The daily worker., 1935-01-12
By ". c. McQUIsTIoN


Stating specifically that seamen
would either have to work on the
forced labor government projects or
be denied relief, Aubrey Williams,
assistant to Harry Hopkins, said:
Instructions have been sent to all
relief directors that seamen from
now on will be classed with the re-
mainder of the transients and
given no special occupationaI sta
tus; if they refuse the work We
offer we will consider the refusal
to work as 6 sign that they do not
wish to receive cur relief"
These words clearly define the
present government policy Of forced
labor and disqualification in the
marine industry. This means that
If a seaman through hunger is
forced to accept the so-called work
relief" he will be isolated from
chances Of obtaining a ship and
will be classed as ''unemployable," "
becoming 2 permanent resident in
q concentration camp where he will
be a reserve to be used as
strikebresker during strikes and a
merchant marine conscript in the
event of wal.
New Orleans Seamen Strike Against
Forced Labor
On Dec. Is, the seamen in New
Orleans were given work assign
ments Of 80 hours week in Algiers
across the Mississippi from New
Orleans. Under the leadership Of
the Waterfront Unemployment
Council and the Marine Workers
Industrial Union, the seamen voted
to strike against forced labor and
picket lines were established at the
feeding and housing projects, the
Algiers ferry and other places. The
relief officials Immediately stopped
relief for the seamen but despite
this the strike remained practically
100 per cent effective and the sea-
men established their own feeding
and housing arrangements for the
strikers. The shore workers in AL
giers and New orleans are enthu-
siastioally supporting the strikers
and a number of small restaurants
are feeding groups Of seamen free
Of charge during the strike.
Mass Delegation Presents Demands
In Washington
Seamen delegates from Boston.
New York, Baltimore, Newport
News. Norfolk, New Orleans, Hous-
ton, Cleveland and Buffalo, attend
ing the National Congress for I'm
employment Insurance in wash
ington, D. c., presented the de-
mands of the unemployed seamen
to the Transient Division of the
FER.A. They were met by Miss
Wickenden, who is temporarily in
charge Of the Transient Division.
replacing w J, Plunkert who has
been transferred" In answer to
the delegations demand for a spe-
ciflc answer on the question of
forced labor, Miss Wickenden
stated:
The origin a memorandum
which Mr.. Williams sent out has
been descinded. This memo
morsndum specifically instructed
that seamen be given a spe-
cial occupational status with no
work and that they be housed
and fed convenient to the water
front.-W. c. Nj They are not
going to make exceptions in the
case of seamen. I don't know of
any other occupational group
which has been recognized as an
occupational group. Hopkins and
Williams felt that they could not
Justify this condition. This bulle-
tin has subsequently been inter
preted by Mr.. Williams as mean
Ing that seamen shall be given
relief on the basis OF their legal
settlement and not on the basis
of their occupation. The majority
OF unattached seamen who do not
acquire residence are therefore
classed as trsnsients. Thh in
wolves the working policy TO
which you take exception" Mote:
the quotations are extracts of
complete stenogram Of the inter-
view.-W. G. M
Failing to obtain satisfactory
answer to the demands after a two
hour controversy with Miss Wick
enden, the delegation presented two
main demands:
1T n q t seamen on strike
against forced labor in New Or
leans and Baltimore be immedi-
ately reinstated on relief with
out being required to work.
2:-That the government i'm
mcdlately institute open hearings
in all ports to determine the sta
tus Of seamen, conditions Of en-
ployrnent and m:snaanagement of
relic.
Miss WicksnGen, no longer able
to remain the buffer between Hop
kim Office and the seamen's dele
gaticn, stated:
Forced labsr-that ruling was
made by Mr. Williams and I
brought to his attention the other
day the fact that the New Or
leans seamen were not accept
Ing this arrangement and he says
that ruling will have to stand.
I am passing on to you what he
said to me. I would be glad to
call him for you - he said he
would SEQ you"
TIE delegation then demanded a
copy OF the stenogram of the inter-
vie'T and When assured they would