Issue Date
1950-09-29
Volume
12
Issue Number
19
Plaintext
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Official Organ of the Atlantic and Gulf District, Seafarers International Union of North America
VOL^ XII NEW YORK. N. Y.. FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER 29. 1950 No. 19
l.; ;4. .s^i, f. ,5^^^ See istory on Page 12
I ' page Two
iw.; IT ' =
THE SEAFARERS LOG Fridly, Seplomber 29, 1950
SEAFARERS LOG
Published Eyery Other Week by the
SEAFARERS INTERNATIOT>fAL UNJON
OF NORTH AMERICA
Atlantic and Gulf District
f Affiliated with the American Federation of Laher
At 51 Beaver Street, New York 4, N. Y.
HAnover 22784
I Reentered as second class matter August 2, 1949, at the Post
Office in New York, N.Y., under the Act of August 24, 1912.
267
'Cheap' Payment
1 v;
H
Who will ultimately be'blamed in! the sinking of the
I^avy hospital ship, Benevolence, which took 23 lives off
San Francisco last August 25, one thing is clear: This will
not be the last such accident unless the Military Sea Trans
port Service changes its policy <>f hiring inexperienced
personnel.
Although Captain William Murray, aboard the Bene
volence as an observer when she was sunk in a collision
with the freighter Mary Luckenbach, testified that the
lifeboat gear was incomplete—only one of the 14 life
boats was launched—the most damaging testimony came
from the hospital ship's Bosun's Mate.
In his testimony he stated flatly that he considered
the Bpnevolence, which was manned by a crew recruited
through the MSTS, was unseaworthy, because it lacked
qualified crew members. Several, he said, even lacked sea
men's rating papers.
• ' Hiat this is, true is corroborated by SIU Seattle Agent
Ray. Oates, who wrote the LOG of "MSTS finkherders
scouring the skidrows for men." He reports that the Sea
men's YMCA in Seattle has shipped 1,400 men to the
MSTS since the Korean War started back in June. Con
sidering that bona fide maritime unions have very easily
contacted halls on the West Coast and have many quali
fied men sitting on the beach, it makes one wonder if this
*Vcouring the skidrows for men" is not due to an anti
^ union bias.
... V That this may not be farfetched is suggested by the
testimony before the Senate Labor subcommittee (see
story on page 3), which showed that the triggermen of
Citilgi: Service's labor spy apparatus were wartime officers
in the Coast Guard's intelligence setup,
i iPerhaps there are some who consider 23 lives cheap
p paynient, if only unions are kept weak and impotent.
Histbfy records many such, and this country is not un
meh'fiOhed'ih'the listing.
There is only one way out of this situation: Take
the MSTS ships out of the hands of these "anti-labor even
P if dt kills someone" characters; charter them to private
companies and sail them with competent, civilian, union
crews who know their business, and whose organizations
wUl see to it that they are capable of doing their jobs, and
behave aboard ship.
On Cities Service
If anyone has gone past the front page and still
doesn't know that Cities Service has at long last—after
four long, hard years of fighting—signed with the SIU,
he is hereby so notified.
Even an occasional reader of the LOG knows what
the mgn aboard the CS ships and the Union have gone
through to secure this contract. There is no point in re
peating ourselves at this time—although the Union may
in the near future write a comprehensive history of this
beef, for the record—but there is one thing we'd like
• V;:
to say:
The contract is signed, and although improvements
can be made—and will be made in the future—it is bind
a?'.
ing on.both sides. Cities Service has officially notified its
supervisory personnel to abide by the provisions of the
agreement. We shall tfo no less. The SIU has a record
of keeping its word, and will continue to follow the same
course. So to the membership riding CS ships, we say: Do
your job, and do it the SIU way. If yqu have any beefs,
bring them to the Union, and we'll handle them. If any
one violates the contract, it won't be us. And if it is
violated, we know what to do. «
p. HOBIN
H. H. SCHULTZ
S. FINER
R. iPEVINE
F. D. GOSSE
TIM BURKE
i
SAN FRANCISCO
JOHN TONAZZI
A. D. SISTRUNK
A. CUADRA
ERNEST SCHIWEK
LEO COOPER
NEWTON PAINE, Jr.
WONG PONG
4.
BRIGHTON, MASS.
GEORGE WELDON
PRANK J. DIRKSMEYER
R. LUPLIN
X t, %
NORFOLK
JOHN M. SADLER
'X. X X
NEW ORLEANS
J. BEDDINGPIELD
JOSEPH T. BENNETT
C. A. BROWN
JOHN CALDWELL
WILSON O. CAKA
LEWIS P. CAUBLE
WINSTON R. CHANDLER
WALTER F. COKER
ROGELIO CRUZ
.ERNEST E. GROSS
J. M. HALL
AVERY L. HATCH
L. A. HOLMES
GEO. P. IMMEL
D. D. KELLY
HUGH P. LAGAN
LEO H. LANG
OHN J. LAWTON
EDWIN G. MITCHELL
E. NAVARRE
W. H. PARKER
OTTO PEDERSEN
W. A. PERRY
KARL J. RAANA
R. L. SCHIPMAN
R. W. THOMPSON
L. TICKLE
L. VECCHIET
H. THURMAN
XXX
GALVSSTON
W. J. OUVSRI
R. H. PITZER
ARNOLD P. BEHM
JAMES M. GLENN, Jr.
B. W. BLACKMAN
JAMES G. WALSH
JOHN W. McCANN
XXX
BALTIMORE
FRED PITTMAN
GEORGE JACKSON
S. P. DRURY
S, L. CONTRELL
L. G. SHEEHAN
P. MATAN
WM. LANE
MALCOLM D. GETCHELL
XXX
FORT STANTON, NM.
C. NEAL
GIDLOW WOODS
A. McGUIGAN
J. LIGHTPOOT
D. MCDONALD
R. A. RATCLIFFE
S. WALKER
XXX
STATEN ISLAND
GEORGE M. EVERETT
IGNACIA DePUMERO
W. MEEHAN
FRANK KUBEK
PHILLIP PROM
D. KOROBIA
OTTO STEFANSSON
P. ASIGON
L. HOLLIDAY
J. QUIMERA
A. TREVINO
E. HAMPSON
KENNETH D. THOMAS
S. JONAS
CLIFTON NELSON
NICHOLAS KORSAK
JOHN R. CHAKER
JAMES PURCELL
KASIMIR JUCHALSKI
JUAN O'QUENDQ
MICHAEL J. SLINSKI
C. PIGUEROA
GEORGE M. ARNOLD
WILLIAM C. LEE
PRANK X. QUINONES
GERALD PIERONI
CLAUD A. EZELL
S. GLYPTIS
C. BROWN
XXX
ELLIS ISLAND
G. G. GAGE
M. COLLINS
W. HUSSON
B. T. KNEW
X X
SAVANNAH
WM. C. SHEALY
LEO KUDERAND
W. J. MORRIS
WILL JONES /
X XX
SEATTLE
EDWARD RULEY
XXX
PHILADELPHIA—ST. AGNES
DIEGO CALARIN
XXX
MANHATTAN BEACH'
ft
j. T. EDWARDS
E. FERRER
V. CHESNER
M. BRUNO
R. A. BLAKE
J. PADZIK ,
E. LOPEZ
W. PADGETT
J. J. DRISCOLL
J. H. ASHURST
A. LOMAS
V; MILAZZO
H. S. TUTTLE
S. BERGSTROM
P. VORKE
R. CALUBRA
Bill Padgett, SIU delegate at
haUan Beach Hoepital, can be centaet.
ed from 34:30 PU every day en tiui
• ecpnd deck, Weit Side, Ward l« '
'H ' 1
Mday, Si^«nbir 29, 1950 THE SEAFARERS LOG P«ig« Thr99
ines Serrice Charges
WASHINGTON—The SIU's fouryear fight for a Cities Service contract produced ample evidence of an antiunion
conspiracy, among the big oil tanker companies, SecretaryTreasurer Paul Hall told a Senate Labor subcommittee as a probe of
labormanagement relations in the East Coast tanker industry got under way on Monday.
In a statement to the subcommittee, headed by Senator James Murray (Dem., Montana), the SIU official declared tha^
Jhe Cities Service Oil Company and "its allies in . the industry thumb their noses at the law, at the community and the men who
man their ships.*'
Describing the labor spy setup, mass firings, company unions, stalling and similar tactics employed by the CS Marine
(Division to stave off a contract with the SIU, Hall told of the extensive use of crimps like Paddy Keane and other question
able hiring practices prevailing in the unorganized tanker field.
He pointed to the use of the Esso hiring offices as a "clearing house" where job applicants were sent to Cities Service
(vessels after having been screened for union sympathies during the height of CS's antiunion "hysteria."
The SIU official outlined the record of John Collins, a Fordham University professor, who controls companyfostered
.Unions of licensed and uri*
licensed men in the Esso,
SoconyVacuum, Tidewater
Oil Companies. Collins op
erates out of an office in
New York City which
Serves as headquarters for
each of the 14 outfits he
Represents.
Documenting his statement in
detail Hall covered the four
years of the Union's campaign
in the CS fleet, from the begin
ning in October, 1946/ until the
contract signing last Saturday
iafternoon. He said that "we ran
headon into some of the foul
est and dirtiest poolplaying we
have ever seen.. Not that we
didn't expect ,a hard fight but
somewhere we expected the line
to be drawn. It never was."
SOMETHING WRONG
In response to a question by
Joseph Freehill, associate coun
sel to the subcommittee. Hall
said that something must be
wrong with the present law if
iBUch practices cannot be stopped.
Asked by Senator Murray
whether he thought thfe Taft
Hartley law intended to make
such practices possible. Hall an
swered "whoever wrote that
thing must have had some idea
of gumming up the works."
The Union spokesman said
that the Union hiring hall, at
present outlawed by the "Taft
, Hartley Act, could help th^ sit
uation. "If the hiring hall
tiause were incorporated into
iany contract we sign with the
company, another segment of the
industry would become stabilized
and the unsavory practice of pay
ing for jobs through crimps and
shipping masters would end."
WHY NOT BOSSES?
He took issue with the one
sided provision Of the TaftHart
ley law for not requiring em
ployers to show financial state
ments listing their expenditures
in connection with antiunion ac
tivities. "What about all the
money they spend to beat our
brains out?" he asked. "Why
don't they havq to file about
.that?"
Hall urged that the Senate
group investigate the hiring*
practices of the nonunion oil
tanker companies and of Collins'
^ole as a onerman union appar
tus in behalf of these outfits.
Ixcerpts Of Testimony In Next Issue
'Because, in order to make this issue of the SEAFARERS LOG, this story was
written before the hearing into the antiunion tactics of Cities Service was ended, this
account is not complete. In addition, it was impossible to include excerpts from the
' testimony given, especially from fhe nonunion sources. In the next issue, however,
Ae LOG will present selections from the verbatim testimony as recorded by the offi
cial stenographer, the length depending on the space available. You'll be amazed,
Brothersl
The subcommittee heard two
members of the company's spy
ring testify as to their activities
in fingering SIU members for
dismissal. John Basciano, hired
as a shipboard inforhier by John
Dugan, former Coast Guard com
mander, who headed one section
of the antiunion espionage set
up, told how he operated in the
CS fleet, leaving large nqmbers
of unemployed seamen behind
him as he hopped from ship to
ship.
Cesar Scotti, one of the nu
merous shoreside informers, a
private detective working for
the Marine Index Bureau of
New York City, explained how
he was employed by CS attorney
William P. Lage to spot SIU
men applying for jobs in the
company's hiring offices at 70
Pine Street.
LAWYER RUNS OUT
Lage, whose connection with
the company was terminated
about three months ago, did not
appear at the hearing and faces
possible contempt citation. Wil
liam N. Dunstan, subcommittee
investigator said he visited
Lage's present office in Wall
Street, but was told he was not
in and that his law partner re
fused to accept service of a subr
peona. Lage had been scheduled
to testify at the second day of
the hearing.
In response to a recommenda
tion by Ray Murdock, counsel for
the committee. Senator Murray
gave instructions for "further in
vestigatons with a view to citing
Mr. Lage" for contempt.
Dugan admitted utilizing his
connections in the Coast Guard
to develop the spy ring for use
in the company's fight against
the SIU. He "Was dalled into the
picture by Lage who had served
under Dugan in the Coast Guard
during the war. ~ *
The Company union (Cities
Service Tankermen's Association)
lawyer, Albert Strasburger, was
questioned by the committee as
to bis relations with Cities Ser
vice and disclosed a close tieup
with Marine Division officials.
He said that he negotiated a con
tract covering Bosuns and Stew
ards after two meetings with
Marine Superintendent M. J. Ad
kins and others.
NAVY PALS
Strasburger testified that he
became the company union law
yer after he was referred to
David Furman, head of CTMA
and principal organizer by John
Collins. Strasburger and Collins
were friends since serving to
gether in the Brooklyn Navy
Yard during the war. Furman's
association with Collips develop
ed as a result of their roles in
the Esso Tankerman's Associa
tion, in Which Furman held Book
No. 1 and for which Collins was
labor advisor."
Strasburger also admitted that
he had hired a private investi
gator named Daniel Griffin to
check on officials of lihe SIU,
adding that this move had been
fruitless.
The companyunion's number
one man, David Furman told the
subcommittee that he had been
urged to become active by CS
Port Steward Nordberg, who said
the company would take care
of expenses and furnished crew
liSts and other information. Fur
man said he patterned CTMA
after the Esso Company union,
ETMA.
Among other testimony heard
by the committee was that of
Christopher Story, vicepresident
in charge of CS Marine Division
and a member of the corpora
tion's Board of Directors.
The company official admitted
use of crimps for hiring purposes.
He attempted to disclaim re
sponsibility for the xmfair labor
practices and other violations, in
cluding those of Fede^ Cona
munications Commission's regu
lations in discriminating against
men with SIU sympathies, but
said that all of the company of
ficials ordering these moves were
responsible to him.
At the conclusion of the hear
ings, which were also attended
by Senator Russell Long, (Dem.
of Louisiana), Senator Frank
Graham, (Dem. of North Caro
lina), and Herman Lazarus, Chief
Coimsel for the Senate Commit
tee on Labor and Public Welfare,
Senator Murray said that "as a
result of the testimony present
ed in this hearing during the
past two days«the subcommittee
will contiAue its investigation of
the situation in the tanker in
dustry. . .
"UNTHINKABLE"
"It is unthinkable that the bad
labor relations we have heard
described shovild exist in one at
our major industries," SenatOT
Murray declared.
The hearings ended with Sen .
ator Murray's remark that pro
ceedings "made me. think of my
boyhood days when I used td
read the stories of going to sea,
and I felt that I would like to
have been one of the members
of the Seafarers Union, and had
a trip around the world instead
of sitting here in the Congress
of the United States' struggling
with these problems."
In This Issue Of The Log
/foamatioas Open For A&G Election *
The Hnstnigs Is A Happy, Busy Ship
m
/
FMnutos Of A&G Branch Meetings Page 11
Cities Service Si^ns Fuii Contract ^
I C (
J''I
Page Fpur THE SEAFARERS LOG Friday S#ptemb«r 29. 1950
Nominations Gnonod
For Ji &G
29 Posts
O^sors;
On Baiiot
The opening gun for the annual election of ofiFicials
to serve the Atlantic and Gulf District was sounded this
week, with the adoption of a resolutionputting in order
nominations for 1951 ofiFicials.
Twentynine offices in Headquarters and the ten
A&G District Branches are to be filled in this year's ballot
ing, according to the resolution,
which was adopted in special
membership meetings in all
ports up and down the coast.
As provided by the Union con
stitution, nominations for the of
fices will be accepted until Oc
tober 15. Balloting will begin on
November 1 and continue
through December 31 in all SIU
A&G District Branches.
Any qualified man may put
himself in nomination by sub
mitting, in writing, his intention
to run for office, naming the
particular office and submitting
the necessary proof of qualifica
tion.
The number of officials to
serve the Union in 1951 will be
the same as in the current year,
except that the resolution pro
vides for two changes in the
administrative structure.
NEW SETUP
There will be but one Assist
ant SecretaryTreasurer. Also to
be elected are three Headquar
ters Representatives who shall
work under the direction of the
. SecretaryTreasurer or the As
sistant SecretaryTreasurer, and
assist in carrying out the ̂ luties
of the top District office as out
lined in the Constitution.
The resolution also provides
that the HeadquartersNew York
Branch "shall be administered'by
the Assistant SecretaryTreasur
er and that he shall be empow
ered to appoint one of the Head
quarters Representatives to as
sist" him in the administration
of the Branch.
A
tive
breakdown of the 29 elec
posts shows that five will
serve as Headquarters officials,
nine as Port Agents and 15 as
Patrolmen.
TEMPORARY HALLS
As is customary for Branches
operating on a temporary or
emergency basis, the resolution
recommends that positions in the
A&G District halls on the West
Coast should not be placed on
the ballot.
In order to be eligible for a
place on the ballot, candidates
must meet the few, simple quali
fications laid down in the Union
constitution.
Among these are the require
ments that a candidate be a ci
tizen of the United States, a full
bookmember for at least .two
years, and have at le'ast three
years of seatime in an imlicen
sed capacity, four months of
which must be in the current
year. (For constilulional provi
sions for eligibility, see page 10.)
The requirement, first adopted
in the 1947 elections, that each
candidate submit a recent regu
lation size passport photo, and
a 100word, summary of his
Union record, must again be
met by this year's officeseekers.
Both should be sent in by the
candidates along with their proof
of eligibility.
Photographs and statements
of the qualified candidates who
will appear on the ballot: will
be published in an issue of the
SEAFARERS LOG , sometime
prior to the start of balloting.
Resolution On A& G Hettioni ¥•
The following adqpted resolution puts into motion the nominating
machinery for the referendum to determine 1951 officials in A&G Head
quarters and Branches.
Nominees will, if qualified, go on the referendum ballot to be voted
on by the memb^ship in all ports during November and December, as pro
vided for in the SIU Constitution.
' Text of the Resolution follov/s:
WHEREAS: It has been customary for the Union to determine annually by resolution
what elective ofiFices shall be placed on the ballot for each annual election
other than those provided for in the Constitution, and
WHEREAS: Since the last election many changes have occured in the industry which
will afiFect our organizational life, economically, and '
WHEREAS: The Union, becah^ of adverse conditions, has had to retrench during the
past year and, from information we have, conditions are not apt to get better
during the coming year, and for these reasons we should place a minimum
number of elective ofiFices on the ballot,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the following ofiFices be placed on a refer
endum ballot for the annual election of the Seafarers International Union of
North America, Atlantic and Gulf District, for the year 1951:
HEADQUARTERS:
1 SecretaryTreasurer
1 Assistant SecretaryTreasurer
3 Headquarters Representatives
NEW YORK:
2 Deck Department Patrolmen
2 Engine Department Patrolmen
2 Stewards Department Patrolmen
NORFOLK:
1 Agent
SAVANNAH:
1 Agent
'NEW ORLEANS:
1 Agent
1 Deck Department Patrolman
1 Engine Department Patrolman
1 Stewards Department Patrolman
BOSTON:
1 Agent.
PHILADELPHIA:
1 Agent
BALTIMORE:
1 Agent • ,
1 Deck Department Patrolman
1 Engine Department Patrolman
1 Stewards Department Patrolman
TAMPA:
1 Agent
MOBILE:
1 Agent
' 2 Joint Patrolmen
GALVESTON:
1 Agent
1 Joint Patrolman
. V y '•
Seatrain To Build Two Vessels
Work on two new vessels for
the. SlUcontracted Seatrain
Lines, Inc., will get imder way
shortly in the Sun Shipbuilding
yards in Chester, Pa.
Contracts for the construction
of the ships were awarded to
the shipyard concern lasf week
and every effort is being made
to obtain sufficient steel in No
vember and December to have
the job in full swing by early
next year. The cost and contract
delivery dates were not announc
ed.
Each of the new ships will be
484 feet long, with a capacity
for approximately 100 freight
cars. Each will be geared, tur
bine propelled vessels with single
screws and will have a rated
speed of 17 knots.
WILL MAKE SIX
The two new ships . will be
added to. the four now carrying
freight cars between US and
Cuban ports.
The Sim yards also produced
the four Seatrain vessels pres
ently in operation. The Seatrain
New York and the l^atrain
Havana were built in 1932, and
the Seatrain Texas and the Sea
train New J^ey were con
structed in 1940.
In World War 11 all' four ships
were taken over for govern
ment use. After completing their
war service, the vessels were
reconditioned and placed back
in service between New York,
Havana and New Orleans.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That if, during the year, it becomes necessary
to open additional ofiFices, the staffing of such ofiFices shall be left to/the dis
cretion of 4:he SecretaryTreasurer, subject to approval of the membership,
BE IT"FURTHER RESOLVED: That the three (3) Headquarters Representatives
shall work under the direction of the SecretaryTreasurer or Assistant Secre
taryTreasurer assisting him in the carrying put of the duties as outlined ip
the Constitution for this ofiFice. They shall be paid the same as the Assistant
SecretaryTreasurer. •
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Headquarters Branch of the Union as
provided for in the Constitution shall be administered by the Assistant Secre
taryTreasurer and that he shall be empowered to appoint one of the Head
quarters Representatives to assist him in the maintaining of'same whenever
necessary. ' _ . , .
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That, inasmuch as the Atlantic and Gulf District
Halls on the West Coast are of a temporary nature, these ofiFicers not be
listed on the referendum ballot, and
BE IT* FINALLY RESOLVED: That in addition to the regular constitutional require
ments, each candidate for office shall furnish with his acceptance for office
a regulation passport picture of recent taking, as well.as a statement of npt
more than 100 words, giving a brief summary of his Union record and acti
vities, such picture and statement to be run in the^ SEAFARERS LCXJ just
prior to commencement of voting. This to be done in accordance with pre
vious membership action to familiarize the membership with the names, faces
and records of all candidates for ofiFice. .
PAUL HALL, 190 , AL KERR, 29314
ROBERT A. MATTHEWS, 154 JOE ALGINA, 1320
JOSEPH VOLPIAN, 56 • \ EARL SHEPPARD, 203
Senator Johnson Hits Ship Giveaway
(Below are the remarks of Senator Johnson of Colorado, taken from the "Congressional Rec
ord" on the proposal to eliminate American flag shipjping. The LOG. which has commented pre
viously on this proposal, finds Senator Johnson's remarks of great interest.)
By SENATOR EDWIN C. JOHNSON
1 am confident that every
member of the Senate regards
our American merchant marine
as a vital defense resource, par our merchant marine.,
Every member of this body
knows also that we could n'ot
have won World War 11 without
ticularly at this time, when Uni
ted States troops are fighting
against tremendous odds to hold
the line in Korea and when the
country in addition faces a grave
international crisis.
The transportation of arma
ment and supplies across the
Pacific to those brave men of
our armed services is entirely
dependent upon our merchant
ships and tankers. Every mem
ber of the Senate knows this.
It will seem fantastic to you
and to every other American ci
tizen, therefore, to be informed
that a proposal has been made,
at this critical time irj our his
tory, to shrink our merchant ma
rine for the . benefit of some of
our foreign competitors.
1 cannot think of a more peril
ous policy to launch at this
time. But I have in my posses
sion the fvidcnc^: that this ser
ious threat to our ̂ nflitipnaWse
curity is being proposed. It is
unbelievable that such a policy
would even be considered by
agencies of our own Govern
ment, normally entrusted with
policy matters dealing with the
merchant marine.
As chairman of the Senate
committee dealing with merchant
marine legislation, 1 wish to
serve notice that our committee
will be alert, and will act to
block any attempt by anybody
to cripple such a vital industry
as pur merchant marine.
This pl'an to curtail drastical
ly the operations of our com
mercial fleets is disguised in rec
ommendations designed to help
western Europe improve its doL
lar reserves. To accomplish this
the plan recommends:
1. Foreign ships should be al
lowed to enter the United States
coastwise and intercoastal and
noncontiguous trades.
2. There should be a gradual
reduction and eventual elimina
tion of all ship operating subsi
dies.
f '' ' - i
3. Congressional enactments,
requiring that 50 percent of all
Marshall Plan shipments move
• in American vessels, should be
repealed. . " :,
4. One hundred dry cargo ves
sels'and tankers should be trans
(Continued''on Pigr 72/^^ "
• ,i.'i.1;I}', ''i
frid«7i S«piemfc«r 29, 18M THE SEAFARERS tOC
The coffee cup, the homemade cloga worn bf Mike Cristaldi (aeoond from left) and the
phonograph certainly show this ahoi was taken when work was done. The lads listening
to their own Saturday night Hit Parade via the discs are. left to rights "Hairless" Smith. Cris
taldi, the Bosun (^hose nameMae muffed) ani "H<^>along" Cassidy.
Among the most frequent contributors of shipboard "
photography to the LOG is Seafarer E. B. (Mac)
McAuley. An old hand, Mac shoots, develops and prints
right at sea and his results j
invariably are interesting.
What makes Mac's stuff
good is the fact that he's not
afraid to get up close to his
subjects and that hp always
manages to show the guys
in his pictures • doing some
thing — working, shooting
the breeze and the like. Mc
Auley photos never look
posed.
Mac's currently aboard
the SS Hastings, from which
he forwarded the pix ap
pearing on this page.
Other SIU photographers
interested in getting up pic
ture stories of shipboard ac
tivities might use Mac's pix Brother (Chico) Vega has
called a "pyrotechnician"
guiuc. Hastings shipmates.
