The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-03-12
Seaman Describes
Conditions on
Ellis Island
BY GEORGE FERRARI
(As Told to Phil Randolph

I am q marine worker who was
l framed by the Roosevelt Line
owners and the US. government
because I was explaining the rotten
system we live and suffer under to
my fellow workers on the SIS,
American Farmer. I spent three
months in the Federal prison and
another three months on Ellis Is
land, scheduled for deportation.
When the Daily Worker and the
International Labor Defense learn
ed of my case, they forced the I'M
migration Department to release
me.
Those on Ellis Island awaiting
deportation are kept in Room 204.
1t makes no difference what crime
man or woman has committed,
or Of what he is accused-all are
herded together like cattle. Work
ers who are political prisoners are
treated as If they were criminals.
Workers who have no means Of
support and are being sent away TO
starve IN another country, are class
fled as Migrants and kept in Room
222 Here you will find those whose
health and strength has been
drained by the capitalist system
These workers know now that there
is no chance" for a worker, as
long as the bosses rule country
Some comrades who were held in
this room put a sign reading, On
ternational Section" in one corner.
Here they met, surrounded by pic
lures of Marx, Lenin and other
leaders of the working class. A So
cial Service official saw the sign
and pictures and stole into the
room when no one was there, and
destroyed our international Section
THE food served here is terrible
l Two months ago, the prisoners
held a demonstration against it, in
the dining hail. throwing knives,
forks, dishes and food at the guards
For while the food was a little
better but as soon as these militants
were out of the way, the officials
gave out rotten meals again.
Everything goes here, including
strike @breaking. Trucking workers,
awaiting deportation into scabbing
on striking seamen was the lowest
piece of dirty business that the I'm
migration officials tried to put over
The captain and first officer of
Greek freighter, the SIS. Kalypsis
Vergotti, came to Ellis Island look
ing for another crew after their
men struck for back pay, improved
conditions. and recognition of the
Marine Workers Industrial Union.
The captain had been told that
there were any number of seamen
on the Island who would be only
too glad to sign up with him. The
United States government welcom-
ed the chance Of saving deportation
expenses. The crew was then signed
up on the ships articles at SIS a
month without knowing that they
we're to scab but the story appeared
in the Jan. 4th issue of the Daily
Worker and was read by worker
on the Island. He promptly notified
the men and every single one of
them refused to sail the ship.
1t was after this that I let the
Daily know of my own plight and
Abraham Dranow of the LID. was
sent to help me. The immigration
Bureau told him that I was being
held because I had no passport.
Dranow proved that this was only
an excuse to get nd of me because
I had fought against the low wages
and terrible conditions on the
American Farmer. The LID. began
to fight for my release, backed by
the mass pressure of workers or
CARNATIONS throughout the country.
When the immigration officials
learned that I was not alone, that
the workers we're fighting my battle
with me and that their plan of
quietly getting rid of me was ex-
posed, they reluctantly discharged
me.
l want to thank the LID. and
the Daily Worker for helping me
and intend to do everything pos
slhle by my work in the movement
to show my gratitude. Since nv
own case has shown me that only
organization and mass action by
the workers can overthrow the cap
itahst system, am, as the first
step, joining the Communist Party
III