Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-08-29

| Inat SapS vitality and vigilance from
| the workers is the principal cause OF
| this needless slaughter OF human be-
ings struggling for az existence.
So much for the S-hour day. We
| next come to the proposition of con-
/ serving life and health by means Of
factory regulation and factory inspec-
ton. Much has been done in many
states along these lines and this ac-i
compishment Is due to organized La
Dor. Much is yet to be done, and or
ganized labor intends that the work
shall be finished
Laws regulating guards for cleaning
Of machinery were adopted by Massa-
chusetts in 1882, In New Jersey I'm
1884. This was almost the beginning
As manufacturing has developed in
the other states some protective pro-
visions have been adopted. The pres
ent status of their provisions is as fol-
lows:
Twenty-four states require factoriesi
to be so ventilated that a sufficient
amount of air space shall be provided
for each operative.
Thirty-three states require fire es-t
capes on factories and public build
ings.
Twenty-four states require guards
on dangerous machinery.
Twenty-seven states insist upon
sanitary and sufficient toilet rooms for
the sexes.
Thirty states provide factory I'M
spectors to enforce observance of the
laws
Seventeen states make It mandatory
for employers to report all accidents
to an authorized state official so that
accurate vital records can be readily
obtained for the further advice and in
formation of the people as to the
needs of additional conservation Of life
and limb. This is an especially neces-
sary provision
Thirty-six states restrict night work
by children.
Compensating the Manned.
Thirty-eight states have enacted
some form Of employers liability law,
very few Of which have been I'M
terpreted favorably for the workers
by the courts. This is to be account
ed for largely because the courts have.
chung tenaciously to former prece-
dences of peculiar judicial reasoningsJ
which have at times been referred TOT
as the "unholy trinity" viz, "assump-
ton of risk" "contributory negIf-
gence" and ''feIlow-servant" rulings.
as if these obstacles were not Iargei
enough to offset a workman's claim.
for damages. Another method has,
been devised which the courts have
duly recognized as valid and sufficient
grounds to prevent an injured en-
pIoye from obtaining an award for,
damages. This cunning device has
been to induce or coerce an employee.
when arranging for employment to-
sign a contract waving his rights" to
sue for damages in case of injury dur
ing employment.
Giving Life a Value.
Notifications of the common law
rulings of assumed risk" and CON
tributory" to comparative negligence'f
have been adopted in several states,l
but such trifing with measures of
such grave import is not sufficient
Just, humane and effective legislation
must be enacted by the states-legis-
lation that is uniform and uniformly
good effective legislation that will
forever abolish the defense known as
fellow servant" rule, "contributory
negligence assumption of risk" and
waving Oh rights"
Industry must bear the financial
burden Of accidents to the human be-
ing, exactly as it does now toward me-
chanical accidents, or accidents that
occur through the natural elements.
Compelling Safety Appliances
The next In Importance are safety
appliance laws, enacted by the con-
gress for the purpose of conserving
life on the interstate railroads Of tho
United States. Every one of thesa
laws is monument to the everlasting
credit Of organized labor
This complication Of Iife-saving and
life-preserving legislation enacted by
the state legislatures and the United
States congress at the behest Of the.
organizations Of labor is far from be-
ing a complete record, but It is suffi-
cient at this time to enthuse the work.
ers and to convince the most skepticaI
as to the great good which has been
accomplished for all labor-unorgan-i
lied as well as organized-and partic-l
ularly for that part Of society some
times defined as the general public
bn hoyvo
travelling on railroads, while resting
in hotels, amused in theaters, or when,
coming in contact with those who
might disseminate disease propagated
in workshops or factories that would
remain insanitary and dangerous if &c
had not been for the vigilance, fidelity
and foresight Of the organized work
ers.
So we feel cheered on this Labor
Day. We even feel Ike laying aside
the hardness that is acquired in the,
course of many battles against big
odds and allowing the sentimental
sides of our natures to show them
selves We feel like talking of our
women and children, and the battle
them comfortable at their work and
healthy in their homes We want to
cite the human suffering that the or
ganized workers have been able to
abolish, and to pledge ourselves anew
to a continued battle to bring decent
working hours and conditions into
those dark places Of the nation that
are still it's most crying disgrace. And,
withal, we are sanguine of day that
is coming when all working people
may perform their tasks with the sat
isfaction that happier life is posi-
BILE to them. The progress has been
such shat there is occasion for hops
fulness.
y IT
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Ma1f1.F Alienation