The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-01-22
BY RALPH SIMONS

BY RALPH Slh1ONS
This is the first Of three articles on the i'm
portance Of the marine transport industry, the
weaknesses of the Marine Workers Industrial
Union and how to overcome them, the lack of
Party'S attention that must be corrected.
These articles should be read by all workers,
and not alone by those in the marine industry.
Editof)
THE question of strengthening and developing
the revolutionary trade union work on the
waterfront was never so sharp and pressing as at
the present time. The struggle against the inten-
sive military preparations, in the first place
against the only fatherland of the working class
of the world. the Soviet Union. the intensive or
ganization Of imperalist united front in order
to choke the land which is building socialism, in
the organization of which imperialist front the
government of the United States plays leading
role, will be successful only if this struggle be-
comes an organic part of the everyday struggle
Of the Party and the revolutionary unions of the
USA. and not campaign carried on from time
to time.
There is no doubt that with the first cannon
shot, all the material resources, all the industry
and transport will be modified and put on
war basis. All factories having any military sig
nificance, or being of any help for military pur-
poses, will be used for and militarized. The
division between the front and the rear will be
done away with and the whole working class
will be directly or indirectly drawn into the war
hysteria No doubt such basic industries as metal
chemical, COAL automobile and also railroad and
marine transport will play an important and de-
cisive role.
Therefore it is imperative that in these indus
tries we must work harder in order to stop this
coming war adventure and even when this war
will become fact to struggle to turn the impe-
riast war into class war-civil war war
Of millions of toiling masses against those who
make wars.
The winning of the workers employed in the
industry, railroad and marine transport to
the side of the class strugge-this Is the task
which must be placed before the revolutionary
trade union movement in the U.S.A. and which.
notwithstanding the difficulties connected with
this, must be decided in the affirmative.
War Preparations.
From this point of view special attention must
be given to the work on the waterfront The ma
rine industry will play very important part in
the coming war. Already now the merchant navy
OF the U. S. is preparing for war purposes. They
are uIlOer the control ana guidance OF the U. 3.
Shipping Board. The U. S. Shipping Board is
assisting the ship owners in the building of ships
and giving them financial assistance. The rapid
naturalization in the marine industry is con-
nected with these war preparations. The plan for
| putting the industry on a war basis can be said
to have really got under way in 1923 when the
Jones' White Act and the Naval Reserve Bill
! we're passed. Under the Jones-White Act $780,
5000, were appropriated for building of "a new
merchant vessels that could be converted into
| auxiliary cruisers when necessary
| Under the Act the ship owners receive long
! term credit loans up to three-quarters of the
| value of the ship under construction The only
| stipulation is that ships be built according to
naval specifications and under naval supervi-
| sion.
Approximately 100000 marine workers are en-
pIoyed in the industry in the following capacity
| Seamen, 10000; longshoremen, 100000; fisher
men, 10000; officers 10000; harbor, rvermen,
| lighthousemen etc. 10000 Among these are
| 81 per cent Negroes, SIS per cent Chinese,
| Japanese and Philippine workers. British 119
| per cent German rs per cent, Spanish 81 per
| cent Norwegian &c per cent, Dutch Is per cent,
| Swedish is per cent Danish I 4 per cent, Central
| American per cent.
] The government Is trying TO change the rela-
tions OF the natonalties. Under the Jones' White