Denver labor bulletin., 1917-08-11
NO VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAWS
IN ALLEGED | W. W. ACTIVITIES
Attorney That Evidence of Reasonable
Action Hangs Heads of Strike Leaders in West.
Shpowners and Seamen Holding Conference

of securing general understanding
as to the conditions under which the
new merchant marine. now under con-
struction for war emergencies, is to be
manned and oificered.
Andrew Furuseth, as president of
the International Seamen's Union and
leader of the negotiations from the
side of the crews and officers, stated at
the close of the general conference
that the prospects of securing an un-
derstanding, by means of the joint
committee, were favorable.
First of all, he said, the conditions
aboard ship must be so changed as to
make the life attractive to the Ameri-
cans who have left the sea, so that
they will come back to it.
Next, the owners must provide for
the apprenticeship of boys to the sea-
faring trade, so that there shall be
continued increase in the number of
skilled seamen going into service.
Finally, conditions as between the
entire body of seamen and the owners
must be brought to such n basis Of
harmony and goodwill as to assure the
future of American seamen as a class;
otherwise men will hesitate to return
to the sea for the brief period of the
war.
Failure of the Great Lakes Carriers
association to send representatives to
the conference, in the face of the invi-
tation of the government, was con-
strued in government circles to mean
that Mr.. Gary. as head of the United
States Steel Corporation, thought him
self strong enough to refuse to assist
even the government and the United
States shipping board in the program
of hitting its own vessels to carry
IatsUUn 4
France. III that should prove to be
the case, the power conferred upon
the government by some Of the war
time legislation will enable the presi-
dent to correct Mr.. Gary's mistake
The price of steel has yet to be fixed,
and the president will fix il. The
president can also commander any
part, or all. of the plants and proper
ties held by the United States Steel
Corporation and its subsidiaries. in
GLIDING its Great Lakes shipping lines.
For these reasons there is no partic-
ular alarm at the absence from this
conference of the Lake Carriers Off
cers-the men who were so bellipcr-
emily present whenever the Seamen's
bill was under discussion in congress
in past years.
Back OF our whole attempt to get
this present understanding as to shin
ping on the lakes and the Atlantic and
the Gulf and the Pacific" said Furu
seth, us the desire to have Americans
man all American vessels. Sea power
as have often declared, is in the sea-
men. We want American sea power.
Back of that, still, is the desire that
white men shall hold the sea power of
the world. Our plan here and now il
to reach an understanding under which
the sea power of Americans. and of
white seamen generally, shall extend
over the world"
The confederation of workmen's
syndicates of the Mexican republic has
sent to Washington, as a resident mem
ber of the central committee of the
Pan-American Federation of Labor.
Edmundo f. Martinez. Cuban unions
have sent Antonio Correa, and the
Great Federation of Labor of Chile
has sent Gardenio Gonzales. These
three men will join in conferences here
this month with Carlos Loveira, acting
mead OF the committee and represent
ing the labor movement Of Yucatan.
Delegates are to be chosen shortly by
the unions of Argentina and Peru.
They will come to Washington to re-
side during their term Of service.
With the Pan-Amercan Federation
OF Labor is affiliated the American