https://seafarerslog.org/archives_old/files/original/a88d9389bfe12551338b30531ba58e27.PDF 338d3b988a8ce74c2bc82e6a724d3807 PDF Text Text Official Organ of the Atlantic and Gulf District, Seafarers International Union of North America VOL. IX. Anti Communists Win Easily In MFOW Election WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 — A statement released today by V. J. Malone, President of the Mar­ ine Firemen, Oilers, Watertenders, and Wipers (Independent) shows that the communist forces in that union have been com­ pletely repulsed in their attempts to take over the leadership. By large majorities, the com­ munists and fellow-travelers in the MFOWW were defeated for office, and even where they were strongly intrenched the housecleaning swept them into discard. Also voted down was a pro­ posal that would have affiliated the MFOWW with the late and unlamented Committee for Mari­ time Unity. The vote on this was 3,679 to 732. Malone, running for President polled 3,946 votes. This was the largest vote received by any can­ didate. Anti-communists also captured the Port Agent jobs in San Pedro and New Orleans, long time CP strongholds in the MFOWW. NEW YORK, N. Y.. FRIDAY. FEBRUARY 14. 1947 UFF IS NOT ALONE No. 7 Isthmian Case Goes Before NLRB; Company Objections Overrnietf If the recommendations of Howard F. LeBaron, Re­ gional Director of the National Labor Relations Board, Second Region, are approved in Washington, then the election to determine a bargaining agent for the unlicensed Isthmian seamen will go into its final round. In his report, dated February 10, Mr. LeBaron held that the company's allegation, that the seamen on 44 of the vessels which were votecw were not employes of the Com­ cd, Mr. LeBaron has recommend­ pany but of the Maritime Com­ ed that a formal hearing be held Men to distribute literature was the SlU's reply to a request mission, was not true, and rec­ within five weeks of the date of for help from Local 205. United Financial Employes. AFL, now ommended that the Board dis­ his report, and that the NMU be engaged in a drive to organize the underpaid brokerage workers allowed to bring its evidence in miss this part of the objection. in New York's financial district. For three hours Tuesday. at that time. He held further that the sea­ February 11. the SlU gave out leaflets in support of the UFE. This, he states, will obviate the men on 37 ships, acquired after necessity of a one-sided, or ex the voting began, were not elig­ parte, investigation, which will ible to vote, and recommended probably have to be followed up that this objection be dropped with a formal hearing anyway. also. (Text of Report on Page 6) The Company's third charge, that Chief Stewards should not have been included in the voting NEW YORK, February 11 — would be appreciated by the on the grounds that they are al1 e g e d 1 y supervisory employes, In a stirring demonstration of in­ UFE and the national AFL. STACK DEFEATED ter-union solidarity the Seafarers Fifteen squads, each in charge was also taken up and disposed of on the basis of a ruling of the Walter Stack, brother of Joe International Union today took of a group captain, were dis­ Trial Examiner, who previously Stack, pro-red Vice-President of the field in support of the United patched to strategic points in the had directed that Chief Stewards the NMU, was defeated for the Financial Employees, Local 205, financial center at the height of be included in the bargaining post of San Francisco Agent. OEIU, AFL. More than 25,000 the noon hour when the office The Committee for Maritime unit. Stack has long been alleged to be leaflets, prepared by the SIU, workers were on their way to Unity, communist-dominated CIO COMPANY OUT the leader of the communist were distributed by 200 white- and from lunch. water-front grouping, which Thus, if this report is accepted, started out with a fanfare of In this way thousands of po­ capped Seafarers in the New York forces in the Firemen's Union. The complete repudiation of financial district to outline the tential UFE members were ap­ the Isthmian Steamship Com­ ballyhoo to which it never lived the communists in the MFOWW need for organizing the under­ prised of the fact that the SIU pany will be ruled out of the pic­ up, at last called it quits on Sun­ leaves only a few maritime paid and exploited workers in is throwing its full support to ture, and only the NMU's phony day, February 9. charge of collusion will stand in The decision was made and unions under CP control. Those the brokerage business. (See Local 205. the way of SIU representation The response to the leaflets was page 6 for the complete text of announced by the CMU Execu­ remaining under the domination for the unlicensed seamen of beyond all expectations. There the leaflet.) tive Board after closed meetings of the reds include the NMU, the on the preceeding two days. This is not the first time that were few, if any, office workers Isthmian. CIO Longshoremen, and the Mar­ As far as the NMU is concernIn a face-saving statement, the the SIU has used its strength to (Continued on Page 6) ine Cooks and Stewards. organization blamed the dissolu­ aid another union in winning a Malone has long carried on a tion on the action of Joseph Curjust beef, or in organizing in the fight against the commies in his face of odds. ran, co-chairman of the combine, union, and he was instrumental who resigned in December be­ In the past year it was a com­ in the fight to prevent the Fire­ cause he felt that the CMU was men from being taken over by mon sight to see Seafarers side not really working for maritime by side on the picketline with the the CMU. unity. MM&P, the MFOWW, the ILA, The CMU Conference, schedul­ It is a very bad situation when­ and the CIO Shipbuilders. The diligence with which the ed for March 15, has been can­ ever the reputation of a union is Now the UFE-OEIU has ap­ officials and organizers in the Na­ celled, and all that remains to do so bad that working seamen are pealed for assistance in organiz­ tional Maritime Union follow is to settle the committee's finan­ forced to vote for a company ing, and the same whole-hearted the communist party linb has had cial affairs. union in self defense. a marked affect on the success of support is being rendered. The final action to dissolve the That is exactly what happened At a special meeting, called be­ the various oi'ganizing drives un­ pro-communist group came on in the case of the Atlantic Refin­ dertaken by that union during fore the demonstration began, the ing seamen when the company the heels of three distinct shocks NEW YORK, Feb. 15—The SS SIU adopted a re.solution support­ the past year or so. George Washington, which arriv­ ing the UFE in its drive, and Not only have the campaigns union polled 266 votes while the to the set-up. First and foremost ed here today from Bermuda, 24 voted to suspend shipping for failed, but there has also been a NMU was garnering a mere 125. was the resignation of Curran, hours late, due to inclement three hours so that as many men complete breakdown in the The Atlantic Refining seamen followed by a decisive vote in the weather at sea, will not make her as possible would be available to NMU's servicing of its member­ now Jiave another chance to re­ MFOWW and MEBA to abstain regularly scheduled departure to­ give out the throwaways. view their position. They have from active participation in the ship. morrow, it has been announced It is already an established rejected communism in the labor affairs of the so-called Committee Paul Hall, New York Port for Maritime Unity. by the line. Agent, read a message from the fact that the unlicensed seamen movement; and if they are sin­ Curran's move, which came as Cancellation of this week's UFE requesting the assistance of of the Isthmian Steamship Com­ cere in wishing to organize into a bolt from the blue, has had farpany have voted for the Seafar­ sailing was made to permit an­ the Seafarers, and also read into an honest union, they can vote to reaching repurcussions. ers aa their bargaining agent, and nual inspection of the vessel by the record a telegram from Frank come into the SIU as a group The commies in the NMU, led the Coast Guard. The Washing­ Fenton, AFL Director of Organi­ now comes the news that the by Stack, McKenzie, and Smith, without losing their legal bar­ ton will resume her weekly sail­ zation, stating that anything the company union won in the At­ gaining rights. (Continued on Page 3) ings Feb. 22. SIU could do in this matter lantic Refining election. SlU Takes To Streets To Aid AFL Financial Employees NMU Loses To Company Union In Atlantic Refining Election George Washington Cancels Departure For C.G. Inspection •••TC. .li.r v..'::;-. CMU, Repudiated By Three Unions, VotesTo Disband �Page Two THE SE AF ARERS LOG Friday. February 14, 1947 SEAFARERS LOG Published Weekly by the SEAFARERS INXERNATIONAL 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 t, % HARRY LUNDEBERG ------- Vresideni 105 Market Street, San Francisco, Calif. JOHN HAWK Secy-Trcas. p. O. Box 25, Bowling Green Station, New York, N. Y. Entered as second class matter June 15, 1945, at the Post Office in New York, N. Y., imder the Act of August 24, 1912. GEORGE NOVICK, Editor They Also Served There's more than one way to skin a cat! And there's mere than one way to build a strong union. During the recent strike of the Seafarers Interna ticnal Union tliere were a number of men who stood picket duty and prevented the many companies from finking out on runs. These men deserve a lot of credit, and the Strike Clearance Card they all carry is proof that they have done tlieir duty as good union men. * But what of the men who were at sea when the action was taking place? Many of these men were in foreign ports where strike action is mutiny, and does not help out the cause of the Union. And quite a few of them were on unorganized ships as volunteer organizers. In the SIU, volunteer organizer means just what it savs. Nobody can force a man to ship out on an unor­ ganized ship. The men who do so ask for the job so that they can spread the word of the SIU to seamen who would not otherwise hear of the advantages of the Seafarers' brand of unionism. Hospital Pfltients When entering the hospital notify the delegate by post­ card, giving your name and the number of your ward. By militant action and by organizing the unorganized the SIU has become the strongest seamen's union on the waterfront. Remember, it took men on the picketline, and men on the lousy rustbuckets to bring the SIU to where it now is. That's the way it is, so don't look down your nose at the guy who wasn't on the picketline in September, 1946. He may have been doing an important job on Isthmian or on a tanker End Of The Road There's a lot more comfort along the waterfront these days. Not because of anything that is happening in Wash­ ington, where the red-tape experts are busfly trying to throttle labor, but because the red-tinged Committee for .Maritime Unity has finally shut its doors for good; From the time the CMU first started, it was easy to-see that a little trouble would'scuttle the whole or­ ganization. It's not that unity on the waterfront is not important, it's just that honest, working, seamen could not see unity in a group that included all the commie sellout-artists from way back. And they weren't wrong. In quick order the MFOWW and. the MEBA were sold down the river to increase the prestige of Harry Bridges, commie grand com­ missar of the American waterfront. So the Committee for. Maritime Unity,, cursed by be­ ing the arm by which the commies hoped to dominate the U. S. waterfront, fades away, and- t^ere is not a voice raised in protest. The only comforting fact about the whole situation, is that the CMU came to an end before it could do any more damage to tile just objectives of s?.vmen. than it- already has. Staten Island Hospital Men Now In The Marine Hospitals These are the Union Brothers currently in the marine hospitals, as reported by the Port Agents. These Brothers find time hanging heavily on their hands. Do what you can to cheer them up by writ­ ing to them. BALTIMORE HOSPITAL CHARLES SIMMONS CASIMIR. HONOROWSKI CARSON McCOY^ THEODORE. BABKOWSKI THEODORE CARROLL JOHN DUKO JULIUS MORGAN BARNEY HENKIN MATHEW CARSON PETER LOPEZ FRANCIS O'BRIEN CLYDE MILLER GALVESTON HOSPITAL OLSEN BENNETT GALANE R. V. JONES HUTGHENSON STAEINZ MILKE FLESHER' AKIN GRAVES BREASHAR KOW LIM SAN JUAN HOSPITAL JUAN OLIVER WALTER JORGENSON RAYMOND SAUDERS R. ARMSTRONG P. FELICIANO R. SEIFO 4- 4- S* STATEN ISLAND HOSPITAL C. BONAFONT R. G. MOSSELLER J. S. WOOD W. G. H. BAUSE H. BELCHER L. L. MOODY E. D. MILLER C. KOLSTE. R. POWELL M. MORRIS L. A. CORNWALL JOE LEWIS M. J. QUINN G. LUETH NEW vORLEANS HOSPITAL W. HEMPEL D. McDUFFIE You can contact your Hos­ pital' delegate at the Staten Island Hospital at the follow­ ing times: Tuesday —1:30 to 3:30 p.m. (on 5th and 6ih floors) Thursday—1:30 to 3:30 pjm. (on 3rd and 4th floors.) Saturday —1:30 to 3:3(1 pjot. (on. 1st. and 2nd floors.) V. FREDERIKSEN ROBERT MULHOLLAND EDWARD CUSTER KAY SCIIERREBECK. W. LEWIS V. NORRGARD H. ECHEVARIA JOHN O'DONOHUE CENTRAL MASON STEVE MOGAN ROBERT B; WRIGHT JACINTO NAVARRO O. M, STIREWALT JOHN RETOUR J. W. DENNIS W. BROCE, Jr. A. F. SMITHART ^ » 3^ BRIGHTON HOSPITAL E. JOHNSTON H. SWIM G. VICKERY R. ALBA-NESE G. GILLAN R. LORD J. ESPENSHADE �THE SEAFARERS LOG Friday, Febraury 14, 1947 Page Three Membership Is The Only Victim In Power Struggle Within NMU By EARL SHEPPARD By JOSEPH VOLPIAN Lately there has sprung up a little racket by the steamship companies, in cooperation with the Coast Guard and War Ship­ ping Administration, which has just come to our attention. It should be of great interest to our membership. Some time ago, a .Steward signed on a ship and, as is usual, he was supplied with bed linen to be distributed when and as needed. During the course of the voyage, which incidentally was a shuttle run between England, France and Belgium, which last­ ed over eight months, quite a bit of Ihe linen disappeared. The linen locker had been broken into several times and the Steward himself, during the course of the trip, was hos­ pitalized for about eight or nine days and was off the ship com­ pletely. At the time of the discharge, the company refused to pay him off and he was sent to the Coast Guard for trial. He was not charged with taking the linens himself, but was charged with negligence in failing to report the •fact that the linen was missing. At the trial, this man did not have a lawyer and, despite the fact that the Master admitted that the Steward had reported missing stores on several occa­ sions, and despite the fact that he was off the ship for some time and other people had access to the linen locker, he was found guilty. SIGNED RELEASE He then went to the Shipping Commissioner's office and signed a mutual release and was given a voucher by the Commissioner to present to the company, to be paid off. This voucher called for the full amount of wages and bonus, less his draws. When he presented the voucher to the company, they refused to pay him except on the condition that he allow the company to take off $537.00 from his pay. He refused to do this, but fin­ ally was forced to permit this because he was broke and he had a family to maintain which re­ moved the case from the hands of the Union. He then went to an attoimey who communicated with the com­ pany and its attorneys and tried to dispose of the matter amicably. However, with no success. ARBITRATION After much stalling, the com­ pany consented to an arbitration before Captain Rylander, the Shipping Commissioner, for the Port of New York and there with the seaman represented by coun­ sel and the big shots from the company and their lawyer, an arbitration proceeding was held and several days later Captain Rylander handed down his de­ cision awarding the money that was unlawfully taken by the com­ pany, to the seaman. The Com­ missioner based his decision upon the following reasons: 1. The linen was not in his (the Steward's) continuous custody especially for a per­ iod of about eight days when he was in the hospital and not on the ship. 2. The linen locker was broken into a number of times by persons unknown. 