The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-04-09
The LOngShOremSn and the
Sailors.

leading journals of this city do, regarding
the abomination passed by the Kellogg
Legislature, prohibiting sailors from vol
unfairly loading or unloading the vessels
to which they belong, it would seem
more manly and conciencous on their
partto enlighten the longshoremen as to
the rights of all men, and particularly
as to the absurdity of the act which the
Legislature has passed ostensibly in the
interests of the lOngshoremen.
1t was but couple of days ago that a
longshoreman addressing policeman on the
Righteousness of the cause of his fellow
workers, exhibited in proof thereof, an iron
zeal article published in the Pic, which the
longshoreman interpreted to be a justitica-
ton of the act of the Legislature.
We believe that it is time to undeceive
the lOngshoremen in this matter, and that
the entire press should join in denouncing
the infamous act, than whom more better
than those who framed it and voted for it
and Mr.. Kellogg who signed it, knew that 1t
was illogical, illegal and not worth the paper
on which it was written.
The object of the passage of this act was
nothing else than an attempt to steal the
good opinion of the sturdy worklnen on the
levee in favor of the usurpng government.
1t was passed and signed simply as party
measure, and will not hold water before any
court presided over by sane judge. In
New York and other Eastern cities it is
claimed that the crews of vessels do not
encroach upon the rights of longshoremen.
This is true, but for an excellent reason.
The trips from the Transatlantic seaports
to those cities are much shorter than they
are to New Orleans. The sailor who ships,
let us say, from Liverpool, gets an advance
of one and half months pay, and gener-
ally reaches New York before he has worked
out his advance, and no sooner does the YES
sci touch the pier at the point of destina-
ton, than he jumps his ship and leaves the
work of unloading it to the longshoremen
Here it is quite different When the vessel
arrives it is invariably indebted to the
sailor, who, from motives Of commendable
policy, nnloads the ship and then receives
his dues.
Whether he works for smaller compen-
sation than the longshoreman is matter
entirely beyond the power of correction by
force or legislation on the part of individu-
ais or legislative bodies, and what is more
important, he has as much right to engage
in unloading his vessel as he would to open
an oyster shop or rum shop in opposition to
those already established on the levee. It
is useless to say on the other hand that the
longsforemen have equally as much right to
cOmblRe and form themselves into assOcia-
tons and to agree in refusing to work for
crews in port.
But here the longshoremen's right ceases,
and they must have discovered by this time
that not even Mr.. Kelloggs police will coun-
tenance any interference on their part with
the sailors. We are well aware of the fact
that the more intelligent workmen on the
levee understand the situation thoroughly,
but there are others, especially the colored
laborers, who, less intelligent, and with lit
tie or no education, believe that the
Legislature is all powerful, and can give
them rights to the detrment or exclusion of
their fellow beings.
1t is true that our so-called Legislature has
managed, under the solemn cover of law, to
rob the people of many of their rights and
properties; but there is yet some little
siren, tn in the Constitution of the United
States, which will prevent its being over
ridden by the de)usve acts of the Dryades
street mob, vulgarly known as Kellogg's
Legislature.