Evening star., 1938-02-01
NEW SEA LABOR
ERASEENDAWN|NG
Senator EIbert D. Thomas
Speaks in Forum on
Merchant Marine.

The following address on "T11e Mer-
chant Marine Act and Labor" was de-
uveret last night by Senator Ebert d.
Thomas, Democrat, Of Utah, chairman
Of the Senate Education and Labor
Committee, in the National Radio Fo-
rum sponsored by The Star and broad
cast over Station WMAL and a Ma
tion-wide network Of other National
Broadcasting Co. stations:
A labor bill which has to do with
labor on the high seas has at least one
phase that is simpler than q labor
bill which has to do with labor ON
land. and that is its constitutional
phase. There Is no question but that
the Congress Of the United States has
the power to regulate labor on our
merchant ships. There is no consti-
tutional question about Congress
right to prescribe the labor conditions
which shall apply for those working
on our merchant feet. The general
objectives, though, to be attained for
labor by legislation In this present bill,
amending the Merchant Marine Act,
are the same as all other labor legisla-
ton in that the aim is to advance the
condition of the worker and give him
better working hours and pay.
In all labor and industrial disputes
there is public interest, but that in
terest must be tempered by good judg-
ment because labor does not like to
be fathered any more than industry
enjoys being mothered. But when we
consider our merchant feet, the public
Interest stands out as more important
than in the ordinary industrial and
labor disputes because OF the Govern
ment's direct interest through subsidy.
Communism Question Arises.
At the hearings which are now being
held jointly by the Commerce and the
Education and Labor Committees on
this bill. there has been some mention
by many witnesses of the threat of a
development of Communism. If there
Is to be concern over Communisn's S
growth. labor is as vitality concerned as
industry or government, and will fight
1t as hard or harder. Fascist or COM
munlstic relationships forbid The very
principles upon which labor unionism
Is based-the right to organize and
the right to strike. Labor must know
that II 1t turns communistic in senti-
ment. or II it uses the communistic or
the Fascist technique, it ultimately de-
stroys itself.
Labor conditions on the sea, both
from custom and from long-estab-
lished rules and law, have been harsh
er upon the men who work than prob
ably labor conditions in any other
Held because of the theory of neces-
sary discipline. A worker on the sea,
then, is not only laborer in the ordi-
nary sense, but he is a contributor to
the safety Of the boat the property
and the lives of passengers and crew.
Discipline of the strictest type is q
fundamental essential, and a we'll
trained, well-disciplined and a har-
monious ship is the best guarantee for
safety at sea.
Thus. the man who goes to sea as
Q laborer must sacrifice certain COM
forts which he might have if he re-
mained on land. and must also throw
himself into his task to the extent Of
u need be, willingly Offering his life
TOR others. That characteristic is
strictly In line with his duty and not
IN any sense an extraordinary task
that might be placed upon him. Thus
there is dignity to sailors Job.
Thus. too. there has been an ability
on the part Of the masters and owners
Of ships to take advantage Of these
conditions and use that advantage to
the disadvantage Of the sailor at
times.
Needs Better Break"
Labor in the history Of the world
has never had an even break Labor
On the sea In the history of the world
has never even approached an even
break. Therefore, If labor standards
on the sea can be bettered. labor the
world over will be improved.
The sea, of course. has always had
Q heroic appeal. There is the ad-
venturous element which has made
the sea attractive to the romantic at
all times and caused it to be the
theme Of poets and writer's. But on
our modern ships with crews running
UP into the several hundred, or on our
fast freight lines built to carry a
single product as, for example, a
tanker. the romance has been reduced
70 the minimum and the drudgery
has been increased to the maximum.
These conditions, though, are Of
necessity passing phase in mari
time labor experiences. Boats can
never be absolutely safe, risk must al
ways be taken, devotion to duty in
extraordinary circumstances will al
ways be characteristic, and the he
roics connected with those shown on
our giant ocean liners when they are
In distress are the heroics Of the man
who has to stick to his task knowing
Ill the while that the chances for
his survival are tremendously against
him.
70 one who k interested in labor