The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1910-01-28
THE VICTIMS OF ACCIDENT


Archbishop Ireland in which he said:
The number of industrial accid-
ents annually occurring in the cOun-
try is appalling. Something should
be done. if America be worthy of its
fame as a civilized country, TO reduce
in number those accidents, and when
accidents do occur despite all reason
able precautions, to alleviate the rem
ediable consequences resulting from
them. All things considered, the sim
plest and 'fairest solution is to place
the responsibility of compensation
for accidents upon the industry with
in the sphere of which they have arts
en-. Those who are impoverished
through industries cannot be left to
starve and it is not those who did not
profit by the industries who should
be called upon to make compensation
for damages caused thereby
This is precisely the theory of re-
form that the Banner has been advo-
eating for some years and it is inter
esting to note that the idea is begin
ming to find favor among thinking
men everywhere. Employers liabil-
laws as they are known in this country
are largely a delusion and of little
benefit to the workingmen, for they
assure him nothing, merely giving
him a lawsuit against a corporation
that is always prepared to resist pay
ment
When a man is killed in an indus.
trial accident his widow needs help
then not a lawsuit, which. even if it
results favorably to her, is likely not
to be decided for months and possib-
ly for years. If, instead of being kill
ed, the man is injured so as to be I'M
able to work for a long period, it is
cruel criminal outrage to leave that
man and his family, if they are with
out property, to be dependent on
charity until the man is again able
to work. It is a monstrous condition
and one of which every American
ought to be ashamed.
And the worst of the disgrace is
that it is so unnecessary. Every line
OF business should take care of the
manned and injured in that business.
under state control and regulation
This plan, which has been heretofore
urged by the Banner is not new. It
is in successful operation in Germany
and France and New Zealand Every
one Of our American states should
adopt it at the earliest opportunity.
The working men of Vermont should
not allow single man to go to Mont
peier next fall unless he is absolute
ly pledged on this matter.
The criminal weakness of the or
binary employers liability laws was
recently Illustrated in a neighboring
state. There was an accident in a
little mill where four men were EN-
ployed. Three of the four were kill
ed and every one of the three left a
dependant family with no means OF
support. The owner of the mill had
no considerable property. His mill
and machinery were mortgaged to
nearly their full value. Even could
verdicts have been secured against
him he could not have paid. Three
women and eleven children became
paupers through no fault of then
own.
Under the French and German
system, each of the three widows
would have received without law
suit or controversy the full amount
of her husbands wages for three
years In addition there would have
been monthly allowance for eact
child until the child reached the age
of sixteen. The expense of thus pro
viding for these victims of acciden
would be borne, not by the little mil
owner where the men were killed
but by all the mill business in tina
and similar lines in the state, max
ing the amount to be paid by each Sc
small as to be trivial Which plan
is the best?
Under the constitution Of this coun
try We can have no national law OF
the subject except to apply to inter
state corporations. 1t is up to tn,
states to each provide for rs own
Vermont has her opportunity mex
fall when the legislature meets. !
depends on the men who are sent t,
Montpelier whether or not it is don,
and the workingmen of the state cal
control the election of these repres
entatiyes. The law on the subjec
need be neither intricate or lengthy
Simply, we shouldn't lose sight of tn,
, issue in considering candidates. I
is not too early to talk these thing
over and be prepared for the cam
paign.
OF COURSE MEN LIVE AND DIE
without insurance but who wants I,
be that kind of man? Life, Limited
Payment Life and Endowment polio