The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1886-06-14
THE MARIPoSA'S FIREMEN.
Atternpt TO boycott tie Oceanic Com
pany's Vessels.


The first jury at San Francisco dis
agreed in the case of the Mariposa's fire.
men, who were prosecuted for refusing
duty on the up trip to the Coast, as
already mentioned in the ADVERTISER.
The case was continued until Wednes-
day the 9Th; but as the steamer left on
the 9Th there would be no evidence
against the men, and a further cOntin-
uance must be had or the prosecution
will fail.
A few days before the sailing Of the
Mariposa the fremen made demand
for three additional helpers, which Mr..
John D. Spreckels, President Of the
Oceanic Steamship Company, refused to
accede to. The fremen were supported
in their demand by the Coast SeaInans'
Union, and all Union men left the
vessel. The Arbitration Committee OF
the Federated Trades subsequently had
an interview with Mr.. J. D. Spreckels,
but as that gentleman declined to per-
NIT the Union to manage the Oceanic
boycott the Messrs. Spreckels' vessels,
and all Union men were ordered forth
with to leave. In accordance with this
order the seamen on the brig Salinas,
which was to have sailed June 9Th, left
That vessel and came ashore. The
Chronicle OF the 5th states that at the
headquarters of the Steamshipmen's
Association there were considerable ex-
element on the 4th. Committees had
been dispatched to the two boats at
the refinery wharves, and the men
would be Withdrawn. The Evening
Post" of the 9TH remarks that "boy-
colt was placed upon all vessels belong
ing to j. D. Spreckels & Bro, on his re-
fusal to increase the force of men in the
fire room of the steamship MaripOs;I.
All Union men in the employ of the
Oceanic Company have been asked to
quit at once"
Meanwhile the men at the refinery
stand firm, and public sympathy is en-
tirely with the company. The through
passengers by the Mariposa expressed
their admiration and approval OF Mr..
Spreckels' decision, and as two of the
Sydney Union men are employed on
board, and disapprove of the unreasonable
and arbitrary conduct of the San Francisco
Union, no trouble is apprehended in the
Colony. The white firemen were re-
placed by six Chinese, who are engaged
fD,- 10 70 nd ii a hnI
work to this port in very satisfactory
manner There is no sense or reason in
the course the Federated Trades have
taken in this case. 1t was a mere mat
ter of detail as to the number of men
needed to perform a certain amount of
work, and not a question of pay or dis
elimination against Union men. But
! just because the company deemed the
old force sufficient, an attempt was made
to prevent the Mariposa, which is under
contract to carry the Royal Mail to the
Australian Colonies, sailing on schedule
time, or from sailing at all if possible /;
and further, it was sought to injure the
business of Messrs. Spreckels by order
ing out all Union men from every vessel
belonging to that firm. Inasmuch as a
large percentage of the freight to and
from these Islands is carried by the
Oceanic Company's vessels, this at
tempted boycott becomes of direct in
terest to the business and producing in
terests OF this Kingdom. Of course the
boycott will fail, but bad feeling will
have been engendered between the
seeding men and their old employers
where only friendly feelings formerly
existed, and all through the arbitrary
acts of an irresponsible body which
assumes the right to dictate at once to
capital and labor.