The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1928-08-08
IS PERCENT ARE
UNORGANIzED OR
RULED BY GANG
J. P. Ryan Is One Head
of Gunner
by a Worker Correspondent

One of the most outstanding in
dustries which play great role in
the achievements of capitalist
powers in time of war is the marine
transport industry, the seamen as
wall as the waterside workers.
During the last war the official
dom of the International Longshore-
mems Association and the Interna-
tional Seamen's Union supported the
policy of collaboration with the gov
eminent Fundamentally in it's poll
cy of winning the war.
Speed-up; No Unionization.
Members of these organizations
were worked to the point of eX-
haustion, the speed-up system was
much in use and wage and union
discussions were laid aside by the
reactionary officials who were sup
posed to protect the interests of the
organized members. Both of these
organizations were affiliated with
the A. F. of L. and supported Sammy
Gompers' program of winning the
war for democracy and Wall
Street imperialism.
The seamen were well utilized by
the conflicting powers. Thousands
Of marine workers lost their lives
when the ships on which they were
working We're sunk by the subma-
rines. Many were lost due to the
fact that the ships were unsea-
worthy. Anything that could be
slapped together quickly and had
cargo space in her was used as a
ship. The U. S. Shipping Board was
training men who never before in
their lives had seen a ship to be-
come seamen in course Of two
weeks. Seamen who know nothing
about navigation but could figure a
little mathematics had issued to
them mates licenses (red tickets)
and with this weird assortment of
character the ships put out to sea,
some never to be heard of again.
Messrs. O'Connor, Ryan & Co.
T. " O'Colnor, head of the United
States Emergencw Fleet Corporation,
got his start in his career as the re-
suit of being a good and loyal class
collaborationist at the time the work
ers were slaughtering one another
for the safety OF Wall Street invest
ments. Many other trade union of
ficials followed his treacherous ex-
ample.
Today we find at the head of the
Longshoremen's Union, Joseph P.
Ryan, president of the Central
Trades and Labor Council, a we'll
known henchman of the gang ruling
Tammany Hall AND leader of a
clique of gunner who control the
union. with a rank and file of mem
hers having no voice in the affairs
Of the union and not organized to
resist the gang rule.
The Seamen's Union is too small.
Ninety-six per cent of the seamen
are unorganized today. They have
no power in the marine industry at
the present time. The ship owners
have fully realized the inefficiency
of the officers aboard ship during
the last struggle and to insure them
selves of having good cannon-fodder
in the coming struggle and have
fostered bill creating a Merchant
Marine Naval Reserve so that they
may have good slaves to serve their
interests at demand to suit them
selves.
We must remember that there is,
however, a good percentage of sea-
men VINO are more radically in
clined than in any other industry.
In every struggle of the workers
rhe seanen have taken a leading
role ard in many countries have
been the vanguard of the workers
revolutionary movements. We must
not allow the seamen to be used
against their fellow-workers in the
next struggle, but must utilize them
in fighting only for their class in
the battle against the master class.
The workers of the marine industry
must be organized into a strong
militant and international union.
They have a mighty power which
they can use for the benefit of the
working class movement. They must
and will do this. B.