Media
Issue Date
1939-07-21
Volume
1
Issue Number
14
Plaintext
The Seafarers' Log
Seafarers' International Union of North Ameriea
OfficialOrgan oftheAtlanlu:,Gulf and GreatLak^sSeamen
BROTHERHOOD
OF THE
SEA
VOL. I NEW YORK, N. Y., FRIDAY, JULY 21, 1939 > 448 NO. 14
COMMISSARS PUN COMPLETE
DOMINATION OF N. M. U.
Take Away District Autonomy and
Plan Additional Assessments
WILL "FIGHT" COMMISSION
According to newspaper articles, it becomes increasingly
evident that Joe Cnrran and the commissars have every in
tention of strengthening their hold on the NMTJ membership.
Among the points advocated by their program we find the
following:
"1. Strengthen the organization through abolition of dis
tricts and centralization of membership control.
"2. Rehabilitate finances through increased assessmejit."
At a casual glance these ideas may seem innocent enough,
but when more closely scrutinized their real intent is very
plainly seen.
Coiiunisaf Control
Take for instance number 1:
. . . "ABOLITION OK DISTRICTS
AND CENTRALIZATION OF
MEMBERSHIP CONTROL." In
other words, they want to take
away the autonomy of the Gulf
and Lakes Districts, and put the
complete control of the NMU in
the hands of the top commissars,
whose "rule or ruin" policy is
only too well known. The way
things stand at present, the com
missars m.eet with considerable
opposition fronvthe Gulf District,
. and their program is^i'times seri
ously hindered. So now the corn
rats want to abolish this opposi
tion to their plans, so that they
will have smoother sailing.
Should IJe Districts
Through past experience, we
know that the di .'ision of a marine
union into districts is the best
thing for all concerned. Had the
phoney ISU offlcials given the
Gulf District a separate charter,
as they were requested to do, the
entire Gulf would probably still
be AFL. But no, they didn't want
to let loose of the reins, and give
the Gulf the right to act. and think
fbr themselves. They well knew
that their strongest opposition
was in the Gulf, just as the com
missars also know.. Now the top
fraction want to centralize the
control of the NMU in New York,
but,—and you can quote us on
thls,_IT WON'T BE MEMBER
SHIP CONTROL!
Point Number 2: "THROUGH
INCREASED ASSESSMENT." Ye
gods!—haven't the NMU member
ship already been deluged with
various and numerous assess
ments, until tTiey are itostively be
coming punchdr.unk? Whei'e does
all the money go? No one seems
to know the correct answer to tliat
question!
Wlieic Doe.s It Go?
Wliy should an organl..alion the
size of the NMU, with a claimed
(Contiiiiicil on I'nuc /;
GULF HEADOUARTERS REPORTS
CONSIDERABLE HEADWAY
Living Conditions Improved and
Overtime Beefs Settled
CHALLENGE NMU TO COMPARE
New Orleans, La., July 11—Several Bull Line ships were
in the Gulf Di.slriet, and refused to pay the overtime. The
Delisle was tied up in Savannah, over Saturday afternoon
and Sunday overtime for all hands. The Longshoremen re
spected thepicket line, and the beef was settled in quick
order. The Major Wheeler was in<fc :
here with a STU crew with the
same beef. Settled when all hands
struck. Milk was also put on the
menu, with some improved food.
P & O Steamship Company
A meeting is called with this
company for Friday, to settle some
of the attempted chiseling tactics.
They'd better quit trying to chisel,
or else. . . .! The crews of these
ships have taken up a ?E>.on strike
assessment, to be ready if th^
are forced' to use direct action to
protect the gains they have al
ready made. $1,250 laying in the
bank. Considering that this was
a voluntary donation, it shows the
militant spirit the P & O crews
are displaying.
Waterman Line
They have gone iiilo business
with Sudden & Christensen. They
will operate .some intercoasial
ships. They just bought the SS
Dryden, Lykes Bros., for service
in the European trade. The NMU
crew will be replaced by Seafarers'
next week. Good food, fresh
milk and porcelain iceboxes on all
these ships. Their coastwise ships
have the best conditions of any
ships running coastwise.
SOUTH ATLANTIC — These
ships are percolating OK. Over
time disputes are settled to satis
faction of crews.
RANGE LINE—Joe Buckley,
Agent in Houston, can report "on
these better than Headquarters.
(Continued on Page 3)
CONVENTION OF NMU
CLOSES jy.O.
Gulf Members Paying
No Dues fo Comrafs
FAVOR SEAFARERS
New Orleams, La., July 19.—The
NMU Convention is over. The
rank and file are squawking about
the dictatorial methods used by
Curran & Co., to steamroller the
convention. Everything went off
"Union Square fashion": First—
All the active opposition was ex
pelled. Many ships' delegates who
lemained in tlie convention to be
recorded opposed to tlie phoney
new constitution, were ignored
wlien they asked for the floor.
Some party stooge would always
be recognized by Curranski, to
keep ships' delegate.s off the floor.
"Cliain Gangs" Work Out
Many ships' delegales returned
to their ships before the conven-
tion was half over. Others stayed
to make Curranski and Co., pay
their $5.00 per day expenses.
When the commissars got wise,
they cut ships' delegales expenses
to $3.00 per day. Total cost of this
"Convention to destroy demo-
cracy" was $13,000. There is no
separate record to cover the cost
ef importing from New York Cur-
ranski's private beef trust. They
didn't do him much good as Cur-
ran got dumped himself, and many
(Continued on Page 3)
Suggest Tax Payers
Look Into Things
Points Out Needless
Spending by M,C=
Mobile, Ala., July 17.—^A • week
since the school ship was with us,
and there Is still signs of it in
town. One of the local studios has
a picture of the scow in the show
window, and it is attracting con
siderable attention from the folks
here in town. It is a nice picture,
—so nice, that if I can get one I
will send it. in for publication in
both pai)ers. It will show what
the boys learn (And what they
forget!) when they get around
these sort of school ships.
The ship laid here for five days.
AND ALL THE TIME SHE LAID
HERE THE FORWARD BREAST
LINE LED ACROSS AND OVER
THE HEADLINE, — CHAFIiNG
AND RUINING LINES! Imagine
the mate on one of those rust
pots, where the crew don't have
that sort of training, blowing his
lid about a thing like that!
THE PAY OFF IS THAT THE
HANDS ON THIS TUB ARE
NMU OLD TIMERS WHO ARE
DOING A LITTLE BUILDING
FOR THE PARTY!
THE SHIPOWiNERS WILL
TAKE THIS SORT OF THING,
AND PAY FOR IT, FROM THE
STOOGES WHO ARE tHERE.
THE TAX PAYERS WHO ARE
PAYING FOR IT DON'T KNOW
WHERE TO LOOK FOR IT. ALL
THEY SEE IS A NICE PRETTY
SHIP, A LOT OF UNIFORMS,
AND THEY THINK EVERY
THING IS FliNE.
(Continued on Page 4)
PSTON AGENT GIVES INSIDE
DOPE DNJNMU COMMISSARS
Meers, Paxton, Rogers, Alexander and
Others Long Time "PieCards"
"STEAMROLLER" CONVENTION
Houston, Texas,
July 14, 1939
Brother.s:
Permit me to verify Brother Johnny Gunnison's letter in
the Seafarers' Log of July 7, 1939 as the truth; for the writer
of this letter v(ms also pre.sent in the Gulf during the 193637
strike against the phoney ISU olScials.
During that beef the Sailors' Union of the Pacific had
been sending monies to the Strike Committee, "whose head
quarters were located at 321 Chartres Street, New Orleans.
Robert E. Meers, Commissar, waa^
head of the Strike Committee,
and Meers never turned over a
damned cent of tfiat money to the
men for whom It was Intended.
That phoney politician was eating
the best of foods, while the rank
and file got along with whatever
the stewpot had on hand,—usual
ly red beans or rice!
When the strike was over, tlie
biggest mistake made by the rank
and file was to ship out,—leaving
tlie hall in full charge of a gang
of parasites, who at the present
time have been exposed in their
true colors, and have proven them
selves even phonier than the old
ISU phonies!
Alc.xander Accii.sod
In reference to Harry Alexan
der, a former member of tlie West
Coast Firemen's Union, who ran
for Agent's job In the port of
Portland, Oregon. He was unsuc
cessful in obtaining that position,
and later turned up in Corpus
Christi as NMU Agent,—holding
two books. After much ballyhoo
on the CP's part, this phoney later
became Agent in the port of Mo
bile. His method of trying to
muscle in on the "\A'aterman Line
made him the laughing stock of
the West Gulf, and his attempt to
place West Coast men in the old
AFL hall in Mobile to act as stool
pigions was spiked by the rank
and file of the P. C. Firemen. The
CP later forced this wouldbe or
ganizer to resign, and head for
Houston, where he was to contact
Cunningham, a party member, to
build up what they call a "Unity
Drive" between both coasts. This
was merely to blind their real in
tentions.
Alexander was planted in Hous
ton to force through a program
to build up to the present rotten
frame up of Francis P. O'Donohue,
who was at that time Agent for
the NMU in Houston. I ACCUSE
ALEXANDER AND CUNNING
HAM AS THE INSTIGATORS OF
THE DAMNABLE LYING PRO
PAGANDA WHISPERED ALONG
THE NEW YORK WATER
FRONT, CLAIMING THAT
O'DONOHUE WAS IN THE PAY
OF HARRY LUNDEBERG! These
people have a sweet propaganda
machine:—the first step to break
down the resistance of the rank
and file is to start a rumor, then
later print the rumor,—and the
average working stiff believes the
story as printed.
Post Histories Given
Lester Lord was in the port' of
New Orleans from June until July
of 1938, fighting one hundred per
c^t down the line with the rank
and file, assisting them to shed
themselves of Robert E. Meers,
wiio was found guilty of gross
negligence in his duties as Agent
of that port. The writer of this
letter was then shipping SUP men
from the Marine Transport "Work
ers, of the IWW, Hall ill Ex
change Alley.
Since the commies have a gieat
habit of relating past histories of
rank and filers, let me give you a
little history of a few politicians;
Corby Paxton, present editor of
the NMU "PileIt":—In 1936 this
socalled rank and filer was edi
tor of the "Voice of Laboi" In
Honolulu, organizing the Filipino
sugarcane workers and pineapple
workers. For two bits you could
join their commy setup:—no join,
no work! The Filipino labor was
getting one buck a day;—just
about the same conditions the CP
is trying to hand the rank and file
of the NMU!
Foriiier MWIU Menibers
Ralph Rogers and his brother
John were well known barflies,
chiseling all their sliipmales along
the Honolulu waterfront in 1936.
Ralph Rogers shipped out from
that port on the Helen Whittier,
the same ship the writer of thl§.
article struck for better condi
tions, and was tossed into jail for
his eCCoiLs! Joe Collender was
stooging for Corby Paxton at the
• same time, and Joe Russell was
prominently seen on the Honolulu
waterfront. Incidentally, Joe Rus
sell also carried two books, while
temporarily holding a pie card in
the NMU! All of these piecards
were former members of the Mar
ine Workers Industrial Union, the
American section of the Commun
ist Party within the marine in
dustry, who folded up after the
1934 strike on the West Coast, and
were ordered to BORE FROM
WITHIN by placing party mem
bers in key positions. Out of it
came the National Maritime
Union.
