The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1910-03-12
MACHINES 'D!|R|V|||: MEN
CHARGES G0MPERS TO
CAP|TAL|ST|C LOBBY


largest employing corporations in
America has appeared before the
house judiciary committee and prac-
tically defied congress to pass any
employers liability bill framed to in
sure workmen and their families
against injury or death.
Representative Sabath's bill, stand
ardizing the amount Of damages due
to injured workmen, forced the fight
to an issue. General Solicitor Reath,
of the Norfolk and Western railroad:
Russell H. Loines, attorney for the
American and Hawaiian, New York
and Porto Rico steamship lines, and a
score of other notable lawyers could
hardly find words in their legal voca-
bularies w1th:which to denounce this
socialfstic attempt TO destroy the con-
stitutional right of contract"
The words of Representative SABBATH
In answer to the corporation lawyers
were such as to fix the tense attention
Of every listener.
when it is remembered said the
Illinois representative, that we hold
our property, in the last instance,
through the forbearance and self-con-
troll of the vast class of persons, who
are at risk day by day, and who, were
they united, could rend and tear not
only our possessions, but our very
bodies, it is surprising to see the
dense carelessness Of the possessing
community before this great had
almost said class; but there are no
classes in America; at least, it is so
claimed.
AT the time when the law of mas
ter and servant received the form
which we are now contending is
Utterly unjust, the industries were
just beginning to receive the bene-
flcent effect of the application of
steam to machinery heretofore driven
by human hands. Today all this is
changed"
Gompers a Keen Listener.
BY the side Of SABBATH sat Samuel
Gompers, a keen listener to every
word that fell from the speakers lips.
The committee room pulsated with
the concentrated antagonism of these
great warning bodies, capital and la
Dor.
1.-THE courts will say that the la
borer is Free" continued SABBATH:
that he chooses his occupation; that
if he takes up dangerous occupa-
ton, he takes the risk-he does it
with his eyes open; he is compen-
stated for it, and his wages in part
may be used, if properly employed,
in buying insurance in some in
dustrial or accident corporation to
compensate him for the risk which
he is bound to take.
us it not truism, which must
only be stated to be understood, that
the choice of freedom of the laborers
is entirely illusory; that they have
no choice; that the fiction which
claims to treat them as free agents is
overcome by the actualities of their
conditions, which makes wage slaves
of them all; that the wages are so
small and purchase so little that ade-
quate self-insurance is impossible ?"
The chairman Of the committee,
Judge Richard Wayne Parker of New
Jersey, saw an opportunity, never
missed by Cannon appointee, and
seized it with a genial smile of gen.
eral Cancellation.
Chairman Tries to Delay.
"Would it not be in order to defer
further consideration of this bill un-
til we receive a report from the
commission which is about to pro-
cure information regarding those
killed and disabled in the industrial
trades in the United States? 1 see
Mr.. Gompers present; does he not
this the most practical method of
procedure"
of
prompt in their approval of the chair
mans suggestion and the president of
the American Federation Of Labor
lost no time in replying:
1T has been suggested that this
whole matter be turned over to a
commission. I have some knowledge
of congressional. commissions, gather
ed from an experience of twenty-five
years, and I have absolutely no hope
that help can be gathered from this
source. Two years ago a. similar mat
ter was placed in the hands of a COM
mission, and the only bill that il
| drafted has not yet been even favor.
ably reported
The corporation lawyers sank back
into their chairs; they had listened
with pleased appreciation to Judge
Parker's suggestion and were unani-
mously in favor of an investigating
commission. The keen-eyed little
man who had once been a cigarmaker
! continued:
/ speaking as a layman, Mr.. Chair
( man. it seems to me that there may
+ be objections raised to laws of this
character on the grounds of their
constitutionality, but be that as it may
something has got to give way. The
great Increase in deaths in modern
/ industry cannot be denied. What is
understood by 'carelessness' of the
employees applies to men in old-fash.
Fioned industry-but today, in modern
( industry, the workers must keep u1
! with the swiftest machine, and he
who does not will fall by the way
/. Machines Drive Men.
r.. "A machine or train, in this time
sand day, will not permit men to take
UNION NJ MADE beer