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Seafarers Log: Vol. 5 No. 8 (1943-04-16)

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Issue Date
1943-04-16
Volume
5
Issue Number
8
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SECSRITY
IN ^
URITY OFFICIAL OSOAN OF THE ATLAHTIC AND GOLF DISTEICT,

SEAFAEEKS' INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA

VOL. V. ' 2S0 NEW YORK, N.Y., FRIDAY, APRIL 16, 1943 No. 8

Seafe,rers Join West Coast Unions
In War On RMO Fink-Card System

NMURank And Filers
Outraged Over Curran
Role On Fink-Cards

Rank and file members of the NMU are just as burned
up over the RMO fink card system as are the SIU and SUP
men. And because of this the Stalinist NMU leadership is
on the spot and squirming. Having served as the labor
cover for the WSA - RMO fink maneuvers, and having
actually sponsored such shipping^
rules' as those recently laid down
by Macauley and the WSA, the
NMU leadership is hard pressed to
explain to its * membership just
what goes.

Take the NMU membership
meeting held on March 11 in Man­
hattan Center when one after an
other rank and filer took the floor
to denounce the RMO draft set-up.

Joe Stack was the chairman and

became rather desperate and final-

Shlpowners Ride
The Gravy Train

1941, a year when the ship­

owners were fighting tooth and
nail against the wage demands
of the men who sailed their
ships, saw fantastic profits roll­
ed up by the shipowners. The
profits totaled more than the
value of the ships themselves.
This was revealed last week in
a report given the House Mer­
chant Marine Subcommittee by

the Maritime Commission.
Of course, the Maritime Com­

mission didn't like to reveal the
figures, especially since they had
approved the rate4, but the
whole thing was printed in the
Congressional Record and now
becornM. public property. The
seamen that sweat and die
aboard the rust buckets sent to
sea can now read how rosey life
s for the men that- sit ashore

and rake in the profits.
Here is the profit sheet — in

sach case it is greater than the
value of the vessels used to

bring home the gravy;

American
Export Lines $1,572,144

American
Hawaiian Line 3,096,749

Gal mar S.S..Co. ...... 2,639,989
Isthmian S.S. Co. 2,529,292
Luckenback S.S. Co. . . 3^79,729
Matson Navigation Co., 995,3M

McCormick S.S. Co. .. 743.516
Remember, these aren't the

complete profit sheets of the op­
erators, these figures represent
only the gravy from runs made

to the Red Sea with Lend-Lease
supplies for the British Empire.

Remember the battle we. had

getting a Red Sea bonus from
these profit glutted shipowners?

ly said (believe it or not . . . it's
in the minutes) that the SIU was
responsible for the new RMO
rules.

Here are his exact words:
"These are rules laid down by

the government. As far as the
NMU is concerned, we laid down
war-time shipping rules . . , But
the other unions, the SIU ... a
man from those unions could stay
on the beach . . . those are the
unions th.at brought this thing
about."

What Stack is saying, in plain
English, is that the' NMU rolled
over and played dead dog every
time the WSA barked, but the SIU
didn't retreat before the shipown­
er pressure and because they didn't
retreat the WSA cracked down
with the new rules.

The truth of the matter is that
the RMO felt strong enough to
enforce the new rules precisely be­
cause of the retreats beat by the

{Continued on Psge 4)

Acting swiftly to join the West Coast unions in war upon the Union busting plans
of the Recruitment and Manning Organization of the War Shipping Administration,
the Seafarers International Union voted up and down the coast last week to follow the
lead of the Sailors Union of the Pacific and reject the RMO-fink card system.

By joining the West Coast unions in this battle, the SIU swells the ranks of protest-
•ing seamen to 70,000 men on both*

Ft. Trumbull Men
Protest Bonus
Chiseling
- FT. TRUMBALL, CONN. —
The WSA was petitioned by over
800 officer candidates in the school
here last week who went on rec­
ord as strongly opposed to the re­
cent rulings depriving the seamen
of Port Area Bonuses, and revising
"-.he War Risk Insurance, which
curtails the seamen's rights and
offers scant protection to them
sailing under war-time conditions.

The protest was addressed to
Capt. Macauley of the WSA and
vigorously points out the injustice
of the new policies and declare
them to be adverse to the morale
of the seamen.

A copy of the protest, printed
at the request of SIU members at­
tending the school at Ft. Trum­
bull, is as follows:

March 23, 1943
From: Officer Candidates, (Signa­

tures attached) USMS, Fort
Trumbull.

To: Captain Edward Macauley,
{C<mimmed om P»ge 4)

coasts. Every maritime union, with
the exception of the NMU, has
now announced its opposition to
the RMO plan.

Henceforth SIU men will refuse
to sign the RMO draft registration
cards when they are submitted to
them at the end of a voyage. SIU
men will refuse to aid the anti-
Union RMO in setting up a super-
black list in Washington. SIU
men will continue to sail the ships,
will observe all the laws and regu­
lations pertaining to those ships,
but they will fight for their rights
as union men.

