The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1910-03-18
STRIKE ON
GREAT
LAKES
Seamen'S Union and Lake
Carriers Association are
Locked in Struggle-En-
dOrsed by A. F. of l..

The great Seamen's struggle for the
maintainance 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 bitterly as in
the beginning The Lake Carriers, by
the way, are really controlled by the
Pittsburg Steamship company, sub
sidiary of the steel trust.
In spite of the most vicious attacks
from the employers and prosecutions
from both city and state authorities in
many instances, especially by the po-
lice. public and private. the unions of
seamen have been able to present "a
solid front and can report few deser-
tions. By careful management and the
loyal support of seamen on both the
Atlantic and Pacific coasts the men on
WV i@''NN7 ht'Nt Nttl Itb Ou lut struggle
for nearly an entire year without as
sstance from any source outside their
own international union, and they are
still in good condition, their unions be-
ing sound both as to finances and mem
bership.
The strike was brought by an at
tempt on the part of the shipowners
to compel the union men to hand over
their union books and cards to the EN-
ployers and to pledge themselves never
to again Join a labor union "as long a.
they sailed for a living" This the
Lake Carriers called open shop
This was followed by a further at
tempt on the part of the Lake Carriers
to inaugurate ap industrial passport
system which they had dignified by the
name of "Welfare Plan," but which was
modelled upon the police system of Rus
sia and the notorious English shipping
federation scheme which brought about
such havoc on the English merchant ma
rine, resulting in the employment of
Asiatie 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 and
conditions that white men could no
longer be enduced to ship on those
vessels.
The welfare plan passports of the
Lake Carriers, obtained only after
registration OF name personal appear
ance, past history etc, are intended
to keep the seamen under constant con-
troll of the shipowners. whether the sea
men is employmed or not. While ashore
these passports must be exhibited to
the shipping masters of the Lake Car
riers the holder being required to fire.
quent certain places called Assembly
Rooms while out of employment. Up
on being given job the seaman must
deposit his PASSPORT with the ships
master who win return it to him when
he leaves the vessel, provided the mast
er 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
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 black
list any sailor, or marine fireman or
cook. Afloat or ashore constant re-
straint and espionage is to be applied
to every seaman. 1t was deliberate
attempt ON the part of the ship owners
to establish serdom on the Great Lakes
The seamen are on strike to prevent
this, and they have exhibited true man.
hood in their determined stand. As
patriotic American citizens it is their
duty to fight against this attempt to
inauguerate a modern fnedalsm Born
freemen, unless they surrender their
birthrights, they can do nothing except
to continue the struggle until the slave
system, which the ship owners have
seen fit TO mask under the name of
NNtoi' Hiah hh0 httu dnOA
ished.
This the seamen of the lakes have
decided TO do and have publically an
nounced their determination and their
belief in their ability to remain on
strike, conducting themselves as law
abiding American citizens, until the
Lake Carriers association win agree to
recognize them as free men The sea
men realize that real freedom, real
liberty, win not be theirs unless they
can rid the lakes of this vicious pass
port system and again themselves exer-
else an effective voice in nominating
the conditions under which they must
live and work
The American Federation of Labor
has endorsed the strike and has pledged
moral and, should it be needed, finan-
cial aid But at present the seamen
are asking nothing except the moral