The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1917-01-26
(By Dante Barton)


America, Jack is every inch a sailor
and is no longer a chattel slave.
The Twentieth Annual Convention of
the international Seamen's Union of
America, which has just closed an
historic session in New York City,
celebrated this fact by sending to
President Wilson, as it's first official
act, the following telegram of con-
gratulation:
"The International Seamen's Union
of America, in twentieth annual con-
vention assembled, sends best wishes
and heartiest congratulations upon
your reelection.
"For the first time in history the
seamen of America are now meeting
as freemen. With your own good
self at the helm for four years more
we feel confident of our ability to
demonstrate to all America that the
Seamen's Act, to which you affixed
your signature, stands first for hu-
man freedom, second for greater safe
ty of life at sea, and last, but not
least, for equality of opportunity for
the American ship and the American
ship owner.
ANDREW FURSETH."
President Wilson's answering let
ter of thanks and best wishes was
read to a convention of forty-five
delegates, representing 100 per cent
more union seamen than there were
in the service of American ships one
year ago and before the new law
went into effect.
The prophecy Of Andrew Furuseth,
president of the union, able seaman,
and survival of the old Vikings, is
coming true. "The American sailor
is going back to the sea and he is
going back free man."
Just what that means, in its many
ways, to the United States and to
the internationalism of the Seven
Seas was briefly indicated in state
ments made to the Committee on In
dustrial Relations by Paul Scharren-
berg, editor of the Coast Seamen's
Journal of San Francisco, and dele
gate to the convention, and was set
forth in the report of T. A. Hanson,
international Secretary of the Sea-
men.
Everybody connected with the sea
trades has been benefited immensely
already" said Mr.. Scharrenberg, "ex-
cept the American investor in foreign
ships whose interest was to drive
American ships and sailors from the
seas and to keep all sailors in every
world port slaves, subject to be run
down and captured and turned over
to slave chains if they dared to eXer-
else the right of every free man and
quit their jobs. These same investors
in foreign ships, and members of the
international trust, have been the
same ones, by the way, who have talk
ed so loudly about the American flag,
and yet have hired Orientals at indie
cent wages to the practical exclusion
of the American seamen.
"The American flag is being re-
stored to the sea, along with the
American sailor, by the Seamen's Act
Just consider one side advantage
which this means. The merchantmen
sailor is the recruit for the nations
navy. OF the 100000 or more union
sailors in the British merchant fleets,
more than 10000 are now serving on
the British men-of-war. Americas
necessarily growing navy will have
the reserve force for time of need of
the young men trained in the ways of
the sea on her merchant vessels and
having the fine spirit and strength
that belongs only to free men.
"The American Seamen's Act is
benefting seamen all the world over"
continued Mr.. Scharrenberg. "As it
applies to the sailors and ships of all