Media
Issue Date
1943-11-12
Volume
5
Issue Number
32
Plaintext
JOQ
OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE ATLANTIC AND GULF DISTRICT,
SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA
Vol. V. NEW YORK. N. Y.. FRIDAY. NOVEMBER 12. 1943 No. 32
SUP Man's Portrait
Of Furuseth Wins
Artists' Praise
t
NEW YORK—A jury of distinguished artists gave
high praise this week to the entry of Douglas M. Keifer of
Seattle, Washington, a member of the Sailors Union of the
Pacific, in the second annual merchant seamen's art exhi
bition which is to tour the United States under the auspices
of the United Seamen's Service.^
The picture he submitted IS a
portrait of Andrew Furuseth,
founder of the SUP.
More than 150 paintings were
submitted by seamen artists for
judging and seventy were chosen
by the jury. The exhibition will
open at the Corcoran Gallery of
Art in Washington on November
28. After a month in Washing
ton, the exhibition will tour the
principal cities of the country
and a selection of works from
the show will go to London,
Able Seaman Kiefer who lives
at 16281/2 43rd Avenue North, in
Seattle, has been working in oils
for less than a year and has had
no formal training in the graphic
arts. While many seamen with
similar technical backgrounds
submitted work for the exhibi
tion, which in its final form is
composed of works of really
high calibre, the portrait by
Brother Keifer was considered
outstanding in its class.
Boldly executed with broad
slashing strokes, a strong imag
inative touch was displayed in
the picture by Keifer in his
handling of a mountain and sky
background fringed at the bot
tom by a busy waterfront scene.
The evening sky is an impres
sionistic rendition of the Ameri
can flag, with ryght stars show
ing against a deep blue back
ground in the upper left-hand
corner and the field streaked
with the red and white reflection
of the early morning sun. The
figure subject is shown in half
profile, and is an excellent like
ness of the militant maritime la
bor leader. The portrait is not
for sale and belongs to the
Seattle Branch of the SUP.
The mernbers of the jury
which selected the pictures for
the exhibit are John Taylor
Arms, internationally renowned
etcher; Roland Clark, etcher- and
art writer; Jo Davidson, sculp
tor; Gordon Grant, marine artist;
Raphael Soyer, prize - winning
painter; Leon Kroll, celebrated
painter; and C. Powell Minnige-
rode, director of the Corcoran
Gallery of Art.
Announcement of the "prize
awards will be made very soon.
The first annual exhibit by
United Seamen's Service of mer
chant seamen's art was held at
the Hall of Art, New York, Feb
ruary 1-15, 1943. The first prize
winner of that shbw was Ben
Rosen, member of the SIU.
Curran Would Keep Old
Timers Off The Ships
BRAGS HE HAS " PROMOTED MEDICAL EXAMS"
The specter which has long haunted old-time seamen, that of being blackHsted out
of the industry by means of stringent and rigged physical examinations, moved a step
closer to reality this month as the Stalinist clique in the leadership of the NMU came
out in support of standardized and periodic government physical examinations for all
seamen. In Curran's own words, the men would be subjected to "an examination for
for your blood, an examination
Labor Heat Thawing
Bosses' Wage Freeze
The "Little Steel Formula," an
employer created yardstick
which kept labor's wage frozen
while employers' profits (and the
cost of living) skyrocketed, is
about to be smashed under re
peated blows from the trade
unions. This formula limited
wage increases to 15% over those
prevailing January 1941. Profit
eering and the cost of living was
not limited, and the workers
were faced with 124% increase
in the price of most of the neces
sities of life.
To the United Mine Workers
must go the major portion of the
credit for smashing the "Little
Steel Formula." Over the past
year they have fought, by both
negotiation and strike, to win a
living wage for the men that dig
coal. Despite the smear campaign
launched against them by the
employers and some labor lead
ers, the Miners continued the
(^Continued on Page 4)
Price Rollback A
Dud; Living Cost
Trend Is Upward
Organized labor's contention
that the Office of Price Adminis
tration has failed to check profit
eering was confirmed up to the
hilt this week by a report of the
Bureau of Labor Statistics of the
Department of Labor.
Instead of prices having been
rolled back, as the OPA .has
claimed, they continue to ad
vance, the report said. From
August 15 to September 15, it-
was disclosed, the cost of living
shot up four-tenths of 1 per cent.
This is the average for the en
tire country, and covers only
prices based on OPA ceilings, the
report revealed, emphasizing
• {Continued on Page 4)
your
for your lungs and an examina
tion for your heart."
Many such moves have been
attempted in the past by various
shipowner groups, but this is the
first time that so-called labor
leaders have dared to openly
support such an obviously anti
union measure. But there is
good reason for this.
C. P. DISSENTION
It is well known along the
waterfront that the C.P. fraction
in the NMU is torn by dissention.
Many old time members of the
party, and many rank and file
militant seamen who were not
members but followed the Stal
inist line in the belief that it
constituted good trade unionsim,
have become fed up with the
sell-out artists in the leadership
of the union. These old timers
are now conducting a struggle
against Curran and Company,
and this move to • force medical
examinations could well be a
maneuver to drive out of the in
dustry this opposition. The 13th
Street machine no doubt feels
more capable of handling the
{Continued on Page 3)
TWO LESS FOR US TO WORRY ABOUT
Surfaced for a rendezvous somewhere at sea. two Nazi U-boats are shown in this spectacular
photo as they were surprised by depth bombs from a Navy torpedo plane. Attacking both subs
singlehanded, the pilot planted the depth charges shown exploding near the craft at the right. • MM
http://www.pdfcompressor.org/buy.html
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Page Two THE SEAFARERS LOG Friday. November 12, 1943
aa ^
SEAFARERS LOG
Published by the
SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION
OF NORTH AMERICA
x\tlaiitic and Gulf District
Affiliated with the American Federation of Labor
HARRY LUNDEBERG ------ Vresideiit
110 Market Street, San Francisco, Calif.
JOHN HAWK ------- Secy-Treas.
P. O. Box 25, Station P., New York City
MATTHEW DUSHANE - - - "Washington Rep.
424 5 th Street, N. W., Washington, D. C.
• •
Directory of Branches
BRANCH ADDRESS PHONE
NEW YORK (4) 2 Stone St BOwlini? Green 9-3437
BOSTON (10) 330 Atlantic Ave Liberty 4057
BALTIMORE (2) 14 North Gay St Calvert 4539
PHILADELPHIA 6 North 6th St Lombard 7651
NORFOLK 25 Commercial PI Norfolk 4-1083
NEW ORLEANS (16) ..309 Chartres St Canal 3336
SAVANNAH 218 East Bay St Savannah 3-1728
TAMPA 423 East Piatt St Tampa MM-1323
MOBILE 55 So. Conception St Dial 2-1392
PUERTO RICO.. 45 Ponce de Leon Puerto de Tierra
GALVESTON 219 20th Street Galveston 2-8043
FT. LAUDERD,\LE. .... .2021 S. Federal Highway. .. Ft. LauJeidale 1601
v; •
PUBLICATION OFFICE:
ROOM 213, 2 STONE STREET
New York City BOwling Green 9-8346
267
W
Committee Seeks Freedom
Of Detained Greek Seamen
NEW YORK, (ITF)—The Greek Maritime "Welfare
Committee, in cooperation with the Greek Maritime Union,
has actively interested itself in the status of a score of Greek
Merchant Seamen who are at present detained in Ellis Isl
and. A majority of the men have indicated willingness to
ship out aboard Greek and other#
Allied merchant vessels while
Sm
others want to join the Greek
Navy, it was said at the Commit
tee's offices, 18 East 41st Street,
New York City.
The plight of the Greek sea
farers was brought to the atten
tion of the Committee in a letter
signed jointly by the detained
men and demanding redress of
their grievances. The signers
complained that they had ah'cady
spent several months in federal
custody and that they were at a
loss to understand their contin
ued detention.
Mr. Christopher S. Stephano,
chairman of the Greek Maritime
Welfare Committee, appealed to
the U. S. immigration authorities
and the War Shipping Adminis
tration and secured permission
to visit the men and investigate
their complaints. A delegation
composed of Mr. Stephano, Pe-
tros Spiridakos, secretary of the
Greek Maritime Union and a rep
resentative of the immigration
department went on November
4th to Ellis Island and met with
the men. Hope was expressed af
ter the meeting that the difficul
ties would be straightened out
and the men soon be released
and given employment aboard
ship.
Commenting on the plight of
the Greek merchant seamen in
"American ports, Mr. Stephano
pointed out that the detention of
the men was harmful to the
morale of the Greek seafarers
who are anxious to serve the Al
lied cause. Many of these men
have been the victims of pre
vious ship sinkings and all have
done their best, he added. An
other factor in the tangled situa
tion is the contradictory interpre
tation of the Greek service draft
law with regard to Greek seafar
ing nationals in foreign ports.
Union spokesmen observed that
qualified seamen with more than
two months of maritime service
during the Greek-Italian war
were exempt from the draft. The
Greek authorities in the United
States, however, are of the opin
ion that the exempt provisions
do not apply to the Western
Hemisphere and insist upon
drafting eligible merchant sea
men for naval service. This at
titude, in the opinion" of union
officials, has had tlie effect of
further demoralizing the men
who had recently been assured
by union headquarters in Cairo,
seat of the Greek goyernment-in-
exile, that they were draft
e-xempt.
