The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-05-15

The beginning Of new era IN the safe
guarding of the country's industrial army
will be witnessed at the fifteenth annual
convention OF the National Association
Of Manufacturers. TO be held in New
York City, May l6. Il, and IS
The necessity OF preventing accidents
in industrial establishments has forcibly
been brought home to the manufacturers
forming the association. by the fact that
/ 100000 persons suffer from accidents each
year in the United States. Two hundred
and fifty million dollars is the estimated
/ economic loss annually, in this country,
/ due to accidents. At least One-haf Of
| the accidents are considered preventable.
! This condition and the fact that other
! countries, such as Germany. England
and France, have established museums
/ Of safety and have enacted laws looking
TO the prevention OF accidents. have led
the National Association Of Manufactur-
/ ers TO make the two subjects. Proven
ton Of Industrial Accidents, and En-
ployers' Liability Insurance the princi-
pal features Of the coming convention.
Discussion May Last n Day.
! The attendance Of men prominent in
the various Industries has been assured.
and II is expected that the discussions
/ viii occupy the greater part Of the
! second day. A comprehensive report Of
a committee appointed some time ago by
John Kirby. jr. president OF the as
/ ISOLATION, will be made and the con-
vention will be addressed by Prof.
/ Frederic Remsen Hutton Of the American
Museum Of Safety: Miles NJ. Dawson,
who has studied accident prevention
abroad for the Russell Sage Foundation,
and other eminent speakers.
/ President Kirby. IN a statement 10 ap-
pear in American Industries, the official
organ Of the Association, says Of the
subject:
The question Of appliances for pre-
venting accidents 70 workmen. and acct
dent indemnity. are at present recelv-
/ ing more attention than any other issues
which attract public interest in the field
Of industry. They are live questions OF
| vital Importance 10 our members from
an economic as well as humanitarian
/ standpoint Those OF our members who
/ fail 70 attend the convention VIII miss
an opportunity 10 participate in one Of
1 the most interesting discussion that has
I come before any Of the conventions Of
/ our association"
Strong Interest shown.
The strong interest shown by the as
] /.
/ personnel Of the committee which in
cludes John Kirby president Of the as
! ISOLATION. Dayton, Ohio; James w. Van
( Cleve. St Louis. Mo. d. A. Tompkins.
! Charlotte. y c.; II. F. Miles. Racine.
/ Wis; Henry B. JOY. Detroit. Mich, and
/ +. G. Schwedtman. OF St Louis. No.
/ chairman: but also by the fact that dur
/ Ing the past few months the committee
/ has. in preparing for its report at
/ the convention. communicated with $500
| employers I'm all parts OF the United
/ States as we'll as 90 national, state, and
/ local organizations of employers.
/ Every State legislator Of every State in
the Union was also written TO. Special
! correspondence was carried on with
American and European experts that the
/ State commissions appointed 20 look into
! the subjects IN the States Of New York.
/ Wisconsin and Minnesota. and also with
/ the officers OF various societies and or
CARNATIONS interested in this work
Ten Thousand Replies.
a little more than 1900 replies 20 the
various communications have been re-
ceived, and these replies disclosed a
wonderful source Of information Among
the thousands Of letters received by the
/ committee. there were only three pro-
/ testing. even in a mild manner. against
taking up the questions Of employers
/ liability and workmen's indemnity. II
was disclosed that % per cent Of
| the membership of the National As
sociation Of Manufacturers favors a con-
strucuve. progressive policy Of dealing
with this difficult question.
It IS we'll to say that the records OF
the association prove that no class Of
men is more anxious than the employing
class TO correct the injustice which is
often melted out 10 an employee under
the employers liability acts. and IL is
believed that no class Of men is better
able quickly TO bring about needed re-
forms than employers. The employer
can deal with the questions from the
broad viewpoint OF what ought to be
done. regardless Of laws. to brings our
system Of caring for the injured members
Of our industrial army TO the highest
standard OF all the nations. Employers
! appreciate that this IS not only good
humanitarianism, but It is also good
! business.