The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1933-09-06
Pravda Means Truth

TUESDAY night an excursion was
l arranged to go aboard Russian
ship which was lying nearby, loading
hides for Hamburg.
The strange lettering on the ship
puzzled Shorty. The girl activist from
the Club, who served as guide, ex-
planned:
THAT word spells Pravda, which
means Truths "i
Shorty asked where the ship was
built. ~
Here in Leningrad, This is one
of the older and smaller ships. Only
$500 tons, and coal burner. Our
new ships are all motor-driven, up
to 10000 tons"
On board, they tied up with crew
off a German ship who were also
looking around. Barney examined
the electric elevated winchss with an
appreciative eye.
Look at that" he called to Pitts.
"They keep them painted and cleaned
and covered with hoods-treat them
like babies. ns e
The visiting seamen were taken
into the nlessroom. This had one
long table with a white cover and up
holstered seats all around.
Looks more like parlor than
messroom,p muttered Shorty.
On the walls were photos OF Lenin
and Stain; also a big map OF the
Soviet Union, showing where the diff
ferent industries were located. There
were decorated lights in the room,
and electric fans. Two stewardesses
we're just finishing cleaning up as
the men came in.
WHILE the girl guide went TO get
w one OF the ships committee to
show the men around, Slim and
Eddie went over to the far corner of
the messroom, where bookcase stood.
All kinds of illustrated books and
MAGAZINES were there, and from the
different diagrams and technical
charts, it was easy to see that the
Russian seamen took great inter-
est in technical studies. A couple of
banjcs and balalaikas and an accor-
dion. hung over the bookcase.
Mary came back with the second
maze, who took the men around. AS
they went through the corridors lead
ing to the crews quarters, Shorty re-
marked on the cleanliness, and asked
how It YVES kept so clean.
There are two stewardesses for
tire crew. They take care OF the
crews cabins, the crews messroom,
and the crews bathrooms"
screws bathrooms" exclaimed
Gunnar, incredible.
The second mate showed them.
True enough: bath-tubs, showers. In
fact, a sailor was sitting in one of
the tubs as they looked in, and he
waved the bath-sponge cheerily at
them. Then they examined the cab
ms, two searnen to cabin, with
white sheets, yes, even carpets on
the deck, and over the hunks an cleo
trio fan. For the man in the upper
bunk there was a little stepladder
SO he wouldn't have to Jump up like
a kangaroo or step on the other fell
lows face getting down, as happens
on capitalist ships.
boy, that's Pullman seryice!"
called Stanley.
Down below in the engine room the
black gang livened up. The second
assistant had to admit "Clean as
whistle Who says these fellows
don't know how to take care of ma
chinery?" et
Pitts asked how many hours a day
they worked down below.
"Six at sea T.replied the Russian,
"eight in port"
well, how many coal passers do
you carry them" queried the second
assistant, "and what's their pay?"
Mine coal passers on here. They
get 100 roubles month, plus 38
roubles allowance for food. In the
North Sea, or in the, tropics, the
whole crew gets 10 per cent extra
wages. Also, if the voyage Is COM
pIeted in good time and the cargo
delivered in good condition, the crew
gets from 10 per cent to Is per cent
bonus"
Barney spoke up II heard that you
get working gear too, free"
Yes, we get not only working
clothes, but working shoes, oilskins,
fur coat in cold climate, soap, towels,
etc.
How about vacations?" asked
Gunnar.
Deck gang gets two weeks, black
gang four weeks, with full pay. If
we work on free days, that is added
to our vacation time. At sea also,
lots of men prefer to work on their
free days, which they get of all at
:, one time. In that way, many seamen
Ihave from four to six weeks vaca-
t'ltion, with full pay"
Stanley put personal question.
do the Russian seamen marry?"
"Yes, I should say about Is per
cent of our seamen are married."
"And can they bring their wives
aboard?" M
The Russian laughed. "Of course!
Why shouldn't they? Whenever they
are in home port their wives are on
board. And they are allowed to take
their wives and children along for
two free trips year.
This was piece Of surprising news
to the men.
Eyes," assured Mary, the guide,
many Russian seamen spend their
vacations on board ship, together with
their wives and children"
Stanley nudged Gunnar in the ribs
and whispered: do you believe
!, that?"
] The second assistant went over to
Mary: ASK him If he's in the Naval
] Reserves
Mary explained to the second mate
IN Russian what the Naval Reserves
were. and he answered. mol It isn't