,^^rR€PORT orv.«
=5i^ASHII\GTOIV
«BV MATWEW OUSHAME-» » '
ATLANTIC AND GULF SHIPPING FOR
WEEK OF OCTOBER 2Sth TO mh ,
DECK ENGINE STEWARD TOTAL
SHIPPED 361 152 278 791
REGISTERED 250 200 211 661
All agents are advised to keep
close tabs on the RMO's field of
ficers and see that they do not
try and push stumble bums from
their pools on ships in preference
to regular Union men. If the
union's haven't enough replace
ments in their halls, arrange
ments should be made with the
operators to ship men in from
other ports, this in line with
the WSA's contracts with the op
erators, or their agents. Don't let
any HMO Field Officer tell you
that the union cannot ship Union
men from one port to another.
Check on the union's contracts.
The union has the authority un
der their contracts to ship men
from one port to another provid
ed this procedure does not delay
the sailing of any vessel. Em
ployers must foot the bill.
MARITIME
WAR EMERGENCY BOARD
In order to assist the Secretary
Treasurers of the District Unions
to compile a complete chart on
the Board's decisions, I'U submit
a monthly report on the Board's
disposition of all cases submitted.
S.S. Robert Newell, Oct. 28—
Board stated that according to
information received from the
operators, vessel was not in Al
giers on August 27th, and not
entitled to attack bonus.
L. Goffin, SIU Patrolman, New
York—S.S. William Patterson—
Board notified company that
crew is entitled to Port attack
bonus.
R. W. Sweeney, SIU Patrol
man, New York—S.S. Mar^mar,
Board ruled that there was an
attack September 15th, 1943.
Bonus payable. S.S. West Kyska,
Board ruled that there was no
attack from July 15 to July 27th,
1943. No bonus payable. S.S.
Thomas Nelson, Board has ruled
that there was an enemy attack
on September 6th, 1943. Bonus
payable.
C." Fisher, SIU Patrolman, New
York—S.S. Felix Grundy, Board
has ruled that there was no en
emy attack on July 31, 1943. No
bonus payable.
A. C. Dynarski, SIU Patrol
man, New York—S S. George N.
Pendleton. No disposition made
on case. S.S. Grace Abbot, Board
has, ruled that there was no
enemy attack on September 15th,
1943. No bonus payable.
Jack Dwyer, SUP Patrolman,
New York—S.S. Hawaiian, Board
has ruled that there was an en
emy attack on September 15,
1943. Bonus is payable. S.S. Lot
Whitcomb, no disposition made
on case.
J. H. Volpin, SIU Patrolman,
New York—S.S. Benjamin Wil
liams, Board has ruled that
there was an enemy attack on
April 25th, 1943. Bonus is pay
able. S.S. Kofresi, Board has
ruled that there -was an enemy
attack on August 16-17. Bonus is
payable.
J. F. Sheehan, SIU Patrolman,
New York—S.S. Flomar, Board
has ruled that there was an en
emy attack on September 15th,
1943. Bonus is payable.
"Baldy" L. J. Bollinger, SIU
Patrolman, New York — S.S.
Thomas B, Reed, Board has ruled
that there was an enemy attack
on July 26, 27th, 1943. Bonus is
payable.
No disposition has been taken
on other cases before the Board,
waiting for more information
from the operators, • government
agencies.
UNITED
SEAMEN'S SERVICE
This outfit is a creation of the
War Shipping Administration,
the guiding hand from the WSA
is Mr. Marshall Dimock.
The USS pamphlets state that
this organization is a non profit
outfit, and its purpose is to ren
der welfare service to merchant
seamen. Since the inception of
this outfit the seamen who know
the score on welfare organization,
have always felt that this was
another racket, to saddle seamen
with a group of parasites. Of
late there have been several
stories coming" to light about the
functions of the USS.
The latest one is in reference
to a seamen who sauntered into
the Wilshire (USS) Hotel in New
York, and the boy had a few un
der his belt. Being in a liberal
trend of mind he decided to
spend a few dollars. Digging in
to his. jeans he found that he
had no change. Upon spying one
of the female employees, he po-
itely requested the use of her
fountain pen so that he could
affix his signature to a travelers
check. The old gal loaned the
boy her pen, and it seems ha
failed to return it to her prompt
ly. Being a little gassed up—he
wandered down the street to si
gin mill and left the pen on the
bar.
Now this outfit is spending all
kinds of money to impress the
public on the service that it ren
ders to seamen. The service that
this particular gal rendered toi
the boy who borrowed her foun
tain pen was to have the police
yank the boy out of bed around
9 A.M. and insisted that he be
arrested for stealing her pen. It
was only after the cops retraced
his steps and found the pen at
the bar that the woman was pur-
suaded not to have him thr'own
in jail.
The gal in question here hap
pens to be none other than Mr.
Marshall E. Dimocks mother-in-
law, Gladys Ogden. It certainly
turns out to be a non profit or
ganization as far as seamen are
concerned, but it now seems that
it is turrdng out to be a profit
able organization as far as Mr.
Dimock is concerned. Wonder]
how many more relatives Mr.
Dimock has?
Another yokel connected witK
this outfit is a Mr. James Stuart
Moore. He is the USS Port Exe
cutive in New York. From all
available information to date (hij?
autocrat was formerly connectedi
with a boys' home, and from re
ports the boys will never forget
till their maker claims them, of
{Continued on Page 4)
CREW OF S.S. LAWTON B. EVANS
"CREDIT TO MERCHANT MARINE"
Captain Frank A. Burdock, skipper of the S.S. Lawton
B. Evans was so impressed with the efficiency and courage
of his SIU crew that he drafted a letter of commendation for
all members of the deck department.
This letter shows that in spite of the propaganda of the
shipowners and the WSA, it is the union seaman who forms
the backbone of the merchant marine. The letter follows:
"To Whom It May Concern:
"Francis M. Whelan, Bosun
Andrew G. Burbul, A.B.
Joseph T. Briant, A.B. , ; ,
Robert A. Stack, A.B. ; ' ] i
Matthew J. Monahan, A.B. • " V
Peter M. Kelly, A.B.
Robert J. Munson, A.B.
Tadeusz Jan Morski, A.B.
Anthony Savaikus, O.S.
Stincy J. Vaitkelunas, O.S.
» "The above named men were members of the crew of
this ship during Voyage No. 2. Sailing from' ( ) on
( ) and arriving hack-in ( ) on ( )—5
months and 12 days. During this time the ship was in the
( ) Sea on shuttle-run. Also this ship was in the first
group of seven Liberty Ship's to take part in the invasion
of ( )..
"During the voyage there was encountered 3 submarine
attacks and 7 airplane attacks.
"These men have proved themselves one hundred per
cent capable and efficient in every respect. Their conduct
has been excellent and there has not been a complaint made
about them during the entire voyage; or has there been any
one at any time absent from duty. This is an unusually
splendid record and it's a pleasure indeed to recommend
either of the men as being A-1, in every respect. Such men
are a credit to the Merchant Marine Service."
FRANK A. MURDOCK, Master
S.S. Lawton B. Evans"
•' • • ' i " . "''''"'I- -
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r>
Friday, November 12, 1943 THE SEAFARERS LOG Page Three
WHArS DOING
-rr
Around the PoKs
GALVESTON
n
' One of the busiest weeks since
the SIU has been in the state of
Texas. Two pay off ships in
. Houston, and had to take a full
crew to Beaumont. Shipped
. everything that looked like a
seaman and sent a couple of
stumble bums back to the RMO.
Getting men in these parts is
getting serious.
To Mr. Dimock of the RMO:
You stated while in conference
at New Orleans that you had re
cruited and trained so many
thousand men and that there was
thousands more to get and train
- between the first of - tHe year.
You even asked us to try to get
our members out of the ship-
, yards, who are working there,
» and sail the ships. The NMU
delegation at the conference went
. so far as to ask you and Pen
nington to see if you could not
get Congress to pass a law to
take away the papers of a sea
man working ashore, and to see
that a seaman could not get a
, defense job. lAr. Dimock, right
in this part of the country I can
obtain men that want to go to
sea, but can't under your phoney
set up which eliminates a man
on account of a slight physical
defect. Right here a very short
time ago one of your trainees
, with one eye was refused a job
on a NMU contract ship, as mess-
man. Yet you spend money to
. train these men.
Every citizen of this country
has the right to earn his living
at the vocation that he chooses.
We in the SIU are not fellow
travelers and we did not start
going to sea yesterday, but it is
about time that something is
done. Your conference in New
. Orleans was a flop. The situa
tion is getting serious, just on
account of the phoney rules that
you hand down to your hand-
picked and sponsored NMU job
holders.
The day is coming, Mr. Di
mock, this farce will bust wide
open, and it is about time that
Capt. Macauley had a good old-
fashioned house cleaning in the
ranks of the RMO and pump the
bilges.
