The Columbus journal., 1911-04-12

tie fear of the foreign dungeon and the certain
return 10 his ship in irons holds him his CON
tract And even with the fear of certain reen-
siayement staring him in the face, the sailor un-
der The stars and stripes is far often a de-
Serter II Is idle to argue that ii is in the nature
of the sailoT 10 wander. TO desert one master for
another, and that therefore laws necessary TO
prevent the disorganization of the merchant
riGe. Every occupation has its devotees to whom
IL calls in an inSstent voice. and there thou
sands of men who follow the sea from choice The
answer 10 the question. why is the sailor legally
slave. must be found in an inquiry into the condi-
tons from which he seeks to run away. If he
likes TO follow the there is reason why no
should forever try TO leave it to leave his
master and his flag except that the conditions
under which he is forced to work are intolerable.
And here lies the answer
The earliest known facts about the condition
Of Tie lahCrer take us back to the ancient
laws OF the Norseman and 10 the code that gov
crned the sailors OF the ancient cities on the
shores OF the Medic erraniean. In the north the
lahoTor on land and at Sea free man. The
sailor had the same status aboard his vessel that
his brother had in the Morse towns. He had the
same freedom OF contract and the voice in
the laws regulating the conduct of his companions
and himself. The laborer of the south chat
tel slave on land and He usually
prisoner of IA and his body and soul belonged to
his master. He was chained 10 his seat in the gal
ley ard dashed TO his task. Manual labor OF all
kinds considered to be debasing and per
formed only by slaves.
The Island of Rhodes gave to the Mediter
ranean its maritime law and the Roman code
patterned after that of Rhodes When Rome
quered the countries OF the north she gave them
her laws for the regulation of labor on the
well on land. The apervading idea of Roman
civilization that labor is debasing and the
iaborer on land was a Serf and the sea he
a slave The maritime power Of medieval Europe,
which expressed through the laws of BARGE
Iona and later through the all-powerful Hanseatic
League OF cities was maintained through Roman
maritime law. 1t gradually overpowered and OBJ
liberated the law of the north, and the free sailor
ceased TO exist. Since that day the sailor has
been 4 Chattel slave.
When sailing vessels replaced the galley. il be
came necessary that the sailors status slave
Freedom OF action necessary for the operation
of sailing vessel but il still necessary to
keep the sailor bound to the ship because injury
might 10 the vessel through his desertion.
And so his status slave was maintained by
law the principle OF common hazard" All the
laws Of the HanseaiC League stipulate that II any
harm 10 vessel while any sailor is absent
from shipboard the absent sailor shall pay the
damage. The safety OF the vessel and her cargo
in the hands OF every man on board while
The vessel was at sea or in foreign ports
The progress of civilization has relieved the
ship-owner and the master Of the hazard of the
Maritime insurance has been devised to pay
for losses through acts Of God. If ship sinks at