Seafarers Log: Vol. 11 No. 19 (1949-06-01)

SEAFARERS WARNS BRITISH
AF L WILL BOYCOn SHIPPING

Official Organ, Atlantic & Gulf District, Seafarers International Union of NA

VOL. XI NEW YORK. N. Y.. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1. 1949 No. 19

Brotherhood Of Marine Engineers
Gets AFL Charter From Seafarers

In response to requests from hundreds of rank-and-file licensed engineers, seeking economic protection and
membership control of union affairs, the Seafarers International Union granted a charter to the Brotherhood of
Marine Engineers, AFL, on May 12. The newly-formed Brotherhood has already become active in behalf of its
membership, and has notified 51 steamship companies that the BME represents a majority of the licensed engineers
aboard their ships. The BME also called upon the companies to set an early date for contract negotiations. The
charter granted to the BME was the second one given this month to a maritime group of workers by the SIU.

the Marine Alliedt

The Seafarers International Union of North'
America will tie-up every British ship that enters,
an Atlantic or Gulf coast American port, unless
the misguided, communist-inspired strike action by,
British dock workers against Canadian ships man­
ned by members of the SIU, Canadian District, is,
brought to a halt.

To make certain that there would be no misun­
derstanding of the situation in London, Paul Hall
and Morris Weisberger, speaking as Vice-Presidents
of the SIU and co-chairmen of the AFL Maritime

^Trades Council of New

York, cabled the threat of

counter-action to the Prime
Minister of Britain's Labor Gov­
ernment, Clement H. Attlee, and
called upon him to stop the il­
legal, commie-led, wildcat walk­
out in British ports.

The SIU officials told Mr.
Attlee that they would give him
time to reply before instituting
the boycott. The full text of the
cablegram was released to Am­
erican and British newspapers
and wire services.

Previously,
Workers, with jurisdiction over
workers in Atlantic and Gulf
coast ports, came into the In­
ternational.

Under terms of its charter, the
BME wiU be completely autono­
mous and, if its membership so
desires, may withdraw from the
SIU and affiliate directly with
the AFL.

Announcement of the charter­
ing of the new affiliate was made
by Paul Hall, First International
Vice President of the SIU and
Secretary-Treasurer of the SIU
Atlantic & Gulf District, who
stated ' that the charters were
granted in response to pleas for
union protection from thousands
of workers in these fields.

TEMPORARY HEADQUARTERS
The Brotherhood of Marine

Engineers now maintains temp­
orary headquarters in New York
at the SIU Headquarters.

In serving notice on the half-
hundred steamship companies
for contract negotiations, the
Brotherhood of Marine Engin-

* eers stated that a large majority
of licensed engineers aboard the
companies' vessels have "become
fed up with the anti-union ac­
tions and political policies of
the Marine Engineers Beneficial
Association, CIO. As a direct re­
sult they have formed a union
within the framework of the Am­
erican Federation of Labor
known as the Brotherhood of
Marine Engineers."

In making public the letter to
the steamship companies, the
BME declared that announce-
of the Brotherhood's formation
resulted in a flood of applications
for membership. Consequently, it
said, the Brotherhood is acting
quickly to obtain the kind of
union protection the licensed en­
gineers are demanding.

, It also stated that marine en­
gineers in general wish a chance
to negotiate their own contracts
for a change. In the past they
have had to put up with con­
tracts worked out by such well-
known partyliae.lawyers andr-ec-

• onomists, as attorney fLee. Press­
man, who has been associated

with communist run uniqns for
years.

In the letter requesting im­
mediate negotiations, the steam­
ship companies were told, "in
the event you make any agree­
ment with the MEBA beyond
June 15, 1949, the date your
present contract expires, you will
do so at your peril and contrary
to the wishes of the majority of
the licensed marine engineers
employed by you;"

At the time of the petitioning,
John Owens, Executive Secre­
tary of the AFL's Maritime
Trades Department, officially
welcomed the BME as the water­
front trade union group's newest
member.

Owens declared that the Bro­
therhood of Marine Engineers
would have the full backing of
the AFL Maritime Trades De­
partment in its negotiations with
the shipowners.

The complete text of the
BME's letter follows:

"The large majority of the li­
censed marine engineers actually

(Contimted on Page 16)

Program Of BME
1. Creation of a strong Brotherhood of Marine

Engineers, utilizing the great strength and fraternal
bonds possessed by the American Federation of Labor
through the powerful AFL Maritime Trade Department.

2. Increasing the wages and improving the working
conditions of all Marine Engineers to levels commen­
surate with the skill, responsibility and dignity of their
profession.

3. Maintenance of a democratic organization of. by
and ioT Marine Engineers which is completely free of
any and all political influences, especially the influence
of the shysters and "fellow-travelers" of the Communist
Party.

4. Building an' organization of Marine Engineers
which will service its members by assuring them the
full protection of tkeir contracts, issuing regular reports
and publications, and acting as a responsible body at
all limes.

I-

5. Negotiations of contracts for Marine Engineers
by Marine Engineers—not by laywers and other out­
siders.

ECA Moves To Enforce Cargo Law
The Economic Cooperation Ad­

ministration is taking steps to
enforce the recently enacted law
that at least half of all Marshall
Plan-financed recovery cargoes be
carried in' United States ships.

Under terms of a regulation
effective immediately, 50 percent
of foreign aid materials must
be shipped on American ships,
otherwise the EGA will not pay
for the goods or the shipping
costs.

JUNE 30 DEADLINE
Arthur Syran, ECA's transpor­

tation director, has recently re­
turned from Europe, where he
explained the new rules to ship­
ping interests and officials of the
Organization for European Ec-
,onomic Cooperation. The latter
organization acts as agent for
the ECA abroad.

Nations receiving benefits un­
der the : ' European - aid - program

have three months, ending June
30, to meet the 50-50 tonnage
requirement.

The law which the ECA regu­
lation will now enforce was
passed by Congress on April 14,
and governs the shipment of
cargoes financed from funds pro­
vided for continuation of the
Eui-opean Recovery Program un­
til July, 1950.

A "watch-dog committee" has
been set up by Representative
Schuyler Otis Bland, Chairman
of the House Merchant Marine
Committee, to see that the 50-50
shipping provisions of the ECA
law are fully observed, to pro­
tect American seamen and ships
from being sacrificed in favor of
low cost foreign flag operators.

The percentage of AYnerican
flag ship participation in tlte
trimspoFtation of Marshall Plan
cargoes was the cause of con­

siderable debate during Congres­
sional hearings and discussions
on the ECA law.

The 50-50 division, as it now
appears in the law, was given
guarded approval by the SIU,
which put up a vigorous fight for
protection of American ships and
jobs as the measure was being
shaped up.

A&G Tripcards
All Seafarers now paying

dues on tripcards are re­
quested to forward their
cards to SIU Headquarters.
6th Floor. 51 Beaver Street,
New York for exchange to
permits. Seafarers may call
in persoh or communicate
with; Headquarters by mail.

CITE FACTS
Hall and Weisberger said that

they had been requested by
their Canadian affiliate "to take
steps to tie up all British ship­
ping in the Atlantic and Gulf
ports, unless the British dockers,
now misled into wildcat action
b y communist propagandists,
agree to handle ships contracted
to the SIU, Canadian District."

The two AFL officials told
Mr. Attlee that they had no de­
sire to take such action unless
it became absolutely necessary.
They pointed out that the SIU,
Canadian District, was under le­
gal contract to man the ships.

The cablegram said that it was
the aim of the communists to
sabotage the Marshall Plan and
that the AFL Maritime Unions
would not permit "a political
maneuver by fifth column dis-
ruptors" to prevent the SIU, Can­
adian District, from fulfilling its
contract.

Weisberger and, Hall cited a
circular from the International
Transportworkers Federation in
which the situation was described
as part of a political campaign
to which the ITF was opposed
and that it was in no way an
industrial issue. They emphasized
their belief that the British dock­
ers who have tied up Canadian
ships were acting on false in­
formation given them by com­
munist propagandists.

COMMIE INSPIRED
The tying up of several Can­

adian ships in British ports is
the result of propaganda issued
by the communist-led Canadian
Seamen's Union whose leaders
attempted to halt the sailing of
Canadian ships after the SIU,
Canadian District, signed an
agreement with the owners of
Canada's east coast merchant
marine.

The action was unsuccessful
except in a few foreign ports.

The Executive Council of the
AFL, meeting in Cleveland re­
cently, recommended that the
Canadian Seamen's Union be
ousted from the Trades and La­
bor Congress of Canada. Earlier*
President William Green, of the
AFL, cabled a request to the

(Conthmei <w» Fage 16)



•li; v'Vtjr •

Page Tw» THE SEAFARERS LOG Wednesday. June 1. 1S49

SEAFARERS LOG
Vublished Three Times a Month by the

SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION
OF NORTH AMERICA

Atlantic and Gulf District
Afiiliated with the American Federation of Labor

At 51 Beaver Street, New York 4, N. Y.
HAnover 2-2784 *

Entered as second class matter June 15, 1945, at the Post Office
in New York, N. Y., under the Act of August 24, 1912.

267

Welcome, BME
For the second time within the past few weeks, we

are privileged to welcome into the Seafarers International
Union a group of maritime workers vitally interested in
improving its economic status through the medium of
sound trade unionism.

Less than two weeks ago, the granting of an AFL
charter to the Marine Allied Workers opened the way to
union benefits and protection to vast numbers of un­
organized workers linked closely to maritime on the
Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

The MAW has now been joined by the Brotherhood
of Marine Engineers, which has also received an AFL
charter in response to demands from licensed rank-and-
file engineers, who have long been dissatisfied wifh the
kind of union protection available to them.

These highly significant developments point up the
fact that workers in maritime and related industries now
recognize that trade union success in maritime can only
be scored under the banner of the AFL.

The licensed engineers have learned that the political
objectives of a small, dominating communist clique al­
ways rate priority over the economic needs of the rank-
and-file. This has been the case wherever communists have
controlled union affairs. For the engineers this unsavory
situation now becomes part of their past history.

In the AFL Brotherhood of Marine Engineers, these
men will now go forward on a program dedicated to
their economic betterment and free of the vicious in­
fluence of anti-democratic and self-serving politically-
minded leadership.

To our newly-affiliated Brotherhood, we offer a hearty
welcome.

ofMAffiNe eNsut&ss

Show Of Violence
Victor Reuther, educational director of the United

•Automobile Workers Union, was shotgunned in the living
room of his Detroit home during the evening of May 25,
1949. As a result of the attack his right eye has been
removed by surgeons. The gunman is still at large.

Walter Reuther, president of the United Automobile
.Workers Union, was the victim of a shotgun blast in
the kitchen of his Detroit home on the evening of April
20, 1948; The blast shattered his right arm. The would-be
murderer has not been caught.

William Lurye, organizer for the International Ladies
, Garment Workers Union, was mortally wounded on May

10, 1949, when killers ganged up on him in a telephone
booth in the lobby of a busy New York office building.
Lurye died a few hours after the attack. The murderers are
still free.

In each instance,. sizeable rewards were offered for
information leading to apprehension of the assassins. So
far none has been claimed.

The tactics of union haters have changed. They don't
scare off the unions with clubs and phony ordinances,
murder is now the order of the day. But are the murderers
of union men to be above the law?

Three times assassins have crept up on their victims
with intent to murder and three times they have escaped
apprehension. Despite a k>t of shadow boxing by the
police departments of Detroit and New York nothing
has happened. . '

Murderers of union leaders, it appears, are strangely
elusive persons.

Mea Now h The Mwhe Hospitqk
These are the Union Brothers currently in the marine hospitals,

as reported by the Port Agents. These Brothers find time hanging
heavily on their hands. Do what you can to cheer them up by
writing them.

NEPONSET HOSPITAL
R. A. BLAKE

' L. BALLESTERO
J. S. CAMPBELL
V. W. CHESNER
J. T. EDWARDS
I. H. FRElSlCH
E. FERRER
V. JIMINEZ _ • - ,
J. T. KEMPT
K. G. LUNDBERG
C. L. MOATS
W. SEARS
H. SELBY
J. SILLAK
Q. TULL
L. TORRES
T. WADSWORTH
G. WOODS
F. ZESIGER

tit
NAVY HOSPITAL
Long Beach. Calif.

J. ROLING
WM. L. PARKS
M. J. FOLAN
J. MARTINEZ

% X
BALTIMORE IdAHlNE HOSP.

L. OWENS
G. BEKKEN <
W. VAUGHAN
G. A. CARROLL .

J. SCHALLER
G. P. BUSH
C. G. SCHUNK
L. WILLIAMS
H. R. MATHISEN
J. R. TILLEY
W. G. ALSTON
F. KORVATIN
K. L. ROBERTS
F. J. DEALIVERIA
S. RUZYSKI

t i i
NEW ORLEANS HOSPITAL
E. E. GROSS
E. R. MESSINA
E. MASSEY
J. DENNIS
ROTZ
LANDRY " I

"ELLARD .
L. WILLIS
N. L. WEST
w. MCDONALD
THILMONGE
G. W. MEANEY
C. RAYFUSE -
J. PATTERSON
C. BRGfWN
DICKINSON
J. BALLMAN •
V. LAWERENCE •
A. ARVANTIS
K. L. GUNDERSON li-

Hospital Patients
When entering the hospital

notify the delegates by post­
card, giving your name and
the number of your ward.

Mimeographed Postcards
can be obtained free at the
Social Service desk. .

J. C. GALARZA
B. C. RESKO
F. L. ROCHON
J. J. KEYS

i i i
' FORT STANTON

J. LIGHTFOOT
A. McGUIGAN
D. MCDONALD
J. SUPINSKI
W. H. ROBERTS
J. ASHURST

X X S-
STATEN ISLAND

J. TURNER
T. M. BROWN
M. J. LUCAS
N. NORPMANS ,
C. W^ GOODWIN
J. SMITH
D. GELINAS
V. D'ACO
R. E. QUINIT
S. RIVERA
V. GROVER
A, KING
D. HERON
J. J. DEVINE

XXX
MOBILE HOSPITAL

J. P. BUCKELEW
J. B. BERRIER
J. STEELE
E. JARRETT _

XX X'
SAVANNAH HOSPITAL

G. BUTLER
G. LASS
W. STEWART
L. C. COLE
WYCHE

t
• t-
,T
1

J .f

(i'i



.Wednesday. June 1, 1949 THE SEAFARERS LOG Page Three

SEAFARERS HAILED AS 'CREDIT TO THEIR UNION' Asks Discussion On
Compuisory Vacations

By RICHARD MARTINEZ

These SIU members aboard the SS Ireneslar drew glowing praise from their Skipper, Capt.
Alexander Roth, and government officials in Catania, Sicily, for their sterling performance as
seamen. Capt. Roth said they were "by far the best group of rhen" he had ever sailed with.

Skipper Praises Men Of Irenestar
As Best Crew He Ever Sailed With

Seafarers manning the 88
Irenestar are "not only a credit
to their Union," but they are
also helping the United States
to regain its position as the
number one maritime nation by
the quality of their shipboard
work, declared Captain Alex­
ander Roth, the vessels' master,
at the completion of Voyage
No. 1 in Baltimore last week.