"Rule or Ruin" Policy
Many of yon workers have
never read the "MARINEi WORK
ERS' VOICE ", commonly known
as the "WHISPER". In it you will
find such names as Smith Hop
kins, Tommy Ray, Roy Hudson,
Walter Stack, and numerous other
party members holding TOP PO
SITIONS in the NMU. These
same people who classify them
selves as progressive union men
(Continued on Page 3)
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THE SEAFARERS' LOG Friday, July 21, 1939
Published by the
Seafarers^ International Union
of North America
Affiliated with the American Federation of Labor
HARRY LUNDEBERG, Acting President
11 Steuart Street, San Francisco, Calif.
Atlantic District
HEADQUARTERS
New York (Phone: BOwling Green 93437) ......2 Stone Street
BRANCHES
Boston .• • • 1 Rowes Wharf
Providence 465 So. Main Street
Philadelphia 6 North 6th Street
Baltimore 212 East Pratt Street
Norfolk 307 East Main Street
San Juan, Puerto Rico 8 Covadonga Street
Gulf District
HEADiaUARTERS
New Orleans 309 Chartres Street
BRANCHES
Savannah 218 East Bay Street
Jacksonville 136 Bay Street
Miami 809 N. E. First Avenue
Tampa 206 Franklin Street
Mobile 55 So. Conception Street
Houston 1712 75th street
Great LakesDistrict
HEADQUARTERS
Detroit 1038 Third Street
ADDRESS ALL CORRESPONDENCE CONCERNINO THIS
PVBLICA.TION TO:
"THE SEAFARERS' LOG"
P. O. Box 522, Qiurch St. Annex, New York, N. Y.
HONOR ROLL
Philadelphia
News Items
Baltimore Highlights
%f S.S. Mauuela,
Pier 22,
Brooklyn, N. Y.
July 10, 1939.
Editor SEAi'AEERS'LOG:
We, the members of the crew of the SS Manuela have
been enjoyingyour publication since its inception. We hope
this good work will continue, and toward this end, the crew
has taken up a collection which you will find enclosed.
Fraternally yours,
Dusan de Duisin, Ship's Delegate
The crew of the SS Manuela donated the sum of $6.50, for
which we thank them, and also express the hope that other
ships' crews will follow the example.
COOPERATE WITH PATROLMEN
On several previous occasions we have been obliged to
take issue with some of the membership for their failure to
cooperate with the patrolmen, but it seems that many of
them don't yet quite grasp the idea.
One day last, week a couple of the members of one ship's
crew had a beef regarding overtime, which they presented to
the patrolman. The patrolman took the beef up with the
company officials, and then had the men involved in the dis
pute also talk with the officials. Fur some reason or other,
when confronted by the company biggies, the boys agreed to
accept half the overtime they had demanded! After it had
all been setlted, and the bigshots were out of sight, they
started beefing again! What kind of cooperation do you call
that? Why didn't they insist on the full overtime to which
they were entitled? The beef was a legitimate one, and
should have been backed up 100 percent. In agreeing to com
promise the matter, they also made the patrolman look like
more or less of a monke.y,
When you prescTit the patrolman with a legitimate beef,
and he takes it up with company officials, give him your com
plete backing. He is powerless to help you unless you are
also willing to help yourselves. Your Union officials are not
directly responsible for ships' conditions, because it is direct
ly up to the rank and file to maintain conditions through h "i
fied action, and by giving comj)lete support to the officials
.when making any demands. Your Union officials can not
make conditions for you,—you have to make them for your
selves! When any union official goes to bat for you, he can't
meet with any degree of success, unless you are behind him
to a man!
To quote from Brother Buckley's letter in the "West
Coast Sailor": "We don't blame Duke Dushane or Red Dean
if our conditions are not quite right; we have only ourselves
to blame for being lax as Union men." Your officials are only
the spokesmen for the rank and file, and are only as strong as
the economic power behind them.—always remember that!
Philadelphia, Pa., July 12.—Ac
cording to the true principles of
organization. Unions are created
to band together certain indi
viduals so as tiiey may get col
ure as individuals denied.
"Well,^ if tiie East and West
Coasts have united, we are in a
damned good position to get that
wliich we liave been denied for so
long,—CONDITIONS!
I don't' know but that I may be
criticized for tills missive, but
nevertlieless, someone must take
liie initiative and try to clear up
this misunderstanding that is
gatiiering such momentum witliin
our ranks. It seems that certain
groups are laboring undei; the
illusion that fliey are much su
perior to their fellow man, and
the writer Is of the opinion tliat
we are all brothers in this great
cause, and we all have the same
principle in mind, tlieiefore,—why
all this hullabaloo?
We accepted a charter in the
SIU of NA, and we are happy and
proud of the fact', and since the
acceptance of said charter we have
wonderful progress in organizing.
We have eliminated practically all
of the old line phoneys, and have
men in office who are trying to
carry out the will of the majority
of the membership.
Now that elections will soon he
here, the membersiiip would do
well to think things over in ad
vance, and hear In mind the con
duct iind the actions of tlie offi
cials who are now. holding Oiffice,
as to whether they would want
tliese same men to represent them
in the coming year. It Is be re
membered that the b'aliot is the
strongest weapon that the mem
bership have. (USE jTi)
Well, here's to a bigger and bet
ter organization, and I hope that
tlie delegates to the conference in
Baltimore will bring some hack to
the membership that' will make
history!
Harry J. Collins, No. 496
Teamsters Given Support
By Baltimore Branch
Shipping Good in Spite of M^ny
Vessels Being Tied Up
ON WATCH FOR COMICS
Providence
Notes
On Friday, July 7, the NLRB
certified the Seafarers' Interna
tional Union of North America as
the solebargaining agents for the
New England SS Co., New Bed
ford, Nantucket, Martha's 'Vine
yard Line. A meeting will he
held on July 24 \yith the owners
to discuss changes in the agree
ment.
The ILA has claimed jurisdic
t'ipu over the standby gang work
ing aboard the Olga. Tliere is
work there for about fifty men for
another month.
Shipping has been good for the
past week. Having trouble get
ting white coalburning firemen
for excursion boats here. The
jobs pay $90 per month. All avail
able men here have shipped out
on the harbor joh.s, and men are
scarce W :' are calling Bost'on for
replacements.
There are three dredges digging
out the harbor now, and several
N. Y. tugs are here towing mud
and sand away. All harbor work
here is a PWA project.
Four Standard Oil tankers, out
of seven, tied up here, will sail
shortly with mixed colored and
Filipino crews. They are black
oil ships. The Standard Oil of
N. Y, Is shipping colored replace
ments to ships soutli of here.
The white crews who struck
these ships are on the beach,
while the little brown brother
Baltiinore. Md,, July 12—>Shipi>i!i<r ecmliiines fair to good
out of tlii.s Port with Dispatcher AViiigate reporting a total
of 65 lueinbcrs .shipped dui'iiig the pa.st week. Local ship
yards are overloaded with vessels in for extended drydocking
periods and the eonseipient la.ving otf of erews has congested
the shipping lists slightly, but not enough to hurt. Busine.ss
in general is good, and applicants for memhership, mostly
NMU. miiiierous enough to cause the Branch's consideration
on the erealing of a coimniMee to attend to the investigation
end of the matter, e.speciall.v since the "Comics", Avell licked
in an open fight', have received^ ——
orders from topfliglit Party lead
ers to rejoin the A. F. of L. or
ganizations and start their boring
from within tactics once. more.
Other waterfront organizations
have report'ed this change in Party
tactics recently, and have taken
adequate steps to protect their
memhership so it. is as well that
the SIU keeps a close eye on
whom they take in.
Teamsters .Siippoi ted
Agent, McKay, whom the Balti
more ehipowners claim can cover
moie ground and he in more
places at. one time tlian the
"Shadow" of radio fame; swung
the Branch in behind the Team
sters this week when that organi
zation struck a supply warehouse
which deals largely with local
steamship companies. As a result
the steamship companies con
cerned hastily dropped the struck
supply dealers as if they were hot
bricks, and now the Teamsters are
more than anxious to show their
appreciation by reciprocal action
anytime the SIU needs a helping
hand. Brother McKay also ap
peared before the House Merchant
Marine and Fisheries Committee
in "Wasliington Tuesday testifying
for the organization on BillHR
6726 and altliough as we fore
casted the hearing was cluttered
up with much irrevelant testi
mony submitted by individuals
with absolutely no interest in the
seaman other than what they can
get out of hllil, we kliOW that
Agent McKay's testimony sub
mitted in his usual brief, em
phatic and to the point, style will
have its effect'.
iliary tanker for the navy. Evi
dently NMU's toadying to the
Commission In the matter of sup
plying men to Commission ships
has backfired somewhat, since we
have It on good authority that
there isn't a bonafide Union man
aboard the Challenge.
Another Departure
The Branch lias been taking it
on tlie cliin recently in regards to
the deaths of several good
brothers and it is again with a
deep sense of loss we report the
death, by drowning, of Brotlier S.
J. Holter No. 1401. Brother Holtcr
proved himself a seaman right up
to the end by calmly strapping, ob
lifebelts to the occupants of a
hnrnkig lahiich, and then, badly
burned, losing his life In a vain
attempt to swim ashore.
Roller Skates No Good
New Ves.se;.s
Local newspapers are making a
great todo over the appearance
in this port of the Maritime Com
mission's latest addition to their
fleet, the SS Challenge. The Chal
lenge is ostensibly the first of five
new Commission vessels to be
placed in the transAtlantic ser
vice out of this Port replacing the
live ships of the old Baltimore
Mall Line which are now on the
Tntercoastal service for Panama
Pacific. The new outfit is listed
for operation by the Roosevelt
Lino and according to the news
paper's article is manned exclu
sively by Naval Reserve men all
decked out In natty, white uni
forms. The public has been in
vited aboard to inspect this latest
addition to the American Mer
chant Marine, .or should we say
U.S. Navy. Also of much local in
terest was the If unehing Saturday
of ESSO's SS Platte, which is
scheduled to he taken over by the
Government for operation as aux
After a couple of weeks of fol
lowing Brother (Philly) Reddle's
suggestion tliat we "get ourselves
a pair of roller skates" to cover
the waterfront, the patrolmen
gave it' up as a bad job, and have
secured an ancient junk heap that
heralds the arrival of the patrol
men several miles before the al
leged automobile comes In sight.
Between the inechanism of the ja
loppy, and the driving of Brother
John Lui, which has raised fixe
blood pressure of every traffic cop
from Canton to Locust Point, we
necessary to hold regular elections
can see that it. will be no longer
necessary to hold regular elections
for patrolmen, since at the pres
ent rate the average life of a
patrolman will be shortened to ap
proximately six months.
SAILORS OBSERVE
finlrs are riding around in big
Packards! Page "NoCoffeeTime
Joe," and ask him how come!
New Orleans, La,
July 17, 1939.
The Seafarers' Log
New York
"We, the Deck Depai'fment of the
SS Edgar P. Lqckenbach sent a
telegram on July 3 to the SUP
Headquarteis, regarding July 5.
The same day we got an answer
not to work.
I told the Black Gang delegate,
and he sent one to MFOW&W
Headquarters the following day.
The reply was that unlcGS the ship
was on the West Coast, to work.
We, the Dock Department took
the day off. The Black Gang re
fusing to take the day off with us.
Now, the Steward Department,
being mostly NMU, do not know
what July 5, Maritime Memorial
Day, really is, so we could not ex
pect any cooperation from them.
Fraternally yours,
E. M. Boudreaux, SUP No. 4191,
Deck Delegate of
SS Edgar F. Luckenbach
....
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Friday, July 21, 1939 THE SEAFARERS' LOG
HERE and THERE in the GULF
NEWS/rom NEW ORLEANS
NMU GULF C0M1CALS TAKE
OVER GONTROL OF DISTRICT
ComtuisHars Planned Moves Carefully
And Opened Dual Shipping Hall
RANK AND FILE FRAMED
New Orleans, La., July 11.—The
NMU convention is on full blast
here In New Orleans.
Charges and counter charges
are being hurled by the opposing
factions. , '
Curran and his mob are
stronger, financially, due to the
J25,000 they tapped the strike
fund for. They are paying plenty
for protection. Apparently the
dough is running low, as they
gave a hurry up signal to the con
vention yesterday.
Oiilf Offlcial.s Walk Out
The Gulf officials were refused
seatS; at the convention, and
walked out in a body. They were
immediately charged with being
shipowners' stooges, and paid
agent provocateurs. They were
charged, with not trying to, com
promise, and of deliberately dis
rupting the union.
