The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-04-13
REDS F0MENT
TROUBLE ON
u. 5. SHIPS
BY JAMES L. KILGALLEN

NEW YORK, April IL u-N.SJ
Union leaders today blamed "the
Reds from Fourteenth Street" fol
the ugly situation that Is develop
ing on New York's waterfront
where radicals are trying to TO
ment strikes on ships.
They accuse the Communists OF
employing a beef squad"-Strong
arm men-to beat up members OF
the International Seamen's Union
Of America, who have an agree
ment with ship owners and who
see no reason why they should
strike. In the past week at least
so men have been injured.
Ernest MiSland, treasurer OF the
Seamen'S union, said the Reds are
employing the same tactics used OF
the Pacific Coast during the mari
time walkout Of 1884. which led to
the San Francisco general strike
fiasco. He asserted:
eff the Communistic agitation
ls not put down we may have =
repetition Of what happened on
the West Coast. The situation
in the East IL already verging on
chaos"
SEANTEN SATISFIED
The majority Of Seamen are
satisfied with the wage scale
signed in November, 1884, accord
ing to Misland. But, he asserted,
the radical element which call
themselves the rank and file" are
attempting to take over the union
and control its policies. He added:
'"They would really like to see
the men getting dollar a day
and 50 dissatisfied they would
work for the overthrow Of the
Government. As matter Of fact,
wages and working conditions
on the ships are better than
ever"
On dry-cargo ships the wages
are now as follows: Firemen, $62.5O
q month with room and board;
oilers and water tenders, $72.50;
wipers, $50; able bodies seamen,
$62.50; ordinaries, $45; quarter
masters, $3.50, and carpenters,
$77.50.
On tankers, firemen, $40; oilers,
SIS; wipers, $50; able-bodied sea-
men, $3.50; ordinaries, $3.50, and
boatSmen, $85.
Food Generally Good
Food on most ships is good al,
though on some vessels there still
is room for improvement in this
respect, union leaders declared.
Carl Lynch, editor Of the Sea-
mems Journal, estimated that OF
the 1OO, 900 members Of the Inter
national Searnen'S Union Of Amer
lea. $4,000 work out Of the Eastern
;loorts and Of this number less
than 1000" are radical in their
tendencies. He said:
1.-TWO hundred Reds in New
York can almost take over the
show because most of the sea
men are at sea. The Reds stay
here in New York and pack the
union meetings"
Pickets with signs on their backs
can be seen walking back and
forth near the piers. According
to union officials, most OF these
pickets "are Bowery buns"
Imported squad"
Union officials said some mem
bers of the "beef squad" were I'M
ported from Baltimore, that they
are husky men and wear brown
gloves.
Misland said that the various
walkouts called by the radicals
are "outlaw" strikes and not ap-
proved by the union. He added
that so far they have been en-
tirely unsuccessful"
Injunction proceedings in which
the international Seamen's Union
of America is asking the court to
restrain Joseph Curran and his
provisional strike committee
from alledgedly making false use
of the name and initials Of the
union are scheduled to be tried
this week before Justice William
Harmon Black in the Supreme
Court.