It was like old home week the
past few days, ten members of
the NMU have put their books
in this office and have taken out
SIU books and trip cards. I was
stumped at seeing them until I
found out what the reason was:
Kilgore is trying to freeze the
seamen to their ships. The NMU
is demanding members to sign
the dues check off cards. Result,
easy money for the Komrades
for the next two years and with
out doing anything for the mem-
bersliip.
Had the pleasure of calling
the RMO. They sent nle five
trip card inen in the NMU. Re
sult, sent back. This is to let all
hands know that we in the SIU-
SUP do not stand outside of the
training schools,. handing out
trip cards and books to the grad-
I uates, as the. NMU.
All beefs and disputes settled
to the satisfaction of all con
cerned the past week. One of
our staunch backers, Capt. Al-
bert Hemphill, Sect. Master
Mates & Pilots, resigned the past
week to go to sea. He was on
leave and has just returned from
sea. Good luck Capt. and may
your successor give us the back
ing that you did. The crew of
the Wm. Clayborn donated $57.
to the LOG.
E. R. WALLACE, Agent
NEW ORLEANS
There has been quite a rest for
you and the other long suffering
brothers from the time that I
last used space in the LOG to
expound pearls of wisdom (just
a matter of opinion).
Went walking in our fair city
the other night with the Skipper
off one of Higgins' puddle jump
ers (neat rigged little scows) and
the man stated that he had to
get a high pressure as the ti-ans-
port services seemed to expect
it. Well, after trying practically
aU the shops on Canal St., still
no hats. The oilers and messboys
in the ATS had them all bought
up. The skipper said, "That's
O.K. as long as I tried." Since
that time I hear that the ATS
has issued orders that all civilian
employees wear civvys ashore.
Tush, tush.
Considerable write-ups in the
local papers here about the
heroes of the ermed guard ser
vice. Also read with great inter
est the accoimt of the crew off
the vessel that was beached dur
ing the blow off the eastern
coast and how the Coast Guaid
rescued the Crew of the armed
guard with breech buoys and
small boats. The merchant mar
ine crew slide down the side and
walked ashore. Again on the
Luckenbach the six man armed
guard was taken off in breech
buoys with an audience of sever
al thousand people. The ship's
crew stayed aboard the vessel.
Business here is picking up to
where, with helping the Texas
ports, our own shipping is not too
bad. On deck it's very good, in
the other departments it has
slowed up some.
Don't forget that the voting is
now going on and now is yqpr
chance to get in and find out
what that so and so is doing here,
there, and in the other port. At
least this coming year I'll be able
to join the throng that sets back
and says I could do better then
that, and then sit on my fanny
and do nothing. Are you one of
this type?
So till the roses bloom in
Times Square,
Steady as she goes.
ARMY, Agent
N.Y. Board Of Education
Reveals Plan For Setting
Up Maritime High School
The New York Board of Edu
cation has completed plans for
the creation of a maritime higi
school, the first of its kind in the
country. Under the new set up
youth graduating from primary
schools would be eligible for mari
time training, just as now they
can receive vocational training
for shoreside industries.
The school, accommodating 3,
000 students, will be constructec
after the war if the project goes
through on the East River water
front near the Battery. The Edu
cation Board has requested the
City Planning Commission to ask
amendment of the capital outlay
budget to provide funds for the
school, the first high school of its
kind in the world.
Practical training for a career
at sea will be provided, accord
ing to present plans, with
freighter, a yawl, a ketch and a
heavy-duty power boat anchored
in the basin in the rear of the
school. Within the building itself
will be a freighter topside, about
200 feet long, forty feet wide and
forty feet high, so that students
may get the feel of a real deck.
The "ship" would have three
hatches with accompanying
masts, booms, king-posts, a chart-
room, flying bridge, radio shack,
aerials, paint and storerooms in
Curran Would Keep Old
Off The Ships
h
{Continued from 'Page 1)
green new elements entering the
industry than the old-timers who
know the score.
Typical of Stalinist methods is
the fact that Curran conspired
with the shipowners to slip this
one over. It was not until the
NMU Headquarters meeting of
October 14 that the rank and file
got wind of what was up. But
prior to that Curran had been
closeted with the shipowners,
and government representatives,
denianding this "reform."
Curran attended the annual
meeting of the Propeller Club on
Oct. 12-14, (the marine division
of the National Association of
Manufacturers) and pressed his
medical plan before it's "wel
fare" panel. Curran admitted
this in the NMU membership
meeting when he said (according
to the official minutes):
"I was your delegate to a Con
vention today, a convention of
shipowners . . . that is the Pro
peller Club."
And then, far from being
ashamed of rubbing stomachs
with the enemies of the seamen,
he bragged about his success in
getting the shipowners to see his
way concerning the medical ex
aminations. The sight of Curran
and the shipowners being palsy-
walsy on this question should
surprise no one—both of them
are interested in getting rid of
the old time, militant seamen.
And what easier and cleaner
method than by merely informing
them they have high blood pres
sure?
In trying to sell this finky bill
of goods to the membership, Cur
ran claimed that the setting up
of standard physical examina
tions by the U. S. Public Health
Service would eliminate the
blackballing of seamen by doc
tors employed by the shipowners.
He said that the government bu
reau would be "impartial."
That is a laugh. The anti-labor
activities of the War Shipping
Administration, the Maritime
Commission and the Recruitment
and Manning Organization has
dispelled once and for aU any il
lusions about government bu
reaus' impartialitity between
capital and labor. The seamen
know that they seldom get a
break from these shipowner
dominated government boards,
and the less they have to do with
them the better.
To fight the shipowners when
they fly their own colors is one
thing, but to fight them when
they masquerade as "impartial
government administrators" is
something else again. We can
lick them in their former capac
ity—it's not so easy in the latter.
That is why union men want
as little government interference
in the maritime industry as pos
sible. We want the shipowners
to stay in their waterfront of
fices where we can get at them
Here is how many SIU agree
ments read in reference to phy
sical examinations:
"In the event any decision of
the Company Physician is chal
lenged by the Union as to the
physical fitness of a union mem
ber, said member shall be re
examined by a Public Health
Physician and his decision shall
be binding."
This system means that the
first rejection of a man is in the
hands of the shipowner, and
therefore subject to pi-essure from
the union. Should the shipown
er launch a program of picking
off militant men by this method,
the union will find ways and
means of stopping this—quick!
The Health Service, on the other
hand, not having primary con
trol of the rejection of men, is
less subject to shipowner pres
sure and more apt to be impar
tial.
the torepeak, lifeboats, davits,
fire lines and all other geaij
usually found on deck.
There will also be a wheel-
house for use in instructing stu
dents on employment of the fath
ometer, manual steering controls,
compasses, metal mike and fire
detection systems. The. hatches
and booms will be used for ac
tual demonstrations of loading
cargo. The bridge will be con
nected with all departments of
the ship, where navigation will
be studied and from which or
ders will be issued to the "en
gine" departrnent under all types
of simulated conditions.
The site proposed for the three-
story structure is city-owned
property on South Street, be
tween Whitehall and Broad
Streets, and was formerly a city
ferry terminal. It is located in
the heart of the Port of New
York's shipping district. The
building will be laid out to cor
respond with the relative posi
tion of each department on a
ship. The engine department will
be located on the first floor, the
deck and radio departments on
the upper floors, and the roof
will' correspond to the bridge
where celestial navigation and
signaling could be taught.
"Between decks" the building
will house the stewards' depart
ment with a cafeteria, the pur
ser's office and the classroom for
instructing students on freight
and operation duties.
One fly in the ointment is the
fact that Frank J. Taylor, Presi
dent of the Merchant Marine In
stitute is a sponsor of the new
project. No doubt Mr. Taylor has
in the back of his mind the pos
sibility of transforming the pro
ject into a training school for
finks at the taxpayers' expense.
The unions will have to keep a
weather eye on this school.
MERCHANT MARINE
MAIL NOTICE
Insured, C.O.D. or registered
mail cannot be accepted for mati
ng to the personnel of the Am
erican Merchant Marine, accord
ing to an announcement by Post
master Albert Goldman. Many
mailers prepare packages or other
mail matter for registration, in
surance or C.O.D. service and the
Post Office wishes to avoid the
Moreover, there are many' annoyance to the mailers incident
and stay out of Washington
where they can wrap themselves
in the American flag.
If there are to be physical ex
aminations, let them be conduct
ed by the shipowners and the
unions can see that it isn't used
as a blacklist. But let them be
conducted by "impartial goyern-
ment" and the shipowner will be
able to exert influence to the de
triment of the unions.
lines which do not require any
physical examination whatsoever.
These lines are efficiently man
ned by capable crews of old-
times, men who might be reject
ed for some minor incapacity if
they had to take a physical. Cur-
ran's plan would mean that all
lines would be forced to set up
physical requirements—thus au
tomatically eliminating many
men now going to sea.
It is to be hoped that this latest
attempted sell-out by Curran &
Company will really open the
eyes of those honest rank and
file members of the NMU who
up to now hesitated to believe
that the C.P. line in maritime is
essentially a fink line.
to the inability of the Post Office
to accept such matter which
cannot be sent to destination.
MONEY DUE
Crew of S. S. Daniel Huger
which paid off Oct. 13. 1943. has
linen money coming. Collect
Mississippi Line. New York.
