https://seafarerslog.org/archives_old/files/original/ac901ba239469a8fd06d6f7f45731d4c.PDF be5cd6e43640041564f93a210c033f62 PDF Text Text Official Organ of the Atlantic and Gulf District, Seafarers International Union of North America Vol. VIII. -liT NEV/ YORK. N. Y., FRIDAY. MARCH 15. 1946 Just To Give You An Idea New York —In line with the expansionist pro­ gram of the Seafarers International Union, and the increasing support from unorganized seamen, the Seafarers Log this week goes to sixteen pages in ordjer to better service its growing membership. New York—In a letter addressed to all Nation­ al Council members of the NMU, Secretary Ferdin­ and C. Smith asked them "to make recommendations regarding retrenchment and economy." No. 11 Return Seamen To Civilian Rule, Says SIU To Truman; Coast Guard And Operator Control Condemned Agents' Conference in New York City The Agents Conference of the Atlantic and Gulf District, will he held in New York City be­ ginning March 18. The Confer }nce will discuss the postwar fu­ ture of the Union, organization, up-grading schools, etc. ' The results and decisions of tile Conference will appear in future issues of the Log. NEW YORK, March 11—President Truman was called upon to halt the transfer of the function of the Bureau of Marine Inspection and Navigation from the Department of Commerce to the Maritime Commission, in a letter sent by the Seafarers International Union. The letter signed by Vice-President John Hawk, requests that public hearings be held on the proposed enabling bill. Bill No. 9, so that the views of all parties concerned may be presented. "We object to the intrusion of the United States Coast Guard into the affairs of the Merchant Marine, a civil activity," said Hawk. "We fear the effect of such c.an intrusion, and encroachment, upon the rights and gains we have won over the course of many years. We fear that such control can and may be exercised in such a way as to injure and emasculate the labor organiza­ tions which have thus far been responsible for the great im­ provement in the lot of the Americ.an Merchant seaman." ALL-OUT CAMPAIGN full Union representation can A joint action program to end I Stating that he spoke for 60,000 be assured. the tyrranical jurisdiction of the members of the SIU, Brother TO ALL UNIONS U.S. Coast Guard over merchant Hawk's letter was sent to the Hawk declared: "This sub­ seamen has been proposed to all Masters, Mates and Pilots Asso­ ject is of the greatest importance maritime unions by the Seafarers to our organization. We feel that ciation; Marine Engineers Bene­ we have been deprived of the op­ International Union. ficial Association; Marine Fire­ portunity to urge our views on Up to this point, the SIU has men, Oilers, Watertenders and the legislative bodies of our Gov­ been waging the battle against Wipeis of the Pacific; American ernment ... in the deliberate and Coast Guard abuses single-hand­ Communications Association careful manner which is provided (Marine Div.); Commercial Tele­ edly. for by our legislative procedure." The time has now come, SIU graphers Union (Marine Div.); The Seafarers' letter is part of Secretary-Treasurer John Hawk National Maritime Union; Inland the SlU's intensive campaign to pointed out in a letter to the Boatman's Union, and the Mar­ have Coast Guard controls en­ other unions, to end this control ine Cooks and Stewards Union tirely eliminated from merchant of the Pacific. by a unified program of action. seamen's lives. To bring about this action by The complete text of Mr. Here is the proposed program other Unions, Hawk addressed Hawk's letter follows: sent to tbe other unions: this message to Seafarers: By virtue of Public Law 263 of 1. All merchanl seamen to re­ "You, as a member of the best ( the 79th Congress, the President fuse to surrender their cer­ (Continued on Page 15) ' (Continued on Page 15) tificates to Coast Guard rep­ SIU Offers Program To All Maritime Unions To End CG Power Over Civilian Seamen Commies Seek To Oust Curran From Leadership The reaction of NMU President The installation of Bridges, the Joseph Curran to the public ex­ Telegram said, would come about pose of communist domination in through a merger of seven his union—after his private ex­ Unions. This would combine all pose to the membership—is ty­ CIO dock workers, officers and pical of the cover-up tactics em­ unlicensed seamen, wireless op­ ployed by the NMU every time erators and unlicensed personnel its inner machinations have come on the east and west coasts, the to light. Gulf, Great Lakes and inland In the March 8 issue of the waterways. Pilol. NMU official organ, he 'ANDSOME *ARRY charged a "smear," and an at­ Harry Bridges, the often-triedtempt by the press to "smash our bul-never-deported czar of the union" and "drag our country CIO longshoremen, would be the into a war against the Soviet kingpin in the nmalgamatinn. Union." If this sounds far-fetched, conMeanwhile, the public press .sider tlie.se sitiiple points: continued to spotlight the writh1. The communists have no ings of the NMU's inner cell. more use for Joe Curran. Even The New York World Tele­ before he told the membership of gram charged that the commie his Union that the commies were machine in the NMU is pi-epared climbing into the saddle, they to make "No-Coffee-Time-Joe" were out to get him. That's the walk the plank and install Harry reason he went before the mem­ Bridges on his uneasy throne bers with his story. via the "Maritime Unity Confer­ 2. The NMU has been sound­ ence. The Telegram was the first ing off for "unity" among the to reveal that even Curran gag­ maritime unions for months. The ged at the communist domination AFL and independent unions of the Union and had appealed to don't want any. So the CIO must the membership to save itself— seek to achieve that communist and, incidentally, his Presidency "unity" within its own ranks. —from the commie machine— 3. Harry Bridges wants to use dictating all policy. (Continued on Page 15) 2. 3. 4. 5. resentatives when presented with a copy of charges and subpoena to appear before a Coast Guard Hearing Unit. ^ To accept a Coast Gu-rd sub­ poena only in the presence of their respective Unions or an authorized representative of the joint committee. To atten" no hearing without a Unirepresentative or joint committee counsel. The joint committee to take such court action as may be necessaiy now or at any fu­ ture time. In the event of charges being brought in any foreign port, either neutral or allied, or in any occupied territory, to in­ sist that the hearing be post­ poned until the arrival of the ship in a port within the con­ tinental United States where SIU May Strike Bisso Tugs NEW ORLEANS — Tugboat workers in this area will go out on strike on March 18 unless the New Orleans Coal and Bisso Towboat Company agrees to ne­ gotiate in good faith with the Seafarers International Union. All amicable means have been exhausted, and strike action has been voted by the membership. The deadline for the strike was set for March 13, but on petition of the New Orleans Steamship Associatino, action was post­ poned to March 18 to allow them to bring pressure on the com­ pany. Other AFL unions on the wa­ terfront, the International Long­ shoreman's Association, the In­ ternational Teamsters Union, and the Masters, Mates, and Pilots Union, are supporting the SIU in j the struggle to negotiate good working conditions for the tugboatmen. The authority to negotiate in behalf of the tugboatmen is con­ tained in a union shop agreement which was reached between the company and the Seafarers on October 5, 1945. "We are in more or»less of an armed truce now," said Steely White, SIU New Orleans Port Agent, "awaiting action from the company. If the Steamship Association cannot get Bisso to negotiate with the SIU on legi­ timate terms, the harbor is going down next week." �Page Two THE SEAFARERS 1= LOG Friday, March 15, 1946 TMe aux/souBt/1 SEAFARERS LOG Vttblished Weekly by the SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA Atlantic and Gulf District Affiliated with the American Federation of Labor At 51 Beaver Street, New York 4, N. Y. HAnover 2-2784 S. i t ^ HARRY LUNDEBERG ------- President 105 Market Street, San Francisco, Calif. JOHN HAWK - -- -- -- - Secy-Treas. P. O. Box 25, Station P., New York City Entered as second class matter June 15, 1945, at the Post Office in New York, N. Y., under the Act of August 24, 1912. 267 Tifftc To Go The United States Coast Guard has exercised control over merchant seamen long enough. Using the war emer­ gency as an excuse, this military branch of the government has coerced and dominated the seaman, and attempted to build a dictatorial machine which would have the power to tell seamen whether or not they could work. Such Gestapo-like methods are un-American. The unlicensed personnel had been treated fairly by the Department of Commerce, under whose jurisdiction they were prior to the war. Even if the transfer of au­ thority was necessary, as a wartime measure, surely the need no longer exists, and any retention of such authority is distasteful to the seamen. The military arm of the government has no part in the peacetime activities of the shipping industry, or in lives of the men who go to sea. The President of the United States has been urged to arrange for a public hearing on Bill No. 9, which would transfer the functions of the Bureau of Marine Inspec­ tion and Navigation from the Department of Cominerce, to the Maritime Commission. He has also been requested to transfer cuntrul of all Steamboat Inspection and Shipping Commissioners' duties to the Department of Commerce. Under the provisions of Public Law 263, recently passed by Congress, he has the power to do so. The fight to rid the merchant marine of bureaucratic control is not lost. A program to eliminate Coast Guard domination is already under way, and has the wholehearted support of the entire SIU membership. Other maritime unions have been asked to join the fight. With sufficient effort being put forth by all Seafarers, everywhere, we may see the quick end to "gold-braid" regulations. Still Growing . A Don't drop the Log! Sure, it's heavier. It has sixteen pages (count 'em and read 'em) more features, better coverage, and more news about you and your Union and the outside world. With this issue, the Log goes to sixteen pages; the Editor will grow more gray hairs; the printer will curse--but you will get a bigger, more informative weekly paper. The growth of the Log has kept pace with the growth of the SIU. The Seafarers International Union, represen­ tative of more than 60,000 seamen, has been fighting a militant battle for the rights of merchant seamen and has gained their confidence and support. The Log which has been in the fight in every way has matched that growth— in a year's time, the Log has jumped from a four-page weekly to what it is today. To our friends—and to our enemies—we say, neither of us has reached maximum growth. ; Come around and see us next year! STATEN ISLAND HOSPITAL PATIENTS Men Now In The Marine Hospitals BOSTON HOSPITAL A. J. KELLEY D. DENOYER E. JOHNSTON A. FORCIER G. PHINNEY, JR. G. GAGE H. GILLAN T. SMITH E. ALLEN C. WINSKY S. CHAPMAN E. VOLLMERT NEW ORLEANS HOSPITAL HAROLD SCOTT J. DENNIS P. F. HICKS WILBER MANNING GEO. A. CARROLL MILTON HENDRICK JAMES E. COLSTON W. F. LEWIS EDGAR SMITH NEIL LARSEN WM. ROSS C. JANULEVICUS WM. MIMS GEO. R. COOPER GORDAN KAY D. J. GROSS J. H. BOWEN WALTEK J. MARIONEAUX "GRINDSTONE" JOHNSON DONALD DAHL STATEN ISLAND HOSPITAL J. S. CAMPBELL C. G. SMITH D. A. HUTTS J. V. RODRIGUEZ C. W. FARRFLL W. A. MORSE W. H. G. BAUSE L. R. MORJA J. L. WEEKS L. L. MOODY A. WHEATON J. H. SPEARN V. SHAVROFF A. C. McALPHIN F. M. HANGEN XXX ELLIS ISLAND HOSPITAL D. MCDONALD J. KASLUSKY C. MIDDLETON XXX BUFFALO HOSPITAL THOMAS DUFFY J. LA BONTE J. PEMBROKE ART JEPSON XXX DETROIT HOSPITAL EDWARD WARES WALTER DERR LYNN BURKE TONY SOVERENTO ALEX MCMILLAN You can coniacl your Hos­ pital delegate at the Staten Island Hospital at the follow­ ing itmes: Tuesday—1:30 to 3:30 p. m. (on 5th and Bth floors) Thursday—1:30 to 3:30 p. m. (on 3rd and 4th floors.) Saturday—1:30 to 3:30 p. m. (on 1st and 2nd floors.) When entering the hospital notify the delegate by post­ card, giving your name and the number of your ward.. GALVESTON HOSPITAL A. A. TROMLY R. N. STROMER H. HARTMAN DIXON BANDA QUAID XXX NORFOLK HOSPITAL JOHN B. DARCY CHARLES T. GASKINS EUGENE WENGARTEN JJ-OYD G. McNAIR J. H. SMITH L. L. LEWIS CHARLIE MIZELL FRANK HOLLAND J. H. SMITH XXX BALTIMORE HOSPITAL PAUL WINTERLY ESELE WALKER STEPHEN KELLY BUCK SHERWIN , X X X MOBILE TIM BURKE M. CARDANA J. C. DANZEY li �Friday, March 15, 1946 THE SEAFARERS He*8 Okay, Now LOG Page Three Report On Organizing Drive By EARL SHEPPARD By PAUL HALL NEW YORK—The progress of an organizational drive can only be measured by the actual results. If the SlU were to say that a ship's crew was organized just because a few members of the crev/ had been contacted who had responded to the Seafarers pro­ gram, that would bo just a smoke screen. made up their minds which way to vote. This is where the man to man discussions with actual compari ­ son of agreements and union op­ eration comes in. Personal con­ tact and friendly discussion has won more support for the Sea­ farers than any other means of organizing. An example of what this means is shown in the number of Isth­ "TOMORROW IS ALSO A DAY" For that reason, both the shoremian men coming up to the Union side and ships' organizers of the These words of our founder, Andrew Furuseth, hold true to­ halls in every port, and taking Seafarers have been very careful day as never before. out membership books, %<} contact each m.embcr of the Industrialists and opei'ators in general, unlike Unions, have KEEP EYE OPEN #crew, whenever and wherever relatively simple problems arising from the end of the war. They ., . ., , ^ possible, and to have long man lay off a few million workers, re-tool their plants, send out their Another form of organizing In a misguided moment, James salesmen and start new peacetime operations with a fraction of their Evans. AB (above) paid six discussions with them, that is shov/ing results is the former employees. months dues to the NMU. Then is the important way to or- work of SIU ships' crews. On a and has resulted in many great many Seafarers' ships. The Unions in the meantime must bear the brunt of this re­ he left them because, he says, he' were either NMU mom- Isthmian committees have been conversion. It is the Union's job to lessen hours and increase wages found them following "a definite . sympathizers coming over e.stablishcd. so that the membership may continue to live. The whole tempo of communist political line." A! of the Seafarers, Union activity mu.st be speeded up to meet the problems that occur fourteen months trip for Stand- i It is the job of these commit­ ard Oil convinced him that he' tees to keep a weather eye open as a result of these wholesale layoffs. , J , • ,, • , MAN TO MAN had been right in the first place for Isthmian ships in any port The ,S1U has taken a realistic view of the.se problems right along. about unionism—only this time ' Unfortunately, there are. still iri the world and to get aboard The organizational drive was planned-and thrown into gear while he v/ent where he should have' men aboard unorganized ships those ships and talk to the crews. jobs were plentiful and replacements scarce. The Union plant can the first time, to the SIU. "Every who will agree with either the The main idea is to get Isthmian never be shut down. seaman should join a Union," he NMU or SIU organizers just to men to come aboard SIU ships says, "and the only good one is be sociable. It is pretty likely for a visit and to sliow them just FIGHT CARRIED ON the SIU." But everyone knows that these men agree with the how a Union ship functions. idea on unions but just haven't The present campaign against WSA is not a postwar measure. that! In this manner, the Isthmian Throughout the war the SlU has constantly carried on this fight. seamen can see at first hand just The fight against the shipowners and the bureaucrat who menace how much overtime is made and the workers' freedom and security is the duty of the Union in war just what is overtime. They will as well as in peace. be able to see how the ship's de­ legates function and how beefs Hundreds of new members have joined the SlU during the war are settled right on the Job. period. Some of the.se new members will quit the sea, but manyAbove all, this means that the will be seamen the remainder of their lives. During the war these To Seafarers who have beent members of the SIU are estab­ men had little opportunity to learn how the Union operates, what lishing friendly relations with the the basic principles of unionism are. These men will have to be paid off in New York, or who men who will be their Union taught these things so that they can face the struggles of tomorrow have visited the New York Hall, Patrolman Joe Algina is a fam­ brothers when the Isthmian line with assurance and confidence in their Union. iliar sight. With his tousled hair, elections are won. We have only to look backward at the period following World and harried expression, he has Some especially good reports War 1 to get an idea of what we may expect in the near future. the look of a juggler trying to have been coming in from the Then, as now, the employers used every means at their disposal in keep six balls in the air at the West Coast. Only many of the attempting to smash all unions. Today you cannot pick up a paper same time. ships coming around now the without seeing pictures of police clubbing strikers. The press is Joe is a specialist in Coast crew is lined up practically 100% filled with anti-union articles and editorials. The radio commen­ Guard problems and logging for the Seafarers. That they are tators work overtime to damage the cause of unionism. beefs, lie has made it a point proud to be identified as being to know the intricacies of the SIU is shown by the large num­ TOUGH TIMES COMING laws pertaining to the merchant bers of snapshots and letters they The shipowners are no exception. All they ale waiting for is marine, and he is a militant fight­ send in. Some of these are pub­ an opportunity. In 1921, the shipowners locked out the seamen er for seamen's rights. Seafar­ lished in this weeks Log. and it took a 13-year figrt to rebuild the Union and regain con­ ers who have had Algina settle EVBRY MAN a beef for them are aware that ditions. he is a quick thinker, and can Once in a while, due to some Today the Union is prepared far better than it was in those out-maneuver almost any Skip­ slip-up or an overload of work, days. The SlU has a task to fulfill, the task of holding the Union per, or company agent, or Coast the organizers miss a ship in together and developing a strong active membership that can to the next man and help him. Guard officer, living. some port. This is unfortunate, meet the shipowners anytime, on any issue, and come out on top. Assigned to his job by Paul We want to do a good job, and if but it is something that is hard This isn't "reconversion;" this is just getting set for the main Hall, New York Agent, Joe has boys follow these simple rules, to avoid. The best way to get go. There are tough times ahead. Shipping won't be as good so operated efficiently and has con­ we can do it." ' around this is to remember t'nat it is up to the Union to make wages and conditions better and to tributed much to the prompt Typical of the officials in the every member of the SIU is an increase manning scales. handling of the enormous amount SIU, Joe Algina has seen war organizer for the Union. If an service, and has faced enemy ac­ SIU ship is lying in the vicinity The SlU has seen tough going in the past and has always come of work done in the New York tion in belligerent areas. Hall. of an Isthmian ship, go aboard out on top. The maritime Unions of the AFL are more closely The fine job being done by and talk to the crew. Meet them, united than ever before. The SlU in the past six months has twice