The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1904-10-29

9 that follows hazardous work. y
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their sincere and tireless friend and
feel sure and certain that they ap-
preclate and know this to be a fact
l know that in the hundreds at cases
that he has conducted in behalf of the
railroad employe and other laboring
classes, that he has worked faithfully
and diligently for them and their pro-
lection and success, and has done as
much, It not more, than any other
man in the state to settle the law and
illustrate the law in behalf Of the la
boring classes engaged in the rail-
road service and other hazardous en-
ployments and in behalf of the labor
ing men in general.
A reference to the reported cases in
the Court of last resort in the state
and in the Federal Courts and In the
United States Supreme Court will
verify the facts above set forth. He
has had many opportunities to ac-
cept employment in behalf of railroad
companies and other corporated In
terests, but has uniformly declined to
accept such service or employment.
His efforts in behalf Of the laboring
classes have not been confined to pro-
fessional work in the mere trial Of
law suits, Or in which he had a lawy-
er's interest, but as early as 1882 he
sent to the railroad commissioner Of
this state letter urging the adoption
of what is called the "Co-employes
Act" to protect railroad employees
from the dangers Incident to their en-
pioyment, resulting from the negli-
gence Of fellow-servants, a protection
which they did not, at that time or
thereafter until 1887, enjoy in this
state. This letter was considered Of
such Importance that it was published
In the commissioners report by the
then Railroad Commissioner, General
Baker, and will be. found !. in hi ~ re j
sport;sfor. YEAR 18S2s:Y hume pare,
The sugsestion was bitterly opposed
by certain powerful interests and was
not then adopted or enacted into the
law until 1887, when the precise bill
framed and urged by Mr.. Lovely was
adopted by the legislature of this state
and became a law and now consti-
tutes Chapter Is, of the General Laws
of 1887. This law has been repeated
ly assailed but in all cases has been
sustained by the courts Of this state
and the Court of last resort of the
United States and has resulted in
more substantial benefit and protec-
ton to the railroad employees of this
state than any law on our statute
books to-day.
The fidelity of MIR. Lovely to the in
terests of those who toll can never be
questioned and no one who has known
him will ever doubt it.
He has been instrumental fixing
the last quarter of century in secur-
ing the passage Of many laws in the
interest and for the. protection Of the
laboring classes and those engaged in
hazardous employments and whenever
and wherever these laws have been
called in question. they have been uni
formly sustained by the courts; and I
am glad 20 be able to express my
views and present an endorsement of
his career during the quarter of a
century that have known him and
my statements can be easily verified
by reference to the public records,
to the hundreds of cases published in
the official reports of the Supreme
Court Of this state and his whole
record will bear the closest scrutiny.
shall be glad to furnish, at any
time, more specific statement of the
reported and decided cases, and there
are hundreds of them, in which he
has been interested and successful in
the higher courts in behalf Of those en-
gagged in hazardous employments.
The Labor Commissioner of this
state knows and will sustain these
statements, and Hon. John B. Swift
and others interested in behalf Of the
! laborfng classes, and especially in be-
half of those who are engaged in
hazardous elnployments, have in
spected ard investigated the record OF
John A. Lovely and may be referred to
| in consideration to what I have said
| and I invite inquiry from all Of them
| to sustain my statements! The record
of Judge Lovely on the Supreme Bench
| since he has occupied and held that
exalted position will bear the closest
scrutiny and an analysis ,of. the re-
ported cases bearing upon the question
will show that he has been ,steadfast
in, behalf Of those elengaged in hazardous
enhployments and occupations and in
sistent that their rights should not be
trifled with or treated with .impunity
and has at. all times taken. the high
| position that their rights, should be
fully recognized and enforced. 49,
/ Ir~the. many decisions. he. has writ:
ten he has shown a broad and i'm