Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-06-13
OF WoRK|NcMEN.
The Chicago Conference
Discusses Health.
Leading Economists Of The
Country Give Talks.
Industrial Accidents and Diseases
Principal Topics.

Chicago, june l2.-Three important
national conferences on industrial ac-
cidentS and Wurkmen's COMPENSATION.
industrial diseases, and labor iegisla-
tior. We're held at the Auditorium
Hotel. Chicago, June l0-1l.
The National Conference on Indus
trial Accidents and Workmen's Conn
pensation. Of which Commissioner
Charles ?. Nell. OF the L. S. Bureau
of Labor. is Chairman. and of which
the members OF State Commissions
studying this subject in New York.
New Jersey. Wisconsin. Minnesota,
Illinois and Ohio, as wen as official
delegates designated by Governors Of
States are members was the third
meeting of the kind in this country. The
first meeting Of this conference was
held at Atlantic City last July, and the
second in Washington, in January AL
though the meetings are public the
privilege of voting is limited to menu
beers, and since their purpose is scen-
tifc discussion, no resolution commit
ting them to amy fixed program, policy,
or principle is considered. The pub
lis!led proceedings, consisting Of brief
cism of tentative bills, etc, are vah-
able contributions to the subject
Among The members Of this Confer
t.rce who took an active part in
the Chicago meeting are Senator VAIN
wright. Professor Seager, John Mitch
ELL and Miss crystal Eastman, OF New
York; Commissioner Neil, of Wash
jngton: Frederick Hoffman, of New
ark; Senator a. w. Sanborn, Of Wis
consin; II. Y. Mercer. George Gillette,
and William McEwen, of Minnesota;
Edwin r. Wright. Of Illinois; and
representatives of manufacturers as
soc;ati0nS and trade unions, insurance
companies. Russell Sage Foundation,
and tn" Association for Labor Legis-
latipn.
\ second important and significant
feature of the Chicago meetings is the
calling together for the first time in
this country, of those specially inter-
rsted in the prevention of industrial
diseases. Recent Investigations show
that industrial pOisons. such as yellow
PHOSPHORUS. for which harmless sub
Stitutes have long been in use in Eu-
rope. are till employed in this country.
and that thousands of Workpeople sut-
fer and die every year from preventable
diseases of occupation. In many
trades from one-third to one-half OF
the deaths recorded are due to one
specific disease. The highest authorl-
ties estimate that the money loss alone
in the United states in one year. due
TO sickness cost. loss in wages, and
economic loss t" industry, may be con-
snrVaticely placed at billion and a
quarter dollars. These conditions. 1t is
found. are preventable in a large de-
gree.
The first National Conference on In
dustrial Diseases was opened on
Friday evening, Junes 10th. with Dr.
Henry 3. Favill, President of the
Chicago Tuberculosis Institute, in the
chair. Addresses will be given by
Prof. Charles r. Henderson, of the
University of Chicago. and Secretary
of the Illinois state Commission on
Dccupational Diseases; DIR. JOHN r.
Andrews, OF New York, secretary or
the American Association for LABOR
LEGISLATION and writer of a recent GOV
eminent report on "PhOsphorous POS
oning in the Match Industry" Pro-
fessors Henry w. Farnam and IRVING
Fisher. OF Yale University: Mr.. Fred
crick l.. Hoffman, Statistician OF the
Prudential Insurance Company; ana
DR.. Alice Hamilton, of Hull HouSe'
medical investigator of the lillnols
Commission and Secretary Internatloh-
al Congress on Industrial Hygiene.
The third conference, which IS the
spring meeting of the American Assoc
cation for Labor Legislation, met
Saturday. June 18th, and give practl-
cal direction to the movement for me
prevention of industrial accidents ana
diseases. Delegates will be appointed
TO attend the international Congresses
ON Industrial Insurance. Occupatlonai
Diseases. Unemployment, and LABOR
LEGISLATION. which meet in Europe next
September. Prominent among the 81
Gcers of the Association for Labor Leg
islation, which is one of fourteen ia
tional sections Of q scientific, non
,olitical organization founded in l9oo'
are Louis ID. Brandtis. Of Boston: Jane
Adams. of Chicago: J. w. Jenks, Oh
cornell University: Ernst Freund. oil
Chicago; John NJ Glenn. of the Rus
SCH sage Foundation: Rowland l1aZ-
ard. of Rhode Island; Frederick Ju"
son. of ST. Louis; and Seth Low "i
New York.
Several members of the three con-
ferences have recently returned from
ncrsonal study Of the European sEs
TENS of dealing with industrial accl-
dents and disease The Chicago meet
mss brought together the leading
authorities of the country and should
he very helpful to those who are con
sdering these questions in the United
States.
A significant feature of the growing
discussion of workmen's compensation
ror injuries received in the course Oh
emplovment was the meeting FRIDAY
evening. June 10, at the Auditorium
Hotel. in Chicago, of the first Nationai
Conference on Industrial Diseases
ever held in this country. Delegates
designated by the governors of states
representatives of many nationai
trade organizations. members Of the