Here he is caught by the cam ,
era as he changes burners.
Prowling' around the deck with hb camera, Mac ran across hardworking, capable Sea
farer Emil Nordstrom, Deck Engineer, as he was repairing Winches. Sa;^s Mac: "Thb man is a
credif to the SIU, He knows his job, and does it weU." , ^
Electrician Tony Nottage was shooting the breeze, one of
his favorite pastimes, when V the cameraman bore down on him
to produce this closeup.
Other shipboard fotogs might lake a tip from this tech
nique of McAuley's. Get up close, so we all can see who
you're "shooting."
If you've got your camera with you anc^.wani to do a
picture story why not try it thb trip. Send your pix to the
LOG, but remember to identify everyone and everything in
themk All photoa Will be retumedk if requested.
• U\
'"• • • si
• I
1
Page Six T H E S E A F A R E R S L O G^ |.i;i::.'<:v;^ V \, .pjiiiayV'fNipienil^
S./: = m'
m
Whitmer Takes His Chances,
Sticks With The Marymar
ONCE UPON A TIME . . .
To the Editor:
Back at the old "typewriter
• again, and do I feel reckless. I
should have known better than
to ship on here. I remember the
day I came aboard, January 8 th,
1950. I met about a dozen cock
roaches leaving the ship, and
they said they only wanted to
come to Baltimore and get a
good ship, but that they would
never again take another Calmar
scow.
Two of their number had died
from malnutrition on the way
aroimd to the East Coast. I can
believe that. That should have
been enough, but fool that I am,
I remained to see it through,
and Brothers, it's been bloody
awful, it has. I've made up my
mind, going to get off this tub
in January for sure.
HAY. HAY
Got a guy on my watch who
is forever pestering the Captain
for more money than he has
coming. He uses this money to
"hiit horses." I don't see why any
one wants to hit a horse, but
that's his business. If it were
not for the fact that Charlie
Ackerman is also on my watch,
I would go stark, raving mad
listening to his prattle.
We sure miss Clem Bairstov,
James Rose, Bill Mansfield and
Bill (Lover) Watson who left us
last trip. They are smart though.
At least they are eating on the
beach, even if it's only a hot
dog now and then. We get an
awful lot of rice on here, but
that is because We work like
coolies I guess. If the company
had its way they'd probably pay
us off with rice.
Had quite an''enjoyable time
while on the East coast, and also
learned a few things that may
interest you all. Brother Bill
Sharp is Bosim on the Arlyn of
the Bull Line. Heard that there
is a prize crew on her too.
Watch 'em Bill!. Especially Lon
ski. Brother Fred Walker has
become the proud father of a
baby girl. While he took on the
job of passing out the cigars, I
helped him celebrate by
passing out. . . . ! The way the
guy goes atound grinning, you'd
think he had the baby instead
of Ws lovely wife Flo. What's
her name Fred?
LADIES' MAN
: Brother Otto Schumacher
anything! We all have our little
idiosyncrasies, though.
Some of the guys on here have
an overabundance of the afore
mentioned. Our Chief Mate has
one in particular, he looks in
the back of the book when he
does crossword puzzles, and
one word he can't seem to get
starts with O and ends with
E. It only has eight letters. It
means something the deck de
partment needs.
Got a guy on her called "Bar
racuda" who has just come out
of "mothballs" after three years
on the beach. It must be awful
to work ashore, especially in the
Army. Charlie Ackerman ,and
myself have Been talking about
enlisting. That's all, talking.
Going to bring this thing to
a close with a reminder that, if
any of you fellows are looking
for an ABs job on the Marymar,
I amgetting off in January. I'll
be mighty happy to leave, too.
That wasn't very nice to^^say,
especially when I am on the
four to ^ght watch. The next
thing you know I'U be ftack in
irons. Will send some pictiu'es
of our trip when I write to the
LOG the next time. Let's see a
rise in LOG donations so there
wiU be more room for our ar
ticles 'and pictures. See you all
again in the LOG. Hi Mom.
Honest A1 Whitmer
A former crewmember of a Cities Service ship, fired for proUnion, activity .du|dng the ^ ,
precontract period, depicted one aspect of shipboard life in fhe cartoon ahove. GoodBye, twd'^ ̂ '
pot system.
To the Editor:
Many of us, during our ten
ure of hfe, have met or* known
individuals who believe they
have required the gift of an
alyzing the faults, needs and
shortcomings of others.
There is just a slight possi
bility that you may be such a
person — always knowing posi
tively what ails the other per
son and voluntarily offering them
advice. Yet the remarkable thing
about such a person is that he
or she does not have the slight
est knowledge or understanding
also' of Bis own shortcomings.
As a general rule, his ills are
greater and exceed those of the
person whonf he is so graciously
offering to assist.
Before accepting advice from
others concerning ̂ your wants,
learn, if possible, whether your
showed up in Baltimore with a' selfappointed benefactor knows
mustache (perish the thought)
and he sure looks like a real
Gigolo, but then "Ots" was al
v/ays a ladies man. He is on the
Ponce de Leon, Waterman. Leave
a few girls for the boys on the
Marymar Otto. Thank you sooo
much!
My good pal John Thompson
is. on the Mae and I hope that
he at least stays there imtil the
Marjrmar gets back to the East
coast so we can get together and
taiir over old times, and hoist
a few. The only reason that he
got off the Cape M<Mcan is that
he doesn't like i^Ilm. Really goes
for that "Block and Tackle Whis
key," though. You know, take
himself and his wants> Should
his answer be vague and inde
cisive, it is best that any advice
or suggestion offered from such
a source be cast aside as value
less.
Man, in order to be helpful
to himself or others, must first
know himself and his own wants.
When he learns what ails him
and what he desires of life, then
he will gain the right and prop
er course that will lead to a
useful life, for an inestimable
amount of our energies is wast
ed merely because we do not
know what we want or desire.
This is especially true during
our maturing years of life. We
a drink walk a block, and taclderfiounder and hop frona one thing
to another because we do not
know what we really want, and
• ve can not' make up our minds
positively what will saUsfy our
wants and desires.
Due to this tmsettled state of
mind we permit the most valu
able creative years of oiu* lives
to become dormant, inactive, and
undecided, or, because of a list
less spirit " created by our mod
ern mode of life, we relyupon
someone else to advise us as to
what we should do and how we
should do it.
The latter method is ^fadily
accepted by many of us", for it
requires a minimum amount of
effort to gain a satisfying end.
We permit the newspapers and
the columnist, the radio news
commentators, the political party
leaders, the community social
leaders and many other cate
gorical leaders to do aD. of oiu*
thinking for us. This form or
manner of thinking will get us
nowhere. We must learn to think
for ourselves to gain a useful
life. ;
To be successful, we must
leam to know what w.e, want,
and when we finally decide
what it is, .we should set out
doggedly in the direction of our
wants, and you can be certain
that at least you will arrive
somewhere.
No one really and truly knows
his OK her direct destination, and
if there are. such persons they are
few and far between. But if we
are on our way, and know why,
something definitely formative
goes on in our minds and our
life takes a useful turn.
Under our modern plan of liv
ing, and in a period of plenty,
many people—^in fact, too many
—are satisfied to be in the just
getalong class.
They seem to be contented to
live from day to day with an
attitude of indifference to the
future. They never worry about
other lessfortunate,, persons or
their welfare, for all else is im
material to their" earthly existr
ence.
Fortunately, this .class gets
mighty thin as the years accu
mulate and problems grow, or
when disaster sets'in unexpect
edly.
The most appropriate time to
do anything worthwhile is when
we wsmt to do it. When we are
newly infused with ideas, and
the spirit is at the highest point,
act.
A plan ' or a desire is of little
Send Those Minutes
Send in ' the minutes of
your ship's meeting to the
New York HaU.Only in that
way can the membership act
on I y o u r recommendations<
and then the minutes cto be
printed in the LOG for the
benefit of all other SIU
'wews.
Hold those shipboard; meet
ings regularly;' and send
those minutes in as aoon as
possible. Thafe the SIU wayi
value unless we put it to work;
for the efficiency of th& world,
and its happiness as well, rests
upon the shoulders of everybody
to do the thing he is best suited
to do, or which he would rather
do than anything else in the
world—be that what it may; for
by following our constructive
whims the maximum available
energy will be put forth. Herein
lies the secret to success.
Man, regardless of his posi
tion in life, cannot buy, borrow,,
or be. given the happiness of
success, ".
It cannot be measured by any
thing that is material, for ma
terial things are not true^ indi
cationa of success. It ha^ to be
something that flames within us;
A man is a success who feels
within his, heart and mind that
he has given expression to some
thing real, helpful and beauti
ful. Always remember, that man
may be down, but he cannot be
counted out so long as he has
a • fertile, intelligent mind and
a charitable heai't.
"Thus, all the beauty, happiness
and contentmeflt of life will be
ours when we absolutely, know
ourselves and our wants, and
follow the road to our objective.
We must lea^n to listen, ob
serve, accumulate aU the knowl
edge that is relevant to a suc^
cessful life, but take no. second
hand advice or instructions. By
following these simple and ac
ceptable principles of, life, jts
just freedom and creative gaiety
will be ours.
.. Augusfuf.:Hv.€«»^||U^^^
Friday. Sapiambas 29. .1950 THE SE A FA REUS %0 C Pmg9 Senm
Digested Minutes Of SiU Ship Meetings
SS SALEM MARITIME, Aug.
25—Gliaii'iiiSai, SteVd ESaij' Ssv
ratary. (None). Delegates report
ed no beefs. ^Members present
voted against allowing the Cap
tain to sit in on one of the
meetings. Request was made that
water valve Ibe put in the laun'
dry. All hands were askqd not
to rush the messmen "at mea
time..^
^ X t, I
SS SALEM MARITIME, Aug.
13—Chairman, Steve Deri; Secre
laxy, (None). Agreement made
that ship fund would be can
celled until next trip. Delegates
reported no beefs. Plan proposed
and adopted to rot.ate among de
partments the job of keeping the
laundry clean.
XXX
SS LONE JACK, Sept. ID
Chairman, Edward Bis; Secre
tary. Joe DeLura. Ship's Dele
gate to have Patrolman investi
gate 10 percent increase in price
of slopchest items. Delegates re
ported number of books and
piermits aboard. Agreement was
made to help the messman by
aiding him in keeping the mess
room clean.
XXX
SS ANN N^RIE, Aug. 12 _
'Chairman, P. Parsons;. Secretary,
L.. Nagle. . Delegates' reports ac
cepted. Request made for. wash
buckets and keys for doors. Com
mittee to be elected to see if
washing machine is to be pur
chased. Beef on carpenter's work
and jurisdiction to be referred
to Patrolman.
XXX
SS STEEL CHEMIST, July 30
—Chairman, J. Thompson; Sec
retary, D. Marine. Delegates re
ported no beefs. Conimunication
from SIU on war bonus, Cities
Service and Welfare Plan read
and discussed. Motion carried to
place the last isspe of the LOG
on the bulletin board so the en
tire crew can read it. Schedule
drawn up for keeping laundry
clean.
XXX
SS DEL AIRES, July 9
Chairman, Golden Aubert; Sec
retary, Ray H. Casanova. Dele
gates reported everything in or
der. Suggestion made that every
one cooperate in keeping down
unnecessary no^.
XXX
SS DEL RIO, Sept. 4—Chair
man, Manifold; Secretary, H.
Karlson. Delegates reported few
hours of overtime. Question rais
ed as to what to do with left
0;ver eggs at end of trip. Con
sideration asked for the Stew
ards Department regarding
launch service.
XXX
SS MOSTANK, Aug. 20 —
Chairman, Chadbourne Gait;
Secretary, M. McKay. Delegates
reported on number vof books
and permits in their departments.
Ship's Delegate explained to
crew that Federal Motorships,
owners of the Mostank, had
signed the welfare plan. Chief
Engineer to be asked to install
a steam line in some appropriate
place for washing clothes.
• ; . 'X X X '
SS SEATRAIN NEW JERSEY,
Sept. 7—Chairman, Mort^ Tre
hern; Secretly, V/ayn® Ogle.
Delegates reported everything in
good order. Motion carried to
get confirming telegram from
Headquarters on changing cooks.
Suggestion by Ship's Delegate
that meeting be held every two
weeks. Bill Gray, former Ship's
Delegate, thanked by crew for
a job well done and wished the
best of luck wherever he goes.
ifc 4
SS S'TEEL APPRENTICE.
Sept. 3—Chairmaxi,' H. Benson;
Secretary, H. Fitzgerald. Dele
gates' reported they had nothing
to report. . Motion carried to have
the showers cooled off for the
next trip. Suggestion made to
remove all cots from the decks
and turned into the Steward. 15
men voted in favor of having
: Baker removed at end of trip.
XXX
SS FAIRLAND, Sept. 10 —
Chairman, Pepper; Secretary,
Lindbery. Delegate reported no
beefs. Motion carried to have
delegates check the repair list
before getting into' New York.
Motion carried to have Patrol
man investigate ice box motor
and see if it should be replaced
as it' breaks down every trip.
Fans requested for crew mess
room.
XXX
SS CARRABULLE, Sept. 3 —
Chairman, Turner; Secretary, T^
Johnson. Delegates reported the
number of books and permits in
each department. Suggestion
made that more fruit be brought
aboard and bacon and bread be
improved.
x\ X
SS CARRABULLE. Sept. 17 —
Chairman, William Kuschke;
Secretary, Thomas Johnson. D.el
egates reported matter of mem
bers handling their own beefs
directly instead of letting the
delegates handle the matters.
Motion carried to contact head
quarters or get a Patrolman
down to settle a contract matter.
This relates to members of the
deck department entering tanks
for cleaning when no boots are
furnished. Suggestion made that
better grade of food be brought
on board.
XXX
SS FRENCH CREEK, Sept. 10
• Chairman, Lee Arnold; Secre
tary, Charley Baird,i Delegates'
that Captain be seen about put
ting up an awning, on the fan
tail.Several crewmembers volun
teered to fix the washing ma
chine. Short pep talk on SIU
given by Chairman.
XXX
SS COUNCIL GROVE, Sept.
4—Chcurman, £. Callahan; Sec
retary, I. Bradbury. Delegates
reported on number of books
and permits aboard. "Three men
volunteered for sanitary Com
mittee to decide whether or not
fines shall be imposed on Bro
thers leaving cups , in mess hall
or violating any other sanitary
rule. Chief Cook. reported that
$70 had been spent on movie
films and $33 remained in ship's
fund. Suggestion made that Coca
Cola be sold aboard the ship for
10 cents a bottle, the profits to
go to the ship's fund.
XXX
SS DEL VALLE, Aug. 3 —
Chairman. »Morris Barlett;, Sec
retary, M. Gaddy. Delegates re
ported that a letter had been
sent to the New Orleans Agent
concerning the renovating of
mattresses. Motion carried to
soogee the foc'sles every, trip.
Motion carried that the crew
go on record, as being against
issuing any new books as a re
sult of the Korean conflict. Read
ing of union circular on charges
and a report on the difficulty of
getting LOGs to ships on the
Korean run. ^
dqing about getting enough milk.
Port Captain to be seen about
new wind chutes and screens.
Suggestion made to build a fund
toward the purchase of a tele
vision set.
3^
SS ALCOA CAVALIER, Aug.
20—Chairman, Stevens; Secre
tary, Cervantes. Delegates re
ported everything okay, except
in the , Stewards Department
which has some disputed over
time. Motion carried to elect
Stough as new Ship's Delegate
and extend a vote of thanks to
Berger, the outgoing Delegate.
Motion" carried that the menus
be varied on the next trip.
XXX
SS STEEL VOYAGER. Aug.
20—Chairman, Kuberski; Secre
tary, E. Eriksen. Discussion on
instructions from Patrolman for
Stewards Department to refuse
all painting. Delegates reported
everything okay. Motion carried
that no men in Stewards De
partment do any painting except
in their own quarters. Brother
Pappas spoke on education, tell
ing the members the seriousness
of carrying tales topside.
XXX
SS MARORE, Sept. 10—Chair
man, H. Th.omas; Secretary, J.
Murphy. Delegates reported on
nvimber of books and permits in
their departments. Motion car
ried to send a letter to Balti
more Agent to see if nonUnion
men sailing these ships are to
pay Union dues or not. Men ask
ed to cooperate in keeping mess
hall and laundry clean.
gates reported number of books
and permits in their departments.
Suggestion made that^ first gid
kit be purchased for each de
partment. Suggestion made that
needed repairs be brought to
delegates' attention on dayto
day basis.
XXX
SS COUER D'ALENE VIC
TORY (no date) '— Chairman.
Earl Foe; Secretary, John J.
Jellette. Ship's Delegate retired
and new Delegate elected. Reso
lution drawn up calling for the
SIU to negotiate for higher pen
alty pay for the carrying of
ammunition. Motion carried that
a letter be sent to the SIU, call
ing their attention to the dis
courteous treatment given the
crew by the gate personnel
while the ship was loading. Mo
tion carried that new members
pay $1 at the payoff toward the
ship's fund.
• M
XXX
SS SEATRAIN NEW JERSEY,
Sept. IB—Chairman, Tom Crane;
Secretary, Vincent Monte. Ship's
Delegate explained Section 29
of shipping rules which prohibits
promotions or transfers on ship.
Attempts being made to improve
fresh stores situation. Ship's
Fund begun with each member
donating 10 cents a meeting un
til the fund reaches $15. Dele
XXX
SS ANTINOUS, Sept. 17 —
Chairman, C. Lambert; Secre
tary, C. Cone. Discussion on
ship repairs, soogeeing and
cleaning of all crew quarters.
Delegates reported a few minor
beefs. Motion carried to have a
cold drink at lunch instead of
milk.
XXX
SS MANKATO VICTORY.
Sept. 30—Chairman, C. Andrews;
Secretary, L. deParlier. Dele
gates reported no beefs, num
ber of books and permits in their
departments. Discussion on crew
loading stores in Oakland. Rec
ommended that in future the
company hire standby gang from
Hall to assist in this work. Sug
gestion made that record player
be raffled off at end of trip.
XXX
SS STEEL FLYER, Sept. 3 —
Chairman. Fred Travis; Secre
tary, J. Goodall, Delegates re
ported number of books and per
mits in their departments. Beir
rett elected Ship's Delegate. Dis
cussion on wash water, which
(Continued on Page 9)
Directory Of SIU Halls
SIU, A&G District
reports accepted.. Motion carried
BALTIMORE 14 North Gay St.
William Rentz, Agent Mulberry 4540
BOSTON 276 State St.
Ben Lawson, Agent Richmond 20140
Dispatcher Richmond 20141
GALVESTON 308/2—23rd St.
Keith Alsop, Agent • Phone 28448
LAKE CHARLES, La.... 1419 Ryan St.
L. S. Johnson, Agent
MOBILE I South Lawrence St.
Cal Tanner, Agent Phone 21754
NEW., ORLEANS 523 Bienville St.
E. Sheppard, Agent Magnolia 61126113
NEW YORK 51 Beaver St.
XXX
SS DEL MUNDO, Sept. 7 —
Ch"airman. Lester Lapham; Sec
retary, Vince Babirsha. Delegates
reported a few hours of disputed
overtime. Steward and Depart
ment received a hearty vote of
thanks for splendid service.
XXX
SS BULL RUN, Sept. 14 —
Chairman, Eidermire; Secretary,
Michael Viguaziano. Delegates re
ported few, beefs and listed the
number of books and permits
in their departments. Motion car
ried to see what the Steward is
Joe Algina, Agent
NORFOLK
Ben Rees, Agent
PHILADELPHIA. ..
S. Cardullo, Agent
ASST. SECRETARYTREASURERS
Robert Matthews LloyH Gardner
• Joseph Volpian
SUP
HONOLULU 16 Merchant St
Phone 58777
PORTLAND Ill W. Burnside St
Beacon 4336
RICHMOND, Calif 25 7 5th St
Phone 2599
SAN FRANCISCO 450 Harrison St
Douglas 28363
SEATTLE 86 Seneca St
Main 0290
WILMINGTON 440 Avalon Blvd.
Terminal 43131
HAnover 22784
.127129 Bank St.
Phone 41083
..337 Market St.
Market 71635 MONTREAL 463
Canadian District
SAN FRANCISCO 450 Harrison St.
McGill St.
MArquette 5909
Jeff Morrison, Agent Douglas 25475 HALIFAX 128/ Hollis St.
SAN JUAN, PR 252 Ponce de Leon| Phone. 38911
Sal Colls, Agent i FORT WILLIAM. . 1 18/ Syndicate Ave.
SAVANNAH ..2 Abercorn St. I Ontario Phone 33221
E. Bryant, Agent • Phone 31728 PORT COLBORNE 103 Durham
SEATTLE 2700 tat Ave. I Phone 5591
Wm. McKay, Agent Seneca 4570 TORONTO 86 Colbome St
TAMPA 18091811 N. Franklin St. | Elgin 5719
Ray White, Agent Phone 21323 VICTORIA 617/ Cormorant St
WILMINGTON, Calif.,. .440 Avalon Blvd.) Empire 4531
E. B. Tilley, Agent Terminal 42874 VANCOUVER 565 Hamilton St.
HEADQUARTERS. .5 i Beaver St., N.Y.C. Pacific 7824
SECRETARYTREASURER SYDNEY ..,.304 Charlotte St
Paul Hall Phone 6346
DIRECTOR OF ORGANIZATION i HEADQUARTERS 463 McGill St
Lindsey Willlama Mtmtrcal MArqUette 7377
, jf. Jii a, iuv V'. ,
Page TBS S E AS ARE RS LOG Titidsfi SipfetnlMMf 29, ISM
US Must Curb Commies
ButNot Freedom: Flyn^
' Sim On For Life
i^V'
I'te
J' v':. 1^;.: •
K'
I fii
m
lii?
VW'
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To the ^ditor:
Our representatives in Con
gress are hatching from the com
munist problem in the United
States drastic bills that would
curb the communists to ineffec
tiveness.
Tliese bills, that would em
body registration of ali commu
nists, concentration camps in
time of national emergency for
supposed subversives and sub
.versive activities control, not
only would take care of the
communists but any liberal or
Radical who might differ in his
opinions from the prevalent ma
jority opinions.
As one can see, such bills as
these, if passed, would put a
stranglehold on free speech, for
a man opening his mouth to
protest or differ with the gov
ernment on national issues would
be suspected of being a red,
apd possibly imprisoned for his
beliefs, though he himself and
others looked on himself as a
loyal American.
The influence of these bills up
before Congress is already be
ginning to be felt The Coast
Guard, suspecting a seaman to
be a poor security risk, can haul
him off his ship. Although they
were empowered to do so last
July before these bills were con
sidered in the thoroughness they
are in now, these biUs and the
discussion of them react as a
"goahead" signal to the Coast
Guard and to those groups and
persons who, in their fanatical
hatred of the communists, would
clamp all kinds of restrictions on
free speech without discriminat
ing on who was loyal and who
was not.
Does this seem exaggerated?
The "New York Times" of Sep
tember 13 carries the story of
the Illinois Department of the
American Legion asking the^m
erican Broadcasting Company to
cancel a rdio program that had
GjT'sy Rose Lee in it, because
of her alleged procommunist
sympathies.
The Legion based their infor
mation on a publication, "Red
Channels." The president of the
ABC replied to the charge
against Miss Lee that she had
signed an affidavit denying any
Red ties, and if the Legion had
any evidence to the contrary to
advise him.
This same "Red Channels" had
listed Jean Muir, a television ac
tress, who was promptly cancel
led from her show, despite her
protests that she never was
communist or had ariy sympathy
with them.
fdiss Lee, it may be added, in
her affidavit spoke imequivocally
her repugnance for the commu
nist system. There are a few
more, who, because they am't
as prominent as those mentioned
above, do not get the publicity
when they are fired from their
jobs.
This is a sad commentary on
the way some people suffer from
a specious association with com
munists. The resources of these
people do not always offer them
the chance at rebutting the
charges made against them by
a powerful publication. And even
if acquitted of guilt of any com
munist affliction, the stigma once
labeled on them becomes an en
during mark, such as in the case
of Owen Lattimore, a State De
partment official in FarEastern
affairs, who was rejected a num
ber of times by audiences where
he was to give a lecture.
It has come to this pass that
these selfstyled guardians of our
national security and interests
want us to clam up on any ac
tion or speech of which they
proclaim in their publications to
be against national interests.
They don't want free speech for
all Americans; they want a do
cile herd who will agree with
them.
What is national interest and
Americanism? I can fill pages
with the sentiments I feel as
regards my country and her in
terests, and so can any man
he sits down and thinks, writes
about his country and all that
it signifies to him. We don't have
to iDe told what to think. That's
why America is great and free
dom loving, because all kinds
of people from Europe, Asia,
South America and Africa, come
here, looking for freedom, give
their best and love this country
because it is one of the few
countries in the world in which
a man is free and can speak his
mind on aU issues.
I trust our government will
take care of the communist prob
lem, without endangering the
freedoms of loyal Americans.
John J. Flynn
(Ed. Note: By sheer coinci
dence, the editorial in the last
issue of the LOG dealt simil
arly with the problem discuss
ed here by Flynn. But we'd
like it known that Flynn's let
ter was in the mail before the
LOG came tiSl the press:)
Brother Urges Vigilaiice I
In GuardingHard^won Gains
Seafarer and Mrs. A1 Lopes
A1 Lopez, wellknown to his
Brother Union members in At
lantic and Gulf ports, has altered
lis course. After getting married
last July 22, A1 decided to quit
sailing and study law.