Crew member Chamberlain has
his Log lifted and can collect
from New York office when ho
gets his linen money.
Keep In Touch With
Your Draft Board
•'I
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• ~.^''<j'->ri'^''^rT'.v^ '
Page Four THE SEAFARERS LOG Friday, November 12, 1943
Churchill-FDR Optomistie On Sub War
5-: >'•
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In a joint statement issued this
week at London and Washington,
President Roosevelt and Prime
Minister Churcliill revealed facts
and figures proving that during
the past few months the sub
menace in the Atlantic is not
only under control, but shows
signs of being eliminated. The
statement revealed that:
1. During the months of Aug
ust, September and October ap
proximately sixty U-boats were
destroyed. This brings to more
than 150 the number of U-boats
destroyed during the last six
months. The record of the last
three months is particularly
gratifying because during most
of this period fewer U-boats were
operating, fewer targets were
presented for our air and sea
forces.
2. During August, September
and October more U-boats were
destroyed than Allied merchant
ships were sunk by U-boat ac
tion. The ratio of U-boat to mer
chant ship attrition during Oct
ober was more satisfactory than
in any previous month. Our ton
nage losses from all causes in
October were the second lowest
of any month of the war.
3. Merchant ship tonnage lost
to U-boat action during the last
three months was less than one-
half the merchant ship tonnage
lost during the previous three
months despite the fact that ac
tual shipping increased.
4. The Germans have intro
duced new U-boat weapons and
tactics. Thus far we have been
able to cope successfully with
the changing situation. The bat
tle continues in full vigor.
Of Ancient Vintage
(The Wino Craves a Ship)
Oh for a ship, a rare old ship
Bound for Fori of Hearts Desire,
Where a wino can lay in his bunk all day
With no work to raise his ire.
A special ship, a vintage ship
No watch for the crew to keep.
With barrels of beer on ice to cheer
We bound oe'r the bounding deep.
A trim tall ship, 'here take a nip'
With rust and paint unknown.
And all we do is partake of the brew
And hope we would never reach home.
An ancient ship, a wino ship
Without Captain, or Bosun or Mate
To disturb joyous spell by whistle or bell
And spoil the effects of the grape.
Oh, a rare old ship from Coenties Slip
With a cargo of port in the hold,
A draw every day to make poker pay
Why then we would never grow old.
A long joyous trip on a wino dream ship
A voyage like this do I crave.
All overtime pay where no one says "nay"
As we corkscrew over the wave.
Of course this ship is a non Union ship
No wino shall Union dues pay.
The shipowner too shipped out with the crew
With the corks popping into the bay.
But this perfect ship, I fear is a myth
No such on the deep can I find.
So look for the boom when you walk in to this room.
"The price of a drink, do you mind?"
—TOP AN' LIFT.
Ships Named For
Labor Leaders
BRUNSWICK, Ga.—Two Lib
erty Ships, under constructipn
here by AFL workers at the J.
A. Jones Construction Co. yard,
will be named for labor leaders,
the U. S. Maritime Commission
has announced.
The men to be honored will be
the late Patrick H. Morrissey, a
former grand master of the
Brotherhood of Railroad Train
men and the late John B. Len-
non, AFL treasurer for 28 years.
Morrissey, a charter member
of the Bloomington, 111., lodge,
became national vice-grand mas
ter of the brotherhood in 1889
and served as grand master from
1895 until 1909. He resigned from
the brotherhood in 1909 to be
come president of the Railroad
Employees and Investors Associ
ation, later becoming vice-presi
dent in charge of operation of
the Burlington Railroad. Morris
sey died November 28, 1916.
Lennon organized the tailor's
union in 1884 and held the office
of general secretary for 26 years.
He was elected treasurer of the
AFL in 1889, serving for 28 years.
During the administrations of
Presidents Taft and Wilson, Len
non was labor representative on
the U.S. Commission of Indus
trial Relations. During World
War I, he was a conciliator for
the Department of Labor. He
died Jan. 17, 1923.
Washington Report
(Continued from Page 2)
the conditions that they had to
tolerate while he held the whip.
The reports are that he hates
anything connected with LABOR
and has made the statement that
if he had been on the job when
this outfit was organized there
would be ho Labor representa
tion connected with it.
To prove his utter disregard
and contempt for Labor and what
" it stands for, this individual had
cards printed announcing the
- birth' of "IT'S A BOY" to Doro
thy and James Moore, "THEIR
. THIRD HOWLING SUCCESS"
on cards without a union label.
' It is also reported that he has
-forced every employee who was
, working for the USS, who were
(-members of a seamen's union to
resign. This is the service that
' is being rendered to merchant
' seamen by persons who are alien
: to seamen's wishes and welfare.
If. this trends continues it won't
be long before the USS comes
out openly hostile to all seamen's
unions.
All right boys, drop a line to
the editor on how you find the
USS, and how these parasites
treat you. No doubt some of the
stories will shed a different light
on the pamphlets and other crap
put out by the USS.
Colored boys to him are lower
than Whale ( and they
are his particular meat. Any
thing that he can do to make
them feel miserable, satisfies his
vain temporary autocratical pow
er.
I'll list Mr. Marshall E. Di-
mock's stooges in his would-be
set up on "LABOR'S PART IN
WAR AND RECONSTRUC
TION" and his attempt to saddle
seamen with enemies of their
welfare, who are alien and hos
tile to union seamen.
Enemy No. 1. Craig. 'Vincent
RMO regional director. New
York City.
Enemy No. 2. Gladys Ogden
—Mr. Dimock's mbther-in-law.
WilBhire Hotel, New York City.
Enemy No. 3. James Stuart
Moore — USS port executive.
New York City.
Brothers, send in names and
reports of other phonies in the
RMO and USS so that we can
enter their names in our social
register and let the seamen w^o
arc risking their lives, while
these parasites live off of the
money that is panhandled from
the public, under the guise that
they are rendering welfare ser
vice to merchant seamen, know
just who they are and what their
objective and feelings towards
seamen really are.
NWLB — War shipping panel
meeting that was to be held on
the Great Lak ;s case has been
postponed until November 11th.
The full panel meets on this day.
Labor Heat Thawing
Bosses' Wage Freeze
Keep In Touch With
Your Draft Board
(Continued from Page 1)
$1.50 per day increase in pay for
fight and last week finaUy won
an extra hour's work. This boost
was granted by the War Labor
Board and constituted the first
Board decision which was in vio
lation of the Little Steel For
mula.
WLB chairman William Davis,
a bitter opponant of John L.
Lewis, President of the United
Mine Workers, was forced to ad
mit that the wage restrictions
imposed by the government have
imposed "an unjust burden" on
the workers.
"As the months flow by and
the board continues to hold
wages to the general level of
Sept. 15, 1942," Davis said, "we
become increasingly conscious
of the fact that we are asking
one segment of our society to do
its part to protect all Americans
from the ravages of inflation
while, at the same time, a similar
obligation has not been placed as
heavily upon the shoulders of
some of the other segments of
this society."
In plain language, this is an
admission that the WLB policies
have resulted in suffering for the
workers and profiteering for the
employers.
Now that the wage ceiling has
been pierced by the Miners, it is
expected that several other pow
erful unions will demand adjust
ment of their wage schedules.
Rail labor leaders have just re^
jected a wage rise of 4 to 10
cents an hour awarded them by
a special Presidential Board.
They are taking a strike vote
throughout the industry.
Sidney Hillman, head of the
Amalgamated Clothing Workers,
has submitted a report to Presi
dent Roosevelt warning him that
labor is revolting against the
present wage ceilings.
The United Steel Workers' exe
cutive board has decided to re
open 1,300 collective bargaining
contracts and demand pay boosts
for 900,000 members.
Price Rollback A
Dud; Living Cost
Trend Is Upward
(Continued from Page 1)
that there arc wide variatio-.s in
prices in different parts of the
country.
For example, while the price
of women's fall coats has ad
vanced generally, it has been
jacked up as much as 60 per
cent in some localities.
Rents are also steadily edging
upward, as is the cost of services.
In this connection, the report de
clared:
"The doUar haircut of World
War I has again made its ap
pearance in some cities, with 75
cents the usual charge, against
the pre-war charge of 50 cents or
less. There were also substantial
increases in the cost of medical
and domestic services, admis
sions to motion pictures, and in
prices for a variety of other
goods, including soaps and toilet
articles." *
While these increases cut into
the family budget, they do not
appear in cost of living figures.
RULES ENCOURAGE
GOUGING
The report brings out in rather
striking fashion a claim repeat
edly made by organized labor
that OPA regulations encourage
profiteering by permitting manu
facturers and dealers to write
their own price ticket on new
lines. Old established lines are
rapidly disappearing from the
market and are being replaced
by inferior merchandise imder
new names at prices far above
OPA ceilings.
How this affects consumers is
illustrated by the high-handed
brigandage of the liquor indus
try. Most of the old brands of !
whiskey, on which prices had
been established, are no longer
obtainable, while literally scores
of new products have been sub
stituted. This has created a par
adise for profiteers.
'msonaU
MIKE DIKUN
Your papers and discharges
have been turned into the Phila
delphia hall of the Union. Pick
them up.
