Kingsbury County independent. (DeSmet, Kingsbury County, S.D.) 1894-1929, 1906-05-18
DEATH LIST IN PEACE
EXCEEDS WARS SLAIN
Astonishing Statement Of Man
Who Has Made Study
Of Accidents.
REV. DR.. JOSIAH STRONG
ut Costs Too Much TO Be a White
Man." He Quotes from the indian
Sanctity Of Human Life
Cruelty ignored.
REV. Or. JOSIAH STRONG

New York-Special: Greater thar all
the perils OF war are the perils of peace
here in the city of New York, where
nine persons each day in the year meet
q violent death. The figures are used
by the Rev. Josiah Strong. president OF
the American Institute OF Social Serv-
ice, and his announcement has caused
wide comment throughout the country.
1T costs too much to be a White man,
as the Indian expressed it, said DR..
Strong. The cost of our civilization in
human life is entirely TOO high, and
much Of it is an unnecessary cost.
Americans are careless of life and limb,
both on their own account and as en-
ployers. They take risks everywhere,
for they believe every one is competent
10 take care of himself, and any inter
est in public safety is regarded as more
or less OF an interference.
"Our government is not sufficiently
paternalistic to take things into ac-
count which would be promptly handled
in European countries. If a nan in
New York runs for a train and catches
IL or is dragged aboard at the last min
ute Il is looked upon as his own affair.
Let him do such "A thing in France or
Germany, in Paris or Berlin, for in
stance, and he will be seized by a man
in uniform and probably locked up for
risking his life. Even If he succeeds
in getting on board, as likely as not he
will be captured and taken back 10 be
dealt with by the authorities for his
foolhaTdiness.
Beats Civil War Death List.
RECORDS of the war department show
that in the civil war the total number
of those killed on both sides was 100000.
Comparing this with the number or
those who are killed i'll the United
states on the basis of the census or
1900, we find thai in these piping times
of peace the country kills in four years
so. 900 more persons than all who fell III
battle or died from wounds on Doth
sides in the war of the rebeilloh. Our
peaceful Vocations cost more lives eV-
cry two days than all that we loSt IN
u war with Spain. 1t has been point
ed out tina with each year the coai
fields of Pennsylvania furnish an indus
trial Bull u
I'VE are killing more than twice as
many every year rs persisted by VOL
ence i'm both the French and EnSllsh
armies in the Crimean war. Ihere are
more killed and wounded on u rail-
Dad every year than were siam III
the Boer wan on both sides IN thTee
years.
ut is a common thing in this country
for men to work over steel ingots with
hammers to be blinded by yinS par
ticles OF metal. Yet there are masks
worn by European workmen which re-
duce the numbe of such accidents 10
a minimum. Many are an
nually injured in his country by buzz
saws, get there is scarcely any reason
for il, considering the numerous safe
ty devices employed in Europe for pro-
tecting men from these machines.
Shields and Screens Needed.
shields and screen are used abroad
for keeping Xxi from coming in
contact with betting, shaftinG n cog
wheels. In stamping works there are
automatic devices which keep the hand
from coming in contact with the die as
It descends by throwing it OFF before
the impression can be made. Scores OF
deaths are caused each year in factor
ies by the bursting of emery wheels,
yet there are devices which so bind the
wheels that when they fly apart, as
they frequently do, the pieces Will not
fnfict injury.
Most Of these life gazing devices are
OF American invention. yet have been
introduced in Europe because there
was practically little chance for their
being put into use here. Both employ
ers and employees are ignorant of simple
ontrivance many of which may be
DuTCIldStu ny tliC WI %
ut a trifing expense. Others could be
put into use by the employers at a
relatively small cost.
IF $4,000 persons were killed n ono
hour at one place the whole world
would be shocked. and from every
place on earth would go forth offers of
aid and sympathy to those who were
bereayed. Because the $4,000 violent
deaths in 4 year in the United States
are distributed over more time the sor-
row of those who are related to those
VINO have died Is none the less poignant
and the loss, although distributed, is
none the less a heavy burden on So
ciety.
Should Appreciate Value of Life.
but economic considerations are
secondary Men are more than things.
What wc need in this country is to be
more deeply impressed with the sanctity
of human life. We are far behind other
nations in this respect.
.To cal the attention of the country
to the means by which lives may be
safeguarded the Institute OF Social
service will soon give an exposition in
which will be shown hundreds of SIM
pie devices used in other countries To
guard the safety of those engaged in
various occupations. 1t may be that
this will develop into a permanent mu-
scum of safety like those which exist
In Europe. Prevention is better than
compensation or charity. We commend
the common sense nf those who build
O fence at the top of a precipice more
than we admire the philanthropy OF
those who keep al ambulance at the
bottom.'