The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1909-03-11
THE DREADED
WHITE PLAGUE
Workingmen are Organizing Against ;
Dangerous Foe.

No movement is at the present time
more deeply stirring the ranks of organ
izcd labor throughout the United States
han the campaign against tuberculosis.
Politics, strikes, boycotts, and all other
issues are being side-trackcd to make
way for the fight which is to save the
lives of thousands of laboring men. Meet
ings are being held and movements
started in hundreds of cities for the pur
pose of stimulating the labor forces to
activity in anti-tuberculosis WORT.
History of Movement.
This uprising against the worst foe
of the workingmen is of such growth
That in spite of its present magnitude
and daily development, few people are
aware of its significance and import
ance. Several years ago some of the
larger national and international labor
unions, notably the printers and cigar
makers, began an anti-tuberculosis
movement among their members, which
resulted in the establishment by the
printers of a santorium in Colorado
Two years ago Mr.. Paul Kennaday, of
New York, spoke before the American
Federation of Labor, and stirred many
Of the other unions to definite action
against tuberculosis. This movement
ripened about year ago, when in AL
bany, N. Y, the laboring men got to-
gether and built a pavilion chiefly for
the benefit of their afflicted members
The members of the Central Federated
Union of that city, numbering about
5000 each pay five cents month for the
maintenance of this pavilion. But
more than the pavilion was the interest
they aroused in the ranks of labor
throughout New York state and the
country in general.
Some Results.
The results of the movement have
been the establishment of a labor de-
partment by the State Charities Aid
Association and special lecturer to the
unions, and an effort to enlist the aid
of laboring men throughout the state
in the campaign against tuberculosis.
The American Federation of Labor, at
its recent Denver convention, adopted
resolutions of approval of the general
course followed at Albany, and called
upon its affiliated unions throughout
the country to follow this example
Several of the State Federation of La
Dor have also urged action against tub
erculosis. The International Tubercu
losis Exhibit, held in New York City re-
Gently, stirred the workingmen of that
city and Brooklyn to a realization of dan
ger and responsibility, and they, too re
Gently took definite action in the war
fare against this disease. From here
the movement has spread all over the
United States, until almost every labor
union of any Importance in almost every
trade is beginning to discuss tubercu
osis at its meetings. Hartford, Conn.
Galveston, Tex; Newark, n. j.; St.
Louis, Mo-; San Francisco, Cal; Tren-
ton, n. j.; Reading, Pa; are few of
the cities that are leading in this effort.
In Connecticut largely through the
efforts of John f. Gmshannon, move
ment has been organized in Hartford,
Bridgeport, New Haven and several
other cities, through which the various
employers and employees of the factor
les are paying for the treatment of their
fellow consumptives. Mr.. Gunshannan's
plan is to interest each factory in an
effort to care for its own consumptives.
subscriptions are taken among the work
ingmen and in almost every case the
employer contributes a sum equal to the
total contributed by his men. These
various factory units are so organized
into central body that the stronger
ones are able to help the weaker. The
money raised goes for the support of
needy consumptive workingmen in tub
berculosis sanatoria.
Consumption Fatal to Laborer.
That tuberculosis is particularly fatal
to the workingmen may be clearly seen
from the fact that at least one-third
of the deaths during the chief working
period of life are caused by pulmon-
ary tuberculosis. Every other work
ingman who becomes incapacitated,
must aseribe his condition to consump-
ton. Dr. Lawrence f. Flick says:
Tuberculosis is peculiarly a disease of
the wage-workers, and this is so for
the very good reason that one of the
causes of the disease is overwork." In
some trades, such as the metal poish-
ers, brass workers, and stone workers,
from 80 TO so per cent of all deaths are
caused by tuberculosis. Dusty trades