United labor bulletin., 1912-01-04
La Belle, the best unlon-made &c cigal
In the United States.
A TERRIBLE STORY.
Match Worker Contracts an occupa-
tionaI Disease, Without Hope of
Recovery and Suffers a
Living Death.

Washington-An article written in a
current number of the Survey by John
B. Andrews, speaks for itself:
John Werner came to America from
Germany and from August, 1907, until
December, 1908, he worked in an Ohio
match factory. In Germany, as in prac-
tically all civilized countries except the
United States, the government does not
permit the use of poisonous phosphorus
in the manufacture of matches. 1t has
long been known that where this deadly
poison is used terrible disease called
"phossy jaw" afficts the workers. The
government of the United States and OF
the several states, however, still permits
the use of the poison, for which there
are harmless substitutes. The poison is
a little cheaper. But John Werner came
to the United States for citizenship
After working one year and four months
in an American match factory he con
tracted phossy jaw His teeth dropped
out; his jaw bones decayed. He suf
fered excruciating agony. In spite of
two surgical operations in April, 1909
he is condemned to miserable exist
ence on liquid foods. Still able to drag
himself about, he is not strong enough
to work Johns wife took in washing
until crippled with rheumatism. Then,
with the help OF relatives in the old
country, she and their one little girl re-
turned to Germany. John Werner, help
less and alone, then sued the match cor
poration under the employers liability
law, for damages. The corporation,
through its attorneys. denied that
it was guilty of carelessness, negli-
gence, or improper conduct John
Werner did not get one penny. Now,
with his face in bandage, tied in a
knot at the crown of his head, he drags
himself up and down the streets of this
match factory town, bearing the follow
ing petition:
81, John Werner, a native of Germany.
who came to this country for citizen
ship, laboring in one of Ashland's manu-
featuring establishments, contracted a
disease of the bonest of the face. II am
unable to work. Have no means. BY
aid of kindred in the fatherland, wife
and child have gone to the old country,
and ask aid from the people of Ash
land to get myself into physical condi-
ton to make the trip and expense of the
trip to join them in the fatherland.'
During the past six months, while
living alone in shed near the railroad
track, he has collected with this appeal
nearly twenty dollars The characteristic
odor of this occupational disease forces
everyone TO shun him. He can eat no
solid food Physicians frankly state that
his case is hopeless The story of John
Werner is merely typical. In spite Of
the most extraordinary sanitary. preca-
tions. match workers in our country still
suffer and die with this 1oathsome dis
ease, and there are manys others to
whom early death would have been well
come. Absolute prohibition of the
poison is the only remedy. 'Phossy jaw
is an unnecessary disease Congress by
passing the Esch bill can stop the use
of the deadly phosphorus. The associa-
tion for labor legislation appeals to all
to urge its passage upon their repre-
sentatives in congress-"