The Arvada enterprise., 1912-05-16
Real Service He Rendered to
New Jersey Workers.
FOUGHT BY INSURANCE MEN
They Threatened to Raise All Their
Rates If Employers Liability Law
Were Passed, but Became Quiet at
Hint of State Offering Indemnity.
Sacramento (calD UnLon.l

"Naitiy 'iiPipy'iS nav b'Ni 81 VI ''4N
laws they desired regardless of the
welfare of the thousands of men, wo-
men and children on their payrolls.
He found that in the factories of the
state scores had been killed or maim-
ed for life and that there was abso-
Iutely no provision for the protection
Of the families of those workingmen
engaged in hazardous occupations. He
found that the bosses had been carry
ing out the wishes Of the interests,
from which they had obtained cam
paign contributions.
That was the situation in corrupt
New Jersey, where the conditions of
labor had been notoriously oppressive
and seemingly hopeless for a genera
tlon. But Governor Wilson determin-
ed to change it and with his custom
nry vigor tackled the problem.
Employers Liability Law.
One of the reforms he effected was
the enactment of n strong employers
liability law. But for this he had to
fight with the same grim and un-
swerving purpose that had obtained
the Geran primary election law. After
the bill had been introduced in the leg
islosure and became known as one of
the governors measures the insurance
companies sent representatives to the
capitol and through them threatened
reprisal. "If you enact such a law
we'll raise the rates on all insurance
throughout the state. Well pile them
up ON everybody" they said. But the
bluff didn't work
Every well. gentlemen, as you
please" replied Governor Wilson. "but
remember that If you try anything of
that kind ii may be necessary for us
to establish system of state insur
ance." After that the insurance com
panies decided that silence was the
better part of wisdom.
The employers liability law was
| passed. and an apparently fair statute
1t is, essentially fair to the employer
| as well as to the employee, for Wood
row Wilson is not depagogue who
plays for lahor's support. He merely
believes in Justice to the whole people
within the authority of his office.
Prevents Long Litigation.
The law prescribes the liability of an
employer to make compensation for in
juries sustained by an employee in the
| course of employment 1t establishes
an elective schedule of payment AID
strictly reguiat cl the procedure for de-
termining the Illiity and compensa-
ton. 1t rei.eTes IN employee who is
injured of the Ecce''ity of instituting
suit to obtain damages by provid.nE
n definite $ cheGu'p oyering the differ
ent classes of In H;ici ana fixing the
employers liabli .E each.
Employers now re- I'd tie law rs
fair because under i they can calcu.
late with reason.l'' tectr.sty what
their maximum linba.,." for Hny one
year will be instead # lcavia" this to
be determined by jurors . cDoych
are greatly benefited b. l. be Huse in
case of accident it Sl.@gas to them
without delay Il fixed In DL.c at time
when money is mos: needed and he
cause it avoids long drawn out litigp-
ton. with its attendant expense and
suffering.
Real Service to Labor.
Governor Wilson meant ii for both.
He supplemented it shortly with a law
compelling The erection of fire escapes
on all factories and buildings housing
a number of empIoyees-not one or two
| spider ladders, but equipment sui
cient to prevent IL recurrence in New
Jersey of the horrors that had shocked
| the people OF the New England mann
featuring cities.
Such laws are worth something to
labor. They reflect the opinion Of
man who believes in the honesty Of Ia
boris purpose to the extent that he
holds labor above seeking selfish or
undue advantage. As they We're en-
acted they represented steps in vii
sons restoration Of New Jerseys gov,
ernment to the people They wrote
genuine reforms into the statute books
Lakewood n NJ Progress: ut IS a
significant fact that about three.
fourths of TIE small Democratic and
progressive urwsVl. ers of the country
. are loI Va '. .....INH W llNNlls anu an VI
the RepVb,'n.n pagers are doing every
thing in t"n.r power to defeat his nom.
nation rl" he presidency. This goes
to show who the Democrats want and
whom the Republicans fear
Huntsville (AlnJ Times: Woodrow
Wilson can beat any man the Repub.
leans choose to nominate against him.
Present Indications point fnvorably to
the nomination Of Mr Taft by the Re.
pubHcans. in which event Mr.. Wilson
will have walkoyer"
New Brunswick (N. Jl News: sen.
ator O'Grrman OF New York names
Governor Wilson first in his list Of
available candidates Coming from
the ublest OF Tammany men, this is
somewhat significant"