Lopez is not retiring his SIU
book, however, and he advises
Seafarers w h o p 1 a n to stay
ashore awhile to take a tip from
him. Your Union bdok is insur
ance, says Al, especially since
the SIU is constantly fighting to
improve seamen's welfare.
To the Editor:
When I shipped aboard the
Bull Rim, a Mathi'asen tanker on
a coastwise run, it was with the
assumption that it was an SIU
ship. Once aboard, I began to
wonder about this! The condi
tions I met with were appalling.
The foc'sles haven't been paint
ed for at least ten months.' For
that matter, I doubt that they
h%ve been t sougeed . more than
once in thai period!
PAINTING NEEDED
The passageways are a true
disgrace. Theireondition matches
the foc'sles. Furthermore, there
is but one light in tliem, and that
one in the after end. The pass
ageways on the officers' deck are
somewhat better but they, too,
need painting."
The heads and showers are al
so a .disgrace. The laundry is" ih
a terrible shape. I am convinced
that, if seen by the USPH5 or
the Board of Health, it would
never leave port until cleaned
and" painted.
A number of us who were free
of the infection when boarding
the ship, have contracted ath
lete's foot. This is traceable to
Campbell, Boy Sailor,
Opens Up A CS Gag Station
To the Editor:
Notice To All SIU Meoibere
. j The SEAFARERS LOG as the official publication of the Sea
farers International Union is available to all members who wish
to have it sent to their home free of charge for.the enjojnnent of
their families and themselves when ashore. If you desire to have
the LOG sent to you each week address cards are on hand at every
SIU branch for this purpose. ^
However, for those who are at sea or at a distance from a SIU
hall, the LOG reproduces below the form used to request the LOG,
which you can fill out, detach and send to: SEAFARERS LOG, 51
Beaver Street, New York 4, N. Y.
PLEASE PRINT INFORMATION
To the Editor:
• I would like the SEAFARERS LOG mailed to the
address below:
Name
Sheet Address
City Zone State
Signed
Book No. ....:
A few days ago, 1 Was flooded
with countless requests (on
postcard) as to my recent where
abouts. So herein follows the
"New Adventures of Red Cafnp
bell. Boy Sailor"—^not to be con
fused with "Don Winslow of the
Coast Guard." .
After a few short trips on the
"Gadsden" The Big Lift — I
shifted over to Cities Servici
The Big Joke. I regret I didn't
understand braille, for I must've
been blind to sign on. So there
1 was on the Bradford Island,
August, 1950 B.C.—^before con
tract. These ships are equipped
with the latest listening devices
—tliey're hidden in the foc'sles.
FLOATING GAS STATION
On this floating gasstation, in
a,few days the Mate and I be
came mutual acquaintances—we
hated each other. Six AM in the
morning this guy has got me
soojeing the radar mast. On a
Waterman ship, at this time, I'd
just be finishing up the night
limch (such as it is) I could've
made a monkey out of him, but
why should I take aU the cred
it. Him and tbe Captain remihd
^ me of "a radio program—"Lum
and Abnormal."
The Mate dist>u^ everything
on my overtime sheet but my
name'and rating. When he sent
it back it had more red lines
than a Korean; war map. Under
the CTMA (RiP) contract I Un
derstand the overtime Was to be
paid off in gas coupons. Also,
any crewmember with six
months' service was to be given
extensive use of Cities Service
dealers' restroom facilities.
Believe me, here's a company
that would have to take a strato
plane to hit you below the belt.
CS equals Cities Service. CS
also equals "Chickensomethittg."
However, my sentence with
them ended shortly. During our
trip we hit Amuay Bay, Vene
zuela. What a place! It was so
iot down there the trees were
following the dogs.
Most of the crews dig in at
the Carioca Hotel. I understand
that Dr. Kinsey spent seven
years writing his report. At the
Carioca he could've done it in
one night.
At present Fm making the
buck aboard the Bull Line ex
'press, the SS Frances. I'm really
appreciated around here. I think
they are going to make me a
partner. The Port Captain said
if I kept up what I was doing
he was going to give me the
business.
This is one ship that ties up
in some queer places. At Pier
23 in Brooklyn we're so close
to the street we have to shift
ship everytime the crosstown
trolley comes by. But right
now I'll have to shift back to
the deck and off to Puerto Rico
and Santo Domingo.
the boards and decks in the
showers.' ^ ,
The cement around one of the
bowls in the head has loosened
to such an extent as to allow
water and the like to get under
neath. This, as we all know,
leads. to stagnation and a more
or less profuse breeding of harm
ful germs. ^
The scuttlebuts in the passage
ways are so dirty, foullooking
and foulsmelling as to almost
sicken one when he drinks. The
tanks are dirty and thet water
is dirty and evil smelling half
the time.
The mattresses are terribleand
the springs are held together in
some cases by pieces of line and
rope yams. With the exception
of the 48 foc'sles, the foc'sles
are poorly ventilated—especially
the 124 foc'sle.
The men on that watch go to
work as tired and worn out as
when they sacked in. When i
call them they are wet with perr
spiration, and their sacks look
like someone poured water in
them. The blower is working, but
the air cuts over to the port side^
not in their room. The First and
Chief engineers have been told
and shown this. Nothing, how
ever has been done.
When confronted with the im
pair list we had prepared, the
Skipper (Captain Hetshberger)
said it was absurd. How about
that?
Red Campbell
Make Port Newark
Cabbie Flip Flag,
Wagner Advises
To the Ediior:
I would like to point out to
all men who are riding our tank
er outfits the :^ituation that now
prevails with the taxis in Port
Newark, N. J.
I am not sure that all the
taxis are the same but quite a
few of them try to charge a
flat rate of two dollars to run a
man from Newark to Port New
ark, or viceversa.! They do not
put the meter down.
The point is that you can
make the run with the regular
meter clicking' for about $1.45.
So you are being taken along
with the taxi company.
So anytime that you must
make a ship in Port Newark, tell
the driver that you want to
hear that meter clicking.
"Blackie" Wagner
SS ̂ French Creek
HOWCOME
What I cannot imderstand is
this: with about 90 perceirii^of
the crew bookmen these days,
how did this ship ever. fall, .to
such a, level? .7:
I hiave been sailing only a
few years, comparatively, but I.
do hold a book. Further I hope
to keep it for .the years to come;
I am not one of the men who
fought so hard for the Union
when it was begun back in 1938.
But I am one of the Brother
who will fight to keep those
hardwon gains.
All the men I have talked to
say the same thing. "When I see
a ship in this condition, how can
I help but wonder?
Brother Philip Eldemire ship
ped aboard as an AB and was
elected delegate. He and I have
been and are leading the crew in.
protest. Thus far we have re^
ceived oidy a passive backing.
At least if" seems so to me. I
hope that I am wrong, that onc^
in port we wiU get active and
substantial support from the
crew. Phil has" written for a
Patrolm^. tp meet the ship
when she docks.
Brother^ I am not writing this
for personal or vengeful motives
Rather, I am writing this in pro !
test .of the laxity of some of ouf
members.
I do not encourage radicalism.
I try to discourage this as much
as possible. I do encourage fight
ing forthe conditions agreed to
in the contract. This sort of
thing can spread, if we let i^
like cancer and is just as fatall
So. Brothers, I ask you, "Aure
we to let this continue and per*
haps ruin or harm our way p|
making a living?" ; ,
If not then, especially/ you
bookmen, let's • fight and get
what is ; rightfully ours. When
you board a ship like this don't
say "The hell with it." Stay and
fight until you get what is.yoiirs.
Fraternally yours<
Robert M. HanUnomL
Book No. 50290
Friday^ Se^flimbM 29, 1950 ^TWE SB AT A R E RS LOG Page Nine
Digested Minutes Of SlU Ship Meetings
( (Continued fr^ Psge 7) phos needed to the Delegates of Ship's Treasurer reported®^i32 in Caotain was asked for all naoers turned over i( (Continued fr^ Page 7)
contains a black substance that
is covering clothes and makes
showering difficult. Motion car
lied to write a letter of criticism
to the South Shore Laundry,
S805 8th Avenue, Brooklyn, re
garding the disgusting way they
attended to the ship's laundry.
Company to be informed of the
poor cleaners theyare using for
the ships.
% X t,
SS STEEL ARCHITECT. Sept.
10—Chairman. Ed. Nooney; Sec
retary. M. Purpoinski. Delegates
reported number of books anc
permits in their departments.
Suggestion made that fund be
raised for purchase of washing
machine. Crewmembers asked to
fill out beneficfary forms for
welfare plan before the ship
sails.
X % X
SS ELIZABETH. Sept. 17 —
Chairman. Juan Reinova; Sec
retary, Carlos Labisa. Delegates
reported everything in order.
Delegate reported that several
times the Captaiii has been
caught doing sailors' work and
he is be;ing particularly severe
on men on, gangway watches.
Patrolman to be consulted in
the matter. Chief Electrician
suggested a variety in the menus.
X i.
SS STEEL MARINER. Sept, 3
Chairman. Joe Bums;' Secre
tary. Luther Hammond. Dele
gates reported no beefs, number
of books and permits in their
jdepartments. Three crewmem
IJjers given a vote of thanks for
jcatching enough fish while en
route through the Panama Canal
to give the crew a fresh fish
dinner.
X %
SS JOHN B. WATERMAN,
^ept. 13—Chairman. W. Waddle;
jSecretary. P. St. Marie. Dele
jgates reported some disputed
Overtime. Delegate asked the
Steward why stores weren't ob
jtained in Puerto Rico and was
told the Captain forbid it. Rec
[ommendation made that the
Steward give a list of the sup
Time For Minutes
To speed up as much as
possible the appearance in
the LOG a digest of their
shipboard proceedings all
crews are advised to send
copies of their minutes direct
to the Editor. Seafarers Log.
51 Beaver St.. New York
4. N. Y.
Port Agents should also
forward their copies of ship's
minutes to the LOG as soon
as possible after receiving
ihem.
Any other material relat
Ihg to the voyage, such as
stbriesi pictures, letters, ete^
can be sent in with the
minutes. '
plies needed to the Delegates of
each department before the or
der is turned in.
XXX
SS ROBIN WENTLEY, Aug.
28—Chairman, E. Wariield; Sec
rgfary. Thomas Reilly. Delegates
reported no beefs. Motion carried
to check the ice boxes each day
for temperature. Hospital equip
ment to begchecked by Ship's
Delegate. ̂̂ 'asJiing machine to be
fixed in South Africa and if this
is not possible a new machine is
to be purchased in the States.
Ship's Treasurer reporte3^i32
in. ship's fund.
XXX
SS ROBIN SHERWOOD. Sept.
17—Chairman. Pat Murphy; Sec
retary. Frank Crider. Delegates
reported everything in order, ex
cept for Stewards Department
which has 14 hours of disputed
overtime, kfotion carried that the
Steward is to let the crew know
what stores are coming aboard
in the nexti port and to be sure
that nothing is short. Suggestion
made to have library exchanged
in nexrpOT't. Captain was asked
about stores situation and crew
was told it was not his business
to interfere with Port Steward's
affairs.
XXX
SS ALCOA CORSAIR. Sept.
24 — Chairman. Major Costello;
Secretary. J. Seaver. Delegates'
reports accepted. Ship's Delegate
told crew of "Cut And Rim"
Hank's Fund. Ship's Delegate
told crew that when Coast Guard
screens crew "upon arrival in
port a receipt is to be demanded
Recently there has been a small wave of "Big Town" are: Vic Johnson, E. Cioper, R.
complaints from members that they have Grindle, J. Sharp, Geo. Brazil, G. O'Neill,
either been taken over in card games or
were stuck on money they had lent out.
While it is agreed that a shipmate or Union
Brother who would stick friends doesn't
deserve being called anything but a lousy
the membership must also realize
that the Union is not a debtcollecting
J. Hilton, Jojo Touart, and A. Iverson. . . .
Have you ever been hospitalized for a long
period of time? Lonesome, isn't it? How
about dropping a line to shipmates whose
names you see in the LOG's hospital listing.
. . . Rafael Maidando and Chen De Ligh:
get in touch with Paul Gonsorchick, as he
agency. When you lend money out and get has been Jiolding money for you for almost
stuck for it, that is your personal business, seven months. He has made enough interest
The only thing to do with a guy like that is on it, and now wishes to see you get it.
to expose him for the cheap punk that he is.
the next time you see him. Remember, this
s a small world and in time you will run
nto a guy of that sort.
Bill Mpontsikaris just registered after
hirteen months aboard the Couer de Alene
Victory. Must have been a good Cook to
last that long, or else the" SIU has thirty
odd half starved members on. it's hands. ...
Contributions for the "Hank Fund" are still
rolling in. Haye you made yours? If not, see
the Agent in your port. . . . For the benefit
of those members who have lacked the in
erest to learn where meetings are held in
the port of New York, they are being held
in the Union Hall. It's hard to believe, but
we have members still showing up at Web
ster Hall, where we haven't had a meeting
in years. Wake up, fellows. If this Union had
to rely on "wideawake" members of this
sort, it would have gone to pot long ago.
Despite previous warnings, permit mem
bers are still missing the boat, and as a
result seventeen white cards were shipped
in the deck and engine departments, during
the month of September. . . . Red Beers is
doing the bellyrobbing on the Seatrain Ha
vana. Nobady has quit yet because of it....
To all members who are looking for that
boom to come along as a result of the Kor
ean War, this is to inform you that the
boom IS—but on the West Coast; anyone
interested in steady shipping for some time
to come should grab a rattler out to the
Coast. PS—I'm not drumming up business
for the railroads, either.
Bull Steamship Co. has temporarily laid
up the Monroe, to the regret of the whole
gang. For an Old bucket, she is in good con
dition. The deck gang swears that she is the
easiest ship to work on deck. We also un
derstand t^at the Bosun has been on this
ship for eight years and can tell anyone
nterested the exact number of rivets in
tier. . . . We are also informed that the Bull
Line is considering selling the Hilton, which
would leave that company with just three
of their old scows in operation.
Over one hundred SIU members have
been shipped into the Cities Service fleet in
the last month. Oldtimers as well as new
comers have been taking these jobs in
order to put the finishing touches to the
SIU's organizing campaign. Among those
recently shipped .into that fleet are: Sid
Turner, Bill Scott, Early Punch (that's his
real name), Frank Lamberti, Ray Arnold,
Bill McDonald, Harvey Shero, Ziggy Wydra,
Sam Langham, and T. Chilinski, Aheady in
the fleet and practising as well as preach
ing the policy of "organizing the unorgan
ized" are Johnny Robarts, Warren Woqdill,
P. Mays, H. Swann, H, S. Miller, and John
Tiemey.
If you are moving from your present ad
dress and wish to continue receiving the
SEAFARERS LOG, be sure to notify the
Editor of the change of address, giving both
the new and old address. ... If you have
not yet filled out the necessary form des
ignating your beneficiary: for the Welfare
Fund's death benefit, you can get same from
the port agent, or wait for the next sign on
... If you have not paid this month's alimony
you had better not wait for the next sign
on—there may never be one. ... Is it true
that a certain Bosun couldn't ship the other
day because his gear has a mortgage which
is held by an uptown hotel? How come,
Larry?
Among the proposed plans for the future
SIU building in New York are a cafeteria,
bar and grill, automatic laundry, showers,
large auditorium, along with the usual items
such as mail and baggage rooms, recreation
rooms and piecards. The membership will,
of course, have to vote on these proposed
plans before they are put into effect . . .
Quite a number of the membership have
written in for . the questions and answers
for Fireman, Oiler, Deck Engineer, Electri
cian and Reefer Engineer. In case you don't
know it, you can receive any or all of the
above by writing in to the New York Hall.
"Hasta la vista," which, for the benefit of
the Spanish speaking membership, means
for all papers turned over to
them for scrutiny.
.XXX
SS ARCHER'S HOPE. Sept. 16
—Chairman, and Secretary not
given. Delegates' reports accept
ed. Delegates to take care ol
matter of raising money foi
sending telegrams and radio
grams to SIU. Booklets on Union
constitution and bylaws distri
buted among crew.
XXX
SS WINTER HILL (date not
given)—Chairman. Ray Aureitt;
Secretary. R. Perry. Special
meeting called to discuss the
firing of an OS and transfer of
Deck Maintenance to AB. Bos
un stated that the man was
fired for good reasons and more
men would be fired at end of
trip so a crew would be formed
that would work harder.
XXX
SS ABIQUA. Septl 9 — Chair
man. Herbert Skelton; Secretary.
Lawrence Reinter. Suggestion
made that each man donate $1
to ship's fund for outfitting the
crew's recreation room. A few
beefs were raised concerning
neglected repairs in the foc'sles.
XXX
SS GOLDEN CITY (no date)
— Chairman. Alonzoz Milfeki;
Secretary. T. Walker. Delegates
reported everything okay. Motion
carried to request Charles Pal
mer to remain as ship's delegat,^
for another trip. Suggestion
made that one man from each
department be made responsible
for cleaning laundry.
XXX
SS AKTION. June 4 —Chair
man. John Cummins; Secretary.
Edwin Judd. Ship's Delegate re
ported that the Deck Engineer
had been authorized to extend
a waterline outside of the hous
ing for drinking water while in
port. Delegates reported every
thing in good shape. One man
put ashore in Guam because of
illness. Steward agreed to con
demn fifty pounds of processed
hamburger from the States.
Am
j
Ainong the members registered in the "till I see you again" in English.
SS V/ILLIAM H. CARRUTH
Crewmembers who paid off
this ship in Gulfport and who,
have transportation money due
from Mobile to New York and
Philadelphia can now collect it
at the office of Transfuel Corpo
ration, 25 Broadway, New York
City.
XXX
JOSEPH BOURGEOIS
COSTA T. SKYLLBERG
BARTHOLD CHRISTENSEN
The above named men have
checks covering unclaimed wages
being held for them at Treasury
Department. These men should
forward their correct addresses
to the Maritime Administration,
U. S. Department of Commerce,
Washington 25, D. C., so thaCthe
checks can be mailed out at
once. In writing refer to File
No. F4222rG.
i:
Page Tea r »JB is M WA R E R S i. d G Friday, September 29, 1950
if:,
fi:
W'
Sl^
J'
s'
Wi
Secret Arrivals
Seattle
In The Dark
By RAY OATES
SEATTLE, September 20 —
Shipping in this port has quieted
riown in the past two weeks.
TVhat the future will bring, we
have no way of knowing, as we
cannot get a line on the ships
coming into Seattle from the
Far East—the Army, is keeping
arrivals secret until the ships
get along side of the dock.
This was the case a few weeks
ago when bpth the Robin Hood
and the Robin Gray came in
• without advance notice and or
dered full crews.
. This is kind of tough going in
a small port like Seattle, to line
tip men and fulfill our contract
with our companies, but we are
doing the best we can. However,
We are trying what we can to
try to get information about ar
rivals a few days in advance.
Hope we sutceed.
Some .amazing testimony is
coming out in the inquiry into
the sinking of the Navy hospi
tal ship Benevolence by the SS
Mary Luckenback off San Fran
cisco.
UNSEAWORTHY
One of the more startling
statements was given by the
Bosun's Mate of the Benevo
lence, which is manned by a
MSTS crew. In his sworn testi
mony, he said that he consid
ered the ship unseaworthy, be
cause of the lack of qualified
seamen. Several of the crew,
he said, didn't even have sea
men's rating papers.
This is no surprise to us out
here, who have seen the MSTS
finkherders scouring the skid
Qumiffiations For Ot^e
Qualifications for office In the Seafarers Intermitlonal Union, Atlantic and Gulf
District as provided for by the CenaiitufioB and Bylaws are as follows:
(a) That he be a citlsen of the United Btatee.
(b) That he be a full member of ihe Seafarers International Union of North
America, Atlantic and Gulf District, In conllnuons good standing for a period of two
(2) years immediately prior to date of nomination.
(c) Any candidate for Agent cnr Joint Patrolman must have tl»ee years of sea
service In any one Of three departnaents. Any candidate for departmontal Patrolman
must have three years sea service in Rmii roqpective department, dee service as
specified In this article, shaU mean on nterehant vessels In unttcensed caparity.
(d) That he has not mlseonducted himself previously while enqiloyed as ah officer
of the Union.
(e) That he be. an active and full book member and show lour months' discharges
for the current in im milicaased rating, prior to date of nomination. This pro
vision shall not api^i^ id'officials and other office holders working for the Union
during current year for period of four or longer.
Any member who can qualify snay nombiate himself for office by submitting.
In writing, his Intention to run for ofitee. naming the particular office and submit
ting the necessary proof Of qualification as listed above.
The notice of Intention, addressed to the SecretaryTreasurer must be In his of
fice not later than Odt^ber 15, 1950, when nominations will be closed.
In addition, each candidate riiall submit a regulation passport photo, taken re
cently, a statement of not more than 100 words, giving a brief summary of his ITnlon
record and activities—both of which wfll be run In the SEAFJ^ERS LOG prior to
the voting period.
Phony Skipper Pulls Phony Mutiny Churge
BT JOE AEGIRA
I NEED1WO
A.e.S AMP A
BoSUN...
rows for men. We don't know
how it is in other ports, but out
here it's pretty bad.
The Seamen's YMCA out here
reports that 1400 men have ship
ped MSTS since the Korean
,War started. We hope that the
Benevolence incident will lead
to a major change in MSTS
policy—let them charter their
ships out to reputable commer
cial outfits who will guarantee
to crew them with competent
civilian, union men—men who
know their jobs.
ir
No Hot Water?
When your ship has been
cut of hot water for ovsr
twelve hours make sure
this fact is recorded in ths
Engine log book. It will save
a lot of trouble when your
ship hits port later.
If you are in port when
the boilers give up the ghost
notify the Hall immediately
and a Patrolman will handle
the matter with the com
pany. Don't wait Until the
ship is half way across the
oraan before you send word;
let out a yell before your
ship leaves port and the mat
ter will be' settled at once.
NEW YORK—Shipping in this
port hdd, its own during the
lasKtwoweek period.
The following ships paid off
in this^port: the SS Hilton, Su
zanne, Frances, Beatrice^ Puerto
Rico, Evelyn, Elizabeth, Steel
Apprentice, S t eel Navigator,
Steel Executive, Azalia City, J.
B. Waterman, Golden City,' The
Aktiom, Lake George, Strath
more and the Harry T. Palmer.
" LONGRANGra,
The only, ship . signed * on in
this port, in, addition fto the
coastwise ships " and those on
continuous, articles, was the
Steel Apprentice.
The Harry T. Palmer came in
from Baltimore'and paid off the
whole crew, and this ship is go
ing , into layup for about ten
days.
On the SS Strathmore we had
a big beef about bonus. Sonny
Simmons got hold of the com
pany and squared this beef away.
Another beef on this ship was,
while laying in Alaska at An
chorage, a few of the boys who
had been having a few beers
got into a friendly fight. After
they had settled their differ
ence they went off to bed.
Somehow, the Old Man heard
about this, came down to the
inessroom and ordered the rest
of the gang, who were shooting
the bull and having coffee, to
their bunks.
CALLS LAW
The men did not want to go
to their bunks, so the Old Man
wont ashore and got the local
law, and all the rest of the. Ikw
he could find, and came back
to the ship and charged the crew
with mutiny. ,This was proven
false but, unfortunately, twp of
the crewmembers were taken be
fore the local law, which'hap
pened to be some old dame who
gave the fellows a few months
in jail for drinking aboard the
ship.
The Union feels this was jm
necessary on the part of the
Captain to call the local law
when just a friendly fight was
taking place. Some of these Cap
tains should realize that the Un
ion has gone on record as con
demning gashounds, but where,
Skippers do not use their heads
it does not help the Union to try
and control gashounds.
It is unfortunate that things
like this happen, as all the pa
pers had big editorials about the
mutiny at Anchorage, Alaska;
and the radios played it up also,
stating that this was a commu
nist crew, although it is a,mat
ter of record that we are strict
ly against and would not tole
rate any communists in r^ur Un
ion.
This Skipper also disputed all
overtime that crewmembers had
earned. When the ship pulled
into Wilmington, the delegates
got in touch with the Agent and
he went down to'see the Skip=
per and got the overtime squared
away.
ALL SQUARED AWAY
Upon leaving Wilmington, the
Skipper immediately disputed
all overtime again. When the
Patrolman out of New York,
Sonny Simmons, went aboard
the ship, he got ail the overtime
squared away again, plus the
bonus and transportation that
the Skipper said he would not
pay.
Sonie of these Skippers should
get it into their heads they do
not pay any money, it is up to
the companyand the IBiion to
get squared away. Theirs is the
right to dispute overtime, hut
not to go around and tell crews
that they won't pay this or they
won't pay that.
ACTION
We are going to meet with
the company to get this Skipper
squared away. As we have sta
ted in the past, we do not expect
our members to be Sunday
School boys, as men who go to
sea have little enough from life.
But, on the other hand, we
expect Captains to have some
sense and to use it and not con
fuse crew members by such stuff
as this Captain pulled. We be
lieve that this Captain will
happier on another ship, not un
der contract to the Seafarers In
ternational Union.
Anbody wishing to donate to
Cut and Run Hank's fund may
do so by giving whatever he,
wishes to give to the Patrolman
who pays off his ship, or at the
Union Hall—or he can send a
checkto Headquarters—but how
ever it is given, make sure an
official receipt is made out.
