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the Secretary of Commerce, through this seaman's supervisory outfit, the Maritime Board, orders the crew arrested. They bring the ship to port and then they are arrested. Curran was afraid of this. I gave him my personal word. I even sent one of the hotel employees out to get Roper to come and sit beside me. I said to Roper, “This is their leader, Curran. They're willing to make this agreement to work the ship to New York on a temporary agreement that they've made now. The line hasn't given them much of anything, but it is something. When this ship gets to New York, we will take the matter up. They won't have angry passengers around and there will be time to sit down and have regular negotiations. Curran and his men fear that they will be arrested by your maritime inspectors on arrival in New York. He asks me to give my personal word that they will not be. I, of course, will not give it unless it meets with your approval. Will you give your personal word?”
Dan Roper was the sweetest, loveliest, kindest, nicest fellow you ever saw, just as friendly as he could be. He really knew nothing about this situation, but out of sheer good will he gave his personal word and I gave mine that they wouldn't be arrested when
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