The seamen now have their own
"second front" in this war. Their
first front is the torpedoes and
bombs they face at sea. Their
"second frotit" is here at home

Notice Ofi Assessments

March 31 was the deadline for the

payment of strike and hospital as­

sessments. Any member that has

not payed these assessments is now

considered in bad standing until

they are paid.

Protect your union rights and

privileges—pay your assessments!

Stranded WSA Graduates Are
Disillusioned About Set-Up

Last week a kid wearing a disconsolate ex­

pression on his face and on his back, one of the

monkey suits given out by the Maritime Commis­

sion training schools, wandered into the union
hall in New. York. He dropped into a chair and

announced, "To liell with it, I'm going back to

the farm."

"Four months ago," he continued, "the Mari­

time Commission sent a lot of posters out to my
home town which said that there was a big short-

hundreds of graduates that come into SIU halls
every week. Under the WSA training program

thousands of unrated men have been turned into
the maritii^industry which has no jobs for them.
And even as these green, unemployable "seamen"

hang around aimlessly o.n the beach, the WSA is
conducting a drive for more funds to increase its

training program.

This month Telfair Knight, Director of the
U.S. Maritime Training Service, requested that

age of seamen, that seamen make $300 a month, the government appropriate $83,000,000 in pub-

and that all you had to do to help the war effort

and to make this big dough was to go to one of

the schools run by the WiSA."

The old-timers in the hall began to smile, for

. they knew, the story only too well. It had been
told time and agaun by disillusioned graduates of

the WSA schools.
"Well, I left home and went to the school at

Sheepshead Bay," the kid said, "and here I am

high and dry. I can't get no job at any salary—

let alone the 300 bucks I heard about."
This kid and his tale of woe was'typical of-

lic funds to pour 73,000 more green men into

the industry.

What Mr. Knight proposes to do with these

men is not made clear in his request for funds.
He talks vaguely about a shortage of seamen—
but he knows full well the shortage is of rated

men, not the type of seamen turned out by his
schools. He knows full well that his program

will further glut the beaches with unemployable
men who will become demoralized from inactiv­

ity. Behind all this, of course, is the hope held by

{Conti/tned on Page 4)

where the RMO is attempting to
set up a continuous discharge rec­
ord to be used in the future moves
against union militants.

Should the seamen lose their bat­
tle on the "second front," a vic­
tory on the first front would in­
deed be empty.

In fighting the RMO's finky
plans, the seamen are not" violating
any Selective Service regulations
laid down for the maritime indus­
try. Furthermore, SIU and SUP
men will observe the shipping reg­
ulations and directives issued by
the War Manpower Commission.
SIU-SUP men are active seamen
engaged in transporting supplies to
the war fronts and in so doing, en­
dure hardships fully comparable to
those endured by the fighting
forces. These unsung heroes will
not shirk their duty on the high
seas, but neither will they surren­
der to the enemies at home.

From the time our unions were
smashed in 1921 by the old Ship-
ping Board until the revival of
unionism in 1934, the chains of
sea slavery weighed heavily on the
men of the merchant marine. The
black list and fink book were used
to disorganize and demoralize the
men. Those memories are vivid .
too vivid to allow a seaman with a
spark of self respect and courage
to passively accept a repetition of
this whole finky pattern all over
again after this war.

And it is just such a pattern
which the RMO has in mind . . .
there can be no doubt about that.

TTiis struggle with the RMO
over tlie fink card is but one bat­
tle in a long war between the sea-
men.^3nd their enemies, a war which
is destined to reach its decisive
stage when the Axis has been de
feated abroad and the shipowners
really open up in their drive on
union wages and conditions. What
union men must bear in mind is
the fact that should they lo^ to
the RMO on this fink card issue,
then the final battle with the ship­
owners is going to be just that
much tougher.

DOxN'T SIGN THE FINK

CARDS! DON'T FIELP THE

HANGMEN PLACE A ROPE

AROUND YOUR NECK! CAR­

RY ON THE FIGHT FOR DEM­

OCRATIC RIGHTS AND FOR

FREE TRADE UNIONS!

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Page Two THE SEAFARERS' LOG Friday, April 16, 1943

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PuilUh^a ly th»

SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION
OF NORTH AMERICA

Atlantic and Gull District
Attiliat*A wWfe tif Amsricaii FsS^rati^n of Lator

HARRY LUNDEBERG, Intomotioncd Pr*Bid*nt
110 inCarkst Street, Room 402, Son Frandaco, CoUL

AJfDRXBB ALL OOREEBPONDENOM OONOERNINa TBtB
PUBLICATION TO:

"THE SEAFASEBS' LOG
P. O. 25, Station P, New York, N. Y.

