The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1912-09-07
SENATOR NELSON
RIGHT AT TIMES

Continued from Passe 1.

you did my letter Of last week.
Andrew Furuseth has for many
years been identified with the legis-
lative work Of the American labor
movement. He is credited with being
one Of the most able and honest men,
bers OF organized labor in the coun-
try. His letter to Mr.. Gompers reads
as follows:
Furuseth Is Clear.
Having been a member Of the leg
1slative committee of the American
Federation of Labor some years ago,
and having served in the capacity OF
legislative representative from the In
ternational Seamen's Union Of Amer
lea during part of the last two con-
crosses, I desire to call your attention
to certain facts concerning Senator
Nelson of Minnesota.
In 1897, when it was proposed to
change the law governing seamen, ex-
tensive hearings were held and the
facts were SO contradictory that it be-
came very difficult for senator's to de-
termine the truth Of the statements
made to them, Senator Nelson, in or
der to ascertain for himself, made ar
rangements with Paul Du Chaillu to
visit New York City, where the two
together made a close personal in
vestigation of the condition of the
seamen, as it could be found there.
AS a result, Senator Nelson was en-
tirely in favor of the legislation urged
by the seamen.
Nelson On Erdman Act.
when the present law known as
the Erdman act was being considered
by the senate it contained a provision
under which the award Of arbitrators
might be enforced by the equity court.
This was, on motion Of Senator Nell
son, stricken out.
''Then,, while Hawaii was an inde-
pendent country, it adopted a system
Of labor under which contracts to
labor were enforcible by imprison-
ment. When Hawaii sought admis-
sion to the United States the sugar
planters in Hawaii strongly urged that
their system Of labor on the planta-
tons was necessary for their success
full operation and that it ought to be
continued. Senator Hoar of Mas
sachusetts, Senator Pettigrew of South
Dakota, and Senator Nelson Of Mime
sofa, insisted that the system should
be abolished and the abolition Of the
system became part of the annexation
act.
AT the last congress a bill known
as the Green bill was introduced in
the house and in modified form in
the senate. The result of the enact
ment of this bill would have been the
restoration even in the coast-wise and
nearby foreign country trade of all the
evils, including imprisonment for de-
sertion, that had been abolished in
that trade, and Senator Nelson OBJ
posed it.
Seamen Are Grateful.
During this congress, a bill, the
purport Of which was to abolish the
Imprisonment for desertion of Amer
lean seamen in foreign ports, was in
troduced by him and favorably re-
ported by his committee and passed
through the senate. It was, however,
the opinion that because it left the
treaties alone, it was incomplete and
the house committee having under
consideration the present Seamen's
bill, H. R. 23673, perfected and
adopted this bill and sent It over to
the senate.
This bill goes the whole way. It
will abolish the Imprisonment for de-
sertion of American seamen in foreign
ports, and foreign seamen in Amer
lean ports. It extends the funda-
mental principles of human liberty
for which the United States has stood
since the war, to the workers of the
sea. while those workers are in any
safe harbor.
These are questions dealing funda-
mentally in human liberty with the
right Of individuals to quit work at
will. On questions of this kind. there
never was any doubt where Senator
Nelson of Minnesota would be found.
1T Is due to you, to Senator Nell
son and to the people of Minnesota,
that these facts shown be known. >
"(Signed) w., "
"ANDREW FURUSETH, &
President International Seamen's
!: Union Of America" .~..t,S5 ~
:. r-..