The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1924-05-20
ANDY FURUSETH
SAVING SEAMEN
IN WASHINGTON
Red-baiting Labor Faker
Begging of Solons
BY LAURENCE TODD,
Federated Press staff Correspondent.


WASHINGTON, May 1s.-Before
the house and senate adopted the con-
ference report on the immigration
bill, the conferees were compelled to
explain that the vague language they
had adopted with regard to the land
ing of alien seamen in this country
did not in any way interfere with
the fundamental principle of the sea
mems act, under which foreign sea-
men may freely quit their vessels In
American ports and re-ship on other
vessels at the American rate OF
wages. Andrew Furuseth Of the sea-
mems union had sent a printed ap-
peal to every senator and congress
man to refuse to vote for the report
until sections 10 and 81 Of this meas
ure had been stricken out. He held
that these sections Of the bill would
repeal the emancipation" clause Of
the seamen's act.
Some Jokers.
The progressive group in the house
met and voted to support the motion
Of Representative SABBATH of Chicago
to recommit the bill to conference in
order that this and three other jokers
in the bill should be cut out. The
vote to recommit was not even
enough to secure a roll call On the
final vote in the house the progress
sives split. Beck, Schneider, Schafer,
Sinclair and others voted against the
adoption of the report. Browne, who
had spoken for the motion to recon-
nit, voted for final adoption, as did
Nelson and Cooper of Wisconsin.
Browne stated to the Federated Press
afterward that if the bill became law,
and it was construed to interfere with
the quitting of their ships by foreign
seamen in our ports, his group would
try to have the law amended.
In the senate, an hour later, the re-
port was attacked by Senator Ship
stead, who asked of Senator Reed Of
Pennsylvania, in charge of the bill,
series of questions showing that
the conferees had at least put the
seamen's act in jeopardy. They had
empowered a hostile secretary of la
Dor to place endless difficulties in the
way of the quitting of their jobs by
alien seamen coming to American
ports. At the same time, Shipstead
forced Reed to admit, nothing had
been done to compel shipmasters to
carry away as many seamen as they
brought
Stands by Bosses.
THAT would be ca unreasonable rs-
Iquirement," Reed asserted. 1.-THE
master is compelled to explain the
absence of any member of his crew
who quits or deserts or otherwise dis
appears, but we know that great num-
bers of alien seamen desert every
spring and go to work on the Great
Lakes. Besides, we do not want to
make it possible for half dozen
walters, by striking just before lin
er leaves her dock, to delay her sail
ing.
"As for the seamen's act, the con-
ferees have all tried to explain to
Mr.. Furuseth that this report seeks
to avoid any interference with that
law, and we believe it will not in any
degree limit the freedom that alien
seamen now enjoy in our ports. He
does not see it, but l think that is due
to his extreme anxiety and caution"
Nevertheless, Reed was unwilling
to have the bill sent back to commit
tee and so changed as to leave no
doubt in the minds of trade union Of
ficials as to it's effect on the liberation
Of seamen. His reference to the adj
vantage of having lot of alien sea-
men go to work each spring on the
Great Lakes merely reflected the
steel trust background Of his rise in
politics.
Senator Fletcher, Senator Robinson
and Senator Jones of Washington
also took part in the questioning OF
Reed with reference to the alien sea-
men clause. Fletcher did not appear
any better satisfied than was Ship
stead.