The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1904-04-06
Secretary Lorntsen Believes the
Lonsshoremen's Strike Is
Wholly Unwarrented
RIGHTS OF THE FISHERMEN
Question at Issue Submitted to
American Federation of La
bOr and Decision Should
Have Been Awaited.

In statement prepared yesterday
for publication. H. NJ. Lorntsen, secre-
tary OF the fishermen's unions, explains
the status of the strike declared
against the Columbia River Packers
Association and Samuel Elmore by the
'longshoremen's union. Mr.. Lorntser
scores the 'longshoremen for what he
terms their unwarranted action. and
says the circumstance is bound to hurt
the cause of union labor. In part Mr.,
Lorntsen's statement is as follows:
THE fishermen going in the Harry
Morse to Alaska sign as seamen and
fishermen. In this class of vessel 1t is
customary on this coast for the crew to
stow the cargo on board ship, leaving
the dock to the 'longshoremen. On the
Alaska fishing grounds, where there are
no 'longshoremen, the crew loads and
unloads the vessel and also handles
the cargo on shore.
Tn the case of the Harry Morse the
'longshoremen's union demanded that
the vssel's crew shall not be permitted
to stow the vessel; that only long
shoremen refusing to handle the cargo
on the dock as long as union seamen
and fishermen slowed it on the vessel,
the union fishermen had to take the
dock to proceed with the loading. Thus
the strike against the Harry Morse
was a failure. To avenge themselves
somehow the 'longshoremen's union de-
clared Samuel Elmore unfair and insti-
tuted a strike against him. This lat
ter step is to be regretted more than
the injudicious strike against the
Harry Morse; such action is in direct
opposition to the policy and practice of
the general labor movement. To be
successful organized labor must not
only have the loyal and undivided sup
port of the trade unions, but the SYM
pathy and respect of the general pub
lie. The action of the 'longshoremen's
union has already forced the fisher
mems union to place its members on
the dock to prevent injury to the union
fishermen and their employers.
"To strike against Elmore, who is
only one member of the Columbia River
Packers Association, that sends this
vessel to Alaska, inevitably places the
trade unions of this city in bad light
before the general public and Injuries
present and future fights carried on for
a just cause.
ut must also be stated in this con-
nection that when recently the ques-
ton arose at Portland about the load
ing of the Berlin, a vessel also fitting
out for the fishing grounds Of Alaska,
division of this work was agreed upon Z
by the two unions involved, with the
stipulation that this question be sub
mitted to the American Federation of |
Labor for a decision. Before deci-
sion could arrive, the Astoria long |
shoremen's union in the case of the |
Harry Morse has taken the matterin it's
own hands. There is now nothing left
for the fishermen's union but to con-
serve the interest of it's members and
its employers. 1t purposes to do that.
1T can only be hoped that the long
shoremen's union will quickly realize
the mistake it has made and rectify it
by withdrawing its strike against Ell
more and by placing its members on
the dock to aid in the loading Of the
Harry Morse, when the union fisher
men now on the dock will leave It,"