MANY DUTIES ^ Joe, and by the other Patrolmen, ashore and become friends with taken militant action which prevented scabs from breaking strikes. Besides representing crew | has made it possible for the SIU them. Wlrcnevcr and wherever The Longshoremen, Tugboatmen, Teamsters, Masters, Mates and members at payoff time, Joe to expand its services, and to give it is possible, bring them up to Pilots, arid many other associated unions of the AFL stand as one. works the counter on the fifth prompt and pains-taking atten­ the Union hall. Be honest and deck, and dispense.s good advice tion to every beef that comes up. friendly with every Isthmian man PERIOD OF ACTION to the Brothers who request it. you meet. Listen as well as talk. Yes, "tomorrow is also a day;" but instead of just talk of re­ We sat behind Joe one day, and These men have their problems. conversion, the SIU is prepared to carry on the fight to the finish. in rapid sncce.s.sion he took care They are often able to offer crit­ With the full wholehearted support of the membership this fight of a veteran who wanted to go icism that will help the SIU. Be will be won. Every official of the Union must be constantly alert. to sea; a Seafarer wlio wanted in­ Will Clyde Wood, George real shipmates and brothers with Every member must participate to the fullest extent in the activi­ formation on some money due Branch, and M. L. Eustae please ties of the Union. Every issue, no matter how small, must be taken him on overtime; a seaman who see the Savannah Agent, who is Isthmian men and they will be had come in to report a Coast seeking information on the death SIU members soon. care of and thrashed out to a final conclusion. Guard beef, and an oldtimer who of Lawrence Smith? All in all, the drive is proThis is a period of action; this is the period that will determine wanted to ship out again. Be­ 3,* 4" igi-essing very well. A definite whether better wages and conditions are won or whether the old tween interviews he answered David L. Scaggs, OS, Z638739, date for the elections hasn't been days will come back again. The Union cannot stand still. It's full innumerable telephone calls. reports the loss of his wallet con­ speed ahead and no slow bells. set as yet, but all indications taining papers, trip card and pho­ GOOD ADVICE tographs at New Orleans. Will show that it isn't very far away. OUT OF THE RANKS From his experience Joe has finder please forward, care of The main job now is to stick Now is as good a time as any tn say a few words about the hun­ figured out ways in which crew the New York SIU Hall. aboard the ships and be ready dreds of Seafarers, newcomers as well as oldtimers, who are work­ members can cooperate in the 4- 4* 4* to vote when the time does come. -settling of beefs. He says, "Don't ing aboard unorganized ships, under non-union wages and condi­ Will the Brother who had two get gassed-up if yuu have a beef A big SIU majority in the tions in order to bring the.se ships into the SlU. to settle. Give the Patrolman months stamped in his book for , Out of these fervent Union men will come the future leaders of all the facts; he can help you organizing on Isthmian's Cape Isthmian election zneans a quick­ our Union—for they are in the process of proving to the mem­ best if he knows exactly what is Junction please get in touch with er and better agreement when bership that they have the initiative, the ability, the spirit, and going on. Helping you quickly Patrolman Joe Algina on the 5th the elections are over. Get in the unselfish interest in the Seafarers that leadership requires. will enable the Patrolman to get floor of the New York Hall. there and pitch. Hurried, Harried And Haggled - But Patrolman Does A Swell Job NOTICE! �THE Page Four ACCUSES ARMY You Pay High interest When Buying On Time By BEN DOR (LPA Columnist) All over America, people are watching the newspapers and the store windows—waiting for the time when they will again be able to buy toasters, washing ma­ chines, autos, and the other things that have been out of the stores for so long. Probably you, too, have some of these things on your list, things that you want to buy as soon _as they are available again. The people who are lucky will be able to pay cash when they get around to buying. By paying cash, they will save themselves a good deal of money. But the rest of us will do our buying on time or we will borrow the money with which to pay for our purchases. Either way, we will have to pay more for the things that we get. Even the stores that say "no ex­ tra charge for credit" have to make up some way for the extra costs of selling on time. Now, salesmen doir't like to talk about how much extra it costs if you pay later for the things that you buy now. Hardly ever does a dealer tell you how much interest you are paying on the money you owe him. Instead, he talks about how much money you put down, and about how much money you will pay each week or month. If he can make the amount seem small enough in each case, you won't bother to figure out how much you're pay­ ing altogether, and how much you're paying for the credit ser­ vice. AN EXAMPLE Let's take the new stove that Susan Smith is thinking of buy«« ing, for instance. The cash price of the stove is $100, and that's more than Susan can lay out at one time. However, she doesn't have to pay for it all at one time if she doesn't want to. The store will take $35 down, and let her pay $2 a week for one year to pay up the balance. If Susan does a little arithmetic, she will find out that the pay­ ments add up to $104, more than the cash price of the stove—and she has already paid $35. In other words, she would be paying $39 in finance charges. Susan may be one of those peo­ ple who knows how to figure fi­ nance rates. If she is, she will sit down with pencil and paper and; 1) divide the amount she is borrowing in half—$65 di­ vided by two is $33. 2) divide the finance charge by the $33—$39 divided by $33 shows that the interest rate is about 110%. Now 110% is a lot of interest to pay for the privilege of buying on credit. HIGH INTEREST There are small loan companies that would be glad to lend Susan the $65 that she needs for buying the stove. But .that might mean putting the family furniture in hock, or the car. And both Susan and her husband remember what has happened to their friends who have fallen behind in their pay­ ments to small loan companies after paying back most of their loans, too. Even the small loan companies would charge as high as 24%, or even 36% per year. And nobody; should have to pay that kind of interest to borrow a few bucks to | buy a stove, or a refrigerator, or to pay a doctor's bill. Especially if there is a credit union right there in the union where Susan— or her husband—belongs. Or in the neighborhood where they live. Or at the church they attend. UNION BANKS SEAT AH ER S LOG Friday, March 15, 1946 Congress Asked To Enlarge, Increase Old Age Benefits WASHINGTON (LPA) — Our federal system of social insurance is basically sound, but needs changes fo build it into a compre­ hensive program for all workers. This was the the testimony of l^elson Cruikshank, director of social insurance activities of the AFL before the House Ways and Means Committee last week. "All workers need an income in old age and in periods of dis­ ability and unemployment; all workers need protection for their families in case of premature death," the AFL spokesman told the committee, which is consid­ ering proposals to improve fed­ eral legislation. It is currently considering changes in the sec­ tions of the act dealing with old age and survivors insurance. those excluded and those whose protection is defected because of shifts in jobs. We look to Congree to take the needed action now." Among the changes the AFL social security expert proposed in the old age and survivors' in­ surance plan were: 1—Extending coverage to as many as possible of the 20 mil­ lion jobs not now covered. Giv­ ing servicemen earning credit for his monllis in the armed forces, and providing for older workers who came back to take jobs dur­ ing the war. Extension of cover­ age to new groups of workers in­ cluding the self-employed, and provisions that newly covered workers would qualify with a year and a half of the time the change went into effect. 2—Liberalization of benefits to meet present day prices and wage scales. Benefits should be 40% of the first $75 of the average monthly wage and 10% of the part of the average wage that' exceeds $75 up to $300. 3—Extension of benefits to workers over 65 who may con­ tinue in a part-time job. 4—Lowerng the age of eligi­ bility for women to 60 from 65. 5—During extended disability, payments equal to the old-age program and geared in so that a disabled worker would not lose his old age benefits rights by ex­ tended unemployment caused by the disability. 6—Use of general federal rev­ enues to add to the worker and employer contributions to finance the program, with the eventual goal of eliminating other forms of public assistance. Hundreds of local unions hav<^ sot up credit Unions, more are set­ ting them up all of the time. In a case like Susan's, the credit Brig. Gen. H. C. Holdridge union is a chance to borrow (ret.) veteran officer and West money at the lowest rates that are Point gfraduate, shocked the House usually available. Credit unions Military Affairs Com. last week charge no more than 12% per when speaking for the Veterans year, and sometimes much less. League of America, he denounced It's a chance to deal with your "The contributions which they compulsory military training and own people—people who will un­ termed the Army "a feudalistic make from their income from derstand your problems if any organization carried over into the work should be matched by em­ come up, who will help out if atomic age." Peacetime draft, he ployers and supplemented by gov­ trouble comes, who will make charged, would indoctrinate 18- ernment contributions to provide any arrangement that they can year-old boys with "the totali­ benefits adequate to meet basic to help jmu, just as you would to tarian viewpoints prevalent in needs when the risk materializes," help them. the Army." The military's caste Cruikshank said. "The longer the The credit union is a place to system, he said, is both undemo­ program operates on a limited invest your money, too. Credit cratic and un-American. (LPA) basis, the greater the injustice to unions are paying 3%, 4% and even 6% on money that is invest­ ed with them, with an almost per­ fect record for safety. The money that you put into the tuted overtime, he said, "The hell credit union is loaned to other Good Crew you say. Try to collect it." Susans and other Joes. So it serves NEW YORK —The SS James Two crew members were as­ your friends and fellow workers Blaine, of the Eastern Steam Ship saulted by the Skipper, and one at the same time that it serves Company, blew into town last you. of them was put in irons and week after a two months voyage. locked in the after ammo maga­ There must be a credit union Believe me, I have to take my that you can join—either where zine for six hours. The Patrolmen you live or at the union hall—if hat off to the entire crew. This questioned the crew, licensed and not, there must be someone near was a clean ship, from stem to unlicensed, and could not find you that knows where the handi­ stern. The quarters of the unli­ anyone to say a good word in the est credit union is located — or censed personnel was in such Captain's favor. Due to the ac­ how to set one up. good shape that you would have tions of this Skipper, most of the If you can't find anyone who taken them for the quarters of crew refused to sign on this ship does know the answers, write to some Washington high official. The Log wants at once the for another trip. the Federal Deposit Insurance names and addresses of bars, The overtime for the Salon All three departments were so Corporation, Credit Union Divi­ clubs frequented by seamen, Messman was collected at the solid, and worked together so sion, Washington 25, D. C. They'll particularly in foreign ports, send their closest field man to see well, that there were no mis­ time of payoff. Charges have been so that they can be put on you. He'll know the score and he understandings. The five Tripcards preferred against the bucko Cap­ the Log mailing list. With on board had been well instruct­ tain and the hearing will be held will help you to get started. the postal delivery to ships ed in SIU methods and they were in the near future. snafued, this remains the only The credit union is a kind of as ready to act as any oldtimer. R. E. Gonzales, practical way of getting the cooperative bank. Your union J. Hanners. Union paper into the mem­ At the time of payoff, everyone should have one as part of its per­ berships hands. manent, standard equipment. Set­ was sober. Not that the boys So do it today—setid us the ting one up, or helping to develop didn't indulge; it was just that names zind correct addresses the one you have, is your chance they knew when to stop. of your favorite places all to make a real, permanent con­ E. TROY I recommend this crew in the over the world, with an estribution to the program of the highest degree. If all men going Contact Pupschyk or Gomez estimation of the number of labor movement. aboard ship in the future will act on the B. L. Rodman for your Logs they can use. in the same way, the beefs will book. be handled much quicker and easier, and there will probably BELLY ROBBERS, INCORPORATED be fewer beefs. By LOREN NORMAN W. Hamilton. Civilians will have 30,000,000 pounds less butter in tlie first Bucko Skipper quarter of the year, according NEW YORK—The SS Richard to the Dept. of Agriculture. M. Coulter of the Overlakes Now we know which side nur Steam Ship Company arrived in bread will be buttered on .— port with as many beefs as the neither. Patrolmen could handle. There \ X % were many and serious complaints The Dutch have found that about the Captain. He was chai'gtheir cup of Java runneth over. ed by the crew with agitating 4t S. them by calling them vile names Citrus fruits are back under and telling them that they were price ceilings. Some of the White not Union members. He was also House ffolks must have got chai-ged with failure to comply squirted in the eye. with the law concerning the The Journal of Commerce says amount of money crew members that higher castor oil ceilings are could draw. expected. Anyway, Junior will PERSONAL SERVICE continue to go through the roof He seemed to think that the when he sees the stuff. Salon Messman was his personal Stewards Department men on the Edmund Fanning. Isthmian 4. 4. S. servant, and utilized him as such Line, smilingly attest their preference for the Seafarers. They must Rumors that Congress is un­ by demanding meals and coffee be smiling because the photographer told them that the SIU was dergoing a "cooling off" period served in his quarters at all hours. just as sure to win as Boston (where Fanning is docked) is the home are clearly unfounded. When informed that this consti­ of baked beans. The Patrolmen Say.., Let Us Have 'Em PERSONALS SQUIBS... �THE Fridey. March 15. 1946 MfHii ITHIIVK Ir^ QUESTION: What questions do you think ought to be discussed at the Port Agents Con­ ference in New York on March 18th? NORMAN WEST—Messman I think thai the most important thing they can discuss would be an Up-Grading School for the Stewards Department. Now that the war is over, the passenger trade will start again and we will need a lot of good men to fill the jobs in the Stewards Department. If we can't supply the right kind of men, we'll be cutting our own throats. In line with this, we should make an all-out drive to organize all the passenger lines because that means a number of jobs, and it will mean seamen covered by good working condi­ tions and good wages. PETER BUSH—Oiler One of the most important mat­ ters for them to take up in for the SIU to do its own training of seamen. They should also discuss the four watch system, increases in wages, and education of trip card men. Some of the trip card men do not act like good Union men. They are not clean, and they don't observe rules of sani­ tation. The Agents should also discuss how to stop some of the ships officers from acting like Gestapo agents and grinding down the unlicensed personnel. BSP SEAFARERS LOG Page Five Peace Ends Need For Coast Guard Control Over Civilian Seamen .of Commerce regain control of i men, and in the collection of in­ surance and social security bene­ In recent months, it has be­ the Shipping Commissioner's of­ fits; fourth, he assists relatives to fice. come increasingly evident that i locate missing seamen; and last, For efficiency in competing with the Coast Guard does not intend the shipping interests of foreign jhe perfoi-ms all activities relating to relinquish voluntarily the war­ states, the Department of Com­ I to the issuance of .seamen's docu­ time powers vested in it by au­ merce is infinitely more capable, ments, receives and passes upon through knowledge and experi­ the eligiblity of applicants re­ thority of the President. ence than the Coast Guard. And questing seamen's papers and is­ On the contrary, the per.soqnel for the civilian seaman is it even sues the documents necessary. of the Coast Guard, those at least more imperative that the .Ship­ ON HIS NECK who now enjoy plushy desk jobs ping Commissioner handle his The foregoing are part of the in the offices of Shipping Com­ problems. I duties of the Shipping Comm^By JOHN MOGAN isioner. Can he perform them COMMISSIONER'S JOB missioners in every seaport in the country, are doing everything What aie some of the ways that j while dominated by Coast Guard possible to manufacture reasons the Commissioner functions as a interference? He cannot. More­ why the Coast Guard should con­ protector of the men who sail our over. the Coast Guard has taken tinue in peacetime to function as ships? First, the Commissioner over completely the issuance of 'documents and endorsements. it did during the war. ; Consequently we argue that This "eager beaver" attitude is 'Coast Guard controls should be wholly understandable when it is |i'emovcd n^ow, as the questionable remembered that this type of war necessity for their interference service was very choice indeed. during wartime is now definitely Thousands of able-bodied young I eliminated. men were issued tons of gold braid and assigned to supervise [ The war is over and won, and the work of civilian Shipping I also over is the need of wartime controls over civilian sailors by a Commissioners, who had been defunct but diehard military or­ doing the work for years without ganization. this type of gratuitous assistance —and doing it a lot better. j To the powers-that-be we say: "Rid the government of the exIt was good "service," however; pense of maintaining the thou­ it was a 9 to 5 job that carried clarifies Navigation Laws and sands of Coast Guard men now lots of authority and little work that couldn't be done just as well statutes for agencies interested in cluttering up the offices of Ship­ by countless thousands of able- the welfare of seamen; second, he ping Commissioners throughout bodied yeomen and Spars; it also adjusts claims of seamen as to the country, and let the United furnished a beautiful opportunity wages, loggings, forfeitures, and States merchant fleet continue to meddle with the work of the improper discharge; third, he as­ its work unhampered by the in­ Shipping Commissioners and with sists relatives and next of kin to efficiency of the little men in gold the lives and livelihood of civilian recover monies due deceased sea- braid." merchant seamen. BIG JOB In retrospect, their wartime duties are hazy. They consisted chiefly of boarding ships safely inside the nets, after they return­ ed from perilous runs to all the war theatres of the world, to tell the Masters that "surely you must have had some trouble with the crew that requires Coast Guard disciplinary action!" Seafarer Parker Has Ice-Legs ROME, N. Y.