New-York tribune., 1911-04-03

this committee will be practical or
eanization and a help to the laboring
people OF the city"
The meeting was called oy tue
Women's Trades Union League ana was
announced in the churches yesterday
morning. Governor Dix had been asked
to be one Of the speakers. but he sent
letter. In which. after regretting his in
ability TO be present on account or OH
cial duties. he said:
THE rigid enforcement OF laws for the
rrot.ction of human lives must be ac-
compljshed. and If our laws are not
sufficient for the proper protection OF our
neople il is extremely important that
laws 70 that end should be enacted. II
is nv purpose to ascertain if the state
departments are in any way negligent OF
their full duty. and l want TO assure YOU
that my cooperation will be enlisted
with the firm belief that repetition OF
the Washington Place disaster viii be
avoided"
Men and Women on pIetfoFn.
Jacob A. SchiT was. the temporary
chairman OF the meeting and Eugene A.
Phjlbin was the permanent chairman
Among the speakers were Bishop Greer
Monsignor White. charitable director or
the Roman Catholic Diocese OF Brooklyn
and Rabbi Wise Miss Anne Morgan
secured the use Of the Metropolitan
Opera House for the meeting. Among
those on the platform were Mrs. Q. II. P
Belmont. Miss Virginia Potter. Mrs.
Mary A.. Dreer. president Of the
Women's Trades Union League: Father
McMahon. Edwsrd r Devine and p. J.
McKoon.
Mr Schiff. who opened the meeting.
said: These poor 140 women and girls
have been sacrificed TO conditions which
oe must never permit TO be met with in
our city again. To them the community
owes debt OF honor that II is only too
ready 20 pay. AS treasurer Of the Red
Cross relief fund there is already III my
hands more than $4,000, and q commit
tee OF experts. altruistic workers. is
studying the needs of those Who lost
breadwinners and for WHOM, permanent
provision must be made. But in spite
of our great generosity. believe IL is
largely conscience money that ve are
paving.
Far be it from ne - place the blame
FOR this catastrophe on the shoulders Of
any one in particular, but We must make
II necessary that such A disaster car
never occur IN this city again We hope
this meeting to-day will express BY its
voice in no uncertain terms 70 those who
shall be willing 20 accept this as public
duty that II be looked after in the most
thorough manner that proper safeguards
be adopted 70 protect factory workers
and tenement house dwellers
Lives Nor. important than Wages,
IN accepting the place of permanent
chairman Mr. Phiibin said that the laws
were such that laboring people had no
difficulty in obtaining relief in so far as
their wages were concerned. but that IL
was more important that adequate laws
should be passed for the protection Of
their lives and 10 see that the laws were
carried into effect
1t is strange" said Mr.. Philhin that
in city where there are so many bodies
devoted 70 voluntary phiianthropic work
there should be no thought of helping
those who are without the influence 70
protect themselves The resolutions we
will adopt here to-day will De such as TO
carry into effect this practical purpose
For the dead We can do nothing, but we
can do something TO protect those in
daily danger from such conditions as ex-
listed in the Washington Place building"
Bishop Greer took the position that
the responsibility lay on the entire COM
munity and that the community must
undertake the work Of so changing the
conditions that the disaster could not be
repeated.
We are here 20 express our resolve
and our determination that as far as
they are preventable such occurrences
shall hereafter be prevented" he said.
"They must not, they shall not. be pos
sibe What measures may be necessary
| 10 avoid them We may not be prepared
to say definitely. but some things are
clear and other things are becoming
clearer One thing that IS clear above
all others is that whatever measures do
exist or may be devised will not enforce
themselves.
They must be enforced not for a few
weeks or few months, while public
sentiment is so deeply stirred or so keen
y alive. but when IT has abated and sub
sided will be the critical and the crucial
time. That will be the time when ii
shall be for us TO say whether the means
that exist or shall be created. shall be
fully, faithfully, continuously and ef-
fectively enforced and applied. If they
are not. ours is the fault and ours the
sin.
Vigilance Price Of Safety
For IN its last analysis ours is the re-
sponsibiity. We cannot forget IT; We
must not ignore IL. We cannot wholly
shift the blame TO others. public officials
and heads of departments, especially
when this responsibility is so divided
that We do not know just where il lies.
Eternal vigilance on the part Of the peo-
pie is not only the price Of liberty but OF
safety. and for the safety Of our homes.
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