New-York tribune., 1911-12-09
lT1tCKS SHERMAN LAW MR.. GOMPERS IS IGNORED
Fails to Appear; Is Not Men
toned at Meeting for Workmen.
URGE INSURANCE BY STATE
Sneakers at Civic Federation
Meeting Say This Is Only Plan
of ~clief for Accidents,

Although samuel Gompers expected 10
take part iu the discussions OF the CIVIC
Federatjon's department on worhheh
con,nansotion fer Industrial accidents.
hold Yesterday i'm the Metropolitan Lie
Building. his name was omitted from the
final nroeramme of speakers and his alb
sence was passed over without eXplana-
tion during the meeting Officers of the
civic Federation denied afterward that
there was any significance attached 10
this. explaining that Mr.. Gomperss en-
eagements elsewhere were the sole reason
for his absence.
Labor. however. was not without a
voice during the proceedings. James L.
Gernon, chairman of the committee Oh
employers liability and compensation OF
the Now York State Federation of LABOR
declared that the only form OF rehet thal
laboring men would favor was state IN
surance. This was after constitutional
amendment providing for compulsory com
pensation had been offered by FRANCIS
I,vnde Stetson for consideration.
81 consider the action Of to-day step
backward" Mr.. Gernon said. after another
resolution calling for the appointment Oh
state commissions to investigate accldehtS
to workingmen. had been adopted. we
have. had enough commissions, ana theg
naver do ANYTHING. And if we have con-
stitutional convention for an amendment
q VIII nut labor into politics. If there j.
going 70 be a convention ! want to an
nounce right here that I am gong 10 pe
a candidate to IT, to sec Just what chaIce
labor will have to get what 1t wants
Other labor leaders declared WIN +Ni .
Gernon that what labor really Wan'eo
was state insurance. T. J. Curtis, rep
reseptinc the tunnel workers, declareu
that injured workmen could get no JUS
tico under the present system OF private
insurance.
.If q man Is hurt" he said. 'the agents
of the companies 90 to him ana 1901 nm
o,. norsuade him 10 accept 30 lot Ms
oiai,,, # ue insists on collecting what Is
reaIlv due him they take the case 10 cou'
and get decision against him on '"o
nlea that ho was hurt by prerna'uro
Mast or some other technicality phere
&c no such thing as A premature blast II
= alyyays due to somebody's careiesSHess'
v.bat We want is state insurance in the
hone that worliingmen will be ne'ioi d''7
to 90 what rs CONNIE W. '''''''
Edgar T. Davies. chief state factory IN
srector Of Illinois. spoke on 'How Lanor
bureaus May Help in the Effective A'-
,,ipistration Of Safety Laws deFcriDins'
ho methods Of factory inspectors as or
eanizod in his state.
.,The inspection of factories for inc pro
lection Of workingmen must he rlaceo OF
= scientific basis" he said. IT shouiu y,
ahove labor politics. II must he rea'izeu
ia, both the employer and the employ :
sro equally responsible. What We need is
faver statistics and moro efficiency IN
tho administration Of the safety laws u"
snoctors must be trained experts IN me,
cbanics. or else they will miss many o'
,i,o sources Of danger in factories.
1fr Davies exhibited hit for nrst alo
90 the injured with which the INSPECTOR
g., his bureau are provided as an ilius''d-
,,on Of his statement that inspection "orN or,
,,.ss not merely 10 employ busy "ilc'd's
round election time, but. humane
activity. .----