The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1911-04-08

opinions expressed by correspondents.
In strict confidence; if we are SO advise
HOW OTHER SIDE LIVES.
In our upward struggle. we are apt
to forget duties which as human be-
ings we ought not to totally disre.
gard. In our mad rush for gain, we
do not stop to consider that we are
at the same. time. pushing others
down. In proving this kindly let me
lead you to the great workshops
where the industry, thru which we all
are benefited. is in. full operation.
We cannot but admire the modern
era of progress. It is wonderful The
workmen, before us, are very skillful
in their work. We cannot but ad-
mire the world and, it's struggle fore
ward. Kind reader,@did you ever stop
to consider the danger that hovers
over each one Of these workmen
every day and every hour of the day?
Did you ever, consider how easy and
unavoidable it is, even for. the most
careful, to be carried to destruction?
If not, read the daily papers. But
we are manufacturing fine goods
True; but we are at the same time
manufacturing something else. Stop
and think. In Minnesota alone, fifty
people are disabled for life every day,
that means $4,000 every year. Let
us look into the life Of one of those.
A common workman very seldom
has home that he can call his own
for he does not know how soon he
will be discharged or how soon the
shop will be closed. At half past six
In the morning he goes to work and
his wife and say five children do
not expect him home till half past
six or seven in the evening. He gets
$1.75 per day. After he pays the
landlord, the butcher, the grocer, and
half a dozen others he finds it
living from hand to mouth.
One cold December morning very
sad news reaches the family; their
father has met with: an accident. He
slipped on the oily floor while ad-
justing machine and his arm was
caught in the mechanism and so bad
ly torn that it had to be amputated
as far as the shoulder, Think of
the result of that accident,-but that
is one out of fifty that occur daily
in Minnesota alone. The result is
this:
The father of the. family had not
only lost his arm but he lost his Job
at the same time, fora person with
out an arm is Of not much use so far
as manual labor goes. What is
person like that. to. do? He knows
that he has sustained: a loss, a loss
that no amount of money can fully
repay. He goes to his employer and
asks for redress, but is given the
usual information that: the accident
was due to his own -snegligence and
that there is Nothing; Doing -.
This unfortunate man goes to court
to collect what little damage he can
to keep the wolf FROM the door of
his starving family; He goes to a
doctor in laws and finds. to his dis
appointment, that in, order to get
damages for his loss he must first
help to pay them. Furthermore, he
must measure his pocketbook with
that of his employer, and If by chance
he should win in all the courts, divide
the amount received for the loss of
his arm equally with his attorney.
Talking over the case, the attorney,
very kindly. informs this one-armed
man: that there is chance for the
man to win the case, but it is impos-
'sible to start it without expense, and
in order to do anything. twenty-five
dollars are necessary to defray i'm
mediate cost of procedure. The un-
fortunate man shakes his head; he
has no money. What little he saved
up for rainy day has been spent
during the time that he has been re-
covering from the operation. The
kindhearted attorney thinking half
loaf better than none). plying the
torelorn wretch, now only asks for
ten dollars. The man heaves a deep
sigh,. sticks his remaining hand deep
into his trouser pocket and brings
forth his last ten dollars that he had
earned thru manual labor, and
watches it disappear in the lawyers
fat wallet
Next week he is again called to tl1e
office of his attorney. The attorney
this time taps him gently on the
shoulder and in a very neighborly way
tells him that the process is we'll in
hand. but, to further the case. ten
more dollars are needed. ~<.-
With tears streaming down his
careworn face he leaves the office:
his last hope-gone. !: Turning the
corner he meets the doctor that has
amputated his arm and that gentle
man informs him that his pay is
now also due. On every turn he
meets with creditors clamoring for
money. His family is i'm the most
:.';:::zzS'el again, aud Shirley, catching
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