Los Angeles herald., 1910-09-02
COMPENSATE MEN
INJURED, SAYS I. R.
Colonel Advocates Act to Reim-
burSe Workingmen Hurt
Performing Duties
WOULD BAR ALL LITIGATION
Former President Discusses La
Dor Conditions and Suggests
Government Aid
WOULD BAR ALL LITIGATION
(Associated Press)


KANSAS CITY, Kas., Sept. l.
Speaking today to an audience COM
posed chiefly of working men in this
city, Col. Theodore Roosevelt heartily
indorsed the passage of federal
workingman's compensation act. This
is one of the chief plankS of the KAN
sas state platform adopted recently.
Speaking without notes in the au-
ditorium here, Col. Roosevelt was FREE
quently cheered to the echo. he was
introduced by former Mayor Guyer,
a progressive Republican who has
been regarded as one Of the strongest
supporters of Col. Roosevelt in Kan
sas. In presenting Col. Roosevelt he
characterized him as one OF the fore
most men of the world"
More than once we have had to
investigate conditions in such business
as yau have in this city," said Col.
Roosevelt in beginning his address
Always when we have done SO, the
employer has explained to the wage
earne' that if the governmnt was sue
cssful In it's exercise of control, it
would result in the cutting down of
wages. That Is not so. All we
struggled to do, was to secure better
conditions of employment and OF liV-
ing among the men actually employed
in industries.
"Take such questions as what is
called the employers liability. l do
not like that expression because l
think the term should be the com
pensation of employees for injury
ADVOCATES INJURY COMPENSATION
1T feel very strongly that In every
industry where there is the slightest
risk of life or limb, whether on rail-
i afI tV6
in the event of loss of life or injury
V, should not leave 1t to lawsuits to
determine what shall be done, and
least of all should we allow the whole
weight of the burden to fall on shoul-
ders least able to bear It, If man
is killed in an industry, instead OF
leaving his wife and children to bear
the whole burden, 1 would have 1t
distributed over the whole industry
by making the employer pay certain
amount of compensation. 1t is not
fair that q man working on rail-
way, who losses his arm, should pay
all the penalty by being crippled all OF
his life while the railway pays nothing.
"It should be the duty of the gov
ernment to see that he is paid, too
He should not be left to bring law
suit. There are admirable lawyers,
but not many are found following the
profession of ambulance chasers The
lawyer who makes his living by hunt
ing up accidents and by carrying on
lawsuits which may be Justif1able or
un1ustiflable is not, as rule, one
whose interests 1t is necessary to con-
slider.
WAGE WORKERS SHOULD GET SHARE
I'VE should have the compensation
act so fixed that the wage worker
would get his share. An none or IL
should go to a man who gets him into
the lawsuits in connection with 1t.
'I do not want to penalize the cor
poration by making 1t pay an excess
sive amount. want to see that
what is paid goes to the injured man
and to the injured mans family.
Therefore, I want to eliminate the
lawyer totally from the transaction.
1--WE must have good laws, we must
have laws that will prevent men op-
pressing others or taking an improper
share of what is gained through the
exercise of their joint energies. But
the law is only help. If the man
has not the right stuff in him, moth
ing can be done for him. And If any
man thinks the law alone, or the exer-
ton of anybody but himself, will en-
able him to make success IN Ire
then that man may make up his mlnd
that he Is due to failure from the out
set
DO not trust any man who tells
you that any change in the law VIII
bring about the Millennium. That is
some distance off yet. Do not trust
him If he tells you that any system
of law will serve as substitute for
both men and women doing their duty
in the position which they occupy.
"If the man has not got foresight,
thrift, and power to work hard, he is
not going to make a success. You
cannot make any corporation employ
him permanently if he is not worth
employment.
WOULD LIGHTEN WOMAN'S BURDEN
$50 it is with the woman. I want
to see the woman's burden ltghtened
as far as possible. / have no sym
pathy for the man who is always
complaining at the social injustice
to which he is exposed and at the
same time is in idleness while his wife
takes in washing.
At think we all know certain men
to be found about the corner grocery
and in saloons w declaim on the
injustice Of our present civilization
but somehow leave their wives to do
all the work for that particular work.
in. man. - -.
how society should be reformed but
who cannot keep his wife and chill
dren out of the poorhouse by his own
EFFORTS. 1t is well to think of ones
rights but 1t is still more important
to think of ones duty If man is
good father, if he is not harsh,
cruel, or violent in his dealings with
those depending on him; If he is a
good neighbor, and a good man to
work beside, he is a good citizen. If
he falls short in this respect, he is a
bad man."
In his Introductory remards, Col.
Roosevelt said he wanted the people of
Kansas to understand that he was
far from being an enemy OF great
industrial enterprises.
"I hail the success of the captain
of industry, provided only that his
success means decent treatment to
those under him, fair treatment to
those with whom he does his business.
| ask that the big business man be
fair to his employees and fair to the
people,
PROPRIETOR