHt ope
ration of two passenger ships to
European ports. As soon as
the membership will be in
formed.
A word of advice to men
aboard ships. We have been in
formed by some members after
they have come into port that
there are logs against them that
are • not true or accurate.
Therefore, we advise all hands
that if a log is placed against
them aboard ship, they should
not sign it if they believe .it to
be inaccurate.'•
Once you have signed your
name to a. log, you have prac
tically admitted that the infor
mation contained therein has
your approval. You cannot ex
p^ to deny it after the ship
comes Into port.
In ether words, you can't
change your story. So don't sign,
if you don't agree with the in
in Savannah
By E. BRYANT
SAVANNAH Shipping bas
been slow in this port, but is
expected to pick up . somewhat
the next two weeks—but this is
by no means a signal for a gold
rush to Savannah. We have
enough men around here to take
care of our needs,
TThere were no payoffs in thfe
last period, but we had the fol
lo^ving ships intransit: Jean;
Bull; Steel Recorder, Isthmian;
Southport, South Atlantic; wd
the Chickasaw and Topa Topa,
Waterman. There was nary a
beef on any of these scows.
The men on the beach are a
little sort of cabbage, and spend
their time on fishing trips, which
cut down on their expenses and
provide good times for all.
We have had good fishing ^
weather down here, and any of
the boys whoare fat from a ̂
cent payoff are cordially invited
to come down with their fish
ing tackle.
Brother Jim McDonald just
blew in after paying off the
Southwind . in Galveston, and
bought five bucks worth of cof
fee and sweetin' for the men in
the Hall.
There is only one man in the
hospital here, Ray Cole, and kis
condition, 1 am glad to say;. is
reported as good.
Just one more word, and that
to performers—^think twice
about coming to "Savannahi The
membership here is sudden
death to them.
New York Shipping Situation (inrhangod
Slight impFOvemeiii
In Frisco Shipping
By JEFF MORRISON
SAN FRANCISCO —Shipping
has. improved over the past two
weeks, but it is still nothing to
brag about. The SS Young Amer
ica gave us our only payofA
later signing on for the Far
East. There were no beefs oh
ship, and the crew was doing
a bangup job, a real credit to
the SIU.
In addition, we had the fol
lowing ships intransit: Topa
Topa, Hastings and Yaka, Wat
erman; Kenyon Victory and Steel
Navigator, Isthmian, and the
Calmar.
On the" beach with us there
are P. Wilma, T. Malone and
Harvey Hill, all of whom came
in with the Mankato Victory
and paid off, and C. Cothraan
and Joimny BurkCi
The following Brothers are in
the Marine Hospital, and would
appreciate hearing from their
friends and shipmates: S. Swor,
A. Caudra J,. Keenan, J. Jellett^
W. Silverthome, and G. W.
Ghale.
something is announ<'ed on th.i8,ifonnation. in the log^ng.
. , ^It , 0 J,!p J 1
Bull Lines Crews
Since Bull Lines is mo
longer mailing cut Inoooae
Tax Withholding Statements,
all men who were on Bull
Lines ships in 194g'cae u^
ed to call at or write to
the company offices for their
statements. Failure to fUb
tax returns befdre Mazdi
15 will result in fines and
penalties. Bull Lines are ki
fcated ̂ 105 Broad Siieet;
New. York City,...
it''
Friday. Fabruaxy 24, 1950. THE SEAFARERS LOG Page Five
'An SlU Credit Union Just Cannot Miss'
By JOHN COLE
»
About 150 years ago, groups of workers banded
together for the purpose giving mutual aid
and assistance to brothers who fell into debt, or
to families who were made destitute by the loss
of their breadwinner.
These, fraternal groups formulated principles
which were later Incorporated by, present day
credit unions.
Actually, however, their real claim to fame
Jay in the fact that they were tjj.e first trade
unions in America, butit was not till later that
they pressed programs that called for improve
ment in their living standards.
We, today, seem to Mhve reversed that process
by going after conditions first, and following^
with stabilizing services later. The organization
saw fit to blueprint the needs of us Seafarers,
and then proceeded to . pick them off like sitting
ducks—^with stout backing, of course, from the
membership.
ECONOMIC SECURITY
Wages, hours, working conditions, manning
I " scales, safety rules, sanitary standards, vacations
(homesteaders notwithstanding), and health and
welfare benefits were just some of the prizes
bagged.
Through all i;hese gains economic security has
been made available to us. What we how need
. is some sy'^ematic device to help us preserve a
substantial part of income, while we are still
enjoying the.high tide of prosperity.
.. A credit union could be that means of main
taining adequately our hardwpn economic secur
' ity.
Apart from the few who dp bave savings ac
counts, what do we know about the monetary
habits of om members?
liet's break them down to the two categories
of carefree sandlot baseball days, and call them
married and the single.
Although these two examples may seem to
oversimplify the problem, fhe end result will
still be the same in most every case.
Comes a big payoff and/papa lays the bundle
. oh the table when he gpts home. Mama, mis
..jpfilculating her needs, shops around for those
, several items that she has wantejJ for a long
time.
When money begins to run low; she stops
the extrabudgetary spending, sudd^y realiz.
ing that she will have all to do to meet remain,
ing living expenses until next pay day with
' what is left.
GOODBYE. BANK ACCOUNT
' Again, her long dreamedof bank account must
' be postponed to some other faraway day.
i ' .
Then there is the correspondingly large pay
off for the man without family r^ponsibility.
The first place he heads for, when he hits
port, is the favorite hangout. There he leaves a
big chunk of cabbage with the "proprietor" for
safekeeping. On the way out he meets an old
shipmate who is up against it and lets him haye
a himdred.
• To tell, the wholes story of his stay in port
would be a monotonous repetition of round after
round of generous improvidence. Needless to say,
he is flat broke when he catches his next ship.
How can we check this treadmill course of
Brothers who toil laboriously from pay day to
pay day, with no appreciable change in their
financial status? Merely by employing that al
waysreliable tangible, group action, and at the
yery small cost of two bits a member.
. Seafarers can decide affirmatively in a refer
endum vote that they want a credit union.
V.
One of the questions presently being pondered
by Seafarers is the advisability of setting up a
credit union by and for SIU members. In a re
cent issue, the LOG published an article con
taining basic information on credit unions—the
way they are set up. how they operate and what
they intend to accomplish. Since publication of
the credit union article there has been a flurry
of pro and con comment.
Among those favoring the credit unipn idea is
Seafarer John Cole. On this page. Brother Cole
tells why he wants a credit union in the SIU.
Because he has done so clearly and comprehen
sively. the LOG feels that all members should
read Cole's article carefully and thoughtfully. It
provides the understanding of credit unions that
is necessary before anypne not familiar with
their nrnkeup and operation can decide whether
he is for. or ageinst, a credit union for Seafarers.
Meanwhile, the membership is urged to con
tinue its shipboard and shoreside discussion of
the subject. Members having opinions they wish
to present to their Union Brothers are requested
to forward them to the LOG for public^ion.
When fhat is done, th^ call a membership
meeting; elect a board of directors (five for
headquarters anti one .fMr every other port that
might be workable), a supervisory pojmmittee of
three, and a credit committee of three; draw up
bylaws in conformity with federal and state
requirements; and petition the Bureau erf Fed
eral Credit Unions for a charter.
When the ch^ter is finally certified, the Sea
farers International Credit Union of North Am
erica is in business.
COOPERATIVE EFFORT
The purpose of a credit union is npt to be
directly: competitive with banks, yet it inevit
ably, must cross some lines into spheres of their,
activity.
It isa cooperative effort , with twofold object
ives: the longrun,which :is to encourage sav
ing; and the shortrun, tofinance personal credit
needs.
It is a banking sefvice nm for the member
ship by the membership. It shields, the individual
from contact with coldly impersonal commercial
banks, as well as from everlurking usurious
loansharksi
"it preserves democratic processes at the mem
bership • levelra rare thing in free enterprise
venture^by giving members the power to se
lect or remove directors; by permitting them the
right to decide how profits shall be shared; and
by allowing equal votes to largest and smallest
shareholders alike.
It helps njembers to help themselves to a
greater degree of financial stability.
Undoubtedly, we could get Union officials to
place SIU facilities at the disposal of a credit
union. Anfij until such time as the baby banking
structure is strong enough to carry its own paid
employees. Patrolmen mi^t pick up deposits
for savings accoimts withdues when ships hit
ports. . *
SPECIAL AGENTS
Commercial banks have already adopted this
technique by assigning special collection agents
to the waterfront.
With persons handling funds placed under
heavy bond, plus strict goveriuneat supervision,
our money has strong safeguards.
Althopgh a share is valued at five dollars, any
multiple part of that sum may be deporited,
even as low as a quarter a month.
A wife may share an account jointly with. her.
husband, but may enjoy none of the preroga
tives reserved for members only.
Just as there is no compulsion on the pari ̂ of
anybody to join the credit union, so there is ho
right on the part of abstainers to exercising
the privileges or reaping the benefits of mem
bership. It has been stated that a group savings
plan is not practicable among sailors. Attention
needs to be called^to the sound condition of pur
Union's treasury to explode that fallacy. 6niy
in an organization as solidly based as ours can
the dream of today become fhe reality of to
morrow.
NO GAMBLE
Members' saving may not be gambled with."'^ |
The purchase of federal bonds and savings,
loans to other credit unions, and loans to mem
bers are permitted. Dividends on earnings may
not exceed 6 percent a year. Losses on bad loans
amounted to onefifth of 1 percent last year. i
The lending service can stop many demorv :,|
alizing worries, but funds may be tapped oijiyj]
for useful, worthwhile purposes. ; i
The credit committee screens all applicants ']
for loans and arranges schedules for repayment.;
Most frequent loans last year were madefor
automobile mortgages, for consolidation of debts,
and for paying current Ijiving expenses.