Phones BOwUng Green 9-8346

REPORT FROM

Washington
By Matthew Dmhane

U. S. Coast Guard:
The merchant marine council held a meeting on March 31, 1943

to discuss the following:
"141.2 Abled Seamen Substitutions. (1) The Master of any

inspected vessels may substitute for any able seaman required
by the certificate of inspection therefore, any certified seaman
who has had not less than than six months experience on deck
at sea or who has successfully completed the prescribed three
months of deck training at a Maritime Training School: pro­
vided, that (1) the Master of such vessel has made every reason­
able effort to obtain such able seaman. (2) such substitution is
necessary to permit such vessel to sail without delay, and (3)
such Master sends a written report of such substitution in du­
plicate, by mail or otherwise, to the nearest Coast Guard Mer­
chant Marine Inspector in charge prior to the departure of the
vessel. Such report shall contain the name and certificate num­
ber of each seaman aubatitutcd for an able seaman and shall be
signed by the Master.

(B) In the event that such Master is not able to obtain able
seaman, or substitutes therefor with the qualifications specified
in sub-section (A) hereof, but only in such event, certified sea­
men Whose (lualifications are less than those specified in sub­
section (.\) hereof may be substituted for able seamen in -ac­
cordance with the subject to all the conditions of Section 141.3
hereof.

111.3 General Substitutions. Sulijert to tiie limitation with
respect to able seamen specified in Section 141.2 hereof, the
Maater of any inspected vessel maj', if such action is necessary
to permit such vessel to .sail without delay, substitute for any
licensed officer or rated seaman refluired as part of the com­
plement of such vessel by the certificate of inspection therefore,
any licensed officer or lower rank, who is an American citizen,
or any certified seaman of lower rating: provided, that (1) the
deficiency in complement is not caused by the consent, fault or
collusion of tlie Master, Owner or any other person interested
in the vessel, (2) the Master, prior to the signing on of the crew,
make every reasonable effort to obtain such retjuired licensed
officer or rated seaman, (3) the person substituted for such
required licensed officer or rated seaman is the best qualified
substitute therefor that the Master could obtain.

(4) The Master is of the opinion that the vessel is suffici­
ently manned for the contemplated voyage, and (5) the 'Master,
prior to departure pi-eparea, executes and files with or sends
to the Shipping Commissioner before whom the crew was-signed
on or, in cases when the crew is not required to be signed on
before a Shipiring Commissioner, to the nearest Merchant Mar­
ine Imspector in charge, two copies of a report for each substi­
tution made," Unquote.
The WSA has requested the Coast Guard that the law be waived,

and the above be substituted. Mr. T. Knight of the training division
of the WSA made the statement that in the port of New York there
were Fifteen ships that missed their convoy in the last month due to
the shortage of qualified seamen, mostly Able Seamen.

Mr. Knight did not back up his statements to the councU with the

names of ships that missed their convoys, or what effort was made to

get the needed qualified. men to man the ships so that they would be
able to sail with the convoys mentioned.

I took the position that this waiver of the law discriminates against

the ordinary seamen who are members of the organizations that I rep­
resent, and that we feel that the Coast Gtjard, is in a position to know
whether there is a shortage of qualified Able Seamen better than the
WSA, as their shipping commissioners sign on and clear all ships.

This looks to me like the final brazen attempt by the WSA .o
place men into the industry who have never been to sea, and put

them in positions where qualified men are required to carry out all the

safety measures adopted by the Coast Guard.
We know that the WSA is not concerned with safety measures,

their whole objective since they have been given the control of the

training program by the President of the U.S., by an executive order,

is to flood the industry with seamen, and from all indications their

WHATpOVERTIME PAY
FOR LONGER HOURS.'

;^WHE(?e& HIS PAmiGTlS'M?

J?"

/ WHAT?oNLy#25;ooo2s
I AFFEE TAXES
yWE^E'S AAY \KIC&MTl\/e?

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next move is to eliminate the unions completely from the maritime
field.

Under this waiver the WSA can place men who have never been

to sea, but have been in a U. S. Maritime Training School (WSA) for
three months, on board any merchant ships as able seamen, but ordin­
ary seamen who have been to sea less than six months and have been
torpedoed arc not accorded the privelcg'e to go to sea as an able seamen

if there is a shortage of AB's when the ship is signing on. This move

by the WSA is t6 unload some of the trainees that they have laying
around, and they will then start another campaign' to train more men

for the industry, and fulfill their contracts to the manufacturers of
uniforms that they are giving to officers and trainees free of charge.
This whole set-up stinks on ice.

War Manpower Commission:
They have finally Called the meeting, that for several reasons was

always postponed and the following representatives attended:

V. J. Malone of the MFOW; Capt. C. Mays of the M. M. & P.; J.
Hawk of the SIU and yours truly. Mr. McPherson represented the
"WMC, Selective Service also had a representative there.

All the union representatives that attended the meeting informed
Mr. McPherson of their memberships' objection to the directive that

give the RMO of WSA the authority to act for the SS in informing
them of the movements of active seamen.