Ihihn Wred(m An WaweJ
The SlU Is on record ihal changes will be placed against
men guilty of bring the following:
PILFERERS: Men who walk ofi ships with crew's equip
ment or ship's gear, such as sheets, towels, ship's stores, cargo,
etcu for sale ashore.
WEEDHOUNDS: Men who are in the possession of or
who use marijuana or other narcotics on board an SIU ship
or in the vicinity of an SIU HalL
GASHOUND PERFORMERS: Men who jeopardise the
safety of their shipmates by drinking while at work on a ship
or who turn to in a drunken condition. Those who disrupt the
operation of a ship, the payoff or signon by being gassed up.
This Union was built of, by and for seamen. Seafarers
fought many long airi bloody fights to obtain the wages and
conditions we now enjoy. For the first time in the history of
the marftine industry a seaman can support himself and his
family in a decent and independent manner. The SlU does
net tolerate the jeopardiring of these conditions by the actions
of irresponsible^
In any occupation there is a small group of foulballs.
While the Union has been fortunate in keeping such characters
to a minimum, we must uliminate them altogether from the
SIU. ,
All Seafarers, members and officials alike, are under
obUgatlon to place charges against these types of characters.
Diverted Shipt
Slow Slilpiiing
In Baltimore
By WILLIAM (Curly) RENTB
BALTIMORE—The past couple
of weeks brought nothing but
slower shipping to this port and
the prospects for the weeks
ahead are" tough to figure right
now. Several vessels originally
scheduled for this ̂ port have
been diverted to others..
At any rate, we're hoping for
a pickup soon as we have plenty
of men on thp beach to take ca^
of any increase in shipping. We
would like to point out, how
ever, that many of those hang
ing around are guys waiting for
special runs, an unwise practice,
especially when you can never
be sure these days of what the
future will offer.
Once you let a job go by, it's
lost to you. You can never caUl
it back. A job in hand is worthf
two on the way.
CLEAN PAYOFFS
We had a number of payoffs
and signons during the past
twoweek period and all of thenn
were wound pp in good shape.
All overtime beefs were settled
right aboard the ships involved.
Several scows were in the port
on intransit status but none oi
them called for replacements.
Remember our slogan? "A SItJ
ship is a clean ship?" Well, let's
keep showing how true it is!
When you leave your vessel,
make sure your room is left
clean for the oncoming man.
Leave the ship in the condition
you'4 like to find it were you
coming aboard.
Everything in Baltimore i^
okay at the moment, except off
course, for the strike over at thei
Maryland shipyard. We're allj
hoping that the men on the lines;
will win their demands very'
soon, and that we'll be able t6|
tell you about a victory in the
next issue of the LOG.
Mobile Shipping
On Slow Side
By CAL TANNER
MOBILE, Sept. 22 — Shippi
in this port for the past tw
weeks has been fair, with
slight decline of jobs over
previous weeks.
The following ships paid oil
within the past two weeks: thei
Wild Ranger, Cavalier, Polaris.']
Iberville, Monarch of the Seas
and the Alcoa Runner.
. The signons were: the Cava
lier, Polaris, W. H. Carruth an^
the Alcoa Runner. The ships in^
transit were: the Fairhope, An^
drew Jackson and the Stee
Worker.
Shipping prospects for the por
are very dim, with the Fairisl
and the W. H. Carruth still irj
drydbck.
We met with Colonel Howel
of the Alabama State Selectiv
Service Board in regards to de
ferments for seamen. Progress ii
being made in this respect, 'a
there will be a meeting held i:
Montgomery, Alabama, n
month, but 1 urge the men
the 1926 group to keep in touc
with their draft board.
We are stUl having consider*
able, relief jobs coming up or|!
the board, although not as manj
as we would like to see for th^
boys on the beach. It seems a
if ^he boneyard in Mobile ha
folded,up.
Fridar< Idi^ THE SEAFARERS LOG Page ClevM
WILMINOTON—Beciiiue there
• W£X
hole old a regulBT meeting, a spe
cial meeting whs held to hear
the Agent's report and a repet^
on shipping for the Iwoweeh
period that iust ended.
• t t ».
NORFOLK—there were not
25 members present for a quor
lun. the regular meeting was not
held. A special meetihg was call
ed for the purpose of checking
the shipping cards. Excuses for
• hsence were referred to the
Dispatcher.
& j; ^
PHILADELPHIA =• Chairman.
W. J. Reidy. 6734; Reading Clerk,
A. S. Cardullo. 24599; Recording
Secretary, G. H. Seeberger, 6932.
Minutes of all other Branches
having New Business was read
and accepted. Agent reported on
Branch affairs and on state of
shipping. Motion made and car
ried to accept his report. Charges
were read against a member and
a Trial Committee was elected
to hear the case and report back
«'to the meeting. A Brother in ar
rears was permitted to paj^ back
dues and ship from port. Agent
was instructed to get loud
^>eakers fixed for next meeting,
as the reading clerk must shout
to be heard throughout the Hall.
The meeting voted unanimously
ito concur with special meeting's
action against accepting "vali
dated" seamen's papers from the
i Coast Guard. Report of Secre
taryTreasurer to membership
and his financial report were ac
cepted. Dispatcher's report was
accepte'd. Robert Mills was given
i| Oath of Obligation. There being
iipo Good and Welfare, the meet
|!ing was adjourned with 180
ipembers present.
t 4
. BALTIMORE—Chairman. Wm.
Ranfz, 26445; Recording Secre
tary, G. A. Mastersom 2029;
Reading Clerk, AI Stansbiury,
4B48.
A&C Shipping from Sept 6 To Sept 20
PORT
Boston ......
New York....
Philadelphia
Baltimore
Norfolk.......
Savannjih.
Tampa.
Mobile. .......
New Orleans
Galveston
West Coast
GRAND TOTAL..
REQ. REG). REG. TOTAL SHIPPED 3HJPPED SHIPPED TOTAL
PECK ENp.
1
STWDS. REP. DECK ENG. STWPS. SHIPPED
44 30 24 98 • 20 21 14 55
141 144 129 414 118 199 82 399
25 23 19 67 10 5 6 21
127 84 84 295 74 63 49 186
11 fi 4 20 8 7 7 22'
21 ' H 7 39 3 6 6 15
17 9 7 33 14 11 9 34
34 54 42 130 38 46 43 127
58 61 65 184 51 49" 56 156
30 26 29 85 17 22 15 54
62 .45 40 147 40 23 19 82
570 • 492 450 \ 1,512 393 452 306 1,151
Minutes of last Branch meet
ing read and accepted. Minutes
of special meeting, which went
on record against signing ap
plications for new seamen's pa
pers, were read and concvu:red
in. Baltimore financial reports
and SecretaryTreasurer's finan
cial reports were read and ac
cepted. Report of Quarterly Fin
ance Committee, dated August
29, 1950, were read and accepted
by the membership. Two mem
bers were given permission to
change from the Stewards de
p^tment to the deck department.
All • excuses from the meeting
jwere referred to the Dispatcher.
lAgent's and Dispatcher's reports
Iwere accepted. At' this point
lipeating stood in silence for one
[minute in memory of our de
parted Brothers. Under Good and
Welfare, several members spoke
on the necessity of bookmem
bers taking jobs on the Ore ships,
to keep finks and freeloaders
from getting jobs off the dock
on sailing days. It was pointed
out that several such had been
put aboard these ships on the
last three trips. Meeting ad
jiQurned with 300 members pres
b '
. NEW YORK—Chairman, Earl
gheppard. 203; , Recording Sec
retary, Freddie Stewart, 4935;
iVeading Clerk, Robert Matthews,
j54.
' Minutes of last New York
meeting and other Branch meet
ings read and accepted. New
York Branch financial report and
Secretary Treasurer's financial
reports were accepted. Trial
Committee's report of Septem
ber 7 was read and concurred
in. Headquarters report to the
membership covered the follow
ing items; Almost daily negotia
tions with Cities Service have
reiult^ in a tentative agree
ment on most of the issues.
Headquarters felt that full agree
ment would be reached within
the next few weeks. It was re
ported that the War Risk Bonus
for the Far Eastern waters has
been increased from the $5,000
paid in the last war to $10,000.
Headquarters officials are to ap
pear in Washington next week
(September 25) to testify before
a Senate Labor subcommittee
on antilabor activities of the
Cities Service Oil Company.
Headquarters recommended that,
inasmuch as this meeting con
stituted a supreme quorum, the
resolution listing the offices to
be put on ballot for next elec
tion be handled in a special
meeting between tlus night and
the next meeting. As per pre
vious membership action, Head
quarters reported, the Strike and
Organizational Fund of the Un
ion has been changed to the
Organizational and Legislative
Fund. Motion made and carried
that the Headquarters report be
accepted. Agent reported on the
state of shipping in this port.
He reported on the actions of
the Skipper on the SS Strath
more, who disputed all overtime
on this ship and who highhand
edly worked UP a phony "mu
tiny" scare when the ship was
laying in Anchoragi?, Alaska.
Agent's report and those of Pa
trolmen and Dispatcher were ac
cepted. Requests for excuses
were referred to the Dispatcher.
Charges were held for a trial
Committee to be elected the fol
lowing day. One minute of sil
ence was observed for departed
Brothers. There being no Good
and Welfare, the meeting was
adjourned with 840 members
present.
• » » g
BOSTON—No regular meeting
was held due to,the breakdown
of the subway s^^em. which
prevented the membership from
getting down to the^all.
t. % %
GALVESTON — Chairman,
Keith Alsop, 7311; Recording
Secretary, R. Wilbuyn, 37739;
Reading Clerk, C. Tannehill,
25922.
Minutes of previous Galveston
meeting and other Branch meet
ings read and accepted. Galves
ton financial reports. Quarterly
Finance Committee report. Head
quarters report to membership
and SecretaryTreasurer's finan
cial reports read and accepted.
AgSP.tj Patrolman and Dispatcher
reported on shipping in this port
and the state of the Branch. Mo
tions were carried to accept the
reports of the Branch officials.
Under New Business it was vot
ed that all standby jobs on gov
ernment riiips, that have not
been assigned to any one com
pany, be classified as regular
standby jobs, as per the shipping
rules. If an SIU company later
gets the ship, standby men on
this ship must giet off and regu
lar jobs shipped off the board.
Membership stdod one minute
in silence for . departed Brothers.
MOBILE—Chairman, O. Stev
ens, 115; Recording Secretary, J.
CanoU, 14; Reading Clerk, L.
Neira, 26393.
Minutes of previous meeting
read and accepted. Action of
special meeting rejecting Coast
Guard attempt to introduce spe
cial "validated" papers was con
curred in. Headquarters report
to membership, SecretaryTrea
surer's financial report and re
port of Quarterly Finance Com
mittee were read and accepted.
Membership voted to accept
minutes of other Branches hold
ing meetings. Agent, Patrolmen
and Dispatcher gave their re
ports. Agent reported that ship
ping had slowed down in this
port, with about ten ships ex
pected within the next two
weeks.. If the Maritime Board
broke down, he said, and pulled
some ships out of the local bone
yard, it would help this port no
end. The Agent warned against
losing seamen's papers, as the
new ones issued wiU be the
"validated" kind, whether one
likes it or not. Meeting was ad
journed with 300 members pres
ent.
i
SAN FRANCISCO—Chairman,
H. Fischer, 59; Recording Secre
tary, S. Zygarowski, 43925; Read
ing Clerk, Red ConneU, 102353.
Minutes of previous meeting
and special meeting read and ac
cepted. SecretaryTreasure's, fin
ancial report. Headquarters re
port to' membership and. Quar
terly Finance Conunittee's report
read and accepted. Trial Com
VERNON BELFLOWER, SUP
Your gee and Union book are
being held for you in the Gal
veston SIU Hall.
4 * * *
EMMETT J. TIERNEY
Wire your local draft hoard,
giving the name of ship and
company by whom you are
presently employed. ^
% X %
EVIS J. THIBODEAUX, JR.
Yom' mother and family are
worried about you. Please write
to them in New Orleans.
XXX
JAN SIDOR
You are "requested to get in
touch immediately with the Po
lish Social Service Bureau, Inc.,
145 East 52nd St., New York
Gity (Telephone: MUrray Hill
81466). They have important
information for you.
XXX
ROBERT PIERCE
Please forWard your perman
ent address to E. B. (Mac) M9
Auley, 3611 W. Clark Circle,
Tampa, Fla.
XXX
RICHARD COMSTOCK
Get in touch with your brother,
Thomas, at 237 West 105th St.,
Apt. 2, [New York City. Phone:
MOnumOnt 66363.
JAMES H, POPE,,.
Get in touch with Chilton
Bryan, Commerce Building,
Houston 2, Texas.
XXX
CLYDE STILL
Get in touch with Robert F.
Reynolds, 1302 Hobart Building,
San Francisco, Calif.
XXX
WALTER HENRY HOFFMAN
Your mother and father urg
ently request you to come honto
at once. You are also to coni
mimicate""with your local draft
board immediately, advising it
of your present employment.
XXX
NORMAN G. BECKA
The abovenamed Seafarer
wishes all his friends and form
er shipnjates that he will short
ly enter a branch of the armed
services.
XXX
EDWARD. DELANEY
^iss Irene Carr asks that you
telephone her at ST. 89371.
XXX
JOSEPH FODAR
Get in touch with Miss Macy
Green, Rainbow Cafe, Texas
City, Tex., at once.
XXX
WILLIAM MAJOR WEST
Please communicate with your
family in Norfolk, Va..
mittee was elected, and charges
against three Brothers turned
over to them. > Minutes of other
Branch meetings read and ac
cepted. Agent reported that
about 12 intransit ships are due
to hit this port and there might
be a couple of payoffs, but there
was no way of knowing when,
as they are imder Army and
Navy charter and their move
ments are kept secret. Crewmem
bers were urged to take action
against performers on their ships,
so as to eliminate any disputes
of this type on the West Coast.
Dispatcher and Patrolmen gave
their reports. Under Good and
Welfare, several Brothers took
the deck urging the member
ship to continue to crackdown
on performers. Membership stood
in silence for one minute in
memory of Brothers lost at sea.
Meeting adjourned with 200
members present.
XXX
SAVANNAH—There being no
quorum for a regular meeting, a
special ixieeting was held to read
charges, and to explain the
Coast Guard's move to introduce
special "veilidated" seamen's doci
uments.
XXX
TAMPA—Due to a lack of a
quorum no meeting could be
held.
$• 4" 4^
NEW ORLEANS — Chairman.
Leroy Clarke, 23062; Recording
Secretary, Herman Troxclair..
6743; Reading Clerk, Buck Ste
phens, 76.
Business was suspended to
hear requests for extensions on
shipping card. Five requests
were received and turned over
to an elected committee of the
groups involved. Later in the
meeting four requests were
granted 80 days extension. Pre
vious minutes and New Orleans
1 inancial report were read and
accepted. Headquarters financial
reports were accepted. Charges
against three members were
read and referred to a trial com
mittee to be elected the next day..
Minutes of other Branches were
read and concurred in. Agent
reported that business of port
was in good shape. Shipping
outlook for next few weeks was
not too hot with only four ships
scheduled for payoff. There is a
report from Washington that 25
more ships are due out of the
boneyard, but there is no know
ing to whom they will be as
signed. There were very few
beefs on Ibe ships coming in
during the last two weeks and
these were all handled at pay
off. The Agent had high praise
for the Del Norte crew who had
everything all lined and ready
for the payoff and no beefs.
Agent's report was accented by
the membership, as were those
of the Patrolmen and Dispatcher.
Excuses from the meeting were
referred to the Dispatcher. Head
quarters report to membership
concurred in. Under New Busi
ness, a motion was carried to
buy a radio for recreation floor.
Meeting authorized Agent to get
HaU airconditioned or cooled
off in some way for the summer,
and some sort of safety screens
or bars for the windows. Undec
Good and Welfare members dis
cussed ways and means of get
ting more shoregang*work in this
port. Meeting adjourned with
312 members in attendance.
Vi^e Twelre • r^v'.' ; THE S t, AREKS LO G Frid»7, S«pt«nber 29, 1950
GS Signs FnU S10
After StoUliig For Years
The Cities Service Oil Company's 16ship tanker fleet begins operating on Occtober 1 under full contract to the SIU^
Atlantic and Gulf District, following signing of an agreement by company and Union representatives on September 2^.
Thus, the SIU's unwavering fouryear battle to bring genuine collective bargaining representation to CS seamen, des*
pite seemingly insurmountable odds, ended in victory.
>The contract, which will run until February 15, 1952, supersedes the interim agreement sighed last March.
Under terms of the pact, the CS Marine Division shut down its hiring office on 70 Pine Street, which had onCe serred
as a place for screening out of the CS fleet men with Union sympathies. The company has also pledged that it will no longer
use the various crimp joints to obtain men and agreed to use the SIU hiring facilities to obtain its unlicensed crewinembers. ,
, A grievance procedure is established under the contract to handle violations charged by the Union in the company'^
execution of the contract. «
In a memorandum to the agreement. Cities Service agreed to a Seafarers Benefit Plan, to be financed by employer con^
tributions of 2 5cents a day j^g agent for unlicensed men,
I:
:
I •
li^
i
i:
m
k/[
foreach man employed on
its ships. The company will
contribute to the fund re
troactive to August 1, 1950.
The company also agreed to
commence negotiations on three
points any time after 30 days af
ter the signing of the contract,
upon written request of the Un
ion. The Union demanded this
provision in the agreement to al
low it opportunity to bring the
CS pact in line with, those pre
vailing with other contracted
companies.
Points referred to in this mem
orandum involve the shortage of
one Messman in the Stewards
department riianning scale, the
matter of CS not paying for 5
PM to 8 AM overtime in port,
and for shifting mutterworth ma
chines Or washing tanks.
• In the course of the negotia
tions leading to the contract,
which was signed for the com
pany by Christopher Story, CS
vicepresident in charge of Ma
rine Operations, the companj'
made it clear that it intended
,to promote harmonious labor
management relations and to
eradicate all of the practices
responsible for the long legal
stalling and discrimination
against union men, previously
^ployed by the Marine Divi
sion.
As an indication of its good
fiiith in executing the terms of
the new contract, E. G. Maddock,
Assistant Manager of the com
pany, dispatched a communica
tipn to all supervisory personnel,
representatives and agents, in
forming them of the collective
b^gaining agreement reached
with the SIU, and outlining and
i^elling out their responsibilities
in its observance.
"This«> agreement is widely dif
ferent from any which have pre
' viously been in force in our
fleet in the past," Maddock stat
He urged aU supervisors to
study the agreement carefully
and, in the event of any prob
fem of ambiguous wording, to
communicate with office for
clarification.
"We are very anxious to avoid
any interpretations being placed
upon the Agreement which are
at variance with the intent of
fliose who signed the document,"
the company official asserted.
He then called attention to the
company's recognition of the
SIU • as sole collective bargain
the procedure for keeping rec
ords of overtime work perform
ed by crewmembers, to the com
pany's policy of hiring "as con
tained in Article 2 of the agreev
ment," and to the rights of SIU
passholders when boarding the
ships to carry out the Union's
business.
Maddock's statement conclud
ed by stating that his instruc
tions supersede "all previous
verbal and written instructions
in connections with our agree
ments .^nd working conditions."
In addition to Story, CS rep
resentatives signing the agree
ment were Maddodc, and attor
neys Jame^ P. Farr^ and Carl
O; Bondorff.
Representing the SIU. was Sec
retaryTreasurer Paul Hall, along
with Union officials Earl Shep
pard, Robert Matthews and
Morris Weisberger.
The SIU organizing campaign
in the Cities Service fleet got
under way after it. was chosen
in 1945 as tlje most ripe of all
the unorganized tanker compan
ies for unionization.
Pledges from a majority of
the fleet's crewmembers led to
petitions for NLRB elections,
first on seven ships, then on
nine others acquired later. The
SIU took both elections by over
whelming majorities and was
certified by the Board as rep
resentative for the entire fleet.
The fight to obtain a contract'
developed into what is perhapd
the most sordid chaj>ter in mod
ern maritime history, with the
Marine : Division officials and
their attorney, William P. Lag^
using a labor spy setup, mass
firings, discriminatory hiring
practices," crimps and .similar tac
tics to sandbag the Union and
proUnion CS seamen.
Major Detisions At Annua! AFL Convention
HOUSTON—In a record short
sixday convention, the American
Federation of Labor spread out
for the nation and the world its
position on a vast number of
domestie and international issues.
Major decisions at the 69th an
nual convention were:
Wages and Prices. Price con
trols should be imposed at once,
with a rollback to prices as of
June 23. Wage controls are nei
ther necessary or advisable now.
Wages .should be permitted to
catch up with the rise in living
costs. Any future wage stabiliza
tion must provide room for cor
rection of interplant and inter
ndustry inequities and for in
creases based on higher producti
vity,
TaftHartley Act. A top ob
jective in November will be the
election of a liberal majority in
House and Senate committed to
repeal of the vicious antilabor
TH act, and to enactment of
progressive legislation.
Labor Unity. Need "greater
than ever before," but if nego
tiations for a united labor move
ment are to succeed, they must
be confined for the present to
the AFL and CIO.
Minimum Wages. WageHour
act should be amended .to raise
floor from present 75 cents to
$1 an hour. WalshHealey act
should be flrmly enforced to re
quire payment of prevailing min
imum wages by employers tak
ing government contracts.
Totalitarianism. All forms of
dictatorships are opposed, whe
ther they be called Nazism, Fas
cism, Peronism, Falangism or
Communism.
Social Security. Benefits for to
tal disability, equal to old ago
pensions, should be added; alno
insurance during temporary ill
ness or disability. Pension cov
erage should be raised from
present $3600 to $5400 a year.
Health Insurance. Support re
affirmed, and propaganda of
American Medical Association
denounced.'
Intemalioi^ Relations. Free
countries of Asia should be unit
ed in a defensive agreement sim
ilar to Atlantic Pact. Vestiges of
colonialism and imperialism
should be removed. A single in
depe:ident republic should be set
up for all Korea, with a govern
ment democratically elected tm
der United Nations supervision.
Peace treaties .should be nego
tiated witli Western Germany
and Japan. A permanent United
Nations security force should be
established.
Civil Rights. Support of ciyil
rights legislation and an FEPC
reaffirmed. Poll taxes should be
barred by federal law.
Farm Workers. Legislation to
Scifeguard' their right to organize
and bargain collectively reaf
firmed.
The convention also: Blasted
the phony Stockholm "peace pe
tition" being circulated by Com
mimists; again mged an end to
partition of Ireland; firoposed
that countries getting Marshall
Plan aid use some of the "coun
terpart funds" to. finance demo
cratic school ssrsteins; condemned
"the practice ofthe Tlnited Mine'
Workers (District 50) of invad
ing' the jurisdiction of building
trade unions," and called sjUch
practices "akin to methods of
strikebreaking agencies;" sug
gested criminal penalties for em
ployers "Who bring in aliens il
legally "in the guise of agricul
tural workers or otherwise;" ad
vocated a boycott of all products
made by slave labor; assailed
the military departments of gov
ernment for displacing Civilian
workers in navy yards and other
establishments with men in uni
form; condenmed the Postmaster,
General for cutting mail delivery
services and called for restora
tion of full service.
Senator Johnson Hits US Ship Giveaway
(Continued from Page 4)
ferred from American to foreign
flag's.
Let us analyze briefly these
astounding proposals. Neither
this or any other nation would
ever allow foreign ships to enter
in direct competition with its
own vessels in home waters. For
the United States to do so would
be disastrous to its own domestic
shipping whose operating costs
and wages are far higher. Our
ships would be laid up and our
merchant seamen thrown out df
their jobs.
Reduction and eventual elim
ination of operating subsidies,
which mean merely the parity
of competitive opportunity with
cheap labor foreign lines, would
wipe out a substantial propor
tion of our overseas, shipping.
The repeal of laws requiring
lhat 50 percent of all Marshall
Plan shipments move in Ameri
can vessels would repudiate a
sound congressional mandate,
benefits equal to unemploymentjThig mandate simply means that
it is only fair that American
flag ships get an even break
with foreign ships in the tr^
portation of these cargoes,
which were almost entirely fin
anced by congressional appro
priations already amoimting to
billions of dollars.
The transfer of 100 American
dry cargo vessels andrtankers to
foreign flags would be fantastic
at any time but particularly at
the present time. We may reject
a similar proposal 2 years ago.
My purpose in thus exposing
to you the disastrous effects of
such proposals is to put the Con
Attention Membero!
All appUcallons for unom
ploTtnaat iaeurance in Hew
York City must be made
through the offlees at 165
Joralemon St» Brooklyn
(Third Floor), instead of the
Pistrict ofOces, as formerly.
gress on guard as to their danger
I know that they have actually'
been drawn up for incorporation ^1
in a general plamto bricige over
the Socalled dollar gap for west
ern European nations. I strongly
sh^e in the belief that
should continue to do every •
thing within reason that would?
strengthen any nation alined
with us against the encroach
ments of Communist expimsion.
But I say that it is suicide toi
do this at the expense of ona
of our vital war industries. Our
merchant niarine is part of our
first line of defense. Any attempt
to curtail its operations is , aa
dangerous as an^ attempt to
shrink our Air Force, Army, oijl?
Navy.
Unless the proponent^ of thia i'
fantastic and dangerous proposal i;
withdraw it altogether, I am de
termined to propose for the c6n^
sideration of the Senate a reso
lution to investigate the whole
plan and the individu^s moti*
voting it.