Unsecured .loans may be made up to limits
set by the directors. Adequate security is re
quired for loans in excess of a member's share
holdings. A loan may be secured by a cosigner.
Eighty percent pf the total income of credit
unions came from the 1 percent interest a month
charged members en their loans. <
At the January meeting every year dirCctois,
supervisory and credit emnmittees are elected.
The directors, iu turn, elect their own officers.
The treasurer is the man on whom responsi
bility is fastened. He manages all affairs, keeps
all books, prepares all r^Dforts. Ho alone among
the officers may be paid a salary..
The clerk keeps minutes of meetings of the
board and the niembership. This office is usualiy
. combined with the treasurer's.
The president presides at meetings and |^e
sents the annual report to the members. In his
absence the vicepresident takes over. '
SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE
The supervisory committee serves as auditors
and ferrets. If any director makes a false move,
they suspend him and turn his case over to the
membership for disposition at a special meeting.
Credit unions have had a century of experi
ence in Europe and Asia. Although their birth
in this country only came in 1909, the.y have
grown with amazing rapidity.
Aiherica now has over 9000 credit, unibrjs ij
(state and federal .combined) and 4,000,000 mem
bers with an accumulated total* of $700 million.
When it is realized tjiat 53 percent of that
sum goes into circulation to stimulate business,
it is no wonder that credit unions are encour
aged by federal, state, and municipal authorities, j
Let's start a grassroots educational program by
collaring every member, shipboard and shore
side, for the purpose of hastening the setting up
of credit union machinery.
We want to be ready to give hard times a
nosethumbing, the next time the econoinic
graphs start their downward spiral.
Go to work on your friends and, if there are
any pessimists among them, tell them to go to
a neutral corner until we put this thing in work
ing order an<bthen they can join. / ' t H
An SIU credit union just can't miss.
J
Cyclone Rips Into Robin Kettering;
Ship, Cargo Take Severe Battering
Damages sustained by the SS Robin Kettering when she was struck by an 80
mileanhour cyclone 12 £ours out of Lourenco Marques, at the entrance of Mo
zambique Channel,are being repaired in Mombasa, crewmember John Tilley inform
ed the LOG this week.
Despite the storm's violence,
which caused heavy damage to
the ship's cargo, crewmiembers
escaped severe injury.
The cyclone raged for 24
kotirs before spending itself and
permitting the Kettering to head
for Mombasa.
As the twister tore into the
Robin Line vessel, a fiveton
steel derrick was ripped from
its mooring and snapped in two
like a matchstick. The wind car
lii^ ried it down onto ^ welldeck
vrith such force that it took a
whole length of railing with it.
Heavy seas accompanied the
cyclon^ rendering the Kettering
almost unmanageable. Then the
cargo began to shift Caterpillar
tractors consigned to Mombasa
broke loose in the hold. Most of
them were damaged and one
was crushed to pieces, after its
ehgine crashed through hatch
boards into the lower hold.
Of two automobiles in the
eOigo, one was telescopOd al
most , beyond ' recognition as it
Was squeezed between tractors
on <Mie side and oil drums on
the other. Many of the'fuel con
tainers burst, spilling oil all over
'the decks, bulkheads and the
overhead.
One of the Seafarers aboard
the Kettering reported:
1 "We were down there in the
hold like cowboys, snagging
those tractors and trying to
if,
After the slonm Kettering crewmen turned to softball.
troimcing the Moipbasa club 23 to 12. Left to right, rear:
J. Tilley, J. Yorin, L. Laronde, E. Hogge, 1st Asst. George and
F. Pasquale; kneeling: Bob Sizemore, R. Williams, T. Parrett;
front: S. Cooper, T. Guiliano, R. Suarez.
fasten them into position. The
cargo kept shifting all the time,
even though it was shored up
with sixbysixes until the hold
looked like a forest."
A deck cargo of sulphuric acid
also broke loose and the potent
chemical ate at the decks. Mom
basa's Port Fire Brigade im
mediately began removing the
acid as soon as the ship tied up
there.
One of the ship's officers said
the seas tossed the ship around
like a toy boat.
"It was terrific," he stated.
"First we were pitching, then
we were rolling, then our teeth
started to fall out."
Crewmembers aboard the Ket
tering were of the opinion that
two other ships were in the
area of the cyclone, but were
too far away to be identified. It
is belived that one was British
and the other Dutch.
iy • • That Wasn't My Mate—That WasMy First
If shipmates of Del Norte crewmember Thurston Lewis are concerned about his
I ^muttering and mumbling these past few days, they needn't be worried. He should
UNION FOR A UNION MAN
in
Joe Kotalik and Odette Pjlkerton bec^e man and wife
Holy Rosary Churcdi in Ashley. Pa.
to normal in due time.
Brother Lewis' unusual con
duct is merely a hangover from
a brotherly chore performed for
shipmate Joe (the Grinder) Zim
mer, who had been trying to
figure out who was which Mate
on what voyage, or something.
Joe bum^ the midnight oil
^d came up with a clarification
that he" wanted to send to the
LOG. He asked Lewis to type it
tip for him. As an explanation of
the Del Norte dilemma, Joe's
masterpieceputs • Abbott and
CosteUo's Baseball routine of
"Who's on first?" to complete
^ame.
Here's Joe's letter:"
"Dear Brothers:
"You will remember the job
I recently had on the Del Norte
running out 'of New Orleans. I
made three, seventeenday trips
on this ship.
"Everything went well, as usu
al on SIU ships. However, there
M iwas a slight misunderstanding
lig lconcermng the question as to
t who was which mat®. This was
brought about by frequent
changing of mates, to wit;
"The First Mate on the first
trip was the Second Mate on the
second trip. Those who called
him 'First' on the first had to
get used to calling him 'Second'
on the second. The Second who
was Second on the first trip w;as
First on the second. The Third
who was Third on the first and
Second on the second, was First
on the third.
"Now the First on the first
went Second on the second, and
Second on the third, and the
Second who was Second on the
first went Third on the third.
"So the First on the first was
really a First because he was
First on the third, and the Sec
ond on the first was a First be
cause he was a First on the sec
ond, and also Second on the
third.
"The Third on the third, who
was first the First on the first,
was a First because he was^ First
on the first, even though he was
Second on the second. However,
the Ilrst who was First on the
first was the real First, because
he was the first First—^e?
"Hoping this will simplify
matters for those of my ship
mates who were slightly con
fused.
"Joe (the Grinder) Zimmer"
Move over, wiU you. Brother
Lewis.
Seafarer Kotalik's Wedding
Brings Out 2,000 Spectators
More than 2,000 persons flocked to the town of
Ashley, near Wilkes Barre, Pa., on Feb, 4 to witness the
marriage of Seafarer Joseph Kotalik, recently a crew
member aboard the SS*
Puerto Rico, to Miss Odette
P i 1 k e r t o n of Nashville,
Tenn. . •
The Holy Rosary Church , was
filled to capacity, hours before
the wedding, with people ar
riving as early as 7:30 AM. Ah
estimated 300 persons, imable to
gain entrance to the church,
stood outside on the steps and
sidewalk. A detail of state po
lice was on hand to handle the
crowd.
HIGH MASS CEREMONY
Brother Kotalik, 32, is 4 feet, 6
inches tall, while his bride mea
sures just under foiur feet.
Twelve midget friends of the
couple attended the ceremony,
which was celebrated in a sol
emn nuptial high mass.
After the wedding, a break
fast was served for the bridal
party , at the home of Joe's sis
ter, Mrs. Michael Onderko, in
Ashley. A reception was held
later at Holy Rgsary Church
SIU IS SAILOR'S HOPE
The lilfle fellow is SIX? (pr^uaced Siyou), a yearling
purchased by Seafarer Aussie Shrimpion in England last year.
Aussie will race SIU in the States ewly in ISSl.^IU is shown
with his mom. Sailor's Hope, when he was 3 yttw Tbe
coming ehiitw.p is' now ia Cansda.
Hall for 300 guests. The bridal
party had dinner at Brother Ko
talik's home af 42 Charles St.,,
Ashley. •
' The wedding was televised
over an eastern network, and.
many Seafarers in New York
reported that they had witness
ed it.
The couple is honeymooning ,
in Miami and Key West. From
there they will go to New Or
leans, where Joe intends to en
ter business.
\ APPEARED ON STAGEr
Mrs. Kotalik has appeared • in
numerous vaudeville and musi
cal shows and during the war
traveled extensively in , this
country as an entertainer in var
ious camp shows. She was with
the traveling company' of the
Ziegfeld Follies several years
ago and had appeared on Broad
way in Gus Edwards' "Show
Window."
Previous to his job as hell.
boy on the Puerto Rico, Brother
Kotalik sailed but of the Gulf
on the Dei Norte in the ^me
capacity. Joe also had been in
show business for ^ time.
Both of the newlyweds are of
parents of average height. Joe's
three brothers and one sister are
also of average height. TJie
bride comes of a family of eight
girls and two boys, all normal
in height. Some of her brothers
are over six feet tall.
Joe joined the SIU in 1947
and hojds Book No. 51233. His
brother Thomas, who~ is 5 feet
11 inches tall, has also sailed on
SIU ships..
ATTENTION!
If you don't find linen
when you go aboard your
ship, notifv Ihe Hal! ai once, •
.A telegram from LeHavreor
Singapore won't do you any^
good, IFs your bed and you* ; '
have to Me fa it.
. ... ...