Hailing the Irenestar crew-
members as "by far the best
group of men, both personally
and professionally," he had ever
sailed with, Captain Roth, in a
letter to the SIU, added that he
had been told by government
officials in Catania, Sicily, "that
this was the finest American
ship that had been in their port
in years."

Captain Roth's letter follows:
Enclosed please find pictures

that were taken at the request
of the ship's delegate aboard the
SS Irenestar, Voyage 1, on a pas­
sage frorh Mobile, via Houston,
to Catania, Sicily, and back to
Baltimore in April and May of
this year.

There are two group pictures
of the entire unlicensed crew;
the eleven members of the deck
crew; the eight members of the
stewai'ds dept.the ei^ht mem­
bers of the black gang; and one
stowaway. If you print any of
these pictures, I would appreci­
ate a copy of the "LOG" in
which it appears.

Relative to the above un­
licensed personnel, I would like

to make the following com­
ments: I have been Master of a
number of vessels, and had
numerous crews of the various
Unions sailing with me. Of all
these groups of seamen, this
ci-ew has been by far the best
group of men, both personally
and professionally. These men
were not only a credit to the
Union to which they belong, but
also to the ship they sailed on
and the fiag that flew over them.
I was told by various City and
State Officials in Catania, that
this was the finest American
ship that had been into their
port in many years.

All forward looking men in
the marine industry, both on
labor's and capital's side, know
that one of the ways of regain­
ing our position as the number
one maritime nation is by rais­
ing quality of the men operating
the ships. If the crew of the SS
Irenestar on her first voyage are
an example, the SIU is certaily
doing its share towards attain­
ing that object. In conclusion,
I hope I have the pleasure of
sailing with men of this calibre
many more times.

Yours Most- Sincerely,
Capt. Alexander Roth. Jr.

In view of the fact that ship­
ping has leveled off and will
probably stay at the present lev­
el for some time, I am in favor
of the resofution passed recently
at a Mobile membership meet­
ing. This resolution calls for ev­
eryone on board ship, who has
been a member of the crew for
one year, to take his vacation.

Anyone who has been on a
ship for a year should have a
few dollars saved and should be
able to take a vacation, and thus
allow someone else to take a
berth.

It is true that on freighters
you won't find many who have
been aboard for a year, but on
passenger ships it is different.
It is a practice among many to
stay aboard for that length of
time, or longer.

FOR EVER AND EVER
In fact, there are some who

have been crewmembers on pas­
senger ships since they first came
out of the yards.

Many of these men are good
Union men in every sense of
the world, but I do know of
some who have actually become
company-minded as a result of
their long stay aboard.

Under these circumstances, it
has become apparent that cliques
have developed on some of the
lines. They take no part in un­
ion activity, they do not vote,
nor do they aid on the picket-
lines.

It is for these reasons that I
recommend study of the prob­
lem by the membership. I have
discussed the Mobile resolution
with many of the Brothers, and
I learned that many of them are
in favor of it.

I mention this because we
must give some thought to the
future. It is possible that some
time later in the year the Ar­
nold Bernstein Steamship Com­
pany may have a passenger ship
or two in operation.

By having compulsory vaca­
tions, the job turnover will be
greater and, of course, we'U

have more trained men avail­
able for the luxury liners of the
future.

I am against cliques on ships.
A united crew makes a ship
work smoothly, but a clique will
keep the men divided. This is
not good unionism.

Some of those who are against
the compulsory vacation after
one year say such a rule would
relieve them of job security.

But what about the men on
the beach? They want jobs, too.
And they are also entitled to
job security.

I would suggest that this ques­
tion of compulsory vacations af­
ter one year be taken up at
shipboard meetings and discussed
thoroughly by all hands, so that
every member will know the
score.

Remember, our contracts pro­
vide for one week's paid vaca­
tion for a man after he's been
aboard a company's ship for one
year. Those who are staying
aboard for longer than a year
are taking the vacation pay and
holding the job as well.

RULES CHANGE
Also to be remembered is the

fact that a rule for making va­
cations compulsory after a year
of employment aboard one ves­
sel, as recommended by the Mo­
bile resolution, would necessitate
a change in the shipping rules.
Under the Union constitution,"
changes in shipping rules can
only be effected by a referendum
vote in all ports.

My viewpoint on this question
is based on my experience
aboard one of our passenger
ships. It is my opinion, and that
of others who jagree with me,
that jobs should be for every­
one and that cliques should not
dominate any ship.

I would also like to suggest
that in addition to the discussions
at the shipboard meetings, mem­
bers interested in either side of
this question should write their
opinions to the LOG.

Alcoholism Is Great Problem For Industry

ATTENTION!
The slop chest is your cor­

ner store while you are at
sea. You can't take your
trade someplace else if the
slop chest doesn't have what
you need.

By JOSEPH I. FLYNN

With an estimated 65 percent
of all alcoholic addicts—skilled
and unskilled — regularly em
ployed, management and business
are awakening to the problem
alcohol presents to them.

In Chicago, recently, a con­
ference was held on the signi­
ficance of Alcoholism in Indus­
try. A great deal of interest was
shown by business when the fol­
lowing figures were brought to
light.

Of the estimated 3,000,000 al­
coholics in an adult population
of 87,000,000—2,060,000 are regu­
larly employed.
. Of these, 1,370,000 are males
employed i n manufacturing
plants, by construction compan­
ies and public utilities. The
amount of women alcoholics is
15 percent of the total figure.

The alcoholic in industry loses
an average of 22 working days
a year — a total of 29,700,000
working day lost from the ef­
fects of alcohol alone.

These figures do not include

non-productive time of those not
regularly employed, lower effi­
ciency due to hangovers, poor
examples for fellow workers thus
weakening morale, and accidents.

It is estimated that this costs
business over a billion dollars
a year.

In the City of Chicago, there
are an estimated 26,000 alcohol­
ics costing the taxpayers of that
town $3,160,000, ninety percent
of which is spent by the police,
house o f correction and the
courts.

Each alcoholic costs employers
of this city $555.56 a year. In
any city in the US the cost per
alcoholic to his employer aver­
ages $500.00.

The alcoholic is annually re­
sponsible for 1,500 fatal accidents
at work, and 2,850 fatal acci­
dents at home, in public places
and in traffic—an accident rate
of 321 per 100,000, twice that of
the non-alcoholic.

The life span of the alcoholic
is reduced approximately 12
years in comparison with the ab­
stainer or ordinary drinker.

Imagine here the money spent

by insurance companies, work­
men's compensation, law suits
and welfare organizations.

The alcoholic as a skilled, ex­
perienced worker or executive
is another cost and a great loss
to industiy. Analysis of 338 em­
ployees disciplined for drinking
showed the following years of
service: 125 had from 1 to 4
years; 84, 5 to 9 years; 55, 10
to 14 years; 31, 15 to 19 years; 20
had over 25 years of service.

It is impossible to put a dollar
and cent value on the knowledge
and experience these men repre­
sent to their respective compan­
ies.

And so the alcoholic, his at­
tendance at work undependable,
work poorly done, is fired. No
business can be run with this
type of help. He joins the
throngs of others on skid tow.

This group of fallen employees
represents a consumer lost, for
none buys clothes and food. He
is a liability to the entire com­
munity, his productive power is
wasted. This is an additional cost
of a billion dollars to business.

Although these are estimated

figures, and it's true that a com­
prehensive study of this particu­
lar problem is lacking, the
knowledge thus far gained proves
that alcoholism costs industry
billions of dollars—not to men­
tion the cost in unhappiness, ac­
cidents, death, misery, broken
homes and heartache.

Education on this subject wiU
bring the realization clearly
home to management that fac­
ing an issue is much less expen­
sive than remaining apathetic.

Interest in turn will bring bet­
ter treatment methods, more vig­
orous research, saving not only
money but workers, experience,
knowledge and brain power.

Like all welfare approaches to
management, the problem of al­
coholism in industry is up against
great obstacles. In the final
analysis, it will be the workers
themselves who will demand
adequate studies and proper
treatment. ?

Science in approaching this
problem in industrial manage­
ment is not appealing to humani­
tarian feelings; it is pointing
out good business sense.



Page Four THE SEAFAHERS LOG Widn«adaY« 1< 1349

Ship With A Million
Readers - Celabee
Sails Newsprint Run

A HAPPY GANG OF SEAFARERiS ON THE COLABEE

(The following article ap­
peared in the Christian Sci­
ence Monitor of April 4. The
author, John Bunker, now on
the staff of the Monitor, is a
retired member of the SIU. and
formerly was on the staff of
the SEAFARERS LOG. The
article is reprinted with the
Monitor's permission.)
More than 1,000,000 newspaper

readers depend for their daily
editions on the SS Colabee, "the
newsprint express."

New England built and skip­
pered by a master mariner from
Ayer, Mass., this 29-year-old vet­
eran of the seas holds a unique
place in the American merchant
marine, freighting huge rolls of
paper that keep the presses run­
ning for one of the world's big­
gest circulation tabloids, the New
York Daily News.

The Colabee is now on her
way from Boston to Baie Comeau
in the Gulf of St. Lawrence for
the first newsprint run of the
season. Capt. W. R. Millington
of Ayer, Mass., hopes that the
last drift ice will be slogging its
way down the gulf by the time
he crosses the 45th parallel and
heads up the windy Cabot Strait
past the Magdalens today or to­
morrow.

After carrying sulphur all
winter, the Colabee laid at Com­
monwealth Pier, South Boston,
last week, being cleaned out and
dolled up in a bright dress of
white, buff, and black.

"Just like a dainty old lady,"
said Bos'n Harry Jaynes of Bos­
ton, big-chested sailor who
thinks "old-timers" like the
Colabee are worth any two of
the "fancy" ships they've been
bulging during the past decade
or so.

NO JIVE HERE
His view is shared by second

mate Glen Hawkins who says
the Colabee rides the waves just
as daintily as she looks. "Not
like these new ships," says Haw­
kins. "They act like they're full
of 'jive'... bounce all over the
place in a heavy sea."

Compared to the SS Willis
Vickery, a big C-4 freighter that
also lay at Commonwealth Pier
last week, the Colabee looked

- very modest and plain, like a
simple country lass alongside a
sophisticated debutante from the
city.

Small though she is compared
with newer ships, the Colabee
still is running, long after other
-vessels of her type and vintage
have either gone to the wreckers
or been "sold foreign," because
she's economical to operate and
tough to sink.

The Germans thought they
had sunk her during the war,

A submarine torpedoed her
off Nuevitas, Cuba, in 1942,
gnawing a hole in her side big
enough to drive a street car
through.

Many of the crew were killed
but the Colabee, though she was
loaded with sugar, jtj^t wouldn't
sink, —

Two days later, a salvage tug
came by and towed her into
Tampa, Fla, After having been
repaired, she carried bauxite for
the rest of the war.

By JOHN BUNKER
>

article ap- Despite the fact that quarters
on the Colabee are tiny com­
pared to ships like the Willis
Vickery, the officers of this "old-
timer," such as chief engineer
James Rehr and third mate
Fred Johnson bf Haverhill,
Mass., have been aboard her for
the past thi-ee years.

Part of their reason for liking
the ship is chief cook "Kingfish"
Nelson of Richmond, Va,

"I don't remember how many
ships I've been on," says the
"Kingfish," "It sure has been an
awful lot."

His specialty is southern fried
pork chops. Captain Millington
claims the "Kingfish" is one of
the best cook afloat... Maybe
the best."

CONTINUOUS CAREER
Built at Portsmouth, N. H., for,

but too late to participate in,
World War I, the Colabee has
had a continuous career in the
sugar, coal sulphur, paper, and
bauxite trades, operating year
after year partly because her
old-fashioned, "up-and-down" re­
ciprocating steam engine is econ­
omical and never breaks down.

The Daily News and .Chicago
Tribune, owners of the Colabee
as well as the huge Baie Comeau
paper mills in Canada, could
have traded the ship in for a
much newer vessel, but they
say "no thanks. They cost too
much to operate."

The Colabee'svcrew, all mem­
bers of the Seafarers" Interna­
tional Union, is composed mainly
of men who have been going to
sea for five to 20 years.

"One of the best crews I've
ever sailed with," says the skip­
per.

"But then," he adds, "this is
one of the best ships, too. She
deserves a good crew."

Crewmembers of the newsprint-toting Illinois-Atlantic ship gather on deck for picture after
docking in Boston, following a run to Baie Comeau in Canada. Picture was submitted to the
LOG by Johnny Bunker, former Seafarer, now waterfront reporter for the Christian Science
Monitor.

Delta Line To Build
Combination Liner

The Mississippi Shipping Com­
pany's Delta Line has been
granted a construction subsidy
for a $14,000,000 combination
passenger-cargo vessel. Invita­
tions for bids will be sent out by
the Maritime Commission in the
near future.

The new 14,000 gross ton ship,
with accommodations for 234 pas­
sengers, will operate between
US Gulf coast ports and the
East coast of South America.
She will carry a crew of 190T

The
Patrolmen

Say—
Good Example

NEW YORK—It's a far cry
from the old days aboard Isth­
mian ships, especially aboard one
that paid off in New York last
week. The ship was the Steel
Advocate, and the payoff amazed
all the men who had sailed in
the fleet before.

The vessel came in after a
month's voyage without a single
beef or a minute of disputed ov­
ertime. We realize that this is
almost unbelievable, but it is an
unvarnished fact nevertheless.
It actually happened.

COOPERATION

According to the Ship's Dele­
gate, J. McKenzie, this smooth
state of affairs was the result of
the excellent relationship and
high degree of cooperation be­
tween topside and the delegates.

The example set by the men
of the Steel Advocate should
spur crewmembers in the rest
of the Isthmian fleet to work
according to the terms of the
agreement. In this way they
will eliminate many of the petty
beefs that have been plaguing
these ships.

A salute and a tip of the cap
to the crew and the officers of
the SS Steel. Advocate.

James Purcell
Blackie Cardullo

New Transportation Nalo
The recently-concluded coastwise referendum

resulted in the adoption of a new transportation
rule effective immediately in all Atlantic and Gulf
District ports. The new ruling, which the member­
ship favored by a vote that ran three to two, pro­
vides as follows:

"When transportation is due a crew under
the terms of the contract, those men who desire
to stay on board the ship can do so, providing
they do not collect transportation. Those men
desiring transportation can collect same and

' upon receipt of the money shall get off the ship
and replacements for those vacancies shall be
shipped from the Union Hiring Hall."

CSU Goons Running Wild

Gear-Grabbers Hurt Union
The membership of the Seafarers International Union has

consistently reaffirmed its position thtit gear-grabbers can't be
good Union men. Any individual who stoops to pilfering gear
such as coffee percolators, linens, etc., which are placed aboard
SlU-contracted ships, for the convenience of all hands, is, above
all, guilty of a malicious disregard of his shipmates' welfare.

^Crew conveniences on most SIU ships today are not there
by accident. They are there because of the Union's successfully-
fought struggles to bring greater benefits and comforts and to
provide decent conditions for the membership while out at sea.

These hard-won conveniences are for the benefit of ALL
HANDS. They ARE NOT to be 'appropriated by any Individual
for his own personal use. Violators of the membership's wel­
fare will be dealt with in accordance with the firm stand taken
repeatedly by Seafarers in all ports.