3. The linen locker was unsuited for the purpose by being in the crew's quarters, easily accessible and easily forced. The Mate furnished locks a number of times for this locker but the neces­ sary repairs for security were not made. 4. The mutual release signed by the Master and the seaman should have been honored and the seaman paid his wages in full after which an agreement could have been reached for an adjust­ ment of this shortage. According to the law as inter­ preted by the Supreme Court of the United States, a seaman is not an insurer of the stores or tools left in his custody. He is only responsible when he will­ fully takes or destroys this prop­ erty. We believe this decision hand­ ed down by the Shipping Com­ missioner will put the brakes on this budding racket. The word "union," used to de­ scribe an economic organization of workers, is one of the most grossly misused word in the Eng­ lish language. The company associations, founded and maintained by the Standard Oil, Tidewater Associ­ ated, Sun Oil, Atlantic Refining and others, are being treated generously when they are called "company unions." The truth of the matter is that the National Manufacturers As­ sociation comes much nearer be­ ing a union, inasmuch as it at least unites one specific group, the employers, in the defense of their particular interests. Another misuse of the word i^ when it is applied to organiza­ tions completely dominated by racketeers or political groups. In this type of organization "democracy" is only a word and freedom of expression unknown. The members of such organiza­ tions are slaves and the organi­ zations to which they belong can only be classed as "captive un­ ions." The great and important dif­ ference between these and the "company unions" is that slaves can, and frequently do, revolt. To build our own union, the Seafarers, we had to first rid ourselves of the domineering la­ bor fakers who rode our backs for many years. Today we see a revolt taking place in the NMU, a revolt that goes much deeper than differ­ itself to the task of becoming ences between Curran and Stack, strong so that it may continue to or communists and anti-com­ organize and grow even though munists. the NMU destroys itself. The NMU has been a "captive AGAINST BETRAYAL union" almost since its incep­ The real revolt in the NMU is tion, a captive of a small group the revolt of the rank and file of smelly piecards operating un­ against both the Currans and der the tutelage and direction of Stacks and the phony policies the communist party. they have pursued. These are the policies that have Regardless of how much one kept the wages and conditions of may sympathize with the current the NMU below the level of the pronouncements of Curran, Stone, Lawrenson, and company, Seafarers, that have kept the it is waterfront history that they NMU in the position of chasing cracked the communist whip for the bus that has passed. The policy of the NMU misten years alongside their present enemies Stack, Myers, McKenzie, leaders has always been to get contracts at any cost, and to hell and the other Moscow stooges. The whole history of the NMU with wages and conditions. In is filled with such fights for 1939 they traded away waterpower, from the days of the "Mar­ tenders for a Lykes Brothers' iners Club" to the present CMU contract. In 1940 and 1941 they labelled debacle. the fight for war bonuses as The membership of the NMU, "barking at the moon" (Frederthe seamen as a whole and all or, , , ,, ... . ick "Blacky" Myers own words) ganized labor, are the victims of i , • j .i. i. f, . T ' and only received the bonus after this struggle for power. the Seafarers had struck and The shipowner is the only one 'who benefits, for such chaos and In 1940 they distributed a pam­ disunity can lead only to the phlet called "The Yanks are not ultimate wrecking of , the union coming" and then in 1941 when , and the throwing of a large group of unorganized seamen on the l ^ . immediate American intervenBad conditions and low wages' will follow as sure as darkness All of this is history and has follows light. been told and retold. It is the For that reason and to protect fore and aft policy against which the interests of all seamen, NMU the NMU membership has form­ as well as SIU, the Seafarers re­ ed the resentment which is now fuses to take part in the NMU materializing in open revolt. leadership squabbles, and devotes The big question is: "What is the NMU policy today, and does it differ essentially from that of the past?" POLICY OF CONFUSION The only difference is that in the past the NMU. leadership were united on an aggressive pol­ In line with the policy of com­ sistant secretary of labor, John icy of betrayal, while today they pursue a defensive policy of con­ plete support by the SIU to the Gibson. So far he has been unsuccess­ fusion. Regardless of how thick strike, Paul Hall, SIU New York ful, but the union spokesman ex­ or thin you slice it, however, it's Port Agent, has sent a telegram pects the pressure being brought the same old communist "rule to Mayor O'Dwyer, (see below) to bear by these groups will ef­ or ruin" tactic. uring him to use his good offices fect a break of some kind in The Isthmian elections are a classic example of this policy. to effectuate a settlement of the Bushey's finky tactics. Due to the solid backing the Beaten decisively in the bargaindispute. Shipyard Workers have in this | ing election, the NMU leaders are William J. McCaffrey, interna­ beef, no one has attempted to ^ today holding up Seafarers—Isthtional representat ive of the cross the picketlines since their mian negotiations with phony lUMSWA has reported that the installation, and the only ship to | claims of "collusion," thereby de­ latest efforts to bring about a leave is one of Bushey's own frauding hundreds of Isthmian seamen of the right of union repmeeting have come from the as­ tankers. scntation. The CMU bastard raid on the ILA and the American-Pacific Co. Coos Bay affair were frantic gestures of a dying dynasty. The following is the text of the telegram sent to Mayor By clinging to the heels of the O'Dwyer by the Seafarers International Union in behalf of SIU in the general maritime the striking CIO Shipbuilders, Local 13 of the lUMSWA: strike, they managed to revive The Seafarers Inlernafional Union of North America, themselves somewhat, but their affiliated with the AFL. is strongly urging you to exercise desperate rule or x'uin policy your good offices in trying to effectuate a settlement in the came out again as the true role labor dispute existing between Local 13 of the Industrial of the CMU power clique was ex­ Union of Marine and Shipbuilding Workers of America— posed. CIO and the Ira S. Bushey and Sons Company of Brooklyn. RUSSIA FIRST As long as Russia needed oil, This anti labor company has refused all attempts of the dating back long befoi-e Ameri­ U.S. Maritime Commission. U.S. Conciliation Service, and ca's entry into the war, they left various other agencies which have tried to mediate the the tankers alone, neglecting to strike, now in its ninth day. In addition, the Bushey Com­ negotiate contracts with com­ pany is in open defiance of an NLRB order certifying the panies in which they had been CIO Shipbuilding Workers Union as the sole bargaining certified and selling out to Stand­ agency for the shipyard employes of this company. ard Oil Company in the 1939 tan­ Our union is vitally interested in seeing the Bushey ker strike. Company recognize the lUMSWA, and sit down with them Suddenly, however, when the at the bargaining table in good faith to negotiate a union SIU has succeeded in partially or­ contract. We are backing the Shipbuilding Workers in this ganizing such companies as Cities beef one hundred percent, as we know that their strike Service, Tidewater Associated, against Bushey is a just one, and we intend to keep on sup­ Mathiasen Tankers Inc., and porting them in their fight until it is successfully won. others, they appear on the scene with their shysters and enter a (signed)PAUL HALL, Seafarers International Union. CIO Shipbuilders Keep Picketlines Solid; Seafarers Sends Wire To Mayor O'Dwyer NEW YORK, Feb. 13—As the strike against the Ira S: Bushey and Sons shipyard in Brooklyn enters its third week, the twentyfour hour a day picketlines of the CIO Shipyard Workers, Lo­ cal 13, remain firm in the strug­ gle for recognition and a union contract. So far, Bushey, who has a finky anti-labor record, has re­ fused to meet with the Shipyard Workers, NLRB certified bar­ gaining agent for the 500 em­ ployees, or any other group try­ ing to effect a settlement. The United States Conciliation Service has been unable to bring about a meeting, and likewise the committee appointed by Mayor O'Dwyer has had no suc­ cess. CMU, Repudiated. Votes To Dissolve (Continued from Page 1) have been iDrought out into the open, and the rank-and-file has lined up against them and the CMU. So overwhelming was this feel­ ing that the NMU Executive Council, dominated by commun­ ists, would not allow the member­ ship to vote on whether or not to continue affiliation. The truth about the organ­ ization, as published in the Sea­ farers Log, and the fact that the CMU did not in any way advance the cause of working seamen, were the deciding factors in forc­ ing the combine to give up the ghost. Text Of Telegram To Mayor (Continued on Page 8) '• 7^'.: ii-ijiixi'xs'fj- \-r '.v*. ' ' - �Page Four THE SEAFARERS LOG The Patrolnien Say— WHAT Another One-Man Crew ttmiiK.,. QUESTION: "^Vhat has been your experience in sailing on unorganized ships? ANTONIO GONZALES, Bosun: RICHARD EGAN, FWT: As a rule I found conditions on unorganized ships below the SIU standards. There was practically no overtime, and the officers had no idea that sefunen should be treated decently. Mostly we had to be careful of tcdking unionism because the officers were eager to fire all union men. When we explained what the SIU could do for seamen, the unlicensed seamen were glad to sign up in our Union. Plenty of officers were converted, too. when they found that the SIU had helped in the fight for officers' conditions also. Unorganized ships have no sup­ port in their beefs, and the com­ pany can do anything they, want to with an unorganized crew. On the unorganized ships I've sailed on, overtime was unheard of, and conditions were like something out of the old book. Most people are easy to talk to about union­ ism, but there are always a couple of company stiffs to make things difficult. But even these guys have to give up when you contrast the difference between union conditions and non-union conditions. WILLIAM MEAGHER. Asst. Electrician: CARL SENARGHI, DM: Sailing on an unorganized ship was just like I had heard. Sea men had nothing to say about beefs, and the officers acted like tin Gods. The food was okay at the start, but towards the end of the voyage it became worse and worse. Most of th'e men on board were pro-SIU, but what con­ vinced them that all seamen need a strong union was that when a beef came up we just couldn't do anything about it. It will be a happy day for seamen when these anti-union companies are forced to bargain with the SIU. What struck me most on an un­ organized ship was that the men had no idea how conditions could change as a result of belonging to a union. They accepted things as they were, and they thought that I was fooling them when I told them that the SIU would back them up and fight for them. When they found out that the SIU had the power to go to bat for the unlicensed members, these non-union men saw the light. The SIU record was also a big factor in inducing men to join our Union and fight for sea­ men. Tampa AFL Unions Take Lead Against Anti-Labor City Heads By SONNY SIMMONS '• TAMPA—The Central Trades Council of Tampa now has a new President, Brother Oscar Blood• worth of the Office Worker's Union. We are sure that Broth­ er Bloodworth will do a good job in carrying on the good work of^ the local council. - The esteemed Mayor of this town, who is pretty well-famed for his general finky attitude, re­ cently took it on himself to at­ tempt to balance his cockeyed budget by decreeing a ten per­ cent tax on all public utilities. A true friend of organized la­ bor who has always been in the •forefront of all labor battles in this area. Brother Frank Diez, head of the Cigar Workers Union, threw a monkey wrench in the Mayor's plan by instituting a pe­ tition campaign to force the question to a vote. All AFL. Labor in Tampa is busy getting signatures and the seamen are doing their part. Brother Diez has shown that labor is on the *move in Tampa and will not submit to the man­ euvers of the politicians. PHONY PRESS The local press, as usual, is eulogizing the Mayor and trying to picture him as a world savior, cr a little Tom Watson. This is part of the general antilabor campaign, but .organized labor is in the fight to.the finish. and will buck the Mayor and his .schemes so long as he continues to serve the bosses as he has done with everything from dictator de­ crees to the police force. Judge Parker ruled against the Teamsters and the Cab Drivers in their strike, and all the bosses' forces in the city are trying to smash them. Regardless of all the difficulties, however, they are carrying on the fight and the en­ tire labor movement is support­ ing them. GOOD SHIPPING Tampa got its share of the cold weather wave, but, at the worst, it is still a lot more comfortable here than anywhere north of Hatteras. In addition to the good weather we always have the sit­ uation is improved now with good shipping. The Waterman scow, Erek Hopkins, the South Atlantic, Southland and the Bull Line, Evelyn were in, and five more ships are due this week—which perks things up considerably. As a result of labor's determ­ ined stand, the Mayor and his anti-labor crowd are growing a little union-shy and are awaken­ ing to the fact that unless they quit their anti-labor activities they are damn liable to be expoliticiaris after the next election. Tampa labor is going to fight this battle to a finish. Distress Signal A campaign is now under way to bring about installation of the latest and most effective lifesaving apparatus aboard all mer­ chant vessels. Sponsor of the move is the British National Un­ ion of Seamen, which is utilizing every possible means to publi­ cize the need for safety measures at sea. At the recent meeting of the British Trade Union Congress in Brighton, the seamen's unk)ri demonstrated a new parachute distress signal-for ship's lifeboats; Sent up against a background of heavily overcast night skies; the rocket soared- to a height of 1500 feet and was easily visible two miles out at sea. It was revealed later that the signal had been seen as far as 25 miles away. Constructed so that it is not affected by dampness or direct contact with salt water, the locket is thrown into the sea a few tyards from the life-boat. It then ignites automatically and is pro­ jected 1500 feet above the life boat, throwing off an illumina­ tion of 150,000 candle-power. Similar . demonstrations have been staged in Norway, Sweden and the United States, and the NoFW«gian government has al­ Friday, February 14, 1947 ready approved the apparatus for installation on its ships. The British seamen's union hopes to effect a statute requiring all British ships to carry the lifesaving ^partus. i a- t Welfare Fund Prospects for a government sponsored welfare fund for sick and injured Norwegian seamen appear favorable. A bill provid­ ing for the establishment of a welfare committee and a welfare fund for seamen is now before the Nprwegian Parliament. Contributions to the fund would be 240 ore per year for every insured seamen serving aboard a Norwegian ship, with the State providing 120 ore, and the shipowners and seamen con­ tributing 60 ore each. The bill provides further for a special welfare committee to ad­ minister the fund. It is to be ap­ pointed for a period of three years and will comprise repre­ sentatives of the Government, shipowners and seafarers. Additional details as to rules for membership in the fund, method of payment, etc., will be decided upon, as. soon as the bill has been passed. Payment of the benefits would start as of Jan. 1, 1947. NEW YORK—Last week's Log had a story of the Mate aboard the Loop Knot who was a oneman deck department. Well, I've found his brother. When I went aboard the Nampa Victory last week, I found the Mate busy as a beaver and the crew up in arms. Just as with the character aboard the Loop Knot this guy was acting as Bosun, AB, and at times, OS. I could see right away that he needed straightening out. Un­ fortunately, however, the books were closed and I could not offer him membership in the SIU. Nevertheless, due to his un­ tiring efforts we collected a little overtime for work he did on deck, such as Carpenter work, etc. HE LEARNED He didn't like it at all wlien the dough went into the pockets of the men who were supposed to do the work, but he can write it up as experience. I found the Old Man to be just as bad. He couldn't understand why a s-Mcssman should be paid overtime for serving meals in his room. Also, for better than a week, he had instructed the Messman to make up' the rooms of the Second Mate and Second Assis­ tant after hours. After a little discussion he saw the light, and all overtime was collected. The only casualties of the whole operation were my ears, which are still ringing from his pained yells. Whatta voice! James Purcell 3» 4- 4" Cheap Skates Several of the steamship com­ pany purchasing agents have cut requisitions on their own hook, and h.ave taken to sending in­ ferior food to the ships. This means that unless the Steward is on the ball the ship will sail short of food, and the quality of the food will be very poor. The Steward is responsible for the quality and quantity of food aboard the ship, and if he finds it is not up to par, he should notify the Hall so the situation can be straightened out in a minimum of time. Don't let the chiseling purchas­ ing agents make your trip a nightmare. The Union has fought hard and long for decent condi­ tions, and that includes food. So keep on the ball and make sure that there is good food aplenty on board before the ship leaves the dock. Howard Guinier Ray Gonzales 4> 4> Mercy Visit DETROIT—I went out to the Marine Hospital last Tuesday and among the patients in the hospital we have Sisters Mabel "Waldon, Countergirl on the Greater Detroit last season and Florence MacDonald, pantry girl on the Cleveland HI for the past three seasons. They are getting along fine, and have plenty of time to swap opinions on the D & C waterfront situation. Withholding statements from the D & C Company are expected to be sent out from the company's offices Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 3rd & 4th. —Herb Miller �Fridar' Febrauxy 14, 1947 THE SEAFARERS LOG Page Five Events Of A Busy Week In N. O. Afier an eight-month trip, the Alcoa Pegasus came in clean and in good condition. Here she is discharging her load of bauxite to lighters in the Mississippi River. Most of the crewmembers said that the trip was uneventful, and that the food was swell. The payoff was no trouble either, and the men were well satisfied over a good trip and a satisfactory payoff. It's pretty had to get the crew to pose when they have been paid off and they are waiting to enjoy liberty in New Orleans. The photographer prevailed on them to stand still for a moment, and this is the result. Standing, left to right, G. LaBrecque, A. G. Home, W. E. Duck. W. F. Helms, G. F. Bischoff, and R. Barger. Kneeling are A. Rathbone and J. Miller. Same story with the Black Gang. They're in a hurry to spend some of that hard earned money, too. In the usual order, H. L. Wold, E. Osborne, J. Di Orio, C. B. Moody, and J. Hicarvet. Ricarvet is holding up a piece of bauxite. Gathered around this table, SlU and Company officials hammer out 15,000 hours overtime for the crew on the first voyage of the SS Del Norte, Mississippi Steamship Company. Quarters for the Stewards Department are also to be enlarged so that more hands can be carried in that Department. Left to right around the table, Scotty Findley, Deck Delegate; Red Gibbs, Patrol­ man; Mike Early, Jim Richards, and E. W. Lisbony, Mississippi SS Company; Steely White, New Orleans Agent; Farrell Winborne, First Mate, and Dick Birmingham, Patrolman. Here are a few of the men who were responsible for the high standard of food aboard the Alcoa Pegasus. In the middle is B. A. Muslo. Second Cook. To the left and right of him are W. B. Zaunseil, Chief Steward and J. Groeschner, Utility. The