Fri^y, F*bruKry 24; 1850
Digested Minutes Of SlU Ship Meetings
WARRIOB. Nov. 27—R. Owen.
Chairman; K. Hatgimisips, Sec
retary. Ship's and Stewards Del
egates to notify headquarters re
garding Messman who missed
ship in New York after borrow
ing money from various mem
bers. Ship's Delegate to see if
oil in wash wa,ter can be elim
inated. Medicine chest to be
doublechecked for next voy
age to avoid shortage prevailing
during current trip. Suggested
that clock be obtained for rec
reation room. One minute of
silence in memory of departed
Union Brothers.
% X
STEEL FABRICATOR. Dec. 11
—Miller. Chairman; Bossert. Sec
retary. No beefs, delegates re
ported. Motion carried that Pa
teohnan see Old Man about
drdws in view of circular letter
from company limiting Skipper
to a draw of $100 per man. Dis
cussion on the need for adequate
supplies and a wider variety of
food. Vote of thanks to Alfred
Thomas for keeping good supply
of ice on hand during our stay
In hot climate. Stewards Depart
ment thanked for excellent
Thanksgiving dinner. Suggested
that men getting off ship turn
their keys over to department
heads.
^ t, %
ALCOA ROAMER. Dec. 11—
Wesley Palmer. Chairman; Eu
gene Smith. Secretary. Motion
carried instructing Ship's Dele
gate to get in touch with Union
Hall for disposal of penalty ov
. crtime for no shore leave in
Paramaribo. Engine Delegate re
ported a minor overtime dispute;
there were no other beefs. Sug
ge^ed that galley boy make ice
tea. Stewards Department giMsen
vote^ of thanks for its efficient
service. Ship's Delegate to head
committee which will investigate
ship's library.
^
DEL SOL. Dec. 18—Frank Mc
Quillan, Chairman; J. R. Brown.
Secretary. Ship's Delegate asked
that collection for fimei'al wi'eath
for Baker's deceased mother be
left to department delegates.
Disputed overtime reported in
each of the departments and will
be turned overrto Patrolman up
on arrival in New Orleans. Mo
tion carried to see Patrolman
about changing wooden lockers
to metal ones before ship leaves
port on next voyage. Suggested
that ship's library be exchanged
on arrival. Selico. BR, volun
teered to take care of the mat
ter.
DEL ALBA, Dec. 11—Joseph
Engles. Chairman; Leonard Gol
embiewskL Secretary. Dqpgles
Craddock elected Ship's Dele
gate. Others chosen were Ben}a
min Jarralt. Deck; Harry Thomp
son. Engine, and William Roc
hell, Stewards. Motion carried:
That no one outside of Stewards
Department be allowed to handle
food in South American. ports;
that crewmembers be banned
from entering messhall in shorts.
Suggested that character who
comes aboard in Santos, Buenos
Aires and Montevideo to wash
clothes and do odd jobs be pro
hibited from boarding ship.
4 t t
TRINITY. Dec 14—E. A. Luke
v/ski. Chairman: Pete Biascik.
Secretory., Engine department
men thanked Deck Gang for
building book ^ase for use by
alj hands. J. B. Bamett, Ship's
Delegate Tesigned to allow an
other man to have experience,
with O. W. Rhoades being elect
ed to succeed him. All beefs
squared away from last trip,
COE VICTORY. Dec. 6—Gil
bert Isnor. Chairman: Curt Bor
man. Secretary. Delegates made
their reports. Jack Johns elected
Ship's Delegate by acclamation.
Brother Scully asked member
ship if he could move into ship's
hospital; no one objected. Ship's
Delegate to get in touch with
Captain about getting ship's milk
supply, increased. Chief Steward
to issue two pieces of face soap
per man each week.Night lunch
not to be issued until around
8 PM.
i t:
KYSKA. Dec. 23—C.' Collins.
Chairman; F. Donovan. Secre
tary. Election of new delegates
Daniel Alvino was designated
Ship's Delegate and Abner Ad
ams was elected Engine Depart
ment Delegate. First Assistant
Engineer was called to meeting
and asked if anything could be
done about improving hot water
in showers. He replied that he
woiild install a new thermostat
and if that did not remedy the
trouble he would refer the mat
ter to the company in New York.
It was decided at the meeting
that the Deck Engineer would
be in charge of regulating the
temperature. Suggested that crew
cooperate with the'Messman by
exercising a little patience at
meal time and not rushing him.
A^MOPe^, TAK^A IOOK
AT THE SAfUM^ BOARD ̂ YOO
KA/OW A/MgA/ YOC^R. BHlP IS ^EDUUD
TO LBA\/B PORT. IP TIME iS AlCT
f^STEO^A^klThtEDBLB^ATBSlOPiMD
OCT lliE CORRECT T>EPA13rnJ^ TIME
FROM THE MATE, VOAiT LEAVE THE
SWI? UASTIL YOU MOW WHEAJ YOU ARf
IBAOci ABOARD 1
^
DEL VALLE. Dec. 11—Kend
ricks, Chairman; Ryan, Secre
thanks to Patrolman PurceU Who!No beefs pending, it was
did a fine job. Ship's Delegate
informed crew that Chief Mate
had requested all hands not to
smoke in restricted areas. Broth
er CMeara donated $3.15 to
ship's fund, bringing total to $8.
Chairman asked hands to
return books to proper places.
ft ft t
AZALEA CITY. Dec. 4—Roih
mas. Chairman; N. De Santis,"
Becrelary. Ship's Delegate re
ported that beef on hot water
had been presented to First As
sistant, who promised to take
immediate action. He added that
Captain agreed to have Deck
Engineer keep key for fan room
so he culd regulate temperature.
Under Good and Welfare, it was
suggested that bottle be filled
with fresh water and shown to
Patrolman and sanitation auth
orities So bolster crew's claim
that tanks need cleaning.
ft ft ft
KATHRYN. Dec. 3—W. Blan
ion. Chairman; Richard Cianfag
liaro. Secretary. Delegates re
ports were concurred in. Motion
carried to have Ship's Delegate
contact Captain or Patrolman
about making it standard prac
tice for schedule of destinations
and date of arrival to be posted
at gangway so that crew may
arrange for mail. Under Good
and Welfare, all sorts of ship
board matters were discussed,
including deficient windchutes,
brolten water fountain. Patrol
mafn to be asked whose depart
ment is to paint crew's passage
way.
ft ft ft
ALCOA CORSAIR, Dec. 18—
W. Higgs. Chairman: E. J. Rob
erts. Secretory. Delegates reports
accepted. Ship's Delegate an
nounced that Shipping 'Commis
loners promised to pay off ship
in Mobile on Deo. 26 so men can
have more time at home.'' Mo
tions carried: That Ship's Dele
gate see Punser about draw; that
Steward order new pillows and
mattresses. Discussion on pur
chasing movies; delegate to
check into this. Several Brothers
spoke on subject of writing let
ter to Congressman thanking him
for interest he has shown in
SIU. Ship's Delegate authorized
to WKltc • he letter in behalf of
crew.
{reported by the delegates. Bart
lett was elected Ship's Delegate.
He was instructed to write to
Headquarters to determine opin
ion of membership in regard to
matter of credit union and com
pulsory vacations. Under Good
and 'Welfare, credit unions were
discussed fully pro and con and
the crew was unanimously in
favor pf setting one up for the
SIU, membership. Vacations were
also discussed thoroughly, with
the majority of the crew opposed
to making vacations compulsory.
ft ft ft
BEATRICE, Dec. 31—P. Lob
bregt. Chairman; R. Penningion,
Secretary. All Delegates gave
their reports—^no beefs. Motion
carried to continue cold suppers
in island on holidays. Brother
Lobbregt read and discussed un
ion bulletin on Trotskyites. Crew
voted to go on record against
communist organizations and
anyone connected with them.
Under Good *and Welfare, it was
suggested that clock be moved
to more convenient position.
Steward was asked to. have bet
ter night lunches available,
ft ft ft
CUBORE. 'Jan. 1 — W. W.
Fields, Chairman; W. A. House.
Secretory. Deck Delegate re
ported a small overtime beef in
his department; other depart
ment had no beefs. Vote of
thanks, given Stewards Depart
ment for the excellent Christ
mas dinner. Jack Denby. who is
leaving ship, resigned as Ship's
Delegate. Deck Engineer was el
ected to take over the job. Let
ter written to Congiessman Hel
ler of NY, thanking him for
complimentary remarks about
SIU, was read to the crew. Beef
brought up about condition of
laundry room. Ways of keeping
clean were discussed. Members
were advised that imclean per
sons have no place on SIU ships,
and that no one .ehould leave
laundry dirty.
