The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-20
War ON THE
WATER FRONT.
THE SAILORS UNION DEMANDS A
TEN-DOLLAR INCREASE IN
WAGES.
A STRIKE ALONG THE COAST.
SHIP OwNERs REFUSE TO ACCEDE
TO THE DEMAND-CREws
TAKEN Our.

The Sailors Union has declared war
against the ship-owners. and strike is on
all along the coast from San Diego to
Puget Sound. For more than two years
the rate of wages on the coast has been $25
a month, and now the seamen demand $35.
They have chosen most opportune time
for making the demand as sailors from
this on will be more scarce than at any
period during the year. The sealers and
most of the whalers have gone away, and
now preparations are being made to send
out the big Alaskan feet. The latter will
require at least 200 men, and from that
number to 800, and this will naturally
create scarcity of seamen on the beach.
The last strike which was held on the
coast resulted in a long list of abuses and
assaults, terminating in the blowing up of
John Curtin's clearinghouse on Main
street by dynamite, in which three men
were killed. This is about a year and a
half ago, and since then the union has not
made any demonstration. The Ship
owners Association secured all the sailors
necessary for the coast trade and no in
quiry was made as to whether the men en-
rolled on its books were members of the
Sailors Union. The latter has been
quietly working for nearly year gather
ing the associations men into its ranks
until now nearly all of them are union
men. This has been done so that when
the word to go out is given the associa-
tons vessels will be deserted. The ship
owners are not dismayed by the condition
Of affairs and claim that they can get all
the deep-water men they want. The most
serious trouble will occur at other ports.
The demand of the union for an increase
In wages went into effect on Monday after
noon. The bark McNear was ready to go
to sea yesterday morning, but on Monday
night five of the crew were taken out of
the vessel. The men were replaced by
John Cain yesterday and the McNear
sailed in the afternoon. The crew of the
j. M. Coleman was taken out yesterday
after battle, but the schooner sailed in
the afternoon, "Scab" Johnnie furnishing
a crew for 500 50 a man. The crew of the
Lyman ID. Foster quit on Monday night,
but this, it is claimed, was caused by the
men being compelled to work overtime.
The bark Wilma is to sail for the Sound
Last night four "scabs' were secured to
shift her, and her sails were quietly bent
IN the darkness. To-day crew of negroes
will be put on board and the Wilnas
owners hope to get her off. The Sailors
Union will stand firm on their proposition,
and the men express confidence in their
ability to win the strike. and at the Ship
owners Association it was stated that
every vessel belonging to the association
Will sail on time with a full crew at the
wages of $25 month. So the fight goes,
and the strike promises.to be long one
The meeting last night crowded Sailors
Hall to its limits. There We're fully 400
sailors present, a large number being non
union men. The meeting was presided
over by L. Hoy.
number of addresses were made call
ing upon those present to stand with the
union for its demand; reviewing the causes
of the strike, the reduction of the number
| of men in the crews of both sailing and
steam vessels, the lengthening of the hours
and the series o. complaints that have
brought about the trouble.
Resolutions were adopted seconding the
action of the union of the previous even
ing and declaring that all present would
stand together in their demands for $35
and $40.