Media
Issue Date
1941-02-24
Volume
3
Issue Number
4
Plaintext
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VOL. Ill NEW YORK ,N. Y., MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1941 *48 No. 4
A.F.L. BACKS SEAMEN H. R. 2662
SEND TELEGRAMS TO HOUSE COMMIHEE
ON MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES!
' " •
In order that all Branches may file a lastminute protest
to the Bill which will greatly strengthen our battle against
it, we urgently request all Branches to send, individually, to
the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries,
Washington, D.C., a strongly worded telegram of protest
against any and all parts of Bill H.R. 2662.
These telegnims slionld be ciddressed direetly to the
House Committee on Mcrclmnt Marine and Fisheries and
should be sent on Fel)rufirv 26 and not the day before or the
clay after.
We can expect a tough battle, and all help is needed no
matter how little. All members and ships' crews, if possiible,
should send telegrams of protest on the 26th to the House
Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, Washington,
D.C. pledging full support to President Harry Lundeberg.
Brother Lundeberg is here in Washington, and we have been
busy lining up all possible support aaginst the Bill.
SUP Wins Wage
Negotiations between the
Sailors Union of the Pacific
and the Pacific American
Shipowners Associations re
sulted in inreases in basic
pay as well in bonuses for the
sailors, the SUP announced
this week.
The monthly Mugv inereaHe on
offshore, intercoastal ve.ssels is
17.50, raising A B.'s wages to $90.
and others acrordingly; in the
Alaska trade the raise amounts to
$2.50, bringing A.B.'e pay up to
$92.50, as on steamscliooners.
Bonuses (formerly on 'a 25 per
cent basis) are as follows now:
Suva to Suva run, $2+, which is
a raise of $7.68; transPacific run,
~$21, a raise of " $8.76;roundthe
world run. passenger service,
$70.40, a raise of $22.20, and
freighters, $71.20, a raise of
$23.20,
Freight Rates
Skyrocket on
Foreign Runs
Freight rates took a sud
den spurt upwards in the last
few weeks. In some runs big
boosts have already taken
place; in others, decisions are
soon forthcoming.
The Far East Conference of
shipowners, taking advantage of
the crisis in Pacific waters, has
increased its rates by twentyfive
(25) per cent as of March 1,
1941. The conferences have put in
advances on a number of items.
New it appears that the U.S.A.
Sontli African Conference will ad
vance all of its rates by fifteen
(15) per cent as of March 15.
"How much higher rates will
go," says the Journal of Com
merce, big shippers' organ, "no
one can say. .... The prospect is
that they will keep on up so long
as the terrific demand for cargo
space continues." (Feb. 17, 1941).
The union will have to he on
the alert to keep seamen's wages
up on a level with profits.
Brass Hat Effort to Smear
Labor Bomerangs
'' Brass hats " in the Navy Departmentr who s'ddhm over
look an opportunity to smear Unions, tried again this week
to give labor a black eye, but the attempt boomeranged.
The Admirals prepared what^
they said was an analysis of
strikes on "national defense" and
sent it to the Senate Naval Af
fairs Committee, with a letter
that sought to picture the labor
situation on defense as alarming.
The list looked formidable. It
carried 27 strike.s tvhich were
.called "current" and 100 more
which were described as "settled."
In fact it was the large.st collec
tion of apparent walkouts on de
fense any agency of the govern
Muent has been able to compile'.
However, the tabulation didn't
stand the light of day for long.
Department of Labor representa
tives and assistants to Sidney
Hillman, labor member of the Na
tional Defense Commission,
combed the list' and here is what
they fqund:
Over 20 of the so-called "cur-
rent" strikes were either settled
long before the Admirals put out
{Continued on Page 4)
Pres. Green Declares Federation ^'Stands
Unalterably Opposed^ to/pirksen Bill
In a Teller to Brotlier Harry Lundeberg, outlining tlie "Iiiglily oli
jectionable" features of H.R. 2662, President William Green announced
this week that the American Federation of Labor '"'stands unalterably
opposed" to the vicious,
Dirksen Bill.
Authorizing the Acting In
ternational President of the
Seafarers' International Un
ion of North America to "use
this letter" in bringing the
weight of the entire A.F, of
L. to bear against this bill at
hearings before the House
Committee on Merchant Ma
rine and Fisheries this coming
Wednesday, Februaiy 26,
President Green assured the
seamen of full support from
organized labor in this fight
against the legalization of
Fink Hall and Fink Book op
pression.
The A.F. of L. liead'.s let
ter outlining the Federatioirs
position on the Dirksen Bill
and the attitude of labor to it
is herewith published in full:
Lundeberg Blasts Phoney
Bill at Hearings in Capital
Hearings on H.R. 2662, the Dirksen Bill, have been set
for Wednesday, February 26, 1941, the House Committee on
Merchant Marine and Fisheries announced in Washington,
D. C., this week. A delegation from the Seafarers Interna
tional Union and the Sailors Union of the Pacific, as well as
other maritime labor organizations, will appear at the hear
ings to present the rank and file seaman's case against this
pernicious legislation.
Headed by Acting Interna
tional President Harry Lun
ileberg, the seamen's repre
sentatives intend to leave no
stone unturned in exposing
the antilabor cbaracter of
the proposed bill.
In a report from Washington,
D. C., Brother Lundeberg says of
H.R. 2662: "This bill affects every
American Union seaman, and af
(ect.s every seamen's union, botti
now and in the future.
"It is tiie most' vicious piece of
antiseamen legislation," Brother
Lundeberg states, "ever to be in
troduced in Congress. I believe
tliere are strong forces lined up
here to try to pass this bill, or
the most important part of it,
namely, the part that deals with
our hiring system.
"From what 1 can learn here
the purpose of the whole bill is
to knock out our hiring system,
and put the seamen back in the
Fink Hulls under government' su
pervision and the old blacklistlTiR
system of the Shipping Board
days will be here again. This bill
is cleverly drawn up, and no
doubt some highpriced sliipown
ers admiralty lawyer has had a
Iiand in drawing this Bill up.
This bill will also nullify parts
of the Seamen's Act passed in
1915 which the SUP,"through An
drew Furuarth, fought 21 years
to have enacted.
"This bill, they say. Is for the
purpose of cleaning out the Com
I .
munists and Nazis in the Amer-
ican Merchnt Marine. This is a
laughs—as a matter of fact if this
bill is enacted that Communists
and Nazis will be sailing as usual
through tlie Fink Halls, and the
militant Union seamen will be
blacklisted on the beach. As they
have done in the past, this ele-
ment will be the first to register
in the Fink Halls aiid will be
(Continued on Page 2)
Boy Flogger Good
Enough for Army
Colonel Raymond W. Combs
was dismissed as supferinten
dent of the Colorado Indus
trial School last week by the
State Civil Service Commis
sion. Combs Iiad ordered sev
eral boys between 11 and 1.1
years old chained together,
flogged, and held in solitary
conflneinent.
Colonel Combs will now re
smno active duty with the
army.
• A
President Green's Letter
To Brother Lundeberg
February 19, 19il
Mr. Harry Lundebeig, Pre.sident
Seafarer.s' Ihternational Union of Xorlli America
Harripgton Hotel, Wa.shington, D.C.
Dear President Lundeberg:
I directed Judge Padway, our Ceueral Counsel, to examine
H.Il. 2662 introduced by Congressman Dirksen and to report
to me on the bill. I have personally examihed many of its
more important features. From Judge Padway's report and
my own consideration of the bill I am definitely of the opinion
that this bill will prove most detrimental to the interests and
welfare of onr seamen.
It is clear that Sec. 103 (a), (b) and (c) outlining the
"procedure for engaging seamen" will permit the master of
a ve.ssel to engage in arbitrary selection and to indulge in dis
crimination.
OPPOSED FINK HALL BEFORE
See. 104, dealing with "duties of Shipping Commi.s.sioner"
imperils and perhaps destroys the right to operate and the
operation of the hiring halls provided by the seamen themi
selves. The American Federation was obliged to oppose the
plan set forth in the bill when it was proposed by the United
States Maritime Commission in 1939. AVe are still of the same
opinion and strongly oppose the method provided for in this
section of the bill.
BLASTS "BLACKLIST" PROVISIONS
Sec. 105 and its several subdivisions provide for furnish
ing seamen with "continuous discharge books." It needs no
effort to discern that this system may be converted into an
employers' blacklist, which is highly objectionable to organ
ized labor. In fact throughout the years of its existence, the
American Federation, of Labor has fought the "blacklist"
and it has succeeded in obtaining legislation outlawing it in
many states. It is an "unfair Labor practice" under the Na
tional Labor Relations Act. It is certainly inconsistent with
{Co7itinucd on Page 2)
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.THE SEAFARERS' LOG Monday, Pebruary 24, 1941
ir
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Published by the
ATLANTIC & GULF DISTRICT
of the
Seafarers* International Union
of North America
Affiliated with the American Federation of Labor
HARRY LUNDEBERG. Acting International President
110 Market Street, Room 402, San Francisco, Calif.
ADDRESS ALL CORRESPONDENCE CONCERNING THIS
PUBLICATION TO:
"THE SEAFARERS' LOG"
P. O. Boic 522, Church St. Annex, New York, N. Y.
Phone: BOwling Green 93437
Dirksen *s Bill: Spearhead of
An Attack on Organized Labor
111 form tlio new Dirksen Dill. II. R. 2662. is an onslaniilit
on union seamen. In essence, it is llie spearhead of an attack
direotod against all of organized labor in the United State.s.
With the growing war emeigeney, the dominant employer
class haJ/eonstantly Reen girding for a blitzkrieg all its own
again.st the nnion.s, against organized labor. Under the
Sfereetehin'gt veneer of jiatriot i.sm and the pseiuhneinieern
over "national ilefense" a Avhole series of sehenies have been
laiinched by big business to suppress the militancy of the
" • working" man—his only protect ion , against abject slavery.
Esen now. Represpntatives Smith of Virginia, Vinson of
Georgia and (tare Hoffman of Michigan are framing bills in
Congre.ss whose aims are no less thap to ban strikes, break
down the closed shop, introduce ofTieial blacklisting, divide
labor's house and supinc.ss elementary eJvil liberties.
But all these aims are sjiread fullblown alieady in the
Dirksen Bill. Only this Bill, tlie first to come before a House
Committee, directs its .shafts exclusively at seamen. That is
not" at all accidental. Since the great awakening of 1034,
seamen have been leading the parade of all American labor
in the struggle for a decent living and forthe emancipation
of the great mass of the populat ion from tin! deadening grip
of the greedy jnofiteers. It is no more than to be expected
that the profithungry tycoons would single out the seamen
for the very first blows in theirattack on labor.
Consider for a moment what theDirk.sen Bill aims at.
1. First of all, it proposes to reintroduce the government
—controlled hiringhall, the Flnki Hall, and to abolish under
heavy criminal penalty the Union Hiring Hall—the biggest
gain of the maritime unions in the whole past period of stnjg
, gle. The smashing of the Union Hiring Hall—Avhat is that
• but the .smashing of the Closed Shop as applied to marine
labor? What, is thai more than the a.ssault of the Open Shop
employers,_tljreeted in this inslauce against the seamen ?