—Whether on ice | prizes in the Rome races to show or sea. Seafarer Jack Parker, Bo-1 that all the competitive spirit in sun/AB, is equally at home. As I the Parker family is not possess­ proof. Jack successfully defended | his Senior Men's City Champion-1 ed by Jack alone. ship won last year by winning i At the close of the winter ice both 4he 880 and mile men's; season in New York State, the speed skating races held here last I Log will run a feature story on week, taking home two first place i m^edals and two trophies for his i Brother Parker, and will attempt efforts. j to have pictorial proof of his The day previous, speedy Park­ skating prowess showing a few of er had scored a grand slam in his medals and trophies, and Jack the ice races held at Syracuse.' in action. Copping the 220, 440, 880 and' Known throughout the sea­ mile I'aces, Jack received four men's world as a fighting Union, first place medals and point trophy for the meet to climax an j the SIU is happy to have among extremely successful season, both ; its members another fighter of indoors and outdoors. ; the proven ability of Jack Park­ His kid sister. Rosemary, age i er, who has that old competitive 12 years, won two second place spirit of the Seafarers. FRANK WOZNIK—Oiler If, by an J' chance, the Master It's about time the Coast Guard had had some poor sailor logged and the WSA let up on us. They for drunkenness (a most normal treat seamen like dogs and, now happening), a horde of legal bea­ that the war is over, there is no gles in gold braid then took over possible excuse for this to con­ and harassed the guy through tinue. The Agents CJonference J two or three days of mock trials ought to figure out a way to get I before suspending his seaman's the Coast Guard and WSA to papers for a period of time, de­ keep their noses the hell out of priving the sailor of his right to our business. They also ought to work—and at a time when we discuss lowering the 32 months needed every seaman urgently. at sea rule. On May 15, the How embarrassing must have draft will end, but the seaman been the "service" of the shorewill still have to live up to this .side gold braid to the kids and rule. If the NMU rank and file the officers of the Coast Guard succeeds in cleaning up the out­ manned LST'.s, escuils, patrols, fit, we might be able to work etc., who fought side by side with with them on some of these merchant sp,amen on the beach­ The Sailors Union of the Pacific I The unveiling ceriMnony will points. heads! announces the unveiling of a take place Sunday, March 17, at 11 a. m. at Alivet Memorial. Memorial Monument erected by OUTRANKED Park, Colma, where this Monu­ the members of the Sailors Union But this sort of stuff was, and ment now stands in the Sailors is, picayune. The vital role they of the Pacific in honor of their Union of the Pacific's burial departed brothers, who lost their have usurped is that of the U. S. lives in World War II, and in ground. Shipping Commissioner. This is The monument is a most fit­ lasting memory of those wlio died of utmost importance to the sea­ ting memorial to the men who man because the Commissioner is ashore. follow the uncertain paths of the The Honorable Eaii Warren, required by law to protect the sea. It is an eloquent gesture of Governor of the State of Cali­ interests of the seaman. a Union of Men, in memory of fornia and C. J. Haggerty, Sec­ But he is now in the anomalous retary of the California State the dead who give their lives in position of being in the Coast Federation of Labor will be guest war or peace that a world may Sculptored bj^ John, Guard himself and under orders speakers. The ceremony will be be free. of some young ignoramous with broadcast over Radio Station Stoll of black granite, it is ap­ proximately 18 feet high. another stripe—if he was chump GKO. enough to accept a commission. Chiseled in the sub-base and And if he didn't, he is still pow­ following its complete course is erless to function properly under the inscription; ***And the Sea the set-up as is. Shall Give Up Its Dead* Fromi Every Latitude Here Rest Our Thcrefoi'e, it is to the best in­ Brothers of the Sailors Union of terest of the seaman and of the the Pacific.* country to have the Department SUP Unveils War Dead Memorial ISADORE COHEN—OS The Agents Conference should start a new program for highe.r wages. We don't make very much money, and a lot of that goes for taxes. We need more money. The Agents should also try to work out a plan to allow the NMUers to come into our Union if they can prove that they didn't follow the "party line" and are not really communists. Maybe this way we can build an even bigger Union, and have more seamen enjoying SIU wages and conditions. �Page Six THE SEAFARERS LOG Friday, March 15, 1946 . John Mosby Crew For SlU DECK GANG OF SS JOHN MOSBY will ever see it again. He's for the SIU! With an all-Seafarers crew such as the John Mosby has. there's no doubt about the Sea­ farers winning the election. The only question is—"Plow long be­ fore we're going to have the Sea­ farers as our Union to represent us in bargaining and negotiations with the Isthmian Line?" The Hall's Yours Cards? Chess? Music? A Good Book? They're all in the SIU hall. No effort has been spared to make the halls comfortable and attractive. A gin mill is no longer the social center for men ashore —the center is the union hall. An SIU crew is a happy crew, and these boys are certainly happy. Maybe they heard that the Isthmian election is just around the corner. Kneeling (from the left): Hatley, OS; J. B. Crokaert, Bosun; L. R. Smith, OS; Zeeb, OS; Standing: Tannehill, AB; Bel­ lows, AB; McBride, OS; and Ayers. PART OF JOHN MOSBTS 100% SIU CREW PINKY STEWARD FIRED Just before the Mosby was ready to sign on, the crew got together for a meeting and de­ cided not to sign articles until the finky Steward was fired. They won their demands in short order. One full book NMU member, McBride, has declared that he will not sail with that outfit again. He states emphatically that when the ship returns he is go­ ing to throw that book so far away that nobody in this world SUP Marks Anniversary SAN FRANCISCO, March 6— Sixty-one years of progress was marked today by the Sailors Union of the Pacific. In a special 61st anniversai-y meeting at Head­ quarters, short talks were given by oldtimers, touching on the his­ toric fight made by the SUP in championing the rights of sea­ men everywhere. From the time of its organiza­ tion, on March 6, 1885, it has grown increasingly strong. The SUP has faced adversity of all kinds, but has never faltered in the fight for the emancipation of seamen. Age has not dulled the vigor of the oldest Seamen's Union in ex­ istence. In fact, its record of mili­ tancy and progress of the last few years proves that its strength and fighting spirit have been en­ hanced by the passing years. Founded by men who had been abused and mistreated, a democratie constitution was framed to safeguard them from venal men who might come to power in the union. The executive power is retained by the membership, and thus, ashore and at sea, each member is fully protected. The young men who have join­ ed the SUP in recent years are ware of the traditions and repu­ tation of the Union. They realize that the responsibility of carr5'^ing on the organization lies with them. To them, and to the oldtimers, the SUP slogan means ex­ actly what it says—-"Steady as she goes!" -jji Port Arthur Needs New Kail By ROCKY BENSON NORFOLK, Va. — The John Mosby, Isthmian Line, now stacks up 100% for the Seafarers. The crew members are sick and tired of the NMU's stalling tactics in holding up the election. They want to vote now, not six months or a year from now. One Army vet, Jim Hartley, OS," claims there is no other Union like the SIU. He has been overseas three years, back in this country a year, and is now making his first sea trip. When he returns from this trip. Brother Hartley assures us he is taking out his SIU book at the first opportunity. Another vet with four years fleet time in the Navy, L. R. Smith, AB, is very definitely for the Seafarers, and also wishe.s to take out his SIU book when he returns under the special charter rate open to Isthmian men. Bill Rowe, Black Gang Delegate, has a 100% SIU bunch with him, and ship's organizer Tannehill says the Deck Gang is all SIU, too. They're all yelling for action on the election to determine the union bargaining agent for Isth­ mian to take place right away. 1 ii PORT ARTHUR — The real value of the Log mailing service was demonstrated today when the' Port Arthur Hall received a telephone call from St. Louis. A brother member who had the Log mailed to him at his home read of the new Hall here and promptly made a long dis­ tance call to find out how ship­ ping was. • He is now on his way down here and will be riding a tanker soon. The Venrendrye, a Los Angeles tanker, paid off with all beefs settled satisfactorily aboard ship. The Baldwin Hill another Los Angeles tanker, came in from a seven-week trip to England. There were a lot of oldtime book members aboard, and the ship was in fine shape. THE SIU WAY The oldtimers had worked very closely with the younger members and the tripcard men, with the result that the whole crew knew the score. This is a real example of the way ship­ mates should work on an .SIU ship—the oldtimers educating the younger members in the princi­ ples of unionism. Brother Moon Koons brought in a smooth payoff with a good Log donation. A lot of men riding the unorganized tankers are coming in to the hall and in­ quiring about the SIU. They want to ship SIU and they want to .see the unorganized ships go SIU. Several ships are due in a few days, so it looks like a busy week coming up. This small hall was okay for a starter, but with the increase in business it isn't big enough—so the headache now is to find a larger and better one. Anyone heading south should make it a point to at least pay a visit to Port Arthur. This is the place to get a good tanker anytime. NOTICE! Seafarers Sailing As Engineers Some of the lads on Isthmian's John Mosoy snapped down Norfolk way. Reading from left (front): M, F. Vick, S. Dept.; L. P. Smith, AB; Bill Rowe, Oiler; J. B. Crokaert, Bosun; W. H, Bellows, AB; W. L. Zeeb, OS. Second row: Sam Suttles, Wiper; M. W. Eayers, MM; B. S. Tur­ ner, Oiler; Jim Hatley, OS; C. E. Waters, FWT. Third row: J. T. McBride, OS; J. Shipley, Wiper; J. C. Bunn, MM; A. M. Williams, S. Dept.; W. R. Kirkland, S. Dept.; C. M. Tannehill, AB; and T. Ayers. Apparently the cameraman cut a couple of the boys out. All members—retired and former members—of the SIU, now sailing as licensed En­ gineers, report to the New York SIU Hall as soon as pos­ sible. Conference Will Draft Labor Action Program Calling for "positive action in this critical time," a Conference of American Progressives will meet in Chicago on April 6 and 7, to find ways and means to build a unified program of action for labor, farmers, coopcrators, professionals, and liberals. Among the prominent labor leaders and educators spuiisoring the call are John Dewey, educa­ tor; A. Philip Randolph, Presi­ dent, Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters, AFL; Simeon Mar­ tin, President, Michigan Farmers Educational and Cooperative Union; H. L. Mitchell, President, National Farm Labor Union; Jame.s Fatten, President, National Farmers Union; and Samuel Wolchok. President, United Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Employees. gram has been evident for some time, say the sponsors. On every front labor is being attacked, and restricting measures have been introduced in Congress to limit and negate the gains which labor has made in Its long and honor­ able struggle. Unless labor is to remain on the defensive, they say, a mini­ mum program must be drawn up which will try to solve the fol­ lowing problems outlined in the convention call: Wages and prices—Can a disas­ trous inflation be avoided under the Administration's compromise policy? Is the end of the war to mark a period of low wages for the American worker? Legislative fumbling—Congress refuses to consider progressive measures relating to veterans The need for some such pro­ housing appropriations, minimum wages, proposed anti-labor bills, and expansion of cooperatives. Must these issues remain in the hands of the reactionaries? Internal democracy—The exteiision of only second class citi­ zenship to millions of Americans is a black mark against our vaunted democracy. ^ Atomic energy and World War III—The most destructive force the world has ever known should not be left in the hands of the militai-y- In their hands it can only be used as an offensive weapon. Atomic energy should be under civilian control, anc used to better the standards of living of the entire world. Political action—The 1946 and 1948 elections are almost upon us. The present Administration, which professes to try to achieve a liberal program, but sponsors reactionary appointees, cannot be expected to satisfy the just de­ mands of labor and liberals. The victory of the British La­ bor Party, and the progress of the Canadian Cooperative Common­ wealth Federation, have given "new impetus to the talk of a new party for the United States. The two party system, the callers of the conference contended, has shown itself to be woefully in­ adequate in its representation of the workers. A new party is a possibility and will no doubt be r-:.:-efully discussed dt the con­ ference. In addition to the sponsors, other national labor leaders, edu­ cators, writers and economists are supporting this conference. Peru­ sal of the list shows that no com­ munists or fellow-travelers are included. �Friday. March 15. 1948 THE SEAFARERS LOG Page Seven Furuseth Freed U.S.Seamen FromSlavery emancipated, our status contin-^' ued. . . ." PUERTO RICAN GIFT TO NEW YORK LEGISLATION PASSED But thanks to Andrew Furu­ seth, the seaman's status did not always remain so. Successive acts were forced through Congress which reduced the drastic power of the shipowners and masters over the lives of seamen. The White Act passed in 1898. These eloquent words were It abolished imprisonment for de­ written by the late Andrew Fur­ sertion from American vessels in useth, a man who went to sea in U. S. ports. It abolished corporal his teens, and who, throughout punishment. It gave seamen the his eventful though poverty- right to draw half wages in any stricken life, fought to elevate landing or discharging port. seamen from their status as chat in 1915 the Seaman's Act was tels of the shipowners. fought through Congress. It pro­ Last Tuesday—March 12—was vided important safety measures. Andrew Furuseth's birthday. It These things arc taken for was a day that every seaman— granted by today's seaman. But especially Seafarers—should have you need go back less than 50 celebrated. For Andrew Furuseth years to find cases of seamen be­ did more than fight for seamen's ing imprisoned for jumping ship rights. He was an early leader in in U. S. ports, or bein^ flogged the Seaman's Society for the Pa­ for minor misdemeanors aboard cific Coast, the forerunner of the ship. And these" were legal acts Seaman's Union of the Pacific and until Furuseth went to work on Puerto Rico Agent Bud Ray, in New York for the Agents Conference, attracts a group of inter­ the Seafarer's International Congress. Union. Andy Furuseth is gone. He died ested Seafarers as he presents a painting of Andrew Furuseth. founder of the SUP, to the New Before Furuseth fought his leg­ on January 22, 1938, a poor man York Branch. Above we can see (from left to right) Bob Porter, New York Agent Paul Hall, who islative battles, no American sea­ in wordly goods, owning no more accepted the painting- on behalf of the Branch, Bud Ray, P. Robertson, J. Arras, The portrait is by M. Rosado, eminent Puerto Rican painter. man could strike after signing than the clothes on his back. But shipping articles. No seaman up to his dying day he had the interest of the merchant seaman could quit his ship. at heart, and he had a wealth of FREED SEAMEN accomplishment behind him. He Furuseth fought to abolish the was mourned bj' all, even the severe penalties under which sea­ shipowners whom he fought. Ordinary Seamen and Actmen were prosecuted for either They took the ashes that once ting ABs who have one year's of these "crimes." He fought "to were Andy Furuseth out to sea seatime are eligible for up­ make seamen free men." aboard the SS Schoharie, and on grading to AB. Seamen who have been pri.son- forms. They were bedded down He succeeded. Last Tuesday, on March 21, 1938, the Master of the ers of war, returning from long in any old corner, barracks or If you are interested see what would have been his nine­ ship scattered them over the sea years in German, Italian and anywhere else convenient. Jimmy Stewart on the 3rd tieth birthday, he would have Furuseth loved and hated and Japanese prison camps, were TOOK THE DOUGH floor of the New York Hall. looked with pride upon the great fought to make a decent place for given the greatest kicking around The steamship companies and Union organizations the SlU and seamen to work and live. of the war. Many of them have the government didn't miss tak­ the SUP have become. still failed to collect the full ing out the income tax or any Andrew Furuseth was born in amount of wages, bonus and other deductions. Although these Romedal, Norway, on March 12, clothing allowancce due them. men were not drawing the bonus 1854. He came from a poor family The WSA and the companies during and after their imprison­ and took to the sea in his early used about five bucks worth of ment and were not even given By ARTHUR HAYSTON teens, sailing successively on Nor­ bureaueiacy and red tape for either tiie consideration accorded wegian, Swedish, German and GALVESTON — Joining the program with all SlU members each dollar they paid the return­ to military or other civilian pris­ American ships. He came to the many other Isthmian Line ships taking an active part, and others ing POW. They were pushed oners, every possible penny was U. S. in 1880, and began his agi­ around and interrogated, often taken away from them. asking questions. Meeting was tation fur a change in the status which are now holding regular finally adjouimed at 9:00 p. m. for day.s, by government agencies Each returning Seafarers' POW of seamen shortly afterward. He Union meetings on shipboard, with all crew rnembers having which asked the same senseless was met by a Union representa­ was elected secretary of the SUP crew members of the SS Gabriel been present except those on questions over and over again. tive who remained with him un-" in 1887. Four years later the SUP Franchere recently held a meet­ watch. While returning civilian inter­ til he had settled his company established the first Union ship­ ing to elect delegates, discuss With better than 90 per cent of nees were being feted, put up accounts. In every instance the ping office. the Franchere's crew signed to in the best hotels, loaned and phony deductions were pi"otested. beefs and take -v/hatever action SERFS OF THE SEA pledge cards, and a number of given money, the seamen POW's When the WSA and the com­ deemed necessary to settle their were left to the ministrations of It was in 1894 that Furuseth beefs. men who have taken out Sea­ panies continued the deductions, the United Seamens Service, was sent to Washington to lobby farers books, this ship is really which like every other phony the Seafarers took the entire mat­ Brother Sheets and Jump were for protective legislation for sea­ shaping up in fine style and charity outfit, dressed them in ter to Washington and kept the men, His appeals to members of elected chairman and secretary fight up from everj- angle. The Congress were dramatic pleas of the meeting respectively, and should be 100% by election time. cast-off clothing and old uni- SIU claim was that no tax for the for the seamen's case. Here is a then the men proceeded to elect period of imprisonment should be delegates for the various depart­ payable, and that tax deductions portion of one of them: SOLID SIU STEWARDS CREW ments. John Collier was elected should be refunded. "Maritime