^Justice
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OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE ATLANTIC AND GULF DISTRICT,
SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA
Vol. V. NEW YORK. N. Y.. FRIDAY. NOVEMBER 12. 1943 No. 32
SUP Man's Portrait
Of Furuseth Wins
Artists' Praise
t
NEW YORK—A jury of distinguished artists gave
high praise this week to the entry of Douglas M. Keifer of
Seattle, Washington, a member of the Sailors Union of the
Pacific, in the second annual merchant seamen's art exhi
bition which is to tour the United States under the auspices
of the United Seamen's Service.^
The picture he submitted IS a
portrait of Andrew Furuseth,
founder of the SUP.
More than 150 paintings were
submitted by seamen artists for
judging and seventy were chosen
by the jury. The exhibition will
open at the Corcoran Gallery of
Art in Washington on November
28. After a month in Washing
ton, the exhibition will tour the
principal cities of the country
and a selection of works from
the show will go to London,
Able Seaman Kiefer who lives
at 16281/2 43rd Avenue North, in
Seattle, has been working in oils
for less than a year and has had
no formal training in the graphic
arts. While many seamen with
similar technical backgrounds
submitted work for the exhibi
tion, which in its final form is
composed of works of really
high calibre, the portrait by
Brother Keifer was considered
outstanding in its class.
Boldly executed with broad
slashing strokes, a strong imag
inative touch was displayed in
the picture by Keifer in his
handling of a mountain and sky
background fringed at the bot
tom by a busy waterfront scene.
The evening sky is an impres
sionistic rendition of the Ameri
can flag, with ryght stars show
ing against a deep blue back
ground in the upper left-hand
corner and the field streaked
with the red and white reflection
of the early morning sun. The
figure subject is shown in half
profile, and is an excellent like
ness of the militant maritime la
bor leader. The portrait is not
for sale and belongs to the
Seattle Branch of the SUP.
The mernbers of the jury
which selected the pictures for
the exhibit are John Taylor
Arms, internationally renowned
etcher; Roland Clark, etcher- and
art writer; Jo Davidson, sculp
tor; Gordon Grant, marine artist;
Raphael Soyer, prize - winning
painter; Leon Kroll, celebrated
painter; and C. Powell Minnige-
rode, director of the Corcoran
Gallery of Art.
Announcement of the "prize
awards will be made very soon.
The first annual exhibit by
United Seamen's Service of mer
chant seamen's art was held at
the Hall of Art, New York, Feb
ruary 1-15, 1943. The first prize
winner of that shbw was Ben
Rosen, member of the SIU.
Curran Would Keep Old
Timers Off The Ships
BRAGS HE HAS " PROMOTED MEDICAL EXAMS"
The specter which has long haunted old-time seamen, that of being blackHsted out
of the industry by means of stringent and rigged physical examinations, moved a step
closer to reality this month as the Stalinist clique in the leadership of the NMU came
out in support of standardized and periodic government physical examinations for all
seamen. In Curran's own words, the men would be subjected to "an examination for
for your blood, an examination
Labor Heat Thawing
Bosses' Wage Freeze
The "Little Steel Formula," an
employer created yardstick
which kept labor's wage frozen
while employers' profits (and the
cost of living) skyrocketed, is
about to be smashed under re
peated blows from the trade
unions. This formula limited
wage increases to 15% over those
prevailing January 1941. Profit
eering and the cost of living was
not limited, and the workers
were faced with 124% increase
in the price of most of the neces
sities of life.
To the United Mine Workers
must go the major portion of the
credit for smashing the "Little
Steel Formula." Over the past
year they have fought, by both
negotiation and strike, to win a
living wage for the men that dig
coal. Despite the smear campaign
launched against them by the
employers and some labor lead
ers, the Miners continued the
(^Continued on Page 4)
Price Rollback A
Dud; Living Cost
Trend Is Upward
Organized labor's contention
that the Office of Price Adminis
tration has failed to check profit
eering was confirmed up to the
hilt this week by a report of the
Bureau of Labor Statistics of the
Department of Labor.
Instead of prices having been
rolled back, as the OPA .has
claimed, they continue to ad
vance, the report said. From
August 15 to September 15, it-
was disclosed, the cost of living
shot up four-tenths of 1 per cent.
This is the average for the en
tire country, and covers only
prices based on OPA ceilings, the
report revealed, emphasizing
• {Continued on Page 4)
your
for your lungs and an examina
tion for your heart."
Many such moves have been
attempted in the past by various
shipowner groups, but this is the
first time that so-called labor
leaders have dared to openly
support such an obviously anti
union measure. But there is
good reason for this.
C. P. DISSENTION
It is well known along the
waterfront that the C.P. fraction
in the NMU is torn by dissention.
Many old time members of the
party, and many rank and file
militant seamen who were not
members but followed the Stal
inist line in the belief that it
constituted good trade unionsim,
have become fed up with the
sell-out artists in the leadership
of the union. These old timers
are now conducting a struggle
against Curran and Company,
and this move to • force medical
examinations could well be a
maneuver to drive out of the in
dustry this opposition. The 13th
Street machine no doubt feels
more capable of handling the
{Continued on Page 3)
TWO LESS FOR US TO WORRY ABOUT
Surfaced for a rendezvous somewhere at sea. two Nazi U-boats are shown in this spectacular
photo as they were surprised by depth bombs from a Navy torpedo plane. Attacking both subs
singlehanded, the pilot planted the depth charges shown exploding near the craft at the right. • MM
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iisaCTir^^'-T'-
Page Two THE SEAFARERS LOG Friday. November 12, 1943
aa ^
SEAFARERS LOG
Published by the
SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION
OF NORTH AMERICA
x\tlaiitic and Gulf District
Affiliated with the American Federation of Labor
HARRY LUNDEBERG ------ Vresideiit
110 Market Street, San Francisco, Calif.
JOHN HAWK ------- Secy-Treas.
P. O. Box 25, Station P., New York City
MATTHEW DUSHANE - - - "Washington Rep.
424 5 th Street, N. W., Washington, D. C.
• •
Directory of Branches
BRANCH ADDRESS PHONE
NEW YORK (4) 2 Stone St BOwlini? Green 9-3437
BOSTON (10) 330 Atlantic Ave Liberty 4057
BALTIMORE (2) 14 North Gay St Calvert 4539
PHILADELPHIA 6 North 6th St Lombard 7651
NORFOLK 25 Commercial PI Norfolk 4-1083
NEW ORLEANS (16) ..309 Chartres St Canal 3336
SAVANNAH 218 East Bay St Savannah 3-1728
TAMPA 423 East Piatt St Tampa MM-1323
MOBILE 55 So. Conception St Dial 2-1392
PUERTO RICO.. 45 Ponce de Leon Puerto de Tierra
GALVESTON 219 20th Street Galveston 2-8043
FT. LAUDERD,\LE. .... .2021 S. Federal Highway. .. Ft. LauJeidale 1601
v; •
PUBLICATION OFFICE:
ROOM 213, 2 STONE STREET
New York City BOwling Green 9-8346
267
W
Committee Seeks Freedom
Of Detained Greek Seamen
NEW YORK, (ITF)—The Greek Maritime "Welfare
Committee, in cooperation with the Greek Maritime Union,
has actively interested itself in the status of a score of Greek
Merchant Seamen who are at present detained in Ellis Isl
and. A majority of the men have indicated willingness to
ship out aboard Greek and other#
Allied merchant vessels while
Sm
others want to join the Greek
Navy, it was said at the Commit
tee's offices, 18 East 41st Street,
New York City.
The plight of the Greek sea
farers was brought to the atten
tion of the Committee in a letter
signed jointly by the detained
men and demanding redress of
their grievances. The signers
complained that they had ah'cady
spent several months in federal
custody and that they were at a
loss to understand their contin
ued detention.
Mr. Christopher S. Stephano,
chairman of the Greek Maritime
Welfare Committee, appealed to
the U. S. immigration authorities
and the War Shipping Adminis
tration and secured permission
to visit the men and investigate
their complaints. A delegation
composed of Mr. Stephano, Pe-
tros Spiridakos, secretary of the
Greek Maritime Union and a rep
resentative of the immigration
department went on November
4th to Ellis Island and met with
the men. Hope was expressed af
ter the meeting that the difficul
ties would be straightened out
and the men soon be released
and given employment aboard
ship.
Commenting on the plight of
the Greek merchant seamen in
"American ports, Mr. Stephano
pointed out that the detention of
the men was harmful to the
morale of the Greek seafarers
who are anxious to serve the Al
lied cause. Many of these men
have been the victims of pre
vious ship sinkings and all have
done their best, he added. An
other factor in the tangled situa
tion is the contradictory interpre
tation of the Greek service draft
law with regard to Greek seafar
ing nationals in foreign ports.
Union spokesmen observed that
qualified seamen with more than
two months of maritime service
during the Greek-Italian war
were exempt from the draft. The
Greek authorities in the United
States, however, are of the opin
ion that the exempt provisions
do not apply to the Western
Hemisphere and insist upon
drafting eligible merchant sea
men for naval service. This at
titude, in the opinion" of union
officials, has had tlie effect of
further demoralizing the men
who had recently been assured
by union headquarters in Cairo,
seat of the Greek goyernment-in-
exile, that they were draft
e-xempt.
