Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1910-01-06
standards.

work and by using proper safety APP
pliances," answered Gentle. These
appliances exist in all dangerous
trades. but employers refuse to put
them in because they cost money"
Haggleton thought moment and
then asked sharply. do you think
there is any appliance that would
keep bakers from breathing -four
dust?"
''Why-er," answered Gentle, taken
aback-"I don't know"
1T isn't likely. is it? And yet
we've got to have bread. Besides"
he added, looking at Philip. suppose
there was such an appliance and 1t
cost 500. could we afford it?''
Not just now" said Philip.
"Ah," laughed Haggleton. that $
the way with lots of things-we can't
afford them just now. It's easy TO
condemn big corporations, but when
you come down to it the people who
do the condemning are built on the
same plan. They want to do fine
things, but they can't afford to--just
now"
That evening in the Moran home.
where Jenny was beginning to be sore
ly missed, Gentle produced scrap books
containing facts for Haggleton's fur
Their edification. Moran was out in the
streets searching for his daughter. as
was his nightly custom now. Philip
stood at the window. Haggleton and
Gentle girded themselves for the strug-
gle. 1t was for him that they were
fighting.
I'D like to show you some state
ments," began Gentle, opening one of
the scrap books. that bear on the sub
dents caused by lack of them. You're
q great railroad magnate, one of seven
men who own most of the railroads in
the United States
II have some influence in railroad
matters, but
Eyes, you have some influence" said
Gentle dryly. DO you know how
many people your railroads kill and
injure every year?"
NO" answered Haggleton.
II have the figures here" said Gen.
tie. pointing to the scrap book. land
they show that in the year just past
you and your fellow magnates killed
over 10000 persons on the railroads Of
the United States. You killed Jenny's
husband. That's the truth, Mr.. Hag-
gleton. You may ask why dwell on
railroad accidents when our problem
Is poverty. Because there is terri
BILE relation between the two. You
speak contemptuously Of those who
have failed in life. You like to think
that the million or more In this city
who are in poverty are there by their
own fault. | want you to know that
thousands Of them are there because
you railway kings have failed to do
your duty
Haggleton made an angry gesture.
Gentle lifted his hand.
LET me finish. In the past year
over $4,000 persons were injured by
railway accidents in the United States.
and most of them poor people, four
afths of them your own employees.
Think of that-SO.000 crippled and
MANNED in one Of your enter
prises. There is part of your magnate
handiwork. You take these working
men into your service. these passen-
gers into your trains, you accept their
toll or their money. and then, instead
Of protecting them by safety appli-
ances that are perfectly well known
and in constant use abroad. you tor
tureg them in criminal wrecks. you
burn them. you scald them. you tear
off their hands or feet. you crush their
legs or arms. you wrench their backs.
you fracture their skulla. You do this
to little children, to loving mothers, 60
young men; you do 1t every day of the
year to over 200 of your countrymen."
Haggleton was silent
why is it that in u given number of
railway employees America kills near
" three times as many as England and
Injuries five times as many" asked
Gentle.
America is bigger country. with
ten miles of railroad where England
has one mile
Gentle shook his head
Il made allowances for that. | said
we killed more in proportion
Our people are in hurry They in.
sist on going fast, and that increases
the danger"
Pardon me-" replied Gentle. 1.-THE
fastest trains in the world are In Eu.
rope"
You talk like childr' retorted Hag-
gleton. "You know nothing about con-
ditions."
mo? l know this-that for years
you masnates fought against air brakes
nd automatic couplers. although you
new they would save thousands OF
yes. Now you're fighting the system
block signals that is used every
ere In England and that would save
lsands OF lives more"
% have block signals on some rail.