The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1910-04-08
GREAT LAKES TROUBLE
RESPONSIBILITY PLACED
Lake Carriers Association Must Shoulder Blame For
Greatest Maritime Industrial Struggle in Past De-
cade-Sailors Object to Peonage System.

CHICAGO, April S.-To the Editor
1 take the liberty of addressing you in
behalf of the seamen who are member.
of our Lake district unions on a mat.
ter of very grave Importance to sea
men, and also, we believe, to our com.
try.
In these days of public discussions
on "The Navy" "Upbuilding of tho
American Merchant Marine and kin.
dred subjects, a great deal of attention
has been called to the fact, disputed
by none, that on the Atlantic, Pacific
and Gulf coasts, there are very few ma
tive American seamen, such as would
be needed to man our navy in event of
war.
Upon the Great Lakes, however, for
several years the exact opposite has
been true. Over 50 per cent of our
seamen on the lakes are either native
or naturalized citizens, very large
majority being native Americans.
Do you believe it to be the best inter
ests of our common country these re-
naming American ;seamen should be
driven ashore, compelled to leave their
calling because of unreasonable and de-
cidedly un- American working conditions
being forced upon them?
These men have found it necessary
to go on strike against the dangerously
unfair terms of employment which an
organization of shipowners, known as
the Lake Carriers association, is seek
ing to impose upon the seamen of the
Great Lakes.
The strike began May 1st, 1909, is
still in progress, and will be continued
during this season unless some honor
able settlement can be reached.
We ask the privilege of laying before
yoI for your consideration and for
such use as you may care to make of it,
the following statement regarding the
present strike and the causes which
rendered it necessary and unavoidable.
For several years previous to 1908
the unions had entered into agreements
with the Lake Carriers association.
Such differences as existed were each
year discussed and settled for the sea-
son, usually by compromise on the part
of the unions.
In the spring of 1908 we wrote to
the Lake Carriers, requesting that a
date be set for the usual conference,
having in view renewal of the old
agreement which had then expired. No
demand was made for any change in
either wages or working conditions.
Much to our surprise the Lake Car
riers entirely ignored our communica
tion.
Shortly after the opening of naviga-
tion in 1908 the Lake Carriers, through
their captains and shipping masters,
demanded that all seamen employed on
their vessels must quit the unions. Sea-
men who refused to do this were dis
charged. It went from bad to worse
until many of the men were even re
quired to take an oath renouncing all
allegiance to the unions, and to agree,
under oath. to "remain non-union men
as long as they sailed for a living"
This continued throughout the season
of 1905, both on board the ships and
in the shipping offices. But by dodg-
ing each blow and exercising unlimited
patience we pulled through the year,
and while avoiding a strike we actu-
ally succeeded in also partially avoid
ing the lockout, and at the same time
we kept our unions in good shape.
In the spring of 1909 the Lake Car
riers' association again declined tc
meet representatives of the unions
and inaugurated an absolutely merciless
industrial passport system. On May
1st, 1909, we went on strike against
this passport scheme, the main feature:
of which are: certificate of member
ship in a so-called welfare plan con
trolled by the Lake Carriers-Payment
of fees by seamen to the Lake Carriers
Registration of name, age, persona
appearance, etc-An industrial passport
called discharge book" the holder OF
which is to be thus identified. A sys-
tenn of character marks, such as th'
master of the vessel may choose Il
give, upon which future employment ol
non employment is to depend. Authority