The Connecticut labor news., 1924-12-13

ing all the horrors, but none of the rniti- gating exceptions attributed to the pecu- l liar institution.
 "The sailor became the property or
 the ship--by law and the victim of bru-
 tality, exploitation and abuse-by law. As agent of the Seamen's Union my lot
 was not an enviable one. Those who
 believed me would not listen, and those
 who did listen had no time. l, there fore, took our appeal from Congress
 and carried it before the American pub
 lie
 1 Great newspaper refused to listen 10. or publish any facts concerning the de-
 plorable conditions surrounding Ameri-
 can seamen, whether ashore or ahoat. 1 For nearly three years l stood in the
 midst of the seeking thralldom of the waterfront slums of New York, work
 ing, fighting, hoping, exhorting, with a
 group of tattered and battered die-hard seamen at my back, facing cold, un-
 sympathetic and bewildering world-all of us telling the truth, believing in the
 truth and fighting for the truth-in vain.
 When, To, the heavens suddenly opened,
 and the Angel of the Lord appeared,
 prepared to write the truth for us and
 broadcast it through out the world.
 Tt was early in February, 1897, that I first met Mr. Hamilton Holt
 "I had been requested to speak before tia Social Peforrr, Cl,,h If New YorLr on questions relating to the seamen s grievances An uneducated sailor, I was of course, no very elegant speaker. But I had a heart full and head full of something to say, and | said it. There seems to be sort of awkward eloquence in the utteranees of the sin cere worker that holds the attention and influences the activities of the sympa- thetic listener, and seals. the lips of the scofing underling at the same time.
 "Mr. Holt was present at. the meet ing and immediately after its close, we were introduced to each other by the late Ernest H. Crosby of Rhinebeck, first president and founder of that won derful forum of equal rights, the old Social Reform club of New York.
 "Mr. Holt was, at that time, young man. He had recently graduated from college, and was managing editor of THE INDEPENDENT" of which | periodical his uncle, Mr. Clarence w | Bowen was owner and publisher. But even then, he displayed in the most illu degree and to the fullest ex- tent those splendid qualities of mind and heart which have endeared him to the helpless, hopeless and downtrodden | workers of all classes and kindreds | the country, and largely the world
 During our conversation that even 1 ing, Mr. Holt endeavored to pump me dry regarding the subject on which had been speaking: The Conditions of :, loving this unassuming, sympathetic and deep-probing young gentleman, and when we parted knew in my heart that i God had raised us up a friend. |
 'eThe very next morning found q letter from Mir. Holt in my mail, re- questing me to write an article for ! THE INDEPENDENT" on the sub ject of my discourse the evening be- l fore. Tt is subject" he wrote, with { which I fear too few of our readers | are acquainted ** Of course, you we intend to pay for it"
 Almost immediately I sat down and wrote; THE CRIMPING SYSTEM" which was published in THE INDIE PENDENT for Feb II, 1897. and was, inc first of my writings for which I was ever paid And then began a long se -ies .of articles, stories, and contribu- ions of various kinds to THE INDE-t PENDENT" extending over period ,f nearly twenty-five years. All of these ire literally true in fact and detail. All ,f them intended, and published to ex- olain and depict the horrors and abuses i, incident to sea life, and elevate the sea T ;arers to their rightful place among the vohkers of civilization, among the most 1seful of mankind, and we have abun- lantly succeed
 To-day the American seamen is as rec as any man on earth. He Is well ,erthed we'll fed; we'll clothed, human y treated and respected according to his individual deserts, like any other Ameri- an citizen. And now, and forevermore, ,, he Seamen of American, aye, of the world at large, will owe. an unknown, unpaid and intending debt of deep and f heartfelt gratitude to that fearless, tire /; ess and energetic toiler in the great , ield of Gods humanity, THE HONOR pr E IIhRaTT ToN IJoT TT