2. Secondly, it aims to make OOMPULSORY the adoption
of the Copeland Continuous Discharge Book—the Pink Book
of long notoriety. What is that more than an attempt to. in
troduce for seamen the blackliisting labor pa.ssjjorl, system,
which big business wants to establish in all industry under
^ guise of combating sabotage?
3. Thirdly, H.R. 2662 stdnds for tremendously increased
restrictions against foreignborn seamen sailing on American
ships. What is that ihore than the wellplannofj attempt to
divide labor against it.self, in this case applied merely to the
men who run the ships?
4. Fourth, the Dirksen Bill wants to make it a "lawful
command" for the Master, AT HIS OWN DISCRETION; to
ban the distribution of what he considers "subversive litera
ture." I nder this provision, the skipper can ban, under
penalty of prison ttrms, tin; j)a.ssing around by members of
the crew of copies of West Coast Sailor oi of the Seafarers
Log, or for that matter, of any printed iton which calls for
increa.sed organizational effort on the part of the unions.
What is that more than the plot to suppre.ss the civil liberties
of all labor, conceived by the big profiteers, and directed in
this case again.st seagoing workmen? '
5. Finally, H.R. 2662 proposes to place the infamous
'thirty day" clause On all strike actions, along with stran
^iating compulsory arbitration machinery All in the name
of "national defense," of course. What is that but the gen
eral plan to outlaw..strikes, brought down with full force on
the seamen's unions?
fevery provision, every phrase of this rotten and vicious
measure is directed by Dirksen at the seamen, BUT IT IS
MEANT FOR ALL OF AMERTUAN LABOR!
In every .sense of the Mmrd. H.R. 2662 is the spearhead of
ah attack.a gaiuHt. brganized labor as a w'hole! The .seamen
and their unionshave declared their determination to fight
this poisf)nou« attack to the fini.sh. It is up to organized labor
as a whole to back this fight up in the fullest measure of its
ability. The interests of every working; stiiff are at stMe.
A Frank Opinion
On What's Behind
'National<Dyense'
Ben.janiiu C. Marsh, secretary
of tlie IVople's Lobby, reports
that a few weeks ago, "the owner
of one of America's leading news
papeis, a good money maker, who
knows the President well, told
him fliat we must get into tlie
war because tlie world must be
controlled "by the British Empire
and tlie American Empire.'
• "Wlien 1 asked liim why he used
tlie ferni 'American Empire,' lie
replied: 'Why not' be practical,
that is what we are, and that is
what we have got to he'/'
A leading' Wasiiingtan service
for business men refers to the
probable course of the United
States fi'oni now on as one ol
fralik , "iniiierialism;" .This, it
.says, "could go underaiiyone ol
several names. But it means sup
port for the British; insistence
upon, continued sea control at th©
cost of war If necessary; gradual
assumption of responsibility for
functioning of the British ' Em
pire, witli England as probably
the junior partner. . ."
Tills course, the service In
forms, "is chosen by Roosevelt
and is to underlie coming devel
oiiments." This is what underlies,
also, the. phrases about "national
defense" and "democracy." Wall
Street recognizes tliese words as
necessary subterfuges, u.seful In
tlie campaign "to swing Congress
and iiuhlic opinion" as the Kip
linger agency put. it in its W^asli
ington letter last November.
—From Efoiirrinie Notes.
{Continued from Page 1)
.good stooges, wliil© a good Union
man will be in the, street.
"The shipowners, as any other
industrialist, know no country
where their, personal interest is
involved. What the hell do they
care if they break up the Unions
'through law? They'll be satisfied
to hire Communists, Nazis, or
HulyRollers as long as they can
make dough and get cheap crews.
The Communists and Nazis will
give them any deal they ask for.
"Cleverly, the shipowners say
that as long as this hill goes
through they can clean out the
ships of subversive activitieSj
and they are aided and abetted
in their cry by antilabor forces
in the various reactionary gov
ernment bureaus. What they
mean Is they'd be able' to finger
all militant Union men ̂ nd break
up the Unions and get back to
wages and working conditions
laid down by themselves without
any interference from the
Unions."
President Green *s Letter
To Brother^ Lundeberg
(Continued from Page 1)
th6 present policy of our government to encourage the enact
ment of any law that can operate as a blacklist of employees.
CALLS BILL VIOLATION OF CONSTITUTION
Soe. 106 duals with "di.s|,ribulion of subversive ])ropa
ganda at sea." The American Federation of Labor has re
peatedly proclaimed that is is opposed to subversive activities
and propaganda. However, the method devised to supjiress
subversive activities must conform with Constitutional rights
and such metliods must not be wor.se than the evil it seeks
to eliminate. Sec. 106 places in the master the right do, com
mand the destruction or the prohibition of distribution of
any book, pamphlet, .leaflet or other pnblieatiou or item of
written, printed, or graphic matter, which in his opinion
is calculated to encourage disloyalty to the constitution of
the United States.
It is easy to see that such broad and unlimited grant of ^
power may be the means of suppressing books and literature
dealing with trade unionism upon the mere declaration of '
the master that such literature encourages disloyalty. I
rather think that such summary power would invade the con
stitutional guarantee of free speech and press. But whether
it does or not, the provision vesting such power is objection
able because there is no cheek against its abuse.
Title II dealing with "Citizenship Reqniremeuts for Man ,
ning \'e.s,sels" is quite .stringent and likely lo bat many sea
men and fi.shermoJi legally resident in this eonntry from mak
ing a livelihood.
Title III,' providing for ''Mediation of Maritime Labor
Disputes, " is patterned after provisions in several other bills
now before Congress. At the bottom of them lies some form
of "Compulsion" and the curtailment of the right to strike.
The American Federation of Labor is on record as opposed
to this form of legislation, and for reasons already iwidely
publicized it is'opposed to thd "mediation" provisions of '
this bill. I see no reason for the elimination of the Depart
ment of Labor in Maritime disputes. Its conciliation service v.
has fimctioned satisfadtorily and we leel it ean and will dpn!;
tinue to do so.
There are .so many objectionable featiire.s in this lull, that
such beneficial provisions as are contained in it are far out
weighed by those highly detrinlental to labor, and particu
arly the seamen. Therefore, the! American Federation of Lai
bor Stands unalterably opposed to this bill.'
You are privileged to use this letter before the Gommittee
considering this bill as expressing the views of,,the American
Federation of Labor.
(Signed) WM. GREEN, President,
American Federation of Labor
Seafarers' Log Honor Roll
Wanted
By the Draft •
Me.inhers whose names ap-
pear under this healing sfiould
immediately comnmnicate loith
the Local Draft Board men-
tioned. For their, own protec-
tion they should do so imthout
fail.
Harvey. Charles ' Hill
Wanted by Lobal Board
No. 3, Franklin County,
Waynesboro, Pa.
ELMEItBAJtBER
Your Local Selective
Service board is trying to
locate you. Get in touch
.with them as .soon as ppa
sible.
S.S. IBERVILLE
S.S. DOROTHY ,
10.00
9.50
S.S. CORNELIA 7.75
J. 1). McLcmore 3.00
L. Coiiners 1.00
S.S. Kofresi ; ' 5.50
C. Hitchcock 10.00
F. O. Blanco $10.00
C; Melendez ;. 10.00
S.S. CLARE (Eng. Dept.) . U LOO'
T; Tooma LOD
r«
• if'%
Total ....
Itemized accounts of previously reported .donations:
S.S. ROSARlbr F. Caban 50c. Vicente' Jimenez '25c, F. •
Barliao50c, C. FiBher $1.00, Mario Farruya 50c, W. Ha
milton 50c, W, Jenkins 25c. M. E. Watson 25c, H. .lansen •
25c. R. D. Lewjs $1.00, F. Jimenez 20c, Pedro Velez 25c,
E. Nunez 25c ..' Total $0.20
S.S. CITY OF BIRMINGHAM: A. B. Anderson 50c, J. M.
Hudson 25c, A. B. Sharpe 25c, Bos'n Winecoff 25c, Home
25e, Dykes' 25c, Olsen 25c, Blanton 26c, Martin 25c, Mas^
kell 25c,/Colsou 25c, Halvorsen 25c, J. E. Da Rocha 25c,
Hansen 25c Total'$3.75 '
S.S. GRBYLOOK: G. Ehmsen $1.00, W. Labaskl $2.00,
A. Harrelson $1.00, H. JHodges $1.00, R. BelleVance $2.00,
J. Welsh $1.00, A. Lloyd $1.00, N. Kaastrup $2.00, P. Ka
minski $1.00, H. Raport $1.00, F. Hagin $1.00, B. Smyley •
$1.00, E, Witt fl.OO, R. Langford tl.OO. RL Febwortn
$4.00.:J. . smith: $1.00,' J. Mandano $1.00,' D. DHx $1.00,''
T; Shea $1.00,'J. Murphy, $1.00, H. de Boaz $3.00, J, EI®
Hot $2.00, • W. Silvi'$1.00, R. Thomas 1.00 . . Total>$33,00
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Monday, February 24, 194f^
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- -J "S' - '
THE SEAFARERS' LOG
JP^ h a t ' 8 D o i n g,—
TEXAS CITY
Editor Seafarers Log;
Dear Sir and Bro.:
Started out as a very dead week,
but the old law of averages came
to the front and for the week end,
the old rush. Shipidng very good,
forced to sail the Seatrain New
Jersey shoit a chief cook. Out
side of that dug ui) the men
needed for the week.
*• • • » >y
The men on the ships are al
ready trying to pay the $5.00 as
sessment. So if this is any sign
it will be carried very handily.
11 * . V
The Italian ship I mentioned
the other week is di.schaiging her
cargo. I'll bet, looking at it as a
sailor, it's ,1ust a racket to get
• '.more ship.side for the boys to
V'aint only
« n *
Was in Beaumont yesterday
and met W. H. Farley, business
agent for the tungshoremen there
and any one who pays off there,
go up and,.register with him for
the Sabine District. Also, after
April there will be a Bro. in Cor
pus Christl who will be on the
beach'there all summer who will
donate his services toward plac
ing men on the ships there. With
this, sort of a setup, when the
Brothers willing go out of their
way to do these sort of things,
which way are we headed? Yep,'
that is right, ahead at all timesi
, « *
The pride of Norfolk was in
Hbuston tlie first of the week and
talk about a layout tliat needs
\tbrking on, the E.T.Co.'s tug
Sapison is it. Quarters are lousy
and plenty more of tlie. same sort
of thing. Then to toji off with, a
fireman, quit the tub and the old
man paid him off with a check.
Now no one in this country knows
anything about tliis company. Re
sult: the lad had a big tiine all
by himself trying to cash it. Not
that the checks aren't good, just
Qiiit a stranger with a check on
a strqnge company is in for a hell
of^ time. This should be taken
up with this Co. and cash pay
iii'diils made.
^ . 4. * * ,
' .,VThe Margaretsof the Bull fam
Ky was in this A.Ml, keeping the
Francis Salmon company, and
talk about a diff, It's a bucko diff.
