“TYRANNY OF UNIONISM.”

Evening Star, Issue 17926, 23 March 1922, Page 10

“TYRANNY OF UNIONISM.”

TO THE EDITOB. Si r ._Tn to-night’s edition of the 1 Star ’ you publish under the caption of ‘ Tyranny of Unionism' an article which contains an attack on unionism in general and sailormcn in particular which I cannot permit to pass unchallenged. The writer quotes a retired sea captain, who is reported to have said that a ship sails now, “ sailors _ and firemen permitting.” After all, it just what can be expected from a skipper, _ who ninety-nine times out of a_ hundred 1 is too tired to condescend to investigate the causes of dispute and mediate with the men, but prefers to let tho trouble brew. If the writer of the article had gone to tho trouble of getting a sailor’s opinions on tho officers, as well as an officer’s opinion on the men. the article would never have beene written, because the real reason of tho trouble is the domineering, autocratic, and dictating attitude adopted by the “afterguard” to tho sailors. In bygone days a'sailor was treated as dirt by tho officers; but now he is an educated man, and just because he won’t stand for it his services are disposed of as soon as possible, to the satisfaction of the officers. As for the insinuation that he is not a sailor, but merely a.paint scrubber and a deck swabber, this is but an illustration of the brotherly love existing between officer and men on tho ships. According to that officer any landlubber could dump his gear into tho forecastle, then go on deck and splice a wire hawser as well as a sailor. Then he could) take a trick at the wheel and steer a ship on a given course without deviating a point. Well, perhaps, he could—and perhaps he could not. Let him just try. Now, sir, what you term tho “tyranny of unionism ” is only the union protecting its members’ interests. The shipowners can dictate to the seamen, but they cannot dictate to the union. The conditions under which sailormen work on these ships are not exactly “a home away from homo,” The food is not of tho host, and l the quarters could be improved a great deal. When tho lino that divides captain and officers from the crow is banished, as it is on the American Board 'ships, and they get together in the interests of their employers and settle their petty troubles; then all the unions need do is collect their dues when the time comes round for it. .

Sailors have always been despised, or at least looked down upon, and will be, no doubt, until the world is a world no longer; but that a sailor does not mind. It is only when a penpusher gets busy on a. “scoop,” and, as some pressmen do, gets the wrong side of the story, I would remind him that it takes two to make a quarrel.— l am, etc., Bo’sun Bile. March 21.