The San Francisco call., 1910-03-09
"A Man Who

request that Furuseth return to san
Francisco and become secretary OF lii7
union again. This was In 1S9z-
seth returned and has occupied 'ne
position ever since
At Furuseth's suggestion the saldIy
of every officer Of the union was HAeu
ar the amount he could average II
steadily employed as seaman IN ths
coast trade at union wages. and ne
has resisted all efforts 70 increase MS
or any other officers compensation
except as the pay of the coast seaIneh
has been raised The janitor receives
the same pay as the secretary ana tii7
secretary not one cent more thah ms
assistant. Furuseth believes that
unions strength depends upon the aO-
soIute equality of all members.
IF a man has more ability than ms
fellows says Furuseth. let him De
thankful and take his extra eoInpen-
sation from the pleasure of bestowlns
the fruits of his superior talent upon
his less gifted fellows He should
regard himself as the trustee appointed
TO administer his talents for the COM
mon good, and not as a merchant sell
ing his wares 10 the highest bidder.
This practical socialism has not al
ways been popular with sh1s 1eliOW
officers but so far Furuseth has had
his own way and the fact that ne VIII
not allow them TO raise his salary mas
much to do with the almost idolatrOuS
regard in which the sailors hold him.
Furuseth first became identihed with
the national labor movement In lSsz-
when he was sent by the federated
trades to represent it at the Birmlng-
ham. (AlaD convention OF the Amer
lean federation of labor.
In Washington, d. c., Furuseth is
among the best known of the regular
lobbyists. He watches all legislation
affecting the sailor and it was largely
due to his argument before the COM
mittee of merchant marine and fisheries
that the Mcguire act became law.
AS a member of the legislative COM
nittee of the American federation OF
labor Furuseth. at Washington. has
crossed swords with some of the shrewd
est lawyers in the country and held his
own. He has a broad knowledge Of
economics and social history. an an
aIytic mind and an elOquenee based on
logic. They don't laugh at him in
Washington any more, and on all sub
jects affecting the sailor he is regarded
as an authority. even if somewhat
prejudiced in favor of the cause to
which he has dedicated his life.
Although devoted to the cause OF
organized labor he is first, last and al
the time the champion of the seamen.
and more than once he has bluntly In
formed the federation of labor that in
Of
which the interests of the seamen's
union and those of the federation came
in conflict he would not hesitate, in his
own words. ito cut the rope that binds
us to the national organization and
paddle our own canoe.
Furuseth is now working hard for
the passage of the Spight bill, a meas
ure for improving the condition of
seamen in the foreign going trade.
When at home he keeps office hours
from a. m. until Z p. m Occasionally
he goes to the theater in the evening.
but usually retires to his room, where
he spends his leisure with his books
and his pipe. He has two objects IN
life: The first TO improve the condi-
tion of the sailor. and the second to
prevent any photographer from taking
his picture. His friends say that he
carries his right hand in his trouser
pocket SO that he can more easily
throw his shoulder in front OF his face
when clicking cameras happen to be
around. However this may be, it is
true that not even the Coast Seamen's
Journal. the unions own organ, has
ever been able TO get a picture of the
secretary. The union once engaged an
artist to sketch Furuseth, but at the
end of six weeks the artist gave up the
job in despair
Furuseth tells this story on himself
1t was in Washington A measure af-
fecting the Indians was before congress
and the capitol was thrOnged with
reduen from all parts of the country.
As Furuseth, right elbow crooked in
front of him and shoulders cOckbilled.
sauntered down one of the senate cor
ridors. an elderly man touched him on
the arm and said:
Excuse me. but would you mind tell
ing me 10 what tribe you belOng?