The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1909-07-31
SEAMEN EVERYWHERE -
..5. BECOMING INTERESTED
Journal Prophesies Victory That
Will Eclipse Anything in &:
T 7 .~.. II .,.* Labor's History, Z. .. /.
The Coast seamen's Journal Of San
Francisco. under date of July 81, edi-
torially discusses the Lake: seamen's
strike as follows: &. ,i.t.s%..,&@:
:; ; Backing Up the Lakes. =

Backing Up the Lakes. Ssgs4:
The strike Of the seamen's unions
on the Great Lakes has now been in
effect for two and half months. AS,
Is well known, the strike has been
remarkable in point sof the success.
achieved by the unions in prevailing:
upon the unemployed workers in the
vicinity of the lakes. to refuse service
In the Lake Carriers vessels, resulting
in a very considerable tfe-up Of ves-
sells which would otherwise be profit
ably employed. A further and even
! more significant result Is seen in the
fact that the vessels actually in COM
mission are manned by crews 70 utter
" inefficient in every resp&ft that:
their employment represents "a loss
rather than q gaian to the Lake Car
riers' association T., ,:t5z-G = !.
Inference From casvalties.s -
The real significance Of the, Lake
Carriers boast that they are operat-
ing so-and-so much per cent of their
total tonnage may be gathered from
a glance at the 'list of casualties"
Accidents occur daily, almost hourly,
due to the inefficiency Of the nom
union crews. In character these acoi-
dents range from ordinary strandings
to the: destuction Of canal gates and
the sinking of vessels, accompanied
by great loss Of life. Taking into
consideration the enormous expense
involved in these accidents (or rather
natural consequences Of the system Of
insufficient and inefficient manning. }.
1t is quite clear that the Lake Carriers
are paying out good deal more than
I they are taking IN while operating
their vessels, 1na5a word, the larger
T the numberS lot vessels operated the
greater thest stotal loss The Victories
&? ofl the. Lake Carriers are OF the
Pyrric order nicely 50 many defeats
> ! Aspects Of Strike.
/ Undoubtedly the success thus far
achieved by theLake seamen.s unions
| Is remarkable under the circumstances,
But, more remarkable than the actual
facts as to the condition of shipping
on the lakes is the fact that the strug-
gle has been waged by the lake sea-
men entirely upon their own resources.
Apart from the moral support Of the
seamen in other sections, the Lake
seamen have neither asked for NOR
received the slightest aid from any
source. Judging by the progress al
ready made, it is highly probable
| that the lake seamen will be able to
record one Of the most remarkable
victories i nthe history Of the labor
movement, in the sense that, it will
! have been won without calling for
assistance from other quarters. One
! thing has always been certain, and
| is, If possible, more certain now than
at any other time, namely, that should
the Lake seamen call for assistance
the same will be forthcoming instante,
and in generous quantity. .e,@se :1~-
,. Will Aid Strikers @
This result" is assured by the cir
cumstance that the seamen's unions
in other sections, rather than await
I the possibility of call for aid from
their comrades on the. Great Lakes,
have taken time by the foreloek. The
vote recently taken by the member
ship of the International Seamen's q
! Union Of America on the Atlantic
Gulf and Pacific resulted in q prac-
tically unanimous decision to contri-
| butte to the support of. the affiliated
unions! on the Great Lakes, should
such support be- called for. The
amount Of money thus assured is very
large, sufficient to meet the remotes,
I contingency-and there is plenty more
where it comes from. AS Indicating
the real interest of the sseamen
throughout he country In the struggle
now taking place on the Great Lakes
| and as "a proof Of the real sentiment
Of solidarity which exists among them
it is worth noting that the members
Of the respective unions have also
voted to assess themselves individually
! to make good the amount drawn from
the respective treasures. should the
Lake seamen find it necessary to call
! for assistance. This action was taken
not SO much because OF any necessity
to replenish the treasures. as because
the members OF the unions wished tc
demonstrate their personal interest Il
the struggle on the Great Lakes; .to
show that that interest is not per-
functory.s but IS heartfelt. not merely
general, but strictly personal. I ls ,.s.t.;
.s: Success u Assured. I'll 81 Isl 4 :.4
The actio nof the affiliated unions
IN this respect justifies the hopes fot
those who founded the International
ESeamen's Union OF America as q body
which should unite the seamen of ali
localities upon the1 principle 4 of Il
tor one and one for. all, z ana insurea
the successful outcome of the presen,