On the Francis, all O.K. On the
Margaret, nothing O.K. Chow
bad, not enough of it and the
cooks getting careless. A meet
ing held aboard the ship and a
corn'mittee elected to assist the
Steward In making out his list. So
keep an eye on this ship. Believe,
there will be more about her in
the near future. No squawks on
deck or below.
« at
Mark this in gold letters' or
something Aboard two ships this
A.M. and didn't see one drunk.
Yea, they were Jn long enough for
all hands to b^ tight.
• *
Don't see many responses from
the ships regards the Dirksen
Bill, don't see any responses
from the members regards writ
ing to the Log, still don't see
some ports reporting in the
paper, ye Gods, I just don't see!
Steady as she goes.
A, W. Armstrong
In Memoriam
THOMAS RYAN
Died In U.S. Marine Hospital
Ellis Island, N. V.
. January 28, 1941
i JOSLYN CARLON
Died in Mobile, Ala.:
\
)NSTANTIN REDDER
lied D. S. Marine Hospital
Staten Island, N. V.
February 5, 1941
thjROBERT C. BROWN
lied U. S. Marine Hospital
Staten Island, NT V.
on January /16,. 1941
OlO&OE FORESTER
Died In Boston
Jisuary SI, 1941
Editor, Seafarers Log,
Dear Sii ami Bro.;
Take eight ship.s, scatter them
over a hundred and fifty miles,
give tiie crews phone money, and
shake well and result; a hell of
a busy time for yours truly. The
Delnorte started the week, bright
and early Monday morning. The
Plow City wound it up (I hope)
Friday night. Had to sail the
City short an A.B., couldn't find
one. It got so bad here for a while
that I was meeting myself coming
back. Such is the life of a PIE
CARD!
* » «
Just tiie usual run of beefs.
Squared away as usual. The
week's runaround was on the
Mar.sodak. The radiator in the
sailor's quarters had no drainand
about the time the gang would go
to sleep, a regular anvil cliorus
would start. The gang luid been
promised and promised that it
would be fixed but she came in
stni needing fixing. Told the
Chief about it and he agreed to
fife it. Next day, upon making
the sliip, found no effort to even
start *the job. So then had to in
form the officers that tlie job
must he done .befoi e sailing. Re
sult; a shore gang came down
and turned to. Why, oil why, is
it' necessary for tiiese petty things
to be carried on and on?
• Htm
The biggest tiling down here
right now is the sliortage of
rooms. You can't beg, buy, bor
row 01' steal a place to live in
.this town. In tills immediate dis:
trict there are three big Govern
ment jobs going on. So Texas
City,. Galveston and all the out
lying towns are overcrowded.
Rooms that used to go for $2.50
aifd $3.00, now bring $6.00 and
$7.00 and you can't get them at
that price. The men, when they
come on the beach, have to go to
(lalveston and some as far as
Houston, to get rooms. We have
put some, cots in the hall, but it
fe darn cold.
*
Shipping, still very good witli l?
^oing on the job,' A.B.'s are still
if real rarity around here. Missed
fliree this week on shipsi in this
tllstriGt. 1
• • » « '
Steady, as she goes,
A. W. Armstrong
PHILADELPHIA
ISOTICE \ :
• . Brpther lUiy Day
Rlcase get in touch: Avith
Orleans Agent, C. M.
'Rogers, immediately, about
an. important and urgent
matter.
Philadelphia, Feb. 17, 1941
Editor, Seafarers' Log,
Deal Sir and Brother; —
Well, well, the old clock has
ticked again and another election
has gone on it's way, so here we
are again, giving you the low
down, scandal and gossip on
Philly. Quite a few members
voted, and showed the rising dem
ocratic and militant .spirit of this
up and coming organization.
« « «
Yes, yes indeed, the "OLD
BULL LINE KITCHEN BITCH",
"Seaweed" went into the USPHS
drydock, and from all indications,
he must have had a high speed
gear attached to him, for he 'has
made the "Losmar," and from all
reports, he now has got to have
his breaks or brakes fixed, so that
he can slow down a little.
:s S:
The dispatcher, the flying Da
go, Arrcra, shipped out on the
Wafrior headed for all points to
and from "Jalopi", but wlien he
was told that he was going to
China, Japan, and the Islands, he
politely informed all concerned
(in Italian also) that lie could not
speak either of the lingoes, and
that he'd be darned if tlie "War
rior" or any other rnstbncket
e.oiild'get him out there. "Oke,
then, COASTWISE ' ARRERA."
Better luck next time.
!S :S
Thihgs are mighty lively around
here now. Someone dropped a
pin, and three members jumped
up and yelled together; Don't
shoot, I'll marryyour daughter.
Jimmie (Take upthe slack). Ha
ger was one of the yelpers.
fli >1:
Charlie (1 got a motion to
make) Lovelace, thp aeroplane
messman, lias finally come home
to roost, and now makes and
drinks his own coffee. He also
has to have a special valet to riib
his legs every morning so that he
can get out of bed. He will soon
be getting that oldage pension,
but he only laughs, and states
that he had rather be getting an
old agepension than carrying a
liog rifle.
<> * *
Casey Jones, the bullthrower
from south of the MasonDixon
Line has Just came out of dry
dock. No Marine Hospitals for
him. He insisted on a private
ward in a private hospital and
we are damned if he didn't get
It. Bulldozing does go a long way
even in the City of Brotherly
Love. Ask Brother Harry Collins.
He'and Casey are running a tight
race.
» lU Is
All 'foolishness aside: shipping
has been real good. The brdthers
now demand a packard to take
thom.dqwn to look ovei the ship
before they will take the job.
« !l! 4!
The S.S. Warrior of the fam
ous' Waterman Line has sailed,
and boy, oh boyy what a bonus:
One dollar a day when you are
ten.days through the Panama Ca
naly and th^n' when you are ten
dayis from the Canal coming back,
.the bonus stops. The SlU has
SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION ;
OF NORTH AMERICA
Atlantic & Gulf District
HEADQUARTERS
Room 918, Washington Loan & Trust Co. Building,
9th and F Street, N.W., Washington, D. C.
P. O. Box 6180 Phone; District 5963
• • •
DIRECTORY OF BRANCHES
BRANCH ADDRESS ' PHONE
NEW YORK 2 Stone St BOwling Green 93437
BOSTON 330 Atlantic Ave. ...LIBerty 4057
PROVIDENCE .. 465 South Main St. ..Manning 3572
BALTIMORE ... 14 North Gay St. ...Calvert 4539
PHILADELPHIA ,6 North 6th St Lombard 7651
NORFOLK 60 Commercial Pi. ..Norfolk 41083
NEW ORLEANS 309 Chartres St MAgnoIia 3962
SAVANNAH .... 218 East Bay St Savannah 31728 .
JACKSONVILLE ,136 East Bay St. .Jacksonville 59724
TAMPA 206 So. Franklin St. Tampa M1323
MOBILE 65 So. Conception St. Dexter 1449
TEXAS CITY ... 105 4th St., N Texas City 722
MIAMI 1348 N.E. First Ave.. Miami 22950
SAN JUAN ..... 8 Covadonga St San Juan 1885 '
CREW OFSSDOROTHY
WARNS AGAlNSTRATi
S. S. Dorothy
Newark, N. J.
February 3, 1941
Editor, Seafarei6 Log
Dear Sir and Brother:
You will find enclosed a letter,
a copy of wliich was sent to the
Port Captain of the A. H. Bull
S.S. Co., New York, by one How
ard Greene, Cadet on the S.S.
Dorothy and the S.S. Hilton. You
can see the attitude which lie
take.s towkrd the Union.
I know tills man personally, as
I was on the S.S. Hilton with
him.
While he was on there, he
made several remarks about the
Unioir, so in the Port of Philadel
phia we held a special meeting
Brother Collins, Agent, and Broth
eii Flanigan were present and we
'voted, him off the ship.
:0n'his'depai ture he took a ra
dih that belonged to the wiper,
alpo money and a suitcase from
flic First Assistant Engineer and
several other things which did
not belong to liim. In a few days
he came aboard the Dorothy and
made a trip to Corpus Cliristi and
while on there, he borrowed
nioney from several of the fel
lows, and piled off tlie ship leav
ing them holding the bag.
All Agents of all branches
should he notified that he is
to he taken oif any ship that
belongs to the SIU of NA. We
do not want this kind of rat
in dlir Unioni
Prateriially yours,
D. L. Parker, No. 160A.
Deck Delegate
A. A. Hancock, 202G.
• # *
Corpus Christl, Tex.,
December 3, 1940 " .;
Capt. M. Williams, Port Capt.
A. H. Hull & Co., Inc.
115 Broad St.. New York, N.Y.
Dear Sir:
I have been working on the
S.S. Hilton and S.S. Dorothy for
six months as engincroom cadet.
Up until the last month ' two
wipers liave been cai ried on these
ships. During' the last month
there has been onlv' one wiper
carried and I have been doing the
otlier wiper's work. This iloe.sn't
give me a chance to learn much
about engineering.
It" anotlier wiper is not goingnij
to be carried, I feel that if I do , ;
the otliei wiper's work I slioulA <
have a raise in salary.
This request Is made on my ^
own initiative as I am • n6ti"a':'S
member of any Union. I would '
rather not join the Union and
am satisfied to work for the com '
pany.
Please answer in care S.S.'' ' "
Dorothy, Pier 5, Pratt St., Baki "
more, Md. ; ;iT .1,
Respectfully yoiiris , ' .rtj
Howard Greetie. , ,, .
. t J
New Rdbrn Line
Ship$ Named
" Three remaining vessels to he
launched In the Seas Shipping
Conipany's $15,00,0,000 .shipbuild
ing program of six new vessels
for its Robin Liile service be
tween New York and East' and
South Africa will be named
Robin Sherwood, Robin Tuxford
arid' Robin Wentloy, the compairv
announced. The three otliers were
previously named as the Robin
Doncaster, the Robim Kettering
and the Robin Locksley, and are
due to enter the service some
time in April or May. The new
ships are to have a speed of six
teen and onehalf knots, and are
expected to make the tilp be
tween New York and Capetownin
done it again; We lead the way,' seventeen days as comiHiied with
and the< SIU will continue to lead twentysix days for the present
the way in all matters pertaining
to the seamen.
Fraternally,
Th< Three Musketeers,
W.B.B., iNo. 994
J.F.F., No. 542
H.J.C., No. 4»e
ATTENTION
Charles McDonald, No\ 963 ''
Get ill touch tvith" your
si.stei' ill Norfolk concern
ing your brother.
run on ' ten and eleven knot ves
sels; • '
The Seafarers International
Union of North America recently
won a sweeping victory in NLRB
elections conductedv on • Robin
Line ships.
NOTICE TO ALL
SIU MEN
Canuiium Branches of the
Seafarers^' International
Union
When ui Canadian ports,
visit the halls of the follotoing
organizations, affiliated to the
Seafarers' International Union
of North America;
CANADIAN
SEAMEN'S UNION
406 St. Lawrence Bonlevard:
Montreal, Canada
BRITISH COLUMBIA
SEAMEN'S UNION
340B Cainbic Street
Vancouver, B.C.