James Duncan also hit New Orleans recently. Directly above is a picture of the Engine Department and at the right are some other crewmembers, including at least one from the Stewards Department. Above, from left to right. J. Falasca, S. Belich. L. Borrego, M. McCarthy, M. McKay, and E. Pease. At the right, in the usual order. D. Strelow, F. Behan, J. Johnson. B. Guthrie. W. Liebers, H. Karlson, S. Stephens, and K. Liebers. K. Liebers looks like the only Stewards Department man in the picture, but we could be wrong. �THE SEAFARERS LOG Page Six Friday, February 14, 1947 Report Of NLRB Regional Director UNITED STATES OF AMERICA BEFORE THE NATIONAL LABOR RELATIONS BOARD SECOND REGION In the Matter of ISTHMIAN STEAMSHIP CO. and SEAFARERS' INTERNATION­ AL UNION, AFL Case No. 2-R-6030 REPORT ON OBJECTIONS miss this portion of the Com­ TWO OF MANY pany's objections. The Board in its Order Direct­ ing Election provided that all un­ licensed personnel in eligible classifications employed aboard vessels owned and/or operated by the Company whether as gen­ eral agent for the War Shipping Administration or as owner were eligible to cast ballots in the elec­ tion. In view of this, the under­ signed finds no merit in the Company's contention that em­ ployees aboard vessels operated by the Company as general agent are ineligible. The Company in its objections also alleges that the following vessels were acquired since Jan­ uary 18, 1946 through purchase of bareboat charter but, despite this fact, the Board did not per­ mit the unlicensed seamen serv­ Left toi right are Bill Brown, and Jack Giller. two of the ing on these vessels to vote in many SIU ; members who volunteered to sail Isthmian during the election. jhe campaign to organize this company. Both put in many Steel Artisan; Sea Cardinal; months on that job, and their efforts were certainly worthwhile, Marine Arrow; Sea Shark; Belle as the count in the election proved. White caps off to these of the Seas; Oriental; Pampero; militant Seafarers! Sirocco. Twin Falls Victory; Richard AI- pany counsel, submitted a list Cape Catoche; Cape Domingo; Cape Elizabeth; Cape Friendship; vey; James W. Cannon; George of unlicensed personnel in the Cape John; Cape Meredith; Cape B. Chamberlain; Harry Glucks- deck, engineering and stewards' Sandy. man; Harry Lindsley; Harold I. departments who on March 18, Thomas Sim Lee; Aram J. Pratt; James Turner; James D. 1946, were serving aboard all the vessels which were then owned Pothier; William Tilgham; Alle­ Trask. The Company, through its and/or operated by the Company. gheny Victory; Citadel Victory; Buoyrus Victory; Legion Victory; counsel, refused to supply the The date of eligibility under the Longview Victory. dates on which the above listed Board's Order Directing Elec­ Marquette Victory; Minot Vic­ vessels were acquired by the tion is March 18, 1946. Unlicensed tory; Oberlin Victory; San An- Company. However, on April 4, personnel aboard all of the ves­ 1946, A. V. Cherbonnier, Com­ sels listed on the April 4, 1946, gelo Victory; Trinity Victory. On January 14, 1947 the Na­ tional Martime Union, CIO, here­ inafter referred to as the NMU, and the Isthmian Steamship Company, hereinafter referred to as the Company, filed objections to conduct affecting the results of the election held during the period March 20, 1946 to Novem­ ber 18, 1946, pursuant to an Or­ der Directing Election of the National Labor Relations Board, hereinafter referred to as the Board, dated March 19, 1946, and an Order Amending Direction of Elections dated April 18, 1946, and a Further Order Amending Direction of Elections dated Oc­ tober 17, 1946 the results of which were set forth in a Revised Tally of Ballots issued January 9, 1947. Pursuant to the Board's Rules and Regulations, Section 203.55 the undersigned hereby issues his Report on Objections. The Company alleges that sea­ men employed aboard vessels managed by the Isthmian Steam ­ ship Company as agent for the War Shipping Administration, and/or the U. S. Maritime Com­ mission, are not employees of the discussing this concrete evidence (Continued from Page 1) Company but are employees of who refused to accept one, and of union solidarity. the United States and that the many people came back for more, Appreciation of the work done U. S. Maritime Commission with­ stating that they wanted to make by the Seafarers was voiced by drew the vessels listed below sure that others in their office M. David Keefe, President of Lo­ from agency management by the would receive the message. cal 205, in a letter to Paul Hall Company, notwithstanding which The narrow streets in the finan­ after the distribution had been the Board permitted the unli­ cial area were clogged with completed. censed seamen serving thereon to people reading the circulars and Brother Keefe characterized vote in the election: Alamo Victory; Hubert Howe Bancroft; James L. Breck; Wil­ liam N. Byers; Claremont Vic­ WHAT GOOD IS COLLECTIVE BARGAINING? tory; John Constantino; Peter V. These are fundamental questions that must now be answered Daniels; Francis Drake. by every employe in the financial industry. A time for decision William Eaton; Edmund Fan­ is approaching. The issues are swinging out into the open. You ning David Dudley Field, Gabriel must face them honestly now, for sooner or later you will Franchere; Hawkins Fudske; have to choose sides. Stephen Girard; William GlackThe Seafarers International Union of North America. AFL, ens; Grainer Victory; William B. has already chosen sides. Ogden; Michael Pupin. We're supporting the UFE in its drive to win recognition Sea Fiddler; Sea Flasher; Sea from the die-hard employers in the brokerage business. Phoenix; Sea Scorpion; William D. Hoard; James Ives. THE SIU HAS LEARNED Anson Jones; Thomas Kearns; We know how good a Union is! We remember the Mary A.. Livermore; Norman E. days when seamen were shanghaied and made to endure untold Mack; Mandon Victory; Horace hardships. We remember when seamen stood long, weary Mann. watches for short pay, and with intolercLble living conditions. Winthrop L. Marvin; W. W. Today, our ships are clean and comfortable. Our working McCrackin; Samuel Mclntyre; conditions are regulated. Our pay is adequate, and is guaran­ Joacquin Miller; Francisco Morateed by our Union contracts. zan; J. Sterling Morton. These changes were won by a strong Union! Nicaragua Victory; Ocean Tele­ UFE HAS LEARNED, TOO graph; John Barton Payne; Clerical employes are taking the long way home. But. George Read; George Uhler; Hor­ wherever they have charted their course to win Union recogni­ ace Wells; William Whipple; tion, they have scored substantial improvements. UFE has Frank Wiggins. achieved contract gains in wages of 68.5% in three contracts The Company, through its covering Exchange units. counsel, refused to supply the Today, strengthened by its AFL affiliation, UFE is pre­ dates on which the above listed pared to extend similar benefits to its brokerage units and to vessels, were, in fact, withdrawn ALL employes in the industry who join with it. by the U. S. Martime Commission from agency management by the YOU NEED A UNION Company. On the basis of data Collective bargaining will correct the inequities of inade­ supplied by U. S. Martime Com­ quate base pay, uncertain overtime, and the total lack of job mission it is clear that the above .•security which plague your business. listed vessels were all under The SIU, AFL, stands four-squared behind the UFE, AFL, agency management by the Com­ in effecting its program. Join UFE today with complete con­ pany both on March 18, 1946 (the fidence. eligibility date set herein) and This was published and distributed by the Seafarers In­ on the dates when all of the ships ternational Union as a gesture of fraternal cooperation with: and each of them were ballotted. Local 205, OEIU, AFL The undersigned therefore recommends that the Board dis­ 40 Exchange PJ., Room 306 New York 5, N. Y. SIU Distributes 25,000 Leaflets For UFE What Good Is A Union? the UFE campaign to organize banking employes as an "uphill fight," but stated that with the cooperation of the SIU, "now we know we cannot lose." The text of the letter follows: Mr. Paul Hall Director of Organization Seafarers Int'l Union Dear Brother Hall: Today's SIU distribution in .behalf of the United Financial Employees, AFL, had an elec­ trifying effect. Every member of our organ­ ization is deeply grateful for' the whole-hearted cooperation that the SIU is extending to our effort. Our cause is a just one. It has been a dirty, up­ hill fight, but now we know we cannot lose. On behalf of our member­ ship, our officers and myself, I wish to extend to you and to your membership, our sincere thanks and appreciation for your support. Fraternally yours, M. David Keefe, Pres., United Financial Emplpyees Local 205, OEIU, AFL For a long time office workers have been among the most poorly paid employees. The rise of the UFE has been spontaneous, and it has grown steadily since first making its appearance^ Even the threats and coercion of the banking interests has not been able to stymie the union, and where contracts have been won, the workers have acheived worth-while gains in wages and conditions. The CIO Office Workers Union has declined steadily since the AFL entered the field, and with the support of the Seafarers, of­ ficials' of the UFE look forward to many new contracts in the near future. communication participated in the election. It therefore appears that the vessels listed in the Company's objections were ac­ quired subsequent to the date of eligibility. The Company has shown nothing to the contrary. The undersigned therefore re­ commends that this portion of the Company's objections be dis­ missed. INCLUDED STEWARDS The Company, in its objec­ tions, also contends that the Board erred in including chief stewards, who are allegedly su­ pervisory employees, in the bar­ gaining unit. The Board had pre­ viously considered this issue, which was raised before the Trial Examiner at the formal hearing held on the petition, but never­ theless directed that chief stew­ ards be included in the bargain­ ing unit. The undersigned there­ fore recommends that this objec­ tion be dismissed. The NMU in its objections al­ leges, in substance, that prior to and following the date of the for­ mal hearing on the petition the Company aided and assisted the Seafarers' International Union of North America, AFL, hereinafter referred to as the SIU, by enter­ ing into an argument with the SIU personnel and deny employ­ ment to members of the NMU, for the purpose of insuring that the SIU obtain a majority of votes cast in the election and that pursuant to such agreement the Company discriminated against against NMU by discharging and refusing to employ NMU mem­ bers. The NMU further alleges that both before and after the commencement of the election the Company ,through its super­ visory officials, had made known its preference for the SIU bx en­ couraging applicants for employ­ ment to become members of that organization and at the same time denied available employment to members of the NMU. INTERVIEW WITNESSES In support of its objections, the NMU has submitted numerous statements and affidavits. To date. Board personnel'have inter­ viewed, and received sworn state-, ments from, approximately 10 witnesses which present evidence raising a question of fact which can be resolved only extensive investigation or formal hearing. It is estimated that it will take from three to six months thoroughly to investigate all of the NMU's objections. This is based upon the Board's past ex­ perience in maritime cases with respect to the difficulty of obtain­ ing information from individuals who are often inaccessible be­ cause of absence at sea, as well as the fact that some of the in­ cidents referred to by the NMU allegedly occurred in numerous ports on the Atlantic, Gulf and West Coasts. Assuming a com­ plete and time-consuming ex parte investigation at this time, shiuld the Board find the said in­ vestigation disclosed substantial and material issues, a formal hearing would be necessary. Con­ siderable time must further elapse in order that- witnesses could again be made available for formal testimony and cross-ex­ amination by all parties. The undersigned must also take cognizance of the very sub­ stantial drain on the Board's limited funds which would flow from such proceedings. Of para­ mount importance, however, is 'he consideration that in repre(Continued on Page 9) �r T H E S 'E A F d R E'R S L O G Friday, Fabraury 14. mVT Page Seven Cliicago i^nt Follows A Hunch, Saves iSelf From Icy Vacation By HERBERT JANSEN CHICAGO—The usual practice here on the Lakes is for the Agent or Patrolman to ride the ijassenger ships on payday to square away the beefs, but if I had observed this custom I would not have been here to file my weekly report. I was up in Milwaukee to make the trip on the Milwaukee Clip­ per over to Muskegon, Michigan, but something told me that the Clipper would get over to the Michigan side of the Lake and there she would stay. Acting on the hunch 1 didn't make the trip but handled everything in Milwaukee, and just as I thought, the next day the company announced that the Clipper is on the other side of the Lake and in the ice, but solid. If 1 had made the trip 1 would have been on an involuntary va­ cation for three or four days. The Milwaukee Clipper oper­ ates between Milwaukee, Wis. and Muskegon, Mich., carrying new automobiles both ways, when she can get through the ice. During her summer run' she makes one and one-half trips daily carrying passengers and automobiles. Also running between these ports are the carferries which operate all year around. How­ ever, this is the first year since the war that the Clipper has been in service the whole year. ICE FIELD FORMED During a severe winter, like the one we are having now, a westerly, northwesterly, or a strong north wind blows all the ice that is formed over to the ALLTMIS ICE AMD KO BOURBON y Michigan side of Lake Michigan, forming an ice field, which has been known to extend out in the Lake about twenty miles, and have a thickness of over five feet. During the past few years the weather has not been so severe, but years ago it was nothing for ships to be stuck in the ice for weeks at a time. During a severe winter in the 20's, I worked on the SS Ala­ bama on a steady run between Chicago and Grand Haven, Mich­ igan. Right in the worst part of the winter we were stuck in the ice off Muskegon for two weeks. RUGGED FORTNIGHT It was a real rugged two weeks we spent aboard that old scow. She was a coal burner, carrying all kinds of freight, and after about seven days we ran oflt of coal and tobacco. For two days we were burning up the cargo to maintain steam and keep warm. With the cigarettes all gone, the fellows were hunting in all comers of the ship for butts they had tossed away, /ftter awhile we made up a concoction of straw and flavoring, and believe it or not it didn't taste too bad. After two days of this we were getting desperate, but we were saved when a supply of coal and cigarettes came out to us on a horsedrawn sled. We got a good head of steam up, and when the wind shifted • we dynamited our way out. RIGHT AT HOME Those were rough days and this winter brings such stories to mind again. If any of you broth­ ers have hankered to make a trip with a Byrd Expedition, you can get the same thing by coming up here and shipping on one of thesfe year-round Lakers. You'll have all the experiences of an expedi­ tion right here in the middle of the USA. We have received a report from the head of the C&B Lines that the City of Grand Rapids will remain a coal burner for the com­ ing season. We had heard she was switching to oil, which would not have been so good for us. If she had switched it would have meant the loss of twelve jobs to us and that's not good. NO NEWS?? Silence this week from the Branch Agents of the follow­ ing ports: CORPUS CHRISTI SAVANNAH CHARLESTON HOUSTON NORFOLK JACKSONVILLE BALTIMORE MARCUS HOOK The deadline for port re­ ports, monies due, etc., is the Monday proceeding publica­ tion. While every effort will be made to use in the current issue mEiterial received after that date, space commitments generally do not permit us to do so. Company Handouts Are Far Cry From Union Contract Conditions By HENRY W. CHAPPELL TOLEDO—Great Lakes District Officials are still busy working on our 1947 contracts. However, it is too early to give any infor­ mation as to their provisions. All seamen can rest assured that the new agreements will surpass any wages and conditions now in ef­ fect anywhere. In addition to higher wages and better conditions over the old contract, these new contracts will contain, of course, the usual pro­ visions guaranteed to union sea­ men that unorganized seamen still have to contend with. Rotary shipping, always a part of our contracts, will be con- Stormy Weather Does Not Slow Need For Rated Men In New York By JOE ALGINA NEW YORK—The weather up here is something that we should have had around Christmas time, but if we couldn't have a white Xmas, at least the snow now is not stopping our shipping. In fact, since the snow fell last week, business has picked up. That means that we are still hungry for rated men, and if there are some men on the beach in a port where shipping is slow, they should get in touch with the New York Hall and we can probably do something for them. There are more tankers in this port than ever before in my me­ mory. Dry cargo ships come in every day, and between the two groups of ships the Patrolmen are kept pretty much on the run. Waterman has started taking ships out of the boneyard, and as soon as they are ready for Retroactive Pay Seafarers writing to the be­ low-named companies for re­ troactive pay should address their communications as list­ ed: South Atlantic Steamship Company—Savannah Bank and Trust Bldg., Savannah, Ga. Mississippi Shipping Com­ pany — Hibemia Bank Bldg., New Orleans, La. Los Angeles Tankers — 365 West 7th Street, P. O. Box 380, San Pedro, Calif. Deconhil Tankers—311 Cali­ fornia Street, San Fran­ cisco, Calif. Pacific Tankers — 433 Cali­ fornia Street, San Fran­ cisco, Calif. service, there will be many more jobs up on the board. ORGANIZING PLANS Fred Farnen, Detroit Agent and Secretary-Treasurer of the Great Lakes District, and Henry Chappell, Toledo Agent, are here in New York planning strategy that