It so happens that Curran &
Co., are the parties causing the
split in the NMU. The purpose is
to coyer the dirt stirred up by the
recent tanker fiasco.
Curran arrived in New Orleans
two weeks before the convention.
He at once rented an office at 424
Godchaux Building, and guaran
teed rent on a month to month
basis until October 1. When ques
tioned regarding use of a hall
outside the union hall, he stated
that this was for the convention
arrangement committee. Are they
to continue to arrange until the
agreements expire on September
30?
Rent Old ISU Hall
The following day tli^ CIO
teamsters rented 206 Julia Street,
the old ISU hall. Now this outfit
have less members than ever, and
cannot use a hall of this size. We
all figured the angle. Office in the
Godchaux Building, where the
commies have police protection,—
their stooges will hang out at 206
Julia Street, waiting to be dis
patched.
Today, the newly appointed Dis
trict Committee, composed entirely
of commissars, announced that the
shipo.y^ners had been advised to
ship all men through their Julia
Street hall.
Coitirats Plan Move
Now. in view of the fact that
Curran made these plans, and
rented these spots before the con
vention even cojiiyened, it, would
be reasonable to assume that it
was a planned commissar move to
refuse to seat the Gulf Delegates,
and open this dual hall under the
direction of the appointed Emer
gency Committee. If this Is not
true, then why were these joints
rented? Also, why was the Pilot
turned loose on a character assas
sination campaign against all mili
tants whom the NMU seamen of
the Gulf trust? Why did Curran
and Harvey (NMU representative
In Washington) finger A. Thomas,
Gulf District Chairman to the Im
migration authorities, and have
him safely in jail before Curran
arrived in New Orleans? O'Doiio
hue, Houston Agent, is another
example proving the lengths to
which th'^se commie rats will go
in an attempt to discredit those
who refuse to follow their finky
program!
Ping^ir Men
During the tanker strike NMU
Branch Agents weie instructed to
ship men on the struck tankers
for cause. The top faction of the
comicals planted a fink herder on
the Gulf Agents,^ and he made the
contacts. After O'Donohue signed
for the ?200 received from this
fink herder the receipts were pub
lished in the Pilot, with the re
mark that ail evidenct had been
turned over to the Department of
Justice. These rats have put a con
scientious and militant official,
who advocated direct action, on
the spot. He will either have to
admit that' he herded finks for
profit, or that he shipped the men
to sabotage the ships. Sabotage is
a five year Federal rap. In my
opinion, the term "hatchet man"
of the Comical Party, should be
changed to "finger man for the
ratfi." Incidentally, O'Donohue has
receipts to prove that all monies
were turned over to the stewpot.
collected by him during the strike
Red Dean
CONVENTION
(VoiitiiuKil from Pof/c 1)
GULF PROGRESS
local commi.s.'jars feit fiie clash of
good clean chain on tiieii (loines.
The comTni.s.sars are still scream
ing .lor Attorney General Murpiiy
to investigate tiie "chain gangs"
in New Orleans. As near as we
can find out, these "chain gangs"
aie rank and filei's who refused to
be dominated by the Comical
clique in control of the New Mos
cow Unity League.
Not Paying Dues
A report from Port Arthur
shows the last five Gulf tankers
paying a total of $12 in dufes to
the NMU. Every Lykes Bro.s., ship
in port for tlie la.yf three weeks
have refused to pay dues. I am
contacting all the.se crews, and
they seem to he favorable to the
Seafarers'. They like the absence
of politicians in the Seafarers.
The job action, and resultant im
proved conditions comes in for fa
vorable mention.
SHI Only .Answer
Now, I believe, in view of the
New Moscow Union constitution
calling for $2.00 per month dues,
and dictatorial control by Curran
and Ferdinand "1934 Fink*' Smith,
the NMU rank and file will tiiin
over en masse to the Seafarers'.
One significant fact is tliat no let
ters appear in the "Pileit" from
Lykes Bros., crews.
There are rank and tile bulle
tins appearing dally on tlie streets
all ovei tlie Gulf. They are expos
ing Curran and Ferdinand Smith,
—the Fink. One point they object
to is Smitli the Fink being presi
dent pro tem for the past six
weeks.
Red Dean
HAPPENINGS in MOBILE
Fink School Ship "Greeted"
By Mobile ^UJWembers
General Rioting Along Waterfront
When "Government Finks" Land
NUMEROUS ARRESTS MADE
(ConUnited from Page 1)
Seatraiu Lines
The crews really enjoy that
$7.50 per mouth over the scale
they are getting. Good food, plenty
fresh milk, frigidaires, and im
provement of working conditions:
—that marks the Seafarer.s' pro
gress on these ships. The crews
are solid, and laugh at the NMU
claims of representing them. This
company has two new ships being
built in the near future, with two
more planned when those are
launched.
Mlssissipiu Shipping Company
, These shiiw are improved to an
extent than seemed impossible six
mouths ago. Good food, plenty
fresh milk, frigidaires, etc. The
company claimed that on passen
ger ships generators would not
carry additional loadj of frigid
aires. So coils were run from ice
machine to porcelain iceboxes.
Also water fountain in inessroom,
with plenty icewater. All mess
rooms are being repanelled, and
in some instances enlarged. All
overtime beefs are being settled to
satisfaction of crews.
Resume
Wo have in tlie SeaCaieis' the
best closed shop agreements with
the key companies. We knock
over Lykes Bros.,—and sew the
Gulf up! And that is coming in
the near future. Many NMU men
who are disgusted with the dicta
torial control of the commies are
shipping on these ships. Some o!
them contact us before they leave
port. Sentiment Is crystallizing
in our favor on the ships. WE
HAVE CHALLENGED THE iNMU
TO COMPARE THEIR CONDI
TIONS WITH THE SEAFARERS'
CONDITIONS;—ON ALL SHIPS!
THEY REFUSED TO ELECT A
JOINT COMMITTEE FOR THIS
PURPOSE, IF THEY DID, AND
INSIDE DOPE
(Continued from Page ])
have sabotaged every progressive
program ever attempted by the
rank and file. Their outstanding
motto is "RULE OR RUIN",—and
this they are proving to the NMU
membership this present day!
These people are forever sbout
i n g "Disrupters," "Wobblies,"
"Trofskyites," if you attempt to
express yourself freely, on the
union floor, for something bene
ficial to the worker. Unless you
believe in their rotten program,
you are a shipowner's stooge!
Steamroller Rolls!
I was present at the NMU con
vention in New Orleans, and to
the be.st of my knowledge I've yet
to see a more perfect bit of or
ganized steamrollering than was
practised by these politician.s,
when they refused^ to seat the
duly elected Gulf Delegates! IT
WAS THE FIRST LABOR CON
VENTION WHERE I HAVE
EVER SEEN THE ENEMIES OF
THE WORKERS PUT IN AS
MASTERSATARMS. THE COM
MUNIST PARTY MEMBERS
NOT ONLY STOOL TO THE
POLICE, BUT ALSO ASK THEIR
PROTCTION ON THE CONVEN
TION FLOOR!
THE ONLY SALVATION FOR
THE RANK AND FILE OF THE
NMU IS TO SWING THEIR
SHIPS OVER TO THE SlU,—
WHERE THEY CAN BE AS
SURED OF RANK AND FILE
CONTROL, — WHERE POLITI
CIANS AND STOOGES ARE
NOT TOLERATED!
Joseph S. Buckley,
SlU No. 312, Gulf—Engine
MADE A TRUE REPORT COV
ERING CONDITIOiNS AND
AGREEMENTS, IT WOULD
BLOW THE NMU UP BIGGER
THAN CURRANSKI'S HEAD!
Red Dean
Mobile, Ala., July 10—The School Ship "American Sea
man' arrived in Mobile on Saturday, July 8, aeeompanied
by general rioting all along the tvaterfront.
Handbills flooded the city, Saturday, describing the
phonies as ".scabs" and potential "strikebreakers". And on
Saturday night rioting became^
general all over the city, with the
training ship phonies getting the
worst of it all around. The lianrl
bills read as follows:
"WELCOME MEMBERS OF
SCHOOL SHIP 'AMERICAN
SEAMAN.'
"You are welcomed in port
NOW.
"BUT HOW ABOUT THE
FUTURE? ? ? ?
• 'YOU ARE BEING TRAINED
TO SCAB ON ALL LEGITIMATE
SEAMEN.
"YOU .ARE BEING TRAINED
TO BE USED AS STRIKE
BREAKERS.
"You are being used to form a
group to tear down what has been
secured by hard working legiti
mate merchant seamen. When the
time is right you will be herded
to take the places of the seamen
that are now working. DO NOT
BE MISLEAD—You will not find
conditions as they are pictured
to you NOW. . . .
"YOU ARE BEING TRAINED
TO TAKE BREAD FROM THE
MOUTHS OF THE DEPEN
DENTS OF ALL LEGITIMATE
SEAMEiN.
"You will not find the same
conditions aboard the merchant
ships that you have on the train
ing ship 'American Seaman' . . .
You will find that the seamen on
American merchant ships are the
finest in the world and they are
NOT "RADICAL HALFWITS"
as you have been told. They did
not receive training from the
government but learned their
trades through hard work and ap
plication. . . . They fought for
every concession they now have
and you will be used to tear this
structure down and put the sea
men back in BONDAGE. . . .
"THINK IT OVER . . . AND
HELP THE AMERICAN MER
CHANT SEAMEN GET DECENT
UNION WAGES AND CONDI
TIONS.
"DON'T FINK!
Sponsored by BONAFIDE SEA
MEN.
Trouble Starts
Tlie figh'.ing started wlien Joe
Hurd, a member of the NMU wlio
signed on boaid the training ship
as soon as the gangway was down,
pointed out a SIU man, with the
remark: "There's one of the
sob's!" He was immediately
nailed, and the fighting became
violent. The famous "Royal" was
crowded, and doorways became
jammed, and several Avindows and
glass doors were broken. The man
ager of the joint testified in court
that Joe Hurd started the entire
melee. As a result, of tlie fracas,
two men who denied fighting were
arrested, and one man (SIU) was
Immediately released on bail. The
police decided that after several
battles in the "Royal" that it
would be wise to close the joint
at about 10:00 P.' M. It was al
lowed to open Sunday AM, biit no
bard liquor was sold.
The manager of the "Royal
Cafe" told the phonies that they
were "not welcome," and as a re
sult, the police closed the joint.
The membership commends man
ager "George" and "Mike" for this
action, and thanks them for their
favorable testimony in Court
Monday morning.
Many Arrests
The entire police department
was on duty on lower Government
Street, and all along the honky
tonks fist figlits broke out, and
the cops were powerless to stop
them. Eighteen SIU men were'ar
rested on genera! holding cliarges,
and disorderly conduct charges.
All were released and some were
fined. The "reception committee"
immediately rvent into action and
raised money to get these men re
leased, and all were freed by
11:00 A. M. Voluntary contribu
tions Avill be taken on the ships
to retire this loan.
Piglitiiig in Jail
The highlight of the entire af
prisonera (about 75 men) were
herded into the general bullpen,
and the fun really started! SCA'
era! men Avere remoAed to the hos
pital. and the cops were forced to
use their blackjacks several times.
Again the SIU and SUP men were
extremely lucky, and did not re
ceive any serious injuries. How
ever, Paul Hall, Gulf No. 190,
"WHO CLAIMED HE WAS AN
INNOCENT BYSTANDER, has a
couple of nice hickeys on his nog
gin from tlie cops' blackjacks.
Ariiinod Pinks
Sunday and Monday the streets
were deserted, and the gangway
watch on the "American Seaman"
were armed with army rifles and
bayonets. Incidentally, several
members of the crew of this fink
ship were recognized as former
NMU members. Several NMU
men joined the ship in Mobile,
which should make "NoCoffee
TimeJoe" happy, after his recep
tion in iNew Orleans, which is a
story in itself.