Phnpp TRinity 2251
/
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THE SEAFARERS' LOG Monday, February 24, 1941
tef V
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i
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r
Resolution on DIrksen Bill
TO THE COMMITTE ON MERCHANT MARINE
AND FISHERIES, WASHINGTON, D. C.
WHEREAS, a Bill known as H.R. 2662 has been intro
duced by Representative Dirksen in the U. S. Congress,
which has as its object to reestablish govornnientcoutrolled
hiring halls for seamen, and, thereby, to abolish the Union
hiring halls fought'for by the seamen's unions with so much
sacrifice and bloodletting, and
WHEREAS, the Dii'ksen Bill states as another of its
aims that of making the notorious "Fink Book" (Copeland
: Continuous Discharge Book, which was overwhelmingly re
jected by the seamen on the occasion of its first appearance)
COMPULSORY, which would be a step in regimenting Amer
ican merchant seamen and which would establish in effect a
labor passport system of the variety found in the totalitarian
states, and
W^HEREAS. the Bill, in calling for practically 100 per
dent manning of ships by full American citizens, would split
v'Ydttiks of the seafarers by excluding from service foreign
^b6rn union seamen and thereby leave the American merchant
marine shorthanded of trained and experienced personnel,
and
WHEREAS, the Dirksen Bill fiirtliermore declares that
• "it shall be unlawful for any maritime employees to strike
tiutil after the expiration of thirty days from the date on
iwhich tbe.v . . . have givetP their employer" written notice,
thus making an attmn])t. to strike for better conditions vir
tually ineffective, and to all intents and purposes abolishing
the eorislitutional right to strike, in a roundabout manner,
and
WHEREAS. Congressman Dirksen has publicly declared
his intention of moving in Congress for the compulsory en
rollment of all merchant seamen into the Naval Reserve,
which would abolish the Union wage scale and collective bar
gaining, and in effect wipe out the existing imions, and
WHEREAS, tlie present Dirksen Bill. H.R. 2662, can he
considered only as a step in the direction of carrying out the
shipowners complete aim of sma.shing tlie seamen's unions
and reintroducing Sea Slavery oil American merchant ships.
Therefore Be It
RESOLVED, that the New York Branch of the Seafarers
International Union of North America go on record declar
ing our unalterable opposition to this slave measure and as
serting bur readiness to fight H.R. 2662, its purposes and its
authors as well as any future sponsors of similar measures,
to the bitter end. And be it further
RESOLVED, that we take tliis opportunity to notify our
officials of our readiiie.s.s to hack them to the fullest measure
of our iiower in any action necessary to combat and defeat
this slave bill, and be it fui'ther
RESOLVED, that tlie Seafarers International Union con
demn this Bill as an attempt of the shipownei's and their
agents in the government to put American seamen into a
bondage worse than that of the dark slave day.s before 1934,
and a step toAvard the regimentating of all American labor,
and be it finally
RESOLVED, that the Seafarers International Union
bring this assault of the shipowners and their stooges upon
the American seamen to the consciousness of the entire Amer
ican people and that we appeal to all of organized labor
throughout the United States to join with us in fighting this
vicious, laborhating Dirksen Bill to the last ditch.
{Adopted by N. Y. Branch, concurred in by all other
Branches.)
Vickery Holds
Mercfi't Marine
Control Likely
Governmejt control of
American merchant marine
operations through the Mari
time Commission to aid "na
tional defense" in the current
emergency was regarded as
certain by Capt. Howard L.
Vickery of the Maritime Com
mission, in an address before
the United States Coast
Guard Academy at New Lon
don, Conn., this week.
This control, Capt. Vickery as
serted, would first take the form
of cargo priorities, witli sltip op
eial'ors told what commodities
they must carry and which goods
they cannot take. The next, step,
he said, would be the requisition
ing of merchant ships, although
ownership would remain vested
in private companies and the ves
sels allowed to keep their officers
and crews. Direct acquisition of
ships by the Navy would be a fur
ther step, as the need arises.
Capt. Vickery pointed, out that
tiie Navy .had already acquired
twentyfive new merchant ships
and fourteen older ones for aux
iliary use in the past year.
Out of the Mailbag
Blasts Junior Engineers
On Waterman Line
Far East Crisis
Sharply Affects
Shipping
To All Branch Agents
Dear Sir and Brothers:
Upon request of Agent Steely White, I hereby re
quest all Agents to be on the lookout for one Walter
Charles Bullis, Avho Avas issued Permit No. 3538. His
permit is to be picked up, rcA'pked and sent to Head
quarters,
Please imstruct your Patrolmen to also be on the
lookout for this man and have his permit picked up, re
voked should they come in contact with him.
In order that a checking record can be accurately
kept here at Headquarters on all permits revoked, I
hereby request that all Agents, in the future, send to
Headquarters a regulation letter accompanying all re
voked permits sent to Headquarters, stating therein the
reasons Avhy such permit was revoked.
Fraternally,
Sydney Gretcher, Sec.Treas.
With the spread of the Euro
pean War to the Far East im
minent, British, Dutch and
Allied shipping in the Pacific
took cover in the nearest
ports in a sudden move last
week. Complete withdrawal
of all ships under Allied flags
from the,se runs is a foregone
conclusion. American ship
ping interests prepared to
take over all transPacific
services this week.
Taking over by American ves
sels is expected to cut doAvn con
siderably present' intercoastal and
coastwise shipping as well as
transAtlantic services, which are
expected to be handled by the
British in the future. Isthmian
Lines, operators of siiips going to
the East Indies, contracted for
eight new vessels from the Mari
time Commission this week. Simr
iiar implementing of merchant
fleets is being undertaken by
Lykes Brother. Matson Line,
President Lines, and American
Ploaeer. in addition some 37
Danish vessels interned here are
expected to be taken OA'er. Orient
runsare expected to go to Amer
lean flag ships exclusively,
Tiiere Is talk of cargo'at pres
ent carried by Intercoastal ves
sels being transshipped overland,
in order to avoid ah acute ship
ping shortage, at least until tiie
[new 200ship building program is
well under way. A priorities sys
tem,' to insure adequate ship
meats of managanese, tungsten,
rubber and other raw materials
essential to "defense production,"
is expected to be instituted by
the government in a first move
toward government control of
shippins^ ' .
Feb. 15, 1941.
Prom all reports, the glorious
junior engineers on the Water
man ships didn't like the new
agreement even a little bit. The
new agreement, along with a
great number of other improve
ments, gave out tlie news to ail
of these licensed stooges that
there would be deck engineers
put on all Waterman ships to do
tlie deck work, and tliat means
that the glorious juniors will ei
ther have to Avork elsewhere on
the ship or_get off.
If they were to get off . . . ev
eryone Avoiiid be better off.
A few years back, ail of this
particular class of stooges were
members of the Union in exis
tence at that time. They were not
very good members; just book
carriers. When the High Com
mand in Mobile decided that they
could save money by having a
Junior engineer to do the deck
work for a fixed \yage and little
or no overtime; t.liey "could atso
make this aforementioned junior
do any work they decided for him
to do over any other part of the
ship. These stooges left the Union
and got tlieir licenses.
One of tlie unlicensed personnel
of the good ship S.S. Panama
City spoke to the junnor of that
sliip one day while he was mak
ing the rounds on the winches,
and made the terrible mistake of
calling lilin "Deck" . . . The ju
nior would never speak to tliat
member of the common herd af
ter that.
Tiiese juniors, along Avith ail of
tlie rest of the licensed personnel
aboard the Waterman ships, can't
realize that the Civil War is over
and has been over for quite a
while. If a man from north ot
tlio Alabama state lino, known as
a "Yankee" to these engineers,
iiappens to ask for a relief, so
that he may go home while the
sliip is in ills port, the engineer
will ask him why he can't stay
aboard and stand his watch, but
if the man lives south of the Aia
bama state line, ail he has to do
is just thi'ow a vague hint to the
effect that he wishes to go home
and he is on his way.
The Union men aboard these
ships do not approve of tactics of
this sort, but what, can they do?
They live up to their agreement,
but unfortunately, we can inject
nothing into the the agreement
that AvllI force tlie juniors and en
gineers to study a bit, and to
learn that tiie Civil War is over,
and that we are no longer South
erners or Northerners—but ail
AMERICANS. Gulf No, 80.
the hospital, regardless of union
allliiation.
Fraternally yours,
J. J. Clark, No. 2939
A. Thaught On .
Aid to England
_ .,w I Baltlmore,Md.
February 17, 1941 '
Editor, Seafarers' Log
Dear Sir and Brothfer:
I wonder, after we the war
for England, if F.D.R. wiil sehd
a letter to England and ask tliat
she raise the English seaman's
pay, that tliey give hiiu better
living conditions, and tliat they
feed him better, so wlien she gete
back on her feet and replaces ail
her delinquent shipping, the
American Merchant Marine may
have a chance in'fair competition?
If not, I am cutting my own
throat by helping England to win
and tlien a few years later, I
can't get a ship because some
English ship has taken over that
run.
Wilson R. Rutherford,
Atlantic No. 50003
Thanks S.I.U. Brothers
For Hospital L^ifts
February 15, 1941
Editor, SeafaVeKs' Lbg
I Dear Sir and Brother:
The men of the SIU and the
Coast Guard who were at the
Hospital at San Juan on Christ
mas Day wish, bbiatedly, to fhank
the crew of the S.S. Rosario for
their kind remembrance.
the twspitaj only, furnished
rice and" bekiis for Chrikmas din
ner, themen were disappointed
untii members of the Rosario's
crew arrived with everything
from turkey to cranberry oauce
and fruit c&lae}. magaziaes and
cigarettes.
True to the SIU spirit, there
was not only enough for the SIU
ffien, but for all: the soamon in
Brass Hats Smear
Efforts Bomerangs
(Continued from Page J)
tiieir leport or liad no relation
to defense.
Of the 100 otIieVs, nearly half:
never affected national defense,
and many more were disputes
that had been adjusted in confer
ence without a minute's lose of
work.
Hiiiman's office called the at
tention of Secretary of the Navy
Knox to the glaring errors, and
it was anticipated he would put
out a correction. Knox had signed
the original letter to the Senate
Naval Affairs Committee, but it
was explained he had relied on
the Admirals for the data, thus
unwittingly misleading Congress.
Labor leaders in the Capital
blamed the antiunionism of the
NaA'y brass hats on the fact that
they, had never forgiven Organ
ized labor for iiaving exposed
their pet" "MDay plan" which, un
der tiie guise of defmise, would
have placed such rigid shackles
on Avorkers as to ti?rn them into
virtual slaves.
—From Lahor.
TO ALL AGENTS
Atlantic & Gulf District
Dear Sirs and Brothers:
This is to advise you
that the permit of one
Charless H. Maxwell,
No. P3337, is to picked up
and revoked and sent to
Headquarters the first bp
portunity you have to
come in contact %vith the
holder of same. Please in
struct your Patrolmen to
be on the lookout; for this
man. Should they . come in
contact Aviith him, pick up
his permit and revoke the
same.
The creAv of the S.S. Do
rothy has gone on record
to have this man's permit
revoked; therefore the rea
son for the above. .
Sydney Grstohsr,
Scc.Tre&s, .
II
• • i'r A.
