In the Crow's-Nest

For years burly Joe Curran played with Communists in the National Maritime Union, and was mighty glad to get their support. For years they used simple-minded Joe, and Joe toed the party line. Now Joe has to admit the Commies had him in a crate.

He had tried to break out. In N.M.U.'s general election he had asked candidates with Communist labels to get out of office. The Reds, Joe roared, with utmost fidelity to the truth, were disrupting the union. The Reds had confidently accepted the challenge.

Last week when the votes were all counted, it was apparent that the Commies had won. Curran was reelected president--the Reds did not seriously oppose him. Two Curran men squeaked in with him. But the Reds held strategic control of N.M.U.'s governing board with three men: Ferdinand Smith, hard-eyed Jamaican Negro, reelected secretary; weary-looking Howard McKenzie, veteran organizer, and prow-chinned Joseph Stack, bullyboy of the New York waterfront, elected vice presidents.

Crowed the Communist Daily Worker: "The Communist Party has become a strong, influential factor in the maritime industry. . . . More difficult struggles loom."

Said Joe Curran ruefully, in the third person singular: "While Curran may have been elected this time, if he doesn't get into line, the next elections he is liable to be up in the crow's-nest." More likely, thought some of Joe's friends, he would be hanging from the yardarm.

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