After several hours discussion, Mr. McPherson of the WMC plan­
ning division informed the union representatives that the 'WMC will
not make any changes in the directive, unless the unions agree to give
the RMO a chance to operate under tik: directive that the "WMC issued

to Selective Service.
Mr. V, j. Malone recommended that the WMC issue a supplement­

al directive, wherein, the master of the vessel will send the perforated
post cards directly to the local boards, instead of to the RMO. This
was my recommendation to the WMC when tliis dispute first started

months ago. Mr. McPherson refused to give this any consideration, and
the meeting broke up with me making a statement that we were going
to take this dispute up with the Labor Management Policy committee.
Mr. McPherson also informed us that he was instructed by Mr. Harper

to refer this dispute to the same committer if we did not agree to let
the RMO handle it. So it now looks as though we will know where we
stand on this dispute, and see whether the L-M-Policy committee will
uphold us on our stand that this directive will upset the whole industry.

There is one very vital point that was broyght out by Col. Men-
delson of Selective Service. Any seaman who is ordered reclassified or
ordered to appear for his physical examination and be inducted into the

Army, can appeal to bis local board, and request that his appeal be
heard in the Port or City where the seaman is at the time that he is
ordered to appear. If a' seaman is registered in any state, and he is in
San Francisco ashore when he receives his notice from his local board,

lets say Montana, he or the Union can request that his appeal be heard

(Continued on Page 3)

MOBILE

.The chief PIE CARD for tha
New Orleans branch, Broclter
Armstrong, arrived here Sunday
after being out for SYz months
ducking submarines and he did not
look any the worse for it.

And, Brother that crew certain­
ly rates the E pennant. The three
department delegates had every­
thing in order and the entire cresy
was so tickled about it th^jT
contributed $143.00 to the Sea^
farers Log.

Now, that's a mark for tlie
other ships to shoot at. Deck
$33.00; Engine $43.00, and Stew­
ards $43.00.

OLDEN BANKS. Agetd.

SAVANNAH

Just a line to let the boys knosy
I am expecting new ships out od
the 9th, 17th, 24th and 30th o£
this month. Will be looking .fof
men with all ratings in all depatx-
irjents. Now is the chance for fll
you boys who want to ship to g«C
yourself a berth. Come on doiwit
to this port and I know I'll bo
able to use you.

Steady as she goes.
CHARLES WAID, Agef$P

CORRECTION ON
SHOE RATIONING

In the last issue of the LOG
it was stated by error that sea­
men would be required to obtain
a ration book from the CPA In
order to buy shoes.

The correct procedure in New
York is for the seamen cpming
in from service to apply to the

S1|J Hall and obtain a letter
from the agent. He is thsn sent
directly to the rationing board
at 150 Nassau Street, New York,
and given a permit to purchase
the shoes.

. l I

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'

Friday, April 16, 1943 THE SEAFARERS' LOG Page Three

Washii^on Report
{Contimud from Page 2)

In San Francisco instead of liim going to Montana or any other state

to submit his appeal. This will enable our members to now request
that their appeal for a reclassification or re-order in their draft status
to now be heard in whatever port they are in. The local board will sub­
mit the files on the man's case to whatever city the appeal will belicard.

If the WMC directive is not revised and a longer period is not

allowed, it is to the interest of the merchant seamen to see that they
do hot overstay the time limit that is allowed under the direciye, which

is limited to Thirty Days. If the seamen do not fill out the RMO
cards or do not sign them and they stay within the time limit allowed

by fi^ective Service, my opinion' is that they are still active seamen, and
the local board that will hear their appeals and give them considera­
tion a!s active seamen under the limits of the Selective Service memor­
andum 182, thirty-day limit.

Naval Gun Crews:
I attended a WSA conference called by Wyckoff and Pennington

at which they proposed that the WSA put eight additional men on the
ships to replace members of the gun crews; I informed them that I had
no authority to commit the organization to their proposal and inform­

ed them that if they intended to do anything regarding the increasing
of the compliment of the ships' crews, they should write a letter to all
maritime unions involved so that the membership of the unions could

express their opinions. This they refused to, do.
The NMU is sending men to the WSA training schools to get

training in the handling of guns. In answer to my question as to
whether the WSA had made any deal with the NMU regarding putting

these men on the ships, they informed me that the WSA had made no

deal with the NMU.
Before merchant seamen are to take on the responsibility of man-

I > ning the guns, there are certain problems that I believe should be an­
swered by some authorized government agency.

1. Are merchant seamen going to get the same disability benefits

that the men in the armed forces get? If the merchant seamen handle

the guns they certainly become members of the armed forces. Men in
the armed forces get $100 per month for total disability received in

line of duty. Under the present set up seamen receive only $3,000 for

total disability received in line of duty.
2. If merchant seamen are interned, their wages go on for a period

of two years only. If men.in the armed forces are interned their wages

go on until they arc discharged from the services.
3. Will merchant seamen receive civil service consideration the

same as men in the armed forces?
4. There arc other benefits that the men in the armed forces are

entitled to. If the merchant seamen handle the guns are they going to

receive these benefits.