The Reception Committee Avas
authorized by the membership to
take A'oluntary contributions to
cover the expense of this cam
paign. This fund will be known as
the "Seamen's Welfare Fund."
C. Underwood, Gulf No. 2
Notice:
Ships' Delegates: Demand
that all replacements produce
a properly filled out assign
ment card from the Dispatcher
at the Union hall.
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THE SEAFARERS' LOG Fyidav, iuiy 2L 1939
/r"^
Lakes Dispiaying Interest
In Coming Conference
Sand Boats Finally Organized and
1 Sign Contract Raising Wages
BEEF AGAINST COCA COLA
TAX PAYERS
Detroit, Mich.—The membersliip here are displaying a
great deal of interest in the forthcoming conference, and a
spcial meeting was held at Headquarters to make provision
for adequate representation for the Lakes District. Measures
• were adopted which will insure genuine rank and file dele
gates, and we confidently expect a large number of fraternal
delegates directly from the ships. In contradistinction to the
packed fiasco of the "Nearly Moscow Union", we intend to
show the commissars the only way of conducting a demo
cratic convention is by having no political axes to grind.
Tougli ComuiissaaS
Oui' Cleveland correspondent in
forms us that the commissars in
Erie are developing into real
tough guys. They opened a hall
there, and on boarding a ship in
the harbor they discovered a
woman cook, named Leona Wih
son, who had belonged to the AFL
fq^r years. They threatened to
beat her up unless she changed
her affiliation. The lady told the
"classconscious" goons what she
thought of them, whereupon they
hustled her to the dock.
Verily, the Stalin influence ex
tends far and wide!
Sand Boats Oigaiii^cd
A1 long last the famous Niclioi
eonEcorse sand boats have been
organized! These vessels have re
mained untouched for years, and
Were considered impregnable. By
dint of real hard I'ahor, our In
ternational representative, R. D.
Thompson, finally secured a con
tract which raised the wage and
working conditions to the prevail
ing level. This marks one more
victory in the long list of suc
year, and is one more step in the
direction of our ultimate goal of
being the sole union on the Lakes!
Coca Cola Beef
The Marine Council is assisting
the Teamsters in their struggle
against the finky CocaCola. This
is a repetition of the same fight
the Teamsters Union had in South
ern California last year. Some of
you may remember that the SUP
members on the Catalina had a
tough time preventing the trans
portation of the beverage to the
Island. After finally succeeding,
we discovered that the IBU (A
CIO affiliate) were secretly carry
ing the stuff to the Island. It is
to bo sincerely hoped that the
NMU won't do likewi.se here, and
sabotage our efforts to make this
a union product"! "
J.J.D.
COMMY'S PLAN
NOTICE
"SEAFARERS' LOG"
2 Stone St.
New. York City
Crentlemen:
Please publish the following;
When John Bernard Frye, late
chief officer of the SS Padnsay,
was killed on the 6th day of Feb
ruary, 1937 at Port Harcourt, Ni
geria, West Africa, he left his or
phaned niece, Marie Johns, with
out support. Will members of the
deck department who are familiar
with the absence of the brake lin
ing on this particular winch and
the broken condition of the gear
shaft lever, please communicate
. with the undersigned.
Yours very truly,
! Andrew L. Frye,
I 3633 A. Boulevard,
g;""' Jersey City, N, J.
(Continued from Ca(je 1)
membership of fifty odd thousand,
need fake any measures to re
habilitate their finance.^. If all
their members paid dues, the
NMU Income from this source
alone would amount to six or
seven hundred thousand dollars!
On top of that, there is the in
come from initiations, assessments
and fines. The annual "take"
should run well over a million
dollars. The NMU should he fi
nancially sound, with an income
like that, but they are, neverthe
less, continually pleading poverty.
(They must have learned that
from the shipowners!)
If the commissars are really in
earnest about wanting "to re
trench, let them start economiz
ing where it would be most ef
fective:—in other words—cut off
about fifty percent of their pie
cards! They're overloaded with
them, and the organization is, in
fact, top heavy. They have far
too many officials, and could oper
ate efficiently with a whole lo}:
lee.'! But then, I suppose, the
boys must have their pie!
NMU "Economy"
An outstanding e x a iii pie of
"economy,"' as practiced by the
NMU, is a booklet recently pub
lished by them, entitled "Labor
Spies in the N.MJJ." There is
forty.seveil pages of it, and it's a
cinch that it cost them no little
sum to have it printed. And after
you read through it, what doe.s
it amount to? We can't see where
it is of any particular benefit to
the NMU membersliip, as it is
merely a rehash of events already
publicized, and, in consequence, an
unnecessary expenditure of the
membership's money!
Hiring Hall Question
Among other things advocated
is the "elimination of commission
hiring halls." Well, well, after all
this time, they are really going to
fight against the Fink Halls, are
they? Why wouldn't the commis
fiar.s allow their membership to
picket the Fink Halls last winter?
If anyone has fought these gov
ernment' agencies, it is the SUP
and the SIU,—without any help
from the NMU! We ouly hope that
they are sincere this time, and
won't be telling their members to
uuoffieially ship through the Fink
Halls, as they did before.
Also advocat'ed is "elimination
of the threat of compulsory arbi
tration"—with which we are
heartily in accord. But,—take a
good look at the long drawn out
arbitration clauses in the agree
ments signed by the NMU! If they
aren't a step towards compulsory
arbitration, they are plently close
to it!
Why the Change'?
Yes, now they are openly advo
(Continued from Page 1)
Ask Tax Payers
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE, IS
TO TAKE THIS TO THE TAX
PAYERS:
GET THEM ASKING WHY
AND WHERE THEIR MONEY
GOES,—WHAT GOOD COMES
FROM IT??—WHY IT IS NECES
SARY THAT MEN WHO HAVE
GONE TO SEA ALL THEIR
LIVES NEED TRAINING FROM
MEN WHO KNOW NOTHING OF
THE MERCHANT MARINE
SERVICE.
We had that Editorial from the
West Coast Sailor of July 7 re
printed in the local paper, and it
is getting a lot of attention. The
sooner the tax payers get wise,
and stop tliis hooey of wasting the
dough that they sweat for, the
sooner this waste will stop.
Slam Top Faction
There is a leaflet being printed
here called the "Keel," and they
went for the NMU top fraction
policy of aiding and abetting the
phoneys on this ship. One passage
reads:
The CIO Unions in Mobile
know definitely that the member
ship of the AF.ofL. were not be
hind this move, and also knows
definitely that threats were issued
against any AFL member who re
fused to become a party to their
cowardly actions."
For the Information of all CIO
ers, I suggest that they look over
the program of the SUP since this
question came up, and the pro
gram of the SIU since It started
on this coast, to show what a
militant union will and will not
go for. Further,—the SIU pro
gram was decided by the mem
bership, and not by any top frac
tion.
As far as the little, trouble in
Mobile;—the boys are not in the
habit of sitting in the same bar
room with some phoney,' who in
the future will be trying to break
their picket lines. The time to
take this thing up is NOW,—so
how about getting a real progres
sive line of publicity started on an
International scale?
Things are going right along
here now,—in the middle of the
channel,—and all hands on look
out.
Rt.'^a.'iy as she gOes
Armstrong, SUP No. 2983
RUMORED TIEUP BETWEEN
WALL ST., A^DMMISSION
Admiral Land Has Plenty to Explain
To General Public for Actions
;IB
PRESIDENT TAKES HAND
Coast
at an
BOSTON
Vews Bits
HOW OOME, BOSTON?
NO NEWS?
eating opposition to the Maritime
Commission's program, .because it
has been proves to them by mili
tant maritime unions .that the
Commission's plan of regimenta
tion is a direct threat to the gen
eral welfare oif all seamen! Why
haven't they been fighting them
all along? Didn't it fit in with the
Party's plans? Then, why does it
fit in now? So far, they have said
nothing about withdrawing their
endorsement of the Maritime Com
mission's training schools and
ships, so evidently they still be
lieve in allowing the government
to continue training potential
strikebreakers!
In conclusion we'd like to say
that' we can't see anything of any
reaL benefit to the rank and file
membership of the NMU coming
out of this convention, and all we
can see is the CP getting a firmer
hold on the organization that they
have been using as their own
political football!
The editorial in the July 6th i.ssue of the We.st
Sailor captioned "SCANDALS TO GOME" appears
opportune moment.
The U.S. Maritime Commi.ssion is a body over ndiich Con"
gress lias no direct control. For an cxeeutive and administra
tive grouj) having indirect control over the livelihood of some
75,000 seamen, and an even greater number of shore em
ployees, to have all this arbitrary power without having to
return a report to anyone, seems an odd state of affairs.
WALL STREET TIEUP?
The public would like to know more about the rumored
tieup between Wall Street and the Maritime Commission. It
is known that the government is not able to finance all its
projects without recourse to the hankers, and in the ship
construction program there is a faint aroma of Wall Street
dictating where ships are to he built, who shall design the
plans, where materials are to be purchased, what agencies
shall get the insurance, and what shipowners are eligible to
get charters and snh.sidies.
LAND SHOULD EXPLAIN
The members of the Maritime Commission, particularly its
chairman Admiral Land, have much explaining to do to the
public regarding some very important matters. From Con
gressional records we find that Admiral Land, when testify
ing before a House or Senate Committee seldom carries with
him.^specific facts and data, and his standard excuse is that
lie did not bring them because he did not consider them im
portant enough. At one hearing on the matter of disposing
of the two or three lines being operated for the Commission
by private interests, the Admiral told tlie Senate Commrce
Committee that ho could not make public certain information
hut would give that evidence at a secret hearing if they
wished. From a navy man, steeped in bureaucratic proce
dure, an explanation is forthcoming.
PRESIDENT STEPS IN
Recentlj^ a West Coast shipyard obtained a contract for
the eonstiTiction of several of the new M. C. cargo ships. Thi.s
firm had originally hid along with the rest of the <?ouiitry'a
shipyards, hut for some unknown reason their hid was turned
down. But the builders, not being satisfied with the entire
proceedings, went over the Commission's head and took the
matter to the President, who ordered the M.C. to let the con
tracts to this firm. Aiiparcntly something smelled rotten in
Denmark and to hush the matter up the President thought it .
advisable to let the contracts. Of course the public would
like to learn everything about this case, hut it is pretty sure
that Admiral Land will, as usual, not have the proper data
with him.
The members of the S.l.U. certainly appreciate the stand
and leadership taken by the S.U.P. on questions such as
these.
A. 0. Wingate, S.I.U. No. 90, Eng.
Signing a Reiease
Does Not Ciose Case
• VYhere a seaman does not know
the nature or extent of his in
juries, and signs a General Re
lease, discharging the steamship
company from all past, present
and future liability, in considera
tion of a settlement embraced by
the terms of his written Release,
nevertheless, the seaman is enti
tled to additional and future com
pensation for an unforeseen devel
opment of the preexisting Injury
mentioned in the Rele^e. The
point' of distinction of the deci
sions is whether the seaman, upon
signing Ihe Release, honestly and
understandlngly knows, and can
appreciate the full extent of his
Injuries, so that the amount ac
cepted under the Release bears a
reasonable relation, in terms of
money, to the extent of tht injury
received, considering not only the
condition of the Injury at the mo
ment of settlement and Release,
but' considering also the possible
future prejudicial nature and ex
tent of the injury and disease de
velopment and progress, both
physiological and anatomical, of
the original condition of injury.
This is true whether the seaman
fully understands the content's of
the Release, or does not fully un
derstand its contents. This is
also true whether a seaman's
claim is for steamship owner's
negligence liability, or be. it a
claim for maintenance and cure.
The foregoing ruling was made
in the following case:
Bonici v. The Standard Oil
Co., of N. J.
U.S.C.C. Appeals, 2nd Cir
cuit.
