The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1909-09-11
Big Movement Started to Revise
Maritime Codes in Work.
p ers" Interest.
HAVE SUFFERED ENOUGH
FROM IMPROPER LAWS
seamen the World Over Are Be
ginning to Realize Need Of
Organization. q.


ternational Seamen's Union Of sAmeri-
ca has started a movement for the re-
vising OF maritime codes IN SO. far
as they affect the status Of seamen.
In circular letter adressed to The
Worlds seamen, and sent to the
heads of local organizations in this
country and abroad, the T. s. u. of A.
after pointing out the ironclad dis
abilities Of seamen, goes on to say:
y. ''Since the seamen suffer from The
same laws, and wanN~ sproper laws,
we believe there shoufo BE meeting
of representatives OF the seamen Of
all nations, with tn object of coming
to an understanding and an agreed
ment upon legislative program to
be submitted to all governments and
to all national Legislative bodies.
I'VE believe that by such unan-
imous demand we shall be able to
repeal the antiquated, unjust and in
the right of combination and self help,
where such combination, can be exer-
cised without endangering either life
or property as such, namely, while
lying in safe harbor. We believe
further, that in the interest Of life at
sea we shall be able to obtain laws
providing for specific number of
skilled men to be on board of aSvessel
before she is permitted to proceed to
sea. -, .
You will see that such legislation
would place the seamen on the same
level with other workers. We could
then have organization with means
OF enforcing proper Improvements in
the seamen's conditions. As it now
stands we can only beg; and you know
how the begars are treated. =: :5s =Ses
j. contrasted9 With 1ferlssrs Ashore,
: :. "The workers on shore, have EN-
joyed4the right to putt work for nearly
! q hundred years They have deed II
with different sincerity and skill. In
different countries. Where the have
used it most skillfully and with the
great sincerity; there have been OBJ
: tained the best condit itions They have
improved their wages, shortened their
working hours, and improved the shop
conditions nproportioN to their own
unity, sincerity and endurance.
"We seamen must acquire this pow
er to be able to help ourselves.
ITO the man bound to service or
labor on pain of Imprisonment, there
is no such weapon. He must first
make it, and in dnfne so. he must first
realize the real meaning of his own
condition; second, he must have cour-
age to complain and for.itude to suffer
until redress can come
I'VE would suggest that such a meet
ing be held in Copenhagen, Denmark,
a. few days prior to the International
Transportworkers Federation in Aug
ust, 1910, the date to be. fixed later"
Want Better Conditions.
I "Seamen are beginning to realize
the benefits resulting from organiza-
#tion. They propose to have some of
these benefits for themselves. and
= there is no reason why, despite the
conditions peculiar to seafaring life
they can't accomplish their object.
"And I want to say, too that organ
ization amongst sailors Of nearly all
ranks has progressed within the last
few years at rate Of which the aver
age landsman has no conception. At
this rate the future looks bright. We
hope soon to be able to relegate to the
limbo Of dead sayings, that old saw:
"A sailors life lis a dogs life"
q