New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-04-27

In recent ADDRESS on Tine flotecuoi
Of Factory Workers Dr. George VI. Price
told something of the history OF the idea
He said in part:
The need Of protection for factory WORK
ers is universally conceded. There is prac-
tically no disagreement on thls suo!ect.
There Is, however. much dlsagTeefn1eht as
to why this protection Is needed. The IN
corporations of the economists as 10 the
causes Of the need OF protecting the large
mass OF the working and wealth producing
population differ according TO the schooi 10
which the economists belong.
The conception of the term protection OF
factory workers" has undergone great
changes since first the need OF sucn pro,
TO trace the various stages in the evolution
OF this conception from Its birth until lts
fuller development at the present time.
The first theoretical impulse was given
by the epoch making treatise Of Rammaz...
zini ION the Diseases of the Artisans.
published at the end Of the seventeenth
century Ind trsnsiated into Engnsh IN
l705 In this book we first find the eluciua-
ton OF the various diseases Of occupations
and a need Of the protection OF the worker
from these diseases Forty years ia ,s
appeared the work Of Dr. Pringle ON On, the
DR. Tind's ION the Means OF Preserving
the Health Of the Seamen" and by Ut:
Blane's observations on the Diseases VI
the seamen.". published IN l.S. alarm fac
tory system in the latter part OF the elsn,
teenth century, were born also the etni ca
Efforts to protect the workers from r, ,ne
abuses OF this factory system III Inc r &C.,
and a host Of otheis-the forefathers Oh
child labor committees. 40 TO say-ooI r.,
fruit in the first legislative enactment IN
, 1852 OF the first factory act protectin6 tne
health of the children working IN COTTON
factories.
1.-THE history of the progress or lapor
legislation and the enactments for the pro-
lection Of the factory workers since lSS1 are
replete with interest" said DR.. Price. Be
ginning with the protection OF pauper chill
dren apprentices in cotton factories. the
protection was gradually extended until
now IL embraces a multiplicity OF features
and includes many aspects OF the HE ana
labor Of the working class. The agencies
for protection Of the factory workers are
| many and various" Continuing, Dr. Price
stated
The number OF phllanthropic institutions
started from time to time win inc P urposv
! of agitating for the protection OF factory
| workers is very large. AS aireauy IleIi
| toned, the rise Of the humanitarian sPlII'
| dates far back 10 the end OF the Sever
! teenth century AS a rule. the specinc Top
| les of protection which philanthropic podies
| mostly take UP are the subjects or chliu
| labor and certain aspects OF woman WORK
! The protection OF the workers by the en-
! Movers In most cases was in the form OF
| improved sanitary conditions OF FACTORIES
themselves and in certain limitations OF
| hours of labor ii 90
The protection received by the aid OF
| labor organizations was mostly in the IN.
! crease OF wages and in the lessenins OF
! hours OF labor.
The aspects OF protection OF the WORKERS
| nv the state are various and practlcaIIy
| embody all the items enumerated. Much
pressure must be brought upon the ieglsla-
| tive bodies and much agitation must pro-
coed before the state steps In and exerts
| It's powers. The protection or the facIoTy
| workers depends naturally upon the den-
ntteness and lucidity of the laws and upon
! the creation of proper and intelligent lhsu-
| buttons for enforcing them.
| The protection of tho workers by the IN
! dustry seems to be an Ideal method put
| can only be achieved when the various
! parts OF the industry, the employers. the
| employees and the consuming pubic, are
educated to a point where their interests
NAV be combined and mutually protected
] by one another. This is really an intelh,
gent cooperation Of the three principal
I partners in an industry. and would seem
! 10 me to afford the best protection for the
workers and the industry, especially II
| conducted with the cooperation OF the
| state.