The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1912-08-30
prime Of life or the maximum OF ell

Dor. Much is yet to be done, and or
ganized labor intends that the WORK
shall be finished.
Laws regulating guards Tor cleaning
of machinery were adopted by MaSsa-
chusetts in 1892. In New Jersey in
1884. This was almost the beginning
As manufacturing has developed III
the other states some protective pro
visions have been adopted. The pres
ent status OF their provisions is a3 fol-
lows:
Twenty-four states require factories
to be so ventilated that sufficient
amount Of air space shall be provided
for each operative.
Thirty.three states require tire es-
capes on factories and public build
ings.
Twenty-fOur states require guards
on dangerous machinery.
Twenty-seven states insist upon
sanitary and sufficient toilet rooms for
the sexes.
Thirty states provide factory in.
spectors to enforce observance OF the
laws.
Seventeen states make ii mandatory
for employers to report all accidents
to an authorized state official so that
accurate vital records can be readily
obtained for the further advice and in
formation Of the people as TO the
needs Of additional conservation OF lille
and limb. This is an especially neces-
sary provision.
Thirty-six states restrict night work
by children.
Compromising the Manned.
Thirty.eight states have enacted
some form Of employers liability law,
| very few Of which have been in
terpreted faYorably for the workers
| by the courts. This is 10 be account
ed for largely because the courts have
clung tenaciously to former prece-
dences of peculiar judicial reasonilgs,
which have at times been referred TO
as the ''unholy trinity" viz. ''assump.
ton of risk" "contributory negli-
gence" and 'fellowservant" rulings,
as If these obstacles were not large
enough to offset workman's claim
for damages Another method has
been devised which the courts have
duly recognized as valid and sufficient
grounds to prevent an injured en-
p!oye from obtaining an award for
damages. This cunning device has
been to induce or coerce an emplOye
when arranging for employment to
sign a contract waving his rights" to
sue for damages in case of injury dur.
ing employment
Giving Life Value.
Notifications Of the common Law
rulings of assumed risk" and "con.
tributory" to comparative negligence
have been adopted in several states
but such trifing with measures OF
such grave import Is not sufficient
Just, humane and effective legislation
must be enacted by the states-legis
lation that is uniform and uniformly
good; effective legislation that will
forever abolish the defense known as
fellow servant" rule. contributors
negligence" assumption of risk" and
"waiving of rights"
Industry must bear the financial
burden Of accidents to the human be
ing, exactly as it does now toward me
chanical accidents, or accidents thai
occur through the natural elements.
Compelling Safety Appliances.
| The next in Importance are safety
appliance laws, enacted by the con
gress for the purpose of conserving
life on the interstate railroads of tn,
United States. Every one OF thes,
laws is monument to the eyerlastin.
credit OF organized labor.
This complication Of life-saving an,
life-preserVing legislation enacted b,
the state legislatures and the Unite,
: States congress at the behest Of tn,
organizations Of labor is far from be
: ing a complete record, but it is suff
cient at this time to enthuse the work
ers and to convince the most skeptica
, as to the great good which has bee
accomplished for all labor-unorgar
: lied as well as organized-and partie
ulariy for that part of society some
times defined as the general publ,
VINO have been safeguarded Will
travelling on railroads, while restin
: in hotels, amused in theaters, or whe
e coming in contact with those VIII
: might disseminate disease propagate
a in workshops or factories that woul
r remain insanitary and dangerous if
S had not been for the vigilance. fidelit
0 and foresight of the organized worl
s ers.
e SO We feel cheered on this Isabc
,, Day. We even feel like laying asid
e the hardness that is acquired in tb
J. course of many battles against bl
odds and allowing the sentiment;
l. sides OF our natures to show then
), selves. We feel like talking OF OF
s. women and children, and the bait,
| ORGANIZED lahnc l., ,r,,,; :,