Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1909-10-22
PREVENTION OF TUBERCU-
COSlS.
Fraternai Organizations and
Labor Unions Unite to Save
Me m bers.

Nine fraternal and benefit organiza-
tons with membership of nearly 8, DOC, =
600 and three international labor unions
with membership of over 200, 600 have
joined the ranks of the fighters against
consumption within the last year, ac-
cording to statement issued to-day by
the National Association for the Study
and Prevention of tuberculosis.
A year ago only one fraternal organi-
cation, the Royal League. and one labor
union, the International Typographical
Union, maintained institu ions for the
treatment of their tuberculosis mem
bers. Since January LIST, 1909, the
following fraternal and benefit organi-
cations have taken up the considera-
ton of tuberculosis, and in most instan-
ces have decided to erect institutions ::
Brotherhood of American Yoemen,
Order of Eagles, Improved Order of
Red Men, Modern Woodmen of America,
Knights of Pythias, Royal Arcanum,
Workmen's Circle, Knights of CO.
lumbus, and Foresters of America.
The international labor unions which
have joined the fight against tubercu-
losis are the International Photo Engra-
vers Union of North America, the Inter
national Printing Pressmen and Assist
ants Union, and the International Boot
and Shoe Workers Union.
The Modern Woodmen and the Knights
of Pythias have already opened sanato-
ria for their members who have tuber-
culosis at Colorado Springs, and East
Las Vegas, New Mexico The Work
mems Circle is about to erect similar
institution at Liberty, N. Y. The Roy
al League has maintained sanatorium
at Black Mountain, n. c., for three
years. The other fraternal organza-
tons mentioned have either appointed
commissions to consider the advisabilty
of erecting tuberculosis sanatoria, or
contemplating such action.
The first sanatorium to be erected for
the benefit of the laboring men was
built by the International Topographic
cal Union in connection with its home at
Colorado Springs. The International
Printing Freshmen and Assistants Union
have recently decided to erect similar
sanatorium, and steps are now being
taken to open such an institution. The
International Photo Engravers Union,
while not conductinga sanatorium of its
own, pays for the treatment of its tu-
berculous members in institutions in
various parts of the country. The In
ternational Boot and Shoe Workers
Union are recommending to their mem
bers that they ally themselves with the
various organizations united in the fight
againat tuberculosis.
All of these fraternal organizations,
and labor unions are also carrying on
campaigns of education among their
members. In this way over 5000, 900
men and women are receiving instruct
ions through lectures, through official
paders, and by literature expressly pre-
pared showing the dangers and methods
of prevention of tuberculosis.
1t is campaign of prevention which
will bring to these various fraternal and
benefit organizations millions of dollars
in the saving of lives and the cutting
down of payments for sickness and
death resulting from tuberculosis. The
recent National Fraternal Congress es-
timated that 90 per cent of the death
/ loses from tuberculosis could be saved
by the various fraternal organizations
of the country.
The National Association for the Study
and Prevention of tuberculosis has rem
dered all assistance possible to these
various movements among the labor
men and fraternal organizations, and
stands ready to cooperate as far as pos
sible with any society of this character.