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VOL. Ill NEW YORK ,N. Y., MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1941 *48 No. 4
A.F.L. BACKS SEAMEN H. R. 2662
SEND TELEGRAMS TO HOUSE COMMIHEE
ON MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES!
' " •
In order that all Branches may file a lastminute protest
to the Bill which will greatly strengthen our battle against
it, we urgently request all Branches to send, individually, to
the House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries,
Washington, D.C., a strongly worded telegram of protest
against any and all parts of Bill H.R. 2662.
These telegnims slionld be ciddressed direetly to the
House Committee on Mcrclmnt Marine and Fisheries and
should be sent on Fel)rufirv 26 and not the day before or the
clay after.
We can expect a tough battle, and all help is needed no
matter how little. All members and ships' crews, if possiible,
should send telegrams of protest on the 26th to the House
Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries, Washington,
D.C. pledging full support to President Harry Lundeberg.
Brother Lundeberg is here in Washington, and we have been
busy lining up all possible support aaginst the Bill.
SUP Wins Wage
Negotiations between the
Sailors Union of the Pacific
and the Pacific American
Shipowners Associations re
sulted in inreases in basic
pay as well in bonuses for the
sailors, the SUP announced
this week.
The monthly Mugv inereaHe on
offshore, intercoastal ve.ssels is
17.50, raising A B.'s wages to $90.
and others acrordingly; in the
Alaska trade the raise amounts to
$2.50, bringing A.B.'e pay up to
$92.50, as on steamscliooners.
Bonuses (formerly on 'a 25 per
cent basis) are as follows now:
Suva to Suva run, $2+, which is
a raise of $7.68; transPacific run,
~$21, a raise of " $8.76;roundthe
world run. passenger service,
$70.40, a raise of $22.20, and
freighters, $71.20, a raise of
$23.20,
Freight Rates
Skyrocket on
Foreign Runs
Freight rates took a sud
den spurt upwards in the last
few weeks. In some runs big
boosts have already taken
place; in others, decisions are
soon forthcoming.
The Far East Conference of
shipowners, taking advantage of
the crisis in Pacific waters, has
increased its rates by twentyfive
(25) per cent as of March 1,
1941. The conferences have put in
advances on a number of items.
New it appears that the U.S.A.
Sontli African Conference will ad
vance all of its rates by fifteen
(15) per cent as of March 15.
"How much higher rates will
go," says the Journal of Com
merce, big shippers' organ, "no
one can say. .... The prospect is
that they will keep on up so long
as the terrific demand for cargo
space continues." (Feb. 17, 1941).
The union will have to he on
the alert to keep seamen's wages
up on a level with profits.
Brass Hat Effort to Smear
Labor Bomerangs
'' Brass hats " in the Navy Departmentr who s'ddhm over
look an opportunity to smear Unions, tried again this week
to give labor a black eye, but the attempt boomeranged.
The Admirals prepared what^
they said was an analysis of
strikes on "national defense" and
sent it to the Senate Naval Af
fairs Committee, with a letter
that sought to picture the labor
situation on defense as alarming.
The list looked formidable. It
carried 27 strike.s tvhich were
.called "current" and 100 more
which were described as "settled."
In fact it was the large.st collec
tion of apparent walkouts on de
fense any agency of the govern
Muent has been able to compile'.
However, the tabulation didn't
stand the light of day for long.
Department of Labor representa
tives and assistants to Sidney
Hillman, labor member of the Na
tional Defense Commission,
combed the list' and here is what
they fqund:
Over 20 of the so-called "cur-
rent" strikes were either settled
long before the Admirals put out
{Continued on Page 4)
Pres. Green Declares Federation ^'Stands
Unalterably Opposed^ to/pirksen Bill
In a Teller to Brotlier Harry Lundeberg, outlining tlie "Iiiglily oli
jectionable" features of H.R. 2662, President William Green announced
this week that the American Federation of Labor '"'stands unalterably
opposed" to the vicious,
Dirksen Bill.
Authorizing the Acting In
ternational President of the
Seafarers' International Un
ion of North America to "use
this letter" in bringing the
weight of the entire A.F, of
L. to bear against this bill at
hearings before the House
Committee on Merchant Ma
rine and Fisheries this coming
Wednesday, Februaiy 26,
President Green assured the
seamen of full support from
organized labor in this fight
against the legalization of
Fink Hall and Fink Book op
pression.
The A.F. of L. liead'.s let
ter outlining the Federatioirs
position on the Dirksen Bill
and the attitude of labor to it
is herewith published in full:
Lundeberg Blasts Phoney
Bill at Hearings in Capital
Hearings on H.R. 2662, the Dirksen Bill, have been set
for Wednesday, February 26, 1941, the House Committee on
Merchant Marine and Fisheries announced in Washington,
D. C., this week. A delegation from the Seafarers Interna
tional Union and the Sailors Union of the Pacific, as well as
other maritime labor organizations, will appear at the hear
ings to present the rank and file seaman's case against this
pernicious legislation.
Headed by Acting Interna
tional President Harry Lun
ileberg, the seamen's repre
sentatives intend to leave no
stone unturned in exposing
the antilabor cbaracter of
the proposed bill.
In a report from Washington,
D. C., Brother Lundeberg says of
H.R. 2662: "This bill affects every
American Union seaman, and af
(ect.s every seamen's union, botti
now and in the future.
"It is tiie most' vicious piece of
antiseamen legislation," Brother
Lundeberg states, "ever to be in
troduced in Congress. I believe
tliere are strong forces lined up
here to try to pass this bill, or
the most important part of it,
namely, the part that deals with
our hiring system.
"From what 1 can learn here
the purpose of the whole bill is
to knock out our hiring system,
and put the seamen back in the
Fink Hulls under government' su
pervision and the old blacklistlTiR
system of the Shipping Board
days will be here again. This bill
is cleverly drawn up, and no
doubt some highpriced sliipown
ers admiralty lawyer has had a
Iiand in drawing this Bill up.
This bill will also nullify parts
of the Seamen's Act passed in
1915 which the SUP,"through An
drew Furuarth, fought 21 years
to have enacted.
"This bill, they say. Is for the
purpose of cleaning out the Com
I .
munists and Nazis in the Amer-
ican Merchnt Marine. This is a
laughs—as a matter of fact if this
bill is enacted that Communists
and Nazis will be sailing as usual
through tlie Fink Halls, and the
militant Union seamen will be
blacklisted on the beach. As they
have done in the past, this ele-
ment will be the first to register
in the Fink Halls aiid will be
(Continued on Page 2)
Boy Flogger Good
Enough for Army
Colonel Raymond W. Combs
was dismissed as supferinten
dent of the Colorado Indus
trial School last week by the
State Civil Service Commis
sion. Combs Iiad ordered sev
eral boys between 11 and 1.1
years old chained together,
flogged, and held in solitary
conflneinent.
Colonel Combs will now re
smno active duty with the
army.
• A
President Green's Letter
To Brother Lundeberg
February 19, 19il
Mr. Harry Lundebeig, Pre.sident
Seafarer.s' Ihternational Union of Xorlli America
Harripgton Hotel, Wa.shington, D.C.
Dear President Lundeberg:
I directed Judge Padway, our Ceueral Counsel, to examine
H.Il. 2662 introduced by Congressman Dirksen and to report
to me on the bill. I have personally examihed many of its
more important features. From Judge Padway's report and
my own consideration of the bill I am definitely of the opinion
that this bill will prove most detrimental to the interests and
welfare of onr seamen.
It is clear that Sec. 103 (a), (b) and (c) outlining the
"procedure for engaging seamen" will permit the master of
a ve.ssel to engage in arbitrary selection and to indulge in dis
crimination.
OPPOSED FINK HALL BEFORE
See. 104, dealing with "duties of Shipping Commi.s.sioner"
imperils and perhaps destroys the right to operate and the
operation of the hiring halls provided by the seamen themi
selves. The American Federation was obliged to oppose the
plan set forth in the bill when it was proposed by the United
States Maritime Commission in 1939. AVe are still of the same
opinion and strongly oppose the method provided for in this
section of the bill.
BLASTS "BLACKLIST" PROVISIONS
Sec. 105 and its several subdivisions provide for furnish
ing seamen with "continuous discharge books." It needs no
effort to discern that this system may be converted into an
employers' blacklist, which is highly objectionable to organ
ized labor. In fact throughout the years of its existence, the
American Federation, of Labor has fought the "blacklist"
and it has succeeded in obtaining legislation outlawing it in
many states. It is an "unfair Labor practice" under the Na
tional Labor Relations Act. It is certainly inconsistent with
{Co7itinucd on Page 2)
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http://www.pdfcompressor.org/buy.html
.THE SEAFARERS' LOG Monday, Pebruary 24, 1941
ir
!lr'
Published by the
ATLANTIC & GULF DISTRICT
of the
Seafarers* International Union
of North America
Affiliated with the American Federation of Labor
HARRY LUNDEBERG. Acting International President
110 Market Street, Room 402, San Francisco, Calif.
ADDRESS ALL CORRESPONDENCE CONCERNING THIS
PUBLICATION TO:
"THE SEAFARERS' LOG"
P. O. Boic 522, Church St. Annex, New York, N. Y.
Phone: BOwling Green 93437
Dirksen *s Bill: Spearhead of
An Attack on Organized Labor
111 form tlio new Dirksen Dill. II. R. 2662. is an onslaniilit
on union seamen. In essence, it is llie spearhead of an attack
direotod against all of organized labor in the United State.s.
With the growing war emeigeney, the dominant employer
class haJ/eonstantly Reen girding for a blitzkrieg all its own
again.st the nnion.s, against organized labor. Under the
Sfereetehin'gt veneer of jiatriot i.sm and the pseiuhneinieern
over "national ilefense" a Avhole series of sehenies have been
laiinched by big business to suppress the militancy of the
" • working" man—his only protect ion , against abject slavery.
Esen now. Represpntatives Smith of Virginia, Vinson of
Georgia and (tare Hoffman of Michigan are framing bills in
Congre.ss whose aims are no less thap to ban strikes, break
down the closed shop, introduce ofTieial blacklisting, divide
labor's house and supinc.ss elementary eJvil liberties.
But all these aims are sjiread fullblown alieady in the
Dirksen Bill. Only this Bill, tlie first to come before a House
Committee, directs its .shafts exclusively at seamen. That is
not" at all accidental. Since the great awakening of 1034,
seamen have been leading the parade of all American labor
in the struggle for a decent living and forthe emancipation
of the great mass of the populat ion from tin! deadening grip
of the greedy jnofiteers. It is no more than to be expected
that the profithungry tycoons would single out the seamen
for the very first blows in theirattack on labor.
Consider for a moment what theDirk.sen Bill aims at.
1. First of all, it proposes to reintroduce the government
—controlled hiringhall, the Flnki Hall, and to abolish under
heavy criminal penalty the Union Hiring Hall—the biggest
gain of the maritime unions in the whole past period of stnjg
, gle. The smashing of the Union Hiring Hall—Avhat is that
• but the .smashing of the Closed Shop as applied to marine
labor? What, is thai more than the a.ssault of the Open Shop
employers,_tljreeted in this inslauce against the seamen ?