. '''t
iMij
• • fB
'. • './V'''
m • • • >.• y • '"/ (/ ..|l
I • • • >• ' . ... , / ..vU... . :.• ..la
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Official Organ of the Atlantic and Gulf District, Seafarers International Union of North America
VOL^ XII NEW YORK. N. Y.. FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER 29. 1950 No. 19
l.; ;4. .s^i, f. ,5^^^ See istory on Page 12
I ' page Two
iw.; IT ' =
THE SEAFARERS LOG Fridly, Seplomber 29, 1950
SEAFARERS LOG
Published Eyery Other Week by the
SEAFARERS INTERNATIOT>fAL UNJON
OF NORTH AMERICA
Atlantic and Gulf District
f Affiliated with the American Federation of Laher
At 51 Beaver Street, New York 4, N. Y.
HAnover 22784
I Reentered as second class matter August 2, 1949, at the Post
Office in New York, N.Y., under the Act of August 24, 1912.
267
'Cheap' Payment
1 v;
H
Who will ultimately be'blamed in! the sinking of the
I^avy hospital ship, Benevolence, which took 23 lives off
San Francisco last August 25, one thing is clear: This will
not be the last such accident unless the Military Sea Trans
port Service changes its policy <>f hiring inexperienced
personnel.
Although Captain William Murray, aboard the Bene
volence as an observer when she was sunk in a collision
with the freighter Mary Luckenbach, testified that the
lifeboat gear was incomplete—only one of the 14 life
boats was launched—the most damaging testimony came
from the hospital ship's Bosun's Mate.
In his testimony he stated flatly that he considered
the Bpnevolence, which was manned by a crew recruited
through the MSTS, was unseaworthy, because it lacked
qualified crew members. Several, he said, even lacked sea
men's rating papers.
• ' Hiat this is, true is corroborated by SIU Seattle Agent
Ray. Oates, who wrote the LOG of "MSTS finkherders
scouring the skidrows for men." He reports that the Sea
men's YMCA in Seattle has shipped 1,400 men to the
MSTS since the Korean War started back in June. Con
sidering that bona fide maritime unions have very easily
contacted halls on the West Coast and have many quali
fied men sitting on the beach, it makes one wonder if this
*Vcouring the skidrows for men" is not due to an anti
^ union bias.
... V That this may not be farfetched is suggested by the
testimony before the Senate Labor subcommittee (see
story on page 3), which showed that the triggermen of
Citilgi: Service's labor spy apparatus were wartime officers
in the Coast Guard's intelligence setup,
i iPerhaps there are some who consider 23 lives cheap
p paynient, if only unions are kept weak and impotent.
Histbfy records many such, and this country is not un
meh'fiOhed'ih'the listing.
There is only one way out of this situation: Take
the MSTS ships out of the hands of these "anti-labor even
P if dt kills someone" characters; charter them to private
companies and sail them with competent, civilian, union
crews who know their business, and whose organizations
wUl see to it that they are capable of doing their jobs, and
behave aboard ship.
On Cities Service
If anyone has gone past the front page and still
doesn't know that Cities Service has at long last—after
four long, hard years of fighting—signed with the SIU,
he is hereby so notified.
Even an occasional reader of the LOG knows what
the mgn aboard the CS ships and the Union have gone
through to secure this contract. There is no point in re
peating ourselves at this time—although the Union may
in the near future write a comprehensive history of this
beef, for the record—but there is one thing we'd like
• V;:
to say:
The contract is signed, and although improvements
can be made—and will be made in the future—it is bind
a?'.
ing on.both sides. Cities Service has officially notified its
supervisory personnel to abide by the provisions of the
agreement. We shall tfo no less. The SIU has a record
of keeping its word, and will continue to follow the same
course. So to the membership riding CS ships, we say: Do
your job, and do it the SIU way. If yqu have any beefs,
bring them to the Union, and we'll handle them. If any
one violates the contract, it won't be us. And if it is
violated, we know what to do. «
p. HOBIN
H. H. SCHULTZ
S. FINER
R. iPEVINE
F. D. GOSSE
TIM BURKE
i
SAN FRANCISCO
JOHN TONAZZI
A. D. SISTRUNK
A. CUADRA
ERNEST SCHIWEK
LEO COOPER
NEWTON PAINE, Jr.
WONG PONG
4.
BRIGHTON, MASS.
GEORGE WELDON
PRANK J. DIRKSMEYER
R. LUPLIN
X t, %
NORFOLK
JOHN M. SADLER
'X. X X
NEW ORLEANS
J. BEDDINGPIELD
JOSEPH T. BENNETT
C. A. BROWN
JOHN CALDWELL
WILSON O. CAKA
LEWIS P. CAUBLE
WINSTON R. CHANDLER
WALTER F. COKER
ROGELIO CRUZ
.ERNEST E. GROSS
J. M. HALL
AVERY L. HATCH
L. A. HOLMES
GEO. P. IMMEL
D. D. KELLY
HUGH P. LAGAN
LEO H. LANG
OHN J. LAWTON
EDWIN G. MITCHELL
E. NAVARRE
W. H. PARKER
OTTO PEDERSEN
W. A. PERRY
KARL J. RAANA
R. L. SCHIPMAN
R. W. THOMPSON
L. TICKLE
L. VECCHIET
H. THURMAN
XXX
GALVSSTON
W. J. OUVSRI
R. H. PITZER
ARNOLD P. BEHM
JAMES M. GLENN, Jr.
B. W. BLACKMAN
JAMES G. WALSH
JOHN W. McCANN
XXX
BALTIMORE
FRED PITTMAN
GEORGE JACKSON
S. P. DRURY
S, L. CONTRELL
L. G. SHEEHAN
P. MATAN
WM. LANE
MALCOLM D. GETCHELL
XXX
FORT STANTON, NM.
C. NEAL
GIDLOW WOODS
A. McGUIGAN
J. LIGHTPOOT
D. MCDONALD
R. A. RATCLIFFE
S. WALKER
XXX
STATEN ISLAND
GEORGE M. EVERETT
IGNACIA DePUMERO
W. MEEHAN
FRANK KUBEK
PHILLIP PROM
D. KOROBIA
OTTO STEFANSSON
P. ASIGON
L. HOLLIDAY
J. QUIMERA
A. TREVINO
E. HAMPSON
KENNETH D. THOMAS
S. JONAS
CLIFTON NELSON
NICHOLAS KORSAK
JOHN R. CHAKER
JAMES PURCELL
KASIMIR JUCHALSKI
JUAN O'QUENDQ
MICHAEL J. SLINSKI
C. PIGUEROA
GEORGE M. ARNOLD
WILLIAM C. LEE
PRANK X. QUINONES
GERALD PIERONI
CLAUD A. EZELL
S. GLYPTIS
C. BROWN
XXX
ELLIS ISLAND
G. G. GAGE
M. COLLINS
W. HUSSON
B. T. KNEW
X X
SAVANNAH
WM. C. SHEALY
LEO KUDERAND
W. J. MORRIS
WILL JONES /
X XX
SEATTLE
EDWARD RULEY
XXX
PHILADELPHIA—ST. AGNES
DIEGO CALARIN
XXX
MANHATTAN BEACH'
ft
j. T. EDWARDS
E. FERRER
V. CHESNER
M. BRUNO
R. A. BLAKE
J. PADZIK ,
E. LOPEZ
W. PADGETT
J. J. DRISCOLL
J. H. ASHURST
A. LOMAS
V; MILAZZO
H. S. TUTTLE
S. BERGSTROM
P. VORKE
R. CALUBRA
Bill Padgett, SIU delegate at
haUan Beach Hoepital, can be centaet.
ed from 34:30 PU every day en tiui
• ecpnd deck, Weit Side, Ward l« '
'H ' 1
Mday, Si^«nbir 29, 1950 THE SEAFARERS LOG P«ig« Thr99
ines Serrice Charges
WASHINGTON—The SIU's fouryear fight for a Cities Service contract produced ample evidence of an antiunion
conspiracy, among the big oil tanker companies, SecretaryTreasurer Paul Hall told a Senate Labor subcommittee as a probe of
labormanagement relations in the East Coast tanker industry got under way on Monday.
In a statement to the subcommittee, headed by Senator James Murray (Dem., Montana), the SIU official declared tha^
Jhe Cities Service Oil Company and "its allies in . the industry thumb their noses at the law, at the community and the men who
man their ships.*'
Describing the labor spy setup, mass firings, company unions, stalling and similar tactics employed by the CS Marine
(Division to stave off a contract with the SIU, Hall told of the extensive use of crimps like Paddy Keane and other question
able hiring practices prevailing in the unorganized tanker field.
He pointed to the use of the Esso hiring offices as a "clearing house" where job applicants were sent to Cities Service
(vessels after having been screened for union sympathies during the height of CS's antiunion "hysteria."
The SIU official outlined the record of John Collins, a Fordham University professor, who controls companyfostered
.Unions of licensed and uri*
licensed men in the Esso,
SoconyVacuum, Tidewater
Oil Companies. Collins op
erates out of an office in
New York City which
Serves as headquarters for
each of the 14 outfits he
Represents.
Documenting his statement in
detail Hall covered the four
years of the Union's campaign
in the CS fleet, from the begin
ning in October, 1946/ until the
contract signing last Saturday
iafternoon. He said that "we ran
headon into some of the foul
est and dirtiest poolplaying we
have ever seen.. Not that we
didn't expect ,a hard fight but
somewhere we expected the line
to be drawn. It never was."
SOMETHING WRONG
In response to a question by
Joseph Freehill, associate coun
sel to the subcommittee. Hall
said that something must be
wrong with the present law if
iBUch practices cannot be stopped.
Asked by Senator Murray
whether he thought thfe Taft
Hartley law intended to make
such practices possible. Hall an
swered "whoever wrote that
thing must have had some idea
of gumming up the works."
The Union spokesman said
that the Union hiring hall, at
present outlawed by the "Taft
, Hartley Act, could help th^ sit
uation. "If the hiring hall
tiause were incorporated into
iany contract we sign with the
company, another segment of the
industry would become stabilized
and the unsavory practice of pay
ing for jobs through crimps and
shipping masters would end."
WHY NOT BOSSES?
He took issue with the one
sided provision Of the TaftHart
ley law for not requiring em
ployers to show financial state
ments listing their expenditures
in connection with antiunion ac
tivities. "What about all the
money they spend to beat our
brains out?" he asked. "Why
don't they havq to file about
.that?"
Hall urged that the Senate
group investigate the hiring*
practices of the nonunion oil
tanker companies and of Collins'
^ole as a onerman union appar
tus in behalf of these outfits.
Ixcerpts Of Testimony In Next Issue
'Because, in order to make this issue of the SEAFARERS LOG, this story was
written before the hearing into the antiunion tactics of Cities Service was ended, this
account is not complete. In addition, it was impossible to include excerpts from the
' testimony given, especially from fhe nonunion sources. In the next issue, however,
Ae LOG will present selections from the verbatim testimony as recorded by the offi
cial stenographer, the length depending on the space available. You'll be amazed,
Brothersl
The subcommittee heard two
members of the company's spy
ring testify as to their activities
in fingering SIU members for
dismissal. John Basciano, hired
as a shipboard inforhier by John
Dugan, former Coast Guard com
mander, who headed one section
of the antiunion espionage set
up, told how he operated in the
CS fleet, leaving large nqmbers
of unemployed seamen behind
him as he hopped from ship to
ship.
Cesar Scotti, one of the nu
merous shoreside informers, a
private detective working for
the Marine Index Bureau of
New York City, explained how
he was employed by CS attorney
William P. Lage to spot SIU
men applying for jobs in the
company's hiring offices at 70
Pine Street.
LAWYER RUNS OUT
Lage, whose connection with
the company was terminated
about three months ago, did not
appear at the hearing and faces
possible contempt citation. Wil
liam N. Dunstan, subcommittee
investigator said he visited
Lage's present office in Wall
Street, but was told he was not
in and that his law partner re
fused to accept service of a subr
peona. Lage had been scheduled
to testify at the second day of
the hearing.
In response to a recommenda
tion by Ray Murdock, counsel for
the committee. Senator Murray
gave instructions for "further in
vestigatons with a view to citing
Mr. Lage" for contempt.
Dugan admitted utilizing his
connections in the Coast Guard
to develop the spy ring for use
in the company's fight against
the SIU. He "Was dalled into the
picture by Lage who had served
under Dugan in the Coast Guard
during the war. ~ *
The Company union (Cities
Service Tankermen's Association)
lawyer, Albert Strasburger, was
questioned by the committee as
to bis relations with Cities Ser
vice and disclosed a close tieup
with Marine Division officials.
He said that he negotiated a con
tract covering Bosuns and Stew
ards after two meetings with
Marine Superintendent M. J. Ad
kins and others.
NAVY PALS
Strasburger testified that he
became the company union law
yer after he was referred to
David Furman, head of CTMA
and principal organizer by John
Collins. Strasburger and Collins
were friends since serving to
gether in the Brooklyn Navy
Yard during the war. Furman's
association with Collips develop
ed as a result of their roles in
the Esso Tankerman's Associa
tion, in Which Furman held Book
No. 1 and for which Collins was
labor advisor."
Strasburger also admitted that
he had hired a private investi
gator named Daniel Griffin to
check on officials of lihe SIU,
adding that this move had been
fruitless.
The companyunion's number
one man, David Furman told the
subcommittee that he had been
urged to become active by CS
Port Steward Nordberg, who said
the company would take care
of expenses and furnished crew
liSts and other information. Fur
man said he patterned CTMA
after the Esso Company union,
ETMA.
Among other testimony heard
by the committee was that of
Christopher Story, vicepresident
in charge of CS Marine Division
and a member of the corpora
tion's Board of Directors.
The company official admitted
use of crimps for hiring purposes.
He attempted to disclaim re
sponsibility for the xmfair labor
practices and other violations, in
cluding those of Fede^ Cona
munications Commission's regu
lations in discriminating against
men with SIU sympathies, but
said that all of the company of
ficials ordering these moves were
responsible to him.
At the conclusion of the hear
ings, which were also attended
by Senator Russell Long, (Dem.
of Louisiana), Senator Frank
Graham, (Dem. of North Caro
lina), and Herman Lazarus, Chief
Coimsel for the Senate Commit
tee on Labor and Public Welfare,
Senator Murray said that "as a
result of the testimony present
ed in this hearing during the
past two days«the subcommittee
will contiAue its investigation of
the situation in the tanker in
dustry. . .
"UNTHINKABLE"
"It is unthinkable that the bad
labor relations we have heard
described shovild exist in one at
our major industries," SenatOT
Murray declared.
The hearings ended with Sen .
ator Murray's remark that pro
ceedings "made me. think of my
boyhood days when I used td
read the stories of going to sea,
and I felt that I would like to
have been one of the members
of the Seafarers Union, and had
a trip around the world instead
of sitting here in the Congress
of the United States' struggling
with these problems."
In This Issue Of The Log
/foamatioas Open For A&G Election *
The Hnstnigs Is A Happy, Busy Ship
m
/
FMnutos Of A&G Branch Meetings Page 11
Cities Service Si^ns Fuii Contract ^
I C (
J''I
Page Fpur THE SEAFARERS LOG Friday S#ptemb«r 29. 1950
Nominations Gnonod
For Ji &G
29 Posts
O^sors;
On Baiiot
The opening gun for the annual election of ofiFicials
to serve the Atlantic and Gulf District was sounded this
week, with the adoption of a resolutionputting in order
nominations for 1951 ofiFicials.
Twentynine offices in Headquarters and the ten
A&G District Branches are to be filled in this year's ballot
ing, according to the resolution,
which was adopted in special
membership meetings in all
ports up and down the coast.
As provided by the Union con
stitution, nominations for the of
fices will be accepted until Oc
tober 15. Balloting will begin on
November 1 and continue
through December 31 in all SIU
A&G District Branches.
Any qualified man may put
himself in nomination by sub
mitting, in writing, his intention
to run for office, naming the
particular office and submitting
the necessary proof of qualifica
tion.
The number of officials to
serve the Union in 1951 will be
the same as in the current year,
except that the resolution pro
vides for two changes in the
administrative structure.
NEW SETUP
There will be but one Assist
ant SecretaryTreasurer. Also to
be elected are three Headquar
ters Representatives who shall
work under the direction of the
. SecretaryTreasurer or the As
sistant SecretaryTreasurer, and
assist in carrying out the ̂ luties
of the top District office as out
lined in the Constitution.
The resolution also provides
that the HeadquartersNew York
Branch "shall be administered'by
the Assistant SecretaryTreasur
er and that he shall be empow
ered to appoint one of the Head
quarters Representatives to as
sist" him in the administration
of the Branch.
A
tive
breakdown of the 29 elec
posts shows that five will
serve as Headquarters officials,
nine as Port Agents and 15 as
Patrolmen.
TEMPORARY HALLS
As is customary for Branches
operating on a temporary or
emergency basis, the resolution
recommends that positions in the
A&G District halls on the West
Coast should not be placed on
the ballot.
In order to be eligible for a
place on the ballot, candidates
must meet the few, simple quali
fications laid down in the Union
constitution.
Among these are the require
ments that a candidate be a ci
tizen of the United States, a full
bookmember for at least .two
years, and have at le'ast three
years of seatime in an imlicen
sed capacity, four months of
which must be in the current
year. (For constilulional provi
sions for eligibility, see page 10.)
The requirement, first adopted
in the 1947 elections, that each
candidate submit a recent regu
lation size passport photo, and
a 100word, summary of his
Union record, must again be
met by this year's officeseekers.
Both should be sent in by the
candidates along with their proof
of eligibility.
Photographs and statements
of the qualified candidates who
will appear on the ballot: will
be published in an issue of the
SEAFARERS LOG , sometime
prior to the start of balloting.
Resolution On A& G Hettioni ¥•
The following adqpted resolution puts into motion the nominating
machinery for the referendum to determine 1951 officials in A&G Head
quarters and Branches.
Nominees will, if qualified, go on the referendum ballot to be voted
on by the memb^ship in all ports during November and December, as pro
vided for in the SIU Constitution.
' Text of the Resolution follov/s:
WHEREAS: It has been customary for the Union to determine annually by resolution
what elective ofiFices shall be placed on the ballot for each annual election
other than those provided for in the Constitution, and
WHEREAS: Since the last election many changes have occured in the industry which
will afiFect our organizational life, economically, and '
WHEREAS: The Union, becah^ of adverse conditions, has had to retrench during the
past year and, from information we have, conditions are not apt to get better
during the coming year, and for these reasons we should place a minimum
number of elective ofiFices on the ballot,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: That the following ofiFices be placed on a refer
endum ballot for the annual election of the Seafarers International Union of
North America, Atlantic and Gulf District, for the year 1951:
HEADQUARTERS:
1 SecretaryTreasurer
1 Assistant SecretaryTreasurer
3 Headquarters Representatives
NEW YORK:
2 Deck Department Patrolmen
2 Engine Department Patrolmen
2 Stewards Department Patrolmen
NORFOLK:
1 Agent
SAVANNAH:
1 Agent
'NEW ORLEANS:
1 Agent
1 Deck Department Patrolman
1 Engine Department Patrolman
1 Stewards Department Patrolman
BOSTON:
1 Agent.
PHILADELPHIA:
1 Agent
BALTIMORE:
1 Agent • ,
1 Deck Department Patrolman
1 Engine Department Patrolman
1 Stewards Department Patrolman
TAMPA:
1 Agent
MOBILE:
1 Agent
' 2 Joint Patrolmen
GALVESTON:
1 Agent
1 Joint Patrolman
. V y '•
Seatrain To Build Two Vessels
Work on two new vessels for
the. SlUcontracted Seatrain
Lines, Inc., will get imder way
shortly in the Sun Shipbuilding
yards in Chester, Pa.
Contracts for the construction
of the ships were awarded to
the shipyard concern lasf week
and every effort is being made
to obtain sufficient steel in No
vember and December to have
the job in full swing by early
next year. The cost and contract
delivery dates were not announc
ed.
Each of the new ships will be
484 feet long, with a capacity
for approximately 100 freight
cars. Each will be geared, tur
bine propelled vessels with single
screws and will have a rated
speed of 17 knots.
WILL MAKE SIX
The two new ships . will be
added to. the four now carrying
freight cars between US and
Cuban ports.
The Sim yards also produced
the four Seatrain vessels pres
ently in operation. The Seatrain
New York and the l^atrain
Havana were built in 1932, and
the Seatrain Texas and the Sea
train New J^ey were con
structed in 1940.
In World War 11 all' four ships
were taken over for govern
ment use. After completing their
war service, the vessels were
reconditioned and placed back
in service between New York,
Havana and New Orleans.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That if, during the year, it becomes necessary
to open additional ofiFices, the staffing of such ofiFices shall be left to/the dis
cretion of 4:he SecretaryTreasurer, subject to approval of the membership,
BE IT"FURTHER RESOLVED: That the three (3) Headquarters Representatives
shall work under the direction of the SecretaryTreasurer or Assistant Secre
taryTreasurer assisting him in the carrying put of the duties as outlined ip
the Constitution for this ofiFice. They shall be paid the same as the Assistant
SecretaryTreasurer. •
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That the Headquarters Branch of the Union as
provided for in the Constitution shall be administered by the Assistant Secre
taryTreasurer and that he shall be empowered to appoint one of the Head
quarters Representatives to assist him in the maintaining of'same whenever
necessary. ' _ . , .
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED: That, inasmuch as the Atlantic and Gulf District
Halls on the West Coast are of a temporary nature, these ofiFicers not be
listed on the referendum ballot, and
BE IT* FINALLY RESOLVED: That in addition to the regular constitutional require
ments, each candidate for office shall furnish with his acceptance for office
a regulation passport picture of recent taking, as well.as a statement of npt
more than 100 words, giving a brief summary of his Union record and acti
vities, such picture and statement to be run in the^ SEAFARERS LCXJ just
prior to commencement of voting. This to be done in accordance with pre
vious membership action to familiarize the membership with the names, faces
and records of all candidates for ofiFice. .
PAUL HALL, 190 , AL KERR, 29314
ROBERT A. MATTHEWS, 154 JOE ALGINA, 1320
JOSEPH VOLPIAN, 56 • \ EARL SHEPPARD, 203
Senator Johnson Hits Ship Giveaway
(Below are the remarks of Senator Johnson of Colorado, taken from the "Congressional Rec
ord" on the proposal to eliminate American flag shipjping. The LOG. which has commented pre
viously on this proposal, finds Senator Johnson's remarks of great interest.)
By SENATOR EDWIN C. JOHNSON
1 am confident that every
member of the Senate regards
our American merchant marine
as a vital defense resource, par our merchant marine.,
Every member of this body
knows also that we could n'ot
have won World War 11 without
ticularly at this time, when Uni
ted States troops are fighting
against tremendous odds to hold
the line in Korea and when the
country in addition faces a grave
international crisis.
The transportation of arma
ment and supplies across the
Pacific to those brave men of
our armed services is entirely
dependent upon our merchant
ships and tankers. Every mem
ber of the Senate knows this.
It will seem fantastic to you
and to every other American ci
tizen, therefore, to be informed
that a proposal has been made,
at this critical time irj our his
tory, to shrink our merchant ma
rine for the . benefit of some of
our foreign competitors.
1 cannot think of a more peril
ous policy to launch at this
time. But I have in my posses
sion the fvidcnc^: that this ser
ious threat to our ̂ nflitipnaWse
curity is being proposed. It is
unbelievable that such a policy
would even be considered by
agencies of our own Govern
ment, normally entrusted with
policy matters dealing with the
merchant marine.
As chairman of the Senate
committee dealing with merchant
marine legislation, 1 wish to
serve notice that our committee
will be alert, and will act to
block any attempt by anybody
to cripple such a vital industry
as pur merchant marine.
This pl'an to curtail drastical
ly the operations of our com
mercial fleets is disguised in rec
ommendations designed to help
western Europe improve its doL
lar reserves. To accomplish this
the plan recommends:
1. Foreign ships should be al
lowed to enter the United States
coastwise and intercoastal and
noncontiguous trades.
2. There should be a gradual
reduction and eventual elimina
tion of all ship operating subsi
dies.
f '' ' - i
3. Congressional enactments,
requiring that 50 percent of all
Marshall Plan shipments move
• in American vessels, should be
repealed. . " :,
4. One hundred dry cargo ves
sels'and tankers should be trans
(Continued''on Pigr 72/^^ "
• ,i.'i.1;I}', ''i
frid«7i S«piemfc«r 29, 18M THE SEAFARERS tOC
The coffee cup, the homemade cloga worn bf Mike Cristaldi (aeoond from left) and the
phonograph certainly show this ahoi was taken when work was done. The lads listening
to their own Saturday night Hit Parade via the discs are. left to rights "Hairless" Smith. Cris
taldi, the Bosun (^hose nameMae muffed) ani "H<^>along" Cassidy.
Among the most frequent contributors of shipboard "
photography to the LOG is Seafarer E. B. (Mac)
McAuley. An old hand, Mac shoots, develops and prints
right at sea and his results j
invariably are interesting.
What makes Mac's stuff
good is the fact that he's not
afraid to get up close to his
subjects and that hp always
manages to show the guys
in his pictures • doing some
thing — working, shooting
the breeze and the like. Mc
Auley photos never look
posed.
Mac's currently aboard
the SS Hastings, from which
he forwarded the pix ap
pearing on this page.
Other SIU photographers
interested in getting up pic
ture stories of shipboard ac
tivities might use Mac's pix Brother (Chico) Vega has
called a "pyrotechnician"
guiuc. Hastings shipmates.
