The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-12-02
IRON FIST RULES
AT DEMOCRATIC
SEAMEN MEETING
Andy Furuseth Talks,
But Ignores Questions

Especial TO The Daily Worker)
NEW YORK CITY, Nov. 30.-With
squads of police within whistle call
at various street corners on the out
side and numerous plainclothes deteo-
tives on the inside, Andrew Furuseth,
president of the International Sea-
mems Union, delivered a lecture on
democracy and freedom Of the sea at
a meeting attended by members Of
Marine Transport Workers Industrial
Union No. $40 of the l. w. w. and
other seamen at 10 South street, Sun
day afternoon.
Despite their condemnation Of auto
cratic actions of shipowners, and
their pleas for democratic action and
treatment of sailors as free men,"
Furuseth and his officials refused to
answer questions. They quickly closed
the meeting when several of their
own members asked for the floor.
D. E. Grange, secretary Of the Ma
rine Cooks and Stewards Union of
he Atlantic and Gulf, who made the
asst and most effective speech, arriv-
late. He reached the hall when
ruruseth was finishing his talk. Pre-
ious speakers told about the large
tendance Few left the hall for
hey wished to ask questions.
Laws Not Enough.
J. Bonek, an official of the Sailors
association, pointed out that laws on
United States statute books declar-
ing seamen are legally free, do not
make them so as long as seamen do
hot act to free themselves.
Furuseth said it was many years
since he had addressed such a large
New York crowd.
Believes Freedom Exists,
Without so much as a smile he as
serted that freedom Of the sea was
gained when law was passed in
1915.
Pouehkeepsie Case.
In the next breathe, however, he
referred to the infamous ''Poughkeep-
sic case"
The s. S. Poughkeepsie put into
Burmuda at the expiration of her
contract. Sailors insisted that they
be paid of and sent back to this coun-
try. Svid
Several, however, were arrested on
a charge of matiny. They were tried
and sentenced. The court of appeal
sustained this conviction and the
United States supreme court did like
wise. Furdseth and his officials, with
money paid into their union by sail
ors and firemen, fought the case at
Ireat expense to their organization.
Furuseth blamed the decision on
mistakes by the lawyers, and said
hat it was the only case decided
against him by the United States su-
preme court.
Grange praised Furuseth and con-
demned the churches.
There is the greatest battIer for
democracy and freedom that the
world has SEEN" the speaker said, as
he pointed to Andrew. The tall, an
eient and scrawny head OF the |. s.
U. beamed with smiles.
Il expected to see this hall pack
ed" Grange asserted in opening his
speech. This is the time to organ
lie; you never had a better chance.
Officers, including engineers, have OBJ
tanned wage increases. Seamen get
no advance. It's the first time in my
experience OF rs or 80 years as an
officer Of this union that seamen have
not got an increase before the officers.
Something is wrong that you do not
join our union"
Immediately after Grange concIud.
ed his talk, Chris Rasmussen, New
York agent Of the Atlantic district,
Eastern and Gulf Sailors Associa ton,
the chairman, announced that the
meeting was adjourned.
But before he had finished a ten
year member of the l. S. u, who car.
ried no card 1.-THE e. T. W., jumped
TO the floor and asked the right to
put question.
Won't Answer Questions.
But the chairman shouted that the
meeting was closed while Furuseth
made a rush for the door.
In a second at least twenty men
asked for the floor to ask questions
or address the meeting.
But Furuseth and his aides declar.
ed the meeting over.
III we can't discuss the wrongs OF
seamen in this so-called democratic
meeting then Wen do so at a mass
meeting in the N. II. W. Hall. i4O
Broad street, next Sunday afternoon,
and all who want 1t will get the
floor" seamen shouted.