,^^rR€PORT orv.«
=5i^ASHII\GTOIV
«BV MATWEW OUSHAME-» » '
ATLANTIC AND GULF SHIPPING FOR
WEEK OF OCTOBER 2Sth TO mh ,
DECK ENGINE STEWARD TOTAL
SHIPPED 361 152 278 791
REGISTERED 250 200 211 661
All agents are advised to keep
close tabs on the RMO's field of
ficers and see that they do not
try and push stumble bums from
their pools on ships in preference
to regular Union men. If the
union's haven't enough replace
ments in their halls, arrange
ments should be made with the
operators to ship men in from
other ports, this in line with
the WSA's contracts with the op
erators, or their agents. Don't let
any HMO Field Officer tell you
that the union cannot ship Union
men from one port to another.
Check on the union's contracts.
The union has the authority un
der their contracts to ship men
from one port to another provid
ed this procedure does not delay
the sailing of any vessel. Em
ployers must foot the bill.
MARITIME
WAR EMERGENCY BOARD
In order to assist the Secretary
Treasurers of the District Unions
to compile a complete chart on
the Board's decisions, I'U submit
a monthly report on the Board's
disposition of all cases submitted.
S.S. Robert Newell, Oct. 28—
Board stated that according to
information received from the
operators, vessel was not in Al
giers on August 27th, and not
entitled to attack bonus.
L. Goffin, SIU Patrolman, New
York—S.S. William Patterson—
Board notified company that
crew is entitled to Port attack
bonus.
R. W. Sweeney, SIU Patrol
man, New York—S.S. Mar^mar,
Board ruled that there was an
attack September 15th, 1943.
Bonus payable. S.S. West Kyska,
Board ruled that there was no
attack from July 15 to July 27th,
1943. No bonus payable. S.S.
Thomas Nelson, Board has ruled
that there was an enemy attack
on September 6th, 1943. Bonus
payable.
C." Fisher, SIU Patrolman, New
York—S.S. Felix Grundy, Board
has ruled that there was no en
emy attack on July 31, 1943. No
bonus payable.
A. C. Dynarski, SIU Patrol
man, New York—S S. George N.
Pendleton. No disposition made
on case. S.S. Grace Abbot, Board
has, ruled that there was no
enemy attack on September 15th,
1943. No bonus payable.
Jack Dwyer, SUP Patrolman,
New York—S.S. Hawaiian, Board
has ruled that there was an en
emy attack on September 15,
1943. Bonus is payable. S.S. Lot
Whitcomb, no disposition made
on case.
J. H. Volpin, SIU Patrolman,
New York—S.S. Benjamin Wil
liams, Board has ruled that
there was an enemy attack on
April 25th, 1943. Bonus is pay
able. S.S. Kofresi, Board has
ruled that there -was an enemy
attack on August 16-17. Bonus is
payable.
J. F. Sheehan, SIU Patrolman,
New York—S.S. Flomar, Board
has ruled that there was an en
emy attack on September 15th,
1943. Bonus is payable.
"Baldy" L. J. Bollinger, SIU
Patrolman, New York — S.S.
Thomas B, Reed, Board has ruled
that there was an enemy attack
on July 26, 27th, 1943. Bonus is
payable.
No disposition has been taken
on other cases before the Board,
waiting for more information
from the operators, • government
agencies.
UNITED
SEAMEN'S SERVICE
This outfit is a creation of the
War Shipping Administration,
the guiding hand from the WSA
is Mr. Marshall Dimock.
The USS pamphlets state that
this organization is a non profit
outfit, and its purpose is to ren
der welfare service to merchant
seamen. Since the inception of
this outfit the seamen who know
the score on welfare organization,
have always felt that this was
another racket, to saddle seamen
with a group of parasites. Of
late there have been several
stories coming" to light about the
functions of the USS.
The latest one is in reference
to a seamen who sauntered into
the Wilshire (USS) Hotel in New
York, and the boy had a few un
der his belt. Being in a liberal
trend of mind he decided to
spend a few dollars. Digging in
to his. jeans he found that he
had no change. Upon spying one
of the female employees, he po-
itely requested the use of her
fountain pen so that he could
affix his signature to a travelers
check. The old gal loaned the
boy her pen, and it seems ha
failed to return it to her prompt
ly. Being a little gassed up—he
wandered down the street to si
gin mill and left the pen on the
bar.
Now this outfit is spending all
kinds of money to impress the
public on the service that it ren
ders to seamen. The service that
this particular gal rendered toi
the boy who borrowed her foun
tain pen was to have the police
yank the boy out of bed around
9 A.M. and insisted that he be
arrested for stealing her pen. It
was only after the cops retraced
his steps and found the pen at
the bar that the woman was pur-
suaded not to have him thr'own
in jail.
The gal in question here hap
pens to be none other than Mr.
Marshall E. Dimocks mother-in-
law, Gladys Ogden. It certainly
turns out to be a non profit or
ganization as far as seamen are
concerned, but it now seems that
it is turrdng out to be a profit
able organization as far as Mr.
Dimock is concerned. Wonder]
how many more relatives Mr.
Dimock has?
Another yokel connected witK
this outfit is a Mr. James Stuart
Moore. He is the USS Port Exe
cutive in New York. From all
available information to date (hij?
autocrat was formerly connectedi
with a boys' home, and from re
ports the boys will never forget
till their maker claims them, of
{Continued on Page 4)
CREW OF S.S. LAWTON B. EVANS
"CREDIT TO MERCHANT MARINE"
Captain Frank A. Burdock, skipper of the S.S. Lawton
B. Evans was so impressed with the efficiency and courage
of his SIU crew that he drafted a letter of commendation for
all members of the deck department.
This letter shows that in spite of the propaganda of the
shipowners and the WSA, it is the union seaman who forms
the backbone of the merchant marine. The letter follows:
"To Whom It May Concern:
"Francis M. Whelan, Bosun
Andrew G. Burbul, A.B.
Joseph T. Briant, A.B. , ; ,
Robert A. Stack, A.B. ; ' ] i
Matthew J. Monahan, A.B. • " V
Peter M. Kelly, A.B.
Robert J. Munson, A.B.
Tadeusz Jan Morski, A.B.
Anthony Savaikus, O.S.
Stincy J. Vaitkelunas, O.S.
» "The above named men were members of the crew of
this ship during Voyage No. 2. Sailing from' ( ) on
( ) and arriving hack-in ( ) on ( )—5
months and 12 days. During this time the ship was in the
( ) Sea on shuttle-run. Also this ship was in the first
group of seven Liberty Ship's to take part in the invasion
of ( )..
"During the voyage there was encountered 3 submarine
attacks and 7 airplane attacks.
"These men have proved themselves one hundred per
cent capable and efficient in every respect. Their conduct
has been excellent and there has not been a complaint made
about them during the entire voyage; or has there been any
one at any time absent from duty. This is an unusually
splendid record and it's a pleasure indeed to recommend
either of the men as being A-1, in every respect. Such men
are a credit to the Merchant Marine Service."
FRANK A. MURDOCK, Master
S.S. Lawton B. Evans"
•' • • ' i " . "''''"'I- -
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Friday, November 12, 1943 THE SEAFARERS LOG Page Three
WHArS DOING
-rr
Around the PoKs
GALVESTON
n
' One of the busiest weeks since
the SIU has been in the state of
Texas. Two pay off ships in
. Houston, and had to take a full
crew to Beaumont. Shipped
. everything that looked like a
seaman and sent a couple of
stumble bums back to the RMO.
Getting men in these parts is
getting serious.
To Mr. Dimock of the RMO:
You stated while in conference
at New Orleans that you had re
cruited and trained so many
thousand men and that there was
thousands more to get and train
- between the first of - tHe year.
You even asked us to try to get
our members out of the ship-
, yards, who are working there,
» and sail the ships. The NMU
delegation at the conference went
. so far as to ask you and Pen
nington to see if you could not
get Congress to pass a law to
take away the papers of a sea
man working ashore, and to see
that a seaman could not get a
, defense job. lAr. Dimock, right
in this part of the country I can
obtain men that want to go to
sea, but can't under your phoney
set up which eliminates a man
on account of a slight physical
defect. Right here a very short
time ago one of your trainees
, with one eye was refused a job
on a NMU contract ship, as mess-
man. Yet you spend money to
. train these men.
Every citizen of this country
has the right to earn his living
at the vocation that he chooses.
We in the SIU are not fellow
travelers and we did not start
going to sea yesterday, but it is
about time that something is
done. Your conference in New
. Orleans was a flop. The situa
tion is getting serious, just on
account of the phoney rules that
you hand down to your hand-
picked and sponsored NMU job
holders.
The day is coming, Mr. Di
mock, this farce will bust wide
open, and it is about time that
Capt. Macauley had a good old-
fashioned house cleaning in the
ranks of the RMO and pump the
bilges.
