The San Francisco call., 1910-03-25

senate by Senator r. NJ. La Toilette OF
Wisconsin, in favor of the bill now be-
fore congress for the betterment OF
conditions for seamen, contains the fol-
lowing strong appeal in behalf of the
men who sail the seas. The appeal has
been printed as a senate document:
Existing maritime law makes of US. ex-
States, the property of the vessel which
we sail. We can not work as seamen with
out signing contract which brings US under
this law. This contract is fixed by law. or
authorized by governments. We have moth
ing to do with Its terms. We either sign 1t
and sail, or we sign it not, and remain
landsmen.
When signing this contract we surrender
our working power to the will of another
man at all times while the contract runs.
We may not, on pain of penal punishment,
fail to join the vessel. We may not leave
the vessel. though it is in perfect safety.
We may not, without our masters perms-
sion, go to a mothers sick bed or funeral,
attend to any other duty of a son. brother,
a Christian, or a citizen, excepting in the
Ii the owner thinks he has reason to fear
that we desire TO escape, he may. without
Judicial al investigation cause , US to be impris.
proper to take US out. If we have escaped,
he may publish our personal appearance,
along with reward for our apprehension
and return. He may, through contracts
between nations, cause the peace officers
and police to aid him In recovering his
owner may change-we are sold with the
vessel-but so long as the flag does not
change. there is nothing except serious i'll
ness or our masters pleasure that VIII re-
lease us from the vessel
The master. acting for the vessel, may re-
lease himself and the vessel by paying a
few dollars with no alternative.
He that owns another mans labor power
owns his body. since the two can not be
separated.
we stand in the same relation to the yes
sci the serfs did TO the estate, as the
slave to his master. When serfdom was
abolished in western Europe we were forgot
ten by the liberators, and our status re-
msined. When the slaves or the United
States and Brazil were emancipated, our
shed in Russia, no change came TO us
We raise our manacled hands IN
humble supplicstion and pray that e the
nations issue decree of emancipation and
restore to us our right brother men, to
our labor. that honor which belonged TO 1t
your law. set upon it the brand Of bondage
in the interest of cheap transportation oy
water.
of the men In our calling is of comparative
modern origin. Early maritime laws bound,
while in strange countries and chimes, the
seaman TO his shipmates and the ship ana
the ship to him, on the principle of common
hazard. In his own country be was free--
the freest of men. We further humbly SUD
nit that as the consciousness or the sea
mans status penetrates the population, IT
will be impossible to get free men to send
their sons into bondage. or to induce tree1
mems sons to accept it. and we; In an
capdor. remind you that you, when you
travel by water. except us-the serfs-to ex-
hibt in danger the highest qualities OF free-
0en by giving lives for your safety.
At the last regular meeting of the
sailors union of the Pacific Acting Sec
retary E. Ellison reported shipping falr
A shipwreck benefit was ordered PAID &c
a member of the crew of the wrecked
gasoline schooner Lady Mine, Whlcf
became a loss on Humboldt bar some
time ago Frank Brown was elected
ianitor. vice Thomas Barry resigned
Reports were received from various
points on the coast as follows:
Vancouver, B. C.-Shpping fair.
Tacoma-Shipping dull, prospects uncertain.
Seattle-Shipping fair
Port Townsend-Shipping medium. prospects
MISUNDERSTANDING slack, prospects poor.
Portland-Shippiug dull.
Eureka-Shipping poor. prospects uncertain.
San Pedro-Shipping dull. prospects poor.
A letter from Honolulu, H. l., says
that shipping is good at that port, bu
that the prospects are uncertain.
At the last meeting of the marine
cooks and stewards association OF tht
Pacific coast report from the Sal
Pedro agency was read. This shows tha
shipping is medium, that there is {
scarcity of galley and cabin men ane
that there are plenty of cooks on hand
The prospects were reported good.
President Max E. LIGHT, internationa
president of the retail clerks associa
tion, has requested every union within
the jurisdiction of California to affili
ate with the state federation of labor
This edict was issued owing to instruc
tions which have recently come from
the American federation of labor.
There will be a meeting next Tuesda.
of the Joint board of the unions of th'
culinary trades. at which time Jere L
Sullivan, international president, will
1t is expected, be present The meeting
will be for the purpose of reaffiliatins
with the international
H. E. Fisher, we'll known member
of the bakers union of Vallejo, has re
signed from that organization, as he il
about to leave the state.
The BARRIERS union of Vallejo at it.
last meeting voted $40 to the BARRIERS
union, local No. 14s, to assist it in it.
contest to maintain union conditions a.
to hours.
To meet the objection of the specia
committee of the American federation
of labor that technical schools do no
fit the students to enter upon the pur
suits of workmen after they leave
school, the authorities at the higl
schools of Cincinnati, o., in which there
is Industrial education, intend to tax,
the boys in the second year of theil
course of study and place them in shop:
where they may be shown how to de
different kinds OF work.
1t is proposed that after having
watched the others 90 the work they
are to attempt it themselves, and fol
that they are to receive 10 cents al
hour. The third year they are to bt
paid II cents an hour and the fourth
year they are to receive 121s cents ar
hour.
This proposition has met the opposi
ton of the labor men of that city, wht
declare that the system would do away
with the regular apprentice system ane
create an aggregation of youngster.
who would be qualified to act as strike
breakers in case of trouble.
Care of Injured Spanish LaboreI
WASHINGTON. March 24-In Spain
when a laborer is injured while doing
his work and temporarily incapacitated
his employer pays an indemnity equa
to half the daily wage. In case th,
incapacity is permanent the employee
nays two years wages and paws ais,