Hand, Clark and Patterson
Circuit Judges (April 1939)
William Mahler, SIU No. 2186
I
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Seafarers' International Union of North Ameriea
OfficialOrgan oftheAtlanlu:,Gulf and GreatLak^sSeamen
BROTHERHOOD
OF THE
SEA
VOL. I NEW YORK, N. Y., FRIDAY, JULY 21, 1939 > 448 NO. 14
COMMISSARS PUN COMPLETE
DOMINATION OF N. M. U.
Take Away District Autonomy and
Plan Additional Assessments
WILL "FIGHT" COMMISSION
According to newspaper articles, it becomes increasingly
evident that Joe Cnrran and the commissars have every in
tention of strengthening their hold on the NMTJ membership.
Among the points advocated by their program we find the
following:
"1. Strengthen the organization through abolition of dis
tricts and centralization of membership control.
"2. Rehabilitate finances through increased assessmejit."
At a casual glance these ideas may seem innocent enough,
but when more closely scrutinized their real intent is very
plainly seen.
Coiiunisaf Control
Take for instance number 1:
. . . "ABOLITION OK DISTRICTS
AND CENTRALIZATION OF
MEMBERSHIP CONTROL." In
other words, they want to take
away the autonomy of the Gulf
and Lakes Districts, and put the
complete control of the NMU in
the hands of the top commissars,
whose "rule or ruin" policy is
only too well known. The way
things stand at present, the com
missars m.eet with considerable
opposition fronvthe Gulf District,
. and their program is^i'times seri
ously hindered. So now the corn
rats want to abolish this opposi
tion to their plans, so that they
will have smoother sailing.
Should IJe Districts
Through past experience, we
know that the di .'ision of a marine
union into districts is the best
thing for all concerned. Had the
phoney ISU offlcials given the
Gulf District a separate charter,
as they were requested to do, the
entire Gulf would probably still
be AFL. But no, they didn't want
to let loose of the reins, and give
the Gulf the right to act. and think
fbr themselves. They well knew
that their strongest opposition
was in the Gulf, just as the com
missars also know.. Now the top
fraction want to centralize the
control of the NMU in New York,
but,—and you can quote us on
thls,_IT WON'T BE MEMBER
SHIP CONTROL!
Point Number 2: "THROUGH
INCREASED ASSESSMENT." Ye
gods!—haven't the NMU member
ship already been deluged with
various and numerous assess
ments, until tTiey are itostively be
coming punchdr.unk? Whei'e does
all the money go? No one seems
to know the correct answer to tliat
question!
Wlieic Doe.s It Go?
Wliy should an organl..alion the
size of the NMU, with a claimed
(Contiiiiicil on I'nuc /;
GULF HEADOUARTERS REPORTS
CONSIDERABLE HEADWAY
Living Conditions Improved and
Overtime Beefs Settled
CHALLENGE NMU TO COMPARE
New Orleans, La., July 11—Several Bull Line ships were
in the Gulf Di.slriet, and refused to pay the overtime. The
Delisle was tied up in Savannah, over Saturday afternoon
and Sunday overtime for all hands. The Longshoremen re
spected thepicket line, and the beef was settled in quick
order. The Major Wheeler was in<fc :
here with a STU crew with the
same beef. Settled when all hands
struck. Milk was also put on the
menu, with some improved food.
P & O Steamship Company
A meeting is called with this
company for Friday, to settle some
of the attempted chiseling tactics.
They'd better quit trying to chisel,
or else. . . .! The crews of these
ships have taken up a ?E>.on strike
assessment, to be ready if th^
are forced' to use direct action to
protect the gains they have al
ready made. $1,250 laying in the
bank. Considering that this was
a voluntary donation, it shows the
militant spirit the P & O crews
are displaying.
Waterman Line
They have gone iiilo business
with Sudden & Christensen. They
will operate .some intercoasial
ships. They just bought the SS
Dryden, Lykes Bros., for service
in the European trade. The NMU
crew will be replaced by Seafarers'
next week. Good food, fresh
milk and porcelain iceboxes on all
these ships. Their coastwise ships
have the best conditions of any
ships running coastwise.
SOUTH ATLANTIC — These
ships are percolating OK. Over
time disputes are settled to satis
faction of crews.
RANGE LINE—Joe Buckley,
Agent in Houston, can report "on
these better than Headquarters.
(Continued on Page 3)
CONVENTION OF NMU
CLOSES jy.O.
Gulf Members Paying
No Dues fo Comrafs
FAVOR SEAFARERS
New Orleams, La., July 19.—The
NMU Convention is over. The
rank and file are squawking about
the dictatorial methods used by
Curran & Co., to steamroller the
convention. Everything went off
"Union Square fashion": First—
All the active opposition was ex
pelled. Many ships' delegates who
lemained in tlie convention to be
recorded opposed to tlie phoney
new constitution, were ignored
wlien they asked for the floor.
Some party stooge would always
be recognized by Curranski, to
keep ships' delegate.s off the floor.
"Cliain Gangs" Work Out
Many ships' delegales returned
to their ships before the conven-
tion was half over. Others stayed
to make Curranski and Co., pay
their $5.00 per day expenses.
When the commissars got wise,
they cut ships' delegales expenses
to $3.00 per day. Total cost of this
"Convention to destroy demo-
cracy" was $13,000. There is no
separate record to cover the cost
ef importing from New York Cur-
ranski's private beef trust. They
didn't do him much good as Cur-
ran got dumped himself, and many
(Continued on Page 3)
Suggest Tax Payers
Look Into Things
Points Out Needless
Spending by M,C=
Mobile, Ala., July 17.—^A • week
since the school ship was with us,
and there Is still signs of it in
town. One of the local studios has
a picture of the scow in the show
window, and it is attracting con
siderable attention from the folks
here in town. It is a nice picture,
—so nice, that if I can get one I
will send it. in for publication in
both pai)ers. It will show what
the boys learn (And what they
forget!) when they get around
these sort of school ships.
The ship laid here for five days.
AND ALL THE TIME SHE LAID
HERE THE FORWARD BREAST
LINE LED ACROSS AND OVER
THE HEADLINE, — CHAFIiNG
AND RUINING LINES! Imagine
the mate on one of those rust
pots, where the crew don't have
that sort of training, blowing his
lid about a thing like that!
THE PAY OFF IS THAT THE
HANDS ON THIS TUB ARE
NMU OLD TIMERS WHO ARE
DOING A LITTLE BUILDING
FOR THE PARTY!
THE SHIPOWiNERS WILL
TAKE THIS SORT OF THING,
AND PAY FOR IT, FROM THE
STOOGES WHO ARE tHERE.
THE TAX PAYERS WHO ARE
PAYING FOR IT DON'T KNOW
WHERE TO LOOK FOR IT. ALL
THEY SEE IS A NICE PRETTY
SHIP, A LOT OF UNIFORMS,
AND THEY THINK EVERY
THING IS FliNE.
(Continued on Page 4)
PSTON AGENT GIVES INSIDE
DOPE DNJNMU COMMISSARS
Meers, Paxton, Rogers, Alexander and
Others Long Time "PieCards"
"STEAMROLLER" CONVENTION
Houston, Texas,
July 14, 1939
Brother.s:
Permit me to verify Brother Johnny Gunnison's letter in
the Seafarers' Log of July 7, 1939 as the truth; for the writer
of this letter v(ms also pre.sent in the Gulf during the 193637
strike against the phoney ISU olScials.
During that beef the Sailors' Union of the Pacific had
been sending monies to the Strike Committee, "whose head
quarters were located at 321 Chartres Street, New Orleans.
Robert E. Meers, Commissar, waa^
head of the Strike Committee,
and Meers never turned over a
damned cent of tfiat money to the
men for whom It was Intended.
That phoney politician was eating
the best of foods, while the rank
and file got along with whatever
the stewpot had on hand,—usual
ly red beans or rice!
When the strike was over, tlie
biggest mistake made by the rank
and file was to ship out,—leaving
tlie hall in full charge of a gang
of parasites, who at the present
time have been exposed in their
true colors, and have proven them
selves even phonier than the old
ISU phonies!
Alc.xander Accii.sod
In reference to Harry Alexan
der, a former member of tlie West
Coast Firemen's Union, who ran
for Agent's job In the port of
Portland, Oregon. He was unsuc
cessful in obtaining that position,
and later turned up in Corpus
Christi as NMU Agent,—holding
two books. After much ballyhoo
on the CP's part, this phoney later
became Agent in the port of Mo
bile. His method of trying to
muscle in on the "\A'aterman Line
made him the laughing stock of
the West Gulf, and his attempt to
place West Coast men in the old
AFL hall in Mobile to act as stool
pigions was spiked by the rank
and file of the P. C. Firemen. The
CP later forced this wouldbe or
ganizer to resign, and head for
Houston, where he was to contact
Cunningham, a party member, to
build up what they call a "Unity
Drive" between both coasts. This
was merely to blind their real in
tentions.
Alexander was planted in Hous
ton to force through a program
to build up to the present rotten
frame up of Francis P. O'Donohue,
who was at that time Agent for
the NMU in Houston. I ACCUSE
ALEXANDER AND CUNNING
HAM AS THE INSTIGATORS OF
THE DAMNABLE LYING PRO
PAGANDA WHISPERED ALONG
THE NEW YORK WATER
FRONT, CLAIMING THAT
O'DONOHUE WAS IN THE PAY
OF HARRY LUNDEBERG! These
people have a sweet propaganda
machine:—the first step to break
down the resistance of the rank
and file is to start a rumor, then
later print the rumor,—and the
average working stiff believes the
story as printed.
Post Histories Given
Lester Lord was in the port' of
New Orleans from June until July
of 1938, fighting one hundred per
c^t down the line with the rank
and file, assisting them to shed
themselves of Robert E. Meers,
wiio was found guilty of gross
negligence in his duties as Agent
of that port. The writer of this
letter was then shipping SUP men
from the Marine Transport "Work
ers, of the IWW, Hall ill Ex
change Alley.
Since the commies have a gieat
habit of relating past histories of
rank and filers, let me give you a
little history of a few politicians;
Corby Paxton, present editor of
the NMU "PileIt":—In 1936 this
socalled rank and filer was edi
tor of the "Voice of Laboi" In
Honolulu, organizing the Filipino
sugarcane workers and pineapple
workers. For two bits you could
join their commy setup:—no join,
no work! The Filipino labor was
getting one buck a day;—just
about the same conditions the CP
is trying to hand the rank and file
of the NMU!
Foriiier MWIU Menibers
Ralph Rogers and his brother
John were well known barflies,
chiseling all their sliipmales along
the Honolulu waterfront in 1936.
Ralph Rogers shipped out from
that port on the Helen Whittier,
the same ship the writer of thl§.
article struck for better condi
tions, and was tossed into jail for
his eCCoiLs! Joe Collender was
stooging for Corby Paxton at the
• same time, and Joe Russell was
prominently seen on the Honolulu
waterfront. Incidentally, Joe Rus
sell also carried two books, while
temporarily holding a pie card in
the NMU! All of these piecards
were former members of the Mar
ine Workers Industrial Union, the
American section of the Commun
ist Party within the marine in
dustry, who folded up after the
1934 strike on the West Coast, and
were ordered to BORE FROM
WITHIN by placing party mem
bers in key positions. Out of it
came the National Maritime
Union.
