The morning call., 1891-03-07
COAST SEAMEN.
Sixth Anniversary OF Their Or
ganizati0n.

Shortly after 9 o'clock the Coast Seamen
returned from their long march and gath
cred on Folsom-street Wharf, their historic
stamping ground, where from lumber-pile,
six years ago, were sroken the words that
brought into life the little fedglng that to-
day has grown so that it wields aspower
that is felt not alone on this Coast, but on
the Atlantic Coast and in England.
The scene was most picturesque one.
The dock was crowded. Every lumber pile
and the rigging and buiwarkS Of the vessels
lying at the wharf had their quota OF
humanity. Above the night was dark, ami
the stars shone out dimly; while below, the
glare Of the torchiights fiickered and was
reflected in the white uniforms and bronzed
faces Of the hardy shellbacks About
fifteen hundred people were on the dock.
There was some slight hitch in the arrange
ments made and tie speakers who were
expected did not put in an appearance.
w. j. b. Mackay, editor of the Coast Sea-
mems Journal. who acted as Chairman of
the evening, introduced Joseph Kelly. eX-
President of the Steamship Stewards
Union. who reviewed the condition of the
Seamen now and when their union was
formed and congratulated the men on the
success that had attended their efforts.
ESCORTED TO THE LUMBER-PILE.
ESCORTED To THE LUMBER PILE
AS he concluded, carriages containing
Mr.. Gompers and the members of the Coun-
Gil Of Federated Traces drove on the dock.
The visitors were received with cheers, and
escorted to the lumber-plle. Mr. GOmperS
was introduced to the audience in a neat
ADDRESS by Chairman Mackay, and said:
Il cannot cali myself sailor, although |
am Trustee of sailors organization on the
Atlantic Coast | ani glad 10 be with you
tonight celebrating your sixth anniversary.
Sailors have always been the prey of the
e. .,r-,
others that make mankind their legitimate
prey. No man is so interested in you as
you should be in yourselves. You can't
expect ship-0WnerS and mastprS to work and
try TO alleviate your condition. People
may ask, What has your union done? Com
pare the treatment you receive now and
that accorded you before the union was
formed.
" No man has a right to make an excuse
for not Joining a union. An employer don't
care how good man is if he is out OF a
union. He is at their mercy. UniOniSm
makes weak-kneed man strong. You
yourselves are a splendid example of the
value of pulling together. Stand by the
union, for nothing succeeds like Organiza-
ton. The men on the Atlantic Coast are
not organized as you are here. | ask you TO
help them and place them in position to
help you If ever you should need 1t. | hope
TO see in the not far-distant future a union
of seamen, not alone on this coast nor on the
Atlantic Coast but Il federation of the sea-
men of the world.
THERE MUST BE FEDERATION.
Owe find the rulers of one country wish
ing tn 20 TO war with the rulers of another.
We ind the spectators of one country try
ing TO take advantage of the spectators of
another. In this country there is growing
up fearful power of the almighty dollar.
There must be grand federation Of wage
workers, so that we may protect our inter-
estS. Nothing will SO conduce TO universal
peace as the confederation of the working
men and women Of the world. | join with
you in justification of what has been accom-
plshed, and l hope, although the future
may seem dark, to see the day when the
wage-worEers all over the country will be
joined for the attainme Mt of our common
ends"
Alfred Thurman, President af the Council
of Federated Trades, the next speaker, told
his hearers that the history of their union
IS rich with examples of heroism shown I'M
eXampled in the annals of labor movements
1t had emancipated them from yoke that
WAS mental, moral aud physical The new
gospel, he said, that was first preached on
FolSom-street Wharf, has spread now to ali
parts OF the globe, and the union had been
the baekb bone of the labor movement on this
Coast In conclusion, he praised the Coast
Seamen's Journal, the first paper in the
world to be owned, managed and edited by
seamen, ana urged the men TO be proud OF
their profession.
Brief addresses were made by Herman
Gutstadt, fully BOyee and Captain Nat
CringIe, after which the members of the
Maekay, Fuhrman and others, closing with
a hearty one for themselves. and then
marched back to their headquarters, where
they diSDanded.