Here he is caught by the cam ,
era as he changes burners.
Prowling' around the deck with hb camera, Mac ran across hardworking, capable Sea
farer Emil Nordstrom, Deck Engineer, as he was repairing Winches. Sa;^s Mac: "Thb man is a
credif to the SIU, He knows his job, and does it weU." , ^
Electrician Tony Nottage was shooting the breeze, one of
his favorite pastimes, when V the cameraman bore down on him
to produce this closeup.
Other shipboard fotogs might lake a tip from this tech
nique of McAuley's. Get up close, so we all can see who
you're "shooting."
If you've got your camera with you anc^.wani to do a
picture story why not try it thb trip. Send your pix to the
LOG, but remember to identify everyone and everything in
themk All photoa Will be retumedk if requested.
• U\
'"• • • si
• I
1
Page Six T H E S E A F A R E R S L O G^ |.i;i::.'<:v;^ V \, .pjiiiayV'fNipienil^
S./: = m'
m
Whitmer Takes His Chances,
Sticks With The Marymar
ONCE UPON A TIME . . .
To the Editor:
Back at the old "typewriter
• again, and do I feel reckless. I
should have known better than
to ship on here. I remember the
day I came aboard, January 8 th,
1950. I met about a dozen cock
roaches leaving the ship, and
they said they only wanted to
come to Baltimore and get a
good ship, but that they would
never again take another Calmar
scow.
Two of their number had died
from malnutrition on the way
aroimd to the East Coast. I can
believe that. That should have
been enough, but fool that I am,
I remained to see it through,
and Brothers, it's been bloody
awful, it has. I've made up my
mind, going to get off this tub
in January for sure.
HAY. HAY
Got a guy on my watch who
is forever pestering the Captain
for more money than he has
coming. He uses this money to
"hiit horses." I don't see why any
one wants to hit a horse, but
that's his business. If it were
not for the fact that Charlie
Ackerman is also on my watch,
I would go stark, raving mad
listening to his prattle.
We sure miss Clem Bairstov,
James Rose, Bill Mansfield and
Bill (Lover) Watson who left us
last trip. They are smart though.
At least they are eating on the
beach, even if it's only a hot
dog now and then. We get an
awful lot of rice on here, but
that is because We work like
coolies I guess. If the company
had its way they'd probably pay
us off with rice.
Had quite an''enjoyable time
while on the East coast, and also
learned a few things that may
interest you all. Brother Bill
Sharp is Bosim on the Arlyn of
the Bull Line. Heard that there
is a prize crew on her too.
Watch 'em Bill!. Especially Lon
ski. Brother Fred Walker has
become the proud father of a
baby girl. While he took on the
job of passing out the cigars, I
helped him celebrate by
passing out. . . . ! The way the
guy goes atound grinning, you'd
think he had the baby instead
of Ws lovely wife Flo. What's
her name Fred?
LADIES' MAN
: Brother Otto Schumacher
anything! We all have our little
idiosyncrasies, though.
Some of the guys on here have
an overabundance of the afore
mentioned. Our Chief Mate has
one in particular, he looks in
the back of the book when he
does crossword puzzles, and
one word he can't seem to get
starts with O and ends with
E. It only has eight letters. It
means something the deck de
partment needs.
Got a guy on her called "Bar
racuda" who has just come out
of "mothballs" after three years
on the beach. It must be awful
to work ashore, especially in the
Army. Charlie Ackerman ,and
myself have Been talking about
enlisting. That's all, talking.
Going to bring this thing to
a close with a reminder that, if
any of you fellows are looking
for an ABs job on the Marymar,
I amgetting off in January. I'll
be mighty happy to leave, too.
That wasn't very nice to^^say,
especially when I am on the
four to ^ght watch. The next
thing you know I'U be ftack in
irons. Will send some pictiu'es
of our trip when I write to the
LOG the next time. Let's see a
rise in LOG donations so there
wiU be more room for our ar
ticles 'and pictures. See you all
again in the LOG. Hi Mom.
Honest A1 Whitmer
A former crewmember of a Cities Service ship, fired for proUnion, activity .du|dng the ^ ,
precontract period, depicted one aspect of shipboard life in fhe cartoon ahove. GoodBye, twd'^ ̂ '
pot system.
To the Editor:
Many of us, during our ten
ure of hfe, have met or* known
individuals who believe they
have required the gift of an
alyzing the faults, needs and
shortcomings of others.
There is just a slight possi
bility that you may be such a
person — always knowing posi
tively what ails the other per
son and voluntarily offering them
advice. Yet the remarkable thing
about such a person is that he
or she does not have the slight
est knowledge or understanding
also' of Bis own shortcomings.
As a general rule, his ills are
greater and exceed those of the
person whonf he is so graciously
offering to assist.
Before accepting advice from
others concerning ̂ your wants,
learn, if possible, whether your
showed up in Baltimore with a' selfappointed benefactor knows
mustache (perish the thought)
and he sure looks like a real
Gigolo, but then "Ots" was al
v/ays a ladies man. He is on the
Ponce de Leon, Waterman. Leave
a few girls for the boys on the
Marymar Otto. Thank you sooo
much!
My good pal John Thompson
is. on the Mae and I hope that
he at least stays there imtil the
Marjrmar gets back to the East
coast so we can get together and
taiir over old times, and hoist
a few. The only reason that he
got off the Cape M<Mcan is that
he doesn't like i^Ilm. Really goes
for that "Block and Tackle Whis
key," though. You know, take
himself and his wants> Should
his answer be vague and inde
cisive, it is best that any advice
or suggestion offered from such
a source be cast aside as value
less.
Man, in order to be helpful
to himself or others, must first
know himself and his own wants.
When he learns what ails him
and what he desires of life, then
he will gain the right and prop
er course that will lead to a
useful life, for an inestimable
amount of our energies is wast
ed merely because we do not
know what we want or desire.
This is especially true during
our maturing years of life. We
a drink walk a block, and taclderfiounder and hop frona one thing
to another because we do not
know what we really want, and
• ve can not' make up our minds
positively what will saUsfy our
wants and desires.
Due to this tmsettled state of
mind we permit the most valu
able creative years of oiu* lives
to become dormant, inactive, and
undecided, or, because of a list
less spirit " created by our mod
ern mode of life, we relyupon
someone else to advise us as to
what we should do and how we
should do it.
The latter method is ^fadily
accepted by many of us", for it
requires a minimum amount of
effort to gain a satisfying end.
We permit the newspapers and
the columnist, the radio news
commentators, the political party
leaders, the community social
leaders and many other cate
gorical leaders to do aD. of oiu*
thinking for us. This form or
manner of thinking will get us
nowhere. We must learn to think
for ourselves to gain a useful
life. ;
To be successful, we must
leam to know what w.e, want,
and when we finally decide
what it is, .we should set out
doggedly in the direction of our
wants, and you can be certain
that at least you will arrive
somewhere.
No one really and truly knows
his OK her direct destination, and
if there are. such persons they are
few and far between. But if we
are on our way, and know why,
something definitely formative
goes on in our minds and our
life takes a useful turn.
Under our modern plan of liv
ing, and in a period of plenty,
many people—^in fact, too many
—are satisfied to be in the just
getalong class.
They seem to be contented to
live from day to day with an
attitude of indifference to the
future. They never worry about
other lessfortunate,, persons or
their welfare, for all else is im
material to their" earthly existr
ence.
Fortunately, this .class gets
mighty thin as the years accu
mulate and problems grow, or
when disaster sets'in unexpect
edly.
The most appropriate time to
do anything worthwhile is when
we wsmt to do it. When we are
newly infused with ideas, and
the spirit is at the highest point,
act.
A plan ' or a desire is of little
Send Those Minutes
Send in ' the minutes of
your ship's meeting to the
New York HaU.Only in that
way can the membership act
on I y o u r recommendations<
and then the minutes cto be
printed in the LOG for the
benefit of all other SIU
'wews.
Hold those shipboard; meet
ings regularly;' and send
those minutes in as aoon as
possible. Thafe the SIU wayi
value unless we put it to work;
for the efficiency of th& world,
and its happiness as well, rests
upon the shoulders of everybody
to do the thing he is best suited
to do, or which he would rather
do than anything else in the
world—be that what it may; for
by following our constructive
whims the maximum available
energy will be put forth. Herein
lies the secret to success.
Man, regardless of his posi
tion in life, cannot buy, borrow,,
or be. given the happiness of
success, ".
It cannot be measured by any
thing that is material, for ma
terial things are not true^ indi
cationa of success. It ha^ to be
something that flames within us;
A man is a success who feels
within his, heart and mind that
he has given expression to some
thing real, helpful and beauti
ful. Always remember, that man
may be down, but he cannot be
counted out so long as he has
a • fertile, intelligent mind and
a charitable heai't.
"Thus, all the beauty, happiness
and contentmeflt of life will be
ours when we absolutely, know
ourselves and our wants, and
follow the road to our objective.
We must lea^n to listen, ob
serve, accumulate aU the knowl
edge that is relevant to a suc^
cessful life, but take no. second
hand advice or instructions. By
following these simple and ac
ceptable principles of, life, jts
just freedom and creative gaiety
will be ours.
.. Augusfuf.:Hv.€«»^||U^^^
Friday. Sapiambas 29. .1950 THE SE A FA REUS %0 C Pmg9 Senm
Digested Minutes Of SiU Ship Meetings
SS SALEM MARITIME, Aug.
25—Gliaii'iiiSai, SteVd ESaij' Ssv
ratary. (None). Delegates report
ed no beefs. ^Members present
voted against allowing the Cap
tain to sit in on one of the
meetings. Request was made that
water valve Ibe put in the laun'
dry. All hands were askqd not
to rush the messmen "at mea
time..^
^ X t, I
SS SALEM MARITIME, Aug.
13—Chairman, Steve Deri; Secre
laxy, (None). Agreement made
that ship fund would be can
celled until next trip. Delegates
reported no beefs. Plan proposed
and adopted to rot.ate among de
partments the job of keeping the
laundry clean.
XXX
SS LONE JACK, Sept. ID
Chairman, Edward Bis; Secre
tary. Joe DeLura. Ship's Dele
gate to have Patrolman investi
gate 10 percent increase in price
of slopchest items. Delegates re
ported number of books and
piermits aboard. Agreement was
made to help the messman by
aiding him in keeping the mess
room clean.
XXX
SS ANN N^RIE, Aug. 12 _
'Chairman, P. Parsons;. Secretary,
L.. Nagle. . Delegates' reports ac
cepted. Request made for. wash
buckets and keys for doors. Com
mittee to be elected to see if
washing machine is to be pur
chased. Beef on carpenter's work
and jurisdiction to be referred
to Patrolman.
XXX
SS STEEL CHEMIST, July 30
—Chairman, J. Thompson; Sec
retary, D. Marine. Delegates re
ported no beefs. Conimunication
from SIU on war bonus, Cities
Service and Welfare Plan read
and discussed. Motion carried to
place the last isspe of the LOG
on the bulletin board so the en
tire crew can read it. Schedule
drawn up for keeping laundry
clean.
XXX
SS DEL AIRES, July 9
Chairman, Golden Aubert; Sec
retary, Ray H. Casanova. Dele
gates reported everything in or
der. Suggestion made that every
one cooperate in keeping down
unnecessary no^.
XXX
SS DEL RIO, Sept. 4—Chair
man, Manifold; Secretary, H.
Karlson. Delegates reported few
hours of overtime. Question rais
ed as to what to do with left
0;ver eggs at end of trip. Con
sideration asked for the Stew
ards Department regarding
launch service.
XXX
SS MOSTANK, Aug. 20 —
Chairman, Chadbourne Gait;
Secretary, M. McKay. Delegates
reported on number vof books
and permits in their departments.
Ship's Delegate explained to
crew that Federal Motorships,
owners of the Mostank, had
signed the welfare plan. Chief
Engineer to be asked to install
a steam line in some appropriate
place for washing clothes.
• ; . 'X X X '
SS SEATRAIN NEW JERSEY,
Sept. 7—Chairman, Mort^ Tre
hern; Secretly, V/ayn® Ogle.
Delegates reported everything in
good order. Motion carried to
get confirming telegram from
Headquarters on changing cooks.
Suggestion by Ship's Delegate
that meeting be held every two
weeks. Bill Gray, former Ship's
Delegate, thanked by crew for
a job well done and wished the
best of luck wherever he goes.
ifc 4
SS S'TEEL APPRENTICE.
Sept. 3—Chairmaxi,' H. Benson;
Secretary, H. Fitzgerald. Dele
gates' reported they had nothing
to report. . Motion carried to have
the showers cooled off for the
next trip. Suggestion made to
remove all cots from the decks
and turned into the Steward. 15
men voted in favor of having
: Baker removed at end of trip.
XXX
SS FAIRLAND, Sept. 10 —
Chairman, Pepper; Secretary,
Lindbery. Delegate reported no
beefs. Motion carried to have
delegates check the repair list
before getting into' New York.
Motion carried to have Patrol
man investigate ice box motor
and see if it should be replaced
as it' breaks down every trip.
Fans requested for crew mess
room.
XXX
SS CARRABULLE, Sept. 3 —
Chairman, Turner; Secretary, T^
Johnson. Delegates reported the
number of books and permits in
each department. Suggestion
made that more fruit be brought
aboard and bacon and bread be
improved.
x\ X
SS CARRABULLE. Sept. 17 —
Chairman, William Kuschke;
Secretary, Thomas Johnson. D.el
egates reported matter of mem
bers handling their own beefs
directly instead of letting the
delegates handle the matters.
Motion carried to contact head
quarters or get a Patrolman
down to settle a contract matter.
This relates to members of the
deck department entering tanks
for cleaning when no boots are
furnished. Suggestion made that
better grade of food be brought
on board.
XXX
SS FRENCH CREEK, Sept. 10
• Chairman, Lee Arnold; Secre
tary, Charley Baird,i Delegates'
that Captain be seen about put
ting up an awning, on the fan
tail.Several crewmembers volun
teered to fix the washing ma
chine. Short pep talk on SIU
given by Chairman.
XXX
SS COUNCIL GROVE, Sept.
4—Chcurman, £. Callahan; Sec
retary, I. Bradbury. Delegates
reported on number of books
and permits aboard. "Three men
volunteered for sanitary Com
mittee to decide whether or not
fines shall be imposed on Bro
thers leaving cups , in mess hall
or violating any other sanitary
rule. Chief Cook. reported that
$70 had been spent on movie
films and $33 remained in ship's
fund. Suggestion made that Coca
Cola be sold aboard the ship for
10 cents a bottle, the profits to
go to the ship's fund.
XXX
SS DEL VALLE, Aug. 3 —
Chairman. »Morris Barlett;, Sec
retary, M. Gaddy. Delegates re
ported that a letter had been
sent to the New Orleans Agent
concerning the renovating of
mattresses. Motion carried to
soogee the foc'sles every, trip.
Motion carried that the crew
go on record, as being against
issuing any new books as a re
sult of the Korean conflict. Read
ing of union circular on charges
and a report on the difficulty of
getting LOGs to ships on the
Korean run. ^
dqing about getting enough milk.
Port Captain to be seen about
new wind chutes and screens.
Suggestion made to build a fund
toward the purchase of a tele
vision set.
3^
SS ALCOA CAVALIER, Aug.
20—Chairman, Stevens; Secre
tary, Cervantes. Delegates re
ported everything okay, except
in the , Stewards Department
which has some disputed over
time. Motion carried to elect
Stough as new Ship's Delegate
and extend a vote of thanks to
Berger, the outgoing Delegate.
Motion" carried that the menus
be varied on the next trip.
XXX
SS STEEL VOYAGER. Aug.
20—Chairman, Kuberski; Secre
tary, E. Eriksen. Discussion on
instructions from Patrolman for
Stewards Department to refuse
all painting. Delegates reported
everything okay. Motion carried
that no men in Stewards De
partment do any painting except
in their own quarters. Brother
Pappas spoke on education, tell
ing the members the seriousness
of carrying tales topside.
XXX
SS MARORE, Sept. 10—Chair
man, H. Th.omas; Secretary, J.
Murphy. Delegates reported on
nvimber of books and permits in
their departments. Motion car
ried to send a letter to Balti
more Agent to see if nonUnion
men sailing these ships are to
pay Union dues or not. Men ask
ed to cooperate in keeping mess
hall and laundry clean.
gates reported number of books
and permits in their departments.
Suggestion made that^ first gid
kit be purchased for each de
partment. Suggestion made that
needed repairs be brought to
delegates' attention on dayto
day basis.
XXX
SS COUER D'ALENE VIC
TORY (no date) '— Chairman.
Earl Foe; Secretary, John J.
Jellette. Ship's Delegate retired
and new Delegate elected. Reso
lution drawn up calling for the
SIU to negotiate for higher pen
alty pay for the carrying of
ammunition. Motion carried that
a letter be sent to the SIU, call
ing their attention to the dis
courteous treatment given the
crew by the gate personnel
while the ship was loading. Mo
tion carried that new members
pay $1 at the payoff toward the
ship's fund.
• M
XXX
SS SEATRAIN NEW JERSEY,
Sept. IB—Chairman, Tom Crane;
Secretary, Vincent Monte. Ship's
Delegate explained Section 29
of shipping rules which prohibits
promotions or transfers on ship.
Attempts being made to improve
fresh stores situation. Ship's
Fund begun with each member
donating 10 cents a meeting un
til the fund reaches $15. Dele
XXX
SS ANTINOUS, Sept. 17 —
Chairman, C. Lambert; Secre
tary, C. Cone. Discussion on
ship repairs, soogeeing and
cleaning of all crew quarters.
Delegates reported a few minor
beefs. Motion carried to have a
cold drink at lunch instead of
milk.
XXX
SS MANKATO VICTORY.
Sept. 30—Chairman, C. Andrews;
Secretary, L. deParlier. Dele
gates reported no beefs, num
ber of books and permits in their
departments. Discussion on crew
loading stores in Oakland. Rec
ommended that in future the
company hire standby gang from
Hall to assist in this work. Sug
gestion made that record player
be raffled off at end of trip.
XXX
SS STEEL FLYER, Sept. 3 —
Chairman. Fred Travis; Secre
tary, J. Goodall, Delegates re
ported number of books and per
mits in their departments. Beir
rett elected Ship's Delegate. Dis
cussion on wash water, which
(Continued on Page 9)
Directory Of SIU Halls
SIU, A&G District
reports accepted.. Motion carried
BALTIMORE 14 North Gay St.
William Rentz, Agent Mulberry 4540
BOSTON 276 State St.
Ben Lawson, Agent Richmond 20140
Dispatcher Richmond 20141
GALVESTON 308/2—23rd St.
Keith Alsop, Agent • Phone 28448
LAKE CHARLES, La.... 1419 Ryan St.
L. S. Johnson, Agent
MOBILE I South Lawrence St.
Cal Tanner, Agent Phone 21754
NEW., ORLEANS 523 Bienville St.
E. Sheppard, Agent Magnolia 61126113
NEW YORK 51 Beaver St.
XXX
SS DEL MUNDO, Sept. 7 —
Ch"airman. Lester Lapham; Sec
retary, Vince Babirsha. Delegates
reported a few hours of disputed
overtime. Steward and Depart
ment received a hearty vote of
thanks for splendid service.
XXX
SS BULL RUN, Sept. 14 —
Chairman, Eidermire; Secretary,
Michael Viguaziano. Delegates re
ported few, beefs and listed the
number of books and permits
in their departments. Motion car
ried to see what the Steward is
Joe Algina, Agent
NORFOLK
Ben Rees, Agent
PHILADELPHIA. ..
S. Cardullo, Agent
ASST. SECRETARYTREASURERS
Robert Matthews LloyH Gardner
• Joseph Volpian
SUP
HONOLULU 16 Merchant St
Phone 58777
PORTLAND Ill W. Burnside St
Beacon 4336
RICHMOND, Calif 25 7 5th St
Phone 2599
SAN FRANCISCO 450 Harrison St
Douglas 28363
SEATTLE 86 Seneca St
Main 0290
WILMINGTON 440 Avalon Blvd.
Terminal 43131
HAnover 22784
.127129 Bank St.
Phone 41083
..337 Market St.
Market 71635 MONTREAL 463
Canadian District
SAN FRANCISCO 450 Harrison St.
McGill St.
MArquette 5909
Jeff Morrison, Agent Douglas 25475 HALIFAX 128/ Hollis St.
SAN JUAN, PR 252 Ponce de Leon| Phone. 38911
Sal Colls, Agent i FORT WILLIAM. . 1 18/ Syndicate Ave.
SAVANNAH ..2 Abercorn St. I Ontario Phone 33221
E. Bryant, Agent • Phone 31728 PORT COLBORNE 103 Durham
SEATTLE 2700 tat Ave. I Phone 5591
Wm. McKay, Agent Seneca 4570 TORONTO 86 Colbome St
TAMPA 18091811 N. Franklin St. | Elgin 5719
Ray White, Agent Phone 21323 VICTORIA 617/ Cormorant St
WILMINGTON, Calif.,. .440 Avalon Blvd.) Empire 4531
E. B. Tilley, Agent Terminal 42874 VANCOUVER 565 Hamilton St.
HEADQUARTERS. .5 i Beaver St., N.Y.C. Pacific 7824
SECRETARYTREASURER SYDNEY ..,.304 Charlotte St
Paul Hall Phone 6346
DIRECTOR OF ORGANIZATION i HEADQUARTERS 463 McGill St
Lindsey Willlama Mtmtrcal MArqUette 7377
, jf. Jii a, iuv V'. ,
Page TBS S E AS ARE RS LOG Titidsfi SipfetnlMMf 29, ISM
US Must Curb Commies
ButNot Freedom: Flyn^
' Sim On For Life
i^V'
I'te
J' v':. 1^;.: •
K'
I fii
m
lii?
VW'
li' Nv
To the ^ditor:
Our representatives in Con
gress are hatching from the com
munist problem in the United
States drastic bills that would
curb the communists to ineffec
tiveness.
Tliese bills, that would em
body registration of ali commu
nists, concentration camps in
time of national emergency for
supposed subversives and sub
.versive activities control, not
only would take care of the
communists but any liberal or
Radical who might differ in his
opinions from the prevalent ma
jority opinions.
As one can see, such bills as
these, if passed, would put a
stranglehold on free speech, for
a man opening his mouth to
protest or differ with the gov
ernment on national issues would
be suspected of being a red,
apd possibly imprisoned for his
beliefs, though he himself and
others looked on himself as a
loyal American.
The influence of these bills up
before Congress is already be
ginning to be felt The Coast
Guard, suspecting a seaman to
be a poor security risk, can haul
him off his ship. Although they
were empowered to do so last
July before these bills were con
sidered in the thoroughness they
are in now, these biUs and the
discussion of them react as a
"goahead" signal to the Coast
Guard and to those groups and
persons who, in their fanatical
hatred of the communists, would
clamp all kinds of restrictions on
free speech without discriminat
ing on who was loyal and who
was not.
Does this seem exaggerated?
The "New York Times" of Sep
tember 13 carries the story of
the Illinois Department of the
American Legion asking the^m
erican Broadcasting Company to
cancel a rdio program that had
GjT'sy Rose Lee in it, because
of her alleged procommunist
sympathies.
The Legion based their infor
mation on a publication, "Red
Channels." The president of the
ABC replied to the charge
against Miss Lee that she had
signed an affidavit denying any
Red ties, and if the Legion had
any evidence to the contrary to
advise him.
This same "Red Channels" had
listed Jean Muir, a television ac
tress, who was promptly cancel
led from her show, despite her
protests that she never was
communist or had ariy sympathy
with them.
fdiss Lee, it may be added, in
her affidavit spoke imequivocally
her repugnance for the commu
nist system. There are a few
more, who, because they am't
as prominent as those mentioned
above, do not get the publicity
when they are fired from their
jobs.
This is a sad commentary on
the way some people suffer from
a specious association with com
munists. The resources of these
people do not always offer them
the chance at rebutting the
charges made against them by
a powerful publication. And even
if acquitted of guilt of any com
munist affliction, the stigma once
labeled on them becomes an en
during mark, such as in the case
of Owen Lattimore, a State De
partment official in FarEastern
affairs, who was rejected a num
ber of times by audiences where
he was to give a lecture.
It has come to this pass that
these selfstyled guardians of our
national security and interests
want us to clam up on any ac
tion or speech of which they
proclaim in their publications to
be against national interests.
They don't want free speech for
all Americans; they want a do
cile herd who will agree with
them.
What is national interest and
Americanism? I can fill pages
with the sentiments I feel as
regards my country and her in
terests, and so can any man
he sits down and thinks, writes
about his country and all that
it signifies to him. We don't have
to iDe told what to think. That's
why America is great and free
dom loving, because all kinds
of people from Europe, Asia,
South America and Africa, come
here, looking for freedom, give
their best and love this country
because it is one of the few
countries in the world in which
a man is free and can speak his
mind on aU issues.
I trust our government will
take care of the communist prob
lem, without endangering the
freedoms of loyal Americans.
John J. Flynn
(Ed. Note: By sheer coinci
dence, the editorial in the last
issue of the LOG dealt simil
arly with the problem discuss
ed here by Flynn. But we'd
like it known that Flynn's let
ter was in the mail before the
LOG came tiSl the press:)
Brother Urges Vigilaiice I
In GuardingHard^won Gains
Seafarer and Mrs. A1 Lopes
A1 Lopez, wellknown to his
Brother Union members in At
lantic and Gulf ports, has altered
lis course. After getting married
last July 22, A1 decided to quit
sailing and study law.