2. Secondly, it aims to make OOMPULSORY the adoption
of the Copeland Continuous Discharge Book—the Pink Book
of long notoriety. What is that more than an attempt to. in
troduce for seamen the blackliisting labor pa.ssjjorl, system,
which big business wants to establish in all industry under
^ guise of combating sabotage?
3. Thirdly, H.R. 2662 stdnds for tremendously increased
restrictions against foreignborn seamen sailing on American
ships. What is that ihore than the wellplannofj attempt to
divide labor against it.self, in this case applied merely to the
men who run the ships?
4. Fourth, the Dirksen Bill wants to make it a "lawful
command" for the Master, AT HIS OWN DISCRETION; to
ban the distribution of what he considers "subversive litera
ture." I nder this provision, the skipper can ban, under
penalty of prison ttrms, tin; j)a.ssing around by members of
the crew of copies of West Coast Sailor oi of the Seafarers
Log, or for that matter, of any printed iton which calls for
increa.sed organizational effort on the part of the unions.
What is that more than the plot to suppre.ss the civil liberties
of all labor, conceived by the big profiteers, and directed in
this case again.st seagoing workmen? '
5. Finally, H.R. 2662 proposes to place the infamous
'thirty day" clause On all strike actions, along with stran
^iating compulsory arbitration machinery All in the name
of "national defense," of course. What is that but the gen
eral plan to outlaw..strikes, brought down with full force on
the seamen's unions?
fevery provision, every phrase of this rotten and vicious
measure is directed by Dirksen at the seamen, BUT IT IS
MEANT FOR ALL OF AMERTUAN LABOR!
In every .sense of the Mmrd. H.R. 2662 is the spearhead of
ah attack.a gaiuHt. brganized labor as a w'hole! The .seamen
and their unionshave declared their determination to fight
this poisf)nou« attack to the fini.sh. It is up to organized labor
as a whole to back this fight up in the fullest measure of its
ability. The interests of every working; stiiff are at stMe.
A Frank Opinion
On What's Behind
'National<Dyense'
Ben.janiiu C. Marsh, secretary
of tlie IVople's Lobby, reports
that a few weeks ago, "the owner
of one of America's leading news
papeis, a good money maker, who
knows the President well, told
him fliat we must get into tlie
war because tlie world must be
controlled "by the British Empire
and tlie American Empire.'
• "Wlien 1 asked liim why he used
tlie ferni 'American Empire,' lie
replied: 'Why not' be practical,
that is what we are, and that is
what we have got to he'/'
A leading' Wasiiingtan service
for business men refers to the
probable course of the United
States fi'oni now on as one ol
fralik , "iniiierialism;" .This, it
.says, "could go underaiiyone ol
several names. But it means sup
port for the British; insistence
upon, continued sea control at th©
cost of war If necessary; gradual
assumption of responsibility for
functioning of the British ' Em
pire, witli England as probably
the junior partner. . ."
Tills course, the service In
forms, "is chosen by Roosevelt
and is to underlie coming devel
oiiments." This is what underlies,
also, the. phrases about "national
defense" and "democracy." Wall
Street recognizes tliese words as
necessary subterfuges, u.seful In
tlie campaign "to swing Congress
and iiuhlic opinion" as the Kip
linger agency put. it in its W^asli
ington letter last November.
—From Efoiirrinie Notes.
{Continued from Page 1)
.good stooges, wliil© a good Union
man will be in the, street.
"The shipowners, as any other
industrialist, know no country
where their, personal interest is
involved. What the hell do they
care if they break up the Unions
'through law? They'll be satisfied
to hire Communists, Nazis, or
HulyRollers as long as they can
make dough and get cheap crews.
The Communists and Nazis will
give them any deal they ask for.
"Cleverly, the shipowners say
that as long as this hill goes
through they can clean out the
ships of subversive activitieSj
and they are aided and abetted
in their cry by antilabor forces
in the various reactionary gov
ernment bureaus. What they
mean Is they'd be able' to finger
all militant Union men ̂ nd break
up the Unions and get back to
wages and working conditions
laid down by themselves without
any interference from the
Unions."
President Green *s Letter
To Brother^ Lundeberg
(Continued from Page 1)
th6 present policy of our government to encourage the enact
ment of any law that can operate as a blacklist of employees.
CALLS BILL VIOLATION OF CONSTITUTION
Soe. 106 duals with "di.s|,ribulion of subversive ])ropa
ganda at sea." The American Federation of Labor has re
peatedly proclaimed that is is opposed to subversive activities
and propaganda. However, the method devised to supjiress
subversive activities must conform with Constitutional rights
and such metliods must not be wor.se than the evil it seeks
to eliminate. Sec. 106 places in the master the right do, com
mand the destruction or the prohibition of distribution of
any book, pamphlet, .leaflet or other pnblieatiou or item of
written, printed, or graphic matter, which in his opinion
is calculated to encourage disloyalty to the constitution of
the United States.
It is easy to see that such broad and unlimited grant of ^
power may be the means of suppressing books and literature
dealing with trade unionism upon the mere declaration of '
the master that such literature encourages disloyalty. I
rather think that such summary power would invade the con
stitutional guarantee of free speech and press. But whether
it does or not, the provision vesting such power is objection
able because there is no cheek against its abuse.
Title II dealing with "Citizenship Reqniremeuts for Man ,
ning \'e.s,sels" is quite .stringent and likely lo bat many sea
men and fi.shermoJi legally resident in this eonntry from mak
ing a livelihood.
Title III,' providing for ''Mediation of Maritime Labor
Disputes, " is patterned after provisions in several other bills
now before Congress. At the bottom of them lies some form
of "Compulsion" and the curtailment of the right to strike.
The American Federation of Labor is on record as opposed
to this form of legislation, and for reasons already iwidely
publicized it is'opposed to thd "mediation" provisions of '
this bill. I see no reason for the elimination of the Depart
ment of Labor in Maritime disputes. Its conciliation service v.
has fimctioned satisfadtorily and we leel it ean and will dpn!;
tinue to do so.
There are .so many objectionable featiire.s in this lull, that
such beneficial provisions as are contained in it are far out
weighed by those highly detrinlental to labor, and particu
arly the seamen. Therefore, the! American Federation of Lai
bor Stands unalterably opposed to this bill.'
You are privileged to use this letter before the Gommittee
considering this bill as expressing the views of,,the American
Federation of Labor.
(Signed) WM. GREEN, President,
American Federation of Labor
Seafarers' Log Honor Roll
Wanted
By the Draft •
Me.inhers whose names ap-
pear under this healing sfiould
immediately comnmnicate loith
the Local Draft Board men-
tioned. For their, own protec-
tion they should do so imthout
fail.
Harvey. Charles ' Hill
Wanted by Lobal Board
No. 3, Franklin County,
Waynesboro, Pa.
ELMEItBAJtBER
Your Local Selective
Service board is trying to
locate you. Get in touch
.with them as .soon as ppa
sible.
S.S. IBERVILLE
S.S. DOROTHY ,
10.00
9.50
S.S. CORNELIA 7.75
J. 1). McLcmore 3.00
L. Coiiners 1.00
S.S. Kofresi ; ' 5.50
C. Hitchcock 10.00
F. O. Blanco $10.00
C; Melendez ;. 10.00
S.S. CLARE (Eng. Dept.) . U LOO'
T; Tooma LOD
r«
• if'%
Total ....
Itemized accounts of previously reported .donations:
S.S. ROSARlbr F. Caban 50c. Vicente' Jimenez '25c, F. •
Barliao50c, C. FiBher $1.00, Mario Farruya 50c, W. Ha
milton 50c, W, Jenkins 25c. M. E. Watson 25c, H. .lansen •
25c. R. D. Lewjs $1.00, F. Jimenez 20c, Pedro Velez 25c,
E. Nunez 25c ..' Total $0.20
S.S. CITY OF BIRMINGHAM: A. B. Anderson 50c, J. M.
Hudson 25c, A. B. Sharpe 25c, Bos'n Winecoff 25c, Home
25e, Dykes' 25c, Olsen 25c, Blanton 26c, Martin 25c, Mas^
kell 25c,/Colsou 25c, Halvorsen 25c, J. E. Da Rocha 25c,
Hansen 25c Total'$3.75 '
S.S. GRBYLOOK: G. Ehmsen $1.00, W. Labaskl $2.00,
A. Harrelson $1.00, H. JHodges $1.00, R. BelleVance $2.00,
J. Welsh $1.00, A. Lloyd $1.00, N. Kaastrup $2.00, P. Ka
minski $1.00, H. Raport $1.00, F. Hagin $1.00, B. Smyley •
$1.00, E, Witt fl.OO, R. Langford tl.OO. RL Febwortn
$4.00.:J. . smith: $1.00,' J. Mandano $1.00,' D. DHx $1.00,''
T; Shea $1.00,'J. Murphy, $1.00, H. de Boaz $3.00, J, EI®
Hot $2.00, • W. Silvi'$1.00, R. Thomas 1.00 . . Total>$33,00
> ;Ut .. •
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http://www.pdfcompressor.org/buy.html
Monday, February 24, 194f^
y • * • v* ^• '. ; • ' • : • • • •
- -J "S' - '
THE SEAFARERS' LOG
JP^ h a t ' 8 D o i n g,—
TEXAS CITY
Editor Seafarers Log;
Dear Sir and Bro.:
Started out as a very dead week,
but the old law of averages came
to the front and for the week end,
the old rush. Shipidng very good,
forced to sail the Seatrain New
Jersey shoit a chief cook. Out
side of that dug ui) the men
needed for the week.
*• • • » >y
The men on the ships are al
ready trying to pay the $5.00 as
sessment. So if this is any sign
it will be carried very handily.
11 * . V
The Italian ship I mentioned
the other week is di.schaiging her
cargo. I'll bet, looking at it as a
sailor, it's ,1ust a racket to get
• '.more ship.side for the boys to
V'aint only
« n *
Was in Beaumont yesterday
and met W. H. Farley, business
agent for the tungshoremen there
and any one who pays off there,
go up and,.register with him for
the Sabine District. Also, after
April there will be a Bro. in Cor
pus Christl who will be on the
beach'there all summer who will
donate his services toward plac
ing men on the ships there. With
this, sort of a setup, when the
Brothers willing go out of their
way to do these sort of things,
which way are we headed? Yep,'
that is right, ahead at all timesi
, « *
The pride of Norfolk was in
Hbuston tlie first of the week and
talk about a layout tliat needs
\tbrking on, the E.T.Co.'s tug
Sapison is it. Quarters are lousy
and plenty more of tlie. same sort
of thing. Then to toji off with, a
fireman, quit the tub and the old
man paid him off with a check.
Now no one in this country knows
anything about tliis company. Re
sult: the lad had a big tiine all
by himself trying to cash it. Not
that the checks aren't good, just
Qiiit a stranger with a check on
a strqnge company is in for a hell
of^ time. This should be taken
up with this Co. and cash pay
iii'diils made.
^ . 4. * * ,
' .,VThe Margaretsof the Bull fam
Ky was in this A.Ml, keeping the
Francis Salmon company, and
talk about a diff, It's a bucko diff.