Selective Service Procedure:
^ • WSA instruction'Number 49, dated March 4, 1943 dealing with

the procedure to be followed in deferment of seamen was discussed at

a meeting called by the WSA this week.'
Representatives of the RMO tried to convey the idea to all the

union representatives that in order for a seaman to get defered he mu4t
comply with this instruction (fink card system). Tlaey based their
statements on a letter signed by different representatives dated 11-18-42

and sent to the chairman of the War Manpower Commission.
As one of the- signers of this letter, I protested that the letter in no

way. requested the WMC to empower the RMO to act as an agent for

Selective Service. Tliis letter is carried in full in the Nov. 27, 1942
issue of the SEAFARERS' LOG. I further emphasized that the unions,

when they signed this letter, asked for a blanket deferment of merchant

seamen under the present Selective Service directive No. XVIII.

This conference looks to me as though it was called for the specific
purpose of discussing certain problems, but mainly to be used with the

WMC in further helping the RMO to put their program over. Under
the discussion of Selective Service the conference was cut short when

the meeting got hot. Mr. Dimock stated that it was past the adjourn­
ment hour which was set at 3:30 and yours truly had the floor after

sitting there like the Sphinx all day listening to their gas. However, I
had inserted in the record that the SUP and SIU was opposed to the
RMO having anything to do with the question of seamen's deferment.

This was done mainly so that the RMO could not go to the WMC and
say that they had a meeting with all the representatives of the mari­

time industry and that none of them had raised any objections to the

new set-up.
Since that meeting was held I have received a bulletin issued by

the Selective Service which is headed, "Activity and Occupational Bul­
letin No. 26-2." I advise all agents to get one of these from their local
boards as it is important to have one. I am of the opinion that it will

help to clear up some of the confusion that exists as to a seamen's

status. On page four of this bulletin it specifically states, that a mer­

chant seaman actively engaged should be classified in 2-B or lower, as

such' service may properly be considered as t^tamouat to military

service. '

Alien Seamen Restricted
By New W.S.A. Rules

The employment of alien sea­
men on American, Panamslnian
and Honduran vessels chartered to
the War Shipping Administration,
was sharply curtailed this last week
by a new amendment to shipping
rules handed down by the WSA.

According to the new amend­
ment operators of WSA sljips may
not employ:

(a) any Norweigian, Nether­
lands, Belgian, Polish, Yugoslavian,
Greek, or British national who was
not employed on April 8, 1942, or
had not been employed prior, to
that date, or

- (b) any Brazilian national who
was not employed on Feb. 1, 1943
or had not been employed prior to
that date, except by consent of
"properly accredited representatives
of the nation involved."

Behind this ruling is the difficul­
ties experienced by "United Na­
tion" shipowners in keeping their
own ships manned when they pay
scab wages. This rule will force
the alien seamen to get off Ameri­
ca nsliips and sail their own t^st
pots at low wages and poor condi­
tions,

PERSONALS
DANIEL BOYCE

Contact Silas Blak* Axtell, 15
Moore Street, New York City.

FREDERICK SHIELDS
Your book has been found and is

in Headquarters office n New York
City.

CARL 0. JOHNSON, No. 7438
It is important that you contact

Mr. Conroy of the FBI in New York

City.

OLIVER JACKS
Your family is worried abfiut you

Write them at once.

DANIEL BOYCE
Your case is coming up the mid­

dle of this month. You should con­
tact your attorney, Silas^B. Axtell,
at once.

FRANK PEINERT
Your union book has been found

and is now at the Andrew Furuseth
Club, 30 East 37 St. New York City.

GASTON SMITH
Your sister is trying to locate

you. Write her at 361 S. Rampart
Street, New Orleans.

BAN SELLERS, WALTER WIL­
SON, LLOYD BLANCHARD,

JOSE GALARZA, JOHN
H. SPEARMAN

The case of William Brown who
was hurt aboard the Delraar is
coming up soon. Please contact At­
torney Bentley Byrnes in New Or­
leans.

Notice From Baltimore

The following brothers have pa
pers and discharges in the Balti
more hall:

WILBER L. FOYLER
PAUL JAMES COOK
WILLMONT L. DRAPER
JOHN HENSUMS
WALTER LEIGHTON
JOHN B. FULTON
JOHN L. HOFFMAN

SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION
OF NORTH AMERICAN

ATLANTIC and GULF DISTRICT

Secretary-TreasnreFs Officp
ROOM 213 — 8 STONE STREET, NEW YORK CTTT

PJO, Bex 85, Station Phone BOwling Green 9-534*

Directory of Branches
PHONE BRANCH ADDRESS

NEW YORK 2 Stono St
Dispatcher's Offics BOwllnc Green 9-8346
Asrent. BOwlins Green 9-3437

BOSTON 330 Atlantic Ave Liberty 4067
BALTIMORE ........14 North Gay St.... Calvert 4639
PHILADELPHIA..: 6 North eth St Lombard 7651
NORFOLK 25 Commercial PL Norfolk 4-1053
NEW ORLEANS 309 Chartres St Canal 3336
SAVANNAH 218 East Bay St...; Savannafa 3-1723
TAI^A. 423 East Piatt St Tampa MM-1323

88 So. ConceptioB SL.... Dial 2-1392
PUERTO RICO.......... 45 Ponce de Leon Puerto de TIerra
^LVESTON 219 20th Street Galveston 2-8043
FT. LAUDERDALE 2021 S. Federal Highway..