With members of the Canadian
Seamen's Union switching in
droves to the SIU Canadian
District, CSU communist leaders
are stepping up their campaign
of terrorism in a vain attempt to
stem certain defeat.

In one recent week, four
members of the SIU Canadian
District and one Atlantic and
Gulf District member were vic­
tims of communist goon squads
in Sanada.

Two Canadian District men off
the SS Seaside, Jimmie Robin­
son of Winnipeg and Gordon
MacDonald of Moose Jaw, were
attacked in the Vancouver home
of a friend at one o'clock in the
morning by four CSU men
armed with clubs.

At Lapointe pier, Ovide
Schmidt and Morris Adler were
beaten by CSU goons as they
left the Seaside.

Both were treated at Van­
couver General Hospital for
chest and face injuries. Two
CSU men are being held by
police in connection with the at:
tacks.

In Montreal, Seafarer Edward
Crelan of the SS Steel Admiral,
was assaulted by six CSU goons
with lead pipes as he left a
waterfront tavern to return to
the ship.

Attacked from behind, Crelan
was knocked down by blows on
the head. As he lost conscious­
ness, his attackers jumped on his

EDWARD CRELAN

hands, smashing bones in his
left hand.

The pattern of violence was
established by the communists
early in the strike, as they be­
gan a campaign of sneak at­
tacks on Canadian seamen. The
beating of Crelan was the first
time an American Seafarer has
been attacked, and shows how
desperate the commie goon
squads have become.



We^csdayt June 1> 1343 THE SEAFARERS LOG

;v H' WHAT
ttWIlK

QUESTION: The recent announcement that charters had been granted to the Marine
Allied Workers and the Brotherhood of Marine Engineers by the Seafarers International Un­
ion was received with considerable enthusiasm by workers within their jurisdiction. What do
you think of this development?

P«g» Fir*

; $0
• •' •--* m

m

mmmmmm

CARL LAWSON. Bosun;

In ihe near future the expan-
iBion of the SIU, through the
chartering of affiliates, will make
US one of the strongest maritime
bodies in the world. We will
extend to other workers the con­
ditions we in the SIU enjoy and
our program of straight trade
unionism will drive the com­
munists and fellow-travelers out
of the maritime industry. The
chartering of these two new un­
ions is one of the best things
ihat has ever happened within
ihe SIU. I feel that the majority
of engineers and allied workers
Will welcome the chance to hel­
ler their conditions and wages

in the SIU.

STEFAN TRZCINSKI. Ch. Ck.: A. T. ARNOLD. Bosun:

I think this is an important
development and a step forward
for all concerned. The American
Federation of Labor's Maritime
Trades Department is gradually
strengthening its position and
becoming the most important la­
bor group on the waterfront. As
a result, all who are members
of organizations affiliated with
it will tind it to their benefit.
This development will have a
stabilizing effect upon the indus­
try. because with more and more
unions hound together for the
common good, activities can be
coordinated very successfully.

I wish that we in the SIU had
had the opportunity to join a
strong, democratic established
union when we were first form­
ing our organization years ago.
I am an oldtimer. and I know
that the fight would have been
much easier and shorter had we
been given strong maritime back­
ing. With the Marine Allied
Workers and the Brotherhood of
Marine Engineers, it's an oppor­
tunity for these organizations to
join with a strong union and re­
ceive the protection and prestige
that the SIU has earned from
everyone it has ever dealt with.
I'm sure these fellows will wel­
come the organizing drive of the
SIU.

EMIL NORDSTROM. DE:

I believe it is a good move to
bring other affiliates into our or­
ganization to give them the con­
ditions and representation we en­
joy. At the same time their
numbers make us that much
stronger. Brotherhood is our mot­
to. and we are making a real
brotherhood of seamen and mari­
time workers by bringing the
men into our union. I believe
that these fellows will be happy
to see the SIU enter their fields
to organize. Joining hands with
the engineers will probably elim­
inate some of the thorny prob­
lems that arise over different
contract dates. I'm happy to see
the SIU continue to grow.

ED. W. ADAMKO. Ch. Stwd.:

My opinion is that the more
maritime workers there are unit-
'ed under one roof, the beffev
will our chances of winning bef-
ter conditions and protecting the
gains we have already made. I
think it is a very fine thing thai
a great many licensed engineers
have decided that the Brother­
hood of Marine Engineers is the
organization for fhem. They've
probably have seen that the Am­
erican Federation of Labor mari­
time unions have made the great­
est advances. All of us should
be glad that the engineers want
to come into our group.

ALVIN (Salty) SEE, AB:

I'm all for it. I think it bears
out the fad that the American
federation of Labor is widely
tecognized and appreciated for
fts ideals in behalf of its organi­
sations' members. The granting
of these charters means that the
maritime section of the AFL and
ihe SIU will be stronger and
command more prestige. With
more allied affiliates, the AFL
maritime unions can cooperate
oven more closely for the bene­
fit of alL For our own member­
ship, and those of the newly-
affiliated unions, a stronger
brotherhood in maritime is very
desirable.

JACK DIETRICH. FWT:

The Marine Allied Workers
and the Brotherhood of Marine
Engineers are one hundred per­
cent welcome in the SIU. AFL.
Those are my sentiments and I
think it's the view of the ma­
jority. I am glad to see that the
engineers have at last decided
to get away from the leadership
that wrapped them up in poli­
tical stuff and got them nothing.
I think this development proves
that the AFL is the kind of or­
ganization. with a sound founda­
tion and non-political leadership,
that can provide the union bene­
fits these men have needed for
so long..

MITCHELL MILEFSKI. Ch. Ck.: L. KRAWEZYK. Waiter:

I think this news is very good.
For one thing, it helps strengthen
our own Union. It also strength­
ens the position .of the members
in the newly-affiliated groups.
The more maritime workers
there are in one strong group,
the better everything will be for
all hands concerned. It's a very
good thing to have all workers—
or as many as possible—in our
trade organized and cooperating
under one banner. We can all
be working together that way,
and accomplishing more. We
should welcome these people in­
to our group and wish them the
best of luck.

Coming into our organization,
these new affiliates will start off
with the advantage of being a
part of the SIU. a name that is
well respected on the waterfront
of the world. They will better be
able to work for better wages
and conditions, if the operators
know they have the backing of
the SIU and the Maritime Trades
Department. I feel that the one
union that can rid the maritime
industry of the communists is the
SIU. and the Brotherliood of
Marine Engineers will find they
have a. strong ally in the SIU
when they tackle any job to
better their way of living.

C. V/. PALMER. OS:

In our line of work it is im­
portant that as many maritime
workers as possible get under
one banner, thereby forming a
strong organization and receiv­
ing the respect they deserve. I
hope for the day when seamen
will form a union of all maritime
workers. The step of the SIU in
giving charters to two new affili­
ates is a step in this direction.
The engineers will be glad to
be rid of the communist strength
in their ranks and enter a bona
fide organization. Many engineers-
are former SIU men and will
welcome the chance to get back
into a militant organization.



Page Si* T H E S E A F A R E R S L O G Wednesday, June 1. 1949

Minutes Of A&G Branch Meetings in Brief
WILMINGTON ^ No meeting

because of lack of 25 bookmem-
bers for quorum.

SAN JUAN — Chairman. T.
Lockwood, 24564; Recording Sec­
retary, T. Banning, 3039; Read­
ing Clerk, P. Dunphy, 46214.

Motions carried to accept New
Business of meetings held in
other ports. T. Banning, Port
Representative, reported that
Agent Craddock had requested
a leave of absence, which has
been approved by the Secretary-
Treasurer. Banning will be Port

Representative during his ab­
sence. Banning reported all ships
in port in good shape with the
only beef on the Elizabeth. Mem­
bers urged to continue to write
their Congressmen in Washing­
ton. Good and Welfare: P. Dun­
phy volunteered to make up the
shipping list. A discussion was
held on port rules and general
Union matters. One minute of
silence for departed Brothers.

$1

SAN FRANCISCO—Chairman.
A. Michelet, 21164; Recording
Secretary, W. D. Otto, 34661;
Reading Clerk, A. Bailey, 7410.

Motions carried to accept min­
utes of meetings held in other
ports. Agent reported shipping
as poor. Reported that several
men went north to Tacoma,
where the Pontus Ross and Ir-
vin Cobb paid off. Prospects for
immediate future do not appear
bright. Agent reported. Motions
carried to accept and file Sec­
retary-Treasurer's report and Tal­
lying Committee's report on
transportation rule voting. One
minute of silence observed for
departed Brothers. Good and
Welfare: General discussion on
various Union topics. Meeting
adjourned with 65 members pres­
ent.

ii> % a.
GALVESTON—No meeting be­

cause of lack of 25 bookmem-
bers for quorum.

4.
NORFOLK —Chairman, J. S.

White, 57; Recording Secretary,
Clyde Garner, 49929; Reading
Clerk, James Bullock, 4747.

Minutes of meetings held in
other Branches read, accepted
and filed. Headquarters' report
accepted and filed. Agent re­

ported that, although shipping
has been slow, he expects it to
pick up, as several companies
are bringing ships out of the
boneyard to enter into the coal
trade to Europe. General topics
of interest to the membership
were discussed under Good and
Welfare. Meeting adjourned with
80 members present.

4. 4.
BALTIMORE — Chairman, W.

Reniz, 26445; Recording Secre-
iazy, D. Stone, 1996; Reading
Clwk, A. Stansbury, 4683.

New Business section of^ min­
utes of meetings held in other

A&G Shipping From May 4 To May
, REG. REG. REG. TOTAL SHIPPED SHIPPED SHIPPED

PORT DECK ENG. STWDS. REG. DECK ENG. STWDS.

Boston 28 14 19 61 ' 14 16 10
New York 125 121 124 370 105 ' 90 90
Philadelphia 36 30 37 103 35 29 28
Baltimore 134 92 70 ?96 97 78 45
Norfolk 38 25 14 77 8 . 7 6
Savannah (No Figures Available)
Tampa (No Reg. Figures Available) 6 6 8
Mobile 69 53 55 "" 177 67 58 51
New Orleans 72 72 149 293 95 81 138
Galveston. 44 33 25 102 81 58 41
West Coast 57 48 29 134 43 26 30
San Juan 11 13 11 35 8 10 6

GRAND TOTAL > 614 501 533 1,648 559 459 453

18
TOTAL

SHIPPED

40
285
92
220
21

20
176
314
180
99
24

1,471

ports read and accepted. Motion
carried to post and file all West
Coast and Great Lakes minutes.
Motion carried to forward all
ships' minutes to SEAFARERS
LOG for publication. Eighteen
men excused from meeting for
various reasons. Motions carried
to accept Headquarters' and Tal­
lying Committee's report on
transportation referendum. No
New Business and no Good and
Welfare. Meeting adjourned with
352 members present.

4. 4 4
PHILADELPHIA — Chairman,

Donald Hall, 43372; Recording
Secretary, J. Sheehan, 306; Read­
ing Clerk, J. McPhauL 289.

Motions carried to accept min­
utes of previous meetings held
in SIU Branches. Communica­
tion from Mrs. Nowery enclosing
a note of thanks to the SIU read
and accepted. New Business. W.
Peerpenski to be changed from
Deck to- Stewards Department.
Motions carried to accept Head­
quarters* report to membership

and financial report. Good and
Welfare: Membership went on
record to accept donations for
new television set for Hall. One
minute of silence for departed
Brothers.

.444
BOSTON—Chairman, M. Mor­

ris, 5725; Recording Secretary,
E. Dakin, 180; Reading Clerk, B.
Lawson, 894.

Motions carried to accept and
file minutes of meetings held in
other SIU Branches. Motion car­
ried to post and file all West
Coast and Great Lakes minutes.
Motion carried to accept Agent's
report. New Business: Motion by
Greenridge, 1863, to non-concur
with that part of Headquarters'
report seeking to take money
from the Building Fund until
membership has been told the
amount. Motion carried to ac­
cept the balance of the Head­
quarters' report. Motion carried
to have a delegate attend the
Massachusetts Federation of La­
bor Convention. Ben Lawson el­
ected. Motion carried to have
the Agent buy and have install­
ed seven new window glasses
and a new front door, plus ten
fire extinguishers. One minute of
silence for Brothers lost at sea.
Good and Welfare: Discussion on
permitmen having permits for
long periods of time without
being able to get books. Meeting
adjourned with 120 members
present.

NEW YORK—Chairman.'^J. Al-
gina, 1320; Recording Secretary,
F. Stewart, 4935; Reading Clerk,
R. Matthews, 154.

Motion carried to accept Head­
quarters' report and concur in
recommendations. Motions car­
ried to accept minutes of regular
and special meetings held in
other Branches. Agent' reported
better than average shipping, and
issued warning against men
throwing in for jobs for which
they do not have endorsements.
Communications from several
members asking to be excused
were read and referred to Dis­
patcher. One minute of silence
observed for departed Brothers.
Charges against two Brothers
read and referred to a Trial Com­
mittee. No New Business and* no
Good and Welfare. Meeting ad­
journed with 991 members pres­
ent.

4 4 4
NEW ORLEANS — Chairman,

Warren Wyman, 200; Recording
Secretary, Bill Fredericks, 94;
Reading Clerk, Buck Stephens,
76.

New Orleans' previous miputes
read and accepted. Charges read
against two Brothers and refer­
red to a Trial Committee. Min­
utes of meetings held in other
SIU Branches read and filed.
Agent Sheppard reported that
business of port was in good
shape and no beefs were pend­
ing in the port. Agent reported
that UFE film was available to

ships* crews for $40 per print;
Agent reported thaf; inasmuch
as supreme quorum was present,
members should act on recom­
mendation regarding the port of
San Juan. Upon instructions of
Secretary-Treasurer, Buck Steph­
ens is to go to San ^ Juan to
work in conjunction with Crad­
dock and return with recommen­
dations dealing with the port.
Craddock reported that San
Juan could be run by only one
man,- a Port Representative.
Tommy Banning to act as Port
Representative. Motion carried
to accept and concur in Brother
Sheppard's report and the rec­
ommendation regarding the port
of San Juan. Patrolmen reported
on payoffs, sign-ons and beefs
aboard ships contacted. New
Business: Communication from
25 bookmembers of Drl Sud read,
requesting that Ernest Sauls be
reinstated in SIU as a permit-
member. Q h a r g e s expelling
Brother were erroneous, crew re­
ported. Motion carried to con­
cur in crew's request. Motion

MOBILE—Chairman, L. Neira.
26393; Recording Secretary,
James L. Carroll, 14; Reading
Clerk, H. J. Fischer, 59.

New Business of meetings held
in other ports accepted and filed.
Agent reported that shipping
would continue slow during com­
ing week. He also reported that
several contractors have submit­
ted bids for renovating building
and he hoped to have definite
plans for the next meeting. "Tan­
ner stated that SIU would be
represented at Alabama State
Federation convention, and if

carried to refer to a committee
the Headquarters' request for
reopening the case of Joseph
Kozlowski. Motion carried that
24 hours after a member ships
his number be scratched from
the shipping list. Good and Wel­
fare: Discussion on compulsory
vacations. Meeting adjourned
with 397 bookmembers present.

any members would like to at­
tend as visitors they were wel­
come. Resolution concurred in on
Electricians. Motion carried that
jobs be shipped on the hour.
Tallying Committee's report ac­
cepted. (3ood and Welfare: Sug­
gestion made to move drinking
fountain. Meeting adjourned with
250 members present.