will be used in the Great Lakes Drive which starts soon. They have been in conference with Brothei's Paul Hall and Bull Sheppard, and what they are cooking up will be of benefit to all Lakes seamen. Congress has appropriated an­ other $50,000 to investigate the Maritime Commission. If that keeps up, the investigation will cost more than the MC . wasted during the whole war. Sooner or later the stalling will have to come to an end, and when that happens there will be a story that the people of the United States will remember for a long time. It's going to embarrass a lot of people, but they played fast and loose with the taxpayers' money, and they deserve everything that happens to them. ANTI-LABOR LAWS Congress is also considering anti-labor bills by the score. It seems as though every Congress­ man has a different idea on how to handcuff labor and break the back of the working stiffs. But they all agree on one point, and that is to really stymie Ijie labor movement. They ought to force all Con­ gressmen to study history, and then they would be able to see for themselves what shackling labor means. They would learn that break­ ing up the labor movement in Italy, Germany, and Spain led to dictatorships in those countries, and that it took a bloody war to bring democracy back to two of them. It's a shame that the people who are supposed to represent us in Congress are not smart enough to learn from the mistakes of other lawmakers in other coun­ tries. TWANVCSI'LLPUTU , IN THE BANkJ tinued, thereby guaranteeing a job to the man most entitled to it. When a job is called into the Hall by the ship's delegate, it is posted on the board and the old­ est registered man gets it. No more of the old bootlicking and paying for jobs. No more do the good jobs go to the pets of a company stiff, nor is a berth gained by a ten» spot being handed to the right company man. JOB GUARANTEE All these phony tricks are elim­ inated and jobs are distributed democratically. No one in the SIU has to save a fin for a ship­ ping master, his job is guaran­ teed by the date on his card. On an SIU ship, as provided in our contracts, a Mate cannot fire a man in order to replace him with some relative or friend. This practice has been the rule for years on Lake Carrier ships and has been approved by the high officials of this association. Also, when a Mate or Engineer wants some work performed that calls for overtime, there can be no disputing the subject, as all duties and working hours are clearly defined in all SIU con­ tracts. The SIU strictly abides by all of its agreements and also insists that the company do likewise. When any welching is attempted by the ships' officers or company officials, then the SIU represen­ tatives step in and right the wrongs. STRIKE, LAST RESORT Our policy is to keep amicable relations with the company. We do not call a strike because some AB wants more water in his soup, as the shipowners would like un­ organized seamen to believe. Strikes are expensive both to the Union and the company, and are used as a last resort after every other channel for reaching accord has ben exhausted. If there is no other course open for seamen to gain their just de­ mands, and a strike becomes necessary, a democratic vote is held and the seamen decide if they want to hang the hook! The Union's membership de­ cides if a strike is to take place,, and a majority must be in favor of strike action. This is union democracy and the Seafarers' way of doing things. AdvlcR From Agent: Notify Hall As Soon As Your Ship Ties Up By EDDIE HIGDON PHILADELPHIA — Things are beginning to look up in the port of Philly. We've had four pay­ offs in five days and it looks like more are on the way. With the assistance of Brother Ernest Tilley, I've been covering most of the ships that come in here. Tilley is the former Pa­ trolman from Baltimore who is now holding down the same job here. We've been kept quite busy running around to the various ships for payoffs and such, and with Brother Tilley we handled everything right there at the point of production. . I can truthfully say that Bro­ ther Tilley is Baltimore's loss and Philly's gain, as he is a good man to have around when beefs are on the fire. We're still looking around for a bigger Hall, as on meeting nights only about half of the membership can get into the Hall. I've been scouting the town for a new location but as yet I have not found anything satisfactory. It seems that buildings of the type that we want are very scarce, but we will keep our scouts out and something will turn up eventually. Now that we are getting a lot of ships in here for payoffs, I'd like to ask the delegates of all ships hitting Philly to contact the Hall just as soon as they hit the dock. If they give us the name of the ship and whei-e she is tied up, we will hit the ship and square away the beefs, if any. It happens every once in a while that the boys do not. let us know when a ship hits port, and when the payoff comes along the Patrolman has to work his head off, or hold up the ship until all beefs are squared away. If the delegates let us know in advance, we can square away the beefs before the payoff and save time—and, what is more important, get the boys what is coming to them. �THE SE AF ARERS LOG Page Eight Friday, February 14, 1947 AMONG THE BEST Frisco Shipping Is Out Of Fog And Starts Humming Once Again By W. H. SIMMONS SAN FRANCISCO — The old Gold Coast has finally come out of the fog with things really on the hum again. Shipping is good and gaining right along. With things as they are now, I am a happy fellow with no beefs at all. I see that we now have a num­ ber of new faces appearing in the differeht Atlantic and Gulf Of­ fices. I want to take this oppor­ tunity to say "hello" to all of you new officials and hope to see you at the Agents' Conference. During the past ten days, we've had the Josiah Bartlett, Joe Marti and the Albert Burleson in for payoffs. Reports have it that Seattle, Portland and San Pedro have had a few payoffs too. I'd like to put in a word of praise for two organizers whom, I believe, most Isthmian crewmembers know and have had the pleasure of meeting many times in this port. They are Brother Ed Turner and Serge Nova, whose pictures appear on this page. These two men did a lot of good work during the recent Isth­ mian organizing drive, and de­ serve a hand for their untiring ef­ forts. Many thanks to the good work done by these two men. New Agent Gets Sun And Shipping Dope In San Juan By SALVADOR COLLS SAN JUAN—Having just left the icy climes of New York to assume the duties of Agent here in San Juan, I'm soaking up the Enchanted Island's sunshine with real appreciation. After reading the reports of the weather now being "enjoyed" in Pictured here, aboard Isthmian's Marine Robin when she New York, the warm breezes car­ stopped off at San Francisco, are (left to right) Thomas Smith, essing the Island are most en­ Ed Turner and Serge Nova. These Brothers are among San joyable. Francisco's top-notch organizers. The past two weeks have been tough ones for Brother Butts as he has had a lot of beefs, most of them on the Island ports. He re­ ports shipping as being very good during the past two weeks, but about 100 ships under the Sea­ any member desiring to act in has slowed down this week even farers' Banner. this drive can do so by contact­ though we have quite a few In order to make this driye a ing headquarters in Detroit, giv­ ships around. complete success, I am calling ing in detail their suggestions. SHOREGANG WORK All of the AFL waterfront I have requested from Head­ 6 _ unions in the Great Lakes Dis­ quarters an agreement for the trict have offered their coopera­ shoregang and as soon as I get tion, and I can see no reason it I will start working on it. why we cannot be successful in I am going to try my best to organizing all of the bulk freighters on the Great Lakes un­ get a better agreement as I see that the boys are very interested der the SIU. in these shoregang jobs, especial­ We know that each season the ly when shipping gets tough. SIU has set the wage standard on When I took over there were the Great Lakes and that the four ships in port, but I had no Lake Carriers have kept their lime to cover them as I was wages in proportion in order to checking our equipment. I'll be stop us from organizing. out there and on board the next We know that our working time these ships hit the Island. upon each and every member to conditions are the best in the in­ After looking over the Hall, I contribute in any way possible dustry, but in order for us to can report that the San Juan their assistance. make this drive successful each Branch doesn't have to take a The Organizers who are to be and every one of us must explain back seat to any other Hall, as it in charge in the various ports these facts to all the seamen on is as comfortable as could be have not all been selected, and the Great Lakes. found anywhere. Report Of The Great Lakes Secretary-Treasurer By FRED FARNEN BUCKO MATE On Saturday, January 22nd, your Secretary-Treasurer and Agent Herbert Jansen met with Brother Harry Lundeberg in Chicago to lay out an organiza­ tional program for the coming season on the Great Lakes. The following are the proposal^: Organizers will be placed in the various Lake Ports from Buf­ falo, New York, to Milwaukee, Wisconsin on or about March J 5th, to contact all ships during fit-out and to arrange meetings in these ports in order to en­ lighten the unoi-ganized seamen on the Great Lakes to the advan­ tages of sailing under an SIU contract. This drive will be paid for by our International and under the direction of Earl (Bull) Sheppard, By STANLEY WARES International Organizer, who was CLEVELAND — With winter in charge of the Isthmian Drive more than half over and spring on the East Coast in which the breezes just around the corner, SIU was successful in bringing it won't be long before the men will be called back to their ships to get them ready for another busy season on the Great Lakes. When the Ethiopia Victory was in here recently, we made efforts to have the bucko Chief Mate pulled off, but due to difficulties beyond our control, he went out on her when she sailed. • Agents should be on the look­ out for this Waterman ship and the Mate. The crew has been promised that this character will sail no more SIU ships. Cleveland Awaits The Spring Thaw On Great Lakes NMU Members WITH THE SIU IN CANADA Lose In Fight After checking up on ships ly­ ing in ports within a radius of 65 miles of Cleveland, we find that (Continued from Page 3) there are over a 100 ships waiting million and one objections against for that well-known signal that men sailing these tankers having every seaman loves to hear: "An- | the right to choose a union to rep­ chors aweigh and full steam resent them. ahead!" It is significant that despite When we hear that old familiar their brewing, Messrs Curran and soud it will signal the start of the Stack see eye to eye on such organizing campaign that is to disruption! take place on the Lakes this They tried the same tactics on spring. the Standard Oil of California, The groundwork has been care­ and other West Coast Tanker out­ fully lain for this drive. When fits, and were repudiated up and the ice breaks up it will go into down the entire Pacific coast. full swing, and unorganized Lakes' The Seafarers won the elec­ seamen wiU learn that the SIU tions and today sail these ships is the only bona-fide union for under the best tanker contracts ever known. seamen. NOW'S THE TIME if I WANT SIU VANCOUVER, B. C. — The Prince David, sister ship to the Prince Robert has finally sailed out of this port for Blythe, Eng­ land, where she will be delivered to her new owners. We spent quite some time with local representatives of the new owners straightening out the agreement covering wages, over­ time, time-off, and other condi­ tions. After conferring with the rep­ resentatives we reached a satis­ factory understanding and the ship sailed January 17. The report has reached us that the NLRB has announced the end of the Isthmian campaign with the SIU the victor. The overwhelming victory of the SIU in this election, as well as the poor showing of the NMU, is definite proof that the seamen sailing Isthmian are fed up with being pushed around. Their choice is without doubt deliber­ ate, and the will of the majority. The corrupt and frantic at­ tempts of both the Company and NMU in trying to block the SIU from negotiating an agreement for the seamen sailing Isthmian will no doubt receive the con­ tempt of all seamen. History has, a habit of repeat­ Now is the time, as never be­ fore, for all seamen to be or­ ing itself, and today we see the ganized into one strong mili'^ant membership of the NMU joining union. Grouping-together in one ' the unorganized seamen in a • strong body is the only way the wholesale repudiation of NMU seamen can keep the shipowners leadership policies and crying for from trying to return seamen to Seafarers leadership. The Seafarers has no desire to conditions of 10 or 20 years ago. see the NMU wrecked, but it has All unorganized seamen should I the duty of providing a haven take time to look at the record. ' for the NMU membership when There you would see the SIU has the wreck occurs. always set the wages which are If even one single company re­ the highest in the world, and the mains unorganized, then the shipLake Carriers Association and the I owners have a fortress from rest have followed later like which to launch their attacks on RETROACTIVE PAY obedient little sheep. wages and conditions. The recent increases gained for Don't let these shipowners kid Collapse of the NMU would the men aboard the Canadianyou into believing that they are mean many companies without National and Canadian-Pacific giving you those high wages out union contracts. Steamship Companies ships are of the goodness of their hearts. The Seafarers must organize at present being paid. Any mem­ The hard cold facts are that the against such a contingency. A SIU forced them to shell out and strong Seafarers means security ber having worked for either one of these companies should apply there's no disputing that. •for all seamen, come what may. ' to their offices for this money which is retroactive to June 15, 1945 for the $12.48 boost and to June 1, 1946 for the $20.80 in­ crease. This little bit of hay should come in handy to everyone, and is long overdue. Further in­ creases and better woi'king con­ ditions arc still in order, and must be obtained to give the seamen the standard of living they are entitled to. There have been a lot of re­ ports coming in of beefs on over­ time in the CPR which could be very easily fixed up. The thing to do when in doubt is to put it down on paper and turn it to the Mate or Engineer. Then, if he says it is not overtime that is the time to beef. ATTENTION! All Canadian seamen on Coastwise vessels should never neglect to pick up their discharges on leaving a ves­ sel. When you register at the Hall for a ship and have no discharges to show, or prove your rating, or length of serv­ ice, you only handicap the Dispatcher. In addition you cause yourself inconvenience and perhaps unemployment. Always remember, when you are dispatched to your, new ship, the Mate or En­ gineer is going to ask you for discharges. See that you have them. A lot of the fellows go about this the wrong way. They think something is overtime and with­ out asking the Mate about' it come running to the Patrolman saying the Company will not pay it. The only way to find out is to turn it in. Then, if it's not paid, that's the time to beef. SIGN ARTICLES Here's a tip that cannot be stressed enough. When going aboard a ship, don't be a sucker. Be sure to sign the articles before turning to. Before going to work, get up to the Purser's office and get your name on the articles. Don't risk your life and limb by failing to sign on, for that is ex­ actly what you would be doing. If anything happened to you while on board ship and you hadn't signed articles, you would be up the creek. If you tried to get compensation the company could turn around and say it is not responsible for you, as you are not on the ship's articles. Don't take chances. Demand to sign on before turning to — It's the law. The SIU has taken up the ques­ tion of turning men to before signing articles with the Depart­ ment of Transportation and we were assured that seamen do not have to work before being cov­ ered by articles. There are penalties to be in­ voked against any company that insists upon this. The seamen is guaranteed his rights under the terms of the Canada Shipping Act. Report any infractions of this to the Union Hall. . �Friday, Febraury 14, 1947 THE SEAFARERS LOG Berger Hansen Page Nine NMU Hopes Fade OnLakes;Record is Death Warrant By EINAR NORDAAS Although born in Brooklyn, DULUTH—When the organiz­ Brother Berger Hansen, Bosun, By FRENCHY MICHELET ing drive opens on the Lakes this • got his early sea training as a Moved by a brotherly regard continental Europe is about to spring. Lakes seamen will be Norwegian sailor. Not that he for the editorial staff of the Log stand tip-toe to peek into the shown the difference between a didn't like Brooklyn, it was just and by a natural concern to do realms of perpetual ice and snow. phony political front union and that he was raised in Norway, our part to avert a threatened a real sailors' union. She IS justly renowned for her and at the age of 14 he decided calamity, rather than by any celebrated Lacrima Christi, a Now that the recent develop­ to go to sea. ments within the NMU have ex­ mere urge to be scribbling (Ye wine whose name, one of our la­ It wasn't until 1921 that he posed the true picture of how Editor tells us that news is so tin friends tells us, may be ren­ came back to the United States, that union has been only a front scarce that he*may eventually be dered in English as the Tears of and soon after that he joined the for the communist party with reduced to the terrible expedient Christ. ISU. Since then he has been sailors' rights and welfare given of printing Shuler's recipes), we Several years ago we persuaded sailing American ships. When secondary consideration, the SIU have determined to hasten to the a gullible skipper to buy a whole the ISU broke up, he joined the can go ahead unretarded by any rescue of our harrassed friends case of this heavenly nectar (vin­ SIU in 1938, and has been an ac­ such internal conflicts, and gain with a little account of our so­ tage of '29, yet!) for cooking pur­ tive member from that time to for the Lakes seamen the best journ in the Sicilian port of Pa­ poses. About three days from this. lermo on the good ship Thomas wages and conditions. New York he came pounding on Brother Hansen was on the When the drive opens we ex­ Heyward. our door. Mediterranean run during prac­ Incidentally, this "good ship" pect to find more opposition from "Please, Steward," he said, tically the entire war period. He the company-sponsored LSU and stuff sort of slipped out in the ' please give the cooks a little of was at Oran when the American those men who say they believe confusion of trying to both com­ that wine to put into the food— troops made the landing there, "Why," he says, "in the old that the company gives more pose the above paragraph and to and although the docks and other days a seaman was a slave. Now money and grants concessions out hunt out the keys on this damn just once!" installations were hit by dive typewriter at one and the same LIVING WELL it's different, and seamen are just of the goodness of its heart. bombers, he was happy to see These seamen do not seem to time, so perhaps we had better as free as other workers. The It's good to be alive in this that no ships were damaged. Union did that for us, and we understand that the only reason qualify the term. fruitful land. To live a day in After the end of the war, Han­ would be fools if we ever forgot for this benevolence is the fear The Thomas Heyward is a the Mediterranean is surely pre­ sen tried his hand as a volunteer that." that unionism will spread among Liberty ship. ferable to hibernating a year in organizer in the Isthmian Drive. Brother Hansen ended the in­ the crews, and union wages and As if that in itself isn't bad mere existence. He made a trip on the John terview with some practical ad­ conditions will become a matter enough, we have just crossed the The man who pledges his youth Wanaxnaker to the Baltic, from vice. of course, and not a reward for miserable North Atlantic on her to secure his declining years has January to March, 1946, and he "Every SIU man should serve rejecting the union. in the dead of winter via the made a sorry bargain with life, was happy to hear that the Wan- as volunteer organizer for at When every seaman's duties route of the Great Circle, under for merely to be alive is not amaker went SIU in the election. least one trip. That would spread are clearly defined in a contract, the impression that we were necessarily to live. "It was sure tough on the the job around to more people, there can be no chiseling by the bound for Bremen, Germany—a Machiavelli tells us that Wanamaker," he recollects. "We and would also make the mem­ ships' officers as the companies mistake that the Army saw fit to had a labor-hating Skipper and bers more appreciative of the will be expected to live up to rectify only after we had crossed Caesar Borgia abandoned all thought of pleasure, and took inFirst Mate. They made life mis­ wages and conditions won by the their agreement. the 14th meridian. finitismal pains to assure his suc­ When you unorganized seamen erable for all of us. I hope that SIU. Need we say more! cession upon the death of his guys like that get their due now "The job has to be done," he are contacted by an SIU Organ­ Our natural inclination is to father Pope Alexander. But what that we have won the election." concluded, "and if we all get in izer this spring, give him a min­ give you a minute account of the 1 Caesar didn't know was that there and plug, then we can't ute or two of your time. It won't STRIKE DUTY postwar fate of those celebrated when the old buzzard got around lose, and we can win more ad­ take long to learn the real score, shrines of antiquity whose flagto dying, he himself would also and it will pay dividends. In September, 1946, Brother vantages for all seamen." be dying. Hansen was on the William SeaLire are the medium of ex­ ton, American Pacific. He piled change here, but cigarettes are off when the General Strike was oou LA! I the only true lever for prying called, and made his way to Bal­ loose what you want from the timore where he stood picket lAfAEmuSi- shopkeeper's hands. duty. ASMTOR THIS I The people are desperately At the end of the SIU strike, By JOHN MOGAN poor, However, tyrannical gov­ he assisted in the MM&P beef, BOSTON—Business and ship­ ing probationary books, and the ernments have plundered them and when that was finally over ping in the port of Boston has book members, who realize that for so many ages past that they he grabbed a job on the Ameri­ been pretty good over the past a little competition for jobs is have learned to wear their pov­ can Eastern's MV Gadsden. in the making. couple of weeks—a mild boom, erty with a grace born of in­ He is still a part of that crew Illustrative of the favorable numerable generations of pov­ we would call it. although he has recently been in situation is the fact that once in The West Coast tankers hit this erty-stricken ancestors. the hospital for a short while. a while —very occasionally— it area quite regularly, usually dis­ Now that he has recovered, he The men are strong and well charging either at Portland Or becomes necessary to issue a new has already rejoined the ship. stoned courts have so often re­ formed, and the women — but Boston, with an occasional scow permit for a 'pierhead' job, while sounded to the historical tread that's another story and must Berger Hansen takes his union reports have it the commies have for Providence or Fall River. of this fair isle's long-departed wait another day. Meanwhile we responsibilities seriously. As he A goodly number of contract about 15 book members for every immortals. are off with the gang for addi­ sees it, a union is only as strong available job. as the membership. That's why freighters are hitting the port, Unfortunately, a number of our tional research in this fascinating he volunteers for the tough jobs, also some of them paying off, but ORGANIZING PROGRESSES worldly shipmates have succeed­ subject. Organizing work in the port the greater number are in transit. and that's why his shipmates ed in decoying us into the local have confidence in him and pick However, even these latter ships continues to progress very gin mills, so that we have thus him as Delegate almost every usually take a couple or three smoothly. Tankers are covered far been unable to follow our pretty completely, considering men each. trip. natural inclination to spend all the obstacles placed in the way of our time in meditation within His long years of sea time give EASTERN CREWS by panicky company officials. these hallowed walls. Brother Hansen the knowledge to Of course, the big deal for the And a good many of the members compare sailing then and now (Continued from Page 6) port is the crewing up of the who make this their home port DON'T LEAVE YET and, according to him, there's seritation proceedings before the Eastern ships, which is schedul­ deserve commendation for the just no comparison. However, the time has not Board time is of the essence. It ed to begin very shortly. This spirit of cooperation they mani­ been entirely wasted. We should is the considered opinion of the will take away a lot of members fest whenever there is an organ­ soon be able to give you a very undersigned, that the interest of who have been adorning the Hall izing chore to perform. learned treatise on the purely all parties and the public is best for a long time eyeing those The outlook for the immediate culture aspect of the science oi served and served most rapidly ships across the harbor. When future of the port is fairly bright. anatomy. We are fast becoming and reasonably by adopting a the Yarmouth and Evangeline Two scows are scheduled to pay Income lax •statements from quite expert on the subject simp­ procedure which would obviate are both running, steady jobs for off within the next couple of from the following companies ly by squatting at a bar-side table the necessity of a prolonged ex approximately 250 members will days: the Topa Topa (Waterman) are now at the Chicago Hall. and reverently watching a little parte investigation, with the pos­ Anyone who has worked for be providedi and the Kamaka (So. Atlantic)— honey-haired darling laden with sibility that there would follow a Since at the present time no and, of course, the tankers pop these companies during 1946 a tray of beer glide gracefully by. very extensive hearing on the book members have to wait long into sight unexpectedly and in and have not received their record. Palermo is as pleasant a place statements can have them by for a job, and current activity is the most unexpected places. The undersigned therefore as "is to be found in all this de­ So, at the present writing, writing for them to the Chi­ daily making available to those recommends that rather than em­ licious land of dark-eyed dolls cago hall. book members additional jobs, there are no indications that the barking on an ex parte investiga­ and spicy garlic dishes. Cleveland & Buffalo the SIU can be said to be in a shipping register will gather any dust. Steamship Company and the healthy condition. Lying in an agreeable latitude, tion, the Board direct a formal By the way. Patrolman Jimmy she is the principle city of the hearing on objections to be held The policy of taking in new sand boat companies, name­ ly Construction Aggregates members on a quota basis is also Sweeney reports that the crew of island of Sicily—an island that on not more than five weeks no­ Corp., Tri-Lakes SS Co., and a very sound idea, inasmuch as the SS Celilo has contributed a lies at the toe of the Italian boot, tice to the parties. it keeps everybody on his toes— total ot $34 for Brothers in the and from the map, seems to serve Marine Transit Company. Signed—Howard F. LeBaron, both the permit-book men seek­ hospital. as a sort of footstool on which Reg. Director. NLRB, 2d Reg. Mild Shipping Boom Hits Boston; Union Awaits Crowing Of Eastern Full Text Of NLRB Regional Director Lakes Seamen �;• • Pifiday, Pebtuapy M. 1S47 THE SEAFARERS LOG Page Ten MmVRS AMD MEWS Sharswood Men Hit Skipper, In Vessel's Ration Report Pioneer Lads Rub It In —^With Snow While Seafarers in the north­ ern latitudes have been suffering in silence the effects of the cold wave that has gripped most of the country, the fact has come to light that all is not chattering teeth and watery eyes among the boys who wear the emblem of the Brotherhood of the Sea. The minutes of the shipboard meeting aboard the Alcoa Pio­ neer on Jan. 19, after arriving at the Log office encased in an icy envelope, started off with the salutation: "Greetings, you snow-shovel­ ing brothers." . A quick glance at the postmark, — Trinidad, BWI — brought forth a groan. Visions of warm breezes, sunny shores and tropical gear came to mind. "Oh, to be in the Indies now that winter's here." HANDS IN HARMONY The pleasant weather that the boys aboard the Pioneer are en­ joying has apparently extended to the conditions aboard ship, for John Reed, the recording sec­ retary of the meeting reports: "All is smooth and serene here with the. Deck, Engine and Stew­ ards Departments all pulling to­ gether in the well-known SIU manner." • During the meeting proper the crew handled the usual run of business in a shipshape manner. After agreeing to take weekly turns at cleaning the ship's laun­ dry, the crew decided to contact the Captain through the ship's delegate about giving draws in American money in all ports that do not have laws against it. BEAT UP LOCKERS From this the crew agreed that all lockers, due to their beat-up condition, are to be replaced at the first opportunity, also they agreed to get needed screens and windchutes while in Trinidad for the foc'sle and messhall ports. In addition the decision was reached to send both crew and saloon toasters ashore for repairs. About this time the report came from the Skipper that the draws would be made in American money while the greenbacks aboard ship lasted. In concluding the meeting under the relaxing tropical skys, all hands stood in sile/ice for one minute in tribute to the memory of all brothers lost at sea. Handling the gavel during the meeting was brother George Dunn, while the proceedings were recorded by Brother John Reed. CORRECTION # , Due to an error in trans­ mission, the name of the at­ torney handling the distribu­ tion of clothing in Italy un­ der the auspices of the ILA was printed incorrectly. His name is Luigi Palumho. It's exciting when Union Brothers meet unexpectedly. It's even more so when the Seafarers happen to be blood brothers, as well. This unlooked-for pleasure came to the Pilutis boys, pictured above in a Durban Taxi cab, which they hailed in cele­ bration of their meeting. That's Joseph on the left, and Victor alongside of him. Joe, off the Robin Sherwood, and Vic, working on the Hibbing Victory, met accidentally, when their vessels called at Durban at the same time. They hadn't seen each other for three months and didn't know when they'd meet again. They made the most of their three days together in the South African port. Taxicabs in Durban, by the way, seem to work the same way they do in the States, if you'll observe the photo above. Both put their flags up when they have a fare aboard. (Editor's note: The following article, endorsed by the crew of the SS George Sharswood, was submpted to the Log by George Morris, Engine Dele­ gate; Fred Kagelmacher, Deck Delegate; - James Davis, Stew­ ards Delegate and Peter Davies, recording secretary). The SS George Sharswood, Soutl} Atlantic Steamship Com­ pany, signed on an SIU crew in Charleston, S. C., Dec. 4, 1946. South Atlantic had just acquired this ship under bare-boat charter. When we, the crew, signed on, we were promised by the Cap­ tain of the vessel, and the com­ pany agent, that fresh stores, a new slopchest and other needed items would be sent aboard in Savannah, Ga. Our Steward submitted to the Captain and the Port Steward a list of those foods we needed for the first three months of the nine-month period on articles. Right at the start the Stewards department ran into'trouble con­ cerning the amount of sugar and flo"br aboard. However, we had refused to sign on until more of this stuff was promised. Always promises! itself rationed to one stale egg a day for breakfast, and generally only one cut of meat per meal. •The Night Cook and Baker ia tearing his hair out trying to bake without eggs. The Chi^l Cook is doing all in his power to skimp along as best he can. This report on our nutriment status does not end our woes. The cigarette and slopchest situ­ ation, is equally deplorable. There has been no range in sizes of the clothes available. They must have figured that one man was going to constitute the crew aboard this ship. The situation reached such a state that the Purser was oblig­ ed to post the following notice ten days before our arrival in the States: "The slopchest below will be open for the last time — today, Sunday, from 3:45 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. There is NO gum, candy, BUCK. OP. MEM? OWE EGG AMD EVERY OAV.'' SHORT SUPPLIES It probably is needless to men­ tion that the Steward never got all he asked for. Before we ar­ rived in Le Havre, another list sweatshirts, cards, dungarees, -was submitted to the Captain, socks (we have wsize 13 only), containing need for fresh meats, shorts (size 14 only), gloves, etc., that were very badly needed. handkerchiefs or dress shoes." We hit three ports, so there HEAR YE I was no excuse for our companyAn energy-saving: poster would minded skipper in not obtaining sufficient supplies of fresh meat have exclaimed: "NO MORE SLOPS!" and eggs. In Le Havre, Liverpool Most glaring example of the and Glasgow, we saw a paltry quantity of fresh produce trickle Captain's fink rationing concerns aboard. When we left Glasgow, cigarettes. The commissioner had only six weeks of the expected assured us that there were enough to last three months. The three-month-trip had elapsed. When the liarassed. Steward re­ Captain, however, has seen fit to up list of offenses and post it marked to the Captain that he order our "good Joe" Purser to on bulletin board. One minute did not receive what he needed, ration us with only a carton and of silence for Brothers lost at the following classic remark was a half a week. sea. Considering that the cigarettes made by our belly-robbing "old % % ^ are not an issue when in port, man": MARQUETTE VICTORY, "Ha-ha! I knew that we this has meant that many of us Jan. 12—Chairman John Lopez; wouldn't get all of it." have been returning to the Ten­ Secretary William Kumke. Mo­ For the expected 16 days of nessee. and -Montana hills and tion carried that Steward also our return trip, the crew finds rolling our own with one hand. put in order for ice trays. Mo­ tion carried that Purser make up a draw list before entering any port- in order to prevent any delays for crew to go ashore. Delegates reported everything satisfactory. Mo­ tion carried that everyone stay out of galley unless having business there. Motion carried that Chief Engineers sign re­ ceipts for overtime which in turn will be given to men. Good and Welfare: Men to put cups back in sink when fin­ ished with coffee. All hands to use ash trays for cigarettes and matches. % % ^ HELEN, Dec. 15—Chairman Sagarin; Secretary Sidney Segree. New Business; Discus­ sion about keeping messroom Catering to—not robbing—the bellies of the crew on board clean. Penalty for violations to the SS Hibbing Victory was this able Stewards Department, be 25c for first offense and headed by Chief Steward Juan V. Rivera. "Their cooking and douMe for each succeeding vioserving was of the best," says the Hibbing's Engine Delegate, Vincent Russo. (Continued on Page 11) MINUTES UF SIU SHIP M^TINGS DIGESTED FOR EASIER READING ETHIOPIA VICTORY, Jan. 17—Chairman Cassidy; Secre­ tary Yingling. New Business: List of repairs made for better­ ment of ship. Good and Wel­ fare: Suggestion that all foc'sleal be unified according to depart­ ments and this matter be re­ ferred to the patrolman for verification before revamping them. Passageway soogieing discussion with suggestion that Stewards Department handle this. Recommendation that messroom be made to accommo­ date all hands and this matter be referred to Patrolman. FELIX GRUNDY. Jan. 