DO NOT SHIP
Thomas Morgan, R. Snell, W.

Little, J. Austrawski, Ralph Wil­
liams, E. Bsvsre, R. Snell, John R.
Wollard, John W. McKenna. A. V.
Wilk, J. J. Austraushi, Leo An-
nunen, C. H. Cook, J. CIdrk. Doug­
las C, Spiers, P4050; Con Houston,
P527; Sam Frisdman, Pj3128.

Out of the Focsl
by

4. X.
Many of the brothers come into Headquarters complaining about

the maritime trainees aboard SIU ships. The- brothers forget that it is

their duty to teach these fellows unionism so they will be able to carry
on in the future. Every man has to learn the ropes at one time or an­
other and if they will take time out to sit on the hatch and give the
boys the right score, they will become good Union brothers. As an

added reminder, a lot of the old-timers are being lost at sea and if you
don't teach the youngsters, who is going to help us carry on after the
war is over?

AAA
The record of 83 days in a lifeboat is going to stand for a long

time, but the SIU members are striving to break the record. Prior to

this time, Jules Souza held the record, having been in a lifeboat for 34
days. Recently, 28 brothers were in a lifeboat for 22 days. The only
complaint the brothers had were against the licensed officers. Besides

being first in the lifeboat, they kept drinking all the water they wished,
while they rationed the crew to 2 ounces of water a day. The boys

couldn't do much about it, as they kept a gun on them all the while.

AAA
XX-^e regret to hear that Tom Ciminski was recently lost through

enemy action. One of the Waterman ships that was lost took a heavy
toll of old-iiiners from the Gulf. We regret to hear of their loss.

Seafarers' Log-

HONOR ROLL
FOSTER, M.
BOYD, W. E.

HOWELL, P. T.

ALDERMAN, W. D.
HERRERA, R.

DOWELL, G. R.

KUSCHKE, WM. F. .
MAXIN :

HUDNALL. N. H.

RODREGUEZ, F.

KENDRICK, D. J.

CAPOTO, A.

BURNETT, W. N.

MERCER, A.

AJON, A.
BREGARA, G.

EAGER, R. T.

ROMM, A.

SOILEAU
DILLIVIG

CREED, J

CARASCO, R.

SPIVAL

JERRY
ATWELL, J.
SARVIS, W. W.

LOYOLA, -A.
HERBERT PARKER
GEORGE WINSLOW
M. A. O'BRIEN

PUERTO RICO
CREW S. 8. WLLLIAM TILGHMAN

CREW S. S. CALMAR

CREW S. S. CITY OF MONTGOMERY

. $1JOO

. 1.00

. .60

. 1.00

. 1.00

. 1.00

. 1.00

. 1.00

. 1J)0

. .50
J50

. .50

. 1.00

. 1.00
.50

. 433

30
1.00
.25
.50

, .50
1.00

.75
IJOO
1.00

.50
1.00
1.00
24K)
54)0
5.00

22.00

8.00

84)0

I
>]

m

TOTAL $724)0

.-.'•ii 'V-;-,

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Page Four THE SEAFARERS' LOG Friday, April 16, 1943

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NMURank And Filers
Outraged Over Curran
Role On Fink-Cards

iv.'"

{Continued from Page 1)
NMU leadership. Had Curren and
Company stood and fought this
issue the way the rest of maritime
labor did, the rules would never
have been handed down in the first
place.

Not one word of criticism of
• the RMO fink card system has
come from Curran or appeared in
The Pilot. As a matter of fact,
Tbe Pilot hailed the new rules as
a victory for the seamen. The
Feb. 26 issue oi The Pilot reported
the new fink cards in a story
headlined "Active Seamen Needn't
Report At Draft Board." The
whole story was written in such
manner so as to make the rank
and file think that they were no
longer going to be kicked around
by the Draft Boards, but now
would be protected by the union.

Stack, at the March 11 meeting,
continued this fake when he said
that the new RMO rules have
"given a certain amount of power
to the Union."

Sure, it empowers the unions to
act as finger men for the RMO in
placing their own members on the
spot. What kind of power is that?

What is significant in Stack's
weasal words is that the NMU
leaders are on the defensive before
an outraged rank and file. The
NMU minutes for this particular
meeting list man after man as tak­
ing the floor to denounce the RMO
fink card plan and the NMU lead­
ers for failing to oppose it.

