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Frances PerkinsFrances Perkins
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was supposed to be their spokesman, but whether they all agreed to that nobody knew. My advice was to get the crew together and to get somebody among them to appoint a committee.

This thing went on for two or three days. I said to them, “What kind of a fellow is Curran?”

They said, “Well, he's kind of a simpleton, except that he's very strong, very definite. He's not going to back down.”

I said, “Has he ever belonged to a union?”

“Not that we can make out.”

“How long has he been at sea?”

“Oh, his papers road that he's now seaman first class.” He had responsible work on the ship. “He's had an able bodied seaman's license for twenty years or so. He has sailed regularly. He has worked for this line for a great many years and they've never had any trouble with him at all. He has been on this ship for eight years. There isn't any record against him. His papers show his good record. No trouble with him. The officers have no complaints against him. He's been an absolutely loyal, trustworthy man.”

“If that's the case, you can deal with him. Try to get the men to agree that he speaks for them and





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