Denver labor bulletin., 1915-03-20
The Optimistic
Philosopher
NDREw FURUsETH, the big
Dane. president of the Interna-
nionalI seamen's Union Of Amer

ntonAI Seamens Union ot Amer-
lea, has at last achieved the
great ambition Of his life. For twenty
years he has been fighting TO secure the
passage Of seamen's bill through con-
gress which would afford adequate pro-
lection to men employed in the coast
and foreign shipping trade. This was
>nchieved when the sixty third congress,
which adjourned ON March =, passed the
bill and Il was signed by President Will
son during the closing hours of the ses-
sion. Once before a similar bill passed
the house and senate, only to be vetoed
by President Taft at behest of the ship
ping trust. From every port on the
globe seamen are sending congratula-
tions TO Andrew Furuseth, for while the
law applies to American seamen. il will
benefit every man employed in the ship
ping trade. lie enlisted the support of
such liberal minded and aggressive mem
bers Of congress as Senators La Toilette
of Wisconsin, Chamberlain and Lane Of
Oregon. Representatives Rufus Hardy OF
Texas and Frank Buchanan of Illinois.
Also great aid was given by Secretary
William b. Wilson of the department OF
labor, and Samuel Gompers, president Of
the American Federation Of Labor. Dur
ing the years Furusefh has worked for
this legislation he has lived in Washing
ton practically all the time on an able
seaman's wage. refusing to accept more
from his union The new law establish
es three important things; First. free
dom to the seamen: second, improved
safety at sea; third, equalizes the cost
Of operation Of foreign and American
vessels trading from and to American
porte. 1t will have strong tendency
70 egualixe wages Of seamcn throughout
the civilized world. II will b. very
strong inducement 10 foreign nations TO
adopt similar laws because they will
lose seamen unless they do. II will
raise the standing of seamen. and restore
their skill and bring better class of
men 10 sen and il will bring back TO
America a merchant marine and furnish
n real reserve for the American Navy IL
the government chooses to USE il FOR that
purpose. In the words Of Andrew Fur
useth. 1t j. world legislation 80 tSc
highest humane character
:@.:
Joe NJ johnson OF Washington. agent
OF the Union Printers Home, has written
some sermonettes which Slhaye recently
been complied and prblished by the In
ternationsl Typographical Union. The
o. =. has been favored with copy and
read them with interest. One of the
sermonettes, and perhaps making the
best point. is as follows
The laborers who went to work in the
vineyard at the eleventh hour, and after
working one hour received fnll days
pay. were the first recipients of the ben
eft Of the short hour day for workmen.
That benefit WAS very slight. and when
we consider that the wage was only
penny, Il il q trifle difficult 10 under
stand how the lord al the vineyard
coula hsye conveniently handed them
l~ss. hut whether tho benefit wns great
or small. the fact remains that II was
simply q grntuity--the bounty of the
good -naturrd lord Of the vineyard There
have been few instances of the kind
sincr. The short work-day enjoyed by
workmen nov il the result Of organiza-
tion.
As those tardy vineyard laborers went
TO work at the eleventh houf and worked
only one hour. an elrvcn hour day must
have bern the prevailing custom The
presumption II that they did as they
pleased with the other thirteen honrs.
After one hundred years of organisa-
tion. with its accompaniment Of toll. pa
thence. deprivation, cxpostulation, and
the expenditure Of many millions of dol
lars. The union printers, under the juris-
dicficn Of the international Typograph-
ical Union. have brought the work day
down TO eight hous, and during the
same time we have increased the wage
~cale until Il almost harmoniEes with the
cost Of living. The coat Of living. how
ever, l. largely matter OF individual