19— Chairman Burke: . Secretary Shaio. Due to Shortage of soap, one cake will be issued to crew. At beginning of next voyage, crew will take more interest in checking stores that come aboard. Steward asked men to try to save coffee and cooper­ ate in keeping messrooms clean. Suggestion that no fines be placed aginst men who fail to clean-up after themselves; in­ stead, matter to be taken up at next meeting and if fines are levied then the money is to go to Brothers in Marine Hospitals. Suggestion that delegates draw CHOW C H U RN E RS illllillllilBjSii , -y - » ( I �Friday, Febraury 14, 1947 THE SEAFARERS LOG Digested Minutes Of SlU Ship Meetings (Continued from Page 10) lalion. Molion carried that whoever is in charge of clean­ ing heads and rooms be notified they have two hours each day * and overtime on Sunday to do (NAME OF SHIP NOT this work. Some crewmemGIVEN) Dec. 7 — Chairman bers have complained of shirk­ Betts; Secretary Kneece. Dele­ ing on the job. Each depart­ gates reported everything in ment delegate is to investigate order. Old Business: Discus­ all complaints and see to it that sion over deficiencies in slopthey are rectified. Motion car­ chest. New Business: Motion ried that any brother who de­ carried for delegates to inves­ liberately misses a watch be tigate deficiencies in slopchest fined double the prev'dling un­ and make consequent report at ion rate and be made to pay next meeting. Good and Wel­ same to man standing the fare: Men who leave dirty cups watch. Only exception is legi­ around will be fined 25c. Money timate excuse. Motion carried to be divided among the Seathat character named Craven ; farers Log and. the hospital who shipped as Chief Freezer, fund. Agreed that all hands and quit one hour before sail­ will wear suitable gear at table. ing time be sevierely reprimand­ Laundry situation ironed out to ed by the union. Such men can­ satisfaction of alL not be tolerated. X X i. Brass Glistens Through Smoke Screen okay. Engine Repartment dele­ gate reported Captain not co­ operating with crew. New Business: Delegates to look over the ship before she sails from next port and have repair work completed. Good and Welfare: Crow asked not to* throw ashes on deck after messman puts ash trays on table. Suggestion made that anyone caught not helping to keep messroom clean will bei brought up in headquarters. Crew quarters that are in bad condition must be looked after before ship sails. Messman asks crew to take care of messroom and help keep it clean. Crew asked not to get careless with silverware and not let it walk away from messroom. Sugges­ tion made that all three dele­ gates go before Captain or who ever has the authority to have something done together. Crew decided not to tolerate any crew member going around buzzing to the mates and en­ gineers our union business held at our meeting. If anything we want them to know our delegate will tell them. Page Eleven SEAFARER SAM SAYS: ^HECK THE STORES SETORG THE CREW SIGNS ON . IF THE SOPPLieSARE INSUFFlCICNT OR OF POOR QVAUITV AIOTIFV THE DEPARTMENT DELESATES ATONCE. NOSHIPSHOOUO SAIL WTIL you ARE SAfiSflEP WITH THe STORCS ! Things promise to be hot fo-' one of the officers aboard the Bessemer Victory when she winds up her present trip in the States if the charges that one 4. t i crewmember has made are found CAPE RACE, Jan. 11—Chair­ to be true. man James Ward; Secretary At the shipboard meeting held John Pritz. New Business: Jan. 19, the crew approved a By HANK Bosun made motion to see that motion that upon their return to XXX Grab your gear, Brother, leave those last few nickels and dimes crew would have more space the U.S. they would investigate AMERICAN PRESS. Dec. G— and those nightly beefs home with your ever-loving wife and hop by opening gunners' messhall. the report that one of the officers Chairman A. Schroter; Secre­ over to the Hall. New York shipping is red hot in all departments Motion passed. Motion carried tary N. A. Cobb. Reports of and better than these last few weeks of good shipping . . . Paul, to get cold water in the scuttle­ ship delegates heard and ac­ Eddie and all other friends, send their best regards to Brother Joe butts either by installing cool­ SCTrfA^l ^ cepted. Discussion held as to Ehrhart who shall be launching himself into the Eternal Splice— MArr.uri ers in passageway, or removing the possibility of storing deck otherwise known as the landlubbing sea of matrimony—sometime the cooling system from the and engine room cleaning gear* this summer over there in Perth Amboy, New Jersey. Congratula­ top of the turbine. Motion car­ some other place than the crew tions, Joe! . . . Steward Harry Drummer and Paddy Walsh were ried for new wringers and laundry. Arrangements made supposed to hit Baltimore to ship out. Something happened, how­ washing machine. Delegates re­ to stow gear in Stewards lock­ ever, to Brother Drummer, and he's now anchored in the Staten ported everything running er. Resolution that the crew of Island Marine hospital, while Brother Walsh is getting ready to smooth. Good and Welfare: the American Press go on rec­ grab the first Wiper's job on any Waterman ship handy . . . Happy Deck and Engine Depailments ord to support any opposition Pete King, Peg Leg Anderson and little Benny Rabinowitz just sail­ gave vote of thanks for the to anti-labor legislation which ed into town after paying off in Charleston from their short trip to swell chow the Stewards De­ is before Congress now, or any France . . . Big Frank Bock, the oldtimcr, just grabbed a job as a partment has dished out. Sug­ that may come up in the fu­ second assistant deisel engineer. Good sailing and organizing, Frank. gestion that crew donate what­ ture. Motion carried to support X X X X ever money each person can received 20 cartons of cigarettes the electricians in. their de­ Oldlime F. Johnson. Ihe best deck engineer we've seen on spare to be pooled and given to while the crew was under ra­ mand for quarters separate a ship, is in town for a ship . . . Last week. Clyde "Coffee" Mor­ the fellows in the hospital for tions. from watches. gan came in after paying off in Portland. Maine, which is a busy cigarettes and other needs. The crew vows that they will port for tankers—which means that our Boston Hall is a good smoke out the culprit if the re­ shipping port for tanker men. indeed . . . Looks like Brother port is true. Wonder if they will D. D. Stoiry. the oldtimer. is continuing to do a swell job in detect him by his nicotined fin­ organizing the Isthmian men. Keep up the good work. Brother gers, or will it be by his smoker's Story, and let's see more men following your example. We hack? shouldn't slack our organizing efforts one inch for the men who In relation to the dipping into need and want the SIU. To keep sailing Isthmian ships and the slopchest by one of the of­ other unorganized ships means a lot to those men and to our­ its. ficers, the crew passed a motion XXX selves. MV MANROPE KNOT. Nov. SANTA CLARA VICTORY, that the Patrolman is to be X X X X 1—Chairman A. Bourgot; Sec­ Jan. 22—Chairman Raymond aboard to check the slopchest, Here's a truthful and humorous explanation of a seaman we retary S. P. Dowling. New Pomykala; Secretary Morris and the rationing and pricing of found in a newspaper clipping: "A sailor is a guy who is worked too Business: Motions carried: that Phillips. Delegates reported no the cigarettes. hard, gets too little sleep, takes verbal abuse no civilian would take, all overtime beefs be settled % X X beefs in their departments. does every imaginable job at every imaginable time, never seems before payoff; to notify the WARRIOR POINT. Feb. 2— Good and Welfare: motion car­ to get paid, never knows where he is going, can seldom tell where next crew to check the food Chairman Dave Kosevich; Sec­ ried that commode in Deck De­ stores before sailing the ship: he's been, accepts the worst with complete resignation, and last bu# retary Joe Koone. Old Busi­ partment head be repaired. to notify the' patrolman to have not least—he really likes it" . . . Brother Edginton, the mustached Suggestion made that garbage! ness: System of donating 25 the articles changed from nine juice-doctor, says that he hears that Brother Paper Bag Wilson is ia cents for postage and other be dumped over the side while months to three months on' all town right now. Well, let's hear from you. Brother Paper Bag Wil • business agreed upon. New at sea, and while in port it be Alcoa "Knot" ships; that the son . . . Our apologies to Eddie Kasnowski's mother. We only pulled Business: Motion carried thai dumped on the port side of the crew is not to be made to paint his galley leg about the cookbook and gravy overtime pot. Your deck aft of the house when gar­ anyone guilty of leaving cups over the side while lying along son, Eddie, is such a good cook that one of these atomic days some on messroom tables or any bage cans are filled. Suggestion side of the SS Auditor; that no steamship company is going to name a ship after Eddie, no fooling. place other than where they that all crewmembers cooperate X X X X six-inch or larger brushes are belong, should donate one doland keep the messhall clean, Here's a letter we received from Henry Chappell. Toledo to be supplied for painting; that lare, half to Seafarers Log, and and those who use washroom Agent, who now is visiting New York: "Brother Hank, I have the First Asst. be instructed half to SIU hospital fund. Fine clean it after use. Union mem­ noticed George Curran's statement in your column recently not to do Wipers work such as of $5.00 to be levied against bers stood in silence for onei where he says we could be a little more active here on the Lakes painting. Good and Welfare: anyone damaging toaster. Mo­ minute in tribute to Brothers in our organizational work, which is right. However, last year, Repair list of 15 items read and tion carried that Navy messlost at sea. despite the phony strike of the NMU and all the opposition the approved. room which is being used as ^ » company-sponsored union, the LSU. could offer, this district 4. 4. 4. library be cleaned by the three with the help of Bull Sheppard. won an election of a fleet of MIDWAY HILLS, Nov. 2— departments. Each department JOHN MILLEDGE, Oct. 13— former Lake Carrier ships. This election was recently certified Chairman A. Newman; Secre­ Chairman Russell; Secretary to rotate one week at the task. by the NLRB at Washington, after both the NMU and the LSU tary D. O. Pierce. Motion car­ Early. Delegates reported no Decision reached to have meet­ made all the protests they could think of to the NLRB. This ried that mattresses and not beefs. New Business: Six men ings once a week for durationi district has been alseep for years but we now have our secre­ pads be furnished crew. Good were approved for pro books, of voyage. tary-treasurer (Fred Farnen). a guy we all know and like and and Welfare: Have crew dele­ and two were approved for full XXX who has guts. The results of his work will show this year when gates obtain information for HILTON, Nov. 24 — Chair­ books. Good euid Welfare: Bowe get a few more Lake Carriers ships into the SIU. Several of making crew recreation room sim stales that he is receiving' man Harry H. Haniir; Secre­ them are ripe now. And now that the NMU has rung up Finish-, in Navy Gun Crew quarters. tary Maurice Henderson. Deck no cooperation from topside ed With Engines, we will be able to go to town up here on the Decided to have sanitary work­ and Stewards Department dele­ and are giving him too much Lakes." ers keep heads much cleaner. gates reported everything interference. CUT and RUN 'I! �THE SEAFARERS LOG Page Twelve GAY BLADES CUT UP IN THE CUBAN CAPITAL HE ^/s ^TRm NFW ORLEANS ARRIVES I Friday. February 14, 1947 RUSSELL JONES DECK MEN LAUD STEWARDS DEPT. Dear Editor: YOU BUY ME ANOm HO NEY ? /MSH •' THIS* PLACBjE\JEN g STAND HERE:' •r> A CHANCE^ fst' 4' V While his shipmaies on ihe Sealrain New Orleans matched wits with the local belles a Sea­ farer artist, who signs his name as "Davy Jones." sketched these lively proceedings in a Ha­ vana night-spot. Bellyrobbers Do A Bang-up Job, Win Plaudits Of The Jean Crew Dear Editor: Fai- too often one reads letters in the Log complaining about fun­ ctions of the Stewards depart­ ments on SIU ships. Yet praise is.seldom given when a good job has been done. Follows, real praise to a group of men who have earned it. On Jan. 11, the SS Jean was in Maryland drydock. No food had been prepared since Jan. 8, and the messrooms were in a filthy condition, which is natural and a typical state of affairs, when a vessel has been in drydock. About 5 p.m. the new SIU Stewards department came Ggfl -MAT'S REAUY CLEAM! L. ious. Gann's cooking has packed on several pounds that some of the holdovers lost, and Kaiser's baking is a source of never-end­ ing surprise to the men. It is so good, in fact, that all hands hated the thought of buying shore-bak­ ed bread in port. The messmen have given prompt, courteous service, and there hasn't been a beef in the messroom. MORE TO BE DONE But the job done by this swell Stewards department didn't end at that point. Not satisfied with what they had already done, the boys started cleaning up all mess­ ing space. The messrooms and quarters have been thoroughly cleaned and painted where nec­ essary. "Pop" Kaiser mentioned, when he cleaned the galley range, that he found everything there but the Chief Cook from the last trip. Tom Bowers and all his boys deserve rich praise for the fine job they have done, for the only difference between a miserable coastwise trip and a happy one is the food served. We want to go on record as being truly appreciative of Tom's efforts, with accompanying praise for the efforts of the men of his department have exerted. There will be few changes in this crew, if they decide to make another trip. Henry N. Goldman. Deck Del. Hugh C. Randall. Engine DeL SS Jean, At Sea We, the sailors of the Russell R. Jones, would like to say a word of praise for Chief Steward G. T. Oliver and his department for their excellent work and the extraordinary fine, cooked meals .served to us on this trip. The food and the baking surpass,any­ thing any of us. ever before ex­ perienced at sea. So, if you ever ship with Stew­ ard Oliver, you can be sure of being fed—and how! This is one of the cleanest ships that has ever paid off in Charleston, without a beef in any department. The Steward had a lot to do with keeping the men happy. Members Deck Department SS Russell R. Jones ical wreck. Ah, but what a time was had. on this There were quite a few oldC. W. timers on the beach in New Orto say former land. N.0.| WOTTATOWMI Before sailing for Italy Alcoa Liberty, the SS aboard, led by Steward Tom Scripps, I would like Bowers, Chief Cook Charley Gann hello to my friends and and Night Cook Ray Kaiser. Not shipmates up in Yankee to be forgotten are John Diana, WoTTATlMei The North is my home, and I , Dick Fitzgerald, Mike Rossi and Bill Swoboda, messmen and util­ generally ship from Philadelphia or New York, but it seems as ity. though I just have to take a FULL STEAM UP swing along the Gulf ports once The boys turned to with a ven­ geance, and started to clean a year or so. Just to renew old things up. At 7:30 a.m. on Sun- friendships and visit some fav­ dp}/, all messrooms had been' orite joints. thoroughly cleaned and a fine I shipped , aboard the Scripps breakfast was served. in New Orleans. Three weeks in It was only through working half the night that this was pos­ that "most wicked city in the leans, and there are several of sible. Since that date, the food world," and I had to admit de­ them in Pensacola, Fla. To name has been nothing short of luxur­ feat — I'm a financial and phys­ a few, there's Santos Garcia, Bob Thii-ty's Quite Enough By WAYNE MCALLISTER There's a fellow on the poopdeck Way aft the beam astern. Who is sorry for the lesson It was his fate to learn; The day was filled with sunshine And the sea was calm and blue. When the thought first hit the Bosun And he knew just what he'd do. With cot tucked neatly under arm. His smokes within his grasp. He left his clothes behind him. And took himself up aft; TANKER MAN, When once atop the deck-house. He gently made his bed. NEW SIU MEMBER, Then he stretched out bare and APPRECIATES LOG naked. Dear Editor: His hands clasped under his head. Just a line to let you know how much the Log is appreciated by He didn't want a sunburn. a new member. With a tan he'd be much pleased. I was on a Texas oil tanker Thirty minutes was enough when the NMU pulled that To be flciked out in the breeze; phoney deal, just before I joined Now his thought — it was a good the SIU. They always managed one. to get copies of the Pilot aboard. Thirty minutes would suffice. As a consequence, I read a good But sleep soon overcame him. many of these communist-infect­ And he slept through thirty — ed rags. twice. That's why I'm in a position to tell at a glance the difference be­ When at last the Bosun did wake up. tween straight trade-union paper, And the sleep had left his head. and the NMU'.s red propaganda He looked not unlike a boiled rag. lobster. Harold Le Doux He was burned a cherry-red; Likes Log Every Week Dear Editor: / I am a member of the SIU and receive great pleasure from read­ ing the Seafarers Log. To insure my continued enjoyment of the paper I would appreciate it verymuch if you would send it to me every week at my home. E. E. Stewart Baltimore. Md. Blackie Gardner Counted Out Financially In Lively Tussle With The Wicked City' Dear Editor: Log -A- Rhythms Rutledge, "Blackie" Bankston and "Slappy" Creel. We have been here in Pensa­ cola for two weeks now waiting to load, but we should be get­ ting out in a couple of days. This is a typical Florida anti-labor town. The local gestapo just has to see a merchant seaman a little unsteady on his pins and — bang! —into the clink he goes. . That's all for now. Thanks for listening and I'll be seeing you when I get back. Good luck to all, and steady as she goes! Blackie Gardner (Editor's note: Brother Gardner nominates New Orleans as the "most wicked city in the world." Any of you Brothers think dif­ ferently? Let's hear cibout it, if you do.) W>WT TMOSa- spMfjy sfoe V? ? Now this story must be- ended. But first, some good advice: All you sailors wanting suntans. Don't sleep through thirty —. twice! Next-to-the-last Trip By I. H. PEPPER I've had enough of a seaman's life, I want to settle down. I'll buy a little chicken ranch In some far inland town. I've had enough of ships and sea. Of wine and women auid song, I've seen now what I went to see — Been at it too damned long. Sick to death of seaport towns. Salt water in my veins; Tired of all the ups and downs —^ At last I've got some brains. But before this tale gets higher. There's one thing I should add: I'm the most accomplished liar. This side of Trinidad. �Friday, Febrarary 14. 