4 4 4
SAVANNAH — Chairman, J.

Drawdy, 28523; Recording Secre­
tary, C. Rice, 40707; Reading
Clerk, E. Bryant, 25806.

Secretary-Treasurer's report
read and accepted. Agent re­
ported activity in port during
past two weeks. Minutes of meet­
ings held in other ports read and
accepted. Tallying Committee's
report accepted. One minute of
silence observed for departed
Brothrs. New Business: Motion
by C. Moss, carried, to repaii
water fountain in Union HalL
Motion by Bryant, carried, to
donate $50 to the Savannah local
of the Retail CSerks Union, AFL.
Discussion on motion revealed
that SIU had been working with
Retail Clerks in Savannah, who
have been organizing the city's
large department stores. Several
men and women, parents of
small children, have been fired
and need aid. Good and Welfare:
Members discussed what could
be done to help the clerks get
organized. Meeting adjourned
with 120 members present.

Lay-Ups, Drydocks Cut New York Shipping
By JOE ALGINA

NEW YORK — Shipping was
fair in this port during the past
ten days, and would have been
better had all of the ships that
hit port taken crews. Some of
the arrivals paid off here and
then went into lay-up or the
shipyard.

Our second Calmar ship in
this port in over a year^ the
Pennmar, paid off and went into
the shipyard. The William Car-
ruth, Trans-fuel, paid off and
laid up for awhile.

Regular payoffs were the
Frances, Kathryn and Marina,
Bull; Seatrain Texas and Sea-
train Havana; Algonquin Vic­
tory, St. Lawrence Navigation;
Evistar, Triton; Steel Advocate
and Steel Voyager, Isthmian;
Fairland and Bret Harte, Water­
man, and the Robin Hood, Rob­
in. "The Bret Harte, in from a
;six months trip, is now headed
for the Gulf lay up fleet.

Sign ons were the following:
Raphael Semmes, Bret Harte,
Waterman; Chrysanthystar, Tri­
ton, a tanker reconverted to a
freighter; Robin Kirk, Robin;
Marina, Frances, Kathryn, Bull;
Seatrains Texas ' and Havana,
Steel Voyager, Isthmian.

SHIP PROBLEMS

A couple of points concerning
transportation need commenting
on, to clear up some of the mis­
understandings that have come
up on ships recently.

On a ship that is laying-up,
and the crew is due subsistence
and transportation, the crew is
eligible to collect the money
right at the payoff. They do not
have to wait 30 days, as is the
requirement following a regular
payoff where transportation is
due.

Also if a man is due transpor­
tation money at the end of a
trip, and chooses instead to

waive the money and stay
aboard, that man can continue
sailing on board the ship until
he wishes to payoff.

If at the final payoff the man
is eligible for transportation
money, the fact 4hat he waived
it on an earlier voyage has noth­
ing to do with his later claim.

For example, if a man joins
a ship in the Gulf and it pays
off in New York, the man can
waive transportation money.
Then later if the ship returns
to New York for a payoff, the
crewmember can accept trans­
portation money and * pile off,
if the ship is not returning to
its original area within ten days!
This should clear up this matter.

The waiver allowing aliens to
constitute 25 percent of a crew
has been extended for anothe^
year. However, aliens with five
years seatime should make every
attempt to get their citizenship
as soon as possible.:



THE SEAFARERS lO^G Pag« Se?en

orrm
s. The Seafarers Intl Union

Recently, the Seafarers International Union of North
America chartered two new affiliates, the Marine Allied
Workers and the Brotherhood of Marine Engineers.

These two unions, formed in response to a demand for
AFL protection by the engineers an^ the workers in allied
marine trades, join an expanding SIU family. Accordingly,
it is appropriate at this time to outline again the structure
of the SIU and its affiliates. This section of the LOG is
devoted to a description of how the SIU and its affiliates are
organized, ,

One thing comes clear: The various units. Districts and
Local unions, which compose the SIU family are completely
self-governing, Each imit elects its own officials. The
International organization does not exist to rule the several
member unions but to serve them.

The communist elements on the waterfront have been
doing their sorry best the past few years to create the
impression that our International Union has dictatorial
powers over the affiliates. As usual, the communists have
been lying, as if that could be much of a surprise to anyone.

Of course,, the communists know they are lying, but
that is their way of operating. In addition, the communists
know that the SIU is their No. 1 enemy on the waterfront.

It was the SIU which stopped the communists during
the days of their greatest powers from taking over the
waterfront lock, stock and barrel. Naturally, the com­
munists are ever ready to spread any slander their hatchet-
men can think up to smear the SIU. They don't get away
with much, however, as the steady expansion of the SIU
demonstrates.

It should be remembered that the Seafarers Interna­
tional is dedicated to trade unionism—not political unionism.
The cornerstone of trade unionism is democracy, or rule by
the membership.

Not only do the Districts and Locals of the SIU retain
complete autonomy, but in each unit it is the rank-and-file
who have the final say-so on all District and Local affairs.

This is something the communists never can under­
stand. They can't understand why it works.

But if they need anjr proof that it does work, let them
take another look at the growing strength represented by
all the units of the SIU family. In fact, they'd better get
that look in fast because it's going to be just about their
last one. The communists aren't going to be around much
longer. ~

History Of fnternational
The Seafarers International Union of North America was born in

November of" 1938, when the AFL presented a charter to the Sailors
Union of the Pacific for the purpose of organizing seamen and maritime
workers on all coasts into one body. The Sailors Union, originally
founded in 1885, formed the SIU when it refused to go along with the
communist-dominated National Maritime Union.

The Atlantic & Gulf District became a part of the International,
evolving from the AFL Seamen's Union. At the same time the Great
Lakes District was chartered by the International. Within a year a
charter had been granted to the Canadian Seamen's Union. The CSU
was subsequently expelled when it refused to repiidiate its communist
leanings. The Canadian District was reformed a year later with its
nucleus in the British Columbia Seamen's Union.

During this period, local, state and regional groups of fishermen
and cannery workers came into the International and were united under
the SIU banner. In 1948, the Inland Boatmen's Union, affiliated with the
CIO, broke the hold of the communists and affiliated directly with the SIU.

Within the past few weeks the SIU has granted charters to two
new affiliates, the Marine Allied Workers and the Brotherhood of Marine
Engineers.

At the end of nearly eleven years of action, the SIU has, grown
from a union of several small Districts and independent groups into a
powerful body embracing over 90,000 marine, fishery and cannery workers
in the United States, Canada and Alaska.

Strufture Of fnternationaf
The Seafarers International Union of North America is simple but

compact in structure.
The SIU is composed of a number of separate units, some of them

having the status of Districts, others the status of Local Unions.
Each District or Local is an autonomous organization in its own

right. But all are linked together through the International Union,
because seamen, fishermen and other workers in the maritime industry
know that they can obtain and maintain high wages and conditions only
if they have a strong, well-coordinated Organization behind them.

The chief executive officer of the International is the president. In
addition, there are eight vice-presidents and a secretary-treasurer. The
president, the vice-presidents and the secretary-treasurer sit as the Union's
executive committee. The secretary-treasurer is the only paid officer.

The International constitution specifies that the International officers
be elected by the convention which the president must call at least
every two years. The Districts and Locals send delegates to the conven­
tion on a per-capita basis. The convention itself acts as a legislative
body on matters affecting all the member unions.

The present officers were elected by the Fourth Biennial Convention
held in Baltimore at the end of March. They are:

President, Harry Lundeberg; Secretary-Treasurer, John Hawk; First
Vice-President, Paul Hall; and Vice-Presidents, Leslie Ballinger, Mrs.
Andrea Gomez, Patrick McHugh, Lester Caveny, Morris Weisberger, John
Fox and Cal Tanner.



Page Elghft THE SEAFARERS LOG Wedosidap June 1. 1949

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WedlietdaT' Juti* 1. 1949 THE S E AF A RER S LOG Page Nine

^Xh^teAyKs. Stana!«

ill

Components Of International
In addition to local, statewide and regional units of cannery workers

and fishermen on all coasts of the United States and Alaska, the Seafarers
International Union of North America is composed of seven other com­
pletely autonomous maritime affiliates, which make up a forge of over
90,000 workers.

The units and their principal officers are:

Atlantic & Gulf District, Paul Hall, Secretary-Treasurer
Sailors Union of the Pacific, Harry Lundeberg, Secretary-Treasurer!

Great Lakes District, Fred Farnen, Secretary-Treasurer
Canadian District, David Joyce, Secretary-Treasurer
Inland Boatmen's Uhion, John M, Fox, Secretary-Treasurer
Marine Allied Workers, Lindsey Williams, Secretary-Treasurer

- Brotherhood of Marine Engineers, Secretary-Treasurer, to be elected.

Two of the Districts of the SIU are recent additions: the Marine
Allied Workers and the Brotherhood of Marine Engineers, both expected
to shortly become strong pillars of the SIU family. A third unit, the
Canadian District, through a recent drive in Canada, has become the
most powerful maritime union in that country and has greatly added to
the strength of the International."

The various Distracts of the SIU cover the entire coasts of the
United States and Canada. Moreover, the SIU's strength is felt through­
out the United States' network of inland waterways and Great- Lakes.
Wherever workers are engaged in work connected with the maritime
industry, affiliates of the SIU are there helping to bring them better
conditions and wages.

How fnternational Operates
The International Executive Board of the SIU, elected at the regular

biennial conventions, is composed of the President, Secretary-Treasurer
and eight vice-presidents, and is responsible for the handling of tasks
•which affect the International as a body.

When legislation is before Congress which affects the welfare of
any of its component organizations the SIU's Washington representative
is on hand to defend their interests. The SIU was strongly represented
in the recent fight to keep American ships hauling 50 percent of ECA
cargoes, and the SIU has contributed greatly to the never ending battle
to repeal the Taft-Hartley Act.

In other matters, the International works closely with member Dis­
tricts when they are involved in strikes or organizing campaigns. Often
the International sends organizers in to help a District, as was done in
Canada recently.

In conferences on affairs affecting the SIU on a world-wide basis, the
International is aiways represented. The SIU maintains a delegate with
the International Transportworkers Federation, and is working closely
•with that body on the proposed Panamanian boycott. An International
representative was in attendance at the Safety of Life at Sea Conference
held in London in 1947. At that meeting many steps were taken toward
making life at sea less hazardous.

Aatonomy Of Districts
Each component Union of the Seafarers International Union of North

America is a self-governing organization.
Each Union has its own constitution, its own elected officers, its own

shipping rules and its own committees.
Ih each Union, the members establish their own policies by demo­

cratic procedures, without intereference from other districts or locals, and
without interference from the International. In fact, the constitution of
the International nowhere binds the member Unions to definite policies
of any kind.

Members of the various imits of the Seafarers International Union
of North America recognize that each Union has its own problems, prob­
lems which are characteristic of the particular maritime trade in which
tlje Union holds jurisdiction.

For instance, fish cannery workers do not sail 'round-the-world
freighters, and do not possess intimate knowledge of seamen's problems.
At the same time, few seamen know much about the problems faced by
fishermen or fish cannery employees. Obviously, it would be presumptu­
ous for workers in one section of the maritime industry to tell those in
another exactly how to carry out their day-to-day routines.

However, there are many problems common to all maritime workers
—whether they sail deepsea ships, sail fishing boats, work in fish process­
ing plants or in other sections of the industry. This is where the Inter- '

- national enters in the picture.
Moreover, the International stands ready at any time to come to

the aid of a member Union in organizing, negotiating contracts or any­
thing else when the membei^ Union asks assistance. In fact, all Districts
and all Locals of the Seafarers International Union, as well as the
International itself, are always ready to help each other.

Benefits To Districts
Over and above the representation the International gives the

Districts in national and international matters affecting the various Dis­
tricts, the International also benefits the Districts in specific cases where
called upon for assistance. In no case, however, does the International
step into a District's activities unless specifically requested.

In the recent campaign by the Canadian District the International,
at that District's request,. assisted in planning the organizing campaign
and advanced money to carry out its work and establish new halls.
The International also lent money to the Cannery Workers of San Diego,
when that affiliate underwent expansion last year. Almost all Districts
have benefitted from the International's financial aid at some time
or another.

The International was responsible for sending an International officer
into the field to investigate the possibilities of organizing workers in
trades allied to maritime. The success of this move is shown by the
recent affiliation to the International of the Maritime Allied Workers, a
thriving waterfront organization along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

Not so readily seen, but equally as important, the International
constantly strives to carry out a program for a better merchant marine
for the United States. Specifically, the International has for the past
few years devoted great effort toward the revitalization of coastwise
and intercoastal shipping, both which suffered greatly as a result of the
war.

*

fnternationaTs Affiliations
The Seafarers International Union, which in ^ itself is made up of

affiliations of districts and local unions, is also an affiliate of three mighty
national and international organizations.

First, the SIU is a member of the AFL Maritime Trades Depart­
ment, an organization representing 200,000 organized workers in all
branches of maritime. With the SIU in the Maritime Trades Depart­
ment are the International Longshoremen's Association, the Masters,
Mates & Pilots, the Radio Officers Union, and locals of the International
Brotherhood of Teamsters. Through the MTD the SIU has received
direct backing in many waterfront disputes.

The SIU is also affiliated with the American Federation of Labor,
which represents almost 8,000,000 organized workers in the United
States and Canada. Other member unions of the AFL demonstrated
their solidarity with the SIU on many occasions when they gave support
to the SIU. Their aid was strongly shown recently when they united
with the SIU to battle the proposal which would have seriously cur­
tailed American ship participation in ECA shipping.

Third, the SIU is a member of the International Transportworkers
Federation, a worldwide organization of millions of maritime workers.
At present the ITF is cooperating with the SIU in its battle to rid the
merchant marine of Canada of communis Is.

In addition to these far-flung organizations the SIU maintains
membership in central and state labor bodies, where labor problems
of a local nature are dealt with jointly.



Page Ten THE SEAFARERS tOG WeAieiday, June 1. 1949

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Wednesday, June 1, 1949 THE SEAFARERS LOG Page Elf^en

i

SHIPS' MINUTES AND NEWS

Seafarer-arlist Norman Maffie depicts the remains of a Japanese coaatwise tanker lying
on the bottom of shallow harbor anchorage in Singapore. Sketch was made during a recent trek
to the Far East aboeurd an Isthmian ship.

Robin Line Vessels Receive Pure Milk,
Say Statements Of South African Dairies
' Statements from three South African dairies attesting to the purity of the

milk sold to Robin Line crews were submitted to the LOG this week in answer to a
story in the "Capetown Argus" claiming that the milk in South Africa was not pas­
teurized and the cows tuber-*„„.„. TT ; T" ; ^ ;; ; T"

IS not one herd of cattle supply-

Wacpsta Crewmember
Presumed Lost At Sea

Louis E. Tipps, Deck Engineer aboard the SS
Wacosta, has been reported missing and is pre­
sumed lost, according to word received recently
from the Ship's Delegate.*
Tipps disappeared from
the vessel the morning
of April 20 in the vicinity
of Gibraltar after he
complained of "pains in
the head." The Wacosta
was US-bound from Ital­
ian ports, having stopped I had been given strict or^
at Gibraltar for bunkers. - — -

The Ship's Delegate said Tipps
presumably jumped over the
side.