AH hands are feeling bitter about this ridiculous idea of
destroying the hiring haU because the TaftHartley Act, a "shot
gun" piece of strictly unionbusting legislation,' claims it's illegal
after so many years in beneficial operation. And even the Supreme
Court made a "ski jump" opinion on it, saying the hiring hall
should not be recognized. And many a seafaring Brother is
scratching his head after reading recently that President Truman
would not allow any more American ships to be transferred to
Panamanian or other flags. For many years thousands of jobs for
American seamen were destroyed berause the government allowed
ships to be transferred or sold to other nations. Now comes the
terrific news that all this, would be stopped . . . Brother Larry
Moore, who has been beached many months in New York, has
threatened to ship . . . Les Ames, just sailed into town aboard an
Isthmian scow and no doubt is stowing aboard for more voyaging
... To SIU Brothers in all ports and to their families back home
we recommend them to listen to an excellent news commentator,
Frank Edwards, sponsored by the AFL. He's on every night at
10 p.m. over radio station WOR here in New York. You'll hear
labor news, the AFL way.
ft ft ft
According to a letter." Brother Giles L. Quiim is aboard the
SS Monarch of the Seas and New Orleans was the last port
she hit . . . Jim Helms says that the roof repairing business
is in a slowdown right now . . . Louis Ramirez is in New
York with his mustache right now . . . Another guy with a •
mustache., Sid Rothman. grabbed, a ship recently . . . Fred
Kloiber and John Nelson are two of the Brothers doing a swell
job helping day after day . . . Another Brother ̂ ways helping
is Victor Litardi. who sure has been burning up the typewriter
for many weeks . . . Bill Daniels from Illinois is in New York
right now . . . Keith Forster. the alwayssmiling pipesmoktog
Brother, sailed in this week with a big hullo as usual . . . We
have been informed that a Brother nicknamed "Citizen Joe"
has been threatening to ship—on a foreign run . . . We don't
' remember mentioning before thai several Brothers have been
happy guys since, they received their' citizenship papers—
which makes quite a difference in grabbing a scowOVe remem
ber Carl Lawson. the Bosun, and Clement Hospedales ...
So far it hasn't happened where an SIU ship has hit the "hot"
Chinese waters, where the bonus is big and the' danger is
bigger. The first SIU ship to hit the "chop suey" run will no
doubt be in the news and in the LOG. too.
ft ft ft
The SEAFARERS LOG will be sailing free of cost to the
homes of the foUoAving Brothers: Chester Wilson of West Virginia,
Allen Friend of New York, H. Galphin of Florida, Harold McMahon
of Georgia, Martin Biggins of Massachusetts, A. F. Burns^of
Maryland, David Dial of Texas, Martin'Mackel of Ohio, Bill Gross
of Louisiana, William Blakely of Massachusetts . . . Brother Tim
Barrett, who sailed in from a trip recently, is proud of the fact
that his father has been an AFL member for over 50 years . .
FLASH NEWS—Bosun Alex Andreshak was happily married to a
gal from Galveston, Texas, and they received a wedding dinner
in their honor at the famous "Mecca" in Baltimore . . . Brother
A. Mosher told us about the time they bought a little Scotch as
they lay anchored out in the .port of Hamburg. Buying Scotch
seems to be okay in this port as it is classified as a "free port"
for a ship anchored out. It must have been a nice Christmas,
Brother Mosher, with that "wee" bit o' Scotch for celebration
cf Christmas overseas.
• m
Page Eight THE SEAFARERS LOG Fridaxr February 24/ 1950
TBE MEMBERSHIP SPEAKS
The Steel Rover Boys In Siam,
Or Hoiv To Learn The Hard Way
the Editor:
i
Ci',,. We would like to tuU you
what happened to a few of us
r,i Steel Rover boys in Thailand,
fi, once called V Slam, so anyone
J,making the Far Eastern run may
f r profit by our experience.
1 We dropped the hook in the
1? Gulf of Siam oh Dwember 2.
Nearest town was Kohsichang,
on an island half hour's run
from the ship. Nearest town on
the mainland was Sriracha, one
hour's run by launch from the
To get to Bangkok you have
I S: to go to Sriracha by launch and
3' /• then take a four hour drive
by auto or bus. In Bangkok you
get ail the sights, the sitting,
standing and lying Buddhas,
temples, theaterg, night clubs.
For a quiet time with girls,
drinks, fishing and swimming
! ' ^ nearest place is Kohsichatig.
1^ '' . There was fierce competition
I '^' among four launches owned by
'"y'l bars, three launches from Koh
"' sichang and one launch from
Sriracha, to get customers. The
^tertainers from the bars were
|; '^Ipn the launches.
^ t! "DUMB LIKE FOK
Tbe three launcl^ fr(»ii Koh
I rfiichai^ wore free of i^sffge but
, " nnly went up to 50 ym?ds from
I "Uhore wiiere you had to hire a
I campan to take you the rest
I ' the w^. The. laimdi fr<»a end
I f Jto Sriracha. was owned by the
';4>w»» of the Malee Bm*. It was
I' " free of charge ̂ i^ up to the
i beach of the Malee Bar. Ihe
. :;3 ?. uwner jwas a gee dumb like a
r . He told us he had a car wait
il;' C' ing fbr lis to take us to Bangkok
^ and back for 25 smackCTOos. If
% we waxded to wait untd mom
® ing, he could send us up in one
^ of "his" busses for $1.50. We
took him at his word. When we
got to the bar, there was, of
course, no auto waiting there
for u^ We were mad. The trick
was of course to get us to his
bar and women and then bleed
us white and, if we still had
enough money left in the morn
: • ing to • go to Bangkok, we coidd
We suppose some fellows
would have made the best of
a bad bargain and remained, but
y this p^icuku* group was all for
" the sitting, standing" and lying
Buddhas and temples of Bang
fc ^ kok, so we went around town
looking for transportation.
No luck. Finally the Malee
p bar made a deal with the agent's
|l : r driver to take us up to Bang
kok for 20 dollars. We were
I' \ plpnty sorei as this was more
than the suni originally men
, tioned, and some of us swore
we would give this gee of the
/;• Malee Bar a bit of bad publi
(• Well, Bangkok was worth it.
^|,„;::,;The inost impressive sight was
tv the sleeping Buddha. He was 75
yards long, covered with gold
. / ieaf and his feet were irilaid
ig.^5 ^ with mother of pearl. His re
'Si; f cJinfng position and calm fea
tures expressed the spirit of the
religion he founded. We saw
the sitting Buddha, too, but the
temple of the standing Buddha
was closed.
The religion of the people
here really is a philosophy of
living with quite a lot of ideal
ism, good will and good fellow
ship actually taught and prac
ticed. Their Sutta, or Bible, con
tains quite a number of truths
and paths of virtue by which
the individual can regulate his
life.
We saw a bundh of cobras and
other poisonous snakes at the
Savapha Institute. Anyone who
goes there on Thursday can see
the keeper get down in the pit
and milk the snakes of their
venom which is used for an anti
snakebite senun.
The capital is modeled on the
capital in Washington and has
a milelong approach lined with
trees. The gpvemment buildings
are first class for such a small
country and all of recent con
struction. At night we went to
the Silpakom Theater for 50
cents and saw a two hour show
with bekutiful native dancing.
The story of the drama v/e saw
was taken from the old histwy
uf the Siamese people with Ipye,
.conflicf^ battles court in
tri^e. •
Thcaa we went down to the
market i:egion and saw a strange.
performance in an tfid tbeater.
The gee who owns the place
buys girls of a tender age;
from their parents for 100 to,
300 dollars depending on looks.
He gets th^ young and keeps
them in slavery. They dance
a strip tease which is definitely
not pxoperifor girls of that age.
This slave trader seems to be
in "favor with the governing
clique and is locallyknown as
a racketeer. We were told that
any girls Who escaped from him
were "rubbed out" by his hench
men. How true tii's is, we do
not know, but it sounded pretty
awful. The girls exposed them
selves with such a serious face
that it seemed as though they
were doing something they had
to do rather than wanted to, '
LUNCH AT TROC
The best place to eat is the
Trocadero, the best hotel ̂ in
town. An excellent lunch is 75
cents. Breakfast with lo?tds of
fruit is 35 cents. The bar is
comfortable and reasonable.
Rooms were $3.50 so we stayed'
in the Bungalow Hotel, which
was only 1 dollar but very clean
and screens on the windows.
Showers were handscooped, air
warmed water from a huge jug
at least four feet high and big
around.
In Bangkok we were taken
around all day by Thong Yoo
at the Trocadero Hotel, car
number 103i7, for 7.50 dollars.
This is a good deal for Bang
kok. The same man took us the
long trip bapk to Sriracha for
$17.50.
The agent at the Borneo com
pany was very polite and gave
us good iiifpmiation about seeing'
the town.
When we got back to . the old
Malee Bar we found that the
launch service was not being
kept as advertised on the card
of the bar. We waited around
a while and then began to get
information about other means
of transportation out to the ship.
There was a big launch on a
pier right across from the Malea'
bar which wanted 25 dollars to
take us out. Another smaller
raotor boat nearby wanted 17.20.
We took a native fishing boat
for 6 dollars.
WAR STORY
It was p beautiful trip. The
two native fishermen told us the
whole story of the war by losing
gestures and grunts and noises
like an airplane,. We thought at
first that they were dumblook
ing gees, but when they succeed
ed in telling us ip their sign
and grunt language that Com
munism was the same as Japan
ese fascism, we thought that
they were pretty smart fisher
folk.
On the way baCk to the ship,
which took us two hours, we
were passed by the launch of
the Malee Bar. The owner want
ed to pick US up and Routed
to us that the ̂ ip was not sail
ing until next day, Mon^y. We
were so ^re at fom and were
rajojdng the trip so much that
we ignored him.
We were very lyeEimpressed"
by the people 6f Siam. They are
clever, healthier and, aside
from the rickshaw drivers, le^s
mercenary than other Asiatics.
P.S.: We cannot stress the
phqniness of the Malee bar
too strong and urgently sug
gest that all seamen put the
owner in their 99 year dub.
Ernest L. Zaugg
Fxed Schoenborn
Tom Hawkins
Bob RainTille
Albert Susanann
THEY SAY SHE'S A JEWEL
Everything is ri^l up to snuff on the tanker SS Julbsberg/
according to ciewmembers/ who ought to know. Thfy say.