Robert McElroy is quoted as
saying, "I think if the officials of
the Union would take a little more
interest in things like this instead
of some of the political maneuvers
that go on, we would have a much
stronger union. As it is right now,
the Administration is putting
things over on the seamen and
workers in general that Y guarantee
you this Union would be in the
air over if it would have happened
a couple of years ago."

Another unidentified member
took the floor to say, "I would
like to know why they arc trying
to squeeze us. It looks like they
arc trying to get rid of us good
union men.

And so it went until the great
Curran himself felt called upon rn
take the floor and stem the pro­
tests. Curran is a more experienc­
ed and cynical bureaucrat than
Stack. He didn't attempt to ap­
pease the outraged rank and file.
He didn't give any grudging ad­
mission that the RMO might be a
fink outfit determined to sabotage
maritime labor. Not Curran.

"Brothers, those rules arc exact­
ly the same as our shipping rules,"
he said. "We were able to make
them (RMO) adopt the Union
shipping rules."

There it is—cold turkey. It
wasn't the SIU after all, it was
Curran who helped the RMO
draw up-its fink plan.

"You got those rules now,"
Curran thundered, "There is noth­
ing wrong with them "

All this is in the minutes—^
black and white—for anybody to

read. |
Curran's words are a cynical i

revelation of the whole finky role
played by- the Stalinist leadership
of the NMU. It is a leadership
which will go to any lengths to
suppress militant rank and filers
who want to fight for unionism.

In the years to come, when the
unions are finally joined in a life
or death struggle with the ship­
owners and their RMO fink halls,
let the seamen remember that Cur­
ran helped set up those halls, that
he once said, "there is nothing
wrong with them."

Ft. Trumbull Men
Protest Bonus
Chiseling

{Continued from Page 1)
USN (ret.). Deputy Admin­
istrator, War Shipping Ad­
ministration, W a s h i n g ton,
D. C.

Via: (1) Superintendent, U. S.
Maritime Service Officers
School, Fort Trumbull, New
London, Connecticut.
(2) Commandant, U. S. Mar­
itime Service, Washington,
D. C.
(3) Assistant Deputy Admin­
istrator for Training, War
Shipping Administration,
Washington, D. C.

Subject: Second Seamen's War
Risk Policy and Bonus Rates.

1. We, the undersigned Officer
Candidates, are at present students
in the United States Maritime Ser­
vice Officers' School at Fort Trum­
bull, New London, Connecticut.
Most of us have returned from re­
cent sea duty, many -of us have
met enemy action, and all" of us
will return to sea and finish the
job that democracy has allotted to
the Merchant Marine.

2. We, probably more than any
other group of American citizens,
realize the need for a strong Mer­
chant Marine and the needs of its
personnel. Therefore, we submit
our names to you as being strong­
ly opposed to the new bonus rates
and insurance policy proposed by
the Maritime War Emergency
Board.

3. We believe the new policy to
be unjust and, as a consequence,
will have adverse effect on the
morale, of seamen.

4. Should not the Merchant
Marine be extended benefits worthy
of their- sacrifice upon the high
seas in their efforts toward victory?

5. We urgently request that the
issue be re-examined and that a
more equitable decision be render-,
ed.

6. Assuring you that we are
not only proud of the records our.
shipmates are inscribing in the his­
tory of the United States, but that

Stranded WSA Graduates Are
Disillusioned About Set-Up

{Continued from Page^l)

Mr. Knight and his shipowner sponsors that these
trainees can eventually be used to fink upon union
men and break down conditions,

As.a matter of fact, the entire training pro­
gram is aimed at wiping out any union ideas the
trainees might have had when they enrolled.

"Naw, we never heard any talk about union
conditions," said the kid, "we spent our time
marching in these monkey suits. Every day we
had to march and drill and parade, and on our
time off we had athletics and setting up exercises.
I went there to learn to saS a ^ip, but instead I

learned how to march."
The kid went on to explain that the. whole at­

mosphere of the Sheepshead Bay ^school is a mil­
itary one, and that the men are even forced to
practice commando tactics! What relationship
commando tactics have to sailing a ship is some­

thing that even Mr. Telfair Knight would have
difUculty in explaining. UnlesSj ^of course, it
teaches the men how to smash a picket line.

"And those commando drills; were the real
•.stuff," the kid said. "Here arc the casualties for
March: 7 fractured legs, 1 rupture, several brok­

en ribs, 2 concussions, and 1 brolten neck. Boy,
am I glad I'm through with that stuff."

The'Sheepshead Bay school is the largest of the
several on both coaSts operated by the WSA. It
has a continuous enrollment of 10,000 men.

"The training period is 13 weeks," the kid ex­
plained, "but you may be out there longer because
you wait until your section is filled before you

start learning anything. I was out there damn
near a week before my section was at full strength

of 60 men and we started on the old merry-go-
round.