On the Francis, all O.K. On the
Margaret, nothing O.K. Chow
bad, not enough of it and the
cooks getting careless. A meet
ing held aboard the ship and a
corn'mittee elected to assist the
Steward In making out his list. So
keep an eye on this ship. Believe,
there will be more about her in
the near future. No squawks on
deck or below.
« at
Mark this in gold letters' or
something Aboard two ships this
A.M. and didn't see one drunk.
Yea, they were Jn long enough for
all hands to b^ tight.
• *
Don't see many responses from
the ships regards the Dirksen
Bill, don't see any responses
from the members regards writ
ing to the Log, still don't see
some ports reporting in the
paper, ye Gods, I just don't see!
Steady as she goes.
A, W. Armstrong
In Memoriam
THOMAS RYAN
Died In U.S. Marine Hospital
Ellis Island, N. V.
. January 28, 1941
i JOSLYN CARLON
Died in Mobile, Ala.:
\
)NSTANTIN REDDER
lied D. S. Marine Hospital
Staten Island, N. V.
February 5, 1941
thjROBERT C. BROWN
lied U. S. Marine Hospital
Staten Island, NT V.
on January /16,. 1941
OlO&OE FORESTER
Died In Boston
Jisuary SI, 1941
Editor, Seafarers Log,
Dear Sii ami Bro.;
Take eight ship.s, scatter them
over a hundred and fifty miles,
give tiie crews phone money, and
shake well and result; a hell of
a busy time for yours truly. The
Delnorte started the week, bright
and early Monday morning. The
Plow City wound it up (I hope)
Friday night. Had to sail the
City short an A.B., couldn't find
one. It got so bad here for a while
that I was meeting myself coming
back. Such is the life of a PIE
CARD!
* » «
Just tiie usual run of beefs.
Squared away as usual. The
week's runaround was on the
Mar.sodak. The radiator in the
sailor's quarters had no drainand
about the time the gang would go
to sleep, a regular anvil cliorus
would start. The gang luid been
promised and promised that it
would be fixed but she came in
stni needing fixing. Told the
Chief about it and he agreed to
fife it. Next day, upon making
the sliip, found no effort to even
start *the job. So then had to in
form the officers that tlie job
must he done .befoi e sailing. Re
sult; a shore gang came down
and turned to. Why, oil why, is
it' necessary for tiiese petty things
to be carried on and on?
• Htm
The biggest tiling down here
right now is the sliortage of
rooms. You can't beg, buy, bor
row 01' steal a place to live in
.this town. In tills immediate dis:
trict there are three big Govern
ment jobs going on. So Texas
City,. Galveston and all the out
lying towns are overcrowded.
Rooms that used to go for $2.50
aifd $3.00, now bring $6.00 and
$7.00 and you can't get them at
that price. The men, when they
come on the beach, have to go to
(lalveston and some as far as
Houston, to get rooms. We have
put some, cots in the hall, but it
fe darn cold.
*
Shipping, still very good witli l?
^oing on the job,' A.B.'s are still
if real rarity around here. Missed
fliree this week on shipsi in this
tllstriGt. 1
• • » « '
Steady, as she goes,
A. W. Armstrong
PHILADELPHIA
ISOTICE \ :
• . Brpther lUiy Day
Rlcase get in touch: Avith
Orleans Agent, C. M.
'Rogers, immediately, about
an. important and urgent
matter.
Philadelphia, Feb. 17, 1941
Editor, Seafarers' Log,
Deal Sir and Brother; —
Well, well, the old clock has
ticked again and another election
has gone on it's way, so here we
are again, giving you the low
down, scandal and gossip on
Philly. Quite a few members
voted, and showed the rising dem
ocratic and militant .spirit of this
up and coming organization.
« « «
Yes, yes indeed, the "OLD
BULL LINE KITCHEN BITCH",
"Seaweed" went into the USPHS
drydock, and from all indications,
he must have had a high speed
gear attached to him, for he 'has
made the "Losmar," and from all
reports, he now has got to have
his breaks or brakes fixed, so that
he can slow down a little.
:s S:
The dispatcher, the flying Da
go, Arrcra, shipped out on the
Wafrior headed for all points to
and from "Jalopi", but wlien he
was told that he was going to
China, Japan, and the Islands, he
politely informed all concerned
(in Italian also) that lie could not
speak either of the lingoes, and
that he'd be darned if tlie "War
rior" or any other rnstbncket
e.oiild'get him out there. "Oke,
then, COASTWISE ' ARRERA."
Better luck next time.
!S :S
Thihgs are mighty lively around
here now. Someone dropped a
pin, and three members jumped
up and yelled together; Don't
shoot, I'll marryyour daughter.
Jimmie (Take upthe slack). Ha
ger was one of the yelpers.
fli >1:
Charlie (1 got a motion to
make) Lovelace, thp aeroplane
messman, lias finally come home
to roost, and now makes and
drinks his own coffee. He also
has to have a special valet to riib
his legs every morning so that he
can get out of bed. He will soon
be getting that oldage pension,
but he only laughs, and states
that he had rather be getting an
old agepension than carrying a
liog rifle.
<> * *
Casey Jones, the bullthrower
from south of the MasonDixon
Line has Just came out of dry
dock. No Marine Hospitals for
him. He insisted on a private
ward in a private hospital and
we are damned if he didn't get
It. Bulldozing does go a long way
even in the City of Brotherly
Love. Ask Brother Harry Collins.
He'and Casey are running a tight
race.
» lU Is
All 'foolishness aside: shipping
has been real good. The brdthers
now demand a packard to take
thom.dqwn to look ovei the ship
before they will take the job.
« !l! 4!
The S.S. Warrior of the fam
ous' Waterman Line has sailed,
and boy, oh boyy what a bonus:
One dollar a day when you are
ten.days through the Panama Ca
naly and th^n' when you are ten
dayis from the Canal coming back,
.the bonus stops. The SlU has
SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION ;
OF NORTH AMERICA
Atlantic & Gulf District
HEADQUARTERS
Room 918, Washington Loan & Trust Co. Building,
9th and F Street, N.W., Washington, D. C.
P. O. Box 6180 Phone; District 5963
• • •
DIRECTORY OF BRANCHES
BRANCH ADDRESS ' PHONE
NEW YORK 2 Stone St BOwling Green 93437
BOSTON 330 Atlantic Ave. ...LIBerty 4057
PROVIDENCE .. 465 South Main St. ..Manning 3572
BALTIMORE ... 14 North Gay St. ...Calvert 4539
PHILADELPHIA ,6 North 6th St Lombard 7651
NORFOLK 60 Commercial Pi. ..Norfolk 41083
NEW ORLEANS 309 Chartres St MAgnoIia 3962
SAVANNAH .... 218 East Bay St Savannah 31728 .
JACKSONVILLE ,136 East Bay St. .Jacksonville 59724
TAMPA 206 So. Franklin St. Tampa M1323
MOBILE 65 So. Conception St. Dexter 1449
TEXAS CITY ... 105 4th St., N Texas City 722
MIAMI 1348 N.E. First Ave.. Miami 22950
SAN JUAN ..... 8 Covadonga St San Juan 1885 '
CREW OFSSDOROTHY
WARNS AGAlNSTRATi
S. S. Dorothy
Newark, N. J.
February 3, 1941
Editor, Seafarei6 Log
Dear Sir and Brother:
You will find enclosed a letter,
a copy of wliich was sent to the
Port Captain of the A. H. Bull
S.S. Co., New York, by one How
ard Greene, Cadet on the S.S.
Dorothy and the S.S. Hilton. You
can see the attitude which lie
take.s towkrd the Union.
I know tills man personally, as
I was on the S.S. Hilton with
him.
While he was on there, he
made several remarks about the
Unioir, so in the Port of Philadel
phia we held a special meeting
Brother Collins, Agent, and Broth
eii Flanigan were present and we
'voted, him off the ship.
:0n'his'depai ture he took a ra
dih that belonged to the wiper,
alpo money and a suitcase from
flic First Assistant Engineer and
several other things which did
not belong to liim. In a few days
he came aboard the Dorothy and
made a trip to Corpus Cliristi and
while on there, he borrowed
nioney from several of the fel
lows, and piled off tlie ship leav
ing them holding the bag.
All Agents of all branches
should he notified that he is
to he taken oif any ship that
belongs to the SIU of NA. We
do not want this kind of rat
in dlir Unioni
Prateriially yours,
D. L. Parker, No. 160A.
Deck Delegate
A. A. Hancock, 202G.
• # *
Corpus Christl, Tex.,
December 3, 1940 " .;
Capt. M. Williams, Port Capt.
A. H. Hull & Co., Inc.
115 Broad St.. New York, N.Y.
Dear Sir:
I have been working on the
S.S. Hilton and S.S. Dorothy for
six months as engincroom cadet.
Up until the last month ' two
wipers liave been cai ried on these
ships. During' the last month
there has been onlv' one wiper
carried and I have been doing the
otlier wiper's work. This iloe.sn't
give me a chance to learn much
about engineering.
It" anotlier wiper is not goingnij
to be carried, I feel that if I do , ;
the otliei wiper's work I slioulA <
have a raise in salary.
This request Is made on my ^
own initiative as I am • n6ti"a':'S
member of any Union. I would '
rather not join the Union and
am satisfied to work for the com '
pany.
Please answer in care S.S.'' ' "
Dorothy, Pier 5, Pratt St., Baki "
more, Md. ; ;iT .1,
Respectfully yoiiris , ' .rtj
Howard Greetie. , ,, .
. t J
New Rdbrn Line
Ship$ Named
" Three remaining vessels to he
launched In the Seas Shipping
Conipany's $15,00,0,000 .shipbuild
ing program of six new vessels
for its Robin Liile service be
tween New York and East' and
South Africa will be named
Robin Sherwood, Robin Tuxford
arid' Robin Wentloy, the compairv
announced. The three otliers were
previously named as the Robin
Doncaster, the Robim Kettering
and the Robin Locksley, and are
due to enter the service some
time in April or May. The new
ships are to have a speed of six
teen and onehalf knots, and are
expected to make the tilp be
tween New York and Capetownin
done it again; We lead the way,' seventeen days as comiHiied with
and the< SIU will continue to lead twentysix days for the present
the way in all matters pertaining
to the seamen.
Fraternally,
Th< Three Musketeers,
W.B.B., iNo. 994
J.F.F., No. 542
H.J.C., No. 4»e
ATTENTION
Charles McDonald, No\ 963 ''
Get ill touch tvith" your
si.stei' ill Norfolk concern
ing your brother.
run on ' ten and eleven knot ves
sels; • '
The Seafarers International
Union of North America recently
won a sweeping victory in NLRB
elections conductedv on • Robin
Line ships.
NOTICE TO ALL
SIU MEN
Canuiium Branches of the
Seafarers^' International
Union
When ui Canadian ports,
visit the halls of the follotoing
organizations, affiliated to the
Seafarers' International Union
of North America;
CANADIAN
SEAMEN'S UNION
406 St. Lawrence Bonlevard:
Montreal, Canada
BRITISH COLUMBIA
SEAMEN'S UNION
340B Cainbic Street
Vancouver, B.C.