Capf. J. A. Engelbracht is a "real good Joe," the food put out
by the able Cooks is swell—in short, nio beefs at all. No wonder,
these guys look pleased. They are Red Lachappe, Vlilkins,'
Frank Travis, Pete Street, Vincent Myers, Gene Bacon, George
Thumer and Joe Penner. Pumpman Ray Arnold took the|pholo^
Urges Ballot On Vacatioiis
To the Editor: ,
* I by the last few issues
.of th^ liX3G that the proposed.,
vacation clau^ has caused quite
n few members to voice their
opinions. .
r want to go on record as.
.stating .that a year on a diip'
Is, Jttsag en^gh. A man should
tjhep !take yac^ion. It's get
ting so that it is almost impos,
sible to ship on certain vessels,.,
namelj'' the Robin Line.
Also, it seems that the turn
over in the key rating jobs such
as Bosun, Carpenter, Deck En
gineer and Chief Steward is very
slow. Members take these jobs
and then marry the ships.
YEAR IS ENOUGH
I realize that a guy likes to
stay on a good ship but a year
is enough. What would happen
if just half of the membership
COMING INTO BALTIMORE
decided at the present moment
to homestead?
li^en a Mate or First Assist
ant starts calling' you jby your
first n^e and you know what'
size shoes he wears (just an
ample). Brother, it's time to
make a change. Sov iet's put the
xjuestion to a 90day ref^renduim
vote up and down thje co^
and find out what the rp^ber
ship thinks about the compiil .
sory vacation issue. '
Paul Arthofejr
Breitw^ Recalls:
CS AtttiUmofiism
I
Rough From Start
A bright day and the cameranum'g request brought these
folur members ot the SS Ireneslar's Black Gang together for
some chatter and a photo^ Left to right: ChazR« Hurk, FWTj
Joseph Kidd, Utility; Bjome Jensen, Oiler, and Mike Carlin,
"Vi^per.
To the Editor:
The present situation, ip whi<jh
the Cities Service Oil C!impapy
is trying to evade its obligation,
to sign an agreement wjith t^e
Union, brings to my m^nd tj)e
experience I had with the corp
pany in the early days of tjie
organizing drive. ' . .
I was sailing aboard Cities
Service . ships back before the
first NLRB election. I rerpember
when we were on the jvay ' to
Aruba to pick up a load of crude
oil for England. On the way ,
down I started to talk upion to
the crew and, Brotlier,; every
tiine the word was mentioned
they turned green—they were
so" afraid of being caught even
thinking about it."
The Chief Mate found' out I
was prounion and from then qn
out and I mean out—I j^ot the
dirty end of the" stick, i^t wps
what I expected so I managed
to stand up under it okay.
"Whep we .got to Linderl, N.J.,
I >vas fired, of course, onjy
because I thought Cities Service
seamen deserved the yifht lo
a contract which they so .badly
needed. . ;! ^
Bob Breityirui^
Fridar. Februaxy U. 1950 T H E S B A F A R ER S LOG Page Nine
Hellmuth Holds
Vacation Rule
Would Aid Morale
To the Editor:
I soinetimes wonder if those
Brothers, who are against com
pulsory vacations have ever
• topped to consider the other
Bide of the story and the more
serious aspects of the situation.
What about the men v/ho get
off at payoff, mairied or single,
because their homes are far from
the port they payoff in and they
wish to go home for a visit more
than once every five years^
When these men get ready
to ship again, they don't feel
much like waiting a couple of
months for a job (possibly broke)
just because their Brother Union
members are too selfish to give
them a break. And when they
do have to wait around broke,
they become discouraged. It
we^ens their morale—and often
breaks it.
Our organization is like any
other in one respect: It's power
lies in its unity, and weakness
In any individuals within its
ranks necessarily means a weak
ness in the whole body.
Since our Union was organ
ized in 1938, it has been ever
growing and changing, accord
ing to the needs of its member
ahip. '^e have taken in many
new members, organized large
shipping companies, levied as
sessments, and we've fought for,
earned, and gotten, higher wages
and better living conditions.
Our organization has never
been static. We've created the
finest and most powerful Unioni
the world has ever known. And
we're proud of our Union. Let's
not break it down, but let's make
changes where changes are nec
essary. Let's change with the
changing world! If there isn't
DOWN ON TBE DELTA LINE
From lli^ MV Del Campo. Mississippi vessel on the South
American run, come these photoby Seafarer William Cameron.
Above, front row, left to right: J. Kellogg, M. Machel. E.
Weems; rear. Bosun J. Voxel and T. Dennis.
Vacation Plan Won't Solve
Shipping Problem, He Says
To the Editor:
I wish to compliment Brothers
Joseph Buckley, Joseph Blake
and Frank. Bose for their rational
and praiseworthy arguments
against compulsory vacations. I
agree with them that if there
exists job insecurity among book
members it will not be decreased
by compulsory vacations.
I say that if such a nile were
to go in effect it would not
lessen insecurity ampng mari
time men. Owing to the dimin
ishing of seaborne trade, a
large number of seamen are
thrown out of work regularly.
Economic insecurity and fear of
losing his job has haunted the
wageearning seaman since the
time he first boarded a ship.
Fortunately, his union has done
a lot; a tremendous lo*^, to mini
mize this fear.
enough work fdr all, then let's
divide what workthere is.
I can't see where.it will hurt
any one of us to take avacation
after a year on the same ship.
Don't be selfish. Think of how
proudly we can stand up and
tell everyone that shipping's
good out of our halls, and that
we don't have to worry about
a job.
Albert E. Hellmuth
CREWMAN HAS HEAP
OF PRAISE FOR
THE SS WAR HAWK
To the Editor:
I would like to drop a few
lines to the LOG about the good
ship SS War Hawk, Waterman.
We crewed up in Mobile The
ship was one of many that lay
in port for about five weeks, be
fore the army chartered her to
haul grain to Germany.
We arrived in Nordenham, and
boy it sure is a nice little town.
I think a lot of SIU men have
been there many times. It used
to take quite a while to dis
charge there but we sure got a
surprise when we were ready
to leave in two days flat.
On our way from Germany to
the states, we really cleaned the
ship up and when she arrives
in Philly I am sme they will
!give us a compliment for bring
ing in a ship like this. There
has not been a single beef the
whole, trip. The officers are a
swell bunch, headed by Captain
Elmer Thompson. He has done
everjrthing he could to make this
a pleasant voyage.
Anyone who is looking for a
good ship should take the SS
War Hawk.
Edmtmd Erikson
Tasty chow abowd the Campo Is prepared by these mem
bers of the Stewards Department. Left to right: J. Johnson,
Assistant Cook; E. Odem, Chief Cook; T. Fields, Night Cook
& Baker and W. Cameron, Second Cook.
Brother Cameron, who's getting to be quite a cameraman.
Uses his iV* x 3'/4 speed graphic for these shots.
Limiting Stay Aboard Ship
Seen Harmful To The Union
THE BEEF BOX
EQUAL DIVISION OF OVERTIME
PUZZLES ARIZPA CREWMEN
To the EditOR
Would you please clarify this point concerning the division
of overtime. The problem is this:
As you know, the day men do not work on Sundays or holi
days at sea, yet the three watches must perform their regular
duties, for which, of course, they are paid overtime.
Should this Stinday and holiday overtime be counted when
overtime is computed for the purpose of equal division between
the watchstanders and the day men? This question has caused
quite a bit of dissension.
M. J. Martin
SS Arizpa
ANSWERrActually each man receives overtime pay fOr
the overtime work he has performed individually. There is no
pooling of overtime. The purpose of the eq[ual division of
overtime clause is to allow those men who stand low in over
time work, a chance to bring their overtime wages as near
as possible to the level of the higher men..
This is done by giving overtime jobs to the low men
until the amount Of overtime work has been distributed fairly
equally. It would bo impossible to divide all overtime exactly
eqiial. You can only attempt to divide the work as equally as
possible. The contract says "All overtime shall be divided as
equally as possible among She members of the deck crew"
Here, overtime refeks to overtime work and not the pay, as
some have thought.
To the Editor:
I am not much at writing, but
I have been listening to and
reading a lot abouc this idea of
compulsory vacations.
I have yet to hear an argu
ment that would seem to give
a good solid reason why a man
should have to get off a ship.
The way I see it, if a man
knows he caii stay only so long
on a ship, then there will be
more men taking advantage of
the full time allowed. In that
case, I can't see where it would
create more of a turnover.
I certainly agree with Frank
Bose in his letter of Dec. 30 that
if a man is going, to be a com
pany stiff, staying aboard one
ship will not be the cause of it.
And if he is a good Union man,
nothing will change him.
I personally believe that if the
vacation clause is put through
it will do more toward hurting
our organizing of nonunion ships
than anything else.
It would give John Shipowner
a chance to stress the fact that
we are not sincere about promis
ing job security and that per
sonnel could stay aboard his
ships as long as they cared to.
This is of course just my own
personal viewpoint,
William E. Candler
Baltimore, Md.
(Ed. Note: That's just what
the LOG wants—^the > Brothers'
personal viewpoints on tlus
question. Let's have more of
them.)
Whenever jobs become scarbe
—as they are now—wellinten
tioned people from everywhere
put forth ideas which they feel
will serve as antidotes to imem
ployment, or, as in our case,
tough shipping.
Compulsory vacations is one
of these. Its backers/ however,
fail to understand economic prin
ciples, or at least to recogime
them. The notion that compul
sory vacations will create more
jobs is mathematically absurd.
Whatever merit there may be'
in an increased turnover at the
initiation of such a rule would
be insignificant when compared
AMy WEK3H I
iLoOkS •
AT IT-r.
Shining Eyes
to the ultimate result: more
members woiild stay on their
respective ships longer than us
uaL and the majority of those
who ordinarily do not make
more than one or two trips,
would stick to their jobs like
glue, sweating out their vaca
tion pay.
