The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-04-28


stay-ashore interests. 1t is inevitable
that the capitalist, bent upon divi-
dends, should ignore the interests OF
the seafaring class. and finally con-
tenn them. 1t is also inevitable that
the seaman must deteriorate under
such a system. And in proportion as
this process of deterioration has pro-
gressed the maritime standing OF the
nation has decreased. By the operation
of the law that the personnel precedes
the material of maritime affairs. which
we have seen so we'll illustrated in the
earlier history of the country. we now
see our Whilom greatness at sea re-
duced to insignificance. As in other
industries. the system of alien capital
ism has cankered the vitals of this no
bic profession. The incidental evils Oh
the present system are injurious leglS-
lation. 4 degrading crimping system,
by which the seaman Is compelled 10
seek employment through the agency
of low characters, who rob him of his
wages in advance of their being
earned. brutality, or 'buckoism, as 1t
is called in the Vernacular, and made
uUate means of redress in the courts.
Under the circumstances. native Amer
leans. and. indeed. most Selt-reSpectln8
men, refuse to sail in American ships
unless compelled by necessity to do so.
Thus succeeding generations OF the
people have been alienated from the
time-honored occupation of the sea-
mans personality. and feelings of con-
tempt, or at least pity. have gained
currency. How are the mighty fa'1en!
From being the ideal Of highest man
hood the American sailor has been
thrust under the ban of almost unlver-
sal contempt The common opinion of
the seaman of today is that he is an
ignorant, soulleSS and besotted wretch.
unworthy even the commlSeratlon OF
decent folks. And it cannot be denied
mat to some extent public opinion IN
this case is right. for the irresistible
operation of cause and effect has mace
it true. But if the modern seaman is
different from his predecessor. it is not
because his profession is less honorable
in itself or less a necessity TO the fur-
therance of the social plan, nor be-
cause of the changes wrought by SCI
ence radical though these have been,
but rather by the evil conditions super
imposed upon him by the blighting in
fuence of the purely business inter-
est that now controls shipping.
Happily for all hands the tide IS
turning The seamen are organized,
and by intelligent. united action they
have already accomplished much in
the betterment of their condition The
National Seamen'S Union of America.
with branches in all the leading sea-
ports of the United States and British
North America, embraces nearly so per
cent of all the Seamen under the nag.
Through its legislative committee.
aided by organized labor throughout
the country, the union has achieved the
enaction by the Fifty-third Congress
of a very important law dealing with
the Germ of Servitude in the coastwlse
trade by which seamen are placed on
the same footing as workmen ashore.
Under the old law seaman who de-
serted his ship before the expiring OF
his term of contract was liable TO three
months imprisonment, which was Vir-
tually contract slavery. Other meas
ures of an equally important nature
are pending in Congress and the pros
poets for their passage are good. The
seamen's unions have increased wages,
improved the working conditions on
board ship and in large measure freed
the seaman from the power of the
crimps- Not the least of the benefits
of organization is the recently changed
tone of public opinion regarding the
! seaman. Through their utilization with
the American Federation Of Labor and
local central bodies they have made
personal impressions that have in large
part removed the preconceived opln-
ions formed against them. The result
is that where antipathy or carelessness
prevailed there is now q hearty good
will to assist the seaman in his efforts
to improve his condition. Truly the
seaman may say: In unon is
strength" BY means of its official pa
per. the Coast Seamen's Journal, and
other mediums of publicity. such as the
present article. the National Seamen's
union is reaching a constantly growing
public audience, and by demonstrating
| the caT% city to conceive and act for the
fulfIlment of the highest destiny a
! revulsion of sentiment is taking place.
The National Seamen's Union of
America is affiliated with the seamen' S
organization in Australia. and similar
arrangement is being negotiated with
the British Seamen. An international
seamen's union has long been contem-
plated and is already within hailing
distance. 1t is remarkable as one of
! the compensations of adversely that the
seamen of today, having in general
I, neither land or blood ties. have less of
the rough-edged national trait than
most men. The seamen are distinctly
a brotherhood of the sea-" a pleas
ing. and. withai. a practical prospect,
and one in admirable keeping with
the eternal fitness of things. is that
the seaman. having been the leader in
industrial civilization. shall take his
place in the van of the infinitely sub
lime movement toward the brotherhood
of man. Then the Newer World shall