1947 THE SEAFARERS LOG Page Thirteen Maritime Commission's New Steward's Experience Proves Some Guys Lure Draws A Withering Can Stretch Things To Cover Any Error Salvo From The 'Steamboat' Dear Editor: that he would see this for himself, as if he couldn't believe anybody, or that something like this could happen to him or to the mattresses. So he came aboard the ship, measured the mattre.sses and found them short-sized in length and width. Well, as Brother Gottschalk breathes and watches his food, this Maritime official sud­ denly remembered something within his wellpaid noodle, and seriously settled the issue by stating that these mattresses were specially made mattresses which stretch to the proper length when you sleep on them. Ah, that seemed to be enough for the beefworn ears of Brother Gottschalk, at least, if not to the others. So right now,' you can find Mike roaring with laughs about this ridiculous Mari­ time stiff. Mike continues to wonder, incidentally, if the genius of a fool may also have some self- Last week I was informed that Steward Michael Gottschalk had a humorous tale to divulge for in his struggle for decent con­ Dear Editor: publication, a tale all about some ship's mat­ ditions? Has it ever lifted a The Maritime Commission has finger against the guys who try tresses. Well, ship's bilges or ship's mattresses, announced it will give a "Chief to push him around? The an­ I knew it would be a good one. So I rushed up Petty Officer's" rating to anyone swer to all this is a shouted: to the third floor where most yarns are spun, mostly by such old-time weavers as Stewards and with a Junior Engineer's endorse­ "NO." ment. Speaking as a guy who Do you deny that the only cooks. happens to have a junior en­ thing in God's watery world I found Brother Michael Gottschalk, familiarly dorsement, here is my answer to that ever got the sailor any­ wrapped in a long, dark brown overcoat and that the Commission: thing beside sweet talk are the gray fedora anchored on his gourmetic head, Deeir Admirals: seamen's unions? Do you deny smilingly surrounded by the following brothers: I just heard of your offer to that you nautical YMCA is just Steward Walter Walsh, Fireman Herbert Kreutz, give me a Chief Petty Officer's a job-creating agency and a and Chief Electrician Frank Roth. Such Brothers playsuit if I can join your cir­ fink-training machine for the are sailors, not mattress makers, so naturally they cus. Sorry, Kelly,, the answer only know the plain, unfeathered facts abrjut these shipowner. is NO. You can keep your bellthings. WHAT DO YOU TEACH? bottoms and gob caps: I'm Well, good old Mike, with a smile coiled on his What do you teach those poor face, began to spring his mattress yarn. It all strictly a civilian. Not that I'd 'AT'S THE TFOUfiLt- — guys, anyway? I have yet to happened aboard the Grace Line ship, SS Robert be anything else if I wore your You GUVS THOUGHT meet one who could tell who H. Harrison, before she was turned over to the monkey suit. THEV Wgf5g MATt^eSSCS Andrew Furuseth was, or who South Atlantic. Twenty-eight brand-new mat­ Your aping of naval customs — THEV'RE /, knew anything of the seamen's and titles is the laugh of the tresses came aboard as ordered. Inspecting them, piU-OWS; I fight against profit-mad own­ legitimate armed forces. Ask Brother Gottschalk nearly swalled his soup-tast­ ers. I have yet to meet one who ing tongue, when he discovered that they were a naval officer what the Navy knew that a few years ago sea­ short sized all around. The skipper was then thinks of your fake titles and men worked for a dollar a day informed. He measured the mattresses and found he'll turn six colors and give and ate condemned food. Why them to be one foot short in length and four you a 21-gun salute. don't you teach them history Your's is just a college for inches short in width. He in turn called the Port instead of marching? ' fiinks. What possible reason Steward, who measui'cd the darn things and dis­ The trouble with you sit- covered the unfortunate shrinkage, also. A Mari­ have you» for remaining in ex­ j^wn sailors is that you all time Commission man was called on the phone istence now, when there is. a stretching sheets for these specially made mat­ suffer from stenographer's and advised of this situation. large surplus of men looking tresses. Whether he has or hasn't, Mike will not spread. Get on your feet, go for every job? Now at this point, it presumabl3'^- was believed under any sensible circumstance unless unconback to the galley and the by Steward Gottschalk, the Grace Line Skipper WHAT IS IT? ciously shanghaied, take a chance on sleeping on messhall. You'll never under­ and the Port Steward, that-this Maritime Com­ What is the Maritime Ser­ any self-stretching mattress. Who knows if the stand seamen by riding the mission man who would know his onions, at least vice, anyway? It is a scabbydarn contraption won't stretch in the wrong di­ Potomac ferry. love child born of the affair his mattresses, since he is responsible for all rection and strangle him in bed? Who knows? So I'm sorry, boys. The old jorts of things, and that he could and would between the shipowner and the Why, the Martime official knows, of course. "Steamboat" isn't going to join very easily straighten out this small, but never­ bureaucrat. What has it ever He may be serenely, but dangerouslj', sleeping on the Ovaltine Navy this trip." theless important, calamity. Well, the Maritime done for the seaman? the darn things in his own home, right now. You can put away those red expert answered the phone call with the opinion It has put him in uniform, "Cut and Run Hank" anchors. When I want to join yes. It teaches him to sir and your collection of salted seasalute his superiors, yes. It nuts, I'll send you a letter. In pumps him full of anti-union­ fact, I'll drop it in the first ism, yes. But has it ever got mail-buoy I see. him a dollar more to feed his Dear Editor: two of each every week. They he forgot to set the alarm. He Steamboat O'Doyle kids? Has it ever helped him are not only cutting us short on slept until seven-thirty the next In the latest edition of the Log the chow, but I guess there is a morning. He didn't even stop for you corrected a typographical er­ shortage of linen, too. breakfast as he hurried down to ror in the article of a few weeks ago, which said that a ship's en­ I've got a little story that I his new job. He was a half-hour late for the gine had to generate 45,000 HP think is too good not to be men­ job, and the boss fired him. He to make 12 knots. Now you say tioned: trudged his weary way home,, it needs only 4500 to make the There was a young Swede who feeling mighty low on losing the 12 knots. came over to New York from I'll go you one better. As most Stockholm. He found a job, and first job he had in the United members of the Black Gang, and the boss told him: "Now Helga, States. Sitting on his bed, he deject­ a lot of the fellows who -have there's one thing you must re­ edly looked at the clock. In a fit sailed Liberties (and who among member. I always insist on the of anger, he jumped up, grabbed seamen hasn't) the Liberty ship strictest punctuality." the clock, shook it and then, is rated at 2500 HP. I have sail­ "Ja," said Helga, "I are a gud heaved it violently to the floor. ed several of these ships that vorker." A couple of miiiutes later he could do 12 knots, and one that "No," the boss said, "punctu­ picked it up and surveyed the BKOTHJKK wANlS lO KNOW could make 13. So I can safely ality means that you have to be twisted mass of springs and cogs. say that an engine needs to gen­ here on time every morning." HOW LONG BOOKS WILL BE CLOSED Liside the jumbled works he no­ erate 2500 HP to do 12 knots. I am writing this in my own behalf, and if necessary, in behalf "Oh, veil dot's easy," Helga an­ ticed a dead cockroach. While I am writing this letter "Veil, no vunder she vouldn't* of all other trip card or permit men. that on the SIU ships I always swered. "I vill buy an alarm vork," he exclaimed. 'The «iIn the Savannah Union Hall today, I saw a notice that I think had better linen service than I clock today." jineer iss dead." is very unfair to some SIU men. The notice states that unless a trip get in this hospital. Here we get That afternoon, on the way card or permit man'actually stood 100 percent picket duty, he one clean sheet, and one clean home, Helga bought the alarm Clifford Larson Marine Hospital is not eligible to put in an application for a pro book. That means pillow slip each week. At sea, I clock. Before he went to bed Neponsit, New York that he .had to be ashore and not on a trip. never had any trouble getting that night, he wound it up—but Now this really does seem iinfair. If I, or any other man, had , been on the beach when the strike was called, I am sure that I, or TO EUROPE WITH THE MEREDITH VICTORY they, would have been in on the beef 100 percent for the SIU. On all ships that I have sailed, I have always worked in full cooperation with my shipmates, and have always followed their c* • decisions all the way. ... . » I would like to know just how long this new ruling will be in effect. I know that those trip card and permit men who were on picket line duty should come first for pro books, but I don't think it fair to keep a man away from his pro book because he was on a ship at sea when the strike was called, such as I was. It stands to reason that my presence on the picketline was impossible. Anthony C. Parker ANSWER:—^The Union fully appreciates the circumstances involved in your case. Brother Parker, and it sincerely hopes that a change in shipping conditions in the very near future will make possible the reopening of the books. The books are closed only temporarily, in line with the will of the membership as expressed by vote at regular mem­ bership meetings. Naturally, it is a protection for the older At left, the vessel plows her way through the English Chan­ members against the possibility of unemployment. The books nel, off Land's End, Bishop Rock. will be reopened from time to time, as conditions warrant, to Gil Parker, the Meredith's cameraman, focuses his lens on eialde permit and trip card men to procure pro books. .some barges, in the photo above, as they were tied up in th* Once you. have your book, and we hc^ that is soon, youH canal which runs through Rotterdam, The Netherland. appreciate the intention of this ruling. Larson Generates Some Cockroach Power wimimmfmiKt. Ill fe �Pag6 Fourteen THE SEAFARERS LOG Deplores Attitude Toward Those On Unorganized Ships During 1946 General Strike Friday. February 14, 1947 HONOR THE BEARER DUES liW. m. MJUt. . MVS iDH 1 1946 N.YJJAN 1 ?94fi mJAN 1 DUES YEAR—19 1046 IJUf. ro. MAS. • •WNOV ll WB NOV 11 f""? Ui finv H1 Aran. WHtt Personally, I think I would To the membership: N.Y.2.IAM 1 l.qj.R KU Nnv 11 fO/r«? I have become aware of the have had a lot more fun in a week MAT VOLL'Mng fact that many men who were on of tramping a picketline than I lUU the picketlines during the 1946 had during my four month trip General Strike are inclined to aboard an Isthmian hell ship! " 1 lOlT look down upon those of us sea­ Altliuugh I personally was at By JOHNNY JOHNSTON men and organizers who were at sea doing a job for the Union by Aok. organizing Isthmian men, it is sea during this period. The Flying Cloud was the •srr. fastest sailing vessel ever to sail As a volunteer organizer I also injust to criticize a man for under Captain Josiah Perkins signed articles on the Red Rover, being at sea during the strike, OCT. Cressy, she sped from New York Isthmian, Aug. 24, 1946 for a even if he was aboard one of our MOV. to San Francisco in 89 days, a trip to India. One-half hour be­ contracted ships. record equalled only once, and We have contracts to honor, fore the General Strike was call­ DEC. then by the Flying Cloud herself. ed on Sept. 4, we cleared New and once a ship has cleared a port that is not yet struck, we York Harbor. On that trip she logged 374 Volunteer organizers receive one month's free dues for each miles in one day, and she still The critical attitude of a few of cannot order the ship to be haul­ month spent aboard unorganized ships during a drive. Many holds the best average sailing the members toward those of us ed around. SIU members have the words "VOLUNTEER ORGANIZER" vessel time from an Atlantic port It is only an accident that a stamped in books to correspond to the number of months they long voyages under the Ameri­ man happens to be on the beach endured bad conditions and low wages so as to carry the SIU can flag. On her maiden voyage when a strike breaks, for who word to unorganized seamen. to San Francisco. can say a month, or even a week, in advance that there is going to ^ % When the war was over the be a strike. There is every pos­ United States owned more ships sibility in the case of the '46 than ever before in history. If General Strike that up until a all the ships the U.S. owned at few days before the strike broke the end of the war were to pass most men were unaware that a By PAUL PARSONS a given point at the j-ate of one strike was going to take place. If a man shows a strike clear­ In most of these frauds #e per minute, sixty per hour, it From the first day that Stew­ ance card that proves him to have ards started shipping from the Port Steward s hands are tied. In would take five days, thirteen been at sea during the action, board in this Union, instead of many instances I know the Port hours, and twenty minutes, to there is no reason to criticize him. obtaining jobs from the com­ Steward would like to do the ' review that long line of ships. It would be a continuous and If a man has any of the legiti­ panies, some of these operators right thing, but his operations imposing array of military might, mate excuses approved by the have been trying in every way are limited by" the purchasing but remember, we didn't build membership he is above attack, to place the Steward in the agent to those of a glorified er­ them because we seamen like the because he was physically unable middle of any beef that might rand boy. idea of war. to participate. arise from inadequate supplies.* STEWARD'S JOB it' The latest of these attempts by If criticism of non-participators A Steward is supposed to be The draft of a vessel is the is desired, let these few members the companies pertains to the able to order his own supplies, GEORGE W, CHAMPLIN distance said vessel is immersed company requisition. It works aim it at the men who were on and we all know that is not hard in the water, or the depth from who were at sea is not justified, the beach when the strike broke, like this: When the ship pulls in­ to do. Of course, there is money the bottom of the keel to the as we were out there doing a job and went home to sit it out on to its home port, the Steward involved, but even if he is in­ water line. takes an inventory of all sup­ for the Uuion just as important their front porch. competent it is far better for one Draft marks are painted on both plies, and makes a requisition, George W. Champlin as pounding the bricks. finger to be in the pot than the sides of the stern and rudder only to find it is not accepted by many hands of the company and post in the following manner: the company. Also at times he the ship-chandlers. The numerals are six inches high finds the inventory too is not ac­ with six inches space between At times these purchasing cepted. them, The bottom of the numer­ agents will load a ship with many The company instead makes al rests on an even foot of draft. unnecessary supplies — supplies out is own requisition and con­ This method makes it impos­ firmation of stores ordered. This that will never be used and were sible to estimate by eye the (This article is not an inter­ falls the task of preparing those they bring to the ship's Steward never ordered by the Steward. amount of draft. If the water and ask for his signature, stating In the instances that I have pretation of the agreement as delicious concoctions which round covers half of a number, the draft it covers the Stewards Depart­ off a Seafarers' meal—the des­ that the stores cannot be obtain­ seen it happen, I have mentioned would be equal to that number it to the Port Steward. He would ed until he signs for them. ment. It merely makes sug­ serts. of feet plus three inches, and so Usually the list is short many always confess ignorance to the gestions to that Department in One sure way of winning the on. answer to many questions undying friendship of ypur ship­ items, but they tell him he will whole matter, naming the pur­ i 1. 