law makes of sea­ from the engine dept.; the deck men the property of the vessel on SIU PRESSES CASE gang elected Hayston; and Sheets which we sail. "We cannot work E"vents recently point to a pos= was chosen by the stewards dept. as seamen without signing a con­ sibility that the Treasury Depart­ as delegate. tract which brings us under the ment will agree to the Seafarers' law. We have nothing to dn with contention, and that these re­ BEEF SESSION turned seamen POWs will at least its terms. We either sign and sail, At the conclusion of nomina­ get some partial recognition for or we sign it not and remain tions and elections, members of their long months of captivity. landsmen. the crew all had a chance to get The Seafarers has been fight­ "When signing this contract, their beefs off their chests. Most ing on this issue since long be­ we surrender our working power of the complaints were that the fore the first prisoners of war re­ to the will of another man at all Mes-smen keep the mess halls turned, and will continue the times while the contract runs. We clean; that the Messmen wear fight until the sacrifices of these may not, on pain of penal punish­ "white coats at all times when men are recognized and they are ment, fail to join the vessel. We serving meals, and the standbys given the same recognition as the may not leave the vessel, though to clean up the mess halls—the men of the armed services. she is in perfect safety. We may la.st standby on the 12 to 4, and SIU Agents, Patrolmen and not, without our Master's permis­ the first standby on the 4 to 8— representatives in all ports are sion, go to a mother's sickbed or and to have their shirts.on at all urged to contact New York Hall funeral. . . . times; .and glasses and .silverware regarding any Seafarers who "The captain may change, the to be wiped after each meal. were POWs during the past war, owner may change—we are sold Final demand was that the ship in order that further action might with the vessel. . . . We stand in be fumigated before saling. be taken on their cases. All per­ the same relation to the vessel as tinent details regarding their im­ EDUCATIONAL DISCUSSION Here's another solid SIU Stewards Dept. on the Isthmian Line's the serf to his master. When serf­ prisonment, etc., should be sup­ Last part of the meeting was Kenyon Victory. Reading from left: S. D. Nova (iJan Francisco Or­ dom was abolished in Western plied at the same time, so that Europe we were forgotten by the given over to an educational dis- ganizer), Gris Casallo. Philip Pascua, Julio Pelias, Guadencio A. no valuable time is lost in de­ liberals. When the -slaves of the icussion of the Seafarei-s, history, Arcangel and Valeriano Morante. Vincent Agot and Ireneo C. termining facts. United States and Brazil were Union activities, contracts and Caparro. both Seafarers, were busy and couldn't gel in picture. "You can put me in jail, but you cannot give me narrower quarters than as a seaman I have always had. "You cannot give me coarser food than I have always eaten. You cannot make me lonelier than I have always been," Upgrading To AB Franchere Grew Discusses Beefs .. I Seafarers Presses Fight For Tax Refund To POWs �THE Page Eight SE A EAKEKS LOG Friday. March 15. 1946 Searsport Growth Is Predicted By JOHN MOGAN BOSTON — It continues to be quite busy in Boston, with plenty of jobs for all who wish to go to work—excepting, of course, the entry ratings, which are still scarce in comparison with the number of job-seekers. All payoffs were clean; dis­ putes were settled aboard the various vessels. We still run into some bother regarding the sign­ ing on of some of the ships: it seems that the Steamship Com­ panies are trying to chisel their own type of rider into the ar­ ticles—which means that Head quarters will have to circularize all the companies with copies of the rider that SIU ships will rec­ ognize, and thus save a lot of time and bickering at sign-nns REPLACEMENTS A couple of delegates came down from Searsport to try to get some action up that way on get­ ting paid off. There are two of our ships up there now, both in the stream awaiting berths. The articles call for final port of dis­ charge; but when they finally get to a berth we hope to be able to get the ships paid off and the crew members back to civiliza­ tion. Both ships have been out a long time, a good part of which was spent lying to in the stream —and all of the time sitting on a load of ammunition. As was pointed out in these columns be­ fore, Searsport will doubtless be a busy spot now that the Army has given up its base in Boston, so that it will be up to the local membership to provide replace­ ments for the crews up there as soon they dock—for that is the only way we will be able to get the ships paid off in view of the articles. RAIDING The New England Steamship Co., with which we had a con­ tract, changed ownership on mid­ night of February 2-3. An outfit known as the Massachusetts Steamship Line, Inc. took over as of March 1. This new outfit has been finagling for months, while operating the ships for the pre­ decessor company, to form a com­ pany union. On midnight of February 28, a meeting was held'in New Bed­ ford; all employees of the com­ pany were in attendance, and the meeting was presided over by S. P. Jason, Business Agent of the Teamsters Local 59. It was a clear cut case of "raiding" by the local czar of labor, and by the time we reached New Bedford on March 1st, the employees had been sold down the river by the Teamsters' Agent. At this lime we can only say that this affair is not finished, for already the State Federation is investigating Jason's activities, and it is inconceivable that this labor-faker will best the Seafar­ ers. NEW BUILDING There is a possibility that the port will be getting its new build­ ing in the near future. A Build­ ing Committee has been elected and is currently examining a number of buildings. However, to date the Committee has not had too much success, as the real estate which would be ideal for our purposes always has a price tag on it that is beyond our means. However, there are some leads as yet unexplored and it is hoped by all the membership that the Committee finds a spot soon. Eastern Steamship is rushing the reconversion of the Evange­ line and the Yartnouth, with the j goal of having the first cruises of; these vessels coincide with Easter. These two will carry a comple­ ment of approximtaely 100 men each, and with two more which Eastern hopes to get into opera- tion soon, steady employment for about 400 members in this port will be assured. All in all, it looks as though the Port of Boston will continue to do increased business, especially when the Warehousemen win their demands and return to clean out the warehouses, which are now glutted with merchan­ dise of all descriptions. So far as work is concerned, we can still use all ratings above OS, Wiper, and Messman and the vaidety of voyages is great. NO NEWS?? Silence this week from the Branch Agents of the follow­ ing ports: BALTIMORE MOBILE NORFOLK GALVESTON TAMPA PHILADELPHIA Can't Pay Off If Rider Says "No Ice Delays Lakes Shipping By ARTHUR THOMPSON SAVANNAH — After three By ALEX McLEAN hectic weeks we drained our man­ BUFFALO—Ice conditions in power and called for men from the Great Lakes generally are other ports to crew up the five slnp.s we had in iinrt This worse than last year, when navi­ gation opened about April 1st, the U.S. Navy's Branch Hydrographic Office in Buffalo report­ ed in it's first 1946 ice summary. Except for breaks west of Long Point,, solid ice extends from Buffalo to Rondeau, Ont., on Lake Erie, and 10 to 18 inches of ice off Buffalo Harbor. Stockholders of the Great Lakes Transit Corporation have approved a proposal to transfer certain company assets to North­ ern Shipping Ice., a new lakes package freight and automobile doesn't sound like a big job, but shipping concern formed by believe me, it was. Overlakes Freight Corporation of While trying to crew up a hot Detroit. ship we may have jobs on the The Hazen Butler of the D&C board for one which will be here Line has the Engineers aboard awhile, and on top of that some now, and we expect them to call for the Oilers and Firemen the companies pay better, and ten first of the week. bucks is ten bucks in any man's Engineers are also aboard the language. Naturally, it's harder George Ingalls and the George to man a Bull Line scow than a W. Meade of the McCarthy line. South Atlantic. But we made the Oilers are now aboard and the grade and we have nothing in Firemen and Stewards depart­ sight for the near future except ment will be aboard by the 18th the Robin Line's Dvorak which of March. should payoff next week. The following Brothers are re­ NO DICE cuperating in the Marine Hos­ pital: Thomas Duffy, Oiler; J. La We have quite a few calls from Bonte, Helmsman J. Jembroke, various ships, especially west Porter and Art Jepsoh, 2nd Cook, coast ships, wanting to payoff In all our experience we have never seen a port as dead as this one at the present time. We are in hopes that this situation will change soon, but -from the looks of things it won't happen for a long time to come. It has been rumored that a Bull Line ship, the old Cornelia will be diip here on March the 17th, or 18th; whether she comes here or not remains to be seen. Our old standby, the Newberg, left for Galveston last week, and in her sailing is a story that the members should ponder over. This ship was in Jacksonville drydock for about three weeks, and the full crew was kept on. The Stewards Department was engaged in painting the messrooms and the rest of the Stew­ ards quarters; with subsistence wages and overtime these guys, especially the cooks, were aver­ aging over eighteen bucks a day. WALKED OFF When this ship was ready to start feeding the fun began. Wo had notified the crew that any LOVELY LADY We had the August Belmont laying in Charleston for months waiting to unload so she could payoff. We just got word from Charleston, however, that she would payoff in New York. Since she came in, we've had calls for replacement of practically half the crew. When she does payoff one who wanted to quit, should advice and quite a few of them 1 doubt if half the original crew do so on signing on day. None of have been heading for the above will be aboard. the stewards department decided mentioned ports. Savannah is in her glory at the to quit, yet on sailing day morn­ time of this writing. Spring is ing, just about one hour before busting out all over and the city the ship sailed, the two cooks is beautiful, even though Lady jumped the ship without giving Astor recently referred to Sa­ us enough time to replace them. vannah as a beautiful lady with The result was that the Agent a dirty face. ALBANY, N. Y.—Under a lib­ of the company, shipped two non Savannah has been chosen as eralization of the State Unem­ Union men aboard before we had the City for the Monetary Confer­ ployment Insurance Law, mari­ a chance to get Union cooks. time workers are now eligible ence which started March 8, 1946. This illustrates an act unbe­ for unemployment insurance if The city is decked out like a coming a Union man. Such ac­ the vessels on which they work seliuul girl at her first pai ty and tion is a black mark against us are controlled from offices in a holiday feeling prevails. and should not be tolerated by New York State. This was an­ The USS Solomons, an air­ the membership of the SIU. We nounced by Industrial Commis­ craft carrier, is due here in the informed these men that the sioner Edward Cursi recently morning. This is a rare event in proper action will be taken when he stated that merchant Savannah. It seems most of her against them. seamen in foreign or interstate crow will take part in the St. Pat­ We are engaged in a large or­ trade had not previously been rick's Day parade. We haven't ganizational drive and it is guys eligible for payment of unem­ had any calls for replacements like these who do more to harm ployment benefits, but are now on her yet. us than even dual Unions and included. We have two members in the Employers became liable for the ship operators. hospital down here L. A. Holmes contributions to the State unemWe recommend to the member­ and Robert Schmidt. plnyment insurance fund on Jan­ ship that proper steps be taken (P.S. To Edtior: — Remember uary 1, 1946, Benefits will .start to alleviate this kind of a situa­ in the "benefit year" beginning Savannah's waving lady? If you tion. the first Monday in June, 1946, don't, ask some oldlimer. It's an There are a few book members and will be payable thereafter on the beach here, and since ship­ according to the terms of the interesting story. Anyway, they are talking of making a picture ping is so slow in this port we Unemployment Insurance Aqt. have advised these men that they This liberalization is a direct about her. If you can't find out go to either Galveston, Houston result of the struggle which has about her. write and I'll be glad or Port Arthur. We note by the been put up by maritime unions to give you the story.) minutes of these ports that rated to have seamen and maritime (P.S. From Editor: — No we men are needed there very badly. workers included within the pro­ The men, noticing the situation visions of the various state un- don't. Brother Thompson, but in this port, have been taking our I employment insurance set-ups. we'd sure like to know.) Irresponsibility Of Members Hurts The Union By LOUIS GOFFIN The Arab closed his tent and silently crept away in the night —and such is the Port of Jack­ sonville. No ships, no shipping, no business, no nothing. when the articles don't call for it. We'll do everything in our power to payoff a ship, but there are higher authorities who say "no," and we can't buck them, so easil.y. When a rider calls for a final port of discharge on a particular coast, that rider has to be lived up to, like it or not. When tho SUP mcmbcnship went on record to go back to peacetime articles they thought they were protected. The ship­ ping comiriissioners gave them the understanding they were. But Lt. Commander R. H. Farenholt in Washington had different ideas. 1 see by the San Francisco minutes that Morris Weisbergcr is working on the matter and if anyone can do anything about it he can. Meanwhile tho SUP membership has gone back to Rider 64. The SIU has a new rider which in my opinion covers the situa­ tion adequately. However, most west coast ships coming into Sa­ vannah want to be paid off. We tried, but ho can do. Still we get calls for replacements, since most skippers vifill payoff some of the crew under mutual consent. We have trouble supplying these replacements, but manage some­ how. Seamen To Get Idle Insurance �Friday. March 15, 1946 T HE SEAEA HERS LEARNING SCORE FROM SIU ORGANIZER BENSON LOG Page Nine Great Lakes SecretaryTreasurer Reports... By EMANUEL S. LASHOVER SANDBOAT NEGOTIATIONS: und that they only .seemed in­ terested in coJlecting money, We met with the sandboat op­ erators on February 18th and left j Those that did not want to in a deadlock concerning pay­ , contribute at the meeting were ment of the bonus on the 30 day \ given envelopes and instructed basis. They have informed ; to mail in the moola after they us that they wi.sh to meet with • had thought it over. I have sent us again on March 11th, and I ' the report into the offices of the believe that we will be able to ; International for their action. finish up the contract at that D & C NEGOTIATIONS: time. ! Your committee met with Cap­ The hold-up seems to lie in the tain McDonald last Monday and fact that they want to know how when wo found out that he had no to go about gclliiig an inciea.se final authority to sign the con­ from the OPA in the price of tract, we refused to do business sand, and it looks like they have with him and walked out. found the angle and are ready We met with the big boss today to talk business. I and belifVe lliat we will have a little difficulty in completing the MERCHANT MARINE ASSN. I contract. We have a date set for OF AMERICA: ] tomorrow to continue the nego­ This outfit had a meeting in tiations and will report on the re­ Chicago on Sunday, February sults at next meeting. Isthmian's John Constantine crew learning the Union facts of life from Seafarers' Organizer 23rd and I instructed Herb JanHocky Benson. From the interested looks of the men. Rocky must be giving it to them straight from sen to attend. He report.s that GEORGIAN BAY the shoulder in typical SIU style. from all he can gather, it is .strict­ NEGOTIATIONS: ly a phony-baloney organization We had a preliminary meeting with Mr. Brown last Thursday and have a date set for this com­ ing Wednesday to complete the negotiations. I will report fur­ cause tlie Towboatmcn delegates By C. J. (BUCK) STEPHENS ther at the next meeting. NEW ORLEANS — Shipping is will make a report for the Log. Bisso. cheap guy that he is, of­ FINAL DEPARTURE; still buuiiiing in the port of New fered one of our pickets a dollar Brother Julius Swanson No. 49® Orleans and from all indications to discontinue picketing. By ROBERT A. MATTHEWS He died in the Cook County Hospi­ wlil continue for a week or two. tal in Chicago as the result of SAN FRANCISCO—Yesterday, March 8th, Brothers Sim­ This port will have the Puerto tuberculosis of the spine. He mons, Kelly, and Turner went down aboard the SS Sea Fiddler, was in good standing and was Rican effect to it ne.