Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1912-10-18
MARTIN Tells OF
lFC|SLAT|ONFOR
WAGE GARNER
Answers q Letter Of Inquiry
Concerning the Work Of
Colonel Roosevelt Along
That Line,


@. H. Martin. Progressive nominee
for governor. has written letter to
F. p Holt. prominent railroad man
OF Pocatello. replying to inquiries from
that gentleman relative to Colonel
Roosevelt's record on legislation favor
ing wage earns and answering ques-
lions concerning Mr.. Martins own
views upon this subject. The letter,
which is otherwise seN-explanatory,
Is as follows:
Rexburg. Idaho. Oct. IA. 1912.
Mr.. F. p. Holt,
Pocatello, Idaho.
My Dear Sir: With reference to the
question we had under discussion the
other day as to what Colonel Roose-
welt had done and what the Pro-
gressive party proposes to do to assist
and protect the wage earners Of Idaho
and Of the nation. l have to say:
Colonel Roosevelt urged congress to
enact the railroad employers liability
law and after much persuasion and
much use of the big stick" he sue
ceeded in getting congress to pass such
a law and 1t was approved April 22.
1908. This act was construed by the
United States supreme court and held
New York. New Haven and Hartford
Railroad company. Jan. Is, 1912.
This act in effect provides that any
railroad engaged in interstate COM
merce shall be liable in damages to any
employe engaged in interstate work.
who is injured while in such employ
ment or to his widow or children or
other kin in case he is killed while in
y,lo ole v,rnulIac that
the technical defenses Of assumption
OF risk and "contributory negligence"
shall not be bar to recovery of dam
ages but may be pleaded and proved
TO reduce damages. These defenses
have been the bulwark of the employ
ers of labor and have in thousands Of
cases defeated recovery and left in
jured men dependent on their families
for support. or have left the widows
and children of such employees, when
killed. without compensation. to the
tender mercies of this world. to shift
for themselves and to support them
selves as best they may. There is a
further provision Of this act which
denies to the employer the right to
plead these defenses in reduction Of
damages, If the railroad company has
idiSu ~ Soihpiy Nie' any 10" ASiN''
ing 1t to protect its employees in any
to the injury.
Now, it is proposed by the Pro-
gressive party to extend such laws to
all employers of labor, who are engaged
in interstate commerce by national en-
actment, and to extend such laws by
state enactment to all employers Of la
IN, nd, Vii In, tat
The men and women who labor are en-
titled to such protection and We pro-
pose that they shall have it.
In this state, we propose another
thing, and that is that employers of
labor shall safeguard all dangerous
places and dangerous machinery so
that accidents to employees shall be re-
duced to a minimum. Nearly every
other state has such laws. We do not.
We must have them. They are essen
tial to the protection of our wage earn
ers from injury or death. This mat
ter, of course, does not so closely af
feet men employed in railroad work.
but it does affect those engaged in
work in saw mills, factories and mines
Hundreds Of laborers in this state have
been injured or killed as re-
suit of accidents which could have
been prevented by slight precautions
costing practically nothing. Employ
ers should be required to take all pre-
cautions necessary to protect en-
ployes from accidental injury and
death. The cost of such precautions OF
course, will be charged up by the EN-
Lloyer. to his expense account and will
be passed on to the entire community;
and this burden the whole community
should bear to the end that the chill
dren OF employees so injured or killed
will be supported and educated and
thus become the best Of citizens.
refer you to the national platform