A thorough search of the Wa­
costa was made by all hands as

'I relieved the other Wiper at
4 A.M. About 4:05, Brother Tipps
got out of bed and went to the
hospital head. He then came out-
and walked passed me, saying
'excuse me,' and went out the
hospital door.

"I waited perhaps two minutes
and then went looking for him.

soon as a crewmember reported
to the Master at 4:10 A.M. that
Tipps had disappeared. A ten­

ders to maintain close supervi­
sion over him. I found his show­
er clogs outside the passageway,
but no sign of Brother Tipps,"
Mc Peters added.

"After a quick look around I\
, reported his absence to the
bridge." •.

Brother Tipps is survived by
his wife and two children of

cular.
The statements were forward­

ed to the LOG by the crew of
the Robin Goodfellow, which
paid off this week in Baltimore
following a voyage to South and
Southeast Africa.

The newspaper item came to
the attention of the crew when
it was reprinted in part in the

SEAFARERS LOG on March 4.
In the LOG story Stewards were
urged to forego fresh milk in
South Africa because of the "Ar­
gus" story, which reported that
dairy men in South Africa do
not want to go to the trouble
or expense of installing the pas­
teurizing equipment necessary to
render milk fit to drink. The
clipping also leported that "there

WELL TOGGED TWOSOME

ing milk for Capetown dairies
that is entirely free of tubercu­
losis." The situation was report­
ed as being worse on the East
Coast of Africa.

Though the Goodfellow crew
did not obtain statements from
Capetown dairies, they obtained
notes claiming pasteurization of
all milk sold by three dairies,
two in Durban and one in Port
Elizabeth. All three dairies noted
that their milk is pasteurized and
inspected regularly by govern­
ment and corporation inspectors.
The milk is claimed to meet the
standards laid down by the lo­
cal health laws. No comment was
made by the dairies on the "Ar­
gus" report that tuberculosis was
widespread among dairy herds.

Chelsea Dairy Limited, of Nar­
rower Road, Port Elizabeth, not­
ed that only pasteurized milk is
supplied to shipping concerns by
that firm. Baynesfield Dairies,
Sydney Road, Durban, and Royal
and Regent Dairies, 65 Umbilo
Road, Durban, also vouched for
the quality of their milk.

Robin Line maintains twelve
ships in regular service to
South African ports.

minute search, led by Ship's 359 Baldwin Ave., Chickasaw,
Delegate Red Darley, proved Ala. He sailed on ATS ships dur-
fruitless. The Master then or-1 been a
dered that the Wacosta be turned member of the SIU for past two
around and her course retraced. years.

Darley reports that "Tipps was
a good Union man and was well

All hands were alerted and
lookouts were posted on the bow,
stern and cross tree. Two crew- liked by his shipmates."
members manned the search­
lights on the fiying bridge, pain­
stakingly playing them on the
darkened waters as the Wacosta
went back over her course.

For two hours the Wacosta
maneuvered while her crew
searched the area for the miss­
ing Deck Engineer but to no
avail. The ship returned to Gi­
braltar at 8:30 A.M. and reported
Tipps' disappearance to the au­
thorities there.

According to Ship's Delegate
Darley, Tipps became ill on
April 16. He complained to the
Master of "pains in the head."
The Master placed Tipps in the
hospital, Darley said, and or­
dered a crewmember to stand by
in case the ill crewman required
aid.

A strict 24-hour watch was
maintained at his quarters from

Hosts In Sumatra;
Hospitable, Says
Fabricator Crew

Steel Fabricator crewmembers,
recently returned from a voyage
to the Far East, promise a good
time to Seafarers hitting the port
of Soengeigerong, Sumatra,
Dutch East Indies, where^ they
say, the American residents
show every courtesy to seamen.

In minutes of a shipboard
meeting held recently at sea H.
D. Higginbotham, recording sec­
retary, reported that Americans
in the port bearing the tpngue-
twisting name are very court­
eous and hospitable and will ex­
tend the same hospitality to any

the moment Tipps became ill.' other crew that arrives in the
Darley said that from the time'
of Tipps' entry into the ship's
hospital until he disappeared
four days later, Tipps' never ap­
peared violentlj: ill.

Frank Peters, the standby as­
signed-to Tipps' quarters at the place and run their bistro, the
time of the incident, told Dele- Stumble Inn, the only place in
gate Darley: {the port to drink.

port.
The Seafarer sounded one note

of caution, however. Crewmem­
bers are expected to act like
gentlemen. Higginbotham noted,
and not trj- to take over the

Two of the Del Norte stalwarts. Leo"^ Morsette. left,
2nd Steward, and Joe Kotalik, Bellboy, prepare for a • day's
work. Both ere-staunch Seafarers.

The credit goes to the SS
Morning Light for being one of
the cleanest ships I ever laid
eyes on. The crew is on the
ball... Worth P i 11 m a n has
switched from Deck to Stewards
Department. Perhaps he wants
to be near food continually ...
Haven't seen Lou Fisher in a
long time. The last time was in
England,

For the roughest elevator
ride you' ever had, take the
one at SI wane House. The Dog-

'The Voice Of The Sea'
By SALTY DICK

house rates second ... Bosun
Crowley has tried many times
but has had no luck in pick­
ing horses. Why not try grey­
hounds for a change of luck?
... Every SIU member should
read the State Of The Union.
You'll learn more about your
Union.
Antonio Schiavone eats noth­

ing but baby food. And he look.^
like a medicine cabinet with all
the pills and herbs he carries
around ... Rosando Serrando and

•Y. .

Joe Juliano, with their white
caps, were seen helping out the
Isi-aeli movement. Histadrut, re­
cently ... Do you know the new
technique for sougeeing? You
should start at the bottom and
work up. This prevents streaks.

Honesty is the best policy—^
yeah! John Pisa, found a
wallet containing $750 belonging
to a passenger aboard ship. He
returned it to the owner and
at the end of the trip received a
$3 rewaird.



-i-.. r-

Page Twdva THE SEAT ARERS LOG Wedaeflday, June 1. 1949

Seafai^sr Saon sagss
iWlS l?eejgexteaideddfora«ol3^
^ear, -those alicit i?inattier«
ojlto aJre/cH6il7JcJbrcit^2eJ^sHt
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Digested Minutes Of SlU Ship Meetings
KYSKA, Mar. 27—W. F. Paige.

Chairman; G. Byrne. Secretary.
Stewards delegate to se about
getting room change for Cooks.
Crew voted to keep ship ^clean
for payoff. Vote of thanks to
Cooks and Stewards. On repair
list need to fix water fountains
stressed. Minute of silence for
Brothers lost at sea.

% % %
SEATRAIN NEW YORK, Mar.

20—W. T. Dalton. Chairman;
Charles Goldstein. Secretary.
Minutes of previous meeting ac­
cepted. Steward delegate re­
ported two hours disputed and
that one man missed ship in New
York. Bales elected ship's dele­
gate. Department delegates to
check books and permits and to
settle number of minor beefs.
Minute of silence for departed
Brothers.

CUT and RUN
By HANK

All Seafarers in port and their families back in those home­
towns should still keep writing those letters to Congressmen and
Senators to have the Taft-Hartley Act repealed. The true labor
supporters in Washington have indicated they are anxious to
repeal this monstrous anti-labor law before July 31. Every Sea­
farer should realize that, in continuing to write those letters, he
will help stop the labor unions from getting a raw deal all over
again. Every union man's letter helps... That's sure good news.
Brothers, about the Maritime Commission approving Mississippi
Line's application for a subsidy to build a passenger-cargo vessel
carrying 234 passengers.

Bob High, who hasn't homesteaded on any ship for too
long a time (except for the Evangeline), sailed on the Robin
Kirk for those South African ports he knows all about. With
him are Paul Curze and "Put Them in the Pocket" Frank
Brown—carrying a bundle of the latest LOGS. Smooth Cape-
tbwning, fellas... George Fiance is in town with his familiar
homburg. It is a homburg, isn't it, George?... That Cook with
a mustache, Mitchell Milefski, sailed in with his mustache
after a trip. His shipmate of a Cook, Cliff Wilson, stayed
aboard for a "refresher" of good voyaging... William Traser
sailed into town... Brother Albert Birt is one Brother who
keeps on staying happy day after day. It could be called
southern comfort—and we don't mean the hard stuff, either.

Here are many of the Brothers in town, or were, recently:
James Dunifer, Charles Dasha, Gerald De Meo, John Bender, Sal
Scuderi, James Naylor, Chester Skakun, Walter Migaud, George
Kosch, Richard Ferguson... Then there's Juan Rueda with his
mustache... Lindell Morgan happy over getting that good old
stuff called "mail" ... Frank Throp with his mustache ... Richard
Tate who sailed into town recently... Jess Garcia sailed for a
long voyage... Frank Webb also sailed from this chilly and rainy
town... The SEAFARERS LOG will be sailing free of cost to
the homes of the following Brothers: Charles Moss of Georgia,
Harold Jaynes of Massachusetts, George Elhbracht of Missouri, Joe
Justus of North Carolina, Walter Harris of Florida, E. M. Bryant
of Georgia, Elliott Williams of Florida, H. D. Carney of North
Carolina, Sago Hanks of Florida, E. Magboo of Maryland, John
Yuknas of Maryland... That Gulf oldtimer Brother Ernest Bright
is in port. What port did you anchor in. Brother Bright?

Brother Charles Hurst probably is still aboard the Steel
Mariner... John Dugina writes that it's probably bad publicity
to say that the "Colabees," baseball crew of the SS Colabee,
lost their anxiously-awaited first game to the Canadians by the
football score of 21 to 3. Well, John, next game will be better
(or worse)... Several Brothers with a sense of humor are
plenty confused. They have asked us who was the dog they
saw with Brother "Ziggy" Zygarowski recently. Well, fellas,
that dog has four legs, it barks and it no doubt might keep
good old Ziggy, the bellyrobber, aboard ship for two trips...
Brothers, keep those ships clean and happy. Run your jobs
in SIU style, according to the agreement.

% % %
PURDUE VICTORY, Mar. 13—

Richard Weaver, Chairman;
Thomas Williams, Secretary.
Delegates reported no beefs
pending. New Business: Motion
carried to feed in two messrooms
for the dui-ation of the voyage to
see how method works out.
Thompson discussed the trans­
portation rule. Good and Wel­
fare: Discussion on greater co­
operation in crew's messroom.
Steward thanked crew and dele­
gates for fine cooperation re­
ceived during trip. One minute
of silence for Brothers lost at
sea.

4" ^ ^
CAROLYN, Mar. 5 — Robert

Godwin, Chairman; B. J. Schmitz
Secretary. Minutes of previous
meeting read and accepted.
Delegates reported on number
of books and permits in their
departments. New Business: Mo­
tion by Luis Cededa to have
jury head installed on fan tail
while in islands. Motion by R.
DeFretes that all permitrnen be
paid off at the port of sign on.
E. Ham accepted as ship's dele­
gate. Good and Welfare:
DeFretes suggested that each de­
partment take turns in cleaning
laundry room. Suggestion by
Cededa that chairs in crewmess-
room be repaired. One minute
of silence for departed Brothers.

--

ported number of books in their
departments., Good gnd Wel­
fare: Brother D. Ginn suggested
that last stand-by man on each
watch clean up messroom. Crew
voted 18 to 7 in favor of plain
milk over buttermilk. Discus­
sion on the disposition of the
washing machine and two elec­
tric irons should the ship lay
up. Decision made to turn items
in to nearest SIU Hall. Ship's
delegate suggested that all dele­
gates visit Captain on a beef in­
stead of just one, thereby having
two witnesses to any statement
the Captain may make.

t. t- t.
DEL CAMPO, Mar. 10—Bill

Kavilf, Chairman; Bill Horsfall,
Secretary. Report of number of
days ship had no hot water and
heat was tui-ned over to Purser.
Delegates reported no disputed
overtime. Good and Welfare:
Steward to receive all linen be­
fore ship enters shipyard. Sug­
gestion made that matti-ess cov­
ers be put on all new inner-
spring mattresses to protect them
while in the shipyard. Con­
gratulations voted the Stewards
Department for doing a fine job.
Only beef to Steward was that
entire crew had gained weight.

standby when day off is given.
Good and Welfare: Discussion
on whether or not imitation
flavored cold drinks should be
served. Suggestion made to
check port hole and door screens.
Suggestion made that Patrolman
ask company to be morc^ careful
with crew's mail.

it
DEL RIO, April 4—Floyd Cum-

mings. Chairman; R. T. Whitley.
Secretary. Delegates reported
small bit of disputed overtime.
Old Business: Crewmembers who
had been performing during
early part of voyage have
straightened out. Motion car-'
ried to drop all charges against
these men. If they foul up
again charges to be automati­
cally reinstated. One minute of
silence for departed Bi'others.

t it
STEEL EXECUTIVE, Mar. 24

—Edward V. Smith, Chairman;
Raymond Ulatowski, Secretary.

Delegates reported everything
okay, except in Stewards Depart­
ment where there is five hours
of disputed overtime. New Busi­
ness: Motion carried to have hot
water line in PO mess connected
to line in galley. Motion carried
to leave all quarters shipshape
when leaving ship at payoff. Re­
port made that charges placed
against a Brother at last meeting
have been dropped because of
his good behavior. Good and
Welfare: Warnmg made that
crewmembers are not to go over
delegates' heads with their beefs
to topside. A vote of thanks was
given the Stewards Department
for their fine work. One min­
ute of silence for Brothers IdSt
at sea.

i t .
LOYOLA VICTORY, Feb. 27—

G. H. Seeberger, Chairman; Red
Fisher, Secretary. Delegates re-

4. S, S<
SEATRAIN NEW JERSEY,

April 25 — G. W. Champlin,
Chairman; Ray Robertson, Sec­
retary. Delegates reported num­
ber of books and permits in their
departments. New Business:
Vote of thanks to 3rd Cook for
job well done and vote of thanks
to Ray Robertson, crew ^mess-
man, for excellent work. Letter
of recommendation for book for
Robertson to be signed by entire
crew. Ship's delegate Bill Gray
thanked for fine job. Champlin
suggested that each man donate
10 cents each toward ship fund.
Discussion on having cocoa cola
machine put aboard. Majority
opposed.

i 4- t
SEATRAIN HAVANA, April

24 — Oliver, Chairman; L. L.
Phillips, Secrefary. Deck dele­
gate reported one hour of dis­
puted overtime, other depart­
ments okay. New Business: Mo­
tion made to have Steward see
about getting more milk and
fresh vegetables, and check on
cots.