\t week from an Isthmian Ship to meet the gang and talk things over. They buried by Herb Jansen, Chicago the looks of ships due in. saw a little incide.ut which should not go unrecorded. Agent, at a funeral that was well Garabedian and another NMU organizer were aboard the Bull Line will practically take attended by his old friends in the Sea Fiddler also and, as is their custom, they had their pockets over the Port for the next week Union. full of blank NMU books. They sell these books just like they with five ships due in over the were lottery tickets or something, only with a lottery ticket a OVERLAKES FREIGHT wcek-cmd. So all Bull Line stiffs CORPORATION: guy does have a chance to better himself. At any rate, they let will really have a chance to ship these books go for whatever they can get. This outfit has absolutely no on one of their scows. Missis­ Well, to make a long story short, they sold one of these NMU intention of running their ships sippi has a few scheduled ships books to one of the Oilers. This man took the NMU book and on the Great Lakes this year or due in but the^tanker situation went below where lie saw the Second Assistant Engineer. year. They are now trying tclooks pretty bad for our favorite sell them to the Great Lakes Now it just happened that this Engineer was an old SIU stand-by gang. will soon find out that a union Transi# Company which is plan­ man and a good one. He promptly told this young fellow what We've been having quite a few man cannot be bought like the ning a package freight service the score was in regards to the difference between the SIU and beefs in here lately from mem­ people he is used to dealing with. between Buffalo and Dnluth. I the NMU. That threw a different light on the matter so the bers of the various tankers that will have more to report on this guy ran up to the messroom where he collared the NMU or­ did not get their overtime at at next meeting. ganizer. He tried to get the guy to return his money that he had payoff but went off with some given for the book, but the NMU refused to give it back. company-man's word for' it that In spite of this, the Oiler then signed a pledge card for the checks would be mailed to them. ' SIU. These are tactics that are used by the NMU but to no avail. A month or two later they come up blowing their tops that some one fouled them up. It's nobody's By WILLIAM STEVENSON fault but their own—so. Broth­ DULUTH—Last week I was on ers, remember to collect at the the sick list, so I went to Dr. payoff. ^ Barney, and he sent me to the By CHARLES B. MARTIN NEW YORK Here's another deal these op­ SS KOLA VICTORY erators are pulling: You happen hospital. I am now back on the SAN JUAN — Since 1 have chance to get at the men who Harold Allen. $2.00: L. Eastrom, job, with less rations; and worst to run across a pretty good com­ taken over the Acting Agent job, never sailed with him. $2.00; \V. Wiercomiez. $1.00; Norman pany official or skipper and col­ of all, no smoking. That is go­ we have been having fair to good Philly's wonder boy. Soapy West, $1.00; J. M. .McNeal, $2.00; H. lect a few extra hour« overtime, ing to be hardest to give up. shipping for rated men. Some­ Campbell, is still in our midst. Slater. $2.00; A. J. Yell. $1.00; J. J. which is not put down exactly as We sure have spring weather times we have to go and dig men 1 can't tell how his love affair is Schulte, $2.00. Total $13.00. the head office would like it, then up here now. Little lakes during out of the famous Texas Bar, progressing as I am not in the SS ANDREW PICKE.N they will deduct it from any un­ the day, and skating rinks at and some of the less famous bars know, and he doesn't show his R. Tolbert. $2.00; J. R. Setarle. $2.00; claimed wages you have and then night. I you don't believe me, try that giace our waterfront. happy face around here very J. Smith. $2.00; P. Edwards. $2.00; W. Husson, $2.00; II. A. Eller. $2.00; G. tell you when your voucher driving, or walking the sti-eets. We have one ship here, the SS often. Weininger. $2.00; j. 11. Gorman. $2.00; comes that you were overpaid Tex hangs around until he finds F. Bassala. $2.00; T. D. Smith. $2.00; Jean, that is giving m'e a con­ We've had a lot of guys around and they deducted the overpay­ tinuous headache in trying to out about a job coming up, and 11. Millron. $2.00; C. . E. Perdue, $2.00. ment from the money due you. asking about when we're going furnish the Captain his supply of then he does a fade-out. I tried Total—$24.00. So, Brothers, again don't forget to start running the boats again, seamen. In fact, I have run to to find him 'or a job on the SS ALCOA PATRIOT to collect all monies due you at and what kind of a season we are the end of the rope as I have Jean, but it was like searching Robert Prozinski. $2.00; SS .Alcoa payoff, and not two or three going to have. A fellow has to shipped him almost two crews for a needle in tlie haystack. PuUiul. Steward Dept.. $8.00. Totalknow everything in this game. Si 0.00. months later. HOT SPOT However, things are looking up, SS MADAWASKA VICTORY STRIKE UNIFORMS The Cape Mohican has the hot­ and from the way men keep com­ A niakelv. $1.00; R. F. Willie. $T.00; The Carnival went over here test messiuujii I ha\"e eVer been F. Anderson. $1.00; C. E. Williams, ing in, we are going to have in New Orleans in a big way and in, in all mj* experience of going $1.00; R. T. Harrison. $1.00; P. Caruso, enough manpower. was enjoyed by all hands that to .sea. The Engine Room Dele- ^ $3.00; C. G. W. Magnuso, $2.00; J. Detroit is doing good shipping were in port on ships, or the gate invited me to have dinner I D. Dikon. $2.00; E. J. Dancy, $2.00; H. Mertz, $1.00; members that stuck around to see this past week, and with our with him, and if modesty would | W. Swift. $2.00; I. Ramas. $2.00; C. Hallett, $3.00; P. it before shipping. Even the contract for that raise in pay from have permitted it, I would have Messneger. $3.00; R. Le-kenby. $1.00; workers of the Bemis Bag Fac­ last July, the boys are convinced done the same as the girls in the B. G. Han-.. $2.00; W. R. McM.ally, tory who are on strike here got that we are really doing some­ Hurdy-Gurdy shows do. 1 finally ! $2.00; 11. .\. Blank, $2.00; W. Gason, into the Carnival spn it and pick­ thing. did what the crew has to do; re- j $2.00; J. E. Jadwin. $2.00; W. H. White, $2.00; G. Azlward. $3.00; C. J. OTIandeted the place in Mardi Gras I was asked what the NMU was tired to the deck to eat my meal.! ley, $2.00; .A. F. .Mazarelle, $2.00. Tot&l costumes. going to do about wages, and I We are having a few beefs' $45,00. Bisso has been declared "un­ told them that the NMU would here and there, but outside of PORT ARTHUR ' fair" to the SIU and picketing of take what the Lake Carriers since he has been in the Island. that, sailing is pretty smooth. The SS BALDWIN HILL his boats and office is now going would give them, and then take I will be more than glad when rainy season is upon us, brother, Deck, Engine, Steward Dept. $32.00 on. I will not go into detail be­ the credit also. his ship sails so as to give me a and plenty of it. Complete Total—$124.00. Operators Use New Bag Of Tricks NMU Sells Books At Any PriceNot Worth It, Isthmian Man Finds Good Season Seen For Lakes Rainy Season Hits Puerto Rico I �Page Ten THE SEAEARERS LOG Friday. March 15. 1946 SHIPS' MINUTES AND NEWS THE TULSA CREW SAW PAREE Seafarers Protest Rustpot Conditions Tulsa Crew Finds 'Hog' Seaworthy There seems to be a slight hitch in the matter of sup­ plies aboard the Buntline Hitch. In fact, there seems to be a hitch about the whole damned ship. From what the Brother list as needed in the minutes of their February 17 meeting, it looks like there isn't much left of her. Spencer Crew Finds Captain Cooperative By GEORGE SWIFT Engine Delegate Home is the sailor. Home from the sea. Place all your women Under lock and key. With this song on their lips and a few bucks in their pockets, the crew of the South Atlantic Hog Islander, SS Tulsa, piled off the ship in Boston after an 11week trip to France and England. To many of the crew who boarded ship in New Ycrk the Tulsa had been an innovation. They had been under the im­ pression up to this time that fouryear-old Liberties were old ships. Now they found themselves on a ship whose prototype was the Liberty Ship of World War I, this particular vessel being built just after the close of hostilities in that fracas, in 1919. There was some hemming and hawing before a few of the boys signed on, particularly among , members of the Engine Depart­ ment. They viewed the swaybacked and bulged-front boilers and various pumps, auxiliary en­ gines, upon which many and many an engineer and oiler had worked. Each had had his own idea how to repair and what kind of parts to put in. They s5)eculated loudly as to whether such a conglemeration of pracctically homemade machinery could get the ship to Europe and back. In the end, however, they decided that if the ship had managed to make forty-Teven and then some crossings she ought to be able to make just one more. USUALLY GOOD The Tulsa did not let them down. They found that when she was running good she ran very good—and fast—faster by some knots than any Liberty ship. Of course she did not al­ ways run good. Now and then the high-pitched hum of the tur­ bine would die down and down below there would be much ham­ mering and sweating and cursing as repairs were made. It was the concensus that a Hog Islander was a good riding ship in heavy weather and proof of this was not long in coming in the form of an 80-mile gale. In­ stead of the awesome rolling of a Liberty the Tulsa treated the boys to an exhibition of slow and easy pitching combined with an occasional snake-like weaving mo­ tion which, to the consternation of the "old-timers" aboard, in­ cluding this scribe, produced a bit of mal-der-mer (seasickness to youse guys what don't know French), which was something same "old-timers" had not ex­ perienced for many and many a moon. TO GAY PAREE But in the end the hook was dropped in Le, Havre and after The Black Gang of the SS Tulsa. Standing (left to right) Fred Goff, FWT; Red Dilda. Wiper; Ed Eckcrt, Refer. Oiler; Jim Meyer. Oiler; Dick Husman. Oiler; Whitey Schlabach, Dk, Engr.; Tony Denddo. Wiper; Jesse Dorman, Wiper; Bill Todd. Refer. Engr. Kneeling (left to right) George Swift. FWT and author of the ac­ companying story; Joe Hudek, Oiler; George Hilty. FWT. MINUTES OF SlU SHIP MEETINGS DIGESTED FOR EASIER READING JOSIAH COHEN. Sept. 22— Chairman John W. Keenan; Secretary Gene Trimble. Dele­ gates' reports included beef that three or four cold suppers are being served each week: Male has been interfering with work on deck. Motions carried: Cold supper will be served no more than once each week; Captain to inspect ship twice each week for cleanliness; Del­ egates to see Captain about the keys to the linen locker; Bosun and Deck Delegate to see Mas­ ter about the Mate's interfer­ ence. some unloading the scuttlebutt had it that we'd run up the Seine to Rouen. First-trippers aboard were elated by the thought of aproaching almost within hail­ ing distance of that City of Sin, Gay Paree. For once rumor was correct. The Tulsa steamed up the Seine through the heart of France, a very picturesque run. There were quaint little villages, chateaus sitting upon rocky cliffs, peaceful fields with gi-azing cat­ tle and ever and anon French maidens who dropped everything to wave to the American sailors. This last phase was most interest­ ing to ye scribe who, with a pair of extremely high-powered bino­ culars he had picked up in Le Havre could count the fillings in the l^'rehch damosels' teeth, when he was looking at their teeth. GAY RESEARCHERS With the ship docked quite some time in Rouen many mem­ bers of the crew got up to Paris and, after due and consciencious research, were able to state that Gay Paree was Gay Paree in­ deed. However, we will skip lightly over this as the Log is now a family journal being mail­ ed regularly ot the members' homes. Leaving Rouen ,the Tulsa sail­ ed to Swansea, England for re­ fueling and ballast. Here, too, the youthful members of the erew astonished the older boys JOSIAH COHEN. Oct. 17— Chairman Johnson. Suggestion made that washing machine be kept on deck. Motions carried: Meetings are to be held twice each month; Crew's Pantryman to paint the Crew Pantry; Crew's mess is to be kept clean and crew has until next meet­ ing to show improvement. JOSIAH C^HEN!^ NOV. Chairman Edwards. It suggested that catsup be in bottles, butter issued Messmen daily instead of ery three or four days, to IBwas put to ev­ pre- with their energy, some of them swarming down lines before the gangway was lowered in order to make an early start on a trip to London. TOLERANT EYE It might be stated here that Captain Leslie (Mother) Hubbard proved that he had the good of the crew at heart by viewing these shennanigans with a toler­ ant eye. So, at length, the Tulsa sailed for home. Aside from true North Atlantic winter weather rearing up seas and providing headwinds that saw the ship forging slowly backward at times with the en­ gine going full speed ahead and a leak developing in the No. 1 doublebottom which ruined quan­ tities of fuel nil and kept the enginers watching fuel consump­ tion with bated breath it v/as a routine crossing. True, there was some talk of being forced to rip out all the woodwork on the ship to feed the boiler fires if the fuel oil gave out. Too, some sadistic character started the rumor that all souvener liquors from France on the ship including costly • cham­ pagne, Benedictine, wine, etc., would be confiscated, also, to feed the fires if the situation grew desperate. But nothing like this transpired and one day the Tulsa made port in Boston Harbor, her voyage ended. 'pj^g meeting was conducted by Chairman Charles H. Bush, with Molvin Wineman acting as Sec­ retary. In compiling the safety, repairs and supplies list, the meeting voted that: "the ship should be questioned and marked for the men to stand by until the work in New York port is done." Here are some of the items in question: To fix all portholes and have glass installed in them. The crew of the SS Frank E, Spencer, South Atlantic Steam­ ship Company, sends in the kind or report we always like to re­ ceive. The ship, just in from a lung trip, reports complete agree­ ment between the Master and crew on all issues. Black Gang Delegate Gene Markey is an organizer of the British Columbia Soamens Union, affiliated wtih the SIU. He re­ ports that Captain Brenneck, in addition to being an excellent seaman and ships master, has cooperated throughout the voy­ age with the ships delegates and crew. Captain Henry Brenneck is an old SUP member who came up To cover old ship's whistle from the fo'csle the hard way. so it will blow in freezing Cooperation such as he has shown weather, or purchase new one. makes any trip a good trip and To purchase fog bell, to be any old rust pot a good ship. placed on fo'csle head for per­ sonal safety. To repair engine room boil­ vent spoiling, and that a new er and blower systems so they toaster and ice cream freezer won't break down at sea. be procured. Motions carried: To ship NO passengers in To cease feeding, pets out of ship's hospital, so there can be the dishes; Steward to make room in the ship for sick or insure that coffee urn is cleaned injured. daily. To obtain adequate rnedical ft 4, 4. supplies; to see to it that enough JOSIAH COHEN. Nov. 30— placed in slop chest; articles are Chairman Harold Johnston. to have unrationed cigarettes Motions carried: To have one aboard. fresh meat and one canned To install a blower in the meat each meal because of food galley range. shortage; Committee of five If these delinquencies weren't men appointed to bring Stew­ ard up on charges; that charges enough to drive any good ci-ew be withdrawn if Steward to drink, there was also a lack of good soap aboard, insufficient proves capable rest of trip. bread, milk, ice cream and sani­ ft ft ft tary equiment. In addition, there JOSIAH COHEN. Dec. 15— were no electrical heating units Chairman Gene Trimble. Mo­ in the mess rooms to use when tion carried: Passageways to the boilers broke down. That be swabbed twice each week. meant cold' food. ft ft ft JOSIAH COHEN. Jan. 11— hands had shipped through the Chairman C. Gladhill; Secre­ Union hiring hall, and that a tary P. Shafer. Motion carried: library had been received for Committee of five to report on the benefit of the crew. Mo­ whether or not Steward is to tions carried: To have Patrol­ be brought up on charges. man come aboard to check the Good and Welfare: Meetings stores with delegates; to obtain will be discontinued as ship is a portable ice-box for medi­ being turned over to the Japs. cine stored in chill box; to get In case fo a special beef, a permission from Master to use meeting will be called. abandoned Navy quarters. ft ft ft Good and Welfare: Patrolman T. J. JACKSON. Jan. 27— Hart came aboard before sail­ .Chairman John M. Chauvin; ing and checked stores with Secretary Max Fabricant. Dele­ delegates. Stores found to be gates reported that beefs about adequate. overtime are still not settled. ft ft ft Good and Welfare: Steward rePETER ZENGER. Oct. 18— que.-t jd each Delegate to make (not noted) Deck Delegate re­ a list of repairs required in the ported that Navy quarters will forecastle. be used for passengers on the ft ft ft return trip. Motions carried: PETER ZENGER. Oct. 8 — To fine all men found violating Chairman George Meaney; the cleanliness of the mess Secretary Edward Sala. Deck (Continued on Page 11} Delegate reported that all �Friday. March 15, 1946 THE SEAFARERS LOG Vandals Tear Up Agreement, Minutes What seems to be a plain case of attempted sabotage of the Union movement aboard the Parkersburg Victory were reported in the minutes of the shipboard meeting of the Parkersburg Victory by Brothers Boon and Price, chairman and secretary, re­ spectively. The copy of the agreement of the Ship's Delegate was torn up and the! •" Crew Defeats Chips And DE In Argument The Carpenter and the Deck Engineer aboard the. George Washington got the worst end of an argument over minor repairs wtih almost every other member of tlie crew of the George Wash­ ington, minutes of the shipboard meeting of February 25 reveal. The argument waged hot and heavy for some time at the meet­ ing, and Chips and the DE fin­ ally were forced to back down, according to Chirman G. Ghrame and Secretary A1 Kerr. Among repairs listed by the membership were; covers for messroom tables; a new toilet bowl for the Deck Department head; fans for the Black Gang fo'csle; new coffee urns and toaster for the crew's mess and bunk lights in the crew's quar­ ters. Several members of the crew asked about the possibility of shipping on the Great Lakes. A motion was carried that all crew members make some dona­ tion to the Seafarer's Log at the payoff. tminules of thi? prcvittus prcviaus meeting* moetinfet^ crumpled and mutilated. Bill Thompson, Ship's Dele­ gate, reported that someone had ransacked his di-awers, torn up the agreement and mutilated the minutes. Nothing else among liis belongings were touched. room, said fine io go io the Union hospitalization fund; the Steward to be financiai secre­ tary for all fines and donations collection—George Meaney to be chairman of fine committee consisting of three delegates. i i- J. PETER ZENGEH. Oct. 28— (not noted) Letter was ap­ proved to be sent to the Union to look into question of wheth­ er or not the crew is entitled to a penalty bonus for sailing a ship which carries an inflam­ mable cargo. Motion carried: Delegates to ask Captain for more than two cartons of cig­ arettes to carry them through the stay in the port of Algiers. Captain Acts Against Nine Of Crewmen Charges were brought again.st nine members of the crew of the William B. Giles by its Mastbr, F, M. Forster, when he found them off the ship after he came aboard, according to un.signed minutes Chairman Boon called for sug­ received from the ship. gestions, and since none were Fnclosed with the minutes was forthcoming, it was decided to an excerpt from the ship's log, notify the ship's officers and send which showed that a notice had the torn agreement and minutes been posted on the ship's gang­ to the New York Hall for review way on January 2, ordering all and comment as soon as possible. shore leave stopped. The Master A Wiper, meanwhile, told the meeting that someone had enter­ ed his quarters and taken his sei'vice ribbons and the cards ver­ ifying them. Also up at the meeting was the question of the Chief Mate doing seamen's work and the problem of overtime for this. The Desk Delegate said he had discussed the matter with the Mate, who had promised it would not happen again. Delegate Thompson rer ported that the Captain had made an inspection and found every­ thing shipshape. Deck Delegate W. F. Stephens read portions of the Agreement between the SIU and Calmar to the meeting and discussed its in­ terpretation. CHARLES A. WARFIELD. Feb. 10—Chairman Jonas; Sec­ retary Berry. Discussion in ref­ erence to advantages of join­ ing Union and information giv­ en on procedure for joining; discussion on Stewards Depart­ ment lack of delegate and the improper amount of overtime for this Department. Motions carried: To reporf Sieward as incompefeni and request that he be prevented from sailing on SIU ships; to record the fact that Steward. Chief Cook, and Second Cook refused to at­ tend meeting. J. S. J, T. J. JACKSON. Dec. 23— Chairman Voorhies; Secretary Fabricant. Motions carried: Any man leaving dirty cups, saucers, etc.. in the messroom to be fined $5.00. Proceeds to go to the LOG; three Delegates to go to the Captain to see about more pressure in the drinking fountain; each man to do his share in keeping forecas­ tle clean. J. S., J. BELL RINGER. Jan. 22 — Chairman Robert Kennedy; Secretary William Yetman. Stewards Department was questioned on lack of fresh milk. Steward said he ordered it. but it was probably stolen by ship docked next to this one in New York. Complaint about Chief Mate, a "little 21year-old imitation of a man" who. it was suggested, should be handled to show him the ways of a good Union and good Union men. Motion car­ ried: Wiper to make coffee in morning and standby to make coffee in afternoon. PETER ZENGER. Dec. 30— (not noted) Deck Delegate sug­ gested shipboard meeting to support Union's effort to in­ crease wages in maritime in­ dustry. Suggests minimum of $200.00 per month for ABs, Firemen, and Oilers. it it CHARLES A. WARFIELD, Jan. 1—Chairman Jonas; Sec­ retary Berry. Good and Wel­ fare: Two men will alternate in doing dishes; all men to be quieter; arrangements were mad© for preparing coffee; mess halls to be cleaner. fl;. S. BELL RINGER. Feb. 10 — Chairman Robert Kennedy; Secretary William Yetman. Motions carried: All hands to refuse to pay off until all beefs are settled; crew to leave ship in clean condition to show company that Union men are clean men; list of needed re­ pairs to be made up and given to officers; to ask A.M.M.L.A. to take old books out of the li­ brary and replace them with new books. Good and Welfare: An AB was warned that if he gave a performance again such its. SEAFARER SAM SAYS : arrived aboard at 12.50 a. m. on January 4, and nine crew mem­ bers missing, five from the Stew­ ard's Dpeartment and four from the Engine Room. The crew members were charged with disobendience of the Master's orders, neglect and dereliction of duty. The case is to be refeiTod to the Coast Guard for a decision. On January 7 the charges were read to the accused .seamen. All of the men said they went ashore because other members of the crew had gone ashore. Digested Minutes Of SiU Ship Meetings (Continued from Pat^c 10) Page Eleven as he gave in San Juan or Humacoa. he would be dealt with by the membership ashore. JAMES M. GILLIS. Feb. 16 —Chairman Purcell; Secretary Heinfling. Suggestion made that laundry is to be soaked in buckets and not in wash basin, also that wash basin be cleaned after using. Motions carried: A list of improvements to be draWn up; to get better variety of slop chest and if passengers are carried, provision is to be made for them; book members voted on Tripcards, five men voted in unanimously, one to be watched. 