The daily worker., 1929-08-05

for 2O9 shipping companies. 1t is
significant that these companies pay
wages below the shipping board
scale, which in itself is bad enough.
That the institute hc been created
by the ship owners for their own in
terests can be clearly and readily
seen when we survey the committees
and executives in charge.
A list of the clay managers" of
the institute for the last few years
looks like a shipping guide. We find
Frank G. Munson of the notorious
Munson line, clay manager" 1920;
Kermit Roosevelt, president of the
Roosevelt line and vice-president of
the Kerr line, clay manager" 1923;
Sir T. A hley Sparks (only big Brit
ish ship owners have handles to their
names). Sir Sparks is the director
of the Cunard line, clay manager"
1912; James Barber, who cuts or
"barbers" seamen's wages in the
Barber, Orient and La Plata S. S.
lines, clay manager" 1921. These
very names are synonymous with
"open shoppers" and "strike break
ers."
These same ship. owners during
these Vars and up until 1929, were
also on the Committee of Employ
ment and Seamen's Savings" In
1921 seamen's savings, deposited in
the institute, were $1,201,O67. In
1926 they had shrunk to $476,649.
The ship owner "com~littee on sea-
mems savings" had expertly per-
formed their duties of Saving" sea-
mems wages for themselves, by the
simple method of curtailing the sup
ply, that is be reducing seamen's
wages.
The Social Service Department.
We're you ever broke when on the
beach? Without "flop" or feed?
Why didn't you go to the social SER
vice department of the institute :?
They receive annually $4,000 for
destitute seamen. Enough to pay
for $4,000 beds or 10000 meals!
Let US see what they have to say
about this:
Out of Their Own Mouths.
In the annual report of the insti-
tute, under "Social Service Activi-
ties" we find: ''If the work of the
Institute is mere loose or sentimen-
tai giving its expansion would be
destitute of any element of surprise
and would be unjustifiable, either
from the standpoint of social better
ment or Christian morals" "the
seamen are ineXpert in the art of
living" - and again - "Relief work
has chiefly been conducted with the
idea of impressing on seamen the ne
cessity of paying back what they
have received" - Christian charity
on a sound business basis!
The 'H0tel."
The institute officially says-"The
sailor pays fair price for his lodg-
ing and his food, for the care of his
dunnage and for other services which
are adjuncts to any great hotel.
What he does not pay for is the
place in which he finds himself"
Too bad they can't charge US for the
atmosphere or "the place in which
xya find o,1rcaIvacDf Fo,, +hen +hev
might enhance the departmental
profits, which in 1926 were $780,
004.13!
The institute differs from "other
great hotels" in many respects. We
can occupy rooms anywhere else for
"a hours. We can even go into the
Ritz, Waldorf, or Commodore, and
availing ourselves with the privi-
leges of the lobby, doze a while. Not
so in the institute! Should we blink
our eyes in an endeavor to dislodge
a cinder or close dreamily for a few
moments contemplation of the here
now, hitherto or hereafter, heavy
hands grasp our shoulders, gruff
voices shout threats and we are pro-
PEELED OUT.
Demands.
We seamen realize the sinister al
lance of shipowner and Institute.
We know they are closely allied, in
fact, are one and the same! We