Page:The Blight of Insubordination.djvu/91

83 Trade, stated that it was undoubtedly true that, in spite of the fact that the mercantile marine employed considerably more seamen than it did thirty years ago, the total number of British seamen was less by about 5,000 than it was at that time. The seagoing tendency of the nation, he said, was as great as ever, and that one in every sixty-eight males became a seaman, compared to one in sixty-seven of thirty years ago. The numbers in the Royal Navy had increased from 48,157 to 119,000 men in the course of that time. Thirty years ago the country was startled by the famous agitation of Mr. Samuel Plimsoll in his crusade against coffin ships. The same year saw the imprisonment of Captain Charles Barnes. This, though a mere incident. in itself, marks perhaps more than any other event that occurred the attitude adopted by the authorities in discriminating against shipmasters in their endeavours to maintain their authority on the high seas, owing presumably to the excited state of public feeling over affairs which the public were not acquainted with, but took entirely on trust from those who were responsible for the remarkable agitation which ended by leaving its permanent mark as the load line on the sides of most British ships. From this time may be distinctly traced the sympathetic influence of those in authority with offenders against the simple regulations of the merchant ship, who they evidently considered could do no wrong, and were consequently much to be pitied and protected against all they were ever brought to account for. Twelve or thirteen years ago saw the formation of the Seamen's and Firemen's Union, which soon attained to a very considerable membership.

Associating as it did the workers of two distinct departments—generally considered a bit too antagonistic to be healthy—can only be considered unfortunate for those who had hitherto been free from the taint of trades unionism, those of the seaman's rating; for it identified them at once with the class who had ever been more troublesome at sea than any others, the firemen.

It may have been a happy inspiration of the promoters to combine the two forces for a common purpose in trades unionism, but it has not been the success they expected. It is not necessary to follow its inglorious career, though its pernicious influence is easily seen, as well as the real good it was the immediate cause of.

To its early paralysing influence must be ascribed the formation of the Shipping Federation, which soon followed the -establishment of the Seamen's precious Union, and as that institution now embraces about nine-tenths of the total ton-