The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-11-28
JACK O. TARs' UN|O \
HOLDS ANNUAL MEET
INTERESTING REPORT OF PREsl.
DENT GIVES HISTORY OF
UNION. .,sFHf,,

'~'S' izs-iEt!
President Tolls Of Work Of the oraan.
ization Since 1t Was Founded. Haa
: Secured Absolute Freedom for the
American Sailor. II 10 Responsible
For the Destruction Of the Fioseins
System. Seoretary's Report.
New York, Nov. 2s.-The Interna-
tional Seamens' Union Of America is in
session in this city. Delegates are at
from every sea and lake port
president was particularly interesting.
He said:-"The convention marks the
close of distinctly epochal year, and
as hope and believe, the opening Of
another year of equal, if not creator
growth.
The affairs of the seaman, always
the subject of interest, although not
always Of Intelligent interest, to the
people at large, assume new Importance
when considered from tho point of view
of organization. Only a. few years ago
the bare suggestion of organization
among seamen would have been, and in
fact was. laughed to scorn. Many men.
even among those who, although will
ling to confess their shortcomings in
all other respects, prided themselves
upon their knowledge of human nature.
declared that seamen could not be or
ganized for the simple reason that they
COUNT "stick together.' Some of these
same authorities on human nature, al
though convinced against their will,
are Of the same opinion still. Howev-
er, the man who to-day declares that
seamen can't stick together receives no
more credit for authority on the sub
ject than did the lawyer who assured
his client that he couldn't be put in
prison. The client happened to be in
prison at the time-only temporarily.
of cOurse-so that there was good
deal Of force in his skeptical rejoinder,
But, damn it, man, I'm already in
prison, amt I?' The seamen have
shown that they can "stick together"
theories and fact Of human nature to
the contrary notwithstanding. Not only
have the seamen succeeded in organiz-
ing the members of their craft, but
through their organization they have
achieved greater things in the given
period of time than have any other
class of workers.
From small beginnings the Inter-
national Seamen's Union of America
has grown to- great dimensions; from.
q mere matter of form, git has become
g, practical B fact. powerful to fleet the.
Easss INF
&c
.ito5 the past viii repay '..noment, sat
stention." Up to eleven years ago only
two unions Of maritime workers could
boast continued and effective exist
enee. These were the Lake Seamen's
Union and the Sailors Union Of the
Pacific. Although separated by dis
tance and differences of local interest
these organizations were actuated by
one central and dominating ideal, NAM
ely, the common interest Of all mari
time workers. 1t was because these
unions held to that lofty, and by some
considered impracticable, notion that
they has succeeded in their respective
spheres. Unions which are governed by
selfish and narrow motives can never
know the glories of growth any more
than the mole can know the glories Of
the midday sun. The Sailors Union and
ence on the subject of sticking to-
gether'' as national union.
The first convention of the Internal
tional Seamen's Union was held in Chi
cago, in 1892.
Many of the difficulties met with in
the formative period of the union have
been overcome; others are being grad
ually removed.
| us ask, 'How's her Head?" Today the
organization numbers $4,000 men. In
taht number are contained the men,
bers of every craft that uses the sea,
barring the crafts that depend upon
papers
The cecretary's reports shows that
there has been a decided progress in
the increase of funds as we'll as in
membership. Referring to the Great
Lakes branch of the union the report
says:
1.-The increase in the treasury, that
stands to the credit Of the Lake Sea-
mems Union, in round figures, is $780,
900, an increase Of one-half over what
the account was at this time last year.
The enrolment of members for the
year reaches the number of 1865, with
7,467 in good standing, an increase :of
3,053 over the enrolment, Of last year.
which was 6,512, with 4,S46 in good re-
pute with the union. While the growth
of the union may be considered spon-
taneous, it is not; it has been increas-
ed by a slow process which is indi-
Gated by the sturdy character OF the
union" . - -
=.