1- i. JAMES M. GILLIS. Feb. 22 —Chairman Smith; Secretary Heinfling. Motion carried: To bar Tripcard being watched from membership in SIU on grounds that he is not a good shipmate. He puts bulk of work on other men. gives arguments to superiors, and stays in "sack" until called by Chief Engineer. t i. S. WILLIAM DA VIES. Jan. 9. —Chairman Bennett; Secretary Colquitt. No delegate will be elected to represent all depart­ ments as there is no member of crew capable of doing so. Motions carried: Any Brother leaving mess on buffet will be fined 25c. on tables 10c. Money will be used to buy beer. J. 4. t WILLIAM DAVIES. Feb. 5 —Chairman Bailey; Secretary Colquitt. Engine Delegate made suggestions for better li­ nen and lettuce on salads. Mo­ tions carried:-Old heads to be opened and Stewards Depart­ ment to use their own wash­ basins. Good and Welfare: Dis­ cussion of night lunch and unlidyness of messroom. YOUR BEEPS ^-TO THE UNIOM HAIL JNSTEAO OF TOTME BAR. Seafarers Victimized By Shoreside Rackets Down through the years that landlubbers have been preying on seamen, there have been some pretty smooth rackets developed, for somehow the seafaring man always has been considered legitimate prey by the shoreside sharpers. But two West Coast rcakets the world. Changing four tires is have been brought to light this no cinch. Next morning they were up week that make anything short bright and early, looking for the of the old Barbary Coast shang driver. He didn't seem to be haiing operations look petty lar around. They asked the tourist ceny by comparison. They were brought to the at camp owner. "Oh,"' he said airily, "that guy tention of the Log by two Sea blew out about 4 a. m. Headed for farers. First came the Cheap-Trip-to L. A., he was " The four seamen took a bus the New York-Racket, reported by Joseph Falinsky, AB off the SS rest of the way to New York. ' El Morco. When his ship paid off SMOOTH OPERATOR in Los Angeles, Falinsky and The other racket was worked tliree other seamen were ap­ at San Francisco by an equally proached by a travel bureau rep­ smooth-operal,ing con man. Like resentative, and asked whether the cheap-trip guy, lie came right they wanted a cheap trip (:o New aboard ship. He had an e.xpenYork. sive view camera with him. BEAUTIFUL PROSPECTS "Lemme take your pictures," It just happened that all four he said to the crew of the 'Con-. of them did. They jumped at the stant Victory. "You guys want chance of making the trip in easy something to remember each stages by automobile, because other by. Do you good to be able they'd had visions of standing all to look up that picture and see the way across the continent in all your shipmates five years day coaches. That had happened from now. You don't have to to them before. buy any prints if you don't want So they paid the agent for the to." travel company SI 1.00 apiece, and BEAUTIFUL PROMISES agreed to pay S50.00 apiece more Among them was Chief Cook when the car picked them up. Fred Jensen. Brother Jensen It came around in due course, came into the Log office with the and they shelled out their hard- stoiw a couple of days ago, and earned dough and settled back showed lis the receipt he had to enjoy the ride. Ten miles out from th'e photo-gyp joint. It had of L. A. the rattletrap had its a photo concern's name on it, but first blowout. The character who no address. It had a serial nmnwas driving siad he reckoned if ber, and a lot of fine type about they wanted to get going, they'd COD charges to be paid to the better get out and patch the tube. Post Office. Nothing that would There was no spare. They patch­ identify it. ed it while the driver took a nap. Brother Jensen said the camera In the ir.iddle of the desert be­ guy had promised that the pic­ tween Los Angeles and Tuscon, tures would be delivered to the Ariz., three more tires blew out. New Ymrk Hall in four days. The driver had three more naps. They haven't shown up yet. In He was just the driver, he said.. addition to Jensen, there are If they wanted to get on their four other seamen from the Con­ way, they'd have to fix the tires stant Victory waiting to ship out themselves. of the New York Hall who have . RED HOT SEAMEN receipts from the gyp-photo out­ By the time they hit Tuscon, fit. there were four burned-up Sea­ It's a dirty trick to go around farers. And the desert heat didn't pinning morals on the end of have anything to do with it. stories, but for the love of Mike, When they hit their bunks in Brothers, look inside the poke a tourist camp they were dead to before you buy the pig. �"Trr-»^ TUK Page Twelve SEAFARERS LOG Friday, March 15, 194S THE MEMBEBSaUP SPEAKS NON-SCAB SEAMEN WILL BE TRIED IN PHILIPPINES LIGHTER SIDE ABOARD EAGLE WING TELL THEM Dear Editor: The latest reports in the news­ papers here say that settlement of the Filipino dock hands strike is imminent. We all sincerely hope so for it will relieve the tension on the American flag ships waitings at anchor liere for (Ah! That old Army red tape!) "further orders." The seven seamen who refused to scab on the Filipino strikers come up for trial February 15 and everything possible is being done through cooperative SIUNMU action to defend the men. Incidentally, we all agree that "cooperative action" isn't a bad idea. Our biggest beef lately has been lack of food and we solved it by presenting the enclosed pe­ tition, signed by everyone ex­ cept the Skipper, Chief Engineer, and Navy personnel, to the WSA and the U. S. Army. And it worked! We got tur­ keys, plenty of meat, potatoes, and all the dry stores the old man requested in his latest order. WSA knows the Richard Henry Lee is in Manila! The crew has not been holding official meetings, but since we've been in the Pacific the Army has had us anchored most of the time in places where there was no ngiht liberty. Nightly bull sessions have been the main form CHARLES STARLING Dear God, when it's all over and brave stories come out, And of our armed forces and heroes they shout Please step up and tell them the sights that you have seen. Tell them for me, and the boys of the Merchant Marine. Dear Brothers; SEAFARER TELLS OF SOIREE DOWN PUERTO RICO WAY Dear Editor; I would like you to print this in the Log. Mr. and. Mrs. Bud Ray (he's the Port Agent at San Juan) threw a party at his house last Sunday on their fifth wedding We've been getting plenty of letters from you about the stinkers and the bum ships. But we feel sure some of the other Log readers would like to hear about the good times you have in strange ports, loo. There are a lot of boys on the beach today who'd like to know what goes on in Rio or Copenha­ gen, Yokohamaa or Cape­ town. So drop us a line and let us hear what you've been doing. Try to keep your letters to about 300 v/ords or less, so we can print them all. Many themks. Brothers. The Editor anniversary. As usual, everyone got lushed. The party started with a bang when the band arrived at 2 p. m. Around 6 p. m. we had a big feed, but who wants to put a nice fire out when you've just built it. So we tossed for it, and I guess you know who won. There were so many gorgeous senoritas around that you had to be on a swivel to keep track of them. Well, the boys and I wish to thank him for such a nice time and hope he and Mrs. Ray have many more happy anniversaries, such as this one has been. Adios. Soapy Campbell PENCIL PUSHER FOULS UP DEAL AT SLOP CHEST Dear Editor: This letter concerns a clerk by the name of H. D. Gustavfion aboard the SS Koloa Victoiy. His is a name to well remember and he is a character to stay away from. Now some of us aren't handsome, A meeting was held tonight And never had eyes of blue. and when the subject of welfare Like the soldiers and sailors you came up there was a lot of dis­ read of cussion of this clerk. So here In all the magazines do. goes. And maybe our shoes need Now this heel is really some polish. thing out of a sea story—and a We don't wear a pretty suit. lousy story, too. This navigating The gear we wear is all different. wonder has the attitude that the And in it, we aren't so cute. crew as a whole is scum under his feet and when a decent ques­ But we can die and we have died. For a reason the same as the rest And though we die not in khaki or blue, We have given our land our best Bill Johnson. Second Cook aboard Waterman's Eagle Wing, made these pictures during her 10-week trip out of Long Beach. It's easy to tell by the costumes what ports she hit. At top left are Jap maidens (standing) Dean Williams, Messman; Juan Rodriguez, OS: Charles Figarou, Messman; (kneeling) Dale Bush, AB. and Johnson. Top right. Don Waters, OS, and Johnson, in something they picked up at Hawaii, but never saw there. Lower, preparing for the New Year's party are Frenchy Fournier. Baker, Jack Kuberski, Stew. Delegate; Bill Knowles, Deck Delegate and David Nunn, Chief Cook. Send In Letters On Your Voyages , of recreation and we have thrashed out most of our prob­ lems during these sessions. This battered old Liberty oper­ ated by Calmar Steamship cor­ poration is slated to go to the dock in a "couple of days" to load cargo for return to the Promised Land. We left New York for a six-weeks jaunt to Europe nearly nine months ago. We have had no mail since the middle of November and the only Union news received has come from other SIU ships we have met and the radio. We'll see you sometime in April or May. James J. Richard, Bos'n; Ted J. Koiaarski, Oeck Delegate; John F. Meyer. Engine Deleg.; Cleveland R. Wolfe, Steward Delegate. Log - A - Rhythms We, too, have lost our sweethearts. The mothers and fathers we love. To add our blood to those colors And keep them flying above. Tell them all of the sleepless nights and days of that dangerous run. And of the men who lived and slept. And died beside their gun. Or when some ship would be blown to hell To wake the night so still. And that was the end of some 70 men Dear Editor: And the end of some "Joe" or "Bill." You fellows from the East Coast don't have to worry about And the dirty flying Heinies payoff on the West Coast. Who came diving from the We have three of the finest gray men in the SIU to represent us To plaster the decks with here in Frisco: Bob Matthews, stinging lead Business Agent and Simmons And carry some lives away. and Kelly, Patrolmen. You don't have to take my Yes, tell them of some buddies With faces once tan and bright. word for it. Ask any of the fel­ Now drenched and covered with lows that just came off the Lu­ their blood cius Q.C. Lamarr; they'll be up Which is turning with the night around the New York Hall now. No beef is too large or too small And tell them of the weeping for them to handle. But what's wife Who lingers by the gate To hope against hope that the \v\' one she loves Is just a little late. FRISCO PIECARDS ARE ON THE BALL, BROTHER WRITES Or have we gave up a nice warm home For a Foc'sle two by four Or the candle that still is burning And some mother at the door. But we are not asking for glory For medals we ne^er look. For all we want is a line or two In that future history book. For maybe, of thousands of the use of trying to tell you— buddies you have to see these boys at Who have traded their life to work to understand what I mean. sleep, (To you fellows who got off Some may have a boy or a girl the Lamarr in Yokohama and To read those lines and keep. came back passengers on the Willimette Victory: Go up to the So stand up and tell them dear Lord, Waterman office and get your­ Please tell them of what you selves $75.00, payment owed to have seen. you for the differential of first class passage.) That's another Tell them for me and my buddies, THE BOYS OF THE victory you can mark up for the MERCHANT MARINE! West Coast. Paul Glazic tion is asked of him he answers as if he were King Neptune him­ self. We have had the slop chest opened only about four times on a two-month trip and even then we had to beg to have it opened. The first time it was opened we got our smokes. But from then on it was always a fight to get them. In Sweden we had to turn in our extra smokes to the Cus­ toms and they allowed us one carton a week. But on leaving Swedish waters for Danish wat­ ers this pen pusher said we could have only one carton. The Dele­ gates then went up to the Skip­ per and the Skipper said we could have all we wanted. On learning this the clerk was all burnt up and treated the crew with contempt. The last time he opened the slop chest he set the time of opening at 7:30 p.m. and it WSsn't until 8 p.m. that it was finally opened. The time between 7:30 and 8 p.m. was spent by this clerk carrying down stuff that should have been in the slop chest already. Several times he has made statements to persons topside that the crew member's were a bother and nuisance to him. Here's another one: the Chief Engineer and the FAE approved overtime but this louse of a clei'k disputed it. Believe it or not. We hope this bum is brought to the attentiop of our Union. I am .speaking for the crew. Robert G. Roales ^ ] ! ' i ' : �>riday. March 15. 1946 THE SEAFARERS LOG JAMES G. BLAINE TRIP PLEASANT, BROTHER WRITES MAYO BROTHERS CREW IS HAVING 'ULCERATED TRIP' Dear Editor: The Skipper C. B. Davis, Chief Mate C. F. Sullivan (Deck Dept's biggest eoncern), and the mates .through their competence and co­ operation, made this voyage aboard the James G. Blaine a safe and pleasant one. We, the crew and mates, were very sorry to lose Skipper Davis while at Antwerp, Belgium. But the WSA, badly in need of a good head to take over a troop-laden Victory ship, whose skipper un­ fortunately died at sea, naturally picked Mr. Davis for the posiliun. In turn, Chief Mate C. F. Sul­ livan, who has previously sailed as Master, was chosen to replace Mr. Davis; while each mate in turn, Second Mate Fames and Third Mate Hutcheson, went a peg higher including Bosun G. Stecn as Third Mate. Overtime wasn't considered a topic of discussion. For if energy and willingness to work were stored up, overtime was willingly passed out in abundance. Gus Liakos, OS, due to a sev­ ered finger tip acquired while doing sanitary work, was left at Antwerp, Belgium in a hospital. Regards, good wishes, and a speedy recovery from the crew and mates of the Blaine are ex­ tended to him. The Stewards Dept., under the management of Chief Steward S. T. Patterson, will be hard to beat in sanitary conditions and palat­ able meals. S. J. Jandora, Deck Delegate TRiOOP COMMANDER PRAISES CREW OF ALCOA PATRIOT Dear Editor: As the last days of our Voyage from the Island of Leyte to the USA come to a close, the troop officers desires that some official word of commendation be made of the SS Alcoa Patriot. After having spent many months in the Pacific under the hardships of warfare, the offi­ cers were unusually impressed with the desire of the personnel of the Alcoa Patriot to make us comfortable and happy. The in­ terest and attention will long remain a pleasant memory to us. May we especially commend Mr. Harold R. Dreyer, Second Steward, working under Mr. Kai H. Basse, Chief Steward, for the excellent supervision of our food and quarters, and their desire to make us comfortable. May the Alcoa Patriot continue to serve the returning veterans, for they, as well as we who are now almost home, deserve the same generous hospitality. John T. Curtis. Colonel. QMC. Troop Commdr. CREW REFUSES TO SAIL WITH CHIEF ENGINEER Dear Editor: We the undersigned members of SS Scotts Bluff request that no men are signed on the above ship until the company replaces the present Chief Engineer. (Editor's Note: The letter is signed by 29 members of the crew.) DISPATCHER SHOULD CHECK CARDS CAREFULLY BEFORE TRIPS, HE SAYS I think that the Dispatchers should check shipping cards more carefully. Maybe I am wrong, but 1 alway.s thought a book member came before a Tripcard, regardless of the date. Am I right or wrong? Also, I think those who do not attend meetings .should have their cards taken away and be made to re-register. The rules say they have to re-register, but many hgve been getting by without doing so. James Dunifer and R. Wilma CROWDED N. Y. SEAMEN'S CLINIC HAS SEAFARER HOPPING MAD What can be done about the Hudson and Jay Clinic? I waited one hour, then asked the attendant: "How will the doc­ tor know when my turn comes?" He answered, "When your turn comes the doctor will call you." It was a mystery to me. They had not written down my name and I noticed that men who had come after me were be­ ing attended. One "high pressure" in particular. Per­ haps the doctor had a mind like a Sears-Roebuck catalog, but it wasn't doing too well that day. An hour and a half later there was the same amount of men in the room, about 25, waiting to be taken care of by one doctor. He could just as soon have been working on a Ford conveyor belt. I hadn't the slightest reason to think I was nay nearer see­ ing him than I had been an hour and a half earlier. Well, I'll go back early tomorrow, before the rush begins. In the meantime, jotting down this note has relieved my blood pressure. A few suggestions: 1. That the Union investigate the whole set-up. 2. That the Union investigate charges by seamen that the Marine Hospital is in cahoots with the shipowners on "cures." And it seems to me that if we're ever rich enough we should have our own damn hospital—where members can be attended to by flashing a paid-up book. Ralph B. Stein 'HUDSON RIVER' WANTS TO SHIP OUT ONCE MORE Dear Editor: I've refrained from going to sea since the Coast Guard tried me for swimming the Hudson—in.stead of giving us three nuts a medal. Since that time I've played around with the dead under the title of "apprentice embalmer" for a Georgia funeral home. But people in Georgia died too often from overwork and underpay— so, I had to come to Minnesota for a decent wage and living condi­ tions. Quite to my dismay, I discovered that in order to eat I must work. The very idea causes me an undue amount of nausea. My escape, therefore, shall be a ship. Now I find myself confronted with this obstacle; my dues were paid up to last November. By the time I arrive, I'll be in bad stand­ ing and broke. Arrange with Moe Sclar, and the Dispatcher to allow me to ship out, and, after one voyage, I'll reinstate myself. What do you think you can do about it? Eric "Hudson River" Upchurch Dear Editor: This has been what you might call an ulcerated trip on the Mayo Brothers. What with a Steward who liked to don his high pressure and go ashore with the Old Man, not to mention bor­ rowing the best part of the crew's grub, presumably, I suppose, to feed the poor hungry French­ men—if they'll pay enough. Naughty, naughty. Steward! Out of six cooks only one