The Prescott daily news., 1910-09-05


 and to the state alike. It is humiliatine to think how far we of this country are behind most of the other countries fin such matters Practically all civilized countries have. for more than decade prohibited by the strictest regulations the poisonous match industry: vet we had not done anything at all until very re- centlv to protect the laborers against this horrible danger. The National govern ment made an investigation a year ago into this industry which showed a condi- ton of things unspeakably shocking and revolting Legislation to prevent these abuses was introduced in congress which was not passed. Since then the com panies In fault have ostentatfously an nourced that they have done away with the objectionable conditions. I hope so: but whether they have or not a law should be passed in stringent form to pre- vent any possible backsliding
 So 1t Is in the matter of injuries to em- plovges. In what is called "employer', liability" legislation other industrial coun tries have accepted the principle that the Industry must bear the monetary burden of it's human sacrifices and that the eu- ployee who Is injured shall have fixed and definite sum. The United States still proceeds on an outworn and curiouslv i'm, proper principle. in accordance with which mas loo often been held by the courts that the fr,ghtful burden of the accident shall be borne in its entirety by the very person least able to bear it. Fortunately, in number of states-in Wisconsin and in New York, for inslance-these defects in our industrial life are either being remed,ed or else are being made subject of intelligent study with view to their remedy. In New York a bill embodying moderate compensation for accidents has already been passed Other states will undoubtedly follow Tn the same path. The has far own employees are concerned, been the first to recognize and put into shape this principle However. this pioneer law was not made comprehensive enough; 1t does not cover all the employees of the Fed eral government that ought to come with in it's provisions, and the amount paid for permanent disability or death is entirely inadequate. Nevertheless 1t was a great step in advance to nave this principle of workingmen's compensation accepted and embodied in the Federal statutes. and the recent action of congress in providing for q commission to study and report upon the subject gives promise that the same principle will soon be applied to private firms that come within the jurisdiction of the Federal government.
 Federation Pianks Approved. Women and children should, h+yond all question, be protected; and in their cases there can be no question that the
 
 ticular objects of our solicitude; and they should be guarded in an effective fashion against the demands of a too greedy com- mercalism. On my recent trip in the neiGhborhood of Scranton and Wilkes, barre every one I spoke to agreed as to the immense improvement that had been wrought by the effective enforcement of the laws prohibiting children under the age of fourteen years from working, and prohibiting women from working more than ten hours day Personally. I think ten hours too long; but. be this as it may, ten hours day great advance. Among the blanks in the platform of 1 the American Federation of Labor there are some to which I very strongly sub scribe. They are:
 1. Free schools: free textbooks; and compulsory education
 2. A work day of not more than eight hours.
 8. Release from employment one day in seven.
 4 The abolition of the sweat-shop sys- tenn.
 5. Sanitary inspection of factory work shop. mine, and home
 6. Liability of employers for injury to body or loss of life
 q regard the demand in this form in- adequate What we need Is an automati- cally lived compensation for all injuries received by the employee in the course of ms OutN. tn1S being lnnnitely Det'er TOT the employee and more just to the em- ployer. The only sufferers will be law yers of that undesirable class which exists chiefly by carrying on lawsuits of this nature)
 :. The passage and enforcement of rigid anti-child labor laws which will cover every portion of this country.
 :. Suitable and plentiful playgrounds for children in all the cities.
 1nasmuch prevention Is always best. especial attention should be paid to the prevention of industrial accidents by pass ing laws requiring the use of safety de- vices. At present the loss of life and limb among the industrial workers of the United States Is simply appalling. and every year equals in magnitude the killed and wounded in fair-sized war Most of these casualties are preventable; and our legislative policy should be shaped accordingly. It would be a good idea to establish in every city museum of sa fety devices. from which the workers could get drawings of them and informa- tion as to how they could be obtained and used.
 The matter of compensation for in- turies to Employees Is. perhaps, more inn mediately vital than any other. The re- port of the commission which has be- gun to look into this matter on behalf of the New York legislature Is well worth reading. The bill presented by the Fed eration of Labor in Wisconsin this subject seems excellent. In all dangerous trades the employer should be forced to share the burden of the accident so that the shock may be borne by the commu- nity a whole. This would be meas ure of justice in itself. and would do away with a fruitful source of antagon- ism between employer and employed. Our ideal should pc a rate of wages sufficiently high to enable workmen to live in a manner conformable to American A~ {. -.