4. raised by members. Each week mates is to take some pride in be unable to receive anything un­ chasing agent as the one respon­ The plimsoll mark of a ship the LOG prints an article mak­ the preparation of this important less he puts his signature on the sible. consists of a disc with a horizontal Whenever these company er­ ing suggestions to each of the item on the menu. A good des­ requisition. line through its center, indicating Then just before the ship sails, rand boys come aboard for the ratings in the Stewards De­ sert can often make a mediocre the summer load line. Also there partment. This week's, the meal a success. The last thing to the company stooges climb aboard Steward's and Department heads' are a series of other horizontal and tell all department heads to fourth of the series, is for the be eaten, the dessert generally is signatures on the requisition, sign the confirmation and requi­ they say it is compulsory, and lines indicating the load lines benefit of Night Cooks and the longest remembered. sition list that the company has in some instances threaten to fire for various waters and seasons. Bakers.) The Night Cook and Baker also drawn up. The abbreviations used to mark the men for not signing the lists. Coordination of the functions has to work closely with the day these lines are as follows: If there are any objections to of all members of the Stewards Cook. Jointly, they put out the KEEP COPIES F or FW means Fresh Water Department is absolutely essen­ breakfast meal. Here too, the this they show the signature of IS is Indian Ocean in Summer. I would like to remind the tial to a good performance. In Night Cook and Baker can di­ the Steward, thus placing all the Stewards that they only have to WNA means North Atlantic in line with this, it should be re­ rect, to a degree, the disposition blame on his shoulders. sign for stores received, requisi­ Winter. SIGNS BLIND membered that the Night Cook of his shipmates. Men who start S stands for Summer in waters tions that they have made out Another way this works is for and Baker must cooperate in off the day with an appetizing and matters pertaining to their other than the Indian Ocean. every way possible with all gal­ meal are apt to tackle their jobs the purchasing agent to make a own departments, such as repair W is for Winter in waters other deal with the chandlers whereby ley men with whom he must in good humor. than the North Atlantic. lists, meal reports, and such. they don't send the full amount work. T means Tropical Waters. Tender meats which require ordered to the ship. In other words, the Stewards Of the more specific duties of pre-cooking preparation, such as TF stands for Tropical Fresh The supplies are brought do not have to sign anything that the Night Cook and Baker the hams that have to be par-boiled Waters. they have not made out them­ following are, perhaps, the most before baking, etc., also come aboard, and before the Steward selves, or for anything they have can check the supplies he is ask­ noteworthy. under the jurisdiction of the ed to sign the confirmation sheet. not received. ALL BAKING Night Cook and Baker. For protection against attacks Thus he signs for supplies he It is his job to do all baking No li.st of galley men's duties never received. on their ability. Stewards are aboard the vessel, such as the is complete without emphatic If your requisition is cut. When a complaint is raised by smart to keep a copy of their re­ bread, cake, pies, etc. He also mention of cleanliness. At all or if the food is not up to par. the crew or the Steward, the com­ quisition for the record, and have puts out all bread-type foods times the galley must be spotless. notify all three Delegates at pany will say the stores were no less than two receipts to cover which arc made on top of the The Night Cook and Baker is once so that the ship will not delivered for they have the Stew­ themselves. stove. This would include in his charged with seeing to it that' ard's signature. sail until the matter has been Whenever the stores arrive duties the preparation and mak­ the galley is clean at night. straightened out. They will blame the Steward aboard ship, and they do not cor­ ing of doughnuts, french toast He must clean all galley uten- for incompetency and wilful mis­ respond to the stores ordered, it It is the responsibility of and similar foodstuffs. •sils used in baking when no ba­ use of the stores. By this maneu­ is the Steward's right to make the Steward to check the , , It goes without saying that the ker's utility is carried aboard ver the company achieves a two­ out another requisition. stores before the ship sails, utmost attention should be paid ship. fold purpose, for they discredit and any complaints made far If the second order is refused cleanliness in preparation of However, the wise Night Cook the* Steward, and save the com­ the proper thing is to call a meet­ at sea won't do the crew any these items, as well as in the and Baker realized that the SIU pany money. Also the purchas­ ing of the crew. They'll back good if they have to eat short performance of his other duties, slogan, "an SIU ship is a clean ing agent makes a nice split with you up and you won't get your­ rations or poor food. To the Night Cook and Baker ship," starts in the galley. the chandler. self in hot water. Steward Is Placed In The Middle By A New Shipowner Maneuver What To Do: Some Departmentai Suggestions For Nt. Cook & Baker Chief Stewards i �[• iiuijjs'npr^'" ~~ m. TAX REBATES Mississippi Shipping Company Seafarers who were employed on Mississippi Shipping Company vessels and have credit balances in their unclaim­ ed wage account covering overdeductions of Social Security taxes for the years 1943, 1944 and 1945, can now receive money due them by writing to the Mississippi Shipping Company, 1300 Hibernia Building, New Orleans, La. When writing the company mention the money is due for Federal Old Age Benefit overdeductions, and give your Social Security number. Those entitled to rebates and the amout due are listed "''below. PERSONALS im:. Rauen, Mathais J Reed, Leslie G Reid, Arch Remmie, William J Renn, Grey Rensvik, Alexander Reynolds, Gordon: Risher, William Riuttala, Heims Roberts, B. G Robbins, C. R Robinet, Charles E Robbins, Charles R Romejko, A Romin, Walter Roskie, I.ouis F Rotham, Willie Royal, Floyd Rumberg, Hans Russell, Delmar • Russell, Jo.seph Sand, Eddy M Sansier, George P Sehaffer, Ray Scherdin, Francis L Schliffer, R. G a base pay of $160.00 per month and $1.00 per hour overtime. The new contract provides for •a fortyrhour week with $177;50 per month base pay and $1.25 per hour overtime. These are seven, days a week jobs, so the new contract has been worded giving-' the crews optional over­ time on Saturdays and Sundays. The Seafarers continue to set the pace with the best conditions and wages in the industry. There has been a big howl for DANIEL BOYCE a long time about the crummy old Contact. Mr. P. W. Nelson of Mobile Hall, and there is no the Mississippi. Shipping Co. in doubt that the howl was justified. New Orleans, La. The trouble has been that it :- By LOUIS GOFFIN 1.91 1.23 17.14 38 1.37 4.69 05 11. C. Peeler, $1.00. RUNNING AROUND l'."® I the ship and all hands aboard, 11.60 SS SHERWOOD Each morning he would take a' snd his orders must be obeyed Crew of SS Sherwood, $12.00; S. 1.58 short cross-country hop from' immediately. Shupler, $.2.00. 94 ship to ship, and as the fleet in­ SS BILLINGS VICTORY Up out of the engine room came 49 p. Calderon, $1.00: M. S. Dedlano. creased in size, his cross-country the Chief with a wrench in both 14 $1.00; J. E. Fiaig, $1.00; DeForest' increased in length. hands yelling, "Get the hell back — L41 Fry, $1.00; L. McDonald. $1.00; D. H. ' Well, just about a couple of on the bridge before I conk you 12.26 Leister, $1.00; A. M. Milefski, $1.00; days before the strike broke, and one." Well, the Old Man really S. Marcelino $1.00; R. P. Hanley. $1.00; 81 E. J. Puthe. $1.00; A. Zarkooski. $1.00; the fleet consisted of about 68 took off. 21.02 A. E. Rosado. $5.00; A. Garnzoii, $1.00; ships, this bird took off on his When he got back on the 12 P. Lohse. $1.00-; A. Wasstrom. $1.00; However, he had bridge he started to weep "to the 12 w. Renny, $1.00; o. J. Kase, $1.00; P. 21.19 G. Marhos. $1.00; 11. Put, $1.00; B. L. forgotten to count the ships, and Mate on watch, "Nobody loves $1.00; J. L. McHenry, $1.00; in making a detour, he found no me. Everyone has it in for me. 79 Clayton, A. Martinisen, $1.00; H. C. Michels, gangway, so—in the drink he' so the hell with everybody. I 28.42 $1.00; D. A. Crockett, $1.00; S. Her­ don't care if the damn ship burns 1.28 nandez. $1.00; .A. J. Jensen, $1.00; A. When we heard his howls, we up." _ .11 Stankicwicz, $1.00. INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS rushed over to where he was last From that time on until we " 6.52 F. D.aniais, $1.00; William Mason, j And there he was, thrashgot back in New York, we didn't 45.82 $1.00; c. Lugo. $1.00; J. Alper $1.00, jj^g gpound like 3 whale. see or hear from the Old Man „ , . ., , near, Iiom ine UlU Man, 95 W L. Ezell, $1.00; David M. Nichols, O"® 8"^ l^aneu over liie side and Brothers, he really was an 1.25 $1.00; John-Troast. $1.00. E. Fernandez, $3.00; John E. Well, and hollered down: "How's your; dd man from the results of that 2.09 $1.00; Joe Schoell. $3.00; Alex W. Weir. cross-country run today. Why trip. 11.71 $2.00. don't you go to the bottom and 5.68 J. Maguire, $3.00; W. O'Connor. $2.00. continue your run, you may wind 1.25 BOSTON up in China?" 94 INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS "Listen smart guy," said the 2.90 Vern L. Smith, $1.00; R. Hallahuii. Steward, "That's just what I in17.76 $3.00. BALTIMORE 14 North Gay St. Nfiw Towboat Contract Signed In Mobite, Setting New Lead NOTICF! There isn't Ever A Shortage Of Those Seagoing Characters I have been requested to con- of the crew, and battles they tinue my stories on seagoing were. characters by my good friend, I The Old Man was a sane chara^id former writer Jft- the Log,' acter when we sailed, but he" was Johnny Bunker. In my future a candidate for the bughouse articles I will try to concentrate when we returned, on the Skippers, Mates, EnEach morning at sea this guy gineers. Radio Operators, and ^ would stand on the wing of the Stewards, whom I sailed with or bridge with a rifle and take pot know about through former ship- shots at the seagulls and porNEW YORK mates. poises. This in itself is a major SS FORT WINABAGO I will try to go back as far as' seagoing crime, but when we T. J. F. Edstrom, $2,00; W. C. llogancnmpf $1.00; T. E. Walker, $2.00; w. I can, Starting fi'om my early sea- protested against this type of c. Vandersaii, $1.00; L. Baiiarini. $3.00; j going days up to, and including shooting he said, "If you guys Wm. p. Murphy. $2.00- E V. Hoff, present time. As space is don't like it, I'll start taking $4.00; T. Murphy, $4.00; J. \'. Simmons.' . . i r • . j. ^ $4.00: L. WaU $4.00; R. L. Collins. I Will try not to covcr shots at the crew." $3.00; H. C. Keiter. $2.00; J. Augus- too much territory in any one KING OF THE CREW lino, $4 00; K. P. Apter, $4.00; R. M. article. Homeward-bound, a fire broke Kat7.. $3.00; B. Walker, $3.00; J. M. In the early part of 1921, prior Bergerin, $3.00; Stanley Lesko, $3.00; out in the engine room, and the to the strike, Jamaica Bay, near, G. D. Inkpen, $3.00. Brooklyn, was the location of the, ^^ip stopped cold. The Old Man SS T. MEADOWS lay-up fleet, where I shipped as, tearing into tne engine W. Row Lee, $1.00; R. E. Miller, a cleanup man. The fleet only demanding that the fire $1.00; A. G. Martinez, $1.00; T. Moyer, extinguished and the engines $1.00; H. E. Slowik, $1.00; E. Steiner. consisted of six ships, and the. $2.00; C. Kleeberg, $2.00; W. A. Bur­ cleanup Steward was a guy from started immediately, ton, $2.00; J. C. Beechcr, $4.00; R. J. my home town, a former crossWell, in about one minute, he Stark, $2.00; R. Olson, $2.00; D. E. i running up on deck, howWorster, $2.0;; Charles Hitchens, $2.00; country runner. RAYMOND L. PERRY Contact Miss Dvorchak, credit manager of Hotel New Yorker. 4* FRANCIS MARTENS. AB Toby Martens, 53 Kenyon St., New Bedford, Mass., is anxious for an address whei'e you can be reached by mail. % % % BARNEY SPEEGLE Please communicate with your wife immediately, telling her when you expect to be home. A letter from her indicates that your son requires medical atten­ tion, and your help is greatly needed. S. 4. S. ANYONE DE COSTA Plea.se write to your wife at P. O. Box 3611, Jacksonville, Fla. i 4.' 4. ANTHONY METALLICA Some of your gear is being held Schmidt, Ralph H for you by Roger Farrara. Write Schnicre, Erwin to him care of the SS T. Meadows, Pacific Tankers, c/o Standard Oil Schwarz, Milton G Co., 115 Broadway, New York Scliste, Bruns N City, telling him where you want Shells, Hy Sheppard, Fred V. the gear sent. 4. 4. 4.. PAUL REINBERGER JRi. Your mother, Mrs. Karen Henry, P. O. Box 501, Harbor City, Calif., wishes you to com­ municate with her immediately, and give your whereabouts. By CAL TANNER. 4- 4. 4. MOBILE — This port started was tough to even get a room ART COLEMAN the ball rolling in the harbor here, much less rent a Union Hall. SYLVESTER BARNES last year with a The war-time boom grabbed up James Kish, 2935 E. 121 St., towboat field short effective strike, which all available space for stores, Cleveland, O., wants to know brought good' conditions and housing and gin mills, with the where he carr reach you. wages on harbor craft for the result that the Union just couldn't 4' 4" 4" find a decent spot. first time. JUAN: E. VASQUEZ There is a good prospect that The good' example set last Carmen Iris Torres writes that the Mobile membership will now she has important news for you. year was reflected in two new. be able to move into a decent tow boat agreements signed Feb­ She can be reached at 565 West ruary 9th, this year, with the Hall with ample* space and rec­ 174th St;, . New York City. Mobile Towing and Wrecking reational facilities by the time 4. 4 4 Company and the Gulf Ship­ this goes to press. WILLIAM JAME& STEWART Anyway, the membership can building Corporation. Wire your father, William rest assured that heaven, hell Previous to the signing of this Stewart, your present address so and high water are being moved contract, these crews were work­ that he may communicate with to get the spot as soon as possible. j'ou. Send the message collect, or ing a forty-eight hour week for telephone him and reverse the charges. 44 4 GEORGE F; CURRANi Your brother, John A. Curran, of Ogdensburg, N. YL, wishes to know your whereabouts. 4 4 4 JOHN BYRD Get in touch with your mother. Page Fifteen THE SEAFARERS LOG Friday, Febraury. 14, 1947 SlU HALLS Calvert 4539 276 State St. Boudoin 4455 BUFFALO 10 Exchange St. Cleveland 7391 CHARLESTON 424 King Street Phone 3-3680 CHICAGO 24 W. Superior Ave. Superior 5175 CLEVELAND ...1014 E. St. Clair Ave. Main 0147 CORPUS CHRISTI ..1824 Mesquite St. Corpus Christ! 3..1509 DETROIT 1038 Third St. Cadillac 6857 DULUTH 531 W. Michigaa St. Melrose 4110 GALVESTON 305 Vi 22nd St. 2-8448 HONOLULU 16 Merchant St. 58777 BOSTON tend to do." And darned if he didn't do it, because in about 20 HOUSTON isis 75th street , , I Phone Wentworth 3-3809 minute he was ashore. I JACKSONVILLE 920 Maim st. We didn't see his head, and' Phone 5-5919 how he did it we never did fig., MARCUS HOOK ure' out, but there he was on the MIAMI 135s N. E. 1st Ave. shore running like hell, showing MOMLE 7 St. Michael St. that he was as good a swimmer' NEW ORLEANS 339 Chartfes"st^ as he claimed to be cross-coun-1 Magnolia 6112-6113 NEW YORK 51 Beaver St. try runner. HAnover 2-2784 NORFOLK 127-129 Bank Street CHARACTER CARGO 4-1083 In early 1942, I joined a tanker PHILADELPHIA 9 South 7th St. called the SS Hera as Messboy I Phone Lombard 3-7651 FRONT: PATROL . , , . i. c on 1. 1 PORT ARTHUR ..909 Fort Worth Ave. Phone: 2-8632 Every ship in the port is being for the big amount of 30 bucks | iii w. Bumside St. covered, and no beefs too big to a month. This trip was from New PORTLAND xr 1 X T-. v. 1 Beacon 4336 handle have come up. One good' York to Rouen, France, and we RICHMOND, Calif. 257 sth st. • 2599 thing about Mobile is the fact were loaded down with charSAN FRANCISCO 105 Market St. that the average man sailing out acters. Donglas 5475-8363 The ship had: no wireless, and SAN JUAN, P. H. ...252 Ponce de Leon of this port is both a good seaman San Juan 2-5996 and a good Union man, with the there was no: way of communi-J result that bum beefs are kept eating with the shore, or other, ships, except by. blinker or sig- SEATTLE se ^nec^ st. at a minimum. Main 0Z90 Shipping remains fair and a nal flags. TAMPA 1809-1811 N. FrankliniSt. When we started out the Skip­ M-.1B23 lot' of: the boys have taken. on a 615 Summit St. little towboating under the good per had dark hair. When we re­ TOLEDO WILMINGTON .440 Airalon Blvd. harbor contracts. It may sound turned his hair was almost snow Terminal 4-3131 602 Houghton St. like bragging, but we have the white, and therein lies the tale., VICTORIA, B. C Garden 8331 For the first- time in my sea-' VANCOUVER opinion that Mobile is just; about 144 W. Hastings St. Pacific 7824 the best port in the country, bar going career the battles aboard were between the officers instead none. �THE SEAFARERS LOG Page Sixieen Friday, February 14, 1947 ISTHMIAN STAMEN: «=»*' "tS ^yy^ipavMA/ 'TS'"" """" -\0 tes» Po ndf lef- NMUshijiW tricte cie|>we now ^"H^ fc.6rtt>u uJhich IS ^FAE^OEESS Jbra'cxENAXicfieALXfenaN; � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Seafarers Log Issues 1939-1949 Description An account of the resource Volumes I-XI of the Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource February 14, 1947 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Newsprint Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Vol. IX, No. 6 Description An account of the resource Headlines: ANTI COMMUNISTS WIN EASILY IN MFOW ELECTION ISTHMIAN CASE GOES BEFORE NLRB; COMPANY OBJECTIONS OVERRULED SIU TAKES TO STREES TO AID AFL FINANCIAL EMPLOYEES CMU, REPUDIATED BY THREE UNIONS, VOTES TO DISBAND NMU LOSES TO COMPANY UNION IN ATLANTIC REFINING ELECTION THEY ALSO SERVED END OF THE ROAD MEMBERSHIP IS THE ONLY VICTIM IN POWER STRUGGLE WITHIN NMU CIO SHIPBUILDERS KEEP PICKETLINES SOLID; SEAFARERS SENDS WIRE TO MAYOR O'DWYER TEXT OF TELEGRAM TO MAYOR TAMPA AFL UNIONS TAKE LEAD AGAINST ANTI-LABOR CITY HEADS EVENTS OF A BUSY WEEK IN N.O. REPORT OF NLRB REGIONAL DIRECTOR SIU DISTRIBUTES 25,000 LEAFLETS FOR UFE REPORT OF NLRB REGIONAL DIRECTOR SIU DISTRIBUTES 25,000 LEAFLETS FOR UFE WHAT GOOD IS A UNION? CHICAGO AGENT FOLLOWS A HUNCH, SAVES SELF FROM ICY VACATION COMPANY HANDOUTS ARE FAR CRY FROM UNION CONTRACT CONDITIONS STORMY WEATHER DOES NOT SLOW NEED FOR RATED MEN IN NEW YORK ADVICE FROM AGENT: NOTIFY HALL AS SOON AS YOUR SHIP TIES UP FRISCO SHIPPING IS OUT OF FOG AND STARTS HUMMING ONCE AGAIN REPORT OF THE GREAT LAKES SECRETARY-TREASURER NEW AGENT GETS SUN AND SHIPPING DOPE IN SAN JUAN CLEVELAND AWAITS THE SPRING THAW ON GREAT LAKES NMU HOPES FADE ON LAKES; RECORD IS DEATH WARRANT PIONEER LADS RUB IT IN--WITH SNOW SHARSWOOD MEN HIT SKIPPER IN VESSEL'S RATION REPORT BELLYROBBERS DO A BANG-UP JOB, WIN PLAUDITS OF THE JEAN CREW BLACKIE GARDNER COUNTED OUT FINANCIALLY IN LIVELY TUSSLE WITH 'THE WICKED CITY' DEPLORES ATTITUDE TOWARD THOSE ON UNORGANIZED SHIPS DURING 1946 GENERAL STRIKE STEWARD IS PLACED IN THE MIDDLE BY A NEW SHIPOWNER MANEUVER WHAT TO DO: SOME DEPARTMENTAL SUGGESTIONS FOR NT. COOK & BAKER NEW TOWBOAT CONTRACT SIGNED IN MOBILE, SETTING NEW LEAD Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 2/14/1947 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America 1947 Periodicals Seafarers Log