The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-01-15
TRAVELLERS WILL
GO AFTER HOTELS
COMPLIANCE WITH FIRE LAWS
WILL BE DEMANDED.
West Hotel Fire Responsible for Or
ganized Movement Among Travelling
Men, Who Will Study Laws Relating
to Fire Protection in Hotels and Will
Prosecute Guilty Proprietors.

An organized movement Of travelling
men to compel hotel proprietors to live
up to the letter of the laws pertaining
to fre-escapes and other prescribed
protection for guests, has been begun
In Minnesota as a result OF the west
campaign declare it will soon spread
thru the land. The travellers themselves
will be pledged to investigate the va
rious hostelries at which they stop, and
If they find houses that are not thoroly
equipped with modern protective ap-
their states or cities, will themselves
swear out complaints and compel the
authorities to enforce the statutes.
cit is our intention that. action be
taken by the various organizations OF
travelling men to bring about regard
carelessness of hotel men, said one OF
the advocates of the movement today.
'tThe question doubtless will be taken
before the annual meeting OF the Iowa
State Travelling Mems association at
Des Moines next month and proposed
at the annual meetings Of the. various
other strong societies Of travelling men
in other states at their first meetings.
Already scores Of travellers are agltat-
ing the matter and several prominent
officers of the United Commercial
Travellers have become interested and
promised their hearty support towards
ending the recklessness that subjects
our brethren to such peril.
=, Will Study Laws.
ssThe first step Of our crusade will
be a study of the laws pertaining to
fire protection. Every member will be
expected to become conyersant with
the statutes covering this subject in
the states and principal cities he visits;
Equipped with this knowledge he will
be able to proceed intelligently and
produce results. Arrived at hotel he
+ will look it over. If it's defects are
obvious he will be expected to arrange
GIVE believe that it is no more than
Just that we bring about the enforce
ment Of these laws, many OF which nave
lain disregarded since their passage.
Really, it is up to us to put them into
action, for no other class is so vitality
up at hotels and spend the greater share
s Of our nights in them. We could hardly
expect any other class Of people to
work for our safety. Travellers were
in the majority of those who met death
in the West hotel fire and formed a
large majority Of the guests in the
hotel that night.
Sleep In Firetraps.
is sufficient need for such radical
movement. Just let doubter1 accom-
pany one Of us for a week and see the
fretraps we are compelled to trust our
ny pe other la pisce to- ls go 81 three or -Four
hotels in q good-sized CITY,. it will be
difficult to determine which is the least
protected The rule obtains the country
thru, even in stables where strict laws
ce9ering this very subject are found
Mi i've
laws, and it is up to us to stir them
into action. "
CAT present there are hotel laws ga
lore in nearly every state, but it vii
be found that those: that are enforced
or have been active within. ten o.
hotel proprietor. he can force us t
pay for our meals and lodging, afte
we have registered, whether we spent
another five minutes in his house o.
not. The penalties are severe, too. II
many cities, Of pretty good size, too
we are charged for electricity we burr
after midnight. It is time that tn
hotel man gave us some return, ant
We'll demand it now, tho it will be NJ
more than Just enforcement Of tn
laws.
Strengthen Weak Laws.
"In several states and cities ther
are no laws at all, and in others tn
statutes are lamentably weak. Wit
pur movement well under way. it vii
be our further purpose to see that veal
laws. are strengthened, and suitable pre-
cautions compelled where there are n
present laws governing fire protection
We ask nothing but justice and tn
reasonable protection that we and thos
dependent upon us deserve. Alread
1.-The campaign has won it's converts, an
Individually the travellers will boycott
hotels that do not provide protectio
until they perfect an organized move
ment in their societies.