ELIZABETH, \pril 24—Rich­
ard Barron, Chairman; Grady
Faircloth, Secretary. Delegates
reported everything okay, ex­
cept deck delegate who reported
few beefs on overtime. New
Business: Motion carried to let
delegates handle repair lists.-
Motion carried to have Steward
order more fresh fruit. Motion
carried to go on record as being
opposed to calling Hall for

4. 4. 4.
TWIN FALLS VICTORY,

April 2—S. L. Woodruff, Chair­
man; J. Kite, Secretary. Dele­
gates reported disputed overtime
and number of books and pei-
mits in their departments. New
Business: Sagarind elected ship's
delegate. Motion by Bragg, car­
ried, that all card games be con­
ducted in recreation room. Edu­
cation: Long discussion on ways
and means of keeping ship clean,
(^ood and Welfare: Stewards De­
partment members requested
greater cooperation from crew.
Crew asked for more milk. Ste­
ward reported requisition had
been cut from 200 to 160 quarts.

4. a? 4.
FRANCES, AprU IG—Williams,

Chairman; B. Goodman. Secre-
lary. Delegates reported no
beefs, all in order. New Busi­
ness: Motion carried that three
departmdhts take turns keeping
laundry cleaned. Motion carried
to attempt to get fresh milk,
fruit and fish in Puerto Rico. B.
Goodman elected ship's delegate.
Good and Welfare: Crew aired
complaints about food. Steward
not blamed as he had caught
ship at last minute. One , minute
of silence for departed Brothers.

STEEL FABRICATOR, April
10—Earl Foe, Chairman; H. D.
Higginbolham, Secretary. Dele­
gates reported things running
okay, except engine delegate
who reported 200 hours of dis­
puted overtime. New Business:
Motion by Higginbolham that
letters of recommendation be
given permitmon. Motion by
Bates that Patrolman contact
port captain on repairs and get
action before ship leaves Balti­
more. Suggestion that money
realized from fines be sent to
Brothers in TB hospital. Steward
Department thanked deck and
engine men for splendid co­
operation during trip. Deck and
engine departments return e,d
thanks and ^expressed gi^atitude
for well prepared food.

t, S. t.
OREMAR, April 6—C. Parker.

Chairman; M. N. Eschenko, Sec­
retary.- Delegates reported no
beefs. Good and Welfare: Sug­
gestion made that the Uniori'at-
tempt to get more food aboard
for the next voyage. Suggestion
made that cookies be put out
for night lunch. One mihute of
silence for departed Brothers.



W«ln«Bday. June 1. IfM THE SEAFARERS LOG Fmgm Thirieen

tHE MEMBERSHIP SPEAKS r-

1^

Charges CS Self-Glorifying
Campaign Ignores Crewmen
To the Editor:

The seamen of the Cities Serv­
ice fleet have spoken, and the
company does not like their
word or language. They voted
for the SIU by an overvi^helming
vote of almost 90 percent.

A law-abiding company would
have signed an SIU contract on
,the spot in accordance with the
results of the vote. They would
have fired the company's legal
stooge behind their fictitious
company union.

In preparation for the vote,
Cities Service fired all in the
crews whom they suspected of
being pro-SIU. That in itself was
a violation of all that is Ameri­
can. They acted from their con­
cepts of tyranny and oppression.
They do not wish to grant se­
curity to the men who man their
vessels, and through whose toil
and efforts their huge profits
were made.

Cities Service corporation,
however, has no hesitation in
publishing newspaper advertise­
ments glorifying the American
financial system of free enter­
prise and initiative. Possibly to
attract investors who may be
attracted by the high earnings of
the corporation.

SPEAK NOT FOR MEN

Now what are they talking
about, and to whom? Certainly
the ads of the Company do not
apply to the men whom they
deny all that Americanism stands
for: security of employment at
decent wages protected by Un­
ion contracts, the rights of free
speech, the right to choose their
collective bargaining agent in a
secret ballot supervised by the
NLRB,- the right to live as free
men aboard these vessels which
are in their care and control.

These are the elementary hu­
man rights guaranteed under the
American Constitution and Bill
of Rights. Obviously Cities Serv­
ice has never read them and

Chesty Bosun

v'msmmm mm&m

Beauregard Bosun Tommy
Gould shows his chest expan­
sion. He's not trying to im­
press the crew with his hmr
shirt, for the crew reports him
as being a fine shipmate. Shot
was by Forrest Nelson during
a return trip from England.

does not believe that the laws
of the nation apply to them at
all. The theory of the feudal
ages and robber barons is their
only code—and it is not an hon­
orable one.

We can look for a dying at­
tempt by this notorious company
to throw their crews off the
ships once more and replace
them with company-minded zom­
bies who will submit to the rope
placed about their necks by the
oil barons, and who are willing
to toil under the eye of the
company's espionage system. This
system exists. How else were
they able to throw crew after
crew of pro-SIU men off their
ships in the past?

The Cities Service oligarchy
pretends neutrality to all sea­
men who seek jobs, but don't
show your Union button or im­
ply that you are a member or
believer in Unionism. You will
find that you are not wanted.
Even the mere suspicion of Un­
ionism is enough to bar you
from employment.

Is this the free America for
which we fought in the past war
and for which thousands of sea­
men died on the seven seas?

The un-American concepts of
the Cities Service Oil barony is
seemingly prepared to flout the
American government itself.
They are planning to throw the
pro-SJU crews off their ships,
in violation of the NLRB.

PRESS CLAIMS

THAT MOMENT TO RELAX

In my opinion all men thrown
off their ships should sue the
company for wages lost up to
the time they return to the very
same jobs on the same vessel.
The point of signing on should
be the measure of the travelling
expenses from the port where
they were thrown off.

To force this corrupt corpora­
tion to sign a contract with the
SIU is not enough. Divine retri­
bution calls for exact justice.
-They are invoking the primitive
law of might makes right, and
certainly merit the answer of an
eye for an eye and a tooth for
a tooth in the interests of keep­
ing the books straight. They de­
serve this and have earned it
by their record.

The men on the vessels of the
Cities Service tanker fleet have
voted to end their slavery
through the assistance given
them by the Seafarers Interna­
tional Union, AFL.

We are ready to wager that
the men aboard these ships will
resent further interference by the
Oil Barons.
. I have sailed on the CS ships

and know the score. It is up to
every seaman, on ship and shqre,
union or non-union, to watch
the maneuvers of the oil barons
closely from now n. The vote
is in and has been counted. The
men have expressed their choice.
The barons have been routed
temporarily. Seamen can rejoice
for their brothers who have
voted for freedom from company
bondage.

Wandering Seafarer

Representatives of the three departments of the SS Joseph
N. Teal, Waterman, appear content with life at coffee time.
Left to right the Brothers are. Ores, FWT; Lucky, Oiler: Kitty
Cheshire, AB, and Woody Perkins, Chief Cook.

Galley Trio's Fancy Chow
Pleases Prentice Crewmen
To the Editor:

The SS George D. Prentice,
Waterman liberty, finished an­
other long one when she pulled
into Savannah, Gorgia, on Fri­
day the Twentieth of May. She
pulled out of Baltimore on Feb­
ruary Fifth with a load of phos­
phate for Inchon, Korea, and af­
ter bunkering at Sasebo, Japan,
made the run direct from there
to Savannah, with no stop-offs.

A long, dull trip was made
enjoyable by the excellent Stew­
ards Department, headed by Lou
Young, and featuring Danny Lip-
py and Dorsey Faugh in the
Chief Cook and Baker jobs res­
pectively. After a long, hungry
session on the beach the boys
thought they had tumbled into
heaven when they ran into
Danny's cooking and Paugh's
baking.

MAKE MINE RARE

Tender steaks (as many as
you could eat and actually cook­
ed to order), roast beef you
could cut with a fork, potatoes
cooked all nineteen ways pos­
sible, fresh-frozen Birdseye veg­
etables, good rich gravies; in
fact, just about the best cooking
that any of the boys had run
into in many a day, either on
ship or ashore.

With any other Baker than
Paugh the baking might have
seemed bad in contrast to such
good cooking but Paugh came
through with a string of light
cakes, flaky pies and delicious
buns, rolls and bread that had
the boys ̂ coming back for thirds.
Instead of the usual icebox-
flavored bread, cold and heavy,
every other day saw a fresh
batch of bread coming out of
Paugh's ovens, and matching any
shoreside bread.

A new innovation which found
a lot of favor with the boys was
the "snackbar," an idea of Lou
Young's. After each meal all
the left-overs were put on the
galley serving table for every­
one to help himself. A couple
of nights each week Steward
Lou Young would be in the
galley keeping his hand in on
making pies, doughnuts, cinna­
mon buns and tarts. From the
way they disappeared from the
snackbar when finished it seems
that Lou's hand has lost none of
its skill.

EARN THANKS

Any of the boys who have
worked up a good appetite on
the beach and see Lou Young,
Danny Lippy and Dorsey Paugh
heading a Stewards Department,
take a tip and sign on, because
that trio stands for good grub,
well-cooked. Thanks Lou, Danny
and Paugh from all the boys.

Signed by 17 Crewmembers

Union Oldtimer
In Japan With
Occupation Army
To the Editor:

I was a member of the SIU
for over six years when I was
drafted into the Army. I am now
in Japan, and would like to
have the LOG sent to me.

Before my induction the LOG
was sent to my home, which is
in New Orleans, and is still be­
ing sent there. My folks read it
and I would like to have it
continue to go there and also
have it sent to me here in
Japan.

I am stationed at Camp Sahai,
which is about 40 miles from
Kobe.

I would like to say hello to
my shipmates in good old New
Orleans and Mobile. I would also
like to say hello to my ship­
mates who were with me on my
last voyage aboard the SS Clai­
borne in October, 1948. If any­
one wishes to write me my ad­
dress is: Co. C, 27th Infantry
Regt., APO 25, Unit 1, c/o Post­
master, San Francisco.

Ret. Salvator Candela

Two Car Pile-Up
Sends Seafarer
To Navy Hospital
To the Editor:

I am writing in regard to John
Goldsborough, III, a member of
the SIU. John was injured in a
head-on collision of automobiles
and suffered a compound frac­
ture of his left leg. He has been
hospitalized since March 27.

John would like a notice put
in the SEAFARERS LOG to
notify his shipmates of his acci­
dent, for he was intending to
meet some Brothers in one of the
ports when he suffered the acci­
dent. He would like them to
know where he is and why he
was beached.

He is at Corona Naval Hospi­
tal, Corona, California. He is
now in traction and expects to
undergo surgery this week to
have his leg set.

Carmen E. Goldsborough

Responsible for the happy crew on the George D. Prentice.
Waterman Liberty, which recently concluded a run to the Far
East, are Steward Lou Young, front D. Paugh. Baker, rear
left, and D. Lippy, rear center. Rear right is L. In wood, a
well-fed crewmember.



Page Foiixteea THE SEAFARERS LOG Wednesday. June 1, 1949

Brother Proud Of Union's
Work In Behalf Of Seamen
To the Editor:

Conditions were bad for the
men aboard the old sailing ships
and the pay was hardly any­
thing. There was no improve­
ment when the sailing ships were
replaced by the steamships. Not
until late in the last century,
when a group of seamen got to­
gether and formed a union was
there anything like a square deal

Photo Problem
Vexes Crewman
Of Pontus Ross
To the Editor:

The following mepibers of the
Pontus H. Ross, who signed off
the ship, asked me to send them
copies of the pictures I took
abroad the ship. They gave me
their addresses in a small book
so that I could send them what
they wanted. On top of this
they paid me for all the pictures
they wanted.

I had bad luck two days ago
« a:?d lost the book. However, I

sent the pictures to the different
SIU Halls and expect them to
be, found there. The following
is a list of the Brothers and the
port where the pictures were
sent:

Joseph Pilutis, New York;
Georges Jensen, New York; Ed

, Leverne, Tacoma; John Mc-
Nichols, New York; David Pon­
tes, Baltimore; LeRoy Schmidt,
Tacoma.

There are two other Brothers
that I am not sure where to
reach. They were going home
and I do not know through
which Hall they will ship from
eventually. If they see this
note, I would like to have them
write me. They are,' Alan Tigh
and James R. Young.

Marcel Jetle
SS Ponlus Ross
•Vancouver, Wash.

for a sailing man. Wages and
conditions improved very slowly,
but they improved.

But after the defeat suffered
by the seamen in the 1921 strike,
life became rugged again on the
waterfront. The shipowners had
the men at their mercy. Until
an organization calked the ISU
wa§ formed seamen were getting
nowhere.

The ISU was only a stai'ter.
When it broke up in the 1930s,
seamen were ripe for organiza­
tion. In 1936, severhl unions
were started and the strikes of
that year and 1937 ended in vic­
tory for the seamen.

Seamen then began receiving
the benefit that came with a
Union contract. Some of the
greatest progress by union sea­
men was made in 1945 when the
SIU won unprecedented wages
and conditions. From that time
on, each new contract signed by
the SIU brought new increases
and benefits to the membership
and finally to men on the water­
front everywhere.

In 1946, the SIU won what is
probably the greatest waterfi'ont
victory of recent date. The fight
for wage increases ended after
a ten-day strike against a gov­
ernment order that wouldn't al­
low raises the Union negotiated
with private companies. When
our Union won that strike, it set
a pattern that was soon fol­
lowed by all maritime unions.

Now the SIU is bringing sim­
ilar advantages to the Canadian
Seamen who are sailing under
the banner of the SIU Canadian
District. As a seamen I am
proud that the SIU is one union
in which the communist party
was never able to make any
progress.

The SIU has proven that it
can fight—and win—for the sea­
men, who are interested in going
to sea today to make an honest
living.

William Zarkas

Sought By Parents Puerto Rico Beach Brigade
Succumbs To Call Of North

The parents of Desmond L.
Smith are anxious that he get
in touch with them at 28 Albro
Lake Road, Dartmouth, Nova
Scotia.

To the Editor:

Well, I guess the summer sea­
son is officially on up north. All
the old-time beachcombers have
shipped out.

Although there are plenty of
new faces here in San Juan, we
miss the old regulars. Among
the boys here, just to name a
few, we have F. Bonefont, L.
Santos, E. Ventreii-a, Paul Cale-
baugh, Eric Jensen, Jack "Rub-
berlegs" Mays, F. Rowland, Dave
Haskell, Bob Goodwin — and
many more.

HARASSED SOUL
Poor Bill Hitt gets no rest

when the scow, Morning Light,
docks in San Juan, nor until she
leaves the island of enchantment
for this reason: Bill is top AB
on the permit list, and there is

No Police On Ships Shows
Self-Discipline, Says Martin
To the'Editor:

A big, shiny car disputed the
ground I stood upon and need­
less to say, I came off second
best when I hit the jackpot for
a broken knee and a pair of
broken legs. I am hobbling
around on crutches here at Stat-
en Island Marine Hospital, minus
a cast on the broken knee leg.
The other one was badly shat­
tered.

Under the conditions I haven't
had much urge for poetry,
though I did manage to take a
whirl at a sonnet and used one
of Shakespeare's as a pattern for
rhyme and meter (Edi note: See
Log-A-Rhythms, this page).

I hope I am satirical and iron­
ical in the jingle. The few mil­
lion men sailing billions of dol­
lars in ships and cargoes, as
well as being responsible daily
for thousands of passenger lives
do it all without the need of a
police force.

Feels Insurrections In Far East Imperil Seamen
To the Editor:

In October of 1948 I made a
trip on an Isthmian ship to the
Far East. One of our first stops
was in the Philippines, where I
found that the avei-age Philip­
pine citizen of good i-eputation
wertt around openly armed.
Open insurrection exists even in
Manila.

