New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-06-13
FROM Tee Tribune Bureau,


! CRYING, FsVf!.-were an epidemic OF
such character as to necessitate the afilpu-
tatior, OF ore or both jaws. to inflict untoio
suffering and TO be characterized py an
almost intoierable odor to spread through
even limited area of this country, every
resource of money. scienec and Legislation
would be taxed to check II. The causes
would be exploited in the press, the asonies
of the sufferers depicted in graphic FORM
and the severest condemnation would De
visited on any who wilfully INITIATED
against its eradication. And yet just these
things are happening. Men and women ana
even children are being poisoned, and after
incalculable suffering are having their jaws
amputated. and even when healed are 60
ing through life frightfully dsisured, and
all because a lethargic Congress cannot be
induced to regulate the manufacture OF
matches, and the compelling forces of COM
petition drive the manufacturers to use
poison which produces these horrible con-
ditions which could be easily avoided by
an increase of per cent in the cost OF
production.
UNITED STATES ALONE-Boasting Of
its civilization. its humanitarianism and its
pitfalls and numerous philanthropic institu-
tons, and foremost in the promotion of the
Red Cross, designed TO ameliorate human
suffering in all parts Of the world, the
United states alone among the civilized
nations of the earth permits the use of
white phosphorus in the manufacture of
matches a chemical that cal uses phosphor-
Gus necrosis, a disease which invariably
entails frightful Disagreement and often
ends with loss of life. and women and chil-
dren are daily subjected 10 the perilS of
this dread affection. A careful investiga-
tion of this evil. conducted last year by
DR.. John 3. Andrews secretary of the
American Association for Labor Legisla-
ton. in cooperation with the Bureau of
Labor. demonstrated the existence of phos-
rhorous necrosis in this country to an ex-
tent probably not even realized by the
manufacturers Of matches themselves. In
the homes of the workers in three factories
alone total of eighty-two cases was lis
covered More than one hundred cases had
been found during short period of the
investigation, and yet the discovery Of such
cases is attended with the utmost difficulty
for the employees are fearful to reveal their
sufferings or to tell of any member of the
family afflicted. because. rightly or wrong
ly, they are convinced that such revelation
viii rob them and their relatives of en-
ployment in the match industry
HIGH PERCENTAGE AFFLICTED
That this evil has not attracted greater
attention. that it has failed to alarm the
community and to excite the interest of
those willing and able to put in motion the
simple ma cilnerv necessary 10 eradicate II
is doubtless due to the fact that the work
ers in match factories are not numerous a
compared with other industries although
the percentage afflicted is large Fifteen
factories were investigated by DR. An
drews, in which there were 1851 emplo-es
of whom 1,25S were women sixteen years
old and over and 3I4 were children under
sixteen girls being in the majority In
numerous instances not a single warning
was posted to advise these women and
children of the dread peril TO which they
were subjected, and in some instances even
the employers were unaware of the danger