"Rule or Ruin" Policy
Many of yon workers have
never read the "MARINEi WORK
ERS' VOICE ", commonly known
as the "WHISPER". In it you will
find such names as Smith Hop
kins, Tommy Ray, Roy Hudson,
Walter Stack, and numerous other
party members holding TOP PO
SITIONS in the NMU. These
same people who classify them
selves as progressive union men
(Continued on Page 3)
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THE SEAFARERS' LOG Friday, July 21, 1939
Published by the
Seafarers^ International Union
of North America
Affiliated with the American Federation of Labor
HARRY LUNDEBERG, Acting President
11 Steuart Street, San Francisco, Calif.
Atlantic District
HEADQUARTERS
New York (Phone: BOwling Green 93437) ......2 Stone Street
BRANCHES
Boston .• • • 1 Rowes Wharf
Providence 465 So. Main Street
Philadelphia 6 North 6th Street
Baltimore 212 East Pratt Street
Norfolk 307 East Main Street
San Juan, Puerto Rico 8 Covadonga Street
Gulf District
HEADiaUARTERS
New Orleans 309 Chartres Street
BRANCHES
Savannah 218 East Bay Street
Jacksonville 136 Bay Street
Miami 809 N. E. First Avenue
Tampa 206 Franklin Street
Mobile 55 So. Conception Street
Houston 1712 75th street
Great LakesDistrict
HEADQUARTERS
Detroit 1038 Third Street
ADDRESS ALL CORRESPONDENCE CONCERNINO THIS
PVBLICA.TION TO:
"THE SEAFARERS' LOG"
P. O. Box 522, Qiurch St. Annex, New York, N. Y.
HONOR ROLL
Philadelphia
News Items
Baltimore Highlights
%f S.S. Mauuela,
Pier 22,
Brooklyn, N. Y.
July 10, 1939.
Editor SEAi'AEERS'LOG:
We, the members of the crew of the SS Manuela have
been enjoyingyour publication since its inception. We hope
this good work will continue, and toward this end, the crew
has taken up a collection which you will find enclosed.
Fraternally yours,
Dusan de Duisin, Ship's Delegate
The crew of the SS Manuela donated the sum of $6.50, for
which we thank them, and also express the hope that other
ships' crews will follow the example.
COOPERATE WITH PATROLMEN
On several previous occasions we have been obliged to
take issue with some of the membership for their failure to
cooperate with the patrolmen, but it seems that many of
them don't yet quite grasp the idea.
One day last, week a couple of the members of one ship's
crew had a beef regarding overtime, which they presented to
the patrolman. The patrolman took the beef up with the
company officials, and then had the men involved in the dis
pute also talk with the officials. Fur some reason or other,
when confronted by the company biggies, the boys agreed to
accept half the overtime they had demanded! After it had
all been setlted, and the bigshots were out of sight, they
started beefing again! What kind of cooperation do you call
that? Why didn't they insist on the full overtime to which
they were entitled? The beef was a legitimate one, and
should have been backed up 100 percent. In agreeing to com
promise the matter, they also made the patrolman look like
more or less of a monke.y,
When you prescTit the patrolman with a legitimate beef,
and he takes it up with company officials, give him your com
plete backing. He is powerless to help you unless you are
also willing to help yourselves. Your Union officials are not
directly responsible for ships' conditions, because it is direct
ly up to the rank and file to maintain conditions through h "i
fied action, and by giving comj)lete support to the officials
.when making any demands. Your Union officials can not
make conditions for you,—you have to make them for your
selves! When any union official goes to bat for you, he can't
meet with any degree of success, unless you are behind him
to a man!
To quote from Brother Buckley's letter in the "West
Coast Sailor": "We don't blame Duke Dushane or Red Dean
if our conditions are not quite right; we have only ourselves
to blame for being lax as Union men." Your officials are only
the spokesmen for the rank and file, and are only as strong as
the economic power behind them.—always remember that!
Philadelphia, Pa., July 12.—Ac
cording to the true principles of
organization. Unions are created
to band together certain indi
viduals so as tiiey may get col
ure as individuals denied.
"Well,^ if tiie East and West
Coasts have united, we are in a
damned good position to get that
wliich we liave been denied for so
long,—CONDITIONS!
I don't' know but that I may be
criticized for tills missive, but
nevertlieless, someone must take
liie initiative and try to clear up
this misunderstanding that is
gatiiering such momentum witliin
our ranks. It seems that certain
groups are laboring undei; the
illusion that fliey are much su
perior to their fellow man, and
the writer Is of the opinion tliat
we are all brothers in this great
cause, and we all have the same
principle in mind, tlieiefore,—why
all this hullabaloo?
We accepted a charter in the
SIU of NA, and we are happy and
proud of the fact', and since the
acceptance of said charter we have
wonderful progress in organizing.
We have eliminated practically all
of the old line phoneys, and have
men in office who are trying to
carry out the will of the majority
of the membership.
Now that elections will soon he
here, the membersiiip would do
well to think things over in ad
vance, and hear In mind the con
duct iind the actions of tlie offi
cials who are now. holding Oiffice,
as to whether they would want
tliese same men to represent them
in the coming year. It Is be re
membered that the b'aliot is the
strongest weapon that the mem
bership have. (USE jTi)
Well, here's to a bigger and bet
ter organization, and I hope that
tlie delegates to the conference in
Baltimore will bring some hack to
the membership that' will make
history!
Harry J. Collins, No. 496
Teamsters Given Support
By Baltimore Branch
Shipping Good in Spite of M^ny
Vessels Being Tied Up
ON WATCH FOR COMICS
Providence
Notes
On Friday, July 7, the NLRB
certified the Seafarers' Interna
tional Union of North America as
the solebargaining agents for the
New England SS Co., New Bed
ford, Nantucket, Martha's 'Vine
yard Line. A meeting will he
held on July 24 \yith the owners
to discuss changes in the agree
ment.
The ILA has claimed jurisdic
t'ipu over the standby gang work
ing aboard the Olga. Tliere is
work there for about fifty men for
another month.
Shipping has been good for the
past week. Having trouble get
ting white coalburning firemen
for excursion boats here. The
jobs pay $90 per month. All avail
able men here have shipped out
on the harbor joh.s, and men are
scarce W :' are calling Bost'on for
replacements.
There are three dredges digging
out the harbor now, and several
N. Y. tugs are here towing mud
and sand away. All harbor work
here is a PWA project.
Four Standard Oil tankers, out
of seven, tied up here, will sail
shortly with mixed colored and
Filipino crews. They are black
oil ships. The Standard Oil of
N. Y, Is shipping colored replace
ments to ships soutli of here.
The white crews who struck
these ships are on the beach,
while the little brown brother
Baltiinore. Md,, July 12—>Shipi>i!i<r ecmliiines fair to good
out of tlii.s Port with Dispatcher AViiigate reporting a total
of 65 lueinbcrs .shipped dui'iiig the pa.st week. Local ship
yards are overloaded with vessels in for extended drydocking
periods and the eonseipient la.ving otf of erews has congested
the shipping lists slightly, but not enough to hurt. Busine.ss
in general is good, and applicants for memhership, mostly
NMU. miiiierous enough to cause the Branch's consideration
on the erealing of a coimniMee to attend to the investigation
end of the matter, e.speciall.v since the "Comics", Avell licked
in an open fight', have received^ ——
orders from topfliglit Party lead
ers to rejoin the A. F. of L. or
ganizations and start their boring
from within tactics once. more.
Other waterfront organizations
have report'ed this change in Party
tactics recently, and have taken
adequate steps to protect their
memhership so it. is as well that
the SIU keeps a close eye on
whom they take in.
Teamsters .Siippoi ted
Agent, McKay, whom the Balti
more ehipowners claim can cover
moie ground and he in more
places at. one time tlian the
"Shadow" of radio fame; swung
the Branch in behind the Team
sters this week when that organi
zation struck a supply warehouse
which deals largely with local
steamship companies. As a result
the steamship companies con
cerned hastily dropped the struck
supply dealers as if they were hot
bricks, and now the Teamsters are
more than anxious to show their
appreciation by reciprocal action
anytime the SIU needs a helping
hand. Brother McKay also ap
peared before the House Merchant
Marine and Fisheries Committee
in "Wasliington Tuesday testifying
for the organization on BillHR
6726 and altliough as we fore
casted the hearing was cluttered
up with much irrevelant testi
mony submitted by individuals
with absolutely no interest in the
seaman other than what they can
get out of hllil, we kliOW that
Agent McKay's testimony sub
mitted in his usual brief, em
phatic and to the point, style will
have its effect'.
iliary tanker for the navy. Evi
dently NMU's toadying to the
Commission In the matter of sup
plying men to Commission ships
has backfired somewhat, since we
have It on good authority that
there isn't a bonafide Union man
aboard the Challenge.
Another Departure
The Branch lias been taking it
on tlie cliin recently in regards to
the deaths of several good
brothers and it is again with a
deep sense of loss we report the
death, by drowning, of Brotlier S.
J. Holter No. 1401. Brother Holtcr
proved himself a seaman right up
to the end by calmly strapping, ob
lifebelts to the occupants of a
hnrnkig lahiich, and then, badly
burned, losing his life In a vain
attempt to swim ashore.
Roller Skates No Good
New Ves.se;.s
Local newspapers are making a
great todo over the appearance
in this port of the Maritime Com
mission's latest addition to their
fleet, the SS Challenge. The Chal
lenge is ostensibly the first of five
new Commission vessels to be
placed in the transAtlantic ser
vice out of this Port replacing the
live ships of the old Baltimore
Mall Line which are now on the
Tntercoastal service for Panama
Pacific. The new outfit is listed
for operation by the Roosevelt
Lino and according to the news
paper's article is manned exclu
sively by Naval Reserve men all
decked out In natty, white uni
forms. The public has been in
vited aboard to inspect this latest
addition to the American Mer
chant Marine, .or should we say
U.S. Navy. Also of much local in
terest was the If unehing Saturday
of ESSO's SS Platte, which is
scheduled to he taken over by the
Government for operation as aux
After a couple of weeks of fol
lowing Brother (Philly) Reddle's
suggestion tliat we "get ourselves
a pair of roller skates" to cover
the waterfront, the patrolmen
gave it' up as a bad job, and have
secured an ancient junk heap that
heralds the arrival of the patrol
men several miles before the al
leged automobile comes In sight.
Between the inechanism of the ja
loppy, and the driving of Brother
John Lui, which has raised fixe
blood pressure of every traffic cop
from Canton to Locust Point, we
necessary to hold regular elections
can see that it. will be no longer
necessary to hold regular elections
for patrolmen, since at the pres
ent rate the average life of a
patrolman will be shortened to ap
proximately six months.
SAILORS OBSERVE
finlrs are riding around in big
Packards! Page "NoCoffeeTime
Joe," and ask him how come!
New Orleans, La,
July 17, 1939.
The Seafarers' Log
New York
"We, the Deck Depai'fment of the
SS Edgar P. Lqckenbach sent a
telegram on July 3 to the SUP
Headquarteis, regarding July 5.
The same day we got an answer
not to work.
I told the Black Gang delegate,
and he sent one to MFOW&W
Headquarters the following day.
The reply was that unlcGS the ship
was on the West Coast, to work.
We, the Dock Department took
the day off. The Black Gang re
fusing to take the day off with us.
Now, the Steward Department,
being mostly NMU, do not know
what July 5, Maritime Memorial
Day, really is, so we could not ex
pect any cooperation from them.
Fraternally yours,
E. M. Boudreaux, SUP No. 4191,
Deck Delegate of
SS Edgar F. Luckenbach
....
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Friday, July 21, 1939 THE SEAFARERS' LOG
HERE and THERE in the GULF
NEWS/rom NEW ORLEANS
NMU GULF C0M1CALS TAKE
OVER GONTROL OF DISTRICT
ComtuisHars Planned Moves Carefully
And Opened Dual Shipping Hall
RANK AND FILE FRAMED
New Orleans, La., July 11.—The
NMU convention is on full blast
here In New Orleans.
Charges and counter charges
are being hurled by the opposing
factions. , '
Curran and his mob are
stronger, financially, due to the
J25,000 they tapped the strike
fund for. They are paying plenty
for protection. Apparently the
dough is running low, as they
gave a hurry up signal to the con
vention yesterday.
Oiilf Offlcial.s Walk Out
The Gulf officials were refused
seatS; at the convention, and
walked out in a body. They were
immediately charged with being
shipowners' stooges, and paid
agent provocateurs. They were
charged, with not trying to, com
promise, and of deliberately dis
rupting the union.
