The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-09-02
COLONIES MARCH
STILL A TRIUMPH


was happy when he learned that his
declarations at Osawatomie had been
well received here. He was glad. too.
that he will be able TO do whatever he
pleases IN the future, because now his
position is clearly defined. He's pro-
gressive through and through.
The colonel jumped into a motor car
at Kansas city, Kans.. this morning. and
rode three miles in a driving rainstorm
TO address the workingmen. The meet
ing had been scheduled for out OF doors.
but the weather forced them to go in
side although the colonel was game 70
stay out. He rushed on 20 the platform
and beat the committee to H.
Mr.. Roosevelt made a thirty-minute
speech. His theme was the relation OF
the workingman 20 his employer. and
the duty of the government 70 those who
work in dangerous occupations And he
made It plain that after all II is man
himself who has most TO do with his des-
tiny.
Kansas City. Kans.. he had been in
formed. is a city where the proportion
OF home-owners IS greater than in any
other city in the United States" The
colonel demanded that the big employer
of labor be fair TO his men.
IF he is fair" said he, I viii do my
best TO encourage him. II he is not fair.
viii do my best 70 see that he IS"
Then he told how there had been gov
eminent investil ations OF corporations.
and corporations had said II they were
made TO do this or that thing IT would
be necessary for them 20 reduce the
wages paid TO employees Their claims
are not true. Mr.. Roosevelt declared.
IndOrses liability Law.
Il feel very strongly that in every IN
dustry where there IS the slightest risk
Of life or limb, whether on railways or in
any other industry, that IN the event OF
loss OF life or injury, we should not leave
Il to lawsuits 10 determine what shall be
done. and least Of all should be allowed
the whole weight OF the burden TO fall
on shoulders least able to bear IL. II a
man IS killed IN an industry. leaving
his widow and children 10 bear the whole
burden. would have Il distributed over
the whole industry by making the en-
ployer pay a certain amount of compen-
sation. II is not fair that a man working
on a railway who loses HIS arm should
pay all the penalty by being crippled all
his llfe. while the railway pays nothing.
1T is not fair that a girl working I'm q
factory, which renders her liable 70 suffer
injury. shall go on in life manned and
no one else bear the burden FOR her. The
burden should be distributed when q
workman is injured or killed in his en-
ployment. There should be no question OF
responsibility. He SHOULD receive COM
pensatlon for the injury he has suffered.
and. Il he Is killed. HIS family receive
such compensation. II should be the duty
OF the government TO see that he IS paid
too.
He should not be left 20 bring a law
suit. There are admirable lawyers. but
not many are found following the pro-
fession Of ambulance chasers. The lawyer
who makes his living by hunting up acct
dents and by carrying on lawsuits which
may be Justinable or unjustihable Is not
as a rule. one whose interests II IS nee
essary 10 consider.
I'VE should have the compensation act
so fixed that tie wage worker would get
his share and none Of IL should go 70 a
man who gets him into the lawsuits in
connection with II"
Then he told his audience that they
must not forget that no legislation would
avail unless the people in whose interest
it was enacted were right themselves.
That's the keynote" a man in the audi
ence shouted.
Yes, that IS the keynote answered
the colonel.
Paradcs I'm Rain.
A street parade here consumed an
hnnr's time The s+reets rera so wet that