The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1910-03-26
UNEMPL DYED! KEEP AWAY
FROM THE GREAT:"LAKES
is Seamen's Plea.

The great seamens struggle for the
maintenance of human freedom on
the Great Lakes is still in progress.
Ten thousand seamen have been on
strike against the shipowners (known
as the Lake Carriers Association),
since the month of May, 1909, and
the battle is still being waged as bit
terly as in the beginning. The Lake
Carriers, by the. way, are really con-
.trolled by the Pittsburg Steamship
Company, subsidiary of the steel
trust.
In spite of the most vicious at
tacks from the employers and per-
secutions from both city and state
authorities in many instances, especi-
ally by the police, public and private,
the unions of seamen have been able
to present solid front and can re-
port few deserters. By careful man
agement 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 outside their. own inter-
national union, and they are still in
good condition, their unions being
sound as to finances and member
ship.
Pledge Demanded Brought Strike.
The strike was brought about by
an attempt on the part of the ship
owners to compel the union men to
h a kS
cards to the employers and to pledge
themselves never to again join "a
labor union "as long as they sailed
for a living This the Lake Car
riers called "open shop
This was followed by further at
tempt on the part of the Lake Car
riers to inaugurate the industrial
passport system which they dignified
by the name of ''Welfare Plan," but
! which was modelled upon the police
system Of Russia and the notorious
English Shipping Federation scheme
| which brought about such havoc
| on the English merchant marine, re-
| sulting in the employment of Asiatic
| labor on over third of the vessels
of that country. 10000 Asiatics had
| to be employed because the fedora
| ton scheme so lowered the wages
that white men could no longer be
! induced to ship on those vessels.
Passports Made Them Serfs.
The ''welfare plan" passports Of
the Lake Carriers, obtained only af-
| ter registration of name, personal
| appearance, past history ETC., are in
! tended to keep the seamen under
! constant control of the shipowners,
| whether the seaman is employed, or
| not. While ashore these passports
| must be exhibited to the shipping
! masters of the Lake Carriers, the
holder being required to frequent
| certain places called Assembly
rooms" while out of employment.
| Upon being given a job the seaman
must deposit his passport with the
ships master who will return it to
| him when he leaves the vessel pro-
| vided the master has been satisfied
| with the services of i the seaman.
Otherwise the passport is taken UP
! and returned to the Lake Carriers
| and the sailor is forever blacklisted.
Every owner, shipping master and
ships officer has the, full authority
under this welfare plan" to. at any
time for any or no reason blacklist
any sailor, or marine fireman or
cook. Afloat or ashore constant re-
straint and espionage is to be applied
to every seaman. 1t was a deliberate
attempt on the part of the shipown-
ers to establish serfdom on the Great
Lakes. J.. z<} r; Ill.,. 2:.4.., IA
T. The seamen are on strike to pre-
vent this. and they have exhibited
true manhood in their determined
stand. As patriotic Am rican citi-
Zens it. is their duty to fight against
this attempt to inaugurate a modern
feudalism. Born freemen;; unless