It was like old home week the
past few days, ten members of
the NMU have put their books
in this office and have taken out
SIU books and trip cards. I was
stumped at seeing them until I
found out what the reason was:
Kilgore is trying to freeze the
seamen to their ships. The NMU
is demanding members to sign
the dues check off cards. Result,
easy money for the Komrades
for the next two years and with
out doing anything for the mem-
bersliip.
Had the pleasure of calling
the RMO. They sent nle five
trip card inen in the NMU. Re
sult, sent back. This is to let all
hands know that we in the SIU-
SUP do not stand outside of the
training schools,. handing out
trip cards and books to the grad-
I uates, as the. NMU.
All beefs and disputes settled
to the satisfaction of all con
cerned the past week. One of
our staunch backers, Capt. Al-
bert Hemphill, Sect. Master
Mates & Pilots, resigned the past
week to go to sea. He was on
leave and has just returned from
sea. Good luck Capt. and may
your successor give us the back
ing that you did. The crew of
the Wm. Clayborn donated $57.
to the LOG.
E. R. WALLACE, Agent
NEW ORLEANS
There has been quite a rest for
you and the other long suffering
brothers from the time that I
last used space in the LOG to
expound pearls of wisdom (just
a matter of opinion).
Went walking in our fair city
the other night with the Skipper
off one of Higgins' puddle jump
ers (neat rigged little scows) and
the man stated that he had to
get a high pressure as the ti-ans-
port services seemed to expect
it. Well, after trying practically
aU the shops on Canal St., still
no hats. The oilers and messboys
in the ATS had them all bought
up. The skipper said, "That's
O.K. as long as I tried." Since
that time I hear that the ATS
has issued orders that all civilian
employees wear civvys ashore.
Tush, tush.
Considerable write-ups in the
local papers here about the
heroes of the ermed guard ser
vice. Also read with great inter
est the accoimt of the crew off
the vessel that was beached dur
ing the blow off the eastern
coast and how the Coast Guaid
rescued the Crew of the armed
guard with breech buoys and
small boats. The merchant mar
ine crew slide down the side and
walked ashore. Again on the
Luckenbach the six man armed
guard was taken off in breech
buoys with an audience of sever
al thousand people. The ship's
crew stayed aboard the vessel.
Business here is picking up to
where, with helping the Texas
ports, our own shipping is not too
bad. On deck it's very good, in
the other departments it has
slowed up some.
Don't forget that the voting is
now going on and now is yqpr
chance to get in and find out
what that so and so is doing here,
there, and in the other port. At
least this coming year I'll be able
to join the throng that sets back
and says I could do better then
that, and then sit on my fanny
and do nothing. Are you one of
this type?
So till the roses bloom in
Times Square,
Steady as she goes.
ARMY, Agent
N.Y. Board Of Education
Reveals Plan For Setting
Up Maritime High School
The New York Board of Edu
cation has completed plans for
the creation of a maritime higi
school, the first of its kind in the
country. Under the new set up
youth graduating from primary
schools would be eligible for mari
time training, just as now they
can receive vocational training
for shoreside industries.
The school, accommodating 3,
000 students, will be constructec
after the war if the project goes
through on the East River water
front near the Battery. The Edu
cation Board has requested the
City Planning Commission to ask
amendment of the capital outlay
budget to provide funds for the
school, the first high school of its
kind in the world.
Practical training for a career
at sea will be provided, accord
ing to present plans, with
freighter, a yawl, a ketch and a
heavy-duty power boat anchored
in the basin in the rear of the
school. Within the building itself
will be a freighter topside, about
200 feet long, forty feet wide and
forty feet high, so that students
may get the feel of a real deck.
The "ship" would have three
hatches with accompanying
masts, booms, king-posts, a chart-
room, flying bridge, radio shack,
aerials, paint and storerooms in
Curran Would Keep Old
Off The Ships
h
{Continued from 'Page 1)
green new elements entering the
industry than the old-timers who
know the score.
Typical of Stalinist methods is
the fact that Curran conspired
with the shipowners to slip this
one over. It was not until the
NMU Headquarters meeting of
October 14 that the rank and file
got wind of what was up. But
prior to that Curran had been
closeted with the shipowners,
and government representatives,
denianding this "reform."
Curran attended the annual
meeting of the Propeller Club on
Oct. 12-14, (the marine division
of the National Association of
Manufacturers) and pressed his
medical plan before it's "wel
fare" panel. Curran admitted
this in the NMU membership
meeting when he said (according
to the official minutes):
"I was your delegate to a Con
vention today, a convention of
shipowners . . . that is the Pro
peller Club."
And then, far from being
ashamed of rubbing stomachs
with the enemies of the seamen,
he bragged about his success in
getting the shipowners to see his
way concerning the medical ex
aminations. The sight of Curran
and the shipowners being palsy-
walsy on this question should
surprise no one—both of them
are interested in getting rid of
the old time, militant seamen.
And what easier and cleaner
method than by merely informing
them they have high blood pres
sure?
In trying to sell this finky bill
of goods to the membership, Cur
ran claimed that the setting up
of standard physical examina
tions by the U. S. Public Health
Service would eliminate the
blackballing of seamen by doc
tors employed by the shipowners.
He said that the government bu
reau would be "impartial."
That is a laugh. The anti-labor
activities of the War Shipping
Administration, the Maritime
Commission and the Recruitment
and Manning Organization has
dispelled once and for aU any il
lusions about government bu
reaus' impartialitity between
capital and labor. The seamen
know that they seldom get a
break from these shipowner
dominated government boards,
and the less they have to do with
them the better.
To fight the shipowners when
they fly their own colors is one
thing, but to fight them when
they masquerade as "impartial
government administrators" is
something else again. We can
lick them in their former capac
ity—it's not so easy in the latter.
That is why union men want
as little government interference
in the maritime industry as pos
sible. We want the shipowners
to stay in their waterfront of
fices where we can get at them
Here is how many SIU agree
ments read in reference to phy
sical examinations:
"In the event any decision of
the Company Physician is chal
lenged by the Union as to the
physical fitness of a union mem
ber, said member shall be re
examined by a Public Health
Physician and his decision shall
be binding."
This system means that the
first rejection of a man is in the
hands of the shipowner, and
therefore subject to pi-essure from
the union. Should the shipown
er launch a program of picking
off militant men by this method,
the union will find ways and
means of stopping this—quick!
The Health Service, on the other
hand, not having primary con
trol of the rejection of men, is
less subject to shipowner pres
sure and more apt to be impar
tial.
the torepeak, lifeboats, davits,
fire lines and all other geaij
usually found on deck.
There will also be a wheel-
house for use in instructing stu
dents on employment of the fath
ometer, manual steering controls,
compasses, metal mike and fire
detection systems. The. hatches
and booms will be used for ac
tual demonstrations of loading
cargo. The bridge will be con
nected with all departments of
the ship, where navigation will
be studied and from which or
ders will be issued to the "en
gine" departrnent under all types
of simulated conditions.
The site proposed for the three-
story structure is city-owned
property on South Street, be
tween Whitehall and Broad
Streets, and was formerly a city
ferry terminal. It is located in
the heart of the Port of New
York's shipping district. The
building will be laid out to cor
respond with the relative posi
tion of each department on a
ship. The engine department will
be located on the first floor, the
deck and radio departments on
the upper floors, and the roof
will' correspond to the bridge
where celestial navigation and
signaling could be taught.
"Between decks" the building
will house the stewards' depart
ment with a cafeteria, the pur
ser's office and the classroom for
instructing students on freight
and operation duties.
One fly in the ointment is the
fact that Frank J. Taylor, Presi
dent of the Merchant Marine In
stitute is a sponsor of the new
project. No doubt Mr. Taylor has
in the back of his mind the pos
sibility of transforming the pro
ject into a training school for
finks at the taxpayers' expense.
The unions will have to keep a
weather eye on this school.
MERCHANT MARINE
MAIL NOTICE
Insured, C.O.D. or registered
mail cannot be accepted for mati
ng to the personnel of the Am
erican Merchant Marine, accord
ing to an announcement by Post
master Albert Goldman. Many
mailers prepare packages or other
mail matter for registration, in
surance or C.O.D. service and the
Post Office wishes to avoid the
Moreover, there are many' annoyance to the mailers incident
and stay out of Washington
where they can wrap themselves
in the American flag.
If there are to be physical ex
aminations, let them be conduct
ed by the shipowners and the
unions can see that it isn't used
as a blacklist. But let them be
conducted by "impartial goyern-
ment" and the shipowner will be
able to exert influence to the de
triment of the unions.
lines which do not require any
physical examination whatsoever.
These lines are efficiently man
ned by capable crews of old-
times, men who might be reject
ed for some minor incapacity if
they had to take a physical. Cur-
ran's plan would mean that all
lines would be forced to set up
physical requirements—thus au
tomatically eliminating many
men now going to sea.
It is to be hoped that this latest
attempted sell-out by Curran &
Company will really open the
eyes of those honest rank and
file members of the NMU who
up to now hesitated to believe
that the C.P. line in maritime is
essentially a fink line.
to the inability of the Post Office
to accept such matter which
cannot be sent to destination.
MONEY DUE
Crew of S. S. Daniel Huger
which paid off Oct. 13. 1943. has
linen money coming. Collect
Mississippi Line. New York.