From there we called to sev­

eral ports in the Dutch East
Indies, where complete open
warfare has existed for more
than two years, as recognized
by the United Nations. Our
next port of call was Saigon in
Indo China, where we had to
be given armed French guard
to enter the river. The same
river, incidentally, where in
September 1948 a Swedish ship
was fired on from ashore by

SUN-BRONZED SIU QUARTET

Crewmexnbers of the former German freighter. Sea Trader,
pose for the camera of Charles Oppenheimer, while the ship
was in the Caribbean recently. Left to right: Teddy, Deck
Delegate; Curuso, AB; Johnny. Engine Utility, and "Hot Rolls"
Martin, Baker.

rebels armed with 20 mm can­
non.

This is the same river where
in December 1948, per LOG ac­
count, an American ship struck
a mine. Upon going ashore in
Saigon, we found the city under
military control during the day,
but at night gunfire ruled, and
hand grenades were being
thrown across the wall of the
police compound.

From there one of our next
ports was Singapore, British
Malaya, where the Karens,
rebels, are a recognized force
and control practically all areas
outside tlje city.

QUOTES CONTACT

The rest is a matter of public
record. I quote section 11 of
the Isthmian agreement in sup­
port of the request that I make
that our Union seamen be bet­
ter protected in war zones:

"Section 11—War Zone: In case
any vessel of the company tra­
verses waters adjacent to or in
the proximity of a declared or
undeclared war or state of hos­
tilities, it is hereby agreed that
a petition on the part of the
Union for the opening of ne­
gotiations for added remunera­
tion, bonuses, and insurance
shall in no way be deenyed
cause for the termination of the
agreement."

Charles H. Johnston

In fact, we- are the only class
in society that weU disciplined,
or, to be more exact, self dis­
ciplined.

Arduous duties, in close asso­
ciation for long periods in the
confined spaces of ships prove
very wearing at times. As a re­
lease the sailor is prone to let
himself go a bit once he is
ashore. And by that do shore-
folk judge us.

To be sure, you may say that
argument is but another case of
trying to rationalize alcoholism.
You may be right. Most any
crime that happens ashore also
happens at sea, but to a much
lesser degree. When the world
produces saints in quantities
enough to man ships, instead of
sending them from the Union
Halls, they will be sooner need­
ed to lift shorefolks up to the
moral stability of seamen.

There are enough of us under
all flags to populate a state like
Texas, and we are moving a
wealth many that State's over
areas a thousand times as large.
All without one policeman to
help or hinder us.

If Texas could get along one
week without a policeman that
would be an item for the his­
tory books.

James (Pop) Martin

always someone reporting that
someone is getting off. Inso­
much as there are no AB's
wanting to ride to the Gulf,
Bill is afraid that he will be
shanghaied. It is reported that
Bill is asking the price of a one
way fare to St. Thomas, where
there is no Union Hall. The lure
of the tropics has got Bill, he's
set up housekeeping and wants
to stay a while—maybe five years
or so.

Well, that cocky crew off the
Marina sure got their ears pin­
ned back Sunday, May the 22nd.
Last trip the Marina's soft-ball
team challenged the Beachcomb­
ers to a game, but it rained
them out then. This trip the
weather was perfect So with
Bob Goodwin as umpire, the two
teams took to the field.

The battery for the Beach­
combers was Bill Hitt, of Cul­
pepper High, pitching, and F.
Rowland, catching. After a fast
game, the Beachcombers won,
11 to 7. Afterwards, it wasn't
hard to tell a Beachcomber from
a Marina crewmember: the
Beachies were a happy lot; the
Marina boys were crestfallen, not
so cocky after all.

Met Charlie Palmer out of
Philly the other night. He is
Fireman aboard a SUP liberty
tanker carrying molasses between
San Juan and Jacksonville. He
sure has grown a midriff since
his beachcombing days here in
San Juan.

Brother A. Colon, at present
in the marine hospital at San
Juan, wishes to thank the crew
and officers aboard the Bull Line
scow, Angelina, for their kind
$29 donation he received.

Would like to apologize to
Ralph V. Ortiz for not writing
him while he was in the hospi­
tal in New York. Hope he has
completely recovered.

There is a little black dog
named "Blackie" here on the
beach. He is a great favorite of
the beachcombers. He tags along
with them to the movies, bar­
rooms, and every place else a
beachcomber might go. Last
meeting night, he attended with
the others, and when the per­
mits were excused, Blackie, not
having a book, walked out with
them.

Sonnet Of Glasshouses
By JAMES (Pop) MARTIN

When we read of maritime's feckless crews,
We who follow the calling of the seas,
We oftimes stop and ponder o'er this news,
Yet, wonder, genteel shorefolk, upon these:

Why village, city, nation need police?
The Army, Navy, top, police by force.
The town clown and the justice of the peace
Is every upright rustic's main recourse.

Millions of sailors under every flag
Sail seas, far flung to every port o' land,
Their liifetime's wage fits in an old seabag.
They serve in peaceful mind with willing hand.

On any of the seas—in ary ship—
Has never yet police force taken trip. '

. (8



Wedhesda^i June 1, 1949 THE SEAFARERS LVG Page Fifteen

EDWARD BLOOM
Get in touch with your brother,

.Frank Bloom. His address: 48
Monument Walk, Brooklyn, N.Y.

MARIO CARRASCO, Jr.-
Get in touch with your bro­

ther, Robert Caurasco, 2907 Ne­
braska Avenue, Tampa, Florida.

4. it 4.
HARRY. L. FRANKLIN

". Contact your wife at 553 Un-
dercliff Avenue, Edgewater, N.J.

4. i
ALBERT SCHUBERT

You are asked to contact Ber­
nard Simmons, SPG, State of
New York, 80 Centre Street, New
York 13, N. Y.

4. t 4.
ROBERT BICKNELL RANNEY

Communicate with M. Lee, Se­
lective Service, Local Board No.
1, 80 Lafayette Street, New York
13, N. Y.

& i.
CHARLES ADAMS

Write your mother at 95 North
7th Street, Fall River, Mass.

4. 4 4.
FRANK NUNN

You are asked to get in touch
"with Social Investigator, Ford-

SlU HULLS
SIU, A&G District

BALTIMORE 14 North Cay St.
Wiliiam Rentz, Agent Mulberry 4540
BOSTON 276 State St.
Ben LaWson, Agent Richmond 2-0140

Dispatcher Richmond 2-0141
GALVESTON 308VJ—23rd St.
Keith Alsop, Agent Phone 2-8448
MOBILE 1 South Lawrence St.
Cal Tanner, Agent Phone 2-1754
E. Sheppard, Agent Magnolia 6112-6113
NEW YORK 51 Beaver St.
Joe Algina, Agent HAnover 2-2784
NORFOLK ...; 127-120 Bank St.
Ben Rees, Agent Phone 4-1083
PHILADELPHIA 337 Market St.
J. Shcchnn, Agent Market 7-1635
SAN FRANCISCO 85 Third St.
Frenchy Michelet, Agent Douglas 2-5475
SAN JUAN, P.R 252 Ponce de Leon
L. Craddock, Agent San Juan 2-5996
SAVANNAH 2 Abercorn St.
Jim Drawdy, Agent Phone 3-1728
TACOMA 1519 PaciRc St.

Broadway 0484
TAMIPA 1809-1811 N. Franklin St.
Ray White, Agent Phone M-1323
WILMINGTON, Calif., 227'/i Avalon Blvd.
E. B. Tilley, Agent Terminal 4-2874
HEADQUARTERS ..51 Beaver St., N.V.C.

SECRETARY-TREASURER
Paul Hall

DIRECTOR OF ORGANIZATION
Lindsey Williams

ASST. SECRETARY-TREASURER
' Robert Matthews J. P. Shuler

Joseph Volpian

ham Welfare Center, 1918 Arthur
Avenue, Bronx 57, N. Y.

4. 4 4
WILLIAM V. CLICK

Miss M. Adaui, 734 N. State
Street, Chicago 10, is anxious to
get in touch with you.

4 4 4
CARLOS GOMEZ

Communicate with your local
draft board, 80 Lafayette Street,
New York 13, N. Y.

4 4 4
BASIL UNDERTAJLO

Contact your local draft board
at 80 Lafayette Street, New York
13, N. Y.

4 4 4
OLIVER LEWIS

Communicate with your wife
at 36 Graves Street, Staten Is­
land 14, N. Y.

4 4 4
CLINTON A. MC MULLEN
Contact your local draft board

at 80 Lafayette Street, New York
13, N. Y.

4 4 4
MITCHELL ZELACK

Your mother is very anxious
to hear from you.

4 4 4
JOHN L. O'ROURKE

Please get in touch with your
brother. Bob, care of the SIU
Hall, 85 Third Street, San Fran­
cisco, as soon as possible.

4 4 4
, MELVIN E. RICE

Please get in touch with your
mother, Mrs. Laverne Rice, 208
Penn St., Waxahachie, Texas.
Mrs. Rice will appreciate hear­
ing from anyone who has re­
cently see her son.

^444
WALTER HENRY HOFFMAN
Get in touch with your

mother. It is very important.
Your cousin Dot is getting mar­
ried June 4.

4 4 4
RICHARD H. SEVERSON

Write to your brother: Pfc
Stanley Severson US—57586364,
Bat. A, 2nd FA Bn, Fort Sill,
Oklahoma.

SUP
HONOLULU 16 Merchant St.

Phone 5-8777
PORTLAND....... Ill W. Burnaide St.

Beacon 4336
RICHMOND, Calif 257 Sth St.

Phone 2599
SAN FRANCISCO 59 Clay St.

Douglas 2-8363
SEATTLE 86 Seneca St.

Main 0290
WILMINGTON 440 Avalon Blvd.

Terminal 4-313,1

Canadian District
MONTREAL. . 404 Le Moyne St.

Marquette 5909
HALIFAX 128</i Hollis St.

Phone 3-8911
PORT ARTHUR 63 Cumberland St.

Phone North 1229
PORT COLBORNE....i.l03 Durham St.

Phone: 5591
TORONTO 11 lA JarvU St.

Elgin 5719
VICTORIA, B.C. 602 Boughton St.

Empire 4531
VANCOUVER 565 Hamilton St.

PaciRc 7824

HEADQUARTERS 512 McGill St.
Montreal

Jobless Pay
Claimants Must
List All Jobs

Seamen filing unemployment
insurance claims in New York
state are now expected to list
the names and addresses of all
employers for whom they work­
ed in 1948.

In accord with a new ruling,
which became effective April 25,
claimants will also be required
to list the beginning and end­
ing dates of each period of em­
ployment.

The New York State Unem­
ployment Division says that this
information is of utmost import­
ance to insure prompt handling
of claims.

WITHHOLDING SLIPS. TOO
As a further means of expedit­

ing payments of unemployment
insurance benefits, the state ag­
ency advised all seamen to keep
their income tax withholding
slips for 1948, issued by the
companies, and bring them to
the unemployment insurance of­
fice when they appear to file
claims.

In filing claims, unemployed
seamen will be asked to list all
of their employers during 1948.
This listing "must be absolutely
accurate," the agency says, "in
order to prevent benefit delays."

Before going to the unemploy­
ment insurance office, claimants
should be sure they know the
official names of the companies
for which they worked and the
proper addresses.

COS

NEW YORK
INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS

E. Catmaitan, $2.00; Geo. Chea,
$1.00; H. C. King, $15.00; B. Taflewitz,
$1.00; E. ,D. Mannezen, $1,001 A.
Guralnik, $4.00; R. W. Harless, $10.00;
O. Blues, $10.00; D. Scandon, $1.00;
L. Williams, $5.00; E. A. Gomez, $4'.ffO.

J. R. Nelson, $5.00; W. Budzinski,
$7.00; J. M. Stiles, $1.00; E. F. Luth-
mann, $1.00; A. F. Veto, $2.00; R. C.
Heins, $1.00; R. H. Shaffner. $2.00;
Chester L. Ritter, $1.00; C, Frost,
$5.00; H. R. Lowman, $2,00.

T. B. Hall, $1.00; R. D. Brown,
$1.00; W. E. Ward, $2.00; Wm. E.
Reed, $1.00; M. Baez, $1.00; B. Under-
tilo, $1.00; W. I. Roche, $5.00; J. G.
Watt, $1.00; T. E. Foster, $3.00; W.
W. Scudder, $5.00; F. D. Gosse, $5.00;
D. Aguila, $1.00; R. Noarisma, $1.00;
K. S. Wong, $2.00; E, C. Atkins, $3.00;
J. Fernandez, $2.00; C. Brewer, $3.00;
C. Clark, $1.00; R. A. Yeager, $2.00;
R. Aldrich, $2.00; A. N. W. Larsen,
$2.00; V. Delacruz, $4.00; H. J. Mar­
tinez, $3.00; J. J. Balser, $1.00; M. D.
Taylor, $1.00; Samuel Howard, $1.00;

Majorie Muller, $2.00; L. T. Galusra,
$1.00; Ed Polberg. $3.00; G. E. Bjoms-
son, $1.00; J. W. Overton, $2.00; J,
A. Gent, $1.00.

P. Richard Perrotti, $1.00; T. Cath­
erine, $1.00; Wm. Stark, $15.00; A.
Remijn, $11.00; J. Enriquez, $1.0$;
Frank Borst, $4.00; E. K. DomboskI,
$5.00; A. O. Aaron, $4.00; N. Reznich-
enko, $1.00; J. A. Weiss, $2.00; H. E.
Miller, $5.00; L. Dwyer, $1.00; R, L.
Gresham, $4.00; A. Friend, $2.00.

L. R. Carr, $1.00; D. J. Stilley, $5.00;
E. J. McAskin, $2.00; H. Singleton,
$1.00; T. Nolesnik, $5.00; G. Stilley,
$5.00; J. Arabasz, $2.00; F. J. Shandl,
$1.00; J. L. Millner, $2.00; Hermtm
Young, $2.00; J. S. Seiferth, $16.00;.
C. Morgan, Jr., $2.00; C. Ramos, $1.00.

A. A. DaCosta, $5.00; J. Arabasz,
$1.00; W. H. Stock, $5.00; R. L. Md-
Grew, $1.00; R. E. Sparks, $2.00; M.
A. Carouaz, $25.00; E. B. Harris, $5.00;
J. Gillet, $1.00; W. H. Mansfield $2.00;
P. Sabatinoa, $3.00; J. E. Duffy, $5.00;
E. L. Pritchard, $2.00.

SS BEATRICE
H. Morey, $1.00.

Seafarers Continues Fight
Against Commies On Lakes

DETROIT — In a move de­
signed to eliminate communist
members of the crews of 60-odd
Canadian ships plying the Great
Lakes, the SIU, Great Lakes

2
en

gr.

. ROY JENKINS
A check is being held for you

at Mar-Trade Corporation, 44
Whitehall Street, New York.

4 4 4
SS DOROTHY

(Voyage No. 187)
The below named have un­

claimed wages due them in the
amounts specified for penalty
cargo carried during voyage.
These wages may be collected at
the Bull Line office, 115 Broad
St., New York City.