It so happens that Curran &
Co., are the parties causing the
split in the NMU. The purpose is
to coyer the dirt stirred up by the
recent tanker fiasco.
Curran arrived in New Orleans
two weeks before the convention.
He at once rented an office at 424
Godchaux Building, and guaran
teed rent on a month to month
basis until October 1. When ques
tioned regarding use of a hall
outside the union hall, he stated
that this was for the convention
arrangement committee. Are they
to continue to arrange until the
agreements expire on September
30?
Rent Old ISU Hall
The following day tli^ CIO
teamsters rented 206 Julia Street,
the old ISU hall. Now this outfit
have less members than ever, and
cannot use a hall of this size. We
all figured the angle. Office in the
Godchaux Building, where the
commies have police protection,—
their stooges will hang out at 206
Julia Street, waiting to be dis
patched.
Today, the newly appointed Dis
trict Committee, composed entirely
of commissars, announced that the
shipo.y^ners had been advised to
ship all men through their Julia
Street hall.
Coitirats Plan Move
Now. in view of the fact that
Curran made these plans, and
rented these spots before the con
vention even cojiiyened, it, would
be reasonable to assume that it
was a planned commissar move to
refuse to seat the Gulf Delegates,
and open this dual hall under the
direction of the appointed Emer
gency Committee. If this Is not
true, then why were these joints
rented? Also, why was the Pilot
turned loose on a character assas
sination campaign against all mili
tants whom the NMU seamen of
the Gulf trust? Why did Curran
and Harvey (NMU representative
In Washington) finger A. Thomas,
Gulf District Chairman to the Im
migration authorities, and have
him safely in jail before Curran
arrived in New Orleans? O'Doiio
hue, Houston Agent, is another
example proving the lengths to
which th'^se commie rats will go
in an attempt to discredit those
who refuse to follow their finky
program!
Ping^ir Men
During the tanker strike NMU
Branch Agents weie instructed to
ship men on the struck tankers
for cause. The top faction of the
comicals planted a fink herder on
the Gulf Agents,^ and he made the
contacts. After O'Donohue signed
for the ?200 received from this
fink herder the receipts were pub
lished in the Pilot, with the re
mark that ail evidenct had been
turned over to the Department of
Justice. These rats have put a con
scientious and militant official,
who advocated direct action, on
the spot. He will either have to
admit that' he herded finks for
profit, or that he shipped the men
to sabotage the ships. Sabotage is
a five year Federal rap. In my
opinion, the term "hatchet man"
of the Comical Party, should be
changed to "finger man for the
ratfi." Incidentally, O'Donohue has
receipts to prove that all monies
were turned over to the stewpot.
collected by him during the strike
Red Dean
CONVENTION
(VoiitiiuKil from Pof/c 1)
GULF PROGRESS
local commi.s.'jars feit fiie clash of
good clean chain on tiieii (loines.
The comTni.s.sars are still scream
ing .lor Attorney General Murpiiy
to investigate tiie "chain gangs"
in New Orleans. As near as we
can find out, these "chain gangs"
aie rank and filei's who refused to
be dominated by the Comical
clique in control of the New Mos
cow Unity League.
Not Paying Dues
A report from Port Arthur
shows the last five Gulf tankers
paying a total of $12 in dufes to
the NMU. Every Lykes Bro.s., ship
in port for tlie la.yf three weeks
have refused to pay dues. I am
contacting all the.se crews, and
they seem to he favorable to the
Seafarers'. They like the absence
of politicians in the Seafarers.
The job action, and resultant im
proved conditions comes in for fa
vorable mention.
SHI Only .Answer
Now, I believe, in view of the
New Moscow Union constitution
calling for $2.00 per month dues,
and dictatorial control by Curran
and Ferdinand "1934 Fink*' Smith,
the NMU rank and file will tiiin
over en masse to the Seafarers'.
One significant fact is tliat no let
ters appear in the "Pileit" from
Lykes Bros., crews.
There are rank and tile bulle
tins appearing dally on tlie streets
all ovei tlie Gulf. They are expos
ing Curran and Ferdinand Smith,
—the Fink. One point they object
to is Smitli the Fink being presi
dent pro tem for the past six
weeks.
Red Dean
HAPPENINGS in MOBILE
Fink School Ship "Greeted"
By Mobile ^UJWembers
General Rioting Along Waterfront
When "Government Finks" Land
NUMEROUS ARRESTS MADE
(ConUnited from Page 1)
Seatraiu Lines
The crews really enjoy that
$7.50 per mouth over the scale
they are getting. Good food, plenty
fresh milk, frigidaires, and im
provement of working conditions:
—that marks the Seafarer.s' pro
gress on these ships. The crews
are solid, and laugh at the NMU
claims of representing them. This
company has two new ships being
built in the near future, with two
more planned when those are
launched.
Mlssissipiu Shipping Company
, These shiiw are improved to an
extent than seemed impossible six
mouths ago. Good food, plenty
fresh milk, frigidaires, etc. The
company claimed that on passen
ger ships generators would not
carry additional loadj of frigid
aires. So coils were run from ice
machine to porcelain iceboxes.
Also water fountain in inessroom,
with plenty icewater. All mess
rooms are being repanelled, and
in some instances enlarged. All
overtime beefs are being settled to
satisfaction of crews.
Resume
Wo have in tlie SeaCaieis' the
best closed shop agreements with
the key companies. We knock
over Lykes Bros.,—and sew the
Gulf up! And that is coming in
the near future. Many NMU men
who are disgusted with the dicta
torial control of the commies are
shipping on these ships. Some o!
them contact us before they leave
port. Sentiment Is crystallizing
in our favor on the ships. WE
HAVE CHALLENGED THE iNMU
TO COMPARE THEIR CONDI
TIONS WITH THE SEAFARERS'
CONDITIONS;—ON ALL SHIPS!
THEY REFUSED TO ELECT A
JOINT COMMITTEE FOR THIS
PURPOSE, IF THEY DID, AND
INSIDE DOPE
(Continued from Page ])
have sabotaged every progressive
program ever attempted by the
rank and file. Their outstanding
motto is "RULE OR RUIN",—and
this they are proving to the NMU
membership this present day!
These people are forever sbout
i n g "Disrupters," "Wobblies,"
"Trofskyites," if you attempt to
express yourself freely, on the
union floor, for something bene
ficial to the worker. Unless you
believe in their rotten program,
you are a shipowner's stooge!
Steamroller Rolls!
I was present at the NMU con
vention in New Orleans, and to
the be.st of my knowledge I've yet
to see a more perfect bit of or
ganized steamrollering than was
practised by these politician.s,
when they refused^ to seat the
duly elected Gulf Delegates! IT
WAS THE FIRST LABOR CON
VENTION WHERE I HAVE
EVER SEEN THE ENEMIES OF
THE WORKERS PUT IN AS
MASTERSATARMS. THE COM
MUNIST PARTY MEMBERS
NOT ONLY STOOL TO THE
POLICE, BUT ALSO ASK THEIR
PROTCTION ON THE CONVEN
TION FLOOR!
THE ONLY SALVATION FOR
THE RANK AND FILE OF THE
NMU IS TO SWING THEIR
SHIPS OVER TO THE SlU,—
WHERE THEY CAN BE AS
SURED OF RANK AND FILE
CONTROL, — WHERE POLITI
CIANS AND STOOGES ARE
NOT TOLERATED!
Joseph S. Buckley,
SlU No. 312, Gulf—Engine
MADE A TRUE REPORT COV
ERING CONDITIOiNS AND
AGREEMENTS, IT WOULD
BLOW THE NMU UP BIGGER
THAN CURRANSKI'S HEAD!
Red Dean
Mobile, Ala., July 10—The School Ship "American Sea
man' arrived in Mobile on Saturday, July 8, aeeompanied
by general rioting all along the tvaterfront.
Handbills flooded the city, Saturday, describing the
phonies as ".scabs" and potential "strikebreakers". And on
Saturday night rioting became^
general all over the city, with the
training ship phonies getting the
worst of it all around. The lianrl
bills read as follows:
"WELCOME MEMBERS OF
SCHOOL SHIP 'AMERICAN
SEAMAN.'
"You are welcomed in port
NOW.
"BUT HOW ABOUT THE
FUTURE? ? ? ?
• 'YOU ARE BEING TRAINED
TO SCAB ON ALL LEGITIMATE
SEAMEN.
"YOU .ARE BEING TRAINED
TO BE USED AS STRIKE
BREAKERS.
"You are being used to form a
group to tear down what has been
secured by hard working legiti
mate merchant seamen. When the
time is right you will be herded
to take the places of the seamen
that are now working. DO NOT
BE MISLEAD—You will not find
conditions as they are pictured
to you NOW. . . .
"YOU ARE BEING TRAINED
TO TAKE BREAD FROM THE
MOUTHS OF THE DEPEN
DENTS OF ALL LEGITIMATE
SEAMEiN.
"You will not find the same
conditions aboard the merchant
ships that you have on the train
ing ship 'American Seaman' . . .
You will find that the seamen on
American merchant ships are the
finest in the world and they are
NOT "RADICAL HALFWITS"
as you have been told. They did
not receive training from the
government but learned their
trades through hard work and ap
plication. . . . They fought for
every concession they now have
and you will be used to tear this
structure down and put the sea
men back in BONDAGE. . . .
"THINK IT OVER . . . AND
HELP THE AMERICAN MER
CHANT SEAMEN GET DECENT
UNION WAGES AND CONDI
TIONS.
"DON'T FINK!
Sponsored by BONAFIDE SEA
MEN.
Trouble Starts
Tlie figh'.ing started wlien Joe
Hurd, a member of the NMU wlio
signed on boaid the training ship
as soon as the gangway was down,
pointed out a SIU man, with the
remark: "There's one of the
sob's!" He was immediately
nailed, and the fighting became
violent. The famous "Royal" was
crowded, and doorways became
jammed, and several Avindows and
glass doors were broken. The man
ager of the joint testified in court
that Joe Hurd started the entire
melee. As a result, of tlie fracas,
two men who denied fighting were
arrested, and one man (SIU) was
Immediately released on bail. The
police decided that after several
battles in the "Royal" that it
would be wise to close the joint
at about 10:00 P.' M. It was al
lowed to open Sunday AM, biit no
bard liquor was sold.
The manager of the "Royal
Cafe" told the phonies that they
were "not welcome," and as a re
sult, the police closed the joint.
The membership commends man
ager "George" and "Mike" for this
action, and thanks them for their
favorable testimony in Court
Monday morning.
Many Arrests
The entire police department
was on duty on lower Government
Street, and all along the honky
tonks fist figlits broke out, and
the cops were powerless to stop
them. Eighteen SIU men were'ar
rested on genera! holding cliarges,
and disorderly conduct charges.
All were released and some were
fined. The "reception committee"
immediately rvent into action and
raised money to get these men re
leased, and all were freed by
11:00 A. M. Voluntary contribu
tions Avill be taken on the ships
to retire this loan.
Piglitiiig in Jail
The highlight of the entire af
prisonera (about 75 men) were
herded into the general bullpen,
and the fun really started! SCA'
era! men Avere remoAed to the hos
pital. and the cops were forced to
use their blackjacks several times.
Again the SIU and SUP men were
extremely lucky, and did not re
ceive any serious injuries. How
ever, Paul Hall, Gulf No. 190,
"WHO CLAIMED HE WAS AN
INNOCENT BYSTANDER, has a
couple of nice hickeys on his nog
gin from tlie cops' blackjacks.
Ariiinod Pinks
Sunday and Monday the streets
were deserted, and the gangway
watch on the "American Seaman"
were armed with army rifles and
bayonets. Incidentally, several
members of the crew of this fink
ship were recognized as former
NMU members. Several NMU
men joined the ship in Mobile,
which should make "NoCoffee
TimeJoe" happy, after his recep
tion in iNew Orleans, which is a
story in itself.