Crew member Chamberlain has
his Log lifted and can collect
from New York office when ho
gets his linen money.
Keep In Touch With
Your Draft Board
•'I
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Page Four THE SEAFARERS LOG Friday, November 12, 1943
Churchill-FDR Optomistie On Sub War
5-: >'•
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£•
fer.;
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Is.'-
w
In a joint statement issued this
week at London and Washington,
President Roosevelt and Prime
Minister Churcliill revealed facts
and figures proving that during
the past few months the sub
menace in the Atlantic is not
only under control, but shows
signs of being eliminated. The
statement revealed that:
1. During the months of Aug
ust, September and October ap
proximately sixty U-boats were
destroyed. This brings to more
than 150 the number of U-boats
destroyed during the last six
months. The record of the last
three months is particularly
gratifying because during most
of this period fewer U-boats were
operating, fewer targets were
presented for our air and sea
forces.
2. During August, September
and October more U-boats were
destroyed than Allied merchant
ships were sunk by U-boat ac
tion. The ratio of U-boat to mer
chant ship attrition during Oct
ober was more satisfactory than
in any previous month. Our ton
nage losses from all causes in
October were the second lowest
of any month of the war.
3. Merchant ship tonnage lost
to U-boat action during the last
three months was less than one-
half the merchant ship tonnage
lost during the previous three
months despite the fact that ac
tual shipping increased.
4. The Germans have intro
duced new U-boat weapons and
tactics. Thus far we have been
able to cope successfully with
the changing situation. The bat
tle continues in full vigor.
Of Ancient Vintage
(The Wino Craves a Ship)
Oh for a ship, a rare old ship
Bound for Fori of Hearts Desire,
Where a wino can lay in his bunk all day
With no work to raise his ire.
A special ship, a vintage ship
No watch for the crew to keep.
With barrels of beer on ice to cheer
We bound oe'r the bounding deep.
A trim tall ship, 'here take a nip'
With rust and paint unknown.
And all we do is partake of the brew
And hope we would never reach home.
An ancient ship, a wino ship
Without Captain, or Bosun or Mate
To disturb joyous spell by whistle or bell
And spoil the effects of the grape.
Oh, a rare old ship from Coenties Slip
With a cargo of port in the hold,
A draw every day to make poker pay
Why then we would never grow old.
A long joyous trip on a wino dream ship
A voyage like this do I crave.
All overtime pay where no one says "nay"
As we corkscrew over the wave.
Of course this ship is a non Union ship
No wino shall Union dues pay.
The shipowner too shipped out with the crew
With the corks popping into the bay.
But this perfect ship, I fear is a myth
No such on the deep can I find.
So look for the boom when you walk in to this room.
"The price of a drink, do you mind?"
—TOP AN' LIFT.
Ships Named For
Labor Leaders
BRUNSWICK, Ga.—Two Lib
erty Ships, under constructipn
here by AFL workers at the J.
A. Jones Construction Co. yard,
will be named for labor leaders,
the U. S. Maritime Commission
has announced.
The men to be honored will be
the late Patrick H. Morrissey, a
former grand master of the
Brotherhood of Railroad Train
men and the late John B. Len-
non, AFL treasurer for 28 years.
Morrissey, a charter member
of the Bloomington, 111., lodge,
became national vice-grand mas
ter of the brotherhood in 1889
and served as grand master from
1895 until 1909. He resigned from
the brotherhood in 1909 to be
come president of the Railroad
Employees and Investors Associ
ation, later becoming vice-presi
dent in charge of operation of
the Burlington Railroad. Morris
sey died November 28, 1916.
Lennon organized the tailor's
union in 1884 and held the office
of general secretary for 26 years.
He was elected treasurer of the
AFL in 1889, serving for 28 years.
During the administrations of
Presidents Taft and Wilson, Len
non was labor representative on
the U.S. Commission of Indus
trial Relations. During World
War I, he was a conciliator for
the Department of Labor. He
died Jan. 17, 1923.
Washington Report
(Continued from Page 2)
the conditions that they had to
tolerate while he held the whip.
The reports are that he hates
anything connected with LABOR
and has made the statement that
if he had been on the job when
this outfit was organized there
would be ho Labor representa
tion connected with it.
To prove his utter disregard
and contempt for Labor and what
" it stands for, this individual had
cards printed announcing the
- birth' of "IT'S A BOY" to Doro
thy and James Moore, "THEIR
. THIRD HOWLING SUCCESS"
on cards without a union label.
' It is also reported that he has
-forced every employee who was
, working for the USS, who were
(-members of a seamen's union to
resign. This is the service that
' is being rendered to merchant
' seamen by persons who are alien
: to seamen's wishes and welfare.
If. this trends continues it won't
be long before the USS comes
out openly hostile to all seamen's
unions.
All right boys, drop a line to
the editor on how you find the
USS, and how these parasites
treat you. No doubt some of the
stories will shed a different light
on the pamphlets and other crap
put out by the USS.
Colored boys to him are lower
than Whale ( and they
are his particular meat. Any
thing that he can do to make
them feel miserable, satisfies his
vain temporary autocratical pow
er.
I'll list Mr. Marshall E. Di-
mock's stooges in his would-be
set up on "LABOR'S PART IN
WAR AND RECONSTRUC
TION" and his attempt to saddle
seamen with enemies of their
welfare, who are alien and hos
tile to union seamen.
Enemy No. 1. Craig. 'Vincent
RMO regional director. New
York City.
Enemy No. 2. Gladys Ogden
—Mr. Dimock's mbther-in-law.
WilBhire Hotel, New York City.
Enemy No. 3. James Stuart
Moore — USS port executive.
New York City.
Brothers, send in names and
reports of other phonies in the
RMO and USS so that we can
enter their names in our social
register and let the seamen w^o
arc risking their lives, while
these parasites live off of the
money that is panhandled from
the public, under the guise that
they are rendering welfare ser
vice to merchant seamen, know
just who they are and what their
objective and feelings towards
seamen really are.
NWLB — War shipping panel
meeting that was to be held on
the Great Lak ;s case has been
postponed until November 11th.
The full panel meets on this day.
Labor Heat Thawing
Bosses' Wage Freeze
Keep In Touch With
Your Draft Board
(Continued from Page 1)
$1.50 per day increase in pay for
fight and last week finaUy won
an extra hour's work. This boost
was granted by the War Labor
Board and constituted the first
Board decision which was in vio
lation of the Little Steel For
mula.
WLB chairman William Davis,
a bitter opponant of John L.
Lewis, President of the United
Mine Workers, was forced to ad
mit that the wage restrictions
imposed by the government have
imposed "an unjust burden" on
the workers.
"As the months flow by and
the board continues to hold
wages to the general level of
Sept. 15, 1942," Davis said, "we
become increasingly conscious
of the fact that we are asking
one segment of our society to do
its part to protect all Americans
from the ravages of inflation
while, at the same time, a similar
obligation has not been placed as
heavily upon the shoulders of
some of the other segments of
this society."
In plain language, this is an
admission that the WLB policies
have resulted in suffering for the
workers and profiteering for the
employers.
Now that the wage ceiling has
been pierced by the Miners, it is
expected that several other pow
erful unions will demand adjust
ment of their wage schedules.
Rail labor leaders have just re^
jected a wage rise of 4 to 10
cents an hour awarded them by
a special Presidential Board.
They are taking a strike vote
throughout the industry.
Sidney Hillman, head of the
Amalgamated Clothing Workers,
has submitted a report to Presi
dent Roosevelt warning him that
labor is revolting against the
present wage ceilings.
The United Steel Workers' exe
cutive board has decided to re
open 1,300 collective bargaining
contracts and demand pay boosts
for 900,000 members.
Price Rollback A
Dud; Living Cost
Trend Is Upward
(Continued from Page 1)
that there arc wide variatio-.s in
prices in different parts of the
country.
For example, while the price
of women's fall coats has ad
vanced generally, it has been
jacked up as much as 60 per
cent in some localities.
Rents are also steadily edging
upward, as is the cost of services.
In this connection, the report de
clared:
"The doUar haircut of World
War I has again made its ap
pearance in some cities, with 75
cents the usual charge, against
the pre-war charge of 50 cents or
less. There were also substantial
increases in the cost of medical
and domestic services, admis
sions to motion pictures, and in
prices for a variety of other
goods, including soaps and toilet
articles." *
While these increases cut into
the family budget, they do not
appear in cost of living figures.
RULES ENCOURAGE
GOUGING
The report brings out in rather
striking fashion a claim repeat
edly made by organized labor
that OPA regulations encourage
profiteering by permitting manu
facturers and dealers to write
their own price ticket on new
lines. Old established lines are
rapidly disappearing from the
market and are being replaced
by inferior merchandise imder
new names at prices far above
OPA ceilings.
How this affects consumers is
illustrated by the high-handed
brigandage of the liquor indus
try. Most of the old brands of !
whiskey, on which prices had
been established, are no longer
obtainable, while literally scores
of new products have been sub
stituted. This has created a par
adise for profiteers.
'msonaU
MIKE DIKUN
Your papers and discharges
have been turned into the Phila
delphia hall of the Union. Pick
them up.
^Justice
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