The fourwatch system, so well
argued for by Brother Joseph
Buckley, is the only real per
manent solution against job"
scarcity. Though it will be sir*
gued against as being too cvun
Wsome, costly, and difficult te
win, it would provide the cusht
ion this industry needs in the
days ahead.
Thousands ofpermitm en
would, under the foiurwatch sys
tem, be spared the terror of un
employment and the demoraliz
ing effects of prolonged failure
to find woik. The fourwatch
system would provide the high
turnover sought on the ships to,
day.
Although the fourwatch sys
tem is just a dream today, at
least we can dream and plan
and hope for the best in the
future.
Bertil Svensson
This cute little lady already
shows signs of being endowed
with plenty of charm. Only
six months bid when this
photo 'was taken, she has just
passed the Idmonth mark.
Her name is Luz Maria and
her proud pop is 'Babe" Miller
—and nO wonder he's proud.
Share The Johs,
Urges Supporter
Of OneYear Rule
To the Editmr:
In answer to your recent edi
torials I am sending you my
opinion on vacations.
It seems to me (Book 34733)
that a Brother who has spent a
year on one ship should give
another man a chance to earn
a living. You may say that the
man has a family to support, so
why take his job away.
I will combat this by having
you look at the records of any
and all bookmen in this Union.
You will find that nearly all o#
us have a family and kids. Evai
if we didn't have any family,
or kids, it should always be
agreed that we should always be
Brother members a chance to
earn himself a living.
I would like to put to the
LOG the suggestion that any
man with a year on a ship get
off for vacation.
John B. Causey
JPagp Ten
'C?,rv,.':v • '..
THE SEAFARERS L0G fxju^, >efanuzy 2/L. ̂ 0
S ./
Crawl Or Be Pui|;eil
Is Russian Dictate
B7 GEORGE S. COUNTS
This is the last of a series of articles on the "Soviet System
Oif .Mind ControL" by one of America's outstanding educators.
'i.
The "letter to Stalin" has be
come a basic Soviet institution.
Whenever any group is under
attack by the Party, or even in
fear of attack, it invariably ad
dresses a communication to Sta
lin couched in unrestrained
words of adoration, giving him
assurances of complete loyalty
and devotion, thanking him for
his fatherly care and promising
to correct aU errors.
The "ideological resolutioi^"
evoked a flood of such letters.
The professors of all the high
er educational institutions of
Moscow begin their letter, un
animoiusly ' approved, with this
salutation:
"We . . . send You, our dear
leader and teacher, our flaming
jjreetin^"
They conclude as follows:
"We are inflnitely grateful to
^^e .Soviet Government, to the
great Bolshevik Party, and to
You personally. Comrade Stalin,
for exceptional concern for the
higher school and science.
"Long live the great Soviet
people!
"Long live the Party of Lenin
and Stalin, the organizer and
inspirer of our victories!
"Long live om* wise leader and
teacher, the greatest scholar of
our epochJoseph Vissarionovich
Stalin!"
STALIN'S INTEREST
A ecmference erf eminent musi
cians addresses a letter to "the
great leader of the Soviet people,
Gomrade Stalin," which includes
these words:
IWe experience a feeling of
tremendous gratitude to the Cen
tral Committee of the Party" and
to You personally, dear Comrade
Stalin, for the stern but pro
founcdy just appraisal of the
present condition of Soviet musi
cal art, and for the attention
which You and the Central Com
mittee of our Party have mani
fested toward the cause of the
development of Soviet music and
toward us, Soviet musicians.
^^TiOng 'live the LeninistStalin
ist people, the people industrious,
fhe people victorious, conquer
ing a truly socialist r.rt, the
most advanced in the wo.ild!
*Tjong live the LeninistStalin
ist Central Committee of the AU
^nion Cpmmunist Pafty!
"Long live our leader and
li^jfwiier, father of die people, the
great STALIN!"
The Academy of Agricultural
. Sdence, after being instruct^
by the Central Committee re
garding the correct position in
genetics, sends the following
note of gratitude:
'^very day and hour the
4/ .
if.
ipg Sfibscribert
Re^rs notifying the SEA
FARERS LOG of a change in
mailing address are re
quested to include their old
.addzess along with the new.
In addition to «riaii3Ttg easier
the »witeh.over it wRl
guarantee uninterrupted
mailing service.
All noHficatioos of change
of address should be ad
dressed to the Editor. SEA
FARERS LOG, 51 Besver
Iteoet. Hew Yosk L N. Y.
scientists and practical workers
in the nural economy feel the
manifold concern of the Coni
munist Party and the Soviet state
for agricultural science and Your,
constant personal sharing in its
further development and flower
ing.
"To You, the great creator
of Communism, patriotic science
is indebted. By Your brilliant
works You enrich and exalt it
before the entire world. You
guard it from the perils of es
trangement from the needs of
the people. You assist il; in
achieving victory over reaction
ary teachings hostile to the
people. You watch over the
continuous growth of scientists.
"Long live forwacdlookiig
churinist science!
"Glory to the great Btdbh.
leader of the people and cory?
phaeu.s* of forwardlooking
science!"
Soviet biologists in fhe august
Academy of Sciisnce, after tha?^
ing Stalin "for the complete
tory of the revolutionary, dia'
lecticalmaterialistic M i c h u r i n
teachings oyer the reactipniaiy
idealistic tendency in bwlq^'
and after promising '^tp conduct
an active struggle against .ser
vility toward bourgeois scifipce
unworthy of a Soviet sci^tl^/'.
conclude their letter with
words:
"Long live advauc^
ist science!
"May pur leader, teacher, aijd
friend of scientists live ..ap,d grps
per many years as the cojy;
phaeus of advanced sdenceJ" .
MONARCHY SURPASSED
The student of Russian ,his
tory will see in this entire sys
tem of mind control the perpetu
ation and perfection .pf au ai).
cient cultural pattern.
Upder the cloak of .Marxist;
verbiage stands the hoary figure^
of Russian absolutism.
The following words from the
great Dostoievsky, ardent Sla
vophil and defender of the mon
archy, express with astonishing
flddity the spirit of So*;ot rule
today:
"And the fact that in Russia
all fundamentals gre difTerent
from anythji^ in Surppp may
be demoiistrated by the fplipw
ing example.
"Civil liberty may .be p^b,
lished in Russia on ap ini^gral
scale; more complete than any
where in the world, whether ;ia
Europe or even in North Ameri
ca, and precisely on the .same
adamant fpun^iion.
"It will be based not ippb a
written sheet of paper, but uppn
the children's .afltection ,crf tjhe
p^ple for the Gmf as theu: fa^
ther, aince children may fee »j)er
mitted many a thing which is
inconeeiyable in the caae gf .con
tractual nations; they mag be
entrusted with much that has
nowhere been .encountered; since
children will not betray their
father, and being children, they
will lovingly accegt from him
any cprreelipn of their errors.'"
If the word "Stalin" be iutb
stHuted for the word "Czar,"
this statement would apply as
truly tp 'the Russia of 194^ 'as
it did to the Russia of 1851, the
year in ,which it was yriltti^
tii&wiiig the current scale for aH ratings ou §jKJ|
t^tractc? iws au4 pay rat$is lugyiously in effect, ate printed below in response t<
the requests received neceiitly iUnion members.
DECK DEPARTM^T
Bosun
Carpenter
W#0a E#©cliy» Wage Effectiva
December 15, 1948
Wage Effective;
June 15. 1949
Ordbwy Scaroan ^
ENGINE DEPARTMENT
Chief iElectrician.... ^ .v' ;$3b0.93
2nd Electxician. ,.... ....;. 3;21.22
Unbcensed Jr. Engineer Pay........... ;... 284.62.
.Unlicensed Jr. Eugineer ̂ SFatcb . .. .......255.04
PlumberMachinist 292.90
Deck Engineer 255.04
Engine Utibty.....; 2J5.04
Evaporator 237.29
Oiler 222.51
OiJer^Piesel 243.51
Watertender 222.51
Fireman^atertender 222.51
Fireman T;........" 210.68
v........ 219.55
$288.94 $296.44
258.5,4 266.94
237.84 245.34
• mH 226.01 233.51
; 222.51 226.01 233.51
. 1^9.97 193.47 200.97
iWkm 9^y 9m carried) 331.35
Rjefrigeratifl^ .Engineer
three ate carried)
$364.43
324.72
288.12
258.54
296.40
2^5.54
258.54
240.79
226.01
247.01
226.01
226.01
214.18
223.05
334,85
$371.93
332.22
29J.62
266.94
303.9,0
2664)4
266.04
248.29 '
233,51
254.51
233.51
233.51
221.68
230.55
: 342.3,5;
STEWARDS D^ARTMENT
'Leader of an operatic clioidis
A^istant C
i .
, •
331.35 334.85 342.35
293.49 296.99 304.49
271.01 274.51 282.0:1
..... .
$278.25 $281.75
. .
$289.25
255.04 "258.54 • 266.04
255.04 258.54 ' 266.04
231.38 234.88 242,38
219.55 223.05 230.55
189.97 193.47 200.97
189.97 193.47 200.97 fJtditymaQ • • • ^ ^ • • '
Note: The SIU is in the process of workittg out details <rf a wdfare plan, already signed by
a considerable number of contracted operators. Under the agreement, the operators contribute^ to
a welfare fund 25 cents a day for eatdi man employed. Paymepts into the fund are retroactive to
Ja^ucuy 1, 1950.
The following mep have mpngy
due them, as of last November,
(let in tpucb with Smith &
Johnson, 60 Reaver "St., New
York 4, New Yprk.