"The first week we cleaned quarters and stood

fire watches. The second, third, and fourth week

we- learned ship's structure and terminology,
rowing, swimming and marching. Boy did we
march! On the fourth week we learned life boat

. construction and equipment and then choQse ouf
department. I chose the deck department, ^ I;
should have choosen steward—^at least I might
now be able to get a job slinging hash in some -

ulcer factory.
"The fifth week is called 'work week' and we '

do kitchen police, stand security and watches

-^4 on and 8 off outside and 6 to 6 irtslde. ^Fmni J;
the fifth to thirtWnth week wfi get departmental:

training and we MARCH! At the end of the
thirti^nth week we graduate if we have received

our life boat ticket. That is all we have—a life
boat ticket, no AB, no fireman, nothing. I stand
as much chance getting a job now as if I had
never gone to the school at all.

"Why the WSA has hundreds of us fellows

stached away in mid-town hotels and nothing to
do with us. Things are so bad that they are now
offering to send us back to school again for "ad­

vance training,' what ever the hell that is. Even '
if you take the 'advanced training* you don't

come out with an AB ticket, and that's what a -
man needs to be sure of shipping."

There was little comfort that the old-timers
or the union dispatcher could give the kid. True,
there were jobs for ordinaries coming in all the

time, but the union had 5 men for each job and
it certainly didn't look like a shortage of ordin­
aries would develop in the near.future.

As the kid got out of his chair and started tO'
leave the hall, he scratched his head and said,

"There's one thing I can't understand. This WSA
outfit is still recruiting men for their schools and
keeps 10,000 going through Sheepshead Bay in
13 week periods. Why do they do that? They
can't give 'em jobs when they get out. It don't

make sense."
No, it doesn't make sense if you view it from

the needs of the industty. But then, the shipr
owners and brass diats have other problems be­
sides winning this war—they have the unions to

smash. Their training program is aimed less at
Hitler than at organized labor on the waterfront.

Lake Ships To Be Armed

Lakes freighters which operate
in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, or in
the St. Lawrence River below the
Saguenay, will be armed this sea­
son according to a statement re­
leased in Ottawa by-the Navy.

A number of merchant ships
were destroyed in this area by
enemy subs last season.

, Papers Lost

Cari B. Alfred, Fircnian-Oiler-
Watertender, has lost all his papers
and discharges. Anyone finding
them should forward them to the
office of the Secretary-Treasurer;
New York City.

ATTENTION CREW OF
S. S. SHICKSHINNY

The orew which payed off the
Shickshnny last November have
60% bonus money coming for the
portion of the trip from the West
Coast of South America to the

Currency Exchange Rates
Army disbursing officers have been instructed by the U. 8.

Army Chief of .^taff. General George C. Marshall, to exchange,
money for merchant seamen in foreign ports. Effective immedi­
ate the follow exchange rate is in approval:

VALUE IN U.S.
COUNTRY UNIT CURRENCY

United Kingdom
Australia..

Bermuda

Egypt.....

Iraq

British Ebst Africa....,

lndia......._.,.-„
British West Africa

South Africa

B^gian Congo

Iran , :
Frenich Equatorial Africa..
Iceland...

Pound

Dinar. •

Pound
Rupee
Pound

ft-

'Franc
Rial
Franc

Krona

•,y

$4,035
3.228
4.04
4.138

.4;0425 -
4.04M
.3030
4.056
4i^ •
.02291
.03125
.023
.1545

to better those records.

Panama Canal. The following men
on our return to sea we will strive' should call for their vouchers at

the office of the South Atlantic

Steamship Company:

Henry McCann, William I. Lang,
Victor M. Woodward, Alfred Len-
ton, Birger K. Tangedahl, Leroy T.
C.leary, Solomon Albert, Joseph
Sharpe, David Hall, Alexander Gur-
skie, Alfred H. Williams, Byron J.

Kanapaux, Peter Capo, Louis Dorf-

ATLANTIC AND GULF SHIPPING FOR
MARCH 22 TO APRIL 5

SHIPPED

REGISTERED

ON HAND

DECK ENGINE STEWARD TOTAL

308 270 199 775 .

269 250 101 ^ .

200 187 90 487

IN MEMORY OF

BROTHER

JOSEPH NENE, O.S.
1897 • 1943

Died Outswood, Ky., Hospital,

January 30, 1943

Cnmpbell, Omar Ames, Harold W.
Greenlee, Hal F. Stern, Victor E.
Martin, Vincent J. Gretz, Leonard
W. Paradeau, Joseph Reho, Peter
Bush, Ralph Douglas, Raymond J.
Ricketts, Frederick Oliver, Garland
Bonney, Louis Wilson, Jr., Rufus
Godfrey, Oswald G. Pederson, Ccn-

meister. William N. Srytz, John P. stantine Dobrovolsky, Qterga B.

Holmes, Chester Baker, Marcus J,
Franklin.

Money Due
Crew of S. S. Alcoa Banner fiavS:

$125 bonus money coming. Gofleet:
at 17 Battery Place, New York City,

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