Lopez is not retiring his SIU
book, however, and he advises
Seafarers w h o p 1 a n to stay
ashore awhile to take a tip from
him. Your Union bdok is insur
ance, says Al, especially since
the SIU is constantly fighting to
improve seamen's welfare.
To the Editor:
When I shipped aboard the
Bull Rim, a Mathi'asen tanker on
a coastwise run, it was with the
assumption that it was an SIU
ship. Once aboard, I began to
wonder about this! The condi
tions I met with were appalling.
The foc'sles haven't been paint
ed for at least ten months.' For
that matter, I doubt that they
h%ve been t sougeed . more than
once in thai period!
PAINTING NEEDED
The passageways are a true
disgrace. Theireondition matches
the foc'sles. Furthermore, there
is but one light in tliem, and that
one in the after end. The pass
ageways on the officers' deck are
somewhat better but they, too,
need painting."
The heads and showers are al
so a .disgrace. The laundry is" ih
a terrible shape. I am convinced
that, if seen by the USPH5 or
the Board of Health, it would
never leave port until cleaned
and" painted.
A number of us who were free
of the infection when boarding
the ship, have contracted ath
lete's foot. This is traceable to
Campbell, Boy Sailor,
Opens Up A CS Gag Station
To the Editor:
Notice To All SIU Meoibere
. j The SEAFARERS LOG as the official publication of the Sea
farers International Union is available to all members who wish
to have it sent to their home free of charge for.the enjojnnent of
their families and themselves when ashore. If you desire to have
the LOG sent to you each week address cards are on hand at every
SIU branch for this purpose. ^
However, for those who are at sea or at a distance from a SIU
hall, the LOG reproduces below the form used to request the LOG,
which you can fill out, detach and send to: SEAFARERS LOG, 51
Beaver Street, New York 4, N. Y.
PLEASE PRINT INFORMATION
To the Editor:
• I would like the SEAFARERS LOG mailed to the
address below:
Name
Sheet Address
City Zone State
Signed
Book No. ....:
A few days ago, 1 Was flooded
with countless requests (on
postcard) as to my recent where
abouts. So herein follows the
"New Adventures of Red Cafnp
bell. Boy Sailor"—^not to be con
fused with "Don Winslow of the
Coast Guard." .
After a few short trips on the
"Gadsden" The Big Lift — I
shifted over to Cities Servici
The Big Joke. I regret I didn't
understand braille, for I must've
been blind to sign on. So there
1 was on the Bradford Island,
August, 1950 B.C.—^before con
tract. These ships are equipped
with the latest listening devices
—tliey're hidden in the foc'sles.
FLOATING GAS STATION
On this floating gasstation, in
a,few days the Mate and I be
came mutual acquaintances—we
hated each other. Six AM in the
morning this guy has got me
soojeing the radar mast. On a
Waterman ship, at this time, I'd
just be finishing up the night
limch (such as it is) I could've
made a monkey out of him, but
why should I take aU the cred
it. Him and tbe Captain remihd
^ me of "a radio program—"Lum
and Abnormal."
The Mate dist>u^ everything
on my overtime sheet but my
name'and rating. When he sent
it back it had more red lines
than a Korean; war map. Under
the CTMA (RiP) contract I Un
derstand the overtime Was to be
paid off in gas coupons. Also,
any crewmember with six
months' service was to be given
extensive use of Cities Service
dealers' restroom facilities.
Believe me, here's a company
that would have to take a strato
plane to hit you below the belt.
CS equals Cities Service. CS
also equals "Chickensomethittg."
However, my sentence with
them ended shortly. During our
trip we hit Amuay Bay, Vene
zuela. What a place! It was so
iot down there the trees were
following the dogs.
Most of the crews dig in at
the Carioca Hotel. I understand
that Dr. Kinsey spent seven
years writing his report. At the
Carioca he could've done it in
one night.
At present Fm making the
buck aboard the Bull Line ex
'press, the SS Frances. I'm really
appreciated around here. I think
they are going to make me a
partner. The Port Captain said
if I kept up what I was doing
he was going to give me the
business.
This is one ship that ties up
in some queer places. At Pier
23 in Brooklyn we're so close
to the street we have to shift
ship everytime the crosstown
trolley comes by. But right
now I'll have to shift back to
the deck and off to Puerto Rico
and Santo Domingo.
the boards and decks in the
showers.' ^ ,
The cement around one of the
bowls in the head has loosened
to such an extent as to allow
water and the like to get under
neath. This, as we all know,
leads. to stagnation and a more
or less profuse breeding of harm
ful germs. ^
The scuttlebuts in the passage
ways are so dirty, foullooking
and foulsmelling as to almost
sicken one when he drinks. The
tanks are dirty and thet water
is dirty and evil smelling half
the time.
The mattresses are terribleand
the springs are held together in
some cases by pieces of line and
rope yams. With the exception
of the 48 foc'sles, the foc'sles
are poorly ventilated—especially
the 124 foc'sle.
The men on that watch go to
work as tired and worn out as
when they sacked in. When i
call them they are wet with perr
spiration, and their sacks look
like someone poured water in
them. The blower is working, but
the air cuts over to the port side^
not in their room. The First and
Chief engineers have been told
and shown this. Nothing, how
ever has been done.
When confronted with the im
pair list we had prepared, the
Skipper (Captain Hetshberger)
said it was absurd. How about
that?
Red Campbell
Make Port Newark
Cabbie Flip Flag,
Wagner Advises
To the Ediior:
I would like to point out to
all men who are riding our tank
er outfits the :^ituation that now
prevails with the taxis in Port
Newark, N. J.
I am not sure that all the
taxis are the same but quite a
few of them try to charge a
flat rate of two dollars to run a
man from Newark to Port New
ark, or viceversa.! They do not
put the meter down.
The point is that you can
make the run with the regular
meter clicking' for about $1.45.
So you are being taken along
with the taxi company.
So anytime that you must
make a ship in Port Newark, tell
the driver that you want to
hear that meter clicking.
"Blackie" Wagner
SS ̂ French Creek
HOWCOME
What I cannot imderstand is
this: with about 90 perceirii^of
the crew bookmen these days,
how did this ship ever. fall, .to
such a, level? .7:
I hiave been sailing only a
few years, comparatively, but I.
do hold a book. Further I hope
to keep it for .the years to come;
I am not one of the men who
fought so hard for the Union
when it was begun back in 1938.
But I am one of the Brother
who will fight to keep those
hardwon gains.
All the men I have talked to
say the same thing. "When I see
a ship in this condition, how can
I help but wonder?
Brother Philip Eldemire ship
ped aboard as an AB and was
elected delegate. He and I have
been and are leading the crew in.
protest. Thus far we have re^
ceived oidy a passive backing.
At least if" seems so to me. I
hope that I am wrong, that onc^
in port we wiU get active and
substantial support from the
crew. Phil has" written for a
Patrolm^. tp meet the ship
when she docks.
Brother^ I am not writing this
for personal or vengeful motives
Rather, I am writing this in pro !
test .of the laxity of some of ouf
members.
I do not encourage radicalism.
I try to discourage this as much
as possible. I do encourage fight
ing forthe conditions agreed to
in the contract. This sort of
thing can spread, if we let i^
like cancer and is just as fatall
So. Brothers, I ask you, "Aure
we to let this continue and per*
haps ruin or harm our way p|
making a living?" ; ,
If not then, especially/ you
bookmen, let's • fight and get
what is ; rightfully ours. When
you board a ship like this don't
say "The hell with it." Stay and
fight until you get what is.yoiirs.
Fraternally yours<
Robert M. HanUnomL
Book No. 50290
Friday^ Se^flimbM 29, 1950 ^TWE SB AT A R E RS LOG Page Nine
Digested Minutes Of SlU Ship Meetings
( (Continued fr^ Psge 7) phos needed to the Delegates of Ship's Treasurer reported®^i32 in Caotain was asked for all naoers turned over i( (Continued fr^ Page 7)
contains a black substance that
is covering clothes and makes
showering difficult. Motion car
lied to write a letter of criticism
to the South Shore Laundry,
S805 8th Avenue, Brooklyn, re
garding the disgusting way they
attended to the ship's laundry.
Company to be informed of the
poor cleaners theyare using for
the ships.
% X t,
SS STEEL ARCHITECT. Sept.
10—Chairman. Ed. Nooney; Sec
retary. M. Purpoinski. Delegates
reported number of books anc
permits in their departments.
Suggestion made that fund be
raised for purchase of washing
machine. Crewmembers asked to
fill out beneficfary forms for
welfare plan before the ship
sails.
X % X
SS ELIZABETH. Sept. 17 —
Chairman. Juan Reinova; Sec
retary, Carlos Labisa. Delegates
reported everything in order.
Delegate reported that several
times the Captaiii has been
caught doing sailors' work and
he is be;ing particularly severe
on men on, gangway watches.
Patrolman to be consulted in
the matter. Chief Electrician
suggested a variety in the menus.
X i.
SS STEEL MARINER. Sept, 3
Chairman. Joe Bums;' Secre
tary. Luther Hammond. Dele
gates reported no beefs, number
of books and permits in their
jdepartments. Three crewmem
IJjers given a vote of thanks for
jcatching enough fish while en
route through the Panama Canal
to give the crew a fresh fish
dinner.
X %
SS JOHN B. WATERMAN,
^ept. 13—Chairman. W. Waddle;
jSecretary. P. St. Marie. Dele
jgates reported some disputed
Overtime. Delegate asked the
Steward why stores weren't ob
jtained in Puerto Rico and was
told the Captain forbid it. Rec
[ommendation made that the
Steward give a list of the sup
Time For Minutes
To speed up as much as
possible the appearance in
the LOG a digest of their
shipboard proceedings all
crews are advised to send
copies of their minutes direct
to the Editor. Seafarers Log.
51 Beaver St.. New York
4. N. Y.
Port Agents should also
forward their copies of ship's
minutes to the LOG as soon
as possible after receiving
ihem.
Any other material relat
Ihg to the voyage, such as
stbriesi pictures, letters, ete^
can be sent in with the
minutes. '
plies needed to the Delegates of
each department before the or
der is turned in.
XXX
SS ROBIN WENTLEY, Aug.
28—Chairman, E. Wariield; Sec
rgfary. Thomas Reilly. Delegates
reported no beefs. Motion carried
to check the ice boxes each day
for temperature. Hospital equip
ment to begchecked by Ship's
Delegate. ̂̂ 'asJiing machine to be
fixed in South Africa and if this
is not possible a new machine is
to be purchased in the States.
Ship's Treasurer reporte3^i32
in. ship's fund.
XXX
SS ROBIN SHERWOOD. Sept.
17—Chairman. Pat Murphy; Sec
retary. Frank Crider. Delegates
reported everything in order, ex
cept for Stewards Department
which has 14 hours of disputed
overtime, kfotion carried that the
Steward is to let the crew know
what stores are coming aboard
in the nexti port and to be sure
that nothing is short. Suggestion
made to have library exchanged
in nexrpOT't. Captain was asked
about stores situation and crew
was told it was not his business
to interfere with Port Steward's
affairs.
XXX
SS ALCOA CORSAIR. Sept.
24 — Chairman. Major Costello;
Secretary. J. Seaver. Delegates'
reports accepted. Ship's Delegate
told crew of "Cut And Rim"
Hank's Fund. Ship's Delegate
told crew that when Coast Guard
screens crew "upon arrival in
port a receipt is to be demanded
Recently there has been a small wave of "Big Town" are: Vic Johnson, E. Cioper, R.
complaints from members that they have Grindle, J. Sharp, Geo. Brazil, G. O'Neill,
either been taken over in card games or
were stuck on money they had lent out.
While it is agreed that a shipmate or Union
Brother who would stick friends doesn't
deserve being called anything but a lousy
the membership must also realize
that the Union is not a debtcollecting
J. Hilton, Jojo Touart, and A. Iverson. . . .
Have you ever been hospitalized for a long
period of time? Lonesome, isn't it? How
about dropping a line to shipmates whose
names you see in the LOG's hospital listing.
. . . Rafael Maidando and Chen De Ligh:
get in touch with Paul Gonsorchick, as he
agency. When you lend money out and get has been Jiolding money for you for almost
stuck for it, that is your personal business, seven months. He has made enough interest
The only thing to do with a guy like that is on it, and now wishes to see you get it.
to expose him for the cheap punk that he is.
the next time you see him. Remember, this
s a small world and in time you will run
nto a guy of that sort.
Bill Mpontsikaris just registered after
hirteen months aboard the Couer de Alene
Victory. Must have been a good Cook to
last that long, or else the" SIU has thirty
odd half starved members on. it's hands. ...
Contributions for the "Hank Fund" are still
rolling in. Haye you made yours? If not, see
the Agent in your port. . . . For the benefit
of those members who have lacked the in
erest to learn where meetings are held in
the port of New York, they are being held
in the Union Hall. It's hard to believe, but
we have members still showing up at Web
ster Hall, where we haven't had a meeting
in years. Wake up, fellows. If this Union had
to rely on "wideawake" members of this
sort, it would have gone to pot long ago.
Despite previous warnings, permit mem
bers are still missing the boat, and as a
result seventeen white cards were shipped
in the deck and engine departments, during
the month of September. . . . Red Beers is
doing the bellyrobbing on the Seatrain Ha
vana. Nobady has quit yet because of it....
To all members who are looking for that
boom to come along as a result of the Kor
ean War, this is to inform you that the
boom IS—but on the West Coast; anyone
interested in steady shipping for some time
to come should grab a rattler out to the
Coast. PS—I'm not drumming up business
for the railroads, either.
Bull Steamship Co. has temporarily laid
up the Monroe, to the regret of the whole
gang. For an Old bucket, she is in good con
dition. The deck gang swears that she is the
easiest ship to work on deck. We also un
derstand t^at the Bosun has been on this
ship for eight years and can tell anyone
nterested the exact number of rivets in
tier. . . . We are also informed that the Bull
Line is considering selling the Hilton, which
would leave that company with just three
of their old scows in operation.
Over one hundred SIU members have
been shipped into the Cities Service fleet in
the last month. Oldtimers as well as new
comers have been taking these jobs in
order to put the finishing touches to the
SIU's organizing campaign. Among those
recently shipped .into that fleet are: Sid
Turner, Bill Scott, Early Punch (that's his
real name), Frank Lamberti, Ray Arnold,
Bill McDonald, Harvey Shero, Ziggy Wydra,
Sam Langham, and T. Chilinski, Aheady in
the fleet and practising as well as preach
ing the policy of "organizing the unorgan
ized" are Johnny Robarts, Warren Woqdill,
P. Mays, H. Swann, H, S. Miller, and John
Tiemey.
If you are moving from your present ad
dress and wish to continue receiving the
SEAFARERS LOG, be sure to notify the
Editor of the change of address, giving both
the new and old address. ... If you have
not yet filled out the necessary form des
ignating your beneficiary: for the Welfare
Fund's death benefit, you can get same from
the port agent, or wait for the next sign on
... If you have not paid this month's alimony
you had better not wait for the next sign
on—there may never be one. ... Is it true
that a certain Bosun couldn't ship the other
day because his gear has a mortgage which
is held by an uptown hotel? How come,
Larry?
Among the proposed plans for the future
SIU building in New York are a cafeteria,
bar and grill, automatic laundry, showers,
large auditorium, along with the usual items
such as mail and baggage rooms, recreation
rooms and piecards. The membership will,
of course, have to vote on these proposed
plans before they are put into effect . . .
Quite a number of the membership have
written in for . the questions and answers
for Fireman, Oiler, Deck Engineer, Electri
cian and Reefer Engineer. In case you don't
know it, you can receive any or all of the
above by writing in to the New York Hall.
"Hasta la vista," which, for the benefit of
the Spanish speaking membership, means
for all papers turned over to
them for scrutiny.
.XXX
SS ARCHER'S HOPE. Sept. 16
—Chairman, and Secretary not
given. Delegates' reports accept
ed. Delegates to take care ol
matter of raising money foi
sending telegrams and radio
grams to SIU. Booklets on Union
constitution and bylaws distri
buted among crew.
XXX
SS WINTER HILL (date not
given)—Chairman. Ray Aureitt;
Secretary. R. Perry. Special
meeting called to discuss the
firing of an OS and transfer of
Deck Maintenance to AB. Bos
un stated that the man was
fired for good reasons and more
men would be fired at end of
trip so a crew would be formed
that would work harder.
XXX
SS ABIQUA. Septl 9 — Chair
man. Herbert Skelton; Secretary.
Lawrence Reinter. Suggestion
made that each man donate $1
to ship's fund for outfitting the
crew's recreation room. A few
beefs were raised concerning
neglected repairs in the foc'sles.
XXX
SS GOLDEN CITY (no date)
— Chairman. Alonzoz Milfeki;
Secretary. T. Walker. Delegates
reported everything okay. Motion
carried to request Charles Pal
mer to remain as ship's delegat,^
for another trip. Suggestion
made that one man from each
department be made responsible
for cleaning laundry.
XXX
SS AKTION. June 4 —Chair
man. John Cummins; Secretary.
Edwin Judd. Ship's Delegate re
ported that the Deck Engineer
had been authorized to extend
a waterline outside of the hous
ing for drinking water while in
port. Delegates reported every
thing in good shape. One man
put ashore in Guam because of
illness. Steward agreed to con
demn fifty pounds of processed
hamburger from the States.
Am
j
Ainong the members registered in the "till I see you again" in English.
SS V/ILLIAM H. CARRUTH
Crewmembers who paid off
this ship in Gulfport and who,
have transportation money due
from Mobile to New York and
Philadelphia can now collect it
at the office of Transfuel Corpo
ration, 25 Broadway, New York
City.
XXX
JOSEPH BOURGEOIS
COSTA T. SKYLLBERG
BARTHOLD CHRISTENSEN
The above named men have
checks covering unclaimed wages
being held for them at Treasury
Department. These men should
forward their correct addresses
to the Maritime Administration,
U. S. Department of Commerce,
Washington 25, D. C., so thaCthe
checks can be mailed out at
once. In writing refer to File
No. F4222rG.
i:
Page Tea r »JB is M WA R E R S i. d G Friday, September 29, 1950
if:,
fi:
W'
Sl^
J'
s'
Wi
Secret Arrivals
Seattle
In The Dark
By RAY OATES
SEATTLE, September 20 —
Shipping in this port has quieted
riown in the past two weeks.
TVhat the future will bring, we
have no way of knowing, as we
cannot get a line on the ships
coming into Seattle from the
Far East—the Army, is keeping
arrivals secret until the ships
get along side of the dock.
This was the case a few weeks
ago when bpth the Robin Hood
and the Robin Gray came in
• without advance notice and or
dered full crews.
. This is kind of tough going in
a small port like Seattle, to line
tip men and fulfill our contract
with our companies, but we are
doing the best we can. However,
We are trying what we can to
try to get information about ar
rivals a few days in advance.
Hope we sutceed.
Some .amazing testimony is
coming out in the inquiry into
the sinking of the Navy hospi
tal ship Benevolence by the SS
Mary Luckenback off San Fran
cisco.
UNSEAWORTHY
One of the more startling
statements was given by the
Bosun's Mate of the Benevo
lence, which is manned by a
MSTS crew. In his sworn testi
mony, he said that he consid
ered the ship unseaworthy, be
cause of the lack of qualified
seamen. Several of the crew,
he said, didn't even have sea
men's rating papers.
This is no surprise to us out
here, who have seen the MSTS
finkherders scouring the skid
Qumiffiations For Ot^e
Qualifications for office In the Seafarers Intermitlonal Union, Atlantic and Gulf
District as provided for by the CenaiitufioB and Bylaws are as follows:
(a) That he be a citlsen of the United Btatee.
(b) That he be a full member of ihe Seafarers International Union of North
America, Atlantic and Gulf District, In conllnuons good standing for a period of two
(2) years immediately prior to date of nomination.
(c) Any candidate for Agent cnr Joint Patrolman must have tl»ee years of sea
service In any one Of three departnaents. Any candidate for departmontal Patrolman
must have three years sea service in Rmii roqpective department, dee service as
specified In this article, shaU mean on nterehant vessels In unttcensed caparity.
(d) That he has not mlseonducted himself previously while enqiloyed as ah officer
of the Union.
(e) That he be. an active and full book member and show lour months' discharges
for the current in im milicaased rating, prior to date of nomination. This pro
vision shall not api^i^ id'officials and other office holders working for the Union
during current year for period of four or longer.
Any member who can qualify snay nombiate himself for office by submitting.
In writing, his Intention to run for ofitee. naming the particular office and submit
ting the necessary proof Of qualification as listed above.
The notice of Intention, addressed to the SecretaryTreasurer must be In his of
fice not later than Odt^ber 15, 1950, when nominations will be closed.
In addition, each candidate riiall submit a regulation passport photo, taken re
cently, a statement of not more than 100 words, giving a brief summary of his ITnlon
record and activities—both of which wfll be run In the SEAFJ^ERS LOG prior to
the voting period.
Phony Skipper Pulls Phony Mutiny Churge
BT JOE AEGIRA
I NEED1WO
A.e.S AMP A
BoSUN...
rows for men. We don't know
how it is in other ports, but out
here it's pretty bad.
The Seamen's YMCA out here
reports that 1400 men have ship
ped MSTS since the Korean
,War started. We hope that the
Benevolence incident will lead
to a major change in MSTS
policy—let them charter their
ships out to reputable commer
cial outfits who will guarantee
to crew them with competent
civilian, union men—men who
know their jobs.
ir
No Hot Water?
When your ship has been
cut of hot water for ovsr
twelve hours make sure
this fact is recorded in ths
Engine log book. It will save
a lot of trouble when your
ship hits port later.
If you are in port when
the boilers give up the ghost
notify the Hall immediately
and a Patrolman will handle
the matter with the com
pany. Don't wait Until the
ship is half way across the
oraan before you send word;
let out a yell before your
ship leaves port and the mat
ter will be' settled at once.
NEW YORK—Shipping in this
port hdd, its own during the
lasKtwoweek period.
The following ships paid off
in this^port: the SS Hilton, Su
zanne, Frances, Beatrice^ Puerto
Rico, Evelyn, Elizabeth, Steel
Apprentice, S t eel Navigator,
Steel Executive, Azalia City, J.
B. Waterman, Golden City,' The
Aktiom, Lake George, Strath
more and the Harry T. Palmer.
" LONGRANGra,
The only, ship . signed * on in
this port, in, addition fto the
coastwise ships " and those on
continuous, articles, was the
Steel Apprentice.
The Harry T. Palmer came in
from Baltimore'and paid off the
whole crew, and this ship is go
ing , into layup for about ten
days.
On the SS Strathmore we had
a big beef about bonus. Sonny
Simmons got hold of the com
pany and squared this beef away.
Another beef on this ship was,
while laying in Alaska at An
chorage, a few of the boys who
had been having a few beers
got into a friendly fight. After
they had settled their differ
ence they went off to bed.
Somehow, the Old Man heard
about this, came down to the
inessroom and ordered the rest
of the gang, who were shooting
the bull and having coffee, to
their bunks.
CALLS LAW
The men did not want to go
to their bunks, so the Old Man
wont ashore and got the local
law, and all the rest of the. Ikw
he could find, and came back
to the ship and charged the crew
with mutiny. ,This was proven
false but, unfortunately, twp of
the crewmembers were taken be
fore the local law, which'hap
pened to be some old dame who
gave the fellows a few months
in jail for drinking aboard the
ship.
The Union feels this was jm
necessary on the part of the
Captain to call the local law
when just a friendly fight was
taking place. Some of these Cap
tains should realize that the Un
ion has gone on record as con
demning gashounds, but where,
Skippers do not use their heads
it does not help the Union to try
and control gashounds.
It is unfortunate that things
like this happen, as all the pa
pers had big editorials about the
mutiny at Anchorage, Alaska;
and the radios played it up also,
stating that this was a commu
nist crew, although it is a,mat
ter of record that we are strict
ly against and would not tole
rate any communists in r^ur Un
ion.
This Skipper also disputed all
overtime that crewmembers had
earned. When the ship pulled
into Wilmington, the delegates
got in touch with the Agent and
he went down to'see the Skip=
per and got the overtime squared
away.
ALL SQUARED AWAY
Upon leaving Wilmington, the
Skipper immediately disputed
all overtime again. When the
Patrolman out of New York,
Sonny Simmons, went aboard
the ship, he got ail the overtime
squared away again, plus the
bonus and transportation that
the Skipper said he would not
pay.
Sonie of these Skippers should
get it into their heads they do
not pay any money, it is up to
the companyand the IBiion to
get squared away. Theirs is the
right to dispute overtime, hut
not to go around and tell crews
that they won't pay this or they
won't pay that.
ACTION
We are going to meet with
the company to get this Skipper
squared away. As we have sta
ted in the past, we do not expect
our members to be Sunday
School boys, as men who go to
sea have little enough from life.
But, on the other hand, we
expect Captains to have some
sense and to use it and not con
fuse crew members by such stuff
as this Captain pulled. We be
lieve that this Captain will
happier on another ship, not un
der contract to the Seafarers In
ternational Union.
Anbody wishing to donate to
Cut and Run Hank's fund may
do so by giving whatever he,
wishes to give to the Patrolman
who pays off his ship, or at the
Union Hall—or he can send a
checkto Headquarters—but how
ever it is given, make sure an
official receipt is made out.
