The Detroit times., 1910-12-06
OLANOER WHACKs
WELFARE" PLAN
Dubs Lake Carriers Pet Hell Fare
Monster" Designed To Make Slaves
of Seamen.

fiuOuul tOHlll ny
seamen for support OF strikers
during present year. .$20,376.88
Number OF working seamen who
have voted during past few weeks
10 continue strike. ........ 800
Number of working seamen who
have voted TO end strike-None.
Number of officers licensed
during 1906. .................7 61
Number of officers licensed
curing lSOS. ................ 394
Licenses revoked or suspended
during 1909-No number given,
but statement made that total
exceeded that OF any previous
year.
These statements were contained In
the report Of Victor A. Olander, secre
tary OF the Lake Seamen's union ant
vice-president of the international
Seamen's Union OF America, present
ed at the Tuesday afternoon session
OF the International unions conven
ton IN the Machinists' hall, No. 8:
Grand River-ave.
Mr. Olander has been in close touch
with the seamen's strike ever since
IL began. two years ago, and he TOLD
lhC hcltSaiCo " tue 90
sembly that his union was determined
to continue the fight against the Lake
Carriers association. He bitterly ar
raigned the association for establish
ing its Welfare" plan, which. In eff
feet, he claims. provides that no sea
man shall belong TO any union.
Il regard the Welfare plan as al
utter impossibility, no matter how the
fight may end" says Mr.. Olander, In
his report. Such slave system as
that cannot and will not be tolerated
In America. 80 long called the land
of the free. And | want to tell you
that this 'Hell-fare monster OF the
Lake Carriers association Is proving
a costly beast for the owners. Ac'
cording to the confession OF President
Livingstone, OF the Lake Carriers as
ISOLATION. the present season has been
Improbable, In spite OF the fact that
the association has had an increased
tonnage OF 20,000,000 tons over that
OF 1907. which was a record year fol
the association, and they also got an
additional 10 cents more per ton foI
carrying ore. They have lost money
simply because they have lacked com
I'm my judgment, every cent OF in
crease In freight money paid this sea
son was a bonus paid to vessel own
ers, a bonus partially paid by the
steel trust and partially forced from
others by the same trust for the pur.
pose OF inducing the ship owners to
continue the fight against the unions
The bonus, large as il was. evidently
was not sufficient TO compensate the
Lake Carriers association for the
losses caused by delays, owing to the
scarcity of strike-breakers and the
damage resulting from the employ
ment OF inexperienced. incompetent
short-handed crews.
That steel trust is responsible for
the present attempt TO establish slav'
cry on the great lakes, Is clearly prov
en- by the attitude OF the Pittsburg
Steamship Co, which is the trusts
marine attachment The manager OF
that company has characterized his
corporation as a voice In marine az
fairs and the other ship owners as
an echo.
Mr.. Olander declared that In the
past year number of ship owners
had declared their Willingness to car
~ on business with the unions, but
were afraid to do so, believing that
such a course would cause the steel
trust to prevent them from getting
cargoes of ore He also pointed out
that the seamen were in better shape
than ever to fight the Lake Carriers
drawing attention TO the $20,376.Ss
tributed by the seamen during the
past year. and also showing that the
Seamen's union, during the past year
had maintained branches at II ports
three more than under ordinary con
ditions. More new members had been
received during 1910 than in the
previous year, he further declared
The fact that the number OF licenses
issued to officers had fallen off since
1906 was due, he maintained, TO the
incompetency OF the majority OF
men who are now manning the ships
The same reason was also given for
the revoking and suspension oil
licenses.
In the morning meeting the secre-
tary, William II. Frazier, read his an
nual report He. like President Furu-
seth, who presented his report, Mon
day afternoon, dealt with the disad-
vantages under which the seamen OF
the world are laboring. and strongly
urged the international union to put
forth every effort 70 bring about leg
islation improving conditions.
Dealing with finances, Mr.. Frazier
pointed out that the income of the In
ternational union for the past year
was $s3,02S.S3, and that there was a
balance of $l5.22l 81 on hand after all
expenses were paid.