The San Francisco call., 1895-05-22
CALL THE STRIKE OFF,
A Temporary Truce Between
the Coast Seamen and the
Association.
NoN.UNIoN RATES PREVAIL
Secretary Furuseth Insists That
the Organization VIII Stand
by Its Cause.

Rumors were rife along the water front
yesterday that the strike of the Sailors
Union was off. The Beulah and the Two
Brothers went to sea in the afternoon and
it was stated that their crews in part were
made up of union men. Whether this was
true or not it was certain that the crews
were put aboard these vessels and several
more without any trouble.
John Cane, assistant shipping master
OF the Ship-owners' Association, said that
there was no doubt that the strike was off
for the present.
The clearinghouse masters who have
been keeping the union men," said Cane,
have been running over each other in
their efforts to ship their men. The pickets
have been withdrawn from the bay and
| along the water front, and we are free to
ship whom we please. The strike is off
beyond doubt, but 1 am not prepared to
say that it is over. The union has some
scheme afioat and I think I know what
it is.
"Some time ago the boarding-house
masters came to the Ship-owners' Associa-
tlon and asked their assistance in getting
their board bills paid. They said that
under the Mcguire act they could not hold
the mems kits for their debts, and there
fore could not afford to board them. They
undertook to effect compromise for $50 a
month, but the shlp-owners would not con-
sent to raise the rate while the strike
was on.
"The boarding house masters held
| meeting to-day, and after the meeting we
were offered union men at the current rate
of $25 month. I have it on good author
ity that Andrew Furuseth, secretary of
q mo- him nd hot ho
advised the reduction. He said that the
union would give in for the present. This
made me suspicious, and l refused to ship
all the men who were sent to me. l told
| the clearinghouse masters that we were
well supplied, and instead of filling up the
vessels with union men only put in few
here and there.
''My idea is that the unions scheme is
| to get their men on our vessels and try
and talk the non-union men over to Join
| ing the union. For this reason was care
ful not to put ma jority of union sailors
on any vessel. The Gatherer has six
union men, the Beulah three, Novelty
three, Two Brothers five, the North Bend
| five, and the Glenn is the only vessel
which sailed with an entire non union
| crew."
| Secretary Furuseth said last evening
| that there was no truth in the report that
the union had receded in its determination
! W gain lOI bAC COdSb ldlT wages IOT
their labor and to see that the shipping
laws were enfo reed.
| 1.-The Ship-ownerS' Association" said he,
| ''knew that our demands were perfectly
just, but they took advantage of the great
number of idle seame1 along shore and
put the wages down to $25 per month.
Think of it-less than 81 Tor twenty-four
hours hard labor such as man must do
on coasting vessel. They also knew that
the union desired to break up the crimp-
/ ing business, to see that the sailor got what
he earned, but they fought us bitterly and
are violating the laws every day. They
are paying advance money squeezed from
the sailor in bonuses to runners from 81 so
TO SIS for every man obtained, thus openly
violating the Dingley act of 1886. Men are
prevented from leaving the vessels after
| going on board and are otherwise coerced,
| their money is taken from them in the form
of allotments and other fraudulent ways,
all in open and direct violation of the
Mcguire act.
THAT they know they are doing so is
evident. Where men have moved to bring
suit for their money the advances and al
lotments paid to crimps have been re-
| turned to them. However, in one case
Home, and of Runner ReckOf of the asso-
citation = brought recently before the
| United States Grand Jury, that body re-
| fused to indict. The Assistant District
Attorney gave as a reason that there were
too many ship-owners on the jury
1.-THE association has stated all the time
that they would pay fair wages if the union
would stay its hand, so we have come to
the conclusion to give them chance to do
SO here in this port. So there will be no
opposition to the shipping of men here at
present. You may say the strike is eff, if
| you choose, but the Coast Seamen's Union
will never cease it's efforts to defend the
| sailor in his rights. l am not at liberty to
publish our intentions and reasons, but we
believe by the method we have adopted the
question will quietly adjust itself satisfac-
torily.
1.-THE branches of the union in different
ports are independent of each other, and
| our action here in San Francisco will not
| in the least affect that of other places OF.
the coast where the union rates are being
paid. In conclusion, you may say that
while a temporary truce is in existence
and working for the objects of its organ
| ization.''