The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1911-07-21
MAKING MATCHES
0CcupationaI Disease Contracted
In Manufacture.
THE JAWB0NES ROT AWAY.
Use Of White or Yellow Phosphorus
In Match Factories Destructive of
Allows Its Use.


Health and Life-United States Alone
Allows Its Use.
1.-THE introduction into any state,
territory or district of the United
States from any other state, territory
or district or from any foreign coun-
try of any matches made of white
phosphorus is hereby prohibited
And it shall be unlawful for
any person to use white phosphorus
in the manufacture of matches in any
district or territory of the United
States, and any person who shall VIC
late the provisions of this act shall
be fined not more than $1,000 or i'm
prisoned not more than three years,
or both"
The above is the context Of bill,
II. r. 9057 (by Congressman MANN,
which has been introduced in the house
of representatives. In the Sixty-first
congress Mr. Esch of Wisconsin intro
duced a bill, H. r. 26540, and also an
amended bill, No. 29469, intended to ac-
complish the same purpose as the bill
now before the present congress. The
motive which prompted the iLtrcduc-
ton of q bill of this character was the
serious occupational disease contract
ed by employees in match factories.
At a hearing held on the Esch bill in
the Sixty first congress DR.. John E..
Andrews, secretary of the American
Association For Labor Legislation,
stated that the United States, of all
the important commercial countries of
the world was the only one that had
not absolutely prohibited the use OF
white Tor Yellow phosphorus in the
manufacture of matches.
Previous to the hearings mentioned
the department of commerce and labor
made an investigation Of fifteen match
factories to ascertain the number or
employees exposed to the danger.
From the report it was revealed that
Go per cent of the workers are in con-
tinual danger and that women en-
ployees are in much greater danger
than the men; that 95 per cent of all
women employed in the match facto-
ries are exposed to horrible disease,
known as phosphorus necrosis and
that SO per cent of children under six
teen years of age are also exposed.
When it Is understood that there is a
substitute which can be used in lieu
of this poisonous substance it is in
deed remarkable that our government
should permit its further use. 1t ap-
bears, however, that the only reason
why the match manufacturers persist
in using this deadly and insidious poi
son is because of it's cheapness as dis
tinguished from q harmless ingredient.
The statement is made by the match
manufacturers that they would gladly
use substitutes for white and yellow
phosphorus, but that competition Is
so keen that they feel it necessary to
continue the present methods. One
substance which can be used and
which is not harmful is red phosphor-
u.s. There are French patents on a
substitute known as sesquisulphide of
phosphorus, which was invented In
1898. The rights were purchased by a
concern In England that is closely as
ISOLATED with a large match concern
in this country, and the patents for
the United States are held by the
American concern. 1t is agreed by all
authorities that so long as the use OF
white phosphorus Is continued In the
manufacture of matches just so long
will this occupational disease be pres
ent. Great Britain, Germany, Den
mark France, Italy, Luxembourg,
Switzerland and the Netherlands pro-
hibit the manufacture of white or
yellow phosphorus matches. :
1t is not likely that any active eff
fort will be made during the extra SEES
sion of congress looking toward the
passage Of H. R. 9O57. At the second
session of the Sixty-second congress,
meeting in the coming December. a
strong effort will be made to place
upon the statute books law which
will absolutely and effectually prohibit
the use of white Tor Yellow phosphor-
GUS. There is no reason why an In
dustry of this character, frought with
so much danger to the life and health
of men and women employed In the
industry, should be permitted to exist
when its operation demands such
heavy toll in human life when harm
less substitute, although more expen-
sive, Is available. Under all the pre-
cautions and safeguards which the
genius of man has been able to pro-
vide, 1t has been impossible to stamp
out the malady, and so long as there
is a substitute which will perform the
same service and relieve the working
people employed in that industry OF
the terrible and agonizing ravages OF
such a malignant occupational dis
ease effort should be put forth not
only by the labor organizations of the
country, but by every sympathetic In
dividual who has the best interests Of
the human family at heart