The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-15
HOLD A MONOPOLY.


abouts on River Steamers.
st. Louis Post Dispatch.
An obscure item tucked away in the river
news of morning paper conveys the intel
ligence that 1.-THE Ferd Herold of the Lee
line has laid up on account of being unable
to get a crew of laborers If the labor mar
ket improves she will resume her trade be-
tween Memphis and Cairo on Saturday"
This meager notice calls attention TO a
condition obtaining in river traffic that
vitality affects it. 1t is a condition with
which all river men and river shippers are
familiar; the scarcity of steamboat labor
that is always felt in the busiest seasons.
And no matter what the economic condi-
tons governing the country at large, this
paucity Of river help" is always felt.
Though an army of UNEMPLOYED may be-
siege the employment bureaus of every city
along the river, the steamboat men still
cry in vain for ''rousters." For no white
man, whatever his nationality or social
status, will accept a job as a roustabout.
1t is not that the work is ill paid; on the
contrary. the prices offered in rush seasons
of river traffic are in comparison with or
binary laborsrs' wages fabulous The ne
groes who do the work often ask and re-
their services. Nor is it that the work is
particularly onerous: many a street laborer
works twice as hard for less than half the
money. Why, then, is 1t impossible to Sc
cure them?
Answer that question and you will have
solved one of the mysteries that have puz-
zled river men since the inception of steam
boating.
The fact remains that none but a negro
will do this work. 1t is a field of labor pc
culiarly his own. and wherein the white
man never intrudes. Even the Dago, who
will do almost anything honest for money
shuns a steamboat job. mo lika da riv,"
he answers to approximations, but will offer
no explanation.
On the other hand, the negro seems Pc
culiarly pleased with the work The happy
go-lucky. care-free life. with it's ever chang
ing scenes, and its uncertain hours, has for
him a particular charm. But he is indie
pendent, as he can well afford to be. He has
no competition. Without any union of his
own. he can demand and will receive remun-
Grafton that is princely compared with what
he can make In any other work. Steamboat
men will bid against each other for his
services. Basking in the sun on a lumber
pile he slumbers comfortably while his
price mouths. he WakeuS from MS QOZe
only at intervals to learn how his temporary
value has Increased, and only stirs when IL
has reached figure that he imagines is the
limit; Then he is all action. He goes aboard
the boat which has secured him, closes
contract, and then gets to work with
vast enthusiasm. Nothing daunts him.
Bales of cotton, packing cases, barrels of
molaSses he fears not Armed with his cot
ton hook and truck he will undertake Il.
load a skyscraper on to the boat IL the mate
orders il. And none Is so merry as when the
load is taken on, the stage plank raised
and the boat under way. He always has
enough breath and strength left 70 join in
roaring song with his fellows to the ac-
compartment Of the irrepressible banjo that
is part Of every steamboat equipment. He
eats any kind of fare, and sleeps where he
falls down." but this does not spoil his tenn
per. Nor is his serenity marred by being
called out at obscure landings to work like
a Trojan at unearthly hours. Ii is all in the
days work. and he will get his reward on
payday.
He is the real master of the river. Or
at least he shares that dominance with
the kingly pilot. 1t Is in his power to tie
up fleet of freighters, and to delay the
shipment Of thousands of tons of valuable
freight. He exercises the privilege at all
opporthne times. He likes to get the limit
while he can command II, and to show his
ship at all. Perhaps he could make a
trade with his employers TO receive a GER
tain sum the year round that would be TO
their mutual advantage. but he is APP
1t does not accord with his philosophy OF
life. He wants to be free to follow his
own inclination, and have plenty of leisure
in which to spend his wealth. His prodi-
gality on these occasions amazes the col
ored quarters, and while his money lasts
he Is king.
He is always sure of employment when
he Is ready 10 work. This fresh water
sailor In far more independent than him
Of the briny deep. He may get off at any
landing" If he doesn't like his Job, and
wait for the rext boat.
AS far as he is concerned there is no
labor problem. On the river he Is su-
preme. He has no dread of being sup
planted by cheap foreign labor" But the
other side OF the question presents some
grave aspects. What can we do?" ask
the river shippers aud steamboat men, IF
we can't get negro roustabouts?" An oc-
casional white man may be tempted TO
make trip. but scarcely ever more than
one. ITS too many for him.
No Booker L. Washington IL needed 10
advance the interests or his race in this
field. Here the white man voluntarily ex-
cludes himself. Is IL the work. or Is IL some
unwritten law OF caste that gives this re-
munerative domain OF labor over to the
darby?