Robert J. Morgan, $6.47;
Thomas C. Lockwood, $5.07; Wil­
liam E. Thompson, $4.34; Manuel
Vigo, $7.59; Genaro Bonefont,
$7.59; Frederick E. Kerfobt,
45.69; Newell A. Keyes, $7.04;
Francisco Bartolomei, $8.40;
Emilio Ramos, $8.40; Juan A. G.
Nimez, $8.75,

Jose A. Morales, $8.75; Joseph
E. Henault, $3,16; Earl C. Jor-

_ _ dan, $1,65; Patrick Dunphy,
Plateau 670"f^3.16; Paul R. Calebaugh, $2.00;

Felix Carrilo, $1.26.

SS JAMES SMITH
The following men, who were

crewmembers 'aboard this vessel
on Aug. 16, 1946, when Frank
Champ, OS, was badly injured,
are requested to get in touch
with Albert Michelson, attorney
for Champ, at 1650 Russ Bldg.,
phone YUkon 6-6818, San Fran­
cisco, Calif.:

Alfred E. Stout, AB; Carl N.
Bolton, AB; A1 Laborde, AB;
William D. Austin, OS; Joe
Caner, OS, and Ellis M. Eaton,
OS.

OTHA^ FRANKLIN
CRUTCHFIELD

You are requested to get in
touch with Benjamin Sterling or
Herman N. Rabson, 42 Broadway,
New York City, regarding the
injury you sustained aboard the
SS T. J. Jackson on Sept. 19,
1947.

4 4 4
RECEIPT NO. C-95636

, Will holder of this receipt is­
sued in Tampa, please get in
touch with Headquarters so that
payment made may be correctly
posted.

RECEIA N0.^C-95621
WiU holder of this receipt, is­

sued in Tampa, get in touch with
Headquarters so payment may
be properly posted.

4 4 4
SS YOUNG AMERICA

(Voyage W-1)
Will crewmembers who were

aboard this vessel from Oct. 27.
1948 to Jan. 8, 1949, communi­
cate with Henry Beckman, care
of Christensen, 3245 N. Damen
Ave., Chicago, 111., giving their
names and addresses. Beckman
paid off the ship in China be­
cause of illness.

D. J. LUKOWIAK
The personal effects which you

left aboard the SS Chickasaw
are being held for you in the bag­
gage room of the SIU Hall, 51
Beaver St., New York City.

. 4 4 4
Will John Henry Ponson,. who

was employed aboard the SS
Wild Ranger on or about 6th
day of May, 1947, as a galley-
man, and witnessed an accident
where Durand Dewey Shaw was
injured aboard vessel, please
communicate with Herman N.
Rabson or Benjamin B. Sterling,
42 Broadway, New York 4, N. Y. its crewmembers.

District, called upon all AFL
unions on' the American side of
the Lakes waterfront to deny
service to the vessels of three
Canadian companies.

The ships of a number of com­
panies have been manned in part
by the commie-controled Cana­
dian Seamen's Union, which haS
been trying vainly to drive the
SIU off Canada's East Coast.

Great Lakes officials of the
SIU said that the communists of
the CSU were "a threat to the
great industries supplied by
Lake shipping."

Affected by the move were 24
ships and two barges belonging
to Paterson Steamships, Ltd., 20
ships and six barges of the Upper
Lakes & St. Lawrence Company,
six ships and six barges of the
Quebec & Ontario Transport
Company, plus the vessels of
several smaller concerns.

In Milwaukee, on Lake Mich­
igan, ILA Local 815 has already
refused to unload any ship that
might have communists among

Notice To Ail SIU Members
The SEAFARERS LOG as the official publication of the Sea­

farers International Union is available to all members who wish
to have it sent to their home free of charge for the enjoyment of
their families and themselves when ashore. If you desire to have
the LOG sent to you each week address cards are on hand at every
SIU branch for this purpose.

However, for those who are at sea or at a distance from a SIU
hall, the LOG reproduces below the form used to request the LOG,
which you can fill out, detach and send to: SEAFARERS LOG, 51
Beaver Street, New York 4, N. Y.

PLEASE PRINT INFORMATION

To the Editor:
I 'would like the SEAFARERS LOG mailed to th^

address belo'wr:

Name

Street Address

City ... Zone.. State

Signed

Book No.



Page Sixteen THE SEAFARERS LOG Wednesday. June'1, 1949

ITF Denounces CSU As Comniunist-led
If the communists who run the

Canadian Seamen's Union ex
pected any sympathy from the
International Transport Workers
Federation in their phony and
ineffective "strike" to oust the
SIU Canadian District from the
latterfe contracted ships, they
must have been disappointed
For the second time within £
month, the ITF flatly and bliuit-
ly rejected a commie plea for
help.

The ITF's General Council
meeting in Antwerp on May 13
and 14, denounced the CSU's so
called strike and said that the
no member of the CSU would
have responded to the strike
call, if he had been fully and
correctly informed of the facts

There is no support for the
phony strike in Canada where
the facts are known, the Council
reported, and the communists
are trying to get support in
foreign ports, where they can
get away with misrepresenting
the truth.

CONFLICTING REPORTS
The ITF Council also pointed

out that the strike notices issued
by the CSU leadership to crews
on the high seas and in foreign
ports were conflicting.

Consequently, the Council in­
structed all of the unions affil­
iated with the ITF to ignore the
CSU's phony beef.

The instruction and the Coun­
cil's report were included in a
letter to all the ITF's affiliated
dockers' and seafarers' unions.
The letter was signed by J.H.
Oldenbroek, General Secretary
of the ITF.

The complete text of the Coun­
cil's report follows:

"The General Council of the
ITF, meeting in Antwerp on 13
and 14 May, 1949, has given con­
sideration to the dispute which
has taken place in the Canadian
shipping industry in recent
weeks, and in the light of the
report furnished approves unan­
imously the decisions previously
reached by the Management
Committee and Seafarers' Sec­
tional Committee of the ITF to
withhold support from the strike
called by the Canadian Seamen's
Union. •

ATTACK ON ITF
"In view of the misleading

statements published in the com-
muriist press and the action spon­
sored by the Canadian Seamen's
Union and being carried on in
different ports , by communist
elements, who seem to see in
this strike a welcome opportunity
to attack the I'TF and its affil­
iated dockers' and seamen's
unions, the General Council
finds it necessary to publish the
following:

"1- The Canadian Seamen's
Union, appealing at the 11th hour
for the support of the ITF, not­
withstanding a telegraphic re­
minder, failed to comply with the
rules which the constitution of
the ITF lays down for such cases
and to supply the required doc--
lunented report on the nature
and circumstances of the con­
flict.

"2- The strike notices issued
by the Canadian Seamen's Union
to crews Qf ships on the high
eeas or in foreign ports are of a
conflicting nature.

MEN UNINFORMED
"3- Had the members .of the

Canadian Seamen's Union been
properly and honestly informed
about the matters at issue, and
about the negotiatons and con­
ciliation carried on in their be­

half, they would not have re­
sponded to the strike call.

"4- Whereas in Canada, where
the true facts are known, the
manning and loading of ships is
not interrupted, emissaries of the
CSU and others are trying, by
misrepresenting the facts, to in­
cite dockers and seafarers to
support the strike in foreign
ports.

"In these circumstances the
General Council considers that
the conflict is not an industrial
issued as alleged by the Canadian
Seamen's Union, but part of a
political campaign to which the
ITF is opposed. The unions af­
flicted with the ITF should there­
fore not let themselves be drawn
into the conflict and endanger
the economy of the European
countries."

¥ -

Seafarers Warns Great Britain
lliegal Tie-ups Mean AFL Beysett

(Continued from Page 1)
British Transport and General
Workei-s' Union not to support
the CSU. . After conferring with
an SIU representative now in
England, Arthur Bird,. National
Secretary of the docks group of
the Transport and General Work­
ers' Union, called upon his mem­
bers to reject the CSU's propa­
ganda and work the ships.

The complete text of Hall and
Weisberger's cable to Mi-. Attlee
follows:

"We have been requested as

AFL Demands CSU Ouster
CLEVELAND — The Seafar­

ers International Union should
replace the communist-dominat­
ed Canadian Seamen's Union in
the Trades and Labor Council
Canada's national labor body af­
filiated with the American Fed­
eration of Labor, the AFL Ex­
ecutive Council, which met here
recently, announced.

The AFL leaders further ex­
pressed themselves as of the
opinion that the CSU was "falling
apart so rapidly, that it was no
longer the communist menace it
used to be.

The AFL Executive Council
lad a day-long session with the
Canadian leaders of the Trades
and Labor Council to discuss
the AFL's campaign to drive the
communists from the Canadian

labor movement.
In the near future, the AFL

will meet in Ottawa to take fur­
ther action.

GOOD RELATIONS ^
President William Green of

the AFL and President Percy
Bengough of the Txtades and
Labor Council said that they
"were well pleased with their
plans to oust the communists—
Green adding that he thought
highly cooperative relations be­
tween the AFL And the TLC
would result.

President David Dubinsky of
the Intel-national Ladies Gar­
ment Workers and President

'George Harrison of the Railway
Clerks also expressed their be­
lief that the communists were
on their way out in Canada.

Vice-Presidents of the Seafarers
International Union of North
America and as Co-Chairmen of
the Maritime Trades Council of
Greater New "Vork, an organiza­
tion of all waterfront workers
affiliated with the American
Federation of Labor, by our
Canadian affiliate, the Canadian
District of the Seafarers Inter­
national Union, 4to take steps to
tie-up all British shipping in the
Atlantic and Gulf ports, unless
the British dockers, now misled
into wildcat action by commun­
ist propagandists, agree to handle
ships contracted to the SIU Can­
adian District.

"We have no desire to take
this action, as it would play into
the hands of the communists,
whose sole aim is to sabotage
the Marshall Plan and disrupt
the communications systems of
the western countries.

However, we will not allow
a political maneuver by fifth
column disruptors to prevent the
SIU Canadian District from ful­
filling its legal contracts with
the Canadian shipowners, and
we shall take all and any steps
necessary to protect ourselves,
our jobs and our Union.

"We call to your attention the
following facts:

"The International Transport-
workei's Federation, in Circular
No. 28 to its affiliates, said '...
The 'General Council considers
that the conflict is not an in­
dustrial issue as alleged by the

Canadian Seamen's Union, but
part of a political campaign t6
which the ITE* is opposed. The
unions affiliated with the ITi5
should therefore not let them>
selves be drawn into the conflict
and endanger the economy o£
the European countries.'.

"In this country, the Executive
Council of the American Federa­
tion of Labor called for the ex­
pulsion of the Canadian Seamen's
Union from the Canadian Trades
and Labor Council.

"In Canada, where the Can­
adian seamen are conversant
with the facts, none of the SIU
Canadian District ships is tied
up. Only in a few foreign coun­
tries, where the communists hav^
well organized propaganda ma­
chines, have these political dis­
ruptors -been able to gather sup­
porting action, and then only by
misrepresenting the facts to the
trade unionists on the waterfront.

We feel that most of these
dockers are well meaning, but
acting on false information. We
call upon you, as head of the
Labor Party and leader of the
Labor Government, to use your
influence and authority to. put a
stop to this wildcat, illegal ac­
tion.

"Meanwhile, we shall not ask
the waterfront unions of America
to take economic action against
British shipping by boycotting
all British flag vessels pending
a reply from you within a few
days."

Brotherhood Of Marine Engineers Gets Charter
(Continued from Page 1)

going to sea aboard your com­
pany's vessels have become fed
up with the anti-union actions
and political policies of the Ma­
rine Engineers Beneficial Asso­
ciation, CIO. As a direct result,
they have formed a union with­
in the framework of the Ameri­
can Federation of Labor, known
as the Brotherhood of Marine
Engineers.

"A majority of your seagoing
marine engineers and regular
night relief engineers are more
interested in their ships, their
jobs, and the conditions under
which they work than they are
in a union known only for its
communist activity. For this rea­
son, they have joined thb- Bro­
therhood.

"You are hereby advi.sed that
the Brothei'hood of Marine En­
gineers, AFL, represents a ma­
jority of the licensed engineers
actually employed by you, and
that the National Marine Engin­
eers Beneficial Association is no
longer the proper collective bar­
gaining representative of your li­
censed engineers, even though
they are for the time being re­
taining membership in that As­
sociation.

"We are prepared to meet with
you at any time you might sug­
gest for the purpose of discuss­
ing an agreement covering wages
and working conditions for your
licensed marine engineers, and
we hereby put you on notice
that in the event you make any
agreement • with the MEBA be­
yond June 15, 1949, the date your

present agreement expires, you
will do so at your peril and con­
trary to the wishes of a majority
of the licensed marine engineers
employed by you.

"A promp,t reply is requested."
The letter was sent to the fol­

lowing companies:
Actium Shipping Company
American Eastern Corporation

Atwacoal Transportation Com­
pany

Alcoa Steamship Company,
Inc.

Baltimore-Insular Line
A. H.- Bull SS Co.
Calmar Steamship Corp.
Coral Steamship Corp.
Dolphin Steamship Company
Dolphin Steamship Corp.

Pledge Card For Engineers
If you are a marine engineer and have not signed a

pledge card designating the Brotherhood of Marine Engineers,
AFL, as your collective bargaining agent, do- so now. Just till
out the certificate below and send it to the BME at 51 'Beaver
Street. New York 4, N. Y.

BROTHERHOOD OF MARINE ENGINEERS
affiliated xvitfj

SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION OF
NORTH AMERICA, A.F.L.

PLEDGE CARD
I hereby designate, appoint and authorize the Brotherhood

of Marine Engineers, affiliated with the Seafarers International
Union of North America, AFL, to represent me in any and
all negotiations relative to collective bargaining with my
present or any future employer.

This authorization shall continue ir full force and effect
until I have revoked same by written revocation delivered
to the Secretary-Treasurer of said Union.

Name ! :

Address ^....

Rating Employer

License No. Signature ..........i....

Eastern Steamship Lines, Inc.
Illinois-Atlantic Corp.
Isthmian Steamship Co.
Maine Steamship Co.
Mar Ancha Corp.
Mississippi Shipping Co., Inc.
Ore Steamship-Company
Peninsular & Occidental Steam*

ship Co.
Ponce Cement Corp."
Seas Shipping Co.
Seatrade Corp.

. Seatrain Lines, Inc.
Smith & Johnson
South Atlantic Steamship Com­

pany
St. Lawrence Navigation
Strathmore Shipping Co., Inc.
Waterman Steamship Corp.
White Range Steamship Co.
Standard Steamship Co. •
Victory Carriers, Inc.
Arnold Bernstein Steamship

Co.
Oro Navigation Co., Inc.
Epiphany Tankers Corp.
Federal Motorship Corp.

, Artie, Tankers, Inc.
John M. Carras, Inc.
Cuba Distilling Co.
Intercontinental Steamship Co.
Metro Petroleum Shipping Coi.
Petrol Tanker Industries, Inc..
Calmar Shipping Co.
Philadelphia Marine Corp.
State Fuel Co.
U.S. Petroleum Carriers, Inc.
Terminal Tanker Industries,

Inc.
The Cabins Tanker Industries
Tanker Sag Harbor Corp.
U.S. Waterways Corp, i
United States'Lines' - • " .I
Grace l^nes . H -•=«
Unit^ Friiit Steamship Go. '

•'•'f <