I SS JAI>^S M. GIUJS
James Beaners, Antonio De
Costa, Paul N. Froom, Stylianos
Mondanos, Cecil Thomas, D.
Woods, George T. Brannan, Jqse
M. Dominquez, John W, Hags,
Henry J. Rote, Rpbect H. Wat
kins, Thomas J. Dgwes, AJbprt
E. Editors, Chiles Av Lpuje,
Stanley Rugyski, Ravid L. Wil
liams.
SS JOHN DiJiCaCINSON
William F. Bakley, Louis p.
Gkioch, Manuel Di Barros, Pieijro
Paulin, Emilio Di Pietro, Charles
F. Scherhans.
SS THOMAS J. LYONS
Alexander Apoline, George. W=
Lpwry, Pouglas W. Clifton,
BUeran G. SieiTa» Herbert .R,
HVitcWns, William P. Vaughn.
Du'ei^ry Of BIU Halls
SIU, A&G District
BALTIMORE 14 North Oay St.
William Rentz, Agent .^ulbwij 4040'
BOSTON .276 State St.
Ben Lawson, Agent Richmond 20140
Dispatcher Richmond 20141
CALVE^TPN. 308>/»—aOrd SL
kelth Aisop, Agent Phone 28446
LAKE CHARLES, La.... 1410 Ryan St.
Jj. S. Johnston, Agent
jyig^^E.^,,... .t S^yth jt^yrrepce St,
Cai Tanner, A0.^t Phone H17M
NEW ORLEANS. S23 Bienville SL
E. Sheppard, Agent Magnolia 61126113
NEW'YORK... 81 Beaver St.
^oy Angina, Ageyt HAnover 2^784
NORFOLK...; 127129 Bank St.
Ben Agept Phone jl1083
PHILADELPHIA ,.337 Market St.
S. CarduUo, Agent Market 71635
SAN FRANCISCO ,. ..85 Third St.
J^f. Morrison, Agent Douglas 25475
.SAN JUAN. PR.... Ponce de Loon
Sal Colls, Airenf
SAVANNAH 2 Ahercom St,
E. Bryant, Agent Phone 3.1728
SEATTLE........ 2700 let Ave.
Wm. McKay, Agent Reneoa 4870
JM/IFA 18001811 N. FrankUii St.
Ray Wjiite, Agent .Phone a1323
WUMlNGTONTCaUf., 227 H Avalon Blvd.
E E TUley, Agent Terminal 4^2874
UEAIKEPARTRRS . .81 Beaver St., N.YA;.
SECRETARVTREASyPEP.
Panl Hall
DIRECTOR OF ORGANIZATION
ILJndsey WUUama
ASST. SECRETARYTREASURERS
Robert Matthews Lloyd Gardner
Joseph Volpian
SUP
HONOLULU.. 16 Merchant SE
Phone 88777
FORTLAl!iP Ill W. Burnsido SE
. Beacon 4330
JUCHMQNp, CaUL .;?57 Sflt S*
^ Phone .2890
SAN FRANCISCO.... 59 Clay" SE,
' Douglas 28363
SEATTLE 86 Seneca. SE
Main p20O
WILMINGTON. 440 Avalop Blvd.
Terminal 43131
Canadian District
MONTREAL......
FORT WUXJAM. .
Ontario
HAUFAX
PORT COLBORNE
TORONTO,
VICTORIA. B.C. .
VANGOyVER
HEADQUARTERS.
Mimtreal
. .404 Le Moyne SE
UNiversity 2427
llSVi Syndicate Ava.
Phone 33221
128>/i HoriU St.
Phone 38011
.... .103 Durham SE
Phone 8501
....lllA Jarvls St.
Elgin 5710
.. .602 Bonghton SE
Empire 4831
.. ..868. Unzsiltos SE
.ftciflp 7824
......812 McpUI SE
Plateau 670
Friday, February 24, 1350 THE SEAFARERS LOG Page ElereA
SAVANNAH —Chairman, Jeff
dlHetfe, 37060; Recording Secre
liry, L. E. Hodges, 255; Reading
(fierk, E. M. Bryant, 25806. .
^ SecretaryTreasurer's financial
report and Headquarters report
td the membership read and ap
pfcoved. Agent reported that
^ee intransit ships had called
ahce the last meeting, each of
tiiein taking replacements from
flfa Hall. He added that he had
yteited the local Marine Hospi
tal to discuss the setting up of
ff blood bank for local members
aftd their families, as was sug
^ted under Good and Welfare
ait last meeting. Hospital authori
ties said they had no facilities
fet such a plan and referred the
i^nt to the local Red Cross
chapter. Minutes of other Branch
nSsfeetings approved as read. Mo
tion carried to excuse Brother
llObert Woodward, whose' car
broken down en route to
ifail. Motion carried to com
itfend Brother Smith for accept
ing job under the circumstances
aryi give him his original ship
ping card. Despite personal diffi
culties he remained aboard ship
rather than leave it sail short
handed. Membership suggested
that Agent get data on pro
laj)or candidates for coming el
ection and post same. It was
pointed out that registering and
vqting is a must because of the
need to oppose antilabor legis
lation. Cities Service situation
was discussed. There were 85
members present when meeting
adjourned.
t.
MOBILE —Chairfhan, J. Par
ker, 160; Recording Secretary
J. Caifroll, 50409; Reading Clerk,
H. J. Fischer, 59.
Previous meetings' minutes
read and apiwoved. Port Agent
re^rted on the prospects for
shipping in the next couple of
wdeks, saying there would be
abdut three offshoijg ships and
niiie coastwise and intransit
vei^sels arriving during the two
wdek period. He also elaborated
on the Secfetary'Treasurer's re
port on Cities Service, and urg
ed everyone to be ready* in the
I event they were needed. He con
cliMed his feport by stating that
W^erman would start bringing
their ships down to Mobile for
annual inspections around the
last of Marchy thus causing a
bigger turnover in this port. Sec
retaryTreasurer's financial re
port and Headquarters report to
the membership read and ap
proved. Meeting adjourned at
7:55 PM, with 450 members
present.
t S. t
ilEW ORLEANS — Chairman,
Frenchy Michelet, 21184; Record
ing'Secretary, Johnny Johnston,
53; Reading Clerk, Buck Steph
ens, 76.
. Minutes of the Branch meet
ings read and approved. Secre
taryTreasurer's financial report
and Headquarteris report to the
membership accepted as read.
Port Agent disOuss^ the affairs
of the Branch, which are in good
shape. He said that ten ships
had paid off since lasj: meeting,
but there were few calls for re
placements. There were seven
signons ahd about 20 ihtransit
ships in port. Ten payoffs are
scheduled for the coming two
w^ks. Grain ships, he said, are
again beginning to come into
this port. He announced that the
coffee um is working in the
Hall, and that the Del Norte
A Shipping Fnm Feb. 2 To Feb. IS
REG. REG. REG. TOTAL ffltlPPED SHIPPED SHIPPED TOTAL
PORT DECK . ENG. , STWDS. REG. DECK EWa STWDS. SHIPPED
BostoiL ....... (No Figures Received) (No Figures Received)
New York. ^ 87 60 96 243 31 29 38 98
Philadelphia. (No Figures Received) ' (No Figures Received)
Baltimore. 94 78 64 2^6 91, 69 61 221
Norfolk. 27 48 36 111 3 2 — 5
Savannah ,3 5 11 19 4 3 3 10
Tampa 7 9 9 25 20 19 13 52
Mobile.:.... 25 18 16 59 14 12 11 37
New Orleans....,..,...^......... 57 41 75 s 173 66 42 76 184
Galveston.........v........... .49 33 _ 14 '98 27 23 19 69
West Coast. 29 18 19 66 . 39 49 38 126
GRAND TOTAL 378 ^ 310 340 1,028 295 248 259 802
crew had donated a picture made
of butterfly wings to the Branch.
Director of Organization Lihdsey
Williams discussed the Union's
organizing drive to date, and
thoroughly covered the Cities
Service beef. He said that strike
preparations will, continue until
a contract has been signed on
the company's 16' ships. Motion
carried to give a vote of thanks
to Del Norte crew ^or their
splendid cooperation. Excuses
were referred to the Dispatcher.
E. F. Lyttle, L. A. Beaudry and
R. L. McDavitt Were obligated.
Under Good and Welfare there
was much discussion on the
Cities Service beef, cooperation
in regard to the serving of cof
fee in the Hall and the need for
keeping the Hall clean* Meeting
adjourned at 8:15 PM, with 520
members present.
4. 4. i
NORFOLK—Chairman, J. S.
White, 56; Recording Secretary.
James A. Wyim, 30783; Reading
Clerk, Ben Rees, 95.
Minutes of meetings in other
Branch ports read and ai,proved.
F'ort Agent discussed the state
of shipping here, stating that
there was no change and that
immediate prospects were not
bright. Communications from
Brothers seeking to be excused
from meeting were referred to
the Dispatcher. Changes were
read and approved aiid motion
carried to refer them to a Trial
Committee to be elected under
New Business. Elected were T.
Hill, Luther Thome, Earl Con
gelton, W. LaChance, and N. C.
Wroton. Secrefary'Dreasuper's re
port read and approved, as well
as Headquarters report to the
meinbership. Meeting adjourned
at 7:50 i^, with 111 members
present.
SAN FRANCISCO—Chairman,
Jeff Morrison, 34213; Recording
Secretary, P. M. Robertson,
30148; Reading Clerk, S. White,
38302.
Motions carried to accept other
Branch minutes as read. Agent
reported that shipping had im
proved a bit during the past two
weeks, but that it is still far
from being what he. would like
it to be. The prospects for the
coming two weeks look better, he
said,, with" several ships sched
uled to make this a port of call.
