The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1912-05-21
How Democrats DISAGREE

the reasonable demands of the labor.
ing man and to the dictates of human.
ity, comes nearer to being the genuine
article than any that can be named.
The National Civic Federation, labor
organizations generally, political
economists, ali political parties, and
many State legislatures have commit
ted themselves to that principle OF
settling disputes, lessening litigation,
and saving for the helpless the ne !.
less waste in witness fees, lawyers
charges, and other costs of lit
cation.
Suppose that an injured workman
RECEIVERS $4,000, which is certainly
above the average verdict. The fees
to lawyers range from one.third o.
the recovery up to one-half. II one.
third be paid, the injured man will
receive s6,666, but he will likely be
compelled to litigate the claim for
years and will be subjected to eX
pense and loss which he can never
recover. In a case in which such q.
recovery as | have mentioned would
be probable or even possible, the
compensation under this act would
so nearly approximate the net sum
received by the man in his successful
hnt hat- Alty lao.
doubted that he would prefer the
settlement fixed by the act in the first
instance. But when the laboring man
remembers that in accepting this act
and conceding for the argument
mat he gives up something-he is
opening the door of opportunity 20
10000 equally as deserving brothers,
he will gladly make the choice In
favor of the principles Of the pending
bill. ! object to tn reconsideration of
this important economic question
from the standpoint Of any individual.
Any reform that undertakes to en-.
brace over a million and a half men
can not put all of them in the situa
ton Of the most fortunate any more
than 1t should reduce all of them to
the situation of the least fortunate.
We are here adding many millions CT
dollars to the annual expenses OF the
railroads To me that means nothing
II by so doing l can sleep in the Ger. ,
tainty that the 10000 railroad em.
ployees who may be injured annually
by causes that will not now entitle
them to recover compensation, and
their dependent children and wives
will be secure in a living. The In.
creased charge upon the railroads
and the possible diminution OF yer.
diets for a few are counterbalanccd
by the good that will be done for the
thousands who are now absolutely
helpless.
Mr.. President, can not be made to
believe that the officers and leaders
II the national labor organizations of
his country are so stupid or so IN
trustworthy as to treat lightly this
most important subject. The represe1.
atives of these organizations seem
10 be most intelligent and much IN
earnest. They are not only in favor
of the principle of this bill, but they
ask us to pass this particular bill,
and If test shall disclose mistane
lr injustices, they comprehend fully
hat 1t Is easier to amend an act than
I is to secure the first passage Of
he act involving the principle. we
should view this effort of theirs to
AXE the first step toward the rising
.un largely from the standpoint OF
This country can not per-
nit the thousands TO become helpless
n order to maintain doctrines that
nave been embalmed under the name
If the common law. This statute.
lnder the authority of the interstate
commerce clause Of the Constitution,
strikes right and left az
iecisicns, precedents, ana the com
ron law, but 1t preserves the Jury
and it compensates every woman ard
child whose protector and support q
rendered helpless, have no criticism
10 make of others who have brought
themselves TO the conclusion that this
IS unwise legislation; but l warn tn
Senate that II we concede that thu
principle of this bill is right from the
of both the man and ne
dollar, then ! am unwilling to vote
that organized labor is a farce and
that every man who has appeared
before the commission and the com.
mittee is begging us to pass a bill
that will be repudiated by the men N