Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-01-18
FAIR
ENOUGH
By Westbrook
PeqIer

7 eyer
MY OLD Sparring partner.
4'A Joseph Curran, the vicari-
Gus commando. was done in by
the ordeal of having a child.
also vicariously, and could not
attend a recent meeting of the
National Maritime Union of
the Communist front.
/ congratulate Comrade Cur
ran on the happy event and
hope the little boy will have no
more contact with war in his
generation than his pappy, who
got a presidential deferment TO
carry him past his 38th birth
day on the ground of indis-
penSability.
ft1e meeting WIS VcTy IN
terestlng as my colleague, Mrs.
Roosevelt, would say, although
il was decided hanceforth 10
eliminate certain intimacles
from the minutes lest they fall
into alien hands. such as these,
and be disclosed TO the public.
Such matters as the use OF
loaded dice by merchant sailors
IN crap games with soldiers
gong overseas and the sale
of food from the galleys 10
the troops at high prices are
thought TO be embarrassing;
although / must say that II the
present generation OF soldiers
are worthy sons OF their fathers,
they will be able to take care
OF themselves in crap games ip
any company and might even
pick UP some Of those fat wages
Of which the maritime union
boasts in private but denies in
public.
TiE discussion this time was
IN contrast TO press
'handout released In September
by Marshall Dlmmock, director
OF the recruiting and manning
division Of the War Shipping
Administration in which he
gave the union a share of the
credit for a fine record in the
manning Of the cargo vessels.
Dmmock. who has cordial re-
latlons with the union. did not
fail 70 shower himself with com
plments either, remarking.
The New York Office of the
recruiting and manning divi-
sion tof which. as | said. he is
dlrectorj has done 4 remark
ab1y good JOB IN drawing men
back TO the sea
T he discrepancy between
| DlmmoCk'S statement and the
/ realities was revealed in the de-
\ bate IN the meeting over some
changes in the shipping rules 10
compel union merchant sailors
t 10 ship IN their turns and not
lie on the beach.
The union had been seriously
embarrassed because, notWlth-
standing its boaStful slogan we
keep en- sailing, the sad fig
ureS as one Of the union off
erals called them. showed that
our men have not been shipping
on certain ratings and certain
groups Of men have not been
+ shipping ~ all -
They showed that with plenty
+ NJ men, listed a. available on
the union records it had been
4 necessary 70 call DlmmoCk Of
ice for sailors 70 take the ships
out.
ITO BE quite far as I always
strive 10 be the union Of
Metals safe ashore. take a very
courageous attitude and would
Ike 10 man the ships 100 per
cent because they want 10 con
troll the American merchant
navy.
Many o{ their subjects feel
otherwise. however. such as one
who had been on eight ships IN
seven months. all in port. and
explained 10 his mefSmates on
one vessel that by/this system
he managed 10 draw the pay of
a sailor without going 10 sea.
The union turned him over 70
his draft board and he was clas-
Sltied IA Other men would
accept shipping slips in the
union hall change their minds
and 20 back 10 the pinochle
game Others would 90 TO ships
knowing they were going into
drydock. stay aboard until sail
ING time and then step off
IL seemed that some of the
brothers were making a racket
Of drydOck Seafaring. and the
officials were determined 10 put
through rule strictly limiting
/ time ashore between voyages
and compelling the SeafarIng
brothers not the officials. 10
register and account for them
selves and accept Jobs involving
actual duty AT sea. in rotation.