Phnpp TRinity 2251
/
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V , . }•
THE SEAFARERS' LOG Monday, February 24, 1941
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't*:: m
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Resolution on DIrksen Bill
TO THE COMMITTE ON MERCHANT MARINE
AND FISHERIES, WASHINGTON, D. C.
WHEREAS, a Bill known as H.R. 2662 has been intro
duced by Representative Dirksen in the U. S. Congress,
which has as its object to reestablish govornnientcoutrolled
hiring halls for seamen, and, thereby, to abolish the Union
hiring halls fought'for by the seamen's unions with so much
sacrifice and bloodletting, and
WHEREAS, the Dii'ksen Bill states as another of its
aims that of making the notorious "Fink Book" (Copeland
: Continuous Discharge Book, which was overwhelmingly re
jected by the seamen on the occasion of its first appearance)
COMPULSORY, which would be a step in regimenting Amer
ican merchant seamen and which would establish in effect a
labor passport system of the variety found in the totalitarian
states, and
W^HEREAS. the Bill, in calling for practically 100 per
dent manning of ships by full American citizens, would split
v'Ydttiks of the seafarers by excluding from service foreign
^b6rn union seamen and thereby leave the American merchant
marine shorthanded of trained and experienced personnel,
and
WHEREAS, the Dirksen Bill fiirtliermore declares that
• "it shall be unlawful for any maritime employees to strike
tiutil after the expiration of thirty days from the date on
iwhich tbe.v . . . have givetP their employer" written notice,
thus making an attmn])t. to strike for better conditions vir
tually ineffective, and to all intents and purposes abolishing
the eorislitutional right to strike, in a roundabout manner,
and
WHEREAS. Congressman Dirksen has publicly declared
his intention of moving in Congress for the compulsory en
rollment of all merchant seamen into the Naval Reserve,
which would abolish the Union wage scale and collective bar
gaining, and in effect wipe out the existing imions, and
WHEREAS, tlie present Dirksen Bill. H.R. 2662, can he
considered only as a step in the direction of carrying out the
shipowners complete aim of sma.shing tlie seamen's unions
and reintroducing Sea Slavery oil American merchant ships.
Therefore Be It
RESOLVED, that the New York Branch of the Seafarers
International Union of North America go on record declar
ing our unalterable opposition to this slave measure and as
serting bur readiness to fight H.R. 2662, its purposes and its
authors as well as any future sponsors of similar measures,
to the bitter end. And be it further
RESOLVED, that we take tliis opportunity to notify our
officials of our readiiie.s.s to hack them to the fullest measure
of our iiower in any action necessary to combat and defeat
this slave bill, and be it fui'ther
RESOLVED, that tlie Seafarers International Union con
demn this Bill as an attempt of the shipownei's and their
agents in the government to put American seamen into a
bondage worse than that of the dark slave day.s before 1934,
and a step toAvard the regimentating of all American labor,
and be it finally
RESOLVED, that the Seafarers International Union
bring this assault of the shipowners and their stooges upon
the American seamen to the consciousness of the entire Amer
ican people and that we appeal to all of organized labor
throughout the United States to join with us in fighting this
vicious, laborhating Dirksen Bill to the last ditch.
{Adopted by N. Y. Branch, concurred in by all other
Branches.)
Vickery Holds
Mercfi't Marine
Control Likely
Governmejt control of
American merchant marine
operations through the Mari
time Commission to aid "na
tional defense" in the current
emergency was regarded as
certain by Capt. Howard L.
Vickery of the Maritime Com
mission, in an address before
the United States Coast
Guard Academy at New Lon
don, Conn., this week.
This control, Capt. Vickery as
serted, would first take the form
of cargo priorities, witli sltip op
eial'ors told what commodities
they must carry and which goods
they cannot take. The next, step,
he said, would be the requisition
ing of merchant ships, although
ownership would remain vested
in private companies and the ves
sels allowed to keep their officers
and crews. Direct acquisition of
ships by the Navy would be a fur
ther step, as the need arises.
Capt. Vickery pointed, out that
tiie Navy .had already acquired
twentyfive new merchant ships
and fourteen older ones for aux
iliary use in the past year.
Out of the Mailbag
Blasts Junior Engineers
On Waterman Line
Far East Crisis
Sharply Affects
Shipping
To All Branch Agents
Dear Sir and Brothers:
Upon request of Agent Steely White, I hereby re
quest all Agents to be on the lookout for one Walter
Charles Bullis, Avho Avas issued Permit No. 3538. His
permit is to be picked up, rcA'pked and sent to Head
quarters,
Please imstruct your Patrolmen to also be on the
lookout for this man and have his permit picked up, re
voked should they come in contact with him.
In order that a checking record can be accurately
kept here at Headquarters on all permits revoked, I
hereby request that all Agents, in the future, send to
Headquarters a regulation letter accompanying all re
voked permits sent to Headquarters, stating therein the
reasons Avhy such permit was revoked.
Fraternally,
Sydney Gretcher, Sec.Treas.
With the spread of the Euro
pean War to the Far East im
minent, British, Dutch and
Allied shipping in the Pacific
took cover in the nearest
ports in a sudden move last
week. Complete withdrawal
of all ships under Allied flags
from the,se runs is a foregone
conclusion. American ship
ping interests prepared to
take over all transPacific
services this week.
Taking over by American ves
sels is expected to cut doAvn con
siderably present' intercoastal and
coastwise shipping as well as
transAtlantic services, which are
expected to be handled by the
British in the future. Isthmian
Lines, operators of siiips going to
the East Indies, contracted for
eight new vessels from the Mari
time Commission this week. Simr
iiar implementing of merchant
fleets is being undertaken by
Lykes Brother. Matson Line,
President Lines, and American
Ploaeer. in addition some 37
Danish vessels interned here are
expected to be taken OA'er. Orient
runsare expected to go to Amer
lean flag ships exclusively,
Tiiere Is talk of cargo'at pres
ent carried by Intercoastal ves
sels being transshipped overland,
in order to avoid ah acute ship
ping shortage, at least until tiie
[new 200ship building program is
well under way. A priorities sys
tem,' to insure adequate ship
meats of managanese, tungsten,
rubber and other raw materials
essential to "defense production,"
is expected to be instituted by
the government in a first move
toward government control of
shippins^ ' .
Feb. 15, 1941.
Prom all reports, the glorious
junior engineers on the Water
man ships didn't like the new
agreement even a little bit. The
new agreement, along with a
great number of other improve
ments, gave out tlie news to ail
of these licensed stooges that
there would be deck engineers
put on all Waterman ships to do
tlie deck work, and tliat means
that the glorious juniors will ei
ther have to Avork elsewhere on
the ship or_get off.
If they were to get off . . . ev
eryone Avoiiid be better off.
A few years back, ail of this
particular class of stooges were
members of the Union in exis
tence at that time. They were not
very good members; just book
carriers. When the High Com
mand in Mobile decided that they
could save money by having a
Junior engineer to do the deck
work for a fixed \yage and little
or no overtime; t.liey "could atso
make this aforementioned junior
do any work they decided for him
to do over any other part of the
ship. These stooges left the Union
and got tlieir licenses.
One of tlie unlicensed personnel
of the good ship S.S. Panama
City spoke to the junnor of that
sliip one day while he was mak
ing the rounds on the winches,
and made the terrible mistake of
calling lilin "Deck" . . . The ju
nior would never speak to tliat
member of the common herd af
ter that.
Tiiese juniors, along Avith ail of
tlie rest of the licensed personnel
aboard the Waterman ships, can't
realize that the Civil War is over
and has been over for quite a
while. If a man from north ot
tlio Alabama state lino, known as
a "Yankee" to these engineers,
iiappens to ask for a relief, so
that he may go home while the
sliip is in ills port, the engineer
will ask him why he can't stay
aboard and stand his watch, but
if the man lives south of the Aia
bama state line, ail he has to do
is just thi'ow a vague hint to the
effect that he wishes to go home
and he is on his way.
The Union men aboard these
ships do not approve of tactics of
this sort, but what, can they do?
They live up to their agreement,
but unfortunately, we can inject
nothing into the the agreement
that AvllI force tlie juniors and en
gineers to study a bit, and to
learn that tiie Civil War is over,
and that we are no longer South
erners or Northerners—but ail
AMERICANS. Gulf No, 80.
the hospital, regardless of union
allliiation.
Fraternally yours,
J. J. Clark, No. 2939
A. Thaught On .
Aid to England
_ .,w I Baltlmore,Md.
February 17, 1941 '
Editor, Seafarers' Log
Dear Sir and Brothfer:
I wonder, after we the war
for England, if F.D.R. wiil sehd
a letter to England and ask tliat
she raise the English seaman's
pay, that tliey give hiiu better
living conditions, and tliat they
feed him better, so wlien she gete
back on her feet and replaces ail
her delinquent shipping, the
American Merchant Marine may
have a chance in'fair competition?
If not, I am cutting my own
throat by helping England to win
and tlien a few years later, I
can't get a ship because some
English ship has taken over that
run.
Wilson R. Rutherford,
Atlantic No. 50003
Thanks S.I.U. Brothers
For Hospital L^ifts
February 15, 1941
Editor, SeafaVeKs' Lbg
I Dear Sir and Brother:
The men of the SIU and the
Coast Guard who were at the
Hospital at San Juan on Christ
mas Day wish, bbiatedly, to fhank
the crew of the S.S. Rosario for
their kind remembrance.
the twspitaj only, furnished
rice and" bekiis for Chrikmas din
ner, themen were disappointed
untii members of the Rosario's
crew arrived with everything
from turkey to cranberry oauce
and fruit c&lae}. magaziaes and
cigarettes.
True to the SIU spirit, there
was not only enough for the SIU
ffien, but for all: the soamon in
Brass Hats Smear
Efforts Bomerangs
(Continued from Page J)
tiieir leport or liad no relation
to defense.
Of the 100 otIieVs, nearly half:
never affected national defense,
and many more were disputes
that had been adjusted in confer
ence without a minute's lose of
work.
Hiiiman's office called the at
tention of Secretary of the Navy
Knox to the glaring errors, and
it was anticipated he would put
out a correction. Knox had signed
the original letter to the Senate
Naval Affairs Committee, but it
was explained he had relied on
the Admirals for the data, thus
unwittingly misleading Congress.
Labor leaders in the Capital
blamed the antiunionism of the
NaA'y brass hats on the fact that
they, had never forgiven Organ
ized labor for iiaving exposed
their pet" "MDay plan" which, un
der tiie guise of defmise, would
have placed such rigid shackles
on Avorkers as to ti?rn them into
virtual slaves.
—From Lahor.
TO ALL AGENTS
Atlantic & Gulf District
Dear Sirs and Brothers:
This is to advise you
that the permit of one
Charless H. Maxwell,
No. P3337, is to picked up
and revoked and sent to
Headquarters the first bp
portunity you have to
come in contact %vith the
holder of same. Please in
struct your Patrolmen to
be on the lookout; for this
man. Should they . come in
contact Aviith him, pick up
his permit and revoke the
same.
The creAv of the S.S. Do
rothy has gone on record
to have this man's permit
revoked; therefore the rea
son for the above. .
Sydney Grstohsr,
Scc.Tre&s, .
II
• • i'r A.
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