The Reception Committee Avas
authorized by the membership to
take A'oluntary contributions to
cover the expense of this cam
paign. This fund will be known as
the "Seamen's Welfare Fund."
C. Underwood, Gulf No. 2
Notice:
Ships' Delegates: Demand
that all replacements produce
a properly filled out assign
ment card from the Dispatcher
at the Union hall.
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THE SEAFARERS' LOG Fyidav, iuiy 2L 1939
/r"^
Lakes Dispiaying Interest
In Coming Conference
Sand Boats Finally Organized and
1 Sign Contract Raising Wages
BEEF AGAINST COCA COLA
TAX PAYERS
Detroit, Mich.—The membersliip here are displaying a
great deal of interest in the forthcoming conference, and a
spcial meeting was held at Headquarters to make provision
for adequate representation for the Lakes District. Measures
• were adopted which will insure genuine rank and file dele
gates, and we confidently expect a large number of fraternal
delegates directly from the ships. In contradistinction to the
packed fiasco of the "Nearly Moscow Union", we intend to
show the commissars the only way of conducting a demo
cratic convention is by having no political axes to grind.
Tougli ComuiissaaS
Oui' Cleveland correspondent in
forms us that the commissars in
Erie are developing into real
tough guys. They opened a hall
there, and on boarding a ship in
the harbor they discovered a
woman cook, named Leona Wih
son, who had belonged to the AFL
fq^r years. They threatened to
beat her up unless she changed
her affiliation. The lady told the
"classconscious" goons what she
thought of them, whereupon they
hustled her to the dock.
Verily, the Stalin influence ex
tends far and wide!
Sand Boats Oigaiii^cd
A1 long last the famous Niclioi
eonEcorse sand boats have been
organized! These vessels have re
mained untouched for years, and
Were considered impregnable. By
dint of real hard I'ahor, our In
ternational representative, R. D.
Thompson, finally secured a con
tract which raised the wage and
working conditions to the prevail
ing level. This marks one more
victory in the long list of suc
year, and is one more step in the
direction of our ultimate goal of
being the sole union on the Lakes!
Coca Cola Beef
The Marine Council is assisting
the Teamsters in their struggle
against the finky CocaCola. This
is a repetition of the same fight
the Teamsters Union had in South
ern California last year. Some of
you may remember that the SUP
members on the Catalina had a
tough time preventing the trans
portation of the beverage to the
Island. After finally succeeding,
we discovered that the IBU (A
CIO affiliate) were secretly carry
ing the stuff to the Island. It is
to bo sincerely hoped that the
NMU won't do likewi.se here, and
sabotage our efforts to make this
a union product"! "
J.J.D.
COMMY'S PLAN
NOTICE
"SEAFARERS' LOG"
2 Stone St.
New. York City
Crentlemen:
Please publish the following;
When John Bernard Frye, late
chief officer of the SS Padnsay,
was killed on the 6th day of Feb
ruary, 1937 at Port Harcourt, Ni
geria, West Africa, he left his or
phaned niece, Marie Johns, with
out support. Will members of the
deck department who are familiar
with the absence of the brake lin
ing on this particular winch and
the broken condition of the gear
shaft lever, please communicate
. with the undersigned.
Yours very truly,
! Andrew L. Frye,
I 3633 A. Boulevard,
g;""' Jersey City, N, J.
(Continued from Ca(je 1)
membership of fifty odd thousand,
need fake any measures to re
habilitate their finance.^. If all
their members paid dues, the
NMU Income from this source
alone would amount to six or
seven hundred thousand dollars!
On top of that, there is the in
come from initiations, assessments
and fines. The annual "take"
should run well over a million
dollars. The NMU should he fi
nancially sound, with an income
like that, but they are, neverthe
less, continually pleading poverty.
(They must have learned that
from the shipowners!)
If the commissars are really in
earnest about wanting "to re
trench, let them start economiz
ing where it would be most ef
fective:—in other words—cut off
about fifty percent of their pie
cards! They're overloaded with
them, and the organization is, in
fact, top heavy. They have far
too many officials, and could oper
ate efficiently with a whole lo}:
lee.'! But then, I suppose, the
boys must have their pie!
NMU "Economy"
An outstanding e x a iii pie of
"economy,"' as practiced by the
NMU, is a booklet recently pub
lished by them, entitled "Labor
Spies in the N.MJJ." There is
forty.seveil pages of it, and it's a
cinch that it cost them no little
sum to have it printed. And after
you read through it, what doe.s
it amount to? We can't see where
it is of any particular benefit to
the NMU membersliip, as it is
merely a rehash of events already
publicized, and, in consequence, an
unnecessary expenditure of the
membership's money!
Hiring Hall Question
Among other things advocated
is the "elimination of commission
hiring halls." Well, well, after all
this time, they are really going to
fight against the Fink Halls, are
they? Why wouldn't the commis
fiar.s allow their membership to
picket the Fink Halls last winter?
If anyone has fought these gov
ernment' agencies, it is the SUP
and the SIU,—without any help
from the NMU! We ouly hope that
they are sincere this time, and
won't be telling their members to
uuoffieially ship through the Fink
Halls, as they did before.
Also advocat'ed is "elimination
of the threat of compulsory arbi
tration"—with which we are
heartily in accord. But,—take a
good look at the long drawn out
arbitration clauses in the agree
ments signed by the NMU! If they
aren't a step towards compulsory
arbitration, they are plently close
to it!
Why the Change'?
Yes, now they are openly advo
(Continued from Page 1)
Ask Tax Payers
WHAT SHOULD BE DONE, IS
TO TAKE THIS TO THE TAX
PAYERS:
GET THEM ASKING WHY
AND WHERE THEIR MONEY
GOES,—WHAT GOOD COMES
FROM IT??—WHY IT IS NECES
SARY THAT MEN WHO HAVE
GONE TO SEA ALL THEIR
LIVES NEED TRAINING FROM
MEN WHO KNOW NOTHING OF
THE MERCHANT MARINE
SERVICE.
We had that Editorial from the
West Coast Sailor of July 7 re
printed in the local paper, and it
is getting a lot of attention. The
sooner the tax payers get wise,
and stop tliis hooey of wasting the
dough that they sweat for, the
sooner this waste will stop.
Slam Top Faction
There is a leaflet being printed
here called the "Keel," and they
went for the NMU top fraction
policy of aiding and abetting the
phoneys on this ship. One passage
reads:
The CIO Unions in Mobile
know definitely that the member
ship of the AF.ofL. were not be
hind this move, and also knows
definitely that threats were issued
against any AFL member who re
fused to become a party to their
cowardly actions."
For the Information of all CIO
ers, I suggest that they look over
the program of the SUP since this
question came up, and the pro
gram of the SIU since It started
on this coast, to show what a
militant union will and will not
go for. Further,—the SIU pro
gram was decided by the mem
bership, and not by any top frac
tion.
As far as the little, trouble in
Mobile;—the boys are not in the
habit of sitting in the same bar
room with some phoney,' who in
the future will be trying to break
their picket lines. The time to
take this thing up is NOW,—so
how about getting a real progres
sive line of publicity started on an
International scale?
Things are going right along
here now,—in the middle of the
channel,—and all hands on look
out.
Rt.'^a.'iy as she gOes
Armstrong, SUP No. 2983
RUMORED TIEUP BETWEEN
WALL ST., A^DMMISSION
Admiral Land Has Plenty to Explain
To General Public for Actions
;IB
PRESIDENT TAKES HAND
Coast
at an
BOSTON
Vews Bits
HOW OOME, BOSTON?
NO NEWS?
eating opposition to the Maritime
Commission's program, .because it
has been proves to them by mili
tant maritime unions .that the
Commission's plan of regimenta
tion is a direct threat to the gen
eral welfare oif all seamen! Why
haven't they been fighting them
all along? Didn't it fit in with the
Party's plans? Then, why does it
fit in now? So far, they have said
nothing about withdrawing their
endorsement of the Maritime Com
mission's training schools and
ships, so evidently they still be
lieve in allowing the government
to continue training potential
strikebreakers!
In conclusion we'd like to say
that' we can't see anything of any
reaL benefit to the rank and file
membership of the NMU coming
out of this convention, and all we
can see is the CP getting a firmer
hold on the organization that they
have been using as their own
political football!
The editorial in the July 6th i.ssue of the We.st
Sailor captioned "SCANDALS TO GOME" appears
opportune moment.
The U.S. Maritime Commi.ssion is a body over ndiich Con"
gress lias no direct control. For an cxeeutive and administra
tive grouj) having indirect control over the livelihood of some
75,000 seamen, and an even greater number of shore em
ployees, to have all this arbitrary power without having to
return a report to anyone, seems an odd state of affairs.
WALL STREET TIEUP?
The public would like to know more about the rumored
tieup between Wall Street and the Maritime Commission. It
is known that the government is not able to finance all its
projects without recourse to the hankers, and in the ship
construction program there is a faint aroma of Wall Street
dictating where ships are to he built, who shall design the
plans, where materials are to be purchased, what agencies
shall get the insurance, and what shipowners are eligible to
get charters and snh.sidies.
LAND SHOULD EXPLAIN
The members of the Maritime Commission, particularly its
chairman Admiral Land, have much explaining to do to the
public regarding some very important matters. From Con
gressional records we find that Admiral Land, when testify
ing before a House or Senate Committee seldom carries with
him.^specific facts and data, and his standard excuse is that
lie did not bring them because he did not consider them im
portant enough. At one hearing on the matter of disposing
of the two or three lines being operated for the Commission
by private interests, the Admiral told tlie Senate Commrce
Committee that ho could not make public certain information
hut would give that evidence at a secret hearing if they
wished. From a navy man, steeped in bureaucratic proce
dure, an explanation is forthcoming.
PRESIDENT STEPS IN
Recentlj^ a West Coast shipyard obtained a contract for
the eonstiTiction of several of the new M. C. cargo ships. Thi.s
firm had originally hid along with the rest of the <?ouiitry'a
shipyards, hut for some unknown reason their hid was turned
down. But the builders, not being satisfied with the entire
proceedings, went over the Commission's head and took the
matter to the President, who ordered the M.C. to let the con
tracts to this firm. Aiiparcntly something smelled rotten in
Denmark and to hush the matter up the President thought it .
advisable to let the contracts. Of course the public would
like to learn everything about this case, hut it is pretty sure
that Admiral Land will, as usual, not have the proper data
with him.
The members of the S.l.U. certainly appreciate the stand
and leadership taken by the S.U.P. on questions such as
these.
A. 0. Wingate, S.I.U. No. 90, Eng.
Signing a Reiease
Does Not Ciose Case
• VYhere a seaman does not know
the nature or extent of his in
juries, and signs a General Re
lease, discharging the steamship
company from all past, present
and future liability, in considera
tion of a settlement embraced by
the terms of his written Release,
nevertheless, the seaman is enti
tled to additional and future com
pensation for an unforeseen devel
opment of the preexisting Injury
mentioned in the Rele^e. The
point' of distinction of the deci
sions is whether the seaman, upon
signing Ihe Release, honestly and
understandlngly knows, and can
appreciate the full extent of his
Injuries, so that the amount ac
cepted under the Release bears a
reasonable relation, in terms of
money, to the extent of tht injury
received, considering not only the
condition of the Injury at the mo
ment of settlement and Release,
but' considering also the possible
future prejudicial nature and ex
tent of the injury and disease de
velopment and progress, both
physiological and anatomical, of
the original condition of injury.
This is true whether the seaman
fully understands the content's of
the Release, or does not fully un
derstand its contents. This is
also true whether a seaman's
claim is for steamship owner's
negligence liability, or be. it a
claim for maintenance and cure.
The foregoing ruling was made
in the following case:
Bonici v. The Standard Oil
Co., of N. J.
U.S.C.C. Appeals, 2nd Cir
cuit.
Hand, Clark and Patterson
Circuit Judges (April 1939)
William Mahler, SIU No. 2186
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