Ihihn Wred(m An WaweJ
The SlU Is on record ihal changes will be placed against
men guilty of bring the following:
PILFERERS: Men who walk ofi ships with crew's equip
ment or ship's gear, such as sheets, towels, ship's stores, cargo,
etcu for sale ashore.
WEEDHOUNDS: Men who are in the possession of or
who use marijuana or other narcotics on board an SIU ship
or in the vicinity of an SIU HalL
GASHOUND PERFORMERS: Men who jeopardise the
safety of their shipmates by drinking while at work on a ship
or who turn to in a drunken condition. Those who disrupt the
operation of a ship, the payoff or signon by being gassed up.
This Union was built of, by and for seamen. Seafarers
fought many long airi bloody fights to obtain the wages and
conditions we now enjoy. For the first time in the history of
the marftine industry a seaman can support himself and his
family in a decent and independent manner. The SlU does
net tolerate the jeopardiring of these conditions by the actions
of irresponsible^
In any occupation there is a small group of foulballs.
While the Union has been fortunate in keeping such characters
to a minimum, we must uliminate them altogether from the
SIU. ,
All Seafarers, members and officials alike, are under
obUgatlon to place charges against these types of characters.
Diverted Shipt
Slow Slilpiiing
In Baltimore
By WILLIAM (Curly) RENTB
BALTIMORE—The past couple
of weeks brought nothing but
slower shipping to this port and
the prospects for the weeks
ahead are" tough to figure right
now. Several vessels originally
scheduled for this ̂ port have
been diverted to others..
At any rate, we're hoping for
a pickup soon as we have plenty
of men on thp beach to take ca^
of any increase in shipping. We
would like to point out, how
ever, that many of those hang
ing around are guys waiting for
special runs, an unwise practice,
especially when you can never
be sure these days of what the
future will offer.
Once you let a job go by, it's
lost to you. You can never caUl
it back. A job in hand is worthf
two on the way.
CLEAN PAYOFFS
We had a number of payoffs
and signons during the past
twoweek period and all of thenn
were wound pp in good shape.
All overtime beefs were settled
right aboard the ships involved.
Several scows were in the port
on intransit status but none oi
them called for replacements.
Remember our slogan? "A SItJ
ship is a clean ship?" Well, let's
keep showing how true it is!
When you leave your vessel,
make sure your room is left
clean for the oncoming man.
Leave the ship in the condition
you'4 like to find it were you
coming aboard.
Everything in Baltimore i^
okay at the moment, except off
course, for the strike over at thei
Maryland shipyard. We're allj
hoping that the men on the lines;
will win their demands very'
soon, and that we'll be able t6|
tell you about a victory in the
next issue of the LOG.
Mobile Shipping
On Slow Side
By CAL TANNER
MOBILE, Sept. 22 — Shippi
in this port for the past tw
weeks has been fair, with
slight decline of jobs over
previous weeks.
The following ships paid oil
within the past two weeks: thei
Wild Ranger, Cavalier, Polaris.']
Iberville, Monarch of the Seas
and the Alcoa Runner.
. The signons were: the Cava
lier, Polaris, W. H. Carruth an^
the Alcoa Runner. The ships in^
transit were: the Fairhope, An^
drew Jackson and the Stee
Worker.
Shipping prospects for the por
are very dim, with the Fairisl
and the W. H. Carruth still irj
drydbck.
We met with Colonel Howel
of the Alabama State Selectiv
Service Board in regards to de
ferments for seamen. Progress ii
being made in this respect, 'a
there will be a meeting held i:
Montgomery, Alabama, n
month, but 1 urge the men
the 1926 group to keep in touc
with their draft board.
We are stUl having consider*
able, relief jobs coming up or|!
the board, although not as manj
as we would like to see for th^
boys on the beach. It seems a
if ^he boneyard in Mobile ha
folded,up.
Fridar< Idi^ THE SEAFARERS LOG Page ClevM
WILMINOTON—Beciiiue there
• W£X
hole old a regulBT meeting, a spe
cial meeting whs held to hear
the Agent's report and a repet^
on shipping for the Iwoweeh
period that iust ended.
• t t ».
NORFOLK—there were not
25 members present for a quor
lun. the regular meeting was not
held. A special meetihg was call
ed for the purpose of checking
the shipping cards. Excuses for
• hsence were referred to the
Dispatcher.
& j; ^
PHILADELPHIA =• Chairman.
W. J. Reidy. 6734; Reading Clerk,
A. S. Cardullo. 24599; Recording
Secretary, G. H. Seeberger, 6932.
Minutes of all other Branches
having New Business was read
and accepted. Agent reported on
Branch affairs and on state of
shipping. Motion made and car
ried to accept his report. Charges
were read against a member and
a Trial Committee was elected
to hear the case and report back
«'to the meeting. A Brother in ar
rears was permitted to paj^ back
dues and ship from port. Agent
was instructed to get loud
^>eakers fixed for next meeting,
as the reading clerk must shout
to be heard throughout the Hall.
The meeting voted unanimously
ito concur with special meeting's
action against accepting "vali
dated" seamen's papers from the
i Coast Guard. Report of Secre
taryTreasurer to membership
and his financial report were ac
cepted. Dispatcher's report was
accepte'd. Robert Mills was given
i| Oath of Obligation. There being
iipo Good and Welfare, the meet
|!ing was adjourned with 180
ipembers present.
t 4
. BALTIMORE—Chairman. Wm.
Ranfz, 26445; Recording Secre
tary, G. A. Mastersom 2029;
Reading Clerk, AI Stansbiury,
4B48.
A&C Shipping from Sept 6 To Sept 20
PORT
Boston ......
New York....
Philadelphia
Baltimore
Norfolk.......
Savannjih.
Tampa.
Mobile. .......
New Orleans
Galveston
West Coast
GRAND TOTAL..
REQ. REG). REG. TOTAL SHIPPED 3HJPPED SHIPPED TOTAL
PECK ENp.
1
STWDS. REP. DECK ENG. STWPS. SHIPPED
44 30 24 98 • 20 21 14 55
141 144 129 414 118 199 82 399
25 23 19 67 10 5 6 21
127 84 84 295 74 63 49 186
11 fi 4 20 8 7 7 22'
21 ' H 7 39 3 6 6 15
17 9 7 33 14 11 9 34
34 54 42 130 38 46 43 127
58 61 65 184 51 49" 56 156
30 26 29 85 17 22 15 54
62 .45 40 147 40 23 19 82
570 • 492 450 \ 1,512 393 452 306 1,151
Minutes of last Branch meet
ing read and accepted. Minutes
of special meeting, which went
on record against signing ap
plications for new seamen's pa
pers, were read and concvu:red
in. Baltimore financial reports
and SecretaryTreasurer's finan
cial reports were read and ac
cepted. Report of Quarterly Fin
ance Committee, dated August
29, 1950, were read and accepted
by the membership. Two mem
bers were given permission to
change from the Stewards de
p^tment to the deck department.
All • excuses from the meeting
jwere referred to the Dispatcher.
lAgent's and Dispatcher's reports
Iwere accepted. At' this point
lipeating stood in silence for one
[minute in memory of our de
parted Brothers. Under Good and
Welfare, several members spoke
on the necessity of bookmem
bers taking jobs on the Ore ships,
to keep finks and freeloaders
from getting jobs off the dock
on sailing days. It was pointed
out that several such had been
put aboard these ships on the
last three trips. Meeting ad
jiQurned with 300 members pres
b '
. NEW YORK—Chairman, Earl
gheppard. 203; , Recording Sec
retary, Freddie Stewart, 4935;
iVeading Clerk, Robert Matthews,
j54.
' Minutes of last New York
meeting and other Branch meet
ings read and accepted. New
York Branch financial report and
Secretary Treasurer's financial
reports were accepted. Trial
Committee's report of Septem
ber 7 was read and concurred
in. Headquarters report to the
membership covered the follow
ing items; Almost daily negotia
tions with Cities Service have
reiult^ in a tentative agree
ment on most of the issues.
Headquarters felt that full agree
ment would be reached within
the next few weeks. It was re
ported that the War Risk Bonus
for the Far Eastern waters has
been increased from the $5,000
paid in the last war to $10,000.
Headquarters officials are to ap
pear in Washington next week
(September 25) to testify before
a Senate Labor subcommittee
on antilabor activities of the
Cities Service Oil Company.
Headquarters recommended that,
inasmuch as this meeting con
stituted a supreme quorum, the
resolution listing the offices to
be put on ballot for next elec
tion be handled in a special
meeting between tlus night and
the next meeting. As per pre
vious membership action, Head
quarters reported, the Strike and
Organizational Fund of the Un
ion has been changed to the
Organizational and Legislative
Fund. Motion made and carried
that the Headquarters report be
accepted. Agent reported on the
state of shipping in this port.
He reported on the actions of
the Skipper on the SS Strath
more, who disputed all overtime
on this ship and who highhand
edly worked UP a phony "mu
tiny" scare when the ship was
laying in Anchoragi?, Alaska.
Agent's report and those of Pa
trolmen and Dispatcher were ac
cepted. Requests for excuses
were referred to the Dispatcher.
Charges were held for a trial
Committee to be elected the fol
lowing day. One minute of sil
ence was observed for departed
Brothers. There being no Good
and Welfare, the meeting was
adjourned with 840 members
present.
• » » g
BOSTON—No regular meeting
was held due to,the breakdown
of the subway s^^em. which
prevented the membership from
getting down to the^all.
t. % %
GALVESTON — Chairman,
Keith Alsop, 7311; Recording
Secretary, R. Wilbuyn, 37739;
Reading Clerk, C. Tannehill,
25922.
Minutes of previous Galveston
meeting and other Branch meet
ings read and accepted. Galves
ton financial reports. Quarterly
Finance Committee report. Head
quarters report to membership
and SecretaryTreasurer's finan
cial reports read and accepted.
AgSP.tj Patrolman and Dispatcher
reported on shipping in this port
and the state of the Branch. Mo
tions were carried to accept the
reports of the Branch officials.
Under New Business it was vot
ed that all standby jobs on gov
ernment riiips, that have not
been assigned to any one com
pany, be classified as regular
standby jobs, as per the shipping
rules. If an SIU company later
gets the ship, standby men on
this ship must giet off and regu
lar jobs shipped off the board.
Membership stdod one minute
in silence for . departed Brothers.
MOBILE—Chairman, O. Stev
ens, 115; Recording Secretary, J.
CanoU, 14; Reading Clerk, L.
Neira, 26393.
Minutes of previous meeting
read and accepted. Action of
special meeting rejecting Coast
Guard attempt to introduce spe
cial "validated" papers was con
curred in. Headquarters report
to membership, SecretaryTrea
surer's financial report and re
port of Quarterly Finance Com
mittee were read and accepted.
Membership voted to accept
minutes of other Branches hold
ing meetings. Agent, Patrolmen
and Dispatcher gave their re
ports. Agent reported that ship
ping had slowed down in this
port, with about ten ships ex
pected within the next two
weeks.. If the Maritime Board
broke down, he said, and pulled
some ships out of the local bone
yard, it would help this port no
end. The Agent warned against
losing seamen's papers, as the
new ones issued wiU be the
"validated" kind, whether one
likes it or not. Meeting was ad
journed with 300 members pres
ent.
i
SAN FRANCISCO—Chairman,
H. Fischer, 59; Recording Secre
tary, S. Zygarowski, 43925; Read
ing Clerk, Red ConneU, 102353.
Minutes of previous meeting
and special meeting read and ac
cepted. SecretaryTreasure's, fin
ancial report. Headquarters re
port to' membership and. Quar
terly Finance Conunittee's report
read and accepted. Trial Com
VERNON BELFLOWER, SUP
Your gee and Union book are
being held for you in the Gal
veston SIU Hall.
4 * * *
EMMETT J. TIERNEY
Wire your local draft hoard,
giving the name of ship and
company by whom you are
presently employed. ^
% X %
EVIS J. THIBODEAUX, JR.
Yom' mother and family are
worried about you. Please write
to them in New Orleans.
XXX
JAN SIDOR
You are "requested to get in
touch immediately with the Po
lish Social Service Bureau, Inc.,
145 East 52nd St., New York
Gity (Telephone: MUrray Hill
81466). They have important
information for you.
XXX
ROBERT PIERCE
Please forWard your perman
ent address to E. B. (Mac) M9
Auley, 3611 W. Clark Circle,
Tampa, Fla.
XXX
RICHARD COMSTOCK
Get in touch with your brother,
Thomas, at 237 West 105th St.,
Apt. 2, [New York City. Phone:
MOnumOnt 66363.
JAMES H, POPE,,.
Get in touch with Chilton
Bryan, Commerce Building,
Houston 2, Texas.
XXX
CLYDE STILL
Get in touch with Robert F.
Reynolds, 1302 Hobart Building,
San Francisco, Calif.
XXX
WALTER HENRY HOFFMAN
Your mother and father urg
ently request you to come honto
at once. You are also to coni
mimicate""with your local draft
board immediately, advising it
of your present employment.
XXX
NORMAN G. BECKA
The abovenamed Seafarer
wishes all his friends and form
er shipnjates that he will short
ly enter a branch of the armed
services.
XXX
EDWARD. DELANEY
^iss Irene Carr asks that you
telephone her at ST. 89371.
XXX
JOSEPH FODAR
Get in touch with Miss Macy
Green, Rainbow Cafe, Texas
City, Tex., at once.
XXX
WILLIAM MAJOR WEST
Please communicate with your
family in Norfolk, Va..
mittee was elected, and charges
against three Brothers turned
over to them. > Minutes of other
Branch meetings read and ac
cepted. Agent reported that
about 12 intransit ships are due
to hit this port and there might
be a couple of payoffs, but there
was no way of knowing when,
as they are imder Army and
Navy charter and their move
ments are kept secret. Crewmem
bers were urged to take action
against performers on their ships,
so as to eliminate any disputes
of this type on the West Coast.
Dispatcher and Patrolmen gave
their reports. Under Good and
Welfare, several Brothers took
the deck urging the member
ship to continue to crackdown
on performers. Membership stood
in silence for one minute in
memory of Brothers lost at sea.
Meeting adjourned with 200
members present.
XXX
SAVANNAH—There being no
quorum for a regular meeting, a
special ixieeting was held to read
charges, and to explain the
Coast Guard's move to introduce
special "veilidated" seamen's doci
uments.
XXX
TAMPA—Due to a lack of a
quorum no meeting could be
held.
$• 4" 4^
NEW ORLEANS — Chairman.
Leroy Clarke, 23062; Recording
Secretary, Herman Troxclair..
6743; Reading Clerk, Buck Ste
phens, 76.
Business was suspended to
hear requests for extensions on
shipping card. Five requests
were received and turned over
to an elected committee of the
groups involved. Later in the
meeting four requests were
granted 80 days extension. Pre
vious minutes and New Orleans
1 inancial report were read and
accepted. Headquarters financial
reports were accepted. Charges
against three members were
read and referred to a trial com
mittee to be elected the next day..
Minutes of other Branches were
read and concurred in. Agent
reported that business of port
was in good shape. Shipping
outlook for next few weeks was
not too hot with only four ships
scheduled for payoff. There is a
report from Washington that 25
more ships are due out of the
boneyard, but there is no know
ing to whom they will be as
signed. There were very few
beefs on Ibe ships coming in
during the last two weeks and
these were all handled at pay
off. The Agent had high praise
for the Del Norte crew who had
everything all lined and ready
for the payoff and no beefs.
Agent's report was accented by
the membership, as were those
of the Patrolmen and Dispatcher.
Excuses from the meeting were
referred to the Dispatcher. Head
quarters report to membership
concurred in. Under New Busi
ness, a motion was carried to
buy a radio for recreation floor.
Meeting authorized Agent to get
HaU airconditioned or cooled
off in some way for the summer,
and some sort of safety screens
or bars for the windows. Undec
Good and Welfare members dis
cussed ways and means of get
ting more shoregang*work in this
port. Meeting adjourned with
312 members in attendance.
Vi^e Twelre • r^v'.' ; THE S t, AREKS LO G Frid»7, S«pt«nber 29, 1950
GS Signs FnU S10
After StoUliig For Years
The Cities Service Oil Company's 16ship tanker fleet begins operating on Occtober 1 under full contract to the SIU^
Atlantic and Gulf District, following signing of an agreement by company and Union representatives on September 2^.
Thus, the SIU's unwavering fouryear battle to bring genuine collective bargaining representation to CS seamen, des*
pite seemingly insurmountable odds, ended in victory.
>The contract, which will run until February 15, 1952, supersedes the interim agreement sighed last March.
Under terms of the pact, the CS Marine Division shut down its hiring office on 70 Pine Street, which had onCe serred
as a place for screening out of the CS fleet men with Union sympathies. The company has also pledged that it will no longer
use the various crimp joints to obtain men and agreed to use the SIU hiring facilities to obtain its unlicensed crewinembers. ,
, A grievance procedure is established under the contract to handle violations charged by the Union in the company'^
execution of the contract. «
In a memorandum to the agreement. Cities Service agreed to a Seafarers Benefit Plan, to be financed by employer con^
tributions of 2 5cents a day j^g agent for unlicensed men,
I:
:
I •
li^
i
i:
m
k/[
foreach man employed on
its ships. The company will
contribute to the fund re
troactive to August 1, 1950.
The company also agreed to
commence negotiations on three
points any time after 30 days af
ter the signing of the contract,
upon written request of the Un
ion. The Union demanded this
provision in the agreement to al
low it opportunity to bring the
CS pact in line with, those pre
vailing with other contracted
companies.
Points referred to in this mem
orandum involve the shortage of
one Messman in the Stewards
department riianning scale, the
matter of CS not paying for 5
PM to 8 AM overtime in port,
and for shifting mutterworth ma
chines Or washing tanks.
• In the course of the negotia
tions leading to the contract,
which was signed for the com
pany by Christopher Story, CS
vicepresident in charge of Ma
rine Operations, the companj'
made it clear that it intended
,to promote harmonious labor
management relations and to
eradicate all of the practices
responsible for the long legal
stalling and discrimination
against union men, previously
^ployed by the Marine Divi
sion.
As an indication of its good
fiiith in executing the terms of
the new contract, E. G. Maddock,
Assistant Manager of the com
pany, dispatched a communica
tipn to all supervisory personnel,
representatives and agents, in
forming them of the collective
b^gaining agreement reached
with the SIU, and outlining and
i^elling out their responsibilities
in its observance.
"This«> agreement is widely dif
ferent from any which have pre
' viously been in force in our
fleet in the past," Maddock stat
He urged aU supervisors to
study the agreement carefully
and, in the event of any prob
fem of ambiguous wording, to
communicate with office for
clarification.
"We are very anxious to avoid
any interpretations being placed
upon the Agreement which are
at variance with the intent of
fliose who signed the document,"
the company official asserted.
He then called attention to the
company's recognition of the
SIU • as sole collective bargain
the procedure for keeping rec
ords of overtime work perform
ed by crewmembers, to the com
pany's policy of hiring "as con
tained in Article 2 of the agreev
ment," and to the rights of SIU
passholders when boarding the
ships to carry out the Union's
business.
Maddock's statement conclud
ed by stating that his instruc
tions supersede "all previous
verbal and written instructions
in connections with our agree
ments .^nd working conditions."
In addition to Story, CS rep
resentatives signing the agree
ment were Maddodc, and attor
neys Jame^ P. Farr^ and Carl
O; Bondorff.
Representing the SIU. was Sec
retaryTreasurer Paul Hall, along
with Union officials Earl Shep
pard, Robert Matthews and
Morris Weisberger.
The SIU organizing campaign
in the Cities Service fleet got
under way after it. was chosen
in 1945 as tlje most ripe of all
the unorganized tanker compan
ies for unionization.
Pledges from a majority of
the fleet's crewmembers led to
petitions for NLRB elections,
first on seven ships, then on
nine others acquired later. The
SIU took both elections by over
whelming majorities and was
certified by the Board as rep
resentative for the entire fleet.
The fight to obtain a contract'
developed into what is perhapd
the most sordid chaj>ter in mod
ern maritime history, with the
Marine : Division officials and
their attorney, William P. Lag^
using a labor spy setup, mass
firings, discriminatory hiring
practices," crimps and .similar tac
tics to sandbag the Union and
proUnion CS seamen.
Major Detisions At Annua! AFL Convention
HOUSTON—In a record short
sixday convention, the American
Federation of Labor spread out
for the nation and the world its
position on a vast number of
domestie and international issues.
Major decisions at the 69th an
nual convention were:
Wages and Prices. Price con
trols should be imposed at once,
with a rollback to prices as of
June 23. Wage controls are nei
ther necessary or advisable now.
Wages .should be permitted to
catch up with the rise in living
costs. Any future wage stabiliza
tion must provide room for cor
rection of interplant and inter
ndustry inequities and for in
creases based on higher producti
vity,
TaftHartley Act. A top ob
jective in November will be the
election of a liberal majority in
House and Senate committed to
repeal of the vicious antilabor
TH act, and to enactment of
progressive legislation.
Labor Unity. Need "greater
than ever before," but if nego
tiations for a united labor move
ment are to succeed, they must
be confined for the present to
the AFL and CIO.
Minimum Wages. WageHour
act should be amended .to raise
floor from present 75 cents to
$1 an hour. WalshHealey act
should be flrmly enforced to re
quire payment of prevailing min
imum wages by employers tak
ing government contracts.
Totalitarianism. All forms of
dictatorships are opposed, whe
ther they be called Nazism, Fas
cism, Peronism, Falangism or
Communism.
Social Security. Benefits for to
tal disability, equal to old ago
pensions, should be added; alno
insurance during temporary ill
ness or disability. Pension cov
erage should be raised from
present $3600 to $5400 a year.
Health Insurance. Support re
affirmed, and propaganda of
American Medical Association
denounced.'
Intemalioi^ Relations. Free
countries of Asia should be unit
ed in a defensive agreement sim
ilar to Atlantic Pact. Vestiges of
colonialism and imperialism
should be removed. A single in
depe:ident republic should be set
up for all Korea, with a govern
ment democratically elected tm
der United Nations supervision.
Peace treaties .should be nego
tiated witli Western Germany
and Japan. A permanent United
Nations security force should be
established.
Civil Rights. Support of ciyil
rights legislation and an FEPC
reaffirmed. Poll taxes should be
barred by federal law.
Farm Workers. Legislation to
Scifeguard' their right to organize
and bargain collectively reaf
firmed.
The convention also: Blasted
the phony Stockholm "peace pe
tition" being circulated by Com
mimists; again mged an end to
partition of Ireland; firoposed
that countries getting Marshall
Plan aid use some of the "coun
terpart funds" to. finance demo
cratic school ssrsteins; condemned
"the practice ofthe Tlnited Mine'
Workers (District 50) of invad
ing' the jurisdiction of building
trade unions," and called sjUch
practices "akin to methods of
strikebreaking agencies;" sug
gested criminal penalties for em
ployers "Who bring in aliens il
legally "in the guise of agricul
tural workers or otherwise;" ad
vocated a boycott of all products
made by slave labor; assailed
the military departments of gov
ernment for displacing Civilian
workers in navy yards and other
establishments with men in uni
form; condenmed the Postmaster,
General for cutting mail delivery
services and called for restora
tion of full service.
Senator Johnson Hits US Ship Giveaway
(Continued from Page 4)
ferred from American to foreign
flag's.
Let us analyze briefly these
astounding proposals. Neither
this or any other nation would
ever allow foreign ships to enter
in direct competition with its
own vessels in home waters. For
the United States to do so would
be disastrous to its own domestic
shipping whose operating costs
and wages are far higher. Our
ships would be laid up and our
merchant seamen thrown out df
their jobs.
Reduction and eventual elim
ination of operating subsidies,
which mean merely the parity
of competitive opportunity with
cheap labor foreign lines, would
wipe out a substantial propor
tion of our overseas, shipping.
The repeal of laws requiring
lhat 50 percent of all Marshall
Plan shipments move in Ameri
can vessels would repudiate a
sound congressional mandate,
benefits equal to unemploymentjThig mandate simply means that
it is only fair that American
flag ships get an even break
with foreign ships in the tr^
portation of these cargoes,
which were almost entirely fin
anced by congressional appro
priations already amoimting to
billions of dollars.
The transfer of 100 American
dry cargo vessels andrtankers to
foreign flags would be fantastic
at any time but particularly at
the present time. We may reject
a similar proposal 2 years ago.
My purpose in thus exposing
to you the disastrous effects of
such proposals is to put the Con
Attention Membero!
All appUcallons for unom
ploTtnaat iaeurance in Hew
York City must be made
through the offlees at 165
Joralemon St» Brooklyn
(Third Floor), instead of the
Pistrict ofOces, as formerly.
gress on guard as to their danger
I know that they have actually'
been drawn up for incorporation ^1
in a general plamto bricige over
the Socalled dollar gap for west
ern European nations. I strongly
sh^e in the belief that
should continue to do every •
thing within reason that would?
strengthen any nation alined
with us against the encroach
ments of Communist expimsion.
But I say that it is suicide toi
do this at the expense of ona
of our vital war industries. Our
merchant niarine is part of our
first line of defense. Any attempt
to curtail its operations is , aa
dangerous as an^ attempt to
shrink our Air Force, Army, oijl?
Navy.
Unless the proponent^ of thia i'
fantastic and dangerous proposal i;
withdraw it altogether, I am de
termined to propose for the c6n^
sideration of the Senate a reso
lution to investigate the whole
plan and the individu^s moti*
voting it.
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