Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-03-06

various New York shipping OF
fees and British consulates
under the slogans The Yanks
Aren't Coming and NO Con-
voys" up TO the day Hitler
marched against Russia.
1t was an appeasement group
and eo-operated with the Nazi
agents in their efforts TO OBJ
struct and delay this country's
attempts to prepare for war.
until Russia was attacked.
I shall hurry over the quail
fications for office in the NMU
and then explain how they bar
most of the young Americans
now going to sea on the trans
ports and cargo boats rfrom
holding office.
ITO BE eligible for office a
sailor must prove that he
has been a member in good
standing for one year. that ne
is a citizen or has filed notice
of his desire TO become a citi-
zen, that ne has had two years
of sea service. and that he nd
not been ashore longer than $ -
months preceding his nominal
ton, which is done by petition.
lie is ineligible if he has ever
been convicted of a crime but
membership in the Communist
Party is no disqualification, and
one seagolng sailor was thrown
out OF the union and actually
was fired off an army transport
for offering resolution con-
uCUUTnE- COMMUNISM ire Ncw
Deal government refused 10
take the sailors parH even
though he was employed on a
government vessel
The first qualification. one
years continuous membership
IN good. standing. dlSQualliIcS,
first OF all, practically all ct the
new sailors. young Americans
recruited and trained hY- the
government 10 man the ships.
Most OF them have been going
10 sea no more than a year and
many of these who have a year
service or a little more are men
who did not rush into the union
but Succumbed 10 pressure from
the Communists. their heckllng.
threats and propaganda only
after a PERIOD Of resistance.
THE third qualification, two
Il years of service al sea. also
operates 10 exclude this new
element OF young and loyal
A m eric a n 5 as distinguished
from the Communists. including
the Caribbean ISLANDERS who
constitute considerable pOr-
ton of the old rank and file.
These young Americans are the
hope OF the country TO regain
control Of the operation Of the
ships paid for by the taxpayers
after the war
The provision that any one
eligible who has filed notice
his desire 10 become a citizen
was designed TO make u con-
venlent for foreign Communists,
notably Latln-AmerlcanS, whose
labor movement is violently
revolutionary. 10 attain office.
BY this rule. foreign Com
muDlSt preaching civil war IN
the United States and the SeiZ-
ure OF the ships by force OF
arms after the war becomes
eligible because any one may
file notice of a desire TO become
a citizen.
This gives the enemy of the
American government an adj
vantage over the patriotic
young sailor who hasn't accu-
INFLATED enough sea serylce and
standing in the union To- aspire
TO office
THE entire list of present
Il union officials. including
some who for reasons of their
own. have changed their names,
is exempt from the requirement
Of service at sea not less than
six months before nomination.
They stay ashore and run the
election and 10 make things
mole certain for themselves
they have recently proposed
some very confusing rules defin-
Ing the term ashore" which is
the period that a man is allowed
between trips 20 sea.
A sailorfallS into bad stand
ing If he takes more than four
weeks between cruises. Thus a
man who has been ashore five
months and thinks he is eligible
will be disqualified by the pres
ent officials who never go to sea
at all.
All these factors. il will b0>
seen. leave the contrel of II
union secure IN the hands of n
party-linerS Of the Communist
front The majority Of young
Americans now manninc, tho