Trial and Excuse Committee was
elected. Motion carried to elect
the following: S. Ghale, R.
Stephens, F. McGarry, J. Coth
rah and J. Simmon. Motion car
ried to accept Headiquarters Re
instatement Committee's report.
Under Good and Welfare, there
was discussion on the. Cities
Service beef, and the memb^
ship indicated it was in favor
of the Union throwing every re
source into this beef to bring
the company tmder contract.
Meeting adjourned at 7:55 PM,
with 38 members present.
% t, %
BALTIMORE—Chairman, Wil
liam Renlz, 26445; Recording
Secretary, G. A. Masterson,
20297; Reeding Clerk. A1 Sians
bury, 4683.
Motion carried to suspend
regular order 6f business and
go into obligations and charges.
B. A. Granberg and N. Straton
took the Union Oath of Obliga
tion. The following men were
elected to serve as af Trial Com
mittee: J. Gill, J. Turner, P. J.
Ryan, W. Harrell and C. O.
Saunders. Minutes of other
Branch meetings read and ap
proved. SecretaryTreasurer's fi
nancial report and Headquarters
report to the membership ac
cepted as read. Motion carried
to refer written excuses to the
Dispatcher. Agent reported that
shipping had been slow and is
expected to continue that way
for a while. Motion carried to
accept Hospital Committee's re
port. Motion (by J. F. Lee) car
ried to make up shipping list
and post near Dispatcher's
counter. Meeting adjourned at
8:10 PM, with 392 members
present.
t 4 4
PHILADELPHIA — Chairman,
D. Hall, 43272; Recording Secre
tary, Branconi, 100848: Reading
Clerk, G. H. Seeberger, 6932.
Minutes of previous meetings
in all Branches, read and acc^t
ed. Agent discussed the status of
local shipping and mentioned
the prospects for the coming
two weeks. SecretaryT^easurer's
financiai report and Headquar
ters repqrf to the membership
accepted as read. Motion carried
to allow Brother George Noble
pay up his dues in arrears and
register for shijiping. Communi
cations from members seeking
to be excused from meeting
were referred to the Dispatcher.
Charges against a Brother for
conduct unbecoming a Union
memi)et were referred to an el
ected Trial Committee. One min
ute of silence in memory of de
parted Union Brothers. Meeting
adjourned at 7:30 PM.
NEW YORK —Chairman, S.
Simmons, 219; Recording Secre
tary, Freddie Stewart, 4935:
Reading Clerk, Robert Matthews,
154.
Motions carried to accept min
utes of previous meetings in all
Branches as read. Secretary
Treasurer's financial: report ac
cepted and concurred in. Port
Agent was absent due to illness,
and it was recommended that
his report be incorporated with
Headquarters report. Headquar
ters report pointed out that ship
ping had slowed down some in
New, York. The report also
brought the membersliip up to
date on the Cities Service, beef.
Communications from members
seeking to be excused from to
night's meeting referred to the
Dispatcher. Motion (by Y, L.
Steibig) carried to try to secm'e
a Hall sufficient to accommo
' date all members at future meet
ings, Under Good and Wdfare,
there was discussion on Nie
Teamsters' organizing. .drive in
New York, inwhich the support
of all SIU men on the beach
was recommended; on the strike
of the Mine Workers Union aaad
the credit union idea and ttie
possibilities fcHP one being set vrp
within the SIU.
X % %
G A L V E S T O N—'Chairman,
Keith Alsopt, 7311; Recording
Secreiaiy, R. Wilbum, 37739:
Reading Clerk, J. Byrd, 34683.
Minutes of previous meetings
in Galveston and other Branches
read and concurred in. Secretri^
Treasurers financial report and
Headquarters report to the mem
bership approved as read. Agent
discussed shipping in this area.
Mason HaU, Boyd Breeden and
Charles McUowell took the 'Un
ion Oath of Obligation. One
minate of silence in memory Of
departed Union Brothers. Motion
carried to adjourn at 7:30 .PM.
*
• ".M
DAVID HERON
Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Riebenstein,
933 Linwood Avenue, Canton,
Ohio, are anxious for you to
write them.
4. . 4
CHARLES WINFREY. JR.
Write to your father, 818
South Chestnut Street, Bristow,
Oklahoma.
4 4. 4
WALLACE L. ASHFORD
Your father, George W. Ash
ford, asks that you write.
4 4 4
HEBEF R. GUYMAN
Contact Mrs. Shirley Wessel,
Supervisor, Missing Seamen Bu
reau, Seamen's Church Institute,
25 South Street, New York 4,
New York.
4 4 4
RALPH J. PENNINGTON
Get in touch with Harold Gutt
man; 66 Beaver Street, New
York 4, N. Y.
4 4 4
STELIANOS T. MONDANOS
The photostats of your dis
charges from Isthmian vessels
are being held in the LOG of
fice. Call or write for them.
4 4 4
DICK BOLES
"Let me know where I can
write to you: C. P. Jones, 513
East 9 Street, Greenville, North
Carolina."
4 4
ROLAND BRUCE CORNELL
Get in touch with William L.
Standard, 38 Park Row, New
York 7, N. Y.
4 4 4
JOSEPH D. DODGE
Get in touch with your bro
ther, Harris, concerning income
tak.
4 4 4
FRANK MAZZA
Mfs. Andreshak, of Galveston,
Texas, would like to hear from
you.
4 4 4
EDWARD J. ZEBROWSKI
A registered letter is being
held for you at office of Calmar
SS Company, 25 Broadway, New
York City.
WILLIAM MATSOUKAS
ANTONIO GONZALES
Contact Joseph P. Marcelle,
Collector of Internal Revenue,
Treasury Department, Internal
Revenue Service, 210 UvingstOil
Street, Brooklyn 2, New York.
4 4 4
JOHN MCNAMARA
Get in touch with Mrs. C. J.
Price, 4636 N. Lincoln Avenue,
Chicago, niinois.
4 4 4
VICTOR ARTDRO VALENCIA
Rafaela Martinez Valencia, 424
Francisco Street, San Francisco,
California, wants you to get id
touch with her.
4 4 4,
CREW SS ABR. ROSENBERG
(May, 194e^anuazy, 1947)
WiU former shipmates of Lu
cien R. EUe On that voyage
in touch with him on a matter
of great importance. Write to
SS Alcoa ^valier, c/o Alcoa
SS Con^any, 1 Canal Street
New Orleans, Louisiana.
4 4 4
FREDERICK JOHNSON
"Dear Fred, please write to
Mom, P.O. Box 308, Station A,
Boston, Massachusetts."
4 4 4
WILLIAM PAYNE HAYMEN 1)
Contact James J. Gourles^ Ml
Court House, Paterson, New
Jersey.
EDWARD*^ VAN^ NIEROP
(VANNIEROP)
Get in touch with Fred J. Zee
handelaar, 9511 — 87 Street,
Ozone Park 16, Long Island, New
York, concerning an inheritance
from relatives in the Nether
lands.
SS CAROLYN
C. P. (Slim) Thompson aska
that Cherokee, the Oiler, and
Tommy, the ' Fireman^ contact
him by mail or in person at the
Staten Island Marine Hospital^,
concerning the accident of Jan
uary 28, in Ciudad Trujillo.
4 4 4
RUruS L. O'NEAL
Get in touch with your wife,
1403 West 41 Street, Norfolk 8,
Virginia.
Of late there seems to have been renewed activity on the pfart of photography
minded Seafarers. Photos being received from SlUcontracted vessels on the high: seas! ,
tell of the camera adventures of Union members in the four corners of the earth. All /
of the lensmen are interested in sharing their "shots" with Brothers, through the '
medium of the LOG. * ,
On this page are some selections from the latest batch received. The LOG asks ^ |
—— WJ. VUW^JL. yxMv iiauuivvVLA.. XXa Ulilixy il5 pOSSlDle t
K
AboBrd the SS Steel Naviga
tor, erewmembers call Bosun
jAndreshak (left) "Popeye the
Second."' Duke Fisher and Red
Ransome submitted this photo
taken in Bombay, India, to
show why. With the Brother
Andreshak, er — Popeye, is
"Shorty," a shoe shine boy
who conducts his business on
the Bombay docks. Oh yes,
Andreshak is only mugging to
oblige the ceuneraman.
This. group. shot would indicate that most of the lads aboard the Jeff Davis, Waterman,
travel around together when they hit a formgn port. The scene is a seamen's club in. Yoko
hama, Japan, where the fellows took advantage of the opporkinity to wet their whistles and
relax a bit.
.. /
Guys who have sailed with
Walter Newberg say he tatef
with the best as a Steward*
Here he is with a pet durlas|F
a recent voyage aboard a
Bull Lines ship. Brother New*
berg is temporarily engage^
in shoreside fooddispensingv
He's now in charge of the
restaurant in the grog shop^^
located on street level of the
New York Hall at 51 Beaver
Street.
They have him by Mie tail now, but tlm
350pouttd shark didn't give up mthout a
• i^ggo. Just ask Frank Pasquale, who nabbed
vkirn w^h a meat hook, a piece ofbeef and
a heaving line.
Red Fisher has thawed Old a bit eince he fo6k^^
from the poop deck pf t^ SS Colid)^ up in Bale Comeau,
Canada, recently," .:'....'; " v'. ''
Siuall but 90^ eating, are these lOxpound
flounders caught 1^ Frank Gardner When he
was Steward on the Loyola Victory. Frank
pulled in 46 others like those he's holdings He
:friedthem as snacks ior..s3iipmaieii. ..