The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1912-08-31
prime Of life or the maximum OF en-

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 in
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 factories
to be so ventilated that a sufficient
amount of air space shall be provided
for each operative.
Thirty-three states require fire es-
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 in
spectors to enforce observance Of the
laws.
Seventeen states make 1t mandatory
for employers to report all accidents
to an authorized state official 80 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.
Th!rty-six states restrict night work
by children. r.,-.
Compromising the Manned.
Thirty-eight states have enacted
some form Of employers liability law,
very few Of which have been in.
terpreted favorably for the workers
by the courts. This is to be account
ed for largely because the courts have
clung tenaciously to former prece-
denees OF peculiar judicial Feasonings,
which have at times been referred to
as the "unholy trinity" viz, "assump.
tion OF risk" "contributory negli,
gence" and "fellow-servant" rulings,
as II these obstacles were not large
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-
ploye from obtaining an award for
damages. This cunning device has
been to induce or coerce an employe
when arranging for employment to
sign a contract "waiving 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 ICON.
tributory" to Comparative negligence
have been adopted in several states
but such trifling 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 of 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
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 the
United States. Every one Of these
laws is a monument to the everlasting
credit of organized labor
This complication of life-saving ano
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 suffl
cient at this time to enthuse the work
ers and to convince the most skeptical
as to the great good which has been
accomplished for all labor-unorgan
lied as well as organized-and partic-
ularly for that part Of society some
times defined as the general public
who have been safeguarded while
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
iSuldiA lhSdAlldIy anu OdHseIoub IL ~
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 like 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
organized labor is waging to make
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