could get out a decent meal and he painted most of the trip. The Army must have had some intel­ ligence men aboard, and found out about feed conditions, be­ cause they sent us back light. What a lucky break for the GIs. After all, they don't give the Purple Heart for ulcers. Now we get to our First As­ sistant Engineer. This lovable and mininformed character says, and I quote: "I long for the day when I can hire and fire my own men. Unions to me arc a pain in the neck." Off the record, he also claims he belonged to the SIU fro six years, but I very quickly re­ marked that he may have "be­ longed," but he never was a Union man. This fink doesn't know anything about the days when a Chief got only $180 a month, 'or less, and the First As­ sistant $150, and so on down. He appears to be much con­ cerned with the plight of the poor shipowners who only get a cut out of each employee's pay, op­ erate on taxpayers' money, don't invest a dollar of their own, and return nothing to John Taxpayer on his investment. I think this First Assistant de- Page Thirteen HERE'S A MASTER WHO'S PLAYBOY WITH THE VALVES Dear Editor: Still we have no Mission Santa Clara minutes to present. As we still have not had a meeting. Things are about the same here. Or perhaps a little worse, if that is at all possible. The grand total of logs has risen to 49. Not a bad score for slightly more than four months. We are sure the score will rise steadily. So far this trip we have lost 12 good men. For various reasons. Some were fired, some were hos­ pital cases, and only one missed the ship. One iiian just up and jumped. Right in front of every­ one. One of our biggest beefs is the Mate, and the Old Man working on deck. While discharging car­ go in Liverpool, The Old Man sneaked into the pump room. And helped himself to various A FENNY SAVED PENNY EARNED.' valves, which caused two of the main pumps to lose suction. This annoyed yours truly no end. While ballasting, the same character was busy at work on the deck valves. Madly turning them. Closing the open ones. And vice versa. What a life. From here on out the watchword is: "I will be in the pumproom, if you want me." It is impossible to do a job with him around. Same goes for Boats. They will not let him do a job either. Capt. A. A. Lund is alwaj's in the activity somehow. Giving orders direct to the gang. And telling them how, when, where, and how fast to do this and that. Overruling the Bosun in every­ thing he does. He even states what men he wants on what job. And then stands over them with his whip. It is unamiously agreed by all concerned that he is N. F. G. And we all hope that none of our Brothers have the misfortune to ship with him. That seems to cover the situa­ tion fairly well. Another report will come to you in the near fu­ ture. And we hope to have a good word for someone. At least once this voyage. Edward C. Gamage serves a nice brigh,t, shining Waterman button for being such a good little boy. I have also come to the conclusion that if the THE BEACHCOMBER other engineei's sailing for Water­ DECIDES TO EASE man took the same attitude, the company might have difficulty OUT OF SAN JUAN obtaining crews. Dear Editor: J. A. Gerard and For sometime, and for no good Elmer L. Moss reason at all, I have been silent. The only reason that I can give the Membership is that I have never heard as much as came been on a tear that is notable, from the SS Jean. The Captain even in this Fair City of Beauti­ seems to be a professional at HERE'S BROTHER causing trouble, and the men ful Senoritas. don't want to sail with him. They WHO APPRECIATES Well, I might as well tell you have changed — almost all the that I am going back into circu­ crew already and they have only SEAFARER'S LOG lation again as I am tired of be­ sailed half-way around the Isl­ Dear Editor: ing a beachcomber. The welcome and. I .signed off the Frank R. Stock­ mat has been taken in by all, I have been reading the Log ton in Galveston, Texas, on Jan. even the Police Department. Al­ and the newspapers from the 26, and since I haven't seen any so, the wide open waters seem States, and I am glad to see what news of the payoff in the Log as to call me; so, Brothers, watch the Union has done in organiz­ yet. I figure it will be in next out or you will have me as a ing the tugs in New Orleans. I week's Log, shipmate as soon as I get near wigh to praise the men who have So I am enclosing a picture of enough on the shipping lists to done the job that others failed to the deck department of the ship out. I want to see the good do. Stockton, which I hope will ap­ old USA again, and get acquaint­ To the good Brothers who sail pear in next week's Log. ed with some of the gang I used ships to the Island, please don't I also would like to have the to hang out with in Mobile, Sa­ fail to visit your Union Hall here, Log sent to my home each week; vannah, and Baltimore. at 45 Ponce De Leon Avenue. it's certainly valuable to have I have been running around The Agent will be glad to see when you're away from seaports here, making the ships for a you at any time, and especially as I am here at Buffalo for a while. It's the only way a Bro­ handout occasionally (as a good on meeting night. beachcomber does) and I have a That will be all for this time, ther can keep up with what's go­ ing on. chance to listen to the tales of so keep them sailing. Harry Vanner The Beachcomber woe of the good Brothers. I have �Page Fourleen Credit Union Urged For SIU Members Deer Editor: THE SEAE ARERS LOG AUSSIE SEAMEN WANT TO BECOME MEMBERS OF SIU Dear Editor: I am writing to you on behlaf of my shipmate and myself, who are the only English-speaking persons aboard this ship, a Swe­ dish tanker. I am seeking advice on how to join your organization After reading the article in the Log on "Credit Unions," I became quite interested in the subject, especi­ ally insofar as the Seafarers is conceriied, as you will under­ stand as I relate my own past particular circumstances. A credit union is an organization where you can deposit i on our arrival at Port Arthur Friday, March 15, 1946 The Skipper Gave Him A Royal Runaround, But He Got His Dough When the Alcoa Trader left$ Weehaukcn in July, Charles B. Rodriquez, Oiler, expected to be aboard her when she returned. He probably would have been if the Skipper of the Alcoa Trader had not stranded him in Port Au Spain. And how that came about makes a stoi-y worth telling. The trip was smooth until the boat reached Trinidad, where a passenger, and two race horses were picked up. As the Trader has no accommodations for passenger.s, the Skipper made ar­ rangements for him to eat with the crew. That is, he made the arrangements, but forgot to no­ tify the crew. Rodriquez, as Crew Delegate, complained to the Captain and V any amount of money, and gett ^ —7: ! Texas, where we shall be signing paid for doing so through accum­ same organization that is upheld, off this ship if all goes well with ulating interest. When a person by 62,000 other seamen: the Sea- the Immigration authorities, My mate is an OS, with two i.s hard-pressed for some ready farers International Union of North America. years sea time, and I am an AB, money, there it is—just waiting Also, you must realize that T : with seven years time in. I have for him to pick it up and put it and those other 62,000 seamen served on English, Swedish and in his pocket. are the SIU and that my own Australian ships, as well as those I'm a married man with a wife hard-earned money i.s better off of my own country, which i.s New and child. Defoie my marriage 1 in my own organizational pocket; Zealand. My mate has served on could go and come, and spend than it would be in some ship- i ^ New Zealand .schooner and dough as I pleased. And I had a owner's pocket, because they, Australian ships, one of which wonderful time. But that was practically run most of the hanks, i was chartered by the U.S. Govwhen a fellow could get practic­ I ally any ship he wanted—stay for the same as they run me when ernment, running m,the islands of the Pacific. Ho hails from was told that he, the Captain was a six-month run and pay off with I sail for them. Yes, give mo an SIU credit Brsibahe Australia, and 1' from a pile of dough. There was a master of the ship and could do lime when I spent my entire pay union and I'll give my true Union i Auckland, N.Z. as he pleased. Thereupon the support in keeping it in opera­ Wo are both j'oung chaps look­ j crew put the passenger out of CHARLES B. RODRIQUEZ in exactly two weeks. Where is ing for a chance to serve in your I the messroom, and he was subit? I don't know, but, boy, oh tion. •W'arren Callahan country's siiips, which have a j sequently served all his meals in boy. what a time I had spending! good name for conditions all over his own chain. been mailed to the WSA Com­ it.' Yes, there were other occa-i . (he world. We read your paper, missioner in New York City. And sions, too, and there are otheiv ALL S NOT ELL The Log. and it met with our ap­ TRICKED BY SKIPPER .so the long trip started. To Mo­ fellows like me — fellows who y^ITH BOYS ON proval as being the ideal publi­ Smoothno.ss again prevailed. bile as a passenger on a coast­ cation for an organization like j when the vessel reached Port THE SCHOHARIE yours. We have not seen anyj AU Spain, Rodriquez obtained a wise steamer, thence to New Now that the war is over and: Editor: thing like it before, and I can as-j pass which expired at 2 p. m. on York by train, and finally, in the war bonus for danger areas I am forwarding this letter to sure you that it will go a long 1 August 9. However, the good New York, disappointment. The is out, high earnings are over— you from the Black Gang aboard way, as far as the future is con- skipper pulled the ship out at 6 and I'm over, as fdr as spending Captain had left his gear in Mo­ the SS Schoharie. We had a cerned for the SIU. a. m. on the 9th and left Rodri­ bile! money as I did. I hardly know wonderful trip coming down We should be arriving in Port quez on the beach. He also cabled just what to do. You see, I love from New "York last week. We Arthur about the end of March company that Rodriquez had Ready to blow a valve at this my little family very mueh, and broke down about two days out or early in April and would like, deserted ship, we just moved into a new apart­ point, Rodriquez went back to and had to drift in to Savannah, to know of any means of getting ment. You're right. I need some Rodriquez went to the Alcoa Mobile, where his gear was Georgia, for three days on the in touch with a branch of your money pronto: the apartment has Agent in Port Au Spain and was awaiting him. While there, he feed pump on account of the air Union. I shall enclose our adno gas stove, no refrigerator and , , , i given the brush-off. When he pump broke do'wn. dress on the ship and would including appeared before the WSA Com­ lacks other things a family needs grateful to hear from you. 1 hope you will print this let­ to live in average comfort. $600.00 in war bonds, he was told missioner and was cleared of all M. White and C. M. Home • that he would have to wait until charges. Best of all, he was 'Why didn't I save money be­ ter to let the boys know what fore? Well, I'm the sort of per­ kind of a rustpot this is. Every­ Editor s Note: Many thanks; ^he Trader returned from Mon- awarded $105.74 for traveling ex­ son you'd find in the majority thing down below is falling apart. for your comments on the Log;! tieal. penses, and he had the satisfac­ The other day I was opening a we are writing to you direct to; group of seamen. tion of hearing the Almighty RUN-AROUND No. Mr. Editor, the shipping steam valve and the stem snap­ advise you to see SIU Agent Skipper roundly condemned for ped right off in my hand. Blondie Johnson at 445 Austin, He did so, only to be told by hasn't fallen off as completely as Avenue, in Port Arthur. } tlie Skippet that his gear had his high-handed actions. The First Engineer is an NMUit did a few years before the war. ATS stiff who is a gas hound. The But it will. Any oldtimer can verify that, and now when I still other day, while drunked-up, he have the chance I would like to went down to the engine room, save some money for the things while in port here, and warmed my family and I will need in the up the c-ngine:5. Then he tried to take her out to sea by himself. If near future. Why not put it in a savings it hadn't been for the Chief he bank? you ask. Because I could would have dragged the anchor By GENE MARKET not get as much benefit from my all over the bay. He still isn't VANCOUVER—A comprehen­ Union when he said, "The repre­ ciates will fight hard and to the deposits as T could in a credit sober. union run and operated by the The Chief Engineer likes to see sive brief, submitted by the Sea­ sentations made by them are bitter end. You are right in your the overtime cut to practically farers International Union, to the along the same phony lines as conclusion that we must remain nothing. If it was up to him we Dominion Government, is being followed in the United States by strong, not only in effort but in wouldn't have any. The Second studied by the Departments of the NMU. They advocate col­ purpose, determined to combat with Government any move made. I will gladly and Third have been ashore for Transport, Labor, and Health and laboration DAY SCHOOL FOR forms of regimentation, such as do all that lies in my power to a week now and the Chief is flat Welfare. continuance of the Manning Pool be helpful." on his back. The other day he In. the brief the SIU has asked System, etc." AIDS DRIVE called in an Oiler to give him a Dear Editor: for revision of the Canada Ship­ Several Isthmian Line ships GREEN SCORES COMMIES The present slump in shipping rubdown, but we told him he'd ping Act; extension of sick mar­ have docked in Vancouver and have to use the Purser for that. The battle which the British finds the Union hall fairly iner benefits to include coast- Columbia SIU is putting up the.v have been contacted by Pa­ We're- leaving Cuba today, and crowded with men who spend wi.se vessels; extension of the most of the day there. It would expect to be in Philly next week; Unemployment Insurance Act to against the commies in its ranks, trolmen and by the Port Agent. be a good idea to set up a day we hope to get this tub condemn­ include seamen; one day holiday and in the labor movement in Many copies of the Log, and school so the men can use part ed, as nothing works on it, can't with pay for each four days' serv­ general, received support from much organizational material William Green, President, AFL. have been distributed. The ves­ of their time ashore in gaining get coffee in the galley, even, be­ ice for all unlicensed personnel, A letter from Mr. Green lu Mr. sels so far coulacled are pre­ "invaluable education without cause we can't get enough steam and incorporation of the war-risk Murphy stated, "I hope the Brit­ dominantly pro-SIU, and if there jeopardizing their shipping cards. up here. In addition, the shower bonus in the basic wage rate for ish Columbia Seamen's Union is no relaxation of the organiz­ What I have in mind is a school is broken and the drinking water seamen. will continue its fight against . . . ing drive, there should • be no with two sessions each day—say in the messroom barely runs. We In a letter to H. Murphy, Van­ communists and fellow-travelers doubt as to the outcome of the from 10 a.m. to 12 and 2 p.m. to are trying to get along the best couver Agent of the SIU, Lionel . . . T know you and your asso­ election. 4 p.m. Courses, I believe, should way we can until we get homo. Chevrier, Minister of Transport, be abbreviated and condensed to Then we want somebody to look at this ship. It is a menace to said, in part, "I may say that the. last about a week. Canadian Seamen's Union has the seamen. The history of trade unionism 'DOC SUSSMAN STRAIGHTENS RECORD Roy J. Turner; Miguel McDina; also made representations with in the maritime field would be a respect to the revision of the them very much, for mentioning popular and easily digested Bisttine; Kenneth "V. Brown; Canada Shipping Act which are To the Editor: John Hanna; H. Nurmie. my case in the ship's minutes'. I just finished reading the min­ course, and the two sessions receiving consideration. Their daily for five straight days would Such cases as mine, should not "representations are somewhat dif­ utes of the SS John Bartram' in accommodate large groups of ferent from those made by your the Log. From all accounts the make any member of the SIU be men. Union. The Canadian Seamen's members of the SS John Bartram afraid or stop him from making Other popular subjects could good union conditions aboard Union recommends continuance do not know the outcome of the be taken up from time to time, any ship. A Union is as strong as f| of the (wartime) Manning Pools and I am sure would be greatly in the postwar period, and I case, as my papers were lifted the members make it, so keep appreciated by the Brothers on up the good work, and fight should like to knov/ if your for a period of six months. the beach who have to stick Union holds the same view." Knowing most of the men harder for Union conditions now, around for any length of time. Murphy scored the recommen­ aboard the ships who are very so that later we won't have to B. Goodman dations of the Canadian Seamen's good Union men, I want to thank fight. Good sailing fellows! WITH THE SIU IN CAHADA BROTHER URGES BEACHED SEAMEN �Friday, March 15, 1946 THE SEAFARERS LOG Page Fifteen SlU Letter Rejects CG Control seamen, on the general issues in­ this Military Branch of the Gov­ ernment. is empowered to reorganize vari­ volved. The experience of the thou­ NO OPPORTUNITY ous agencies of the Government. sands of seamen whom we repre­ Unfortunately, many bills are We assume that the general pow­ sent, with wartime control by the passed which vitally alTcct the ers conferred upon the President United States Coast Guard, has interests of the unlicensed perby this law encompass the Bureau of Marine Inspection and]sormt>l in the Maritime industry, been unsatisfactory and distaste­ Navigation. Moreover, we are in­ under such circumstances, that ful. Historically, the policy of this formed that Bill No. 9, which is not only are we not given an op­ country has always been to con­ currently being proposed, but not portunity to make our views fine the military functions of this actually before either the House known to the lawmaking bodies, Government to their proper of Representatives or the Senate, but we are not even appraised of sphere. Our experience with the seeks to vest the functions of the the passage of the bills them­ Coast Guard during the course of Bureau of Marine Inspection and selves, until circumstances de­ this War verifies and confirms Navigation, formerly exercised velop which bring them to our the soundness of that policy. We object to the intrusion of by the Department i>f Commerce, attention. the United States Coast Guard Apparently, proposals are in in the Maritime Commission. existence to transfer the func­ into the affairs of the Merchant While we are not entirely clear tions of the Bureau of Marine In­ Marine, a civil activity. We fear as to the powers of the President spection and Navigation to either the effect of such an intrusion, under the Public Law 263, and the Coast Guard of the Treasury and encroachment upon the rights also the scope of Bill No. 9, we Department, or to the Maritime and gains that we have won over consider it advisable, at this time. Commission. We are strongly and i the course of many years. We to communicate with the Presi- unalterably opposed to either of fear that such control can and dent of the United States for the these governmental agencies as a may be exercised in such a way purpose of making known the po­ custodian of these important as to injure and emasculate the sition of the Seafarers Interna­ functions. labor organizations which have »!-EIgl3E3tional Union of North America, We believe that we are correct thus far been respoP-sible for the representative of 60,000 merchant in .stating that the original pur­ great improvement in the lot of pose of the legislation creating the American Merchant seaman. the Bureau of Marine Inspection ASK VOICE and Navigation and the United The experience of the unlicen­ States Shipping Commissioner's sed personnel since the creation maritime Unions to follow the ^o further extend the j of these laws, with the Departthe transfer of the Shipping Com­ (Continued from Page 1) program of concerted action out-j Protection of the law^ment of Commerce, has been satmissioners' and Steamboat In­ ! to the unlicensed seaman. Stated j isfactoiy and we can see no sound damn Union in maintime, the spectors' functions to the Mari­ ' m another way, these various j reason for the removal of the SrU, must do your part and fol­ time Commission and has de­ The motion reads: remedial laws were designed to functions of the Bureau of Marine low through on the program. manded public heai'ings before "That the SIU call on Read it thoroughly, and discuss they are~ transferred to any gov­ Unions in the maritime industry, protect the seaman against the Inspection and Navigation from the control of the Department of the program both ashore and ernment agency other than the as well as our affiliated unions in ship operators and owners. Commerce. We know of no objec­ aboard ship. Talk it over with Department of Commei-ce. (See the AFL, to join with the Sea­ AN OPERATOR tions that have been raised by other Seafarers in any port in the lead story in today's Log.) farers in a program to remove Vested in the hands of impar­ the shipowning interests to the the world, and talk it over with The course of action was de­ the Coast Guard from the mari­ members of any maritime Union cided upon after a thorougli dis­ time industry, and to end for- all tial Government agencies imbued general operation of these laws. wherever and whenever you cussion of the problem at two Lime their wartime control with­ with the spirit and the purpose jpHnr to the entrance of this coun^ of those laws, they have, in times try into the Second World War. meet them. This is your job! It was passed past, satisfactorily performed the membership meetings. A motion in this field." This subject is of the greatest "Do your part. Follow out the was passed to appeal to all the unanimously. purpose for which they were cre­ importance to our organization. program. This fight can be won ated. However, by transference We feel that we have been de­ by every member of the Seafar­ In the Maritime Commission, prived of the opportunity to urge ers fighting shoulder to shoulder these powers and functions will our views on the legislative bod­ in the common struggle. GiVc be vested in the hands of an ies of our Government prior to the Coast Guard its final dis­ agency of the Government, which the passage of the Reorganization charge from the Merchant Mar­ is, at the same time, the owner ^ct, in the deliberate and careful ine!" and operator of merchant vessels. manner which is provided for by Where monetary interests arc our legislative procedure. How­ LONG FIGHT feet, and based their findings on (Continued from Page 1) concerned, a decision favorable to ever, we have complete eunfidenee Hawk s message to the mem­ strikes as a political weapon. the communist political line. tlie seaman and adverse to the in our President and believe that There's no doubt about the bership was contained in a mime­ This policy is opposed by Phil Government would serve to op­ he will restore that right by ac­ ographed communication, which Murray and the CIO hierarchy. fact that the NMUers arc con­ erate against the financial inter­ cording us the fullest opportunity pointed up the fact that the Sea­ But all CIO maritime Unions fused. When their trusted lead­ ests of that very agency of the to state our views in detail. ers gnaw each other's guts, it's farers has consistently fought combined under one head would Government which administers We respectfully suggest that against coercion and intimida­ give Bridges a political weapon hard for them to see which side the law, and fi'om such decision the President arrange for a Pub­ of the fence to get on. But it's too tion by the Coast Guard. Usually that would not need the support there is no appeal. We urge that lic Hearing, so that the views of this has been without any sup­ of other CIO unions to be effec­ early to see whether they'll fol­ such an arrangement is inherently all parties concerned may be pre­ low the commies, or whether the port from other maritime Unions tive. more moderate line of Curran unsound and improper and should sented and in that manner aid other than SIU affiliates. NAT'L CIO INTERESTED and the National CIO will come not be foisted upon the American him in his final judgment. It recalled that during the war seaman by our President. Thus, Curran's rebellion has out with a victory. Very truly yours, the Union was usually able only aroused interest in the CIO na­ Even where the interests of the John Hawk, to represent the seamen as coun­ tional office. Though it follows Government are not directly in­ Vice-President. sel before Coast Guard hearing the communist line in some re­ volved, the close alignment in in­ units, that it was difficult to pro­ spects, the national CIO diverges terest and sympathy with ship test agaiiist Hooligan Navy dom­ sharply from it in others. This is NEW VORK 51 Beaver St. operators of the Maritime Com­ HAnover 2-2734 mission in the role of a large ship ination because the war emer­ especially true of Uncle Phil 330 Atlantic Ave. gency bugaboo was dragged out Murray, who has had to smack BOSTON SS ALEXANDER CLAY Liberty 4057 owner, could easily operate to of mothballs on any pretext. SS MARY M, DODGE 14 North Gay St. prejudice the judgment and men­ down the numerically weak but BALTIMORE Calvert 4539 Members of the Stewards De­ tal processes of those individuals Now, Hawlc's communication politically potent communists re­ PHILADELPHIA 9 South 7th St. partment of these two ships, Phone Lombard 7651 ilesignated to enforce tiie laws. continued, the seaman's war peatedly. NORFOLK 127-129 Bank Street which paid off the last week in bonus has ended, but the Coast 4-1083 Just what effect the power pol­ MILITARY CONTROL February in Norfolk, can collect Guard still assumes the right to itics within their Union will have NEW ORLEANS . 339 Chnrtres St. Canal 3336 Our objections to the Coast difference in extra meals money push seamen around. on the rank and file cannot be SAVANNAH 220 East Bay St. Guard, as an agency designated by contacting South Atlantic SS 3-1728 It went on to explain that: foreseen at the moment. At the MOBILE , 7 St. Michael St. to administer these laws, are office. The SIU had sent a letter to NMU's most recent meeting. Cur2-1754 equally as emphatic. We have 4. 4- 1. 45 Ponce de Leon President Truman requesting ran denied that he meant Com­ SAN JUAN, P. R San'juln^'Lsl^l stated OUT position on a number SS BONANZA transfer of authority to the De­ munists Myers, McKenzie and GALVESTON sos'/j 22nd Si.' of occasions, both to the Coast Sedewitz, Oiler, has one day's Smith" were Communists when partment of Commerce. pay coming. Can be collected at RICHMOND. Caiif 257 lib SL ^o various memCongress has passed a law giv­ he spoke of the "machine" they SAN FRANCISCO 59 Clay St. bers of the House and Senate Alcoa Steamship Co. ing the President the power to were running. He proclaimed SEATTLE 86 Seneca St. Committees interested in the af­ 4* 4' 4 Ill W. Burnside St. fairs of the United States Mer­ transfer the jurisdictiorial pow­ himself "still an anti-fascist," PORTLAND SS HAMDEN SIDNEY VICTORY WILMINGTON 440 Avalon Blvd. ers of any government bureau to —whatever that means. chant Marine. Disputed overtime is payable HONOLULU 16 Merchant St. another government bureau. In brief, the Seafarers Interna­ to the following men: INVESTIGATE DISUNITY BUFFALO 10 Exchange St. 24 W. Superior Ave. tional Union of North America is The membership took all that CHICAGO Zac Lewis, M. McCatty, A. LETTER SENT 1014 E. St. Clair St. opposed to the control or inter­ in, but it also voted to accept the CLEVELAND Stewart, W. Seltzer, M. Sams, 1038 Third St. The SIU has sent a letter of report of the committee appoint­ DETROIT ference, to even the slightest ex­ E. Collins, C. Duff, P. DeLaCruz, DULUTH 631 W. Michisan St. protest to the President, in which ed to investigate "disunity" with­ VICTORIA. B. C 602 Boughton St. tent, of a military branch of the M. Whitehurst, C. Wilson, J. Wil­ all Seafarers affiliates have join­ in the NMU. With this report VANCOUVER 144 W. Hastings St. Government in the affairs of the liams, R. Robei-ts. 842 Zack St. ed, asking that the functions of Curran disagreed so vigorously TAMPA Merchant Marine. We have found J. Styles, W. Jones, B. Knight, M-1323 the Coast Guard be transferred that he took the internecine JACKSONVILLE from actual experience, that H. Davis, A. McMillan, James 920 Main St. S-1231 back to an unbiased and civilian fight to the rank and file. A ma­ there i.s a fundamental antipathy Ward, J. Patrice, J. Anderson, PORT ARTHUR 445 Austin Ave. Government agency. jority of the committee members Phone: 28S3Z between the unlicensed person­ R. Flemings. The Union also has protested were communists, he said, in efnel of the Merchant Marine and Can be collected at Co. office. (Continued from Page 1) THE HOLE IN THE WALL" Program To End Coast Guard Control Commies Seek To Oust Ourran From Leadership SIR HALLS MONEY DUE �Page Sixteen THESEAFARERS LOG Isthmian Grows Panicky, Seizes Logs Going Aboard Cape Junction Apparently growing frighten-1 One, of the Wipers on board ed over the growing tide of SIU fhe Cape Junction, "Tiny" Don sentiment aboard Isthmian ships, Mease, really lives up to his nick­ name. He's a delicate little morofficials of that company have 23^ 333 stooped to open violation of con^.gj^ pg|i stitutional rights and the National Stewards Department. Tiny realLabor Relations Act. Acting un- ly keps them busy dishing out the der instructions of the Isthmian S^ub! T ,1 • Logs, which were brought on Line, an Isthmian guard, accord= . j ,• ing 10 his own statement, station-: I'""'', received a good reception, ed at Pier 17, Brooklyn, recently the boys reading 'em quite 1 ^ , avidlv. SIU literature has been .stooped crow members of the , , „ .. u *1, T f (1 s.-nst-m trrtinty po-'^ted all over the ship in the Friday, March 15. 1946 STEWARDS DEPT. ON CAPE JUNCTION dred per cent for the SIU, and the Stewards Dept. is better than 50 per cent. Red declares she'll be either all Seafarers on her return, or damn close to it. A couple of close friends from i Plainfield, N. J., are sailing on the Junction in the stewards dept. Messmen A. Jandrisovits and Ben Battista and there are rumors that Ben rightly reserves another nickname besides "'Vino Kid." Yes, sir! The entire crew is a Taken aboard the Cape Junction, the majority of this Isthmian swell bunch, and they'll be a Stewards Dept. is for the Seafarers. > Ships organizer Twyman credit to the SIU when Isthmian (second from left) assures us she'll be all for the SIU by the lime goes Seafarers. their ship returns from the Far East. Cape Junction as mes.shall, foc'sles and on the bulaboard and seized Logs ^oard. they were carrying. This flagrant violation of law RED DOING OKAY is being watched closely bj'' of-1 Ships organizer Red Twyman, HERE'S NEW CAPE JUNCTION CREW ficials of the Seafarers, and in the .^yho is a buddy of Hank's of "Cut event it is repeated, unfair labor g^d Run" fame, is really doing practice charges will be preferred g good job aboard the Cape Juncagainst Isthmian. This notorious-; tion, along with some able assisly open-shop company has been tancc from other Seafarers on her. getting away with other viola- They've got the Deck and Engine tions with such ease that they are Departments lined up one hungrowing over-confident, and; headed for a richly-deserved downfall. Later, upon being told their constitutional rights and privi-; leges, the Cape Junction boys, were quite indignant, and brought; Rotary shipping means job more Logs aboard in open do-; democracy. The man who fiance of the "hard-boiled" guard. registers first gets first crack These Isthmian men learned their at the jobs. His name is list­ lesson quickly, and the company ed on looseleaf panel files will find out that they can't be which are kept in the ship­ bamboozled so easily the next ping hall for all to see. Once time. i a man ships, his registration card goes into the permanent CLEANUP SQUAD file and becomes proof (for Shortly after the new crew the draft board, among signed on, they proceeded to clean! others) that he is an active up the recreation hall completely, i seaman. No favoritism, no Finding a number of Pilots and j back door shipping in the other NMU literature aboard for 1 SIU halls. Every man in his which these pro-SIU seamen had ! Those big smiles and the sign show what Union these Isthmian men from the Cape Junction turn. no use, they disposed of it in | want. Front, reading from left: B. Schoonmaker, OS; J. Lund, Bosun; W. Henderson, AB; B. Davey Jones' locker. Garrod, AB; Heins, AB; Twyman, MM; H. Bridgeman, Wiper. Rear: A. Jandrisovits, MM; G. Garrido, Wiper; "Tiny" Don Mease, Wiper; P. Kordakis, AB; N. Nasukiewicz, MM: and C. Funkhouser, OS, Why isthmian Men Are Going SIU li Seafarers Sweeps Marine Fox By HAL BANKS their propng.md.n for what, it is. Much to their sorrow, the Na­ tional Maritime Union will also find out that the average seaman sailing on American ships is in­ terested primarily in agreements, good working and living condi­ tions, and wages. They don't give a damn about a lot of political and communistic nonsense. Steel. Inventer Joins SIU Camp After completing a fairly long whom were Doctor Ida Song and SEATTLE, Wash. —When one farers when considering the num­ Pacific voyage, the SS Steel In­ Mrs. Tien, with her two children. of Isthmian's largest vessels, the ber of votes concerned. ventor has returned to this coun­ Christmas occurred while the In­ SS Marine Fox, pulled alongside i Upon contacting the Stewards try, joining the host of Isthmian ventor was at sea, and this usual­ Dept., we found that the lies the dock here recently, both SIU Line vessels with one hundred ly dreary day on shipboard (for and disruption which the NMU per cent SIU crews. kiddies at least) w^as turned into and NMU organizers were there had been atempting to spread a joyous occasion. On the trip East, a number of to meet her. The crew was lined j among our Filipino Brothers had Yes, Santa Claus appeared in passengers were carried, among up along the rail on the port deck, not done them one bit of good. the person of Johannes "Wunder­ happy to be returning to the good Johnny Arabacz, with assistance lich ably assisted by Freddie old U. S. after a trip to the Orient! from some other SIU Brothers, GOOD FISHING ABOARD STEEL INVENTOR Reid, and everything was com­ explained to them actually the —that is, everyone had a smile on | SIU has more Filipinos in its plete with the exception of some reindeer and a fireplace. his face, with one notable excep­ membership than any single Upon arrival at Shanghai, the tion. He was the NMU ship's American, trade Union. ship was met in person by the organizer. In addition, he e.xplained to Mayor-on his private yacht. He Observing the anxious look on ' them that the NMU was only us­ came to greet Dr. Song and Mrs. the NMU shoreside organizer's ing the Filipino question to spread Tien, who is the wife of a noted face, we noticed that he was j dissension among the crew. At Chinese statesman, and cointuendlooking up for some kind of en­ j the trip's end, every Filipino ed the crew for their part in couraging look upon the face ' of aboard was a firm believer in making the long trip a happy his ship's orgaivizer. Finally, in SIU. one for Mrs. Tien's children. desperation the NMU organizer I No praise is too high for good, Homeward bound once again, called up to this lone wolf and I staunch Union men like Johnny the Inventor carried as passen­ asked, "How did you make ouff" Arabacz who believe in their prin­ gers a number of repatriates who The answer came back promp- ciples and Union enough to go had spent considerable time as ly, "Not so hot. This ship is out of their way spending prac­ Japanese prisoners in various Jap practically 100 per cent SIU." tically all their spare time to concentration camps. Upon boarding the Marine Fox, bring the truth to shipmates. The crew reported good fish­ our SIU organizej-s found this ing and with "Cowboy" Guyal as STILL SIU _to be a conser'vadve statement. the life of the party, along with The majority of this crew stay­ valuable assistance from Broth­ BRISTOL FASHION ed with the Marine Fox, and .she ers Wunderlich, Reid and Riga, SIU Ships Organizer Johnny is still overwhelmingly for the everyone on the Steel Inventor Arabacz, had really done a yeo- Seafarers. Conditions aboard the had a happy trip over and back. inan job on this vessel, lining her Fox prove one major fact, and That's the way it should be on up Bristol fashion for the Sea­ that is that the lies and propa­ an SIU ship and we call the In­ farers. In vew of the fact that ganda spread on these vessels by ventor that, even though we must the Marine Fox carries about the NMU will break down and A couple of Isthmian men on the SS Steel Inventor take time wait for the formality of an four times the crew complement -defeat them when the truth out for fishing while in the Pacific. John Wunderlich (left) and election before she officially joins of the average ship, this is an comes out. They (NMU) can't Freddie Reid caught the 48-pound dolphin shown here, also a 112- the Seafarers' family of Union pnportant addition of the Sea­ stand the truth which reveals pound tuna. Not bad, boys! ships. � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. 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Title A name given to the resource March 15, 1946 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Vol. VIII, No. 11 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Newsprint Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 3/15/1946 Description An account of the resource Headlines: RETURN SEAMEN TO CIVILIAN RULE, SAYS SIU TO TRUMAN; COAST GUARD AND OPERATOR CONTROL CONDEMNED SIU OFFERS PROGRAM TO ALL MARITIME UNIONS TO END CG POWER OVER CIVILIAN SEAMEN COMMIES SEEK TO OUST CURRAN FROM LEADERSHIP SIU MAY STRIKE BISSO TUGS TIME TO GO STILL GROWING REPORT ON ORGANIZING DRIVE HURRIED, HARRIED, AND HAGGLED--BUT PATROLMAN DOES A SWELL JOB CONGRESS ASKED TO ENLARGE, INCREASE OLD AGE BENEFITS THE PATROLMEN SAY... SQUIBS BELLY ROBBERS, INCORPORATED PEACE ENDS NEED FOR COAST GUARD CONTROL OVER CIVILIAN SEAMEN SEAFARER PARKER HAS ICE-LEGS SUP UNVEILS WAR DEAD MEMORIAL JOHN MOSBY CREW FOR SIU PORT ARTHUR NEEDS NEW HALL SUP MARKS ANNIVERSARY CONFERENCE WILL DRAFT LABOR ACTION PROGRAM FURUSETH FREED U.S. SEAMEN FROM SLAVERY SEAFARERS PRESSES FIGHT FOR TAX REFUND TO POWS FRANCHERE CREW DISCUSSES BEEFS SEAFARERS PRESSES FIGHT FOR TAX REFUND TO POWS SEARSPORT GROWTH IS PREDICTED ICE DELAYS LAKES SHIPPING CAN'T PAY OFF IF RIDER SAYS "NO" SEAMEN TO GET IDLE INSURANCE GREAT LAKES SECRETARY-TREASURER REPORTS OPERATORS USE NEW BAG OF TRICKS NMU SELLS BOOKS AT ANY PRICE--NOT WORTH IT, ISTHMIAN MAN FINDS RAINY SEASON HITS PUERTO RICO GOOD SEASON SEEN FOR LAKES TULSA CREW FINDS 'HOG' SEAWORTHY THE TULSA CREW SAW PAREE SEAFARERS PROTEST RUSTPOT CONDITIONS SPENCER CREW FINDS CAPTAIN COOPERATIVE VANDALS TEAR UP AGREEMENT, MINUTES CREW DEFEATS CHIPS AND DE IN ARGUMENT CAPTAIN ACTS AGAINST NINE OF CREWMEN SEAFARERS VICTIMIZED BY SHORESIDE RACKETS CREDIT UNION URGED FOR SIU MEMBERS AUSSIE SEAMEN WANT TO BECOME MEMERS OF SIU THE SKIPPER GAVE HIM A ROYAL RUNAROUND BUT HE GOT HIS DOUGH ALL'S NOT WELL WITH BOYS ON THE SCHOHARIE BROTHER URGES DAY SCHOOL FOR BEACHED SEAMEN ISTHMIAN GROWS PANICKY, SEIZES LOGS GOING ABOARD CAPE JUNCTION SEAFARERS SWEEPS MARINE FOX STEEL INVENTOR JOINS SIU CAMP Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America 1946 Periodicals Seafarers Log