The labor argus. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1906-1915, 1910-03-24
ON THE GREATLAKES
STILL GOES ON IN
EARNEST.
Seamen and Lake Car
riers Association are
Locked in Struggle To
the Bitter End.


thousand sramcn have been on strike
against She ship owners, (known as the
Lake carriers -\ssociation), since the
month Vi May, 1909, and the battle is
sr briug wagcd as bitterly as in the be.
ginning The Lake Carriers, by the way
are really coutrolIcy by the Pittsburg
Steamship Company, n subsidiary of the
Steel 1'rus'.
IN spite Of the most vicious attacks
from the employers and prosecutions from
both city aud state authorities in many
instances, especially by the police, public
and private the Unions of Seamen have
been able to present Il solid front and
can report few dcscrters By careful
management and the loyal support of sea-
men ON both the Atlantic and Pacific
coasts the men on the lakes have carried
on the struggle for nearly an entire year
without assistance from any source out
SIDE their own international Union, and
they are still in good condition, their
Unions being sound both as to finances
and membership.
Th" strike was brought about by an at
tempt On the part of the ship owners to
COMPEL the mon men to hand over their
Union books and cards to the employers
and 10 pledge themselves never to again
Jon Il labor union ''as long as they sail
ed for liyIng''. This the Lake Carriers
called "npm shop.
This WAS followed by Il further at.
tempt ON TIA" part of the Lake Carriers
To inaugratc au industrial passport sys-
ten which they had dignfied by the
name of - Welfare Plan, but which was
modelled upon the police system of Rus
s'a and the notorious English Shipping
Federation scheme, which brought about
such havoc on the English Merchant Ma
rne, resulting in the employment of Asi-
a'lc labor on over II third of the vessels
of HAT country, 10000 Asistics had to be
employed because the Federation scheme
:" lowered the wages and conditions that
"lntr m"u could no longer be induced to
snip on tAos" vessels.
ne welfare plan passports of the
Like Carriers. obtained only after regis.
'r''I"n OF name, personal appearance, past
HISTORY, etc. are intended to KEEP the sea-
men under constant control of the ship
"N'r'S' whether the seaman is employed
"f not. "hIIc ashore these passports
"NN' hr "Nh1hItcd to the shipping mas
lots Of IA" Lake Carriers, the holder be-
A- required to frequent certain places
'At''H - Assembly Rooms, while out of
'"i' 'ym"ni Upon being given a Job
'"' seaman must deposit his passport with
'N' snip master. who will return it to
MN Nmn he leaves the vessel provided
VI" ma-'"r has been satisfied with the
>.f'''- ~ IN" seaman. Otherwise the
t'>Nn"'' is taken up and returned to the
I.''h" carriers. and the sailor is forever
''''H..~'''i. Every owner, shipping mas
''T' "h" snip officer has the full author
NY "''"r his ''w"lfarc plan'' to at any
'.-.' .'r ''Hy ar no reason blacklist any
>'.'.. r n-Fiur fireman or cook. Afloat
.' '.-.'" constant restraint and espion-
'-' - ?" t"' applied to every seaman. 1t
Is FL !'rrot" attempt on the part of
'"' -..' '" nnrS to establish scrfdom on
'.e "r-. Lakes.
~" '''r are on strike to prevent
...' 'arE have exhibited true man
-'.-' ra.lr determined stand AS pa
Aar'ran citizens it is their duty
N-n'nSt this attempt to inaugu-
"". 'rl tnodalism. Born freemen,
E surrender their birthright,
" H"ihrn" except to continue
"tii the slave system. which
.fS liave seen fit to mask I'M
"' "f welfare plan'' has
.'.. re'y abolished.
z"'n"n of the lakes have de-
"nI have publicly announc-
~'1iuarion and their believe
.-'} 30 remain on strike, con-
'.S"IFcS rs law-abiding Amer
until the Lake Carriers
"ill ;tgrce to recognize them
IN" seamcn realize that
f":I! liberty. will not be
they can rid the lakes of
'"'''Sp"rt system and again
'.S'.rclN" an effective voice in
'Ne conditions under whicl
1--we aud work
I'm Federation of Labor has
strike and has pledged NOR
1t be needed, financial aid
.-"nt the Scamen are asking
."It the moral support an6