United labor bulletin., 1910-03-18
THE LAKE SEAMEk
SOUND A WARNING
The Conditions on the Great Lakes Are
Laid Before the Laboring Men of the
United States.

The great Seamen's 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. 1903, and the battle is
/, still being waged as bitterly as in the
beginning. The Lake Carriers. by the
way. are really controlled by the Pitts
burg Steamship company. subsidiary
OF the Steel Trust.
In spite of the most vicious attacks
from the employers and prosecutions
from both city and state authorities N
many instances. especially by the police.
public and private. the unions of seamen
have been able to present a solid front
and can report few deserters- BY care
full management and the loyal support oil
seamen on both the Atlantic and Pacific
coasts the men on the Lakes have car
ried on the struggle for nearly an entire
year without assistance from any source
outside their own International Union,
and they are still in good condition, their
unions being sound both as TO finances
and membership.
The strike was brought about by an
attempt on the part OF the shipowners to
compel the union men to hand over their
union books and cards 10 the employers
and to pledge themselves never to again
join a labor union "as long as they sailed
for a living This the Lake Carriers
called open shop"
This was followed by a further attempt
U ~ I ufss Hla linz
augurate an industrial passport system
which they had diguided 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. result
ing in the employment OF Asiatc labor
on over third OF the vessels OF that
country. 10000 Asiatlcs had to be en-
ployed because the federation scheme so
lowered the wages and conditions that
white men could no longer be induced 10
ship on those vessels.
The welfare plan" passports of the
Lake Carriers. obtained only after regis
tration of name. personal appearance.
past history, etc. are intended to keep
the seamcn under constant control OF the
shipowners. whether the seamen are EN-
ployed or not. While ashore these pass
ports must be exhibited to the shipping
masters of the Lake Carriers, the holder
being required 10 frequent certain places
called ASSEMBLY rooms" while out OF EN-
ployment. Upon being given a job the
seaman must deposit his passport with
the ships master, who will return 1t 10
him when he leaves the vessel, provided
the master has been satisfied with the
services of the seaman. Otherwise the
passport is taken up and returned to the
Lake Carriers and the sailor is forever
blacllisted Every owner, shipping mas
ter and ships officer has the full author
ity under this welfare plan" to at any
time for any or no reason blacklist any
sailor. or marine fireman or cook. Ailoat
or ashore constant restraint and espion-
age is TO be applied to every seaman. II
was a deliberate attempt on the part OF
the shipowners to establish serfdom on
the Great Lakes.
The Seamen are on strike to prevent
this. and they have exhibited true man
hood In their determined stand. AS patri-
otto American citizens II is their duty to
fight against this attempt to inaugurate
modern feudalism. Born frcemen, un-
less they surrender their birthright. they
can do nothing except to continue the
struggle until the slave system. which
the shipowners have seen fit TO mask
under the name of welfare plan" has
been entirely abolished.
This the seamen OF the Lakes. have de
cided to do and have publicly announced
their determination and their belief in
their ability to remain on strike, conduct
ing themselves as law-abiding American
citizens, until the Lake Carriers Assoc
citation will agree to recognize them us
free men. The Seamen realize that real
freedom. real liberty. will not be theirs
unless they can rid the Lakes of this
vicious passport system and again them
selves exercise AN effective voice in nomi
mating the conditions under which they
must live and work.
The American Federation of Labor has
endorsed the strike and has pledged
moral and, should II be needed, financial
